The Cities Below – Book Tour and Giveaway

Secrets, demons, lovers and murder…

Who can you trust?

 

In the Dark

The Cities Below Book 1

by Jen Colly

Genre: Paranormal Romance

 

 

Fate will not be denied.

 

Faith should be crowned “Queen of the Wrong Place and Wrong Time.” Her impulsive, solo trip to Paris seems like a genius idea – until she loses her way back to the hotel. In the rain. At night. When the two men she flags down for directions shove her into the nearest alley, she fears the worst.

 

Soren was irritable. Not surprising as he’d held off feeding as long as possible. The thought of feeding from someone he knew turned his stomach, and so he ventured above to become just another body in the chaos of Paris. But when the cries of a female in distress reach his ears, everything inside him demands he protect her, and he is unable to hide the true nature of his species.

 

Soren has no choice but to keep her and bring her to his underground city. It doesn’t take him long to realize why he’d been drawn to Paris, to that street, that alley…Faith. She is the other half of his soul. Admitting the truth to her could damage the fragile connection they built, but when an old enemy, lurking in the dark attacks, they are separated. Now, he may never have the chance.

 

 

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At the scene before him, he shook his head. Faith lay sprawled on her stomach across his bed, her right arm folded over her heart, left arm pressed somewhere between her stomach and the comforter. The sight of her hair completely covering her face, her nose peeking out, almost made him laugh out loud.

Regaining his composure, he covered her with a blanket. He should have turned around then, walked away, found the couch and let sleep take him. Instead he remained there, smiling.

Something was wrong with her, or maybe him. He rarely lost his temper, and never with a woman. But he had with her. When he’d seen her running across the grass, his heart nearly stopped with fear. Steffen had been close by, ready to kill. Yet he remained thankful Steffen’s shift hadn’t ended. No one else would have recognized Faith.

Then he’d yelled at her. He hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but he couldn’t control himself at the time. She put him on edge. He’d been insanely jealous of  Steffen simply speaking to her, and ready to fight a council member over his right to keep her. She unhinged him.

Soren controlled the urge to brush her hair from her face. He wanted to lie next to her and pull her against his chest, and just hold her. As strange as it sounded, sleep held no appeal if he couldn’t have her beside him.

He couldn’t recall standing over a woman as he did now, wondering if she needed anything he could provide. Did she need another blanket? Had she gone to sleep hungry? What kind of daily rituals did she have? Would she mind if he lay beside her?

With a growl, he closed his eyes, and turned away from her. His instincts screamed at him, demanding he bind her to him as his mate. Those internal impulses always had a reason, a solid need for being present, but this time he couldn’t understand them. Faith already belonged to him. According to his laws, he could do anything he wanted with her, but it wasn’t enough.

If he mated her, she’d have to become vampire. It would be an all or nothing deal. She couldn’t be turned without being his mate, and she couldn’t be his mate without being turned. This kind of thing should only be considered if…

Most vampires mated, binding themselves to someone they loved. Rarely, though, did a vampire find their true mate. Histories and legends said the only thing more potent than the calling of the sun was the pull of your other half, the one meant to save you from death and give you life.

Staring at Faith, he couldn’t believe it possible. Not after all these years, not with a human.

Placing his hand on the mattress, he leaned closer, wanting to somehow test his theory.

Faith woke with a start as the mattress dipped, and rolled onto her back. She peered up at him, but her eyelids remained mostly closed, as if she were unprepared for the bright light of the room.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” she mumbled, still half asleep and groggy.

“Nothing, get your rest.” He’d forced out the words, unsure if he lied to her, or himself.

She flopped back onto her stomach. Readjusting herself on the bed, she tucked her hands under her body. Before long, her breathing became even.

Soren pulled a thickly cushioned chair near the bed and watched her sleep. The possibility she was his one true mate could not be denied, but he would ignore that hope and be pleased with reality. She chased away the loneliness in his life, even if fate hadn’t handpicked her for him. Caring for her gave him a new purpose, a different reason to live.

 

Bound

The Cities Below Book 2

 

 

His heart belongs to one woman, his life to another.

 

Keir didn’t exist. Not anymore. The Lady of Galbraith had saved him from death. Forever indebted to her alone, Keir had become her confidant, her spy, her assassin. He was her secret weapon against those trying to remove her from power. When Keir is ambushed by a pack of demons, he used the last of his strength to return home and warn the Lady of impending danger.

 

To say she was stunned when a dying man fell to her feet, was an understatement. For the first time in her life, Cleo acted on instinct and without hesitation – their lives now undeniably bound together. Her single act of benevolence left her reeling, confronted with the knowledge that a stranger had more care and consideration for her well-being than her own family. 

