The Clan of the Wolf Series by Karen Kay - Book Tour + Giveaway
The Princess and the Wolf
The Clan of the Wolf Book 1
by Karen Kay
Genre:
Historical Romance
Historical Romance
TWO HEARTS BETRAYED
Refusing to believe the rumors that the European prince she was forced to
marry had died in a far-off land, the princess, Sierra, sets sail to
America, bent on revenge and determined to learn the truth. Because
she will require a scout to guide her through the wilderness, she
calls in a favor from the man who had betrayed her long ago, the man
she had once loved deeply and had hoped to wed, the noble Cheyenne scout, High Wolf.
marry had died in a far-off land, the princess, Sierra, sets sail to
America, bent on revenge and determined to learn the truth. Because
she will require a scout to guide her through the wilderness, she
calls in a favor from the man who had betrayed her long ago, the man
she had once loved deeply and had hoped to wed, the noble Cheyenne scout, High Wolf.
Many years before, a European prince had invited High Wolf to travel an
ocean and as a brother, to live as a member of the royal family.
There High Wolf had fallen in love with the princess, Sierra. But
instead of an engagement and the planned wedding, the princess had
treacherously married his friend, the prince. Betrayed and
broken-hearted, High Wolf sailed back to America, determined to
forget the princess. But a promise given to her years earlier brings
her back into his life, igniting a desire he must resist, for to
surrender to her again is unthinkable.
ocean and as a brother, to live as a member of the royal family.
There High Wolf had fallen in love with the princess, Sierra. But
instead of an engagement and the planned wedding, the princess had
treacherously married his friend, the prince. Betrayed and
broken-hearted, High Wolf sailed back to America, determined to
forget the princess. But a promise given to her years earlier brings
her back into his life, igniting a desire he must resist, for to
surrender to her again is unthinkable.
Forced into one another’s company, with the threat of life or death around
every corner, overcoming their prejudice might be their only means of
survival. But can either of them trust in a love, once betrayed? Or
will their past force them apart again, this time forever?...
every corner, overcoming their prejudice might be their only means of
survival. But can either of them trust in a love, once betrayed? Or
will their past force them apart again, this time forever?...
This book has been previously published.
Warning:
A sensuous romance that might fan the flames of desire. Be warned.
You might fall in love all over again.
A sensuous romance that might fan the flames of desire. Be warned.
You might fall in love all over again.
Goodreads * Amazon
“ ’Tis
said she is the cause of our own prince’s death.”
“Aye,”
said the housemaid, “that she is. ’Tis rumored as well that he died
rather than return here to her side.”
Gossip
between servants at
Prince
Alathom’s castle
At the
first hint that something had gone amiss, High Wolf immersed himself in the
waters of the river, and in doing so, became a part of the river, so much so
that not even a swirl could be seen in the water to indicate his progress.
Cautiously, he floated toward the ship, practically invisible. He didn’t swim,
nor did he float, but rather he executed what could only be described as a
dance with the river’s current. Never did he fight the river’s power, but
rather he moved with it, letting the water propel him closer to his target.
At last
he came up close to the boat, himself a calm influence in comparison to the
turmoil aboard the Diana. He could feel the terror there, sense the
smoke-induced delirium of the boatmates, but it was not in his mind to aid
these men. No, she was the reason he was here; he would find her.
Quickly,
he perused the voyageurs, as well as the passengers who were still aboard the
steamboat. Some of them were already jumping from the burning remnants of the
boat, an action that could bring sorrow, unless a person either knew how to
swim with the river’s flow or was strong enough of body to fight it. But
perhaps these men were that hardy, for these white voyageurs, who worked the
boats, were sometimes admired for the physical marvels they could perform.
Alas,
however, High Wolf saw nothing of her.
Making a
quick circle around the boat proved to be a waste of time, for he still had not
seen her. And so it was that he found himself with little choice but to board
the boat. Quickly, he hoisted himself up to the main deck, coming down
flat-footed and at a run, aware as he did so that the steamboat was sinking,
and with the majority of the Diana’s body enveloped in flames, there was little to be
done for her. As it was, her lower deck was flooded, and in places already half
submerged.
