Thursday, February 17, 2011

WOLVES OF WEST TEXAS


"Wolves of West Texas"

Guardian of Her Heart, by Claire Adele, released February 10

Tormented private investigator Mike Wolfson has a killer to catch. Hidden family secrets, including his shape-shifter side, alienate him from the one woman he's always wanted. Stunning child crisis center director Melissa Haven is threatened by the evil underworld of his greatest enemy. Mike must protect her from kidnappers without revealing his dark reality.

Melissa's always believed Mike's wealth and her middle class status kept them apart. Finally together, they can no longer deny their feelings. Daring and determined, she welcomes his tempting caresses as hidden passions ignite. She never expected to share hot erotic pleasures with Mike.
As Mike protects the woman he's always loved from mortal danger, can he reveal his heart-wrenching secret, or will the truth lose her love forever?
A Siren Erotic Romance
Story excerpt follows:
“Let’s sit in here while dinner cooks,” she said and led the way to the living room.
She settled in the middle of the couch and crossed her long legs. He welcomed the chance to sit next to her.
He cleared his throat. Later, Wolfson, if you’re very lucky. “Even though I don’t want to and I expect you don’t either, we need to talk about this guy and his goons who attacked you.” He wiped one hand over his eyes. “You’ll need better security at the shelter. I don’t like the thought of him showing up again.”
“I can’t afford another security guard at the shelter, but I’ll ask the one I have to walk with me to my car in the evening when I leave.” Her eyes revealed her trust in Mike. Her lips curved up in a warm smile.
He wished he could hold her heart-shaped face with his hands and kiss her freckled nose, her full lips. Feel those lips on him.
“Good. That’ll help, but until we catch those guys, you need to have someone follow you home. I’ll do that. Juan and Derek have been investigating this gang for over a year. If you’ll call the police to make a report about what happened tonight, it’ll help them build a case. The sooner we put these guys in jail, the better.”
She slowly snuggled up to Mike’s side. “I recognized the father of the boy as a troublemaker from our high school days. It’s been a while.”
“I remember him, too,” Mike said and urged Melissa closer to him. “In high school, he thought it was fun to pick on kids who were smaller or younger than he was. Now, he uses women to make money.”
Mike clenched his jaw. He should have taken Tito down tonight. He shouldn’t have let him get away.
She smoothed her soft fingers over his hand. “The little boy’s mother signed their last name as Gonzalez.”
“Yeah. Tito Gonzalez.” A rogue werewolf with a dangerous pack. “He owns an apartment building near downtown. He and his gang live there. The police have a detective checking out the place, but so far, from what I’ve heard, he hasn’t found any conclusive evidence to prove human trafficking. The apartment is handy for prostitution, under the guise of a massage parlor, as well as meetings with those looking for free illegal labor. Maybe the boy’s mother can give you some info that would help with the case.”
“I’ll see if she wants to talk about him, but I’m not going to badger her. She came to the shelter for rest and protection. I won’t cause her more distress.”
Mike smiled at the protective tone of Melissa’s voice. “I won’t ask you to. If she closes up, let it go. We’ll find some other way to arrest these guys.”
Anger and determination made his blood boil. The thought of Melissa being hurt by Tito and his gang tempted the dangerous side of Mike with the urge to tear their throats out.
Melissa was the most beautiful, generous woman he’d ever known. Her dark hair fell in waves around her delicate face. He pushed a tendril back as he gazed into her blue eyes.
Her familiar, sweet scent tempted the primal force raging through his veins. He must control it now and always. She would run from him if she knew he was more than human.
Claire Adele
Many werewolf stories take place in Canada or near the northern border of the USA. Of course, that makes sense because most North American wolves range in the northern states and in Canada. But what about the Mexican Gray wolf? Shown below, the Mexican wolf is being returned to the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, where it roamed years ago before its numbers were depleted. With the help of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Federal, State, and Tribal partners, the Mexican Gray wolf is making its way back.











A few years ago, my husband and I drove along an unpaved road in the desert toward one of our favorite places to picnic. Crossing the road well ahead of us trotted a large reddish-brown canine, too large and of a different color than a German Shepherd dog. Late one night recently, I heard the howl of a wolf near our neighborhood home in the foothills. There are often sightings of mountain lions in our foothill neighborhoods, so it's not surprising that a wolf or two might be lurking as well. My hope is that they find good hunting in the mountains and desert outside the city. Their ancestors have ranged the entire length of the Americas in the past.

Check out http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/indes.shtml
for more information, and additional photos of the Mexican Gray wolf.

Have you seen a wolf recently? If you have, was it roaming free?