 

Political upheaval is sweeping through the city of Galbraith, splitting alliances and stoking discord. When Cleo is abducted, taken in retaliation from the side she’s chosen, only Keir can get her back. And he will, even if he must start a war.

 

 

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Cleopatra opened her eyes, searching the darkness of her home as she tried to pinpoint what had woken her. She sat in her bed, looked around the empty, quiet room. A heavy knock beat twice at her door. She flipped on the lamp at her nightstand and checked the clock. It was well after two. Good lord, something must have happened. The last time she’d been rousted from the comfort of her home this late, one of her father’s servants had been murdered.

            After hopping to her feet, she threw her wrap around her shoulders, folding the satin edges one on top of the other at her waist. She paused at the door, silently praying another man hadn’t been found dead.

            She cracked the door open, peeked out, and softly gasped. Not a Guardian, not a friend, and not her parents. Her handsome stranger stood before her, at the door to her home, and she gaped at him with all the grace of a dying fish.

            Shaking free of her shock, she threw the door open wide and glanced down the hall, both ways. Empty, and thank God. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked him inside. Careful not to make any loud noises, she eased the door closed, sliding every lock home. She spun around to face him, her powdery blue robe twisting around her legs. Balance lost, she tilted forward, a small squeak bursting past her lips.

            He caught hold of her forearms, steadied her. Able to stand on her own, she kicked her robe from under her feet.

            “Thank you,” she said primly, shaking loose her robe and wrapping it around her once again. “This thing was made for curling up and covering up, not rescuing men from hallways.”

            “You rescued me?”

            “Yes! You—” She abruptly stopped speaking, then lowered her voice and commenced scolding. “If someone saw you, you’d be jailed. And that’s the best scenario. What were you thinking?”

            He should look guilty, apologetic, but he didn’t. Not in the slightest. He was working on some anger of his own.

            Feet planted solidly, he pointed to her neck, eyes narrowed. “Why the hell haven’t you fed? If your father sees those—”

            “You came to yell at me?”

            “If he sees those marks, he’s going to lead a manhunt. Since you have no interest in healing yourself, do I need to watch my back? Are you going to tell him it was me, or throw some other poor soul at his feet?”

            “Neither, and he’ll never know who was at my throat.”

            “He won’t let you fall from grace on your own. You’ve kept that mark covered for days. Do you really think he won’t notice? That you could convince him not to comb through this city to find the man who dared to touch you? You need to feed!”

            “I know this, damn you, but I can’t!” she cried. Cleopatra covered her mouth and turned away from him. She’d actually yelled, and in the silence that followed, her words rang in her ears. Even she could hear the pain in her voice.

            He stepped closer, and she could feel him at her back. His hand gently circled her arm, heated her through the satin robe. Softly, he asked, “Why not?”

            “I don’t have anyone. Touching someone that way is…” She shook her head. “I just can’t.”

            “You touched me.”

            Words failed her, and she could only nod. She’d known the truth, had felt it burning in her heart the moment she’d found him alive and well in the arena. He was her other half, the missing piece that made her whole.

 

 

Beneath the Night

The Cities Below Book 3

 

 

Demons are not the only enemy among them…

 

Waking from a seven year healing sleep should have been the biggest shock of Navarre’s night. It was not. The brave female standing before him was, without a doubt, his fated mate. That wasn’t the stunner either. She’d been sent here to feed him, to bring him back and restore his strength, risking her life to save his. Still, not yet the biggest surprise. What had Navarre reeling was her red hair. She was decidedly not his kind.

 

Cat had responsibilities. Five, to be exact. The children in her care were not hers, but she would do anything to protect them, and that meant staying in Balinese. The evidence of her mixed species was something she could not hide. As this city belonged to Navarre, only he has the authority to allow her to stay. Cat willingly faces her greatest fear, and with it, her past.

 

Beneath the night, a dark plot unfolds, and Navarre finds himself in danger of losing not only Cat, but his entire city.

 

 

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Her leg gave out, but she didn’t fall. Navarre swept her up in his arms, carried her into the storage room. He laid her on a fainting couch then left her to slide a chest in front of the door, a good move since the door only locked from the outside.

            “Your plan worked great, you big idiot. You caught someone’s attention.” She readjusted her position, trying to ease the pain in her leg. “What good is this partnership if we both end up dead?”

            Navarre knelt to inspect her leg. His brows maintained that worried crease. Not good at all. “It’s bad. You’ll have to feed.”

            “I’ll live,” she whispered through clenched teeth.

            “There’s a mangled hole in your thigh. You will feed. I…” His words faded, and she could see his thoughts were in turmoil. When he spoke, he seemed to have settled on a solution he didn’t like. “Whom do I call?”

            She laughed, her voice sounding thin. “You want to call up Paris? Have them grab a drunk off the street.”