Still,
without losing more than an instant, he found his way around the decks, until
as he rounded a corner, something large and heavy fell into the water, creating
a terrific splash. But the gray mist of smoke hung heavy over his eyes, and
High Wolf found he could see but little.
Swiftly,
he trod closer, and looking toward the spot, High Wolf recognized the cause at
once: a smaller boat; one he knew to be a lifeboat, had been thrown into the
rushing current.
Suddenly,
things became worse: A piece of wood from above, engulfed in flames, broke off
the Diana’s main hull and fell, streaking, toward the water.
And before anyone knew what it was about, the wood, now a flaming dagger,
struck the lifeboat. In moments, the boat tipped off balance, catching fire.
A
feminine scream split the air, its intensity piercing High Wolf like a knife.
Bodies dove off the lifeboat, but not one of
these people was female. Where was she?
And
then, through the soot-induced haze, he saw her, still aboard the blazing
lifeboat, her countenance oddly composed. For she didn’t move, not even to save
herself.
What was
wrong with her? Was she frozen in place?
Although it seemed impossible, he knew that shock could sometimes cause
a person to freeze and become unable to save themselves.
Or was
the problem caused by another circumstance or a different emotion? Was it her
outrageously full dress? Was she afraid, with so much weight upon her, that she
might sink, becoming entangled in its mass?
But if
that were true, she was surely acting in a poor manner to solve the problem,
for she did not remove any of her clothing, or take any action to save herself.
Instead, amid the ballet of diving bodies, the princess slowly sank along with
the boat.
Quickly,
High Wolf plunged into the Missouri’s depths, then came up for breath and
caught his bearings. But she was gone, swallowed up by the muddy, swirling
waters of the Missouri. That’s when it occurred to him:
Could
she swim?
It
seemed amazing to him that he had no answer to that; he, who should know her
well. Instinctively, High Wolf swam toward the place he had last seen her, and
diving deeper into the water, hunted for her, but not with his eyes, for the
murky waters of the Missouri did not allow sight for more than a few feet.
No, he
searched for her intuitively, spiritually, and in doing so, found her within
seconds. But he had no time in which to experience relief. Grabbing hold of
her, he kicked out hard, bringing her up with him to the river’s surface,
forcing her head above water, where he heard her gasp for breath. She
struggled, and down they both went once more.
He kept
hold of her with one arm, while with his other hand, he took out his knife, and
then he did the unthinkable. As quickly as the water would allow him, he cut
off her dress.
In
response, she mustered a formidable response. Whereas before he’d seen little
life in her, she now fought him with renewed strength, as though he were some
sort of madman, or perhaps she, a madwoman. But High Wolf didn’t have time or
even the ability under water to explain his actions, and despite her best
efforts, he continued cutting away until the dress was removed and the danger
had passed.
The
weight of her clothing fell away. That this left her attired in little more
than her calf-length drawers, hose and corset was hardly discreditable, for she
was still almost fully covered.
But
their commotion under water had sunk them too low, and an undertow grabbed hold
of them. Quickly, he seized her around the chin, and with mighty strokes,
fought his way to the surface of the water, not stopping until he heard her
sputter.
At least
she was still breathing.
He caught
his breath, feeling somewhat safer, now that their heads were above the
channel’s surface, and he called out, “Do not fight the river’s current, or me,
because if you do, this draught will claim us. You must become composed.” He
spoke loudly, but calmly, as though the two of them were taking a stroll
instead of fighting for their lives. He continued, “You must become one with
the water, for if you do, it will protect you.”
But she
appeared to be beyond listening, and she fought him with revitalized vigor.
Once again, he called out, “Cease your struggles, or you will force me to bind
you, so that you do not drown us both.”
He
realized that she was obviously unused to the water, and in the end, it
required him to use brute strength against her, holding her arms and legs with
one each of his own. Meanwhile, he kept afloat, lugging her with him and
letting the water carry them back to shore.
After a
few moments, she came suddenly alive and howled at him, “I can’t breathe.” She
fought him once more. “You...you’re drowning me.”
“I am
not drowning you; you are doing it to yourself. Cease your struggle and merge
your body with mine. I will not let you drown.”
“And who
will keep you afloat?”
“The
water, of course. I have no fear of the water. Only those who fight the river’