Author Spotlight: It’s Leigh Ann Edwards with Her Newest Demon Hunters Novel!

Congratulations, Liz Flaherty, you are Leigh Ann’s winner! She will be in touch! Thanks to everyone who stopped by–we love talking to our readers! 

What is more fun than romantasy? Not much! I’m so happy to welcome fellow Tule author, Leigh Ann Edwards back to the Spotlight! She’s here with her newest Witch and Demon Hunter book, Ghost Ship’s Dark Spell, and it is yummy!

Leigh Ann Edwards writes smoking hot romantic fantasy with badass heroines, alpha heroes, history, castles, and magic. She believes love is love, that villains should get their comeuppance (sometimes with a stake through the heart), that pleasure is NOT a four letter word, and that “dog” is another word for “joy.” Her heroines don’t need to be rescued but will gladly work with a competent partner to right the wrongs of whatever world they inhabit. Don’t let her gentle appearance fool you; this grandmother of four ditched a sad story and is now enjoying her happily-ever-after with the love of her life. She wields her keyboard in Alberta, Canada with a few furry muses by her side.

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Thanks so much for inviting me to be on your author spotlight, Nan. As always, I appreciate you taking time from your busy writing, copyediting schedule to feature me and other authors.

I’m thrilled to be here on release day for Ghost Ship’s Dark Spell, book four in my Witch and Demon Hunter series with Tule Publishing.

When I talk about my stories I tend to be longwinded. Even when I’m writing, despite trying to follow a detailed outline, I usually end up with too many words, lots of spur-of-the-moment storylines, plot twists and extra characters. That inevitably puts me over the agreed upon wordcount and I spend almost as much time paring down the story as I did writing it.

Today, I’ll try to keep this short and sweet. Maybe not so sweet–– we are talking about the paranormal with scary mythological creatures, supernatural beings, and steamy romantasy stories. But there’s also lovely magic, humor and tender scenes as Fiona and Lorcan learn to navigate trusting one another and strengthening family connections while they continue healing from past trauma and heartache.

Since this is a progressing enemies-to-lovers series, readers have seen some major character arcs for Fiona, the witch, and Lorcan the half-human half-demon main characters since they were forced to become partners in book one, Dark Irish Demon. Their relationship has grown and changed considerably.

In this installment readers are in for some surprises and some heart-stopping moments. Fiona is being targeted by someone from LAMB, the agency they work for locating and assessing magical beings. There’s exciting and harrowing adventure dealing with a creepy spectral sea captain and his ghost ship as it follows Fiona through time because of a connection to Lorcan’s past.

Each book in this series includes a few characters from my Irish Witch or Witches of Time series. One reader’s favorite couple from the Witches of Time series–– Lorcan’s brother, Faolan and his wife Angelique, are featured in this story.

It’s been lots of fun revisiting previous characters. Readers have said they’re enjoying seeing what’s happened since we last saw them.

Okay, I think that’s all for today. Thanks again, Nan. I’m grateful for your friendship and helping me promote my stories. I hope to be back next March when Druids’ Dark Curse, the last book in the Witch and Demon Hunter series will be released.

GIVEAWAY! Leigh Ann is giving away a signed print copy of Ghost Ship’s Dark Spell or book one of the Demon Hunters series if you prefer. Or an e-book copy of either title and an Amazon gift card. Just tell her in the comments below, do you like a little magic in your romance?

Ghost Ship’s Dark Spell

The corporate culture at the agency for Locating and Assessing Magical Beings has deteriorated into suspicion and mistrust. When the life of top agent Fiona Maguire is threatened, her partner and secret lover, half-demon Lorcan Wright, convinces her to seek refuge in a time and place hidden from their enemies.

A beach vacation visiting family in the late eighteenth century is just the ticket—until one night Fiona sees a ghost ship sailing under a dark spell. When its vengeful captain beckons her, she insists on conducting an unsanctioned investigation, despite Lorcan’s fears. With the help of Lorcan’s former pirate brother Faolan and his wife Angelique, a transcendent water witch, they learn the ghost ship’s captain is targeting Fiona—because of Lorcan.

Secrets from the past arise to complicate the mission, while in the present, the in-fighting at LAMB turns deadly. Enemies are everywhere, allies are scarce, and it seems their love is to blame. Will the fierce, ghostly captain drag them all to the dark depths to join his spectral crew? Or will Fiona and Lorcan’s hard earned love weather the supernatural storm?

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Excerpt

An eerie skittering sound bounced off the rocks around them. Lorcan shielded his eyes against the Greek sun, as blindingly bright now in 1000 BC Mykonos as it was the last time he’d visited in his own time. Cautiously, he glanced up expecting to see the gorgon he and Fiona had followed up this craggy incline, but it was only a tenacious mountain goat presently staring him straight in the eye. At least it wasn’t a satyr. Those half-goat half-man beasts were usually arseholes.