            “Do you not feed from someone inside the city?”

            A ragged breath left her, and when she sucked enough air back into her lungs, she said, “I don’t take from vampires. Never have.”

            “You’ll have to. You’re in need of blood.”

            Cat clenched her teeth, her fingers digging into the chaise as the pain in her thigh became intense, throbbing. “Vampires bite back. Not gonna happen.”

“Cat, sleep will soon seize you, shut down your body. I can’t lose you,” he said, the admission rushing past his lips. Her eyes held his, wide and searching. He was lord. He had no right offer his blood. Navarre took her hand in his, and whispered, “Please.”

            She’d only taken from humans in the past, because they were weak, unable to turn on her, tear into her with their teeth. She didn’t believe Navarre would do such a thing, but the fear remained just the same. She shook her head. “I can’t.”

            The second she denied him, Navarre pulled a single knife from her belt and made a vertical slit at the side of his neck, straight into his vein. In this condition she didn’t have the speed or strength to stop him, but she tried, wincing in pain as she sat halfway up.

            Cat wrenched the knife from his hand, tossed it away. The blade clattered, metal on wood, to the floor near his knees.

            Blood dripped down his neck and over his collarbone, seeped into his white shirt. Navarre pointed at his neck, a determination in his voice she had never heard before. “Feed or seal the wound.”

            Navarre bent over her, his arm braced on the back of the chaise, leaving her to decide how to proceed. He couldn’t possibly seal his own wound, not where it was located, and she dare not let the lord of the city bleed out. He’d left her no choice.

            She moved slowly, closing in on his vein, but when Navarre drew in a deep breath, expecting her touch at any moment, Cat flinched, pulled back.

            He’d caught her sudden uneasiness and held her gaze. “I will not move unless you ask. I swear it.”

            His promise eased her doubts. Cat’s cheek grazed his smooth jaw, and he tipped his chin up to give her better access. Slowly, she traced her tongue over the wound, sealing his skin.

            Her senses perked at the taste of him, little things coming to the forefront of her awareness. He’d held his breath. Why? To keep from speaking? His arm was locked in place, holding back his desires, or maybe his nature, for her sake.

            She hadn’t retreated after she’d healed his sliced skin. Her mouth a breath away from his vein, she was close enough to soak in the heat of his body. Cat brushed her lips over his vein, and he gasped, a response he clearly couldn’t help as he now fought to slow his breath. His pulse beat faster, calling to her.

            She’d caused these reactions in him, and still he had enough control over himself to remain motionless, allowing her to explore. The power was intoxicating. How far could she push him? Would he break his promise?

            She opened her mouth, allowed her teeth to graze his neck. He jolted slightly at the contact, but remained steady. Her eyes slid shut, and her head bobbed as sleep tried to pull her under. Cat forced her eyes open. She wasn’t ready to stop testing him, touching him. What if she did feed?

            Subconsciously she must have already made her decision. The second the word feed traveled through her mind, she parted her lips and her teeth pierced his skin. He grunted as her teeth sank deep.

            On that first drugging pull, she thought he would break his promise. His shoulders and arms shuddered under the onslaught of pleasure. She did nothing to help preserve his good intentions. Cat sidled closer, her fingers sliding into his long hair, holding him to her. She fit him, perfectly.

 

 

Sheltered

The Cities Below Book 4

 

 

When the enemy is your mind, there is no escape.

 

Bette feared the city, and for good reason. Valenna had become corrupt, targeting citizens with any substantial amount of wealth or power to their name. Her self-imposed solitary confinement caused her to lose track of time, and her sanity. She could no longer live this way. Only three solutions existed: allow Valenna to dictate her fate, die in the sun, or flee to the fabled city of peace. Bette ran.

 

Rollin was a Guardian. His job defined his life, the man he’d become, and his core beliefs. Everything he did was in service to the city of Balinese and the citizens within. When a terrified female crashed into his arms, begging for help, he did not hesitate. Everyone and everything seemed to frighten her, except Rollin. He took her home, and once safe under his protection, she began to flourish.

 

Problem was, in her plea for sanctuary, she claimed a demon chased her toward Balinese, but none had been found. His affection for her grows rapidly, as does his concern over her lie. Then, the arrival of a demon forces Rollin to question his beliefs, his place among the royal family, and the motives of the woman he so lovingly sheltered.

 

 

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His shift was nearly over. Rollin drew in a deep breath, savoring the fresh night air. Of all the posts he’d rotated through, picking up the slack for other Guardians, filling in where needed, the gate was by far his favorite. Though standing beside Ivan for the entire night had challenged his patience.

“Not much longer,” Ivan warned quietly, his connection with the rising of the sun much stronger than Rollin’s.

