A little about Katie Reus: I’ve been reading romance from a young age—ever since I discovered my mom’s hidden stash. Luckily the addiction stayed with me into adulthood. I write paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense for Carina Press, Harlequin Nocturne, and NAL/Signet Eclipse.
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Thanks so much to Tynga for hosting me today!
I grew up in Florida though I now live in the South (which ‘the South’ is technically north of Florida, go figure). Almost everyone I know where I currently live goes hunting in the winter, my husband included. Since my husband is so familiar with the forest around here he took me out so I could watch the way animals react to scent as part of my research.
In Alpha Instinct, most of my main characters are lupine shifters and their extrasensory abilities are akin to that of regular wolves or other forest creatures. So, I wanted to see how real animals reacted to human scent. It’s one thing to read about it, but another entirely to see animals in the wild.
So we trekked through the woods, both wearing specially washed clothes and I had been ‘forbidden’ to wear perfume or lotion, etc. After climbing into a giant tree stand, we sat there and waited. Not gonna lie, I got pretty bored but luckily I brought my Kindle. After sitting there for what felt like forever, we heard a rustling below us. A few seconds later a herd of wild sows and one boar cautiously came out of the woods to the left of us (we were high above them). They moved along at a steady pace until they came upon the trail where we had just come from and it was like they ran into a brick wall. They made all sorts of squealing noises and immediately turned and backtracked the way they’d come. It was so cool to see the way they reacted to our ‘predator’ scents.
Wolves have an even greater sense of smell. Some scientists believe their sense of smell is up to 100 times greater than humans. When writing Alpha Instinct it was cool knowing that I wasn’t exaggerating my characters’ extrasensory abilities! I adore wolves or anything from the canine family and I think (or hope) that shows in my new Moon Shifter series.
Fear has a scent. So does desire…
Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.
The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.
But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository
What do you like about paranormal romance? What is your favorite type of paranormal creature in romance? Answer either question or just leave a comment about today’s blog post and be entered to win a copy of Alpha Instinct (US and Canada only). There will be two winners.
Katie is offering two (2) copies of Alpha Instinct!
Open to US & Canada Only
To enter: Fill the rafflecopter form below and answer Katie’s questions!
Ends February 6th, 2012.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hi Katie!
ReplyDeleteI think that I enjoy paranormal romance because there are so many possibilities, and no rules to follow...anything goes! I like to read about all paranormal creatures, but I'm not really crazy about vampires. The whole drinking blood thing kind of grosses me out ;-)
Thanks for the contest!
Thanks for stopping by Cheryl! I agree, I'm all about possibilities :)
DeleteI really enjoy paranormal romance and it's sometimes hard to decide which type of paranormal creature I like the most. I think perhaps it would be the shifters, especially the cat shifters.
ReplyDeleteI love cat shifters too! In fact, there's a little feline shifter living among my wolves in Alpha Instinct (and she's adorable!)
DeleteI like shifters in my paranormal romance. I like the idea of the alpha male and his one mate. He will do anything to get her and keep her.
ReplyDeleteHi Shelley! I agree, I love the way alphas act with their mates :)
DeleteIt's always cool to discover an author who hails from my home state. =) I've got nothing against vamps but, werewolves are my favorite paranormal creatures.
ReplyDeleteYay, another Florida girl! Are you enjoying nice weather right now? This was always my fave time of year there b/c there was no humidity! Yep, there's just something about those furry creatures ;)
DeleteI love all things paranormal, shifters, vampires, witches, angels, fairies, demons, doesn't matter.
ReplyDeleteYeah, anything that goes bump in the night is cool with me ;) Thanks for stopping by Tamara!
DeleteI like shifters in my pnr as well! I'm not a big fan of the one true mate idea, unless the male has to work his furry butt off to win his mate's affection, lol! That always makes me laugh.
ReplyDeleteYes, the male always needs to work for it! But I do love the one true mate idea :) Thanks for stopping by, Rebe!
DeleteI can't wait to read this one. I'm so jealous that you got an ARC. I have the worst luck getting copies of books in Canada. Maybe I should enlist your help! :P
ReplyDeleteMy fav type of paranormal creature in romance is... werewolves. Duh!
Thanks for the giveaway and for making it open to Canadians!
Carmel, I'm emailing you - be on the lookout! Thanks for stopping by! I love my friends from the great white north :) (And yes, werewolves = awesomeness!)
DeleteSweetness! I've replied! :)
DeleteMy favorite paranormals are vampires but second are werewolves; I don't know what it is about either, they are just great to read.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy them both very much! I have one vampire heroine (another story, not related to this series) but I do tend to stick to my shifters! I probably read more vampire stories though so go figure, lol :)
DeleteI like vampires and werewolves but I'm open to most paranormal creatures except maybe zombies.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't think I've actually read a zombie in a hero or heroine role. I'd be open to reading a story with them, but it would have to be VERY well done b/c when I think of zombies, I think of the kind that need to have their heads removed *g* Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI would have to say werewolves or lycans...but I love some vamps.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
I love them both! Thanks so much for stopping by :)
DeleteI love the different world within paranormal romance and how they interact with humans. The strong alphas and all the extra abilities are wonderful too. Right now I have a thing for demons and dragons. But honestly it changes with what I'm reading at the moment. I guess I love them all.
ReplyDeletevsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
Their interactions with humans is one of my favorite aspects of paranormal romance. It's always interesting to see how different authors create such vividly different worlds. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI've always liked vampires in paranormal books but I'm open to any creatures so long as they are interesting and I can connect with them. I like the endless possibilities with paranormal books. Sometimes I can even imagine the unbelievable happening in reality.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's definitely all about a connection :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI love paranormal romance because anything can happen. You can let your imagination go free. I love shifters. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletemythic021@gmail.com
Thanks for stopping by, Vanessa! I think that's so true about paranormal romance b/c anything is possible :)
DeleteI love paranormal romance for all the different worlds and fantastic beings that are so different than normal life. My favorite type of paranormal creature in romance is vampires, but I really like shifters to, especially dragon shifters. I'm really looking forward to reading Alpha Instinct, the more I hear about it, the more excited I am to read it.
ReplyDeleteI really love vampires too (uh, Bones anyone? Total hotness!) and I have equal if not a little more love for my shifters *g* Thanks for stopping by, Barbara :)
DeleteI love paranormal romances because they are all unique. The author has the chance to create their characters and worlds only limited by their imaginations. This makes each series different and fresh. My fave characters would probably be vampires. They were my first love and will probably always be #1, but I do love shifters, demons, angels, etc too!
ReplyDeleteJune
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
I love so many of the different paranormal creatures too. Thanks for stopping by, June! :)
DeleteHi Katie! Your book looks great! I love paranormal romance. My favorites are shifters, I love them all but my favorite are the big cat shifters.
ReplyDeleteThanks, JoAnna! I enjoy reading about cat shifters too :)
DeleteI love shifters, more so than vampires and I'm always up for a new shifter PNR. I think they make for great heros and heroines that are exciting to read about.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like shifters too! Thanks for stopping by :)
DeleteMy favorite type of paranormal creatures are either just normal shape shifters or half-human/half-wolf-like creatures xD
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of anything with wolves! They're such beautiful animals :)
DeleteGreat blogpost again Katie, I am looking forward to reading the book. I don't know if I could sit in a tree for hours, getting colder and colder, and bored ...
ReplyDeleteNot entering the contest, live in Holland.
I love reading about witches.
It was very boring, lol! If it hadn't been for my kindle I probably would have fallen asleep :) Witches are a great choice!
DeleteI love all paranormal creatures! ALL of them! They're so interesting and awesome:)
ReplyDeleteMe too :) Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteParanormal romances are great because each series follow their own rules. I think my favorite creatures would be hybrids and cat shifters.
ReplyDeleteHybrids are always cool! :)
DeleteIf I have to choose I will say Fae. I love their arrogant ways. But Shifters are a very close second cause there is nothing sexier than a man who growls ;)
ReplyDeleteYes! When I think of Fae, I often think of KMM's Fever series (which I love)! And lol, agreed on the growling :)
DeleteThanks for the fantastic post! I've had book lust for this title, ever since the cover was released :)
ReplyDeleteI like PNR/UF because like someone else said, the sky's the limit. History, reality... everything can be "rewritten". I love the new worlds and possibilities that the authors create. Magic is normal, shapeshifting is normal... people have the capacity/capability for amazing things. And the romance is usually hotter b/c it seems there is greater peril, higher stakes when the supernatural is involved ;)
Congrats on the new release and great luck for the future!
That's exactly why I love paranormal romance too! The sky's the limit :) Thanks so much for stopping by, Erin!
DeleteI love paranormal creatures especially the vampires and I love the romances between them. I think they are very hot and steamy romances. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteVampire romance is always sexy :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHi Katie! Thanks for the great guest post, and the very awesome giveaway! My favorite paranormal romance creature is a werepanther! I imagine the werepanther as being very sleek, strong, and sexy!
ReplyDeleteOooh, werepanther! Very sexy :)
DeleteI really enjoy paranormal romance because it takes me out of my everyday stuff. My favorite paranormals would be vampires and werewolves. Love them both! Thanks for the chance, this book sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteThat's the reason I read all romance, I love being taken out of the everyday things :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWerewolves got me hooked on paranormal romances, and I still have a soft spot for shifter storylines.
ReplyDeleteI love my furry creatures :) Thanks for stopping by, Cathy!
DeleteI love paranormal romances and vampires are my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about the Fae :)
ReplyDeleteI love all the supernatural creatures in paranormal romance books. I also love that there are no limits to what can happen in paranormal romance books. My all time, hands down favorite paranormal creature is the Vampire. I have loved Vampires for as long as I can remember. They are just so very seductive but recently I have learned a new appreciation for Werevolves.
ReplyDeleteskyla11377(At)AOL(Dot)Com
love paranormal romances cause you can be anything. You can shift shape, fly, mate for life, live forever, and travel without a plane. Anything an authors imagination can dream up can make me believe I can live vicariously through their books. Plus its a great getaway from everyday life which is why my three favorite genres are PNR, UF/Fantasy, and SF/Futuristics.
ReplyDeletescrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
I like paranormal romance because it takes you to a different world where anything goes.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the great giveaway I can't wait to read this book sounds so good. I love reading Paranormal Romance my favorite!
ReplyDelete