The goat bleated, protesting the invasion of his terrain. Then it changed to an aggressive stance, attempting to head-butt him. Lorcan lowered his head, too.

“You wanna go? I don’t have your gnarly horns, but I should warn you I’m half demon.”

“Seriously? You’re havin’ a pissin’ contest with a goat?” Fiona called from farther down the cliff face.

He laughed at that but jumped back when a stream of stones cascaded down, barely missing his head. “Hey! That’s playing dirty. Guess you’re an arsehole, too.”

When part of the narrow ledge he was standing on broke away, Lorcan wobbled, quickly redistributing his weight. Now he’d lost sight of the damn gorgon they were pursuing and the reason they were here in the first place.

“Lorcan, be careful!” Fiona warned. “Besides, I swear I just spotted it down by the water.”

Odd; gorgons couldn’t typically move that fast. Plus, they disliked water. On occasion they’d been known to catch their reflection and turn to stone—their lives ended by their own legendary power.

“Weird, right?” Fiona spoke to him telepathically.

Lorcan was still amazed at how well he and his partner worked together. They’d turned hunting dangerous supernatural creatures—locating and assessing magical beings, according to their employer—into a fine art. Being so in tune with each other when on assignments was crucial…and in bed, it was bloody fantastic.

“That’s not where your mind should be just now, Junior,” she scolded aloud. Maybe she’d heard his thoughts or seen his undoubtedly desirous expression.

He grinned and she smiled back—that beautiful, sensuous smile reserved only for him when they were alone. It lightened his heart, no matter how dire the situation.

“Hopefully, after we’ve dealt with the MB and we’re safe at ground level,” she switched back to telepathy, “we’ll have some alone time before returning to LAMB headquarters.”

The hunts weren’t always deadly; they spared those that were merely mischievous. But others, LAMB insisted be rectified—the word the mealy-mouthed bigwigs preferred over killed.

It was soul-crushing work; making love was how they recovered.

Lorcan couldn’t wait to get naked with Fiona but he forced himself to focus on the task at hand: the gorgon. Most people, even those well-read in Greek mythology, believed there were only three gorgons—Medusa and her lesser-known sisters. But as a LAMB agent, and an MB himself, Lorcan had learned that a hell of a lot of beliefs regarding supernatural phenomenon were misunderstood or outright wrong.

There were other gorgons, none as infamous as the three sisters, but just as deadly. There were even male gorgons. All were famous for having snakes for hair…and the ability to turn anyone who looked at them to stone.

He and Fiona had been sent back to ancient Greece after the monitors tracked by Dewey, one of LAMB’s young genius scientists, showed some serious anomalies in the past few weeks, including people, animals, and mythical creatures, who’d either fallen or been pushed from a cliff somewhere in this general area during this timeline.

When they’d come through LAMB’s time portal and arrived here in ancient Greece, they found a macabre collection of body parts resembling a sculptor’s studio after an earthquake.

“What the hell is that?” Fiona called.

The hint of fear in her voice caught Lorcan’s attention. Fiona was a badass agent—not much rattled her. He tried to follow her gaze, but the jutting rock blocked his view.

He shifted and—shit!—the precarious ledge completely gave way.

“Lorcan!” Fiona screamed.

Good thing she wasn’t directly below him or he’d have taken her along on this fan-fucking-tastic plunge.

As the ground rushed up at him, he unsheathed his sword and, with demon superstrength, he drove the weapon into the rock. The abrupt stop slammed his right hip against the mountain but the pain—and his relief—were short-lived, as his weapon snapped, sending him plummeting again. He dropped the useless half-sword and scrambled for purchase until he clung, thirty feet above the ground, by fingers and toe tips, heedless of the rock slicing his palm.

Should he just let himself fall?

He’d probably survive. He had unnatural dexterity and healed fast, but breaking his legs was a possibility he’d rather not risk. After spending weeks in hospital last fall, he’d gladly avoid a repeat.

He looked up again. Fiona, her face etched with worry, inched down toward him.

“Be careful, Fiona,” he hollered. “Don’t break your neck on my account.”

He’d never forgive himself if she died trying to save him. And the thought of living without her—well that wasn’t an option.

He heard her snap her fingers and instantly she appeared beside him, hovering midair. She gripped him tightly.

“Okay. I’ve got you, Lorcan. You can let go.”

He released his handhold, accepting Fiona’s assistance, and in a flash they landed near the shoreline.

He wished his competitive nature would just piss off for once. But it wounded his male pride that Fiona seldom needed him to protect her. In fact, she saved his arse as much or more than the other way around.

She pressed her palm to her throat, then slapped his arm.

“Dammit, Lorcan! You nearly scared the shite out of me.”

“Believe me. I didn’t fall to get your attention.” He probably sounded unappreciative.

Then he saw the tears in her eyes.

“Sorry.” He kissed her forehead then shook his injured hand. “Thanks for coming to the rescue, Boomer, but would you let me be the hero some of the time?”