A muffled cry suddenly floated through the night from the forest before them. Both men froze. Rollin scanned the tree line. “That was no animal.”

“I’ll check it out,” Ivan said.

“There.” Before Ivan could take a single step, Rollin pointed to the trees. “You won’t have to.”

A dark-haired woman raced toward them. Her hand grasped her polka dot dress, lifting it above her knees as she ran, the loose fabric whipping wildly behind her. She was moving fast.

Ivan crossed his arms over his chest, studying her approach. “You don’t see that every day.”

“No.” Rollin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “She looks…”

“She looks like a 1950’s American pinup,” Ivan said, sounding intrigued.

Rollin couldn’t disagree with Ivan, but he’d meant that the woman looked terrified, racing toward them as if the devil himself was on her heels. When her feet touched the wide stone walkway leading to the gate, she didn’t slow. Her strapless dress wasn’t made for this kind of activity, and every time she took a step, her breasts nearly broke free.

“Oh, hell.” Rollin’s words came out on a breath.

Ivan laughed, an oddly dark sound. “Close your eyes, boy. You’re not old enough to see those. She’s too much woman for you.”

Rollin brushed off the insults and ignored Ivan. This frightened woman needed help, and though he was always ready and willing, there was no reason to leave his post. She was coming to them, with no visible danger surrounding her, and the sun had not yet brightened the sky. There was time. He trusted his training, allowing events to play out while he remained observant. Prepared.

She glanced at Ivan, then her wild-eyed gaze settled on Rollin. Rollin gave her a nod of encouragement and motioned for her to keep running, and when he opened his arms to receive her, she ran headlong toward him.

Suddenly Ivan stepped between them, preventing the woman from reaching Rollin. She looked up at Ivan and screamed, sheer panic in her movements as she twisted to break loose from her captor. She freed one hand from Ivan’s crushing hold and reached for Rollin, those beautiful doe eyes wide and pleading, her lashes wet from tears.

“Help me!” she gasped through heaving breaths. God, he could hear the desperation in her voice, felt it as she reached for him. Why was she so afraid of Ivan?

She twisted again, turning away from Ivan, squeezing her eyes shut so she couldn’t see him. Rollin couldn’t take it anymore. He stepped forward and took her cold, shaking hand in his, her fingers biting into his flesh as if he were her very lifeline.

“Ivan, you’re scaring her. Let her go.” His sharp command drew Ivan’s attention. “She means no harm.”

“Famous last words,” Ivan muttered, but didn’t protest as Rollin pulled the woman away and into the circle of his arms.

Rollin didn’t stop to think, didn’t second-guess his actions. He pulled the woman against his chest and hugged her tight, never once thinking he shouldn’t, as she was infinitely more comfortable with him. Though her breathing remained ragged, she melted into him, seeming to calm by the second. At least until he covered her bare shoulder with his hand in an attempt to warm her. She gasped at the skin-to-skin contact, and at first he’d thought she’d only shivered, but her trembling didn’t stop.

He pulled away slightly and curled a finger beneath her chin, tipping her face up. Her watery eyes shimmered in the dim light. “Are you hurt?”

“I… I don’t…” She’d begun to answer him, but then turned her focus inward, seemingly speaking to herself. Though her words were mumbled, he heard her say, “I wasn’t supposed to cry, was I?”

Rollin tried again, gentling his voice. “What are you running from?”

The woman’s focus returned in a flash, her eyes meeting his, her fear suddenly gone. Something just clicked into place, as if she’d caught a passing memory. Her jaw dropped ever so slightly, and then her lips trembled as she whispered a single word, “Demon.”

 

The Guardian

The Cities Below Book 5

 

 

 

Prepared to die…fighting to live.

 

Savard was in a mood to die, but when a human insists on saving his life, death is no longer an immediate option. He knew of no species – human, vampire, or demon – that could see him while in his invisible Spirit form. Unique to this world, this woman’s singularity was a danger to the entire vampire race.

 

Waking behind bars in an underground vampire city was not how Sera envisioned her night drive ending. She has come to expect nothing from those who pass through her life, but this man, dying on the side of the road, proves to be different. Savard fights to free her from tyrannical vampire laws and to hide her unique abilities. What Sera doesn’t understand, is why he would fight his growing love for her.

 

Savard’s haunted past threatens to tear them apart. Soon, Sera discovers just how far her guardian is willing to go, and what he’s willing to do, to keep her safe.

 

 

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Sera suddenly threw her arm out and hit him in the chest. He grunted, not having a chance to recover before she grabbed his lapel and pulled him from the short corridor toward the small underground lake. Several feet away from the railing, she gaped in awe, smacking him square in the center of his chest several times. “Look, look, look! It’s an underground oasis!”

“I’ve seen it,” he said kindly. “This is my home, remember?”