I always give away a copy of one of my books to a member of my newsletter which you can sign up for on my web site at www.JeanmarieHamilton.com

Guardian of Her Heart, by Claire Adele

Siren BookStrand
Available Now in: Microsoft Reader, Adobe Acrobat, HTML, Mobipocket, EPUB
http://www.bookstrand.com/guardian-of-her-heart

14 comments:

  1. Jeanmarie--I love the cover of your new book! I also enjoyed the info on the Mexican gray wolf--I didn't know they were bing brought back to the border states. Guardian of Her Heart sounds like an intriguing story--I just hopped over to join your newsletter!

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  2. Amazing photos. I love the cover also and am eager to read the book.

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  3. Jeanmarie, great post! I didn't know that about the gray wolf. I love the excerpt from your book, too. Can't wait to read it--I've gotta pop over and join your newsletter.
    Cheryl

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  4. Marin,
    Thanks! I love the cover too. Jinger Heaston is the cover artist.

    They began the program to re-intruduce the Mexican gray wolf in the late 70's. It's been a slow process so they wouldn't overwhelm any animals. Even so, I've read that some ranchers have had problems with the wolves. However, the program continues.

    Thanks for joining my newsletter!
    *Hugs*
    Jeanmarie

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  5. Caroline,
    Thanks, hope you like what I've done with the story. :-)

    Cheryl,
    Probably only those who have seen the wolves have looked for information. I happened to find out about them while researching wolves when I started writing werewolf stories. ;-) I hope you enjoy Guardian of Her Heart! I'd love for you to join my newsletter.
    *Hugs*
    Jeanmarie aka Claire Adele

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  6. Jeanmarie--Forgive me if I have a problem with werewolves as lovers! Just me--I'm chicken from every direction, anything that seems scary--I shudder. I could never listen to ghost stories as a child, either. Such a baby. Same with vampires!

    However, this story sounds intriguing, and you know there is a big market out there for this kind of story. I have no doubt it'll sell very well.

    Years ago, I read a novel titled "The Ring." I had no idea what it was about, except it had to do with wolves in the northwest USA. By the time I finished reading it, I was sick to death, and that book has never left me. It
    was about the real wolves, though, and poachers used a "ring" that had sharp metal protusion all around it. When wolf found one, it was something small--the details escape me--but he'd put it in his mouth and somehow it triggered it full open, and the thing was trapped in its throat. Of course, the wolf died a horrible death.
    I used to fear and hate wolves--but this book made me see them differently, something to protect.
    Very interesting about the Mexican Gray. Celia

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  7. Celia,
    My werewolf books are fantasies. I adore dogs, but I wanted to write something with a little bite to it. Hence the werewolf stories. I can also break some romance book writing rules when writing werewolf stories, and being a rebel at heart, descended from a long line of rebels, ;-) I like to break a few rules. Makes the story more fun. :-)
    *Hugs*
    Jeanmarie aka Claire Adele

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  8. JEANMARIE--You are a rebel! But you're right in the heat of things with a fantasy romance novel. It astounds me how many sub-genres there are, about everything one can imagine.
    Years ago, I read only Science Fiction--one book after the other. Couldn't get enough of the stuff. I stopped--I think I burned myself out.
    But when I began writing, everything and everyone is a real person with their feet on the ground. In other words, ME!
    My best friend in the whole world--for 35 years--is definitely a rebel. She tried her best to teach me how to be one--but gave up and accepted me like I am.
    How have we ever been best friends when we're so different?
    Celia

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  9. Hi Jeanmarie, congrats on your latest release. It's one hot story with one hot cover. ;-) You seem to write stories based on your family and on your part of the country. It's what you know best, so keep it up. It's a rich history to glean stories from.

    Jane

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  10. Hi Jane!
    Thanks for dropping by! When I first started writing, one of the suggestions for new writers was to write what you know. When it comes to the background, I know the southwest best. Yes, it's an exciting area to write about, sometimes too exciting. Here on the border we could use a little less. This area used to be rather laid back and easy going.

    Funny thing happened with the frozen pipes repairs going on since that freeze a couple weeks back. Some plumbers discovered a stash of a million dollars or so in the wall near the broken pipe they were repairing. Talk about a story! :-)
    *Hugs*
    Jeanmarie aka Claire Adele

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  11. Jeanmarie, what a wonderful post and pictures. I have "adopted" two wolves in the wild by donating to Defenders of Wildlife. Last I heard, the Mexican gray wolf is horribly endangered. Congrats on th efascinating release!

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  12. Thanks Tanya!

    Yes, I think they are endangered wolves. I hope they can keep up the program in the US Fish and Wildlife Dept.
    *Hugs*
    Jeanmarie

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  13. Jeanmarie, loved the premise of Guardian of Her Heart. A wonderful set up for sparks! I'm so proud of you and wish you continued success! *Hugs*

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  14. Diana,
    Great to see you here again! Thanks for your good words. :-) I'm working on the second in the series now, and this is a fun story to write as well.

    Looking forward to your next book!

    *Hugs*
    Jeanmarie

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