“But you’re not looking!” She closed her fist around his lapel again and pulled him along with her right up to the edge of the railing.

Sera’s wonder was infectious, and for the first time in years, he found his gaze lingering on the pleasant details around him rather than anticipating the negative. The trees canopied this tucked away paradise, jutting up against the backdrop of a craggy rock wall. Dark patches of moss hugged tight to the small outcroppings, lighter green plants dangled from several perches, and a few vines hung from trees to touch the still waters.

Details were something Savard absorbed, but only when they were relevant to the city’s security, his lord’s safety, or a speedy escape. Enjoying the beauty of these tranquil scenes was a luxury for those rare, few, innocent souls undamaged by this world.

Sera pointed across the water. As her upper body shifted, he noticed the tattooed birds flying across her shoulder were raised, her skin uneven beneath the ink. Textured. He stilled. The tattoos hid scars. His gaze shot straight to her face, a lovely profile glowing with joy over finding what was essentially a large puddle of water. How did she do it? He envied her ability to see the beauty around her, the brighter side of life, and to literally drag him there with her.

Her hand still gripped his jacket, her joy so great she’d never thought to release him. Savard took her hand in his, loosened her fingers, and inspected each one. A few were decorated with a silver ring, sometimes two, and one finger had a tall stack of three. She hadn’t removed them when she’d slept, leaving them a part of her. His thumb brushed the smooth silver, then the side of her finger to the tip of the pad. She had the ability to absorb the things around her, leaving them uniquely their own, yet completely fused to her. If he wasn’t careful, he’d become a part of her, too.

“How long has it been?” she whispered, as if asking him to share a secret.

Savard pulled away from his thoughts to meet her steady gaze. “What do you mean?”

“You didn’t kiss me like you wanted to. You kissed me like you needed to. So how long has it been since you’ve kissed a woman?”

He shook his head. “As I do not recall the woman or the kiss, it would be impossible to count the years.”

“Why now?” Sera asked calmly, as if this could be any ordinary conversation. “Why in that moment?”

“I didn’t think. I acted on impulse.” His answer, more so than her question, put Savard on the defensive. “Is that what you want to hear? That I couldn’t control myself?”

“Dev, you tell yourself that if you need to, but I was on the other end of that kiss.” She fully turned to him, placing her hand against his cheek, and pinned him in place with her unwavering gaze. “And you controlled it masterfully.”

 

 

Night Stalker

The Cities Below Book 6

 

 

He had every intention of crossing a line.

 

In all honesty, Jake had to give his trip to Paris mixed reviews. Beaten and broken by seemingly invincible men with eerie red eyes marked the low point, but abduction by a sexy, knife-wielding vampire? Better than fireworks on the Fourth of July. She was the best medicine for a wounded man’s body and soul. A few busted ribs cost him precious time, but he had to keep moving. Call it vengeance or justice, either way, Jake had a man to kill.

 

Dulcina had witnessed the destruction left in the wake of demons for far too many years to be rattled by a bloody body. She brought him home and catered to his comfort. Big mistake. The smart-mouth, irritatingly likable man pulled through, and was determined to leave, but with knowledge of other species in his head, the human is a problem.

 

To stop Jake from escaping, Dulcina promised to help him finish his mission, but the price was steep, and neither were prepared for what they discovered. Secrets are uncovered, and as a Night Stalker charged with protecting all species, Dulcina is forced to make a difficult choice.

 

 

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Dulcina allowed him to capture her wrist. The action had become his habit, his ounce of control. His fingers were hot, a sign his body was using a lot of energy to heal.

Gently, she swept his scruffy, dark blond hair off his forehead. He looked weather-worn, the deep creases on his face likely attributed to a hard life, more so than age. Rough around the edges. She liked a man with a little wear and tear on him.

If Rafe had decided to kill him, this defenseless human wouldn’t have stood a chance. Plus, the drugs she’d used to sedate and mellow his pain left him vaguely aware of his surroundings until the dose faded from his system. Normally, Dulcina wouldn’t give a damn, but not with this one. She admired his spirit and had a driving urge to know what kind of man could take on three demons and live. That is, if he lived.

She’d found no severe external bleeding, but while that would be a blessing for a vampire, the rules were different with humans. They were fragile. Torn vessels healed at a slower rate, bones took an eternity, and if an organ had been damaged? She’d never know until he died.

Even in sleep, he kept his left side guarded. Whatever pained him the most, it was beneath his palm. Slipping her hand under his, she ran two fingers over his protected side, applying a slight pressure as she searched. She found the source of his pain easily, and a strangled sound became trapped in his throat as he gripped her wrist tighter.

His hand locked around her wrist didn’t hurt, but something about the intensity of his hold spoke volumes. His touch relayed more than physical pain. She looked up, and Dulcina held his gaze in the dim light. Those rich, hazel eyes, peeking through slightly swollen eyelids, were leery of her every move.

The desire to make him more comfortable with her presence led her to sit on the edge of the bed as she faced him. She allowed him to keep hold of her wrist. He couldn’t hurt her, and if he thought that less than formidable grip on her wrist gave him control in his vulnerable position, then he could keep that illusion.

“Ribs are likely fractured,” she offered on a whisper, having the need to reassure him. “Not broken.”

Scrunching his eyebrows, he looked up at her with an expression that said, ‘Well, yeah.’ He shifted his shoulders, making an effort to sit up in bed. She let him struggle, watching in silence as he valiantly held back any sign he was in pain. After a brief moment without much progress, he swallowed hard, beat back his pride, and without a hint of question in his voice, said, “Help me up.”

“Why?”

He pointed to the bathroom. With a nod, Dulcina gingerly helped him into a sitting position, then steadied him as he eased onto his feet. Nothing appeared severely damaged on the lower half of his body, and when his first two steps seemed sure enough, she released him. His shuffling walk across the floor was slow and deliberate, and after a short time alone in the bathroom, he returned at the same careful pace.

She moved out of the way, allowing him to approach the bed on his own. He eased toward the edge of the bed, and eventually sat. She watched the battle in his mind shine through his eyes as he remained there, sending the mattress a leery glare. It wasn’t difficult to sort out his hesitation, and truly, there was only one solution.

Dulcina took over. She walked right up to him, placed her hand on his back, between his shoulder blades, and eased him down to the mattress. Surprisingly, he trusted her, and let his weight fall against her hand.

“Amazon,” he mumbled.

“Invalid,” she countered, her response too swift to pull the amusement from her voice.

The left corner of his lips twitched in what might have been a smile, until that last moment where his ribs shifting to settle against the mattress had him tensing in pain all over again.

Dulcina hadn’t actually enjoyed anyone’s company before, but this man? She looked forward to his moments of clarity, and the humor in his words. There was a fire in him she admired.

 

 

 

Jen Colly is the rare case of an author who rebelled against reading assignments throughout her school years. Now she prefers reading books in a series, which has led her to writing her first paranormal romance series: The Cities Below. She will write about anything that catches her fancy, though truth be told, her weaknesses are pirates and vampires.

 

She lives in Ohio with her supportive husband, two kids, and four rescued cats.

 

 

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What inspired you to write this book?

 

Night Stalker is book 6 in The Cities Below series and it’s not that I’m tying up loose ends, but everything inside me needed to know where each of the orphaned children from In the Dark landed in life (hint dropped for future books). Dulcina is a strong, independent woman, and for the most part, she’s already sorted herself out. She’s good. She did it all on her own without me. I just need to see her happy, too. I have closure knowing Dulcina is now cared for and loved.

 

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

 

More books! This series keeps going. I know for certain Jovan’s book is next, and I thought I knew who was after his, but there is a man I didn’t even know existed until recently, and he is shouting in my ear to be heard. He may get his way. I do have a dragon trilogy I’m playing with, and in a perfect world those would be nearly finished, but sadly, I have a day job.

 

 

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Night Stalker?

 

Dulcina is a wild, willful, and completely uncontrollable woman. She’s had a lot thrown at her in her short life. A demon attack, the loss of her parents, stopping a man from killing her foster mother, helping to raise her foster siblings, saving her foster sister, learning life as a Stalker, changing her views on demons, learning to let go of her vengeful goal…and then I dump Jake in her lap. Not literally, but close enough.

Jake. That man is something else. He’s originally from Kentucky and still retains a fair bit of his accent, and all of his fearlessness. He was a police officer in Kentucky, and after his mother passed and his fiance stepped out on him, he moved to Florida and joined their SWAT unit. He is absolutely confident in who he is and what he wants. Dulcina needs that I her life, and Jake is just the ticket.

 

 

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

 

Little known fact, but it hurt to write In the Dark. I knew the city of Balinese would shift from a peaceful, well-oiled machine in the beginning, then fall into absolute chaos and sorrow at the end. I saw it coming, how it would effect each of them, and it was painful. In the Dark changed so many lives, made leaders of men, gave strength to women, but most importantly it set up five little orphaned souls to fall under the care of the only woman who could make them thrive after the tragedy. Our Dulcina is the second oldest of these children.

Jake, on the other hand, is likely a product of my time spent in Kentucky as a child with my mother’s family. My cousin, Kevin, was carefree and confidant. Rough and tumble. A boy who ran through the hills and hollers, but wouldn’t allow me to do the same, as it was far too dangerous. A hillbilly when called for, and always a protective young gentleman. It took staying with his family for all of three weeks to come home with a Kentucky accent. It lives in me still.

 

 

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

 

I’m likely a different breed when it comes to name picking. I tend to start with a vivid scene in my mind’s eye. Once I write that scene down, whether it’s two paragraphs or two pages, I can’t keep going without names. Names are part of a personality, and if it doesn’t fit, I can’t ‘see’ the character. The name Dulcina literally means sweet. On the surface, she’s not at all sweet. She fights being feminine at every turn, and while she is not at all fluff and pastels, at her core Dulcina is caring, compassionate, and a very sultry female. Feminine and sweet are absolutely a part of her, and she guards herself, but has a way of bringing that side out in her.

Jake Martin. I had his last name before his first name, which is wild because it’s not used much. I could hear Officer Martin in my head. For his first name I needed something short, to the point, with a hint of a joking personality. Jake. Only a Jake would be able to roll with the punches and handle Dulcina because, well, she punches.

 

 

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

 

The surprises! Every time I push forward and write the next book in this series, I’m surprised. Either by how the hero/heroine respond to pressure and each other, or the shock of something unexpected being thrown into the plot line. In Night Stalker I found a demon who, at least as far as I can tell, is a good guy. It feels weird. I like it.

 

 

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?

 

When it comes down to it, both Dulcina and Jake were originally driven by seeking vengeance for the loss of someone they loved. Demons killed Dulcina’s family. She left her home and ventured above ground, feeling the need to kill demons before hey had a chance to kill others. As often happens when you leave the nest and take on life by yourself, you’re hit with reality, and your perspective is altered. Though we don’t see it first hand, Dulcina has already been through her crucible. Her views on demons have shifted. What we do see, are the changes in her compared to previous books.

Jake is hunting the man who killed his best friend on the SWAT unit. The pain of her loss is new and raw, and when he sees the possibility of justice slipping away, he takes matters into his own hands. He had nothing left to lose, and going after a killer who skipped the country seemed like the right decision at the time.

 

 

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?

 

My first… In the Dark is a beautiful piece of groundwork set for the rest of the series. Vampires, being the creatures they are, can only survive in the dark of night. Therefore, they live underground in vast cities they’ve built and expanded over the centuries far away from the sunlight. When a human enters their underground city, she realizes she’s been ‘in the dark’ about the existence of this species. Then the vampires discover they’ve been ‘in the dark’ about an enemy thought long defeated, living among them, waiting for the right moment to attack.

 

 

Who designed your book covers?

 

My Hubby! Now that I have the rights back to the first four books, I’m doing a huge series relaunch. That includes revamped (pun intended) covers! Hubby is also my beta-reader, so he knows these characters and the vibe you feel when immersed in these stories.

 

 

Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

 

I learn something new with each book. Each drives the next to an extent, and sudden epiphanies about certain characters, cities, or events come to light the deeper I dive into this series. In Night Stalker I learned a demon Enforcer is hiding among vampires in Paris!

 

 

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

 

I think a young Mark Wahlberg could pull off playing Jake. I can’t think of anyone else who could be a fully capable SWAT member, and absolutely adorable the instant the crisis is over.

Dulcina? Nope. I truly can’t think of a known female actress capable of pulling off her amazing and talented physical capabilities and no nonsense attitude. But then, I don’t watch movies like I did once upon a time. There may be someone out there who fits the part perfectly. Any suggestions?

 

 

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

 

Book 7 will be Jovan. Jovan doesn’t like to cooperate, he does everything his way without remorse, and he’s got a lot of explaining to do. He’s been wayward for far too long, and it’s time he found focus, a cause worthy of his abilities. Love.

 

 

How did you come up with name of this book?

 

This is the only book, of the many future works in progress, that I had ever considered changing the title. From the first scene in my head for this book, I called the story Night Stalker. The more I wrote, chapter by chapter, the better the title fit. This book is the first leap into the Stalker world, the rules, the limitations, the other Stalkers, the body guy. By the time I reached the end of the book, my placeholder title became extremely relevant. Dulcina is a Stalker, only able to function as such above ground at night, and she is dedicated to her profession.

 

 

What is your favorite part of this book and why?

 

I absolutely love that these two fight over Jake wanting to rub her feet. In his admission of being stir crazy and needing something to do with himself, Dulcina realizes how alike they are, and she truly doesn’t know what to do other than give in. It’s a fantastic scene, and I love seeing their underlying similarities laid bare.

 

 

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

 

I like working off an image, so whether it’s an actor or picture from a random magazine, there is a face to the character. Their personalities, while I might steal quirks or speech patterns from real people, are completely created from my imagination.

 

 

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

 

It’s a total hijack, and that’s fair. It’s their story. Every once in a while I have to give them a gentle nudge. I might need something specific to happen in one book to accommodate a necessary event in the next book, but getting to that point is usually all up the character. So far, they have not disappointed.

 

 

Have you written any other books that are not published?

 

Several. The next five in the series are mapped out very well, but they are not yet compete. Their time will come. I also have a few other stories lurking in the back of my mind that hope to see the light of day.

 

 

What did you edit out of this book?

 

Surprisingly, not a tragic amount of content. What did get cut were memory flashes of Jake and Rita’s relationship on their SWAT unit. They live in my head, but the scenes did not have a logical place in the story. Just know they had each other’s back, Rita was tough as nails, and Jake typically spoke with a sucker in his mouth.

 

 

90 Comments

  1. Marcy Meyer

    The cover looks great. Sounds like a good read.

  2. Lisa Brown

    I hope to get a chance to read the book, it sounds great:)

  3. You have gone above and beyond! Everything looks absolutely gorgeous. Thank you!

  4. Michele Soyer

    Looks like a good series of books...

  5. Wendy Jensen

    The book details sound like an interesting read.

  6. heather

    Sounds like one that will keep me interested and reading for sure.

    • Happy Monday, Heather! I hope stopping by today gave your week a great kick start!

  7. wendy hutton

    this sounds like a great series to read

  8. Carol Gowett

    Seems to be an interesting, if rather dark, series.

    • Hey Carol! Some bits are a little dark, but most have a lighter balance somewhere in the mix. :)

  9. Nina Lewis

    Looks like a great series. Thank you for the Q&A! :)

  10. Sherry

    I really like the excerpts and the covers. This sounds really interesting.

  11. Maria Malaveci

    Sounds like an amazing read! I love the cover so much!

  12. Barbara Montag

    What an exciting romance read!
    Thank you for sharing it.

  13. Cathy French

    Great covers. I enjoyed reading through the guest post.

  14. Susan Smith

    This sounds like a great Paranormal Romance read. I like the cover and excerpt.

  15. Cindy Merrill

    Are there any older Vampires in the stories? Generally every "pack" has an elder who may ( or may not) be on the side of the main characters.

    • There is an entire city of vampires, with a wide range of ages, and not everyone has the same views and goals. Internal conflicts happen more often than external conflicts when it comes to vampire cities.

  16. Jennifer R

    The paranormal romance books looks fun to read.

  17. Piroska

    The book sounds very intriguing. I love the powerful covers.

    • Thank you! I'm glad you like them. Powerful is the perfect word to describe them!

  18. Elaine G

    My favorite genre to read. These sounds like book I'd enjoy.

  19. Ann Fantom

    This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.

  20. David Basile

    The books sound very interesting.

  21. Debbi Wellenstein

    I enjoyed the excerpts. Thanks for the giveaway!

    • Jen Colly

      Absolutely, and thank you for hanging out here today!

  22. Heather Swanson

    Do you write in a daily journal?

    • Jen Colly

      No, I do not, but I always have one in my car and purse just in case. I also write during my lunch when I'm at work.

    • Jen Colly

      I appreciate that, Jon. Thank you!

  23. David Hollingsworth

    Congratulations on your book.

    • Jen Colly

      Hi, and thank you! I hope you enjoy, and enter the giveaway. Thanks for stopping by today.

  24. Jeanna Massman

    I like the cover and the genre! The cover sets the stage for the book.

    • Jen Colly

      Thank you so much, Jeanna! The covers are definitely the icing on the cake. They portray the tone and characters perfectly!

  25. LeonieT

    This is exactly my kind of books! Glad to find a new author.

    • Jen Colly

      That's so exciting to hear! I'm glad you stopped by today.

  26. Cynthia C

    The excerpts are interesting. Thank you for sharing them.

    • Jen Colly

      Aw, thank you! I'm glad you liked them.

  27. Virginia Hafer

    Sounds like a good read.

  28. Melissa Cushing

    This book sounds so good and loved the excerpt! I am for sure checking out ll of this authors books as they sound fabulous and are the perfect fit for me ;)

    • Jen Colly

      Hi Melissa, I hope these are right up your dark and dangerous alley!

  29. paige chandler

    I enjoyed the excerpt. Good work

    • Jen Colly

      That's great to hear! Thank you, and thanks for stopping by!

  30. Thank you for this detailed and informative post. I love how you’ve provided a mix of theoretical background and practical advice—this makes the content not only interesting but also highly actionable. I feel much more confident in my understanding of this topic after reading it!

  31. BILL HOFF

    Looking forward to reading this

  32. beth shepherd

    This looks like a good one! Thank you

  33. Stephanie Liske

    I like the book details.

  34. Laura Thomas

    This series sounds exciting! And I love the covers.

  35. Dreaa Drake

    This sounds like a great book love the cover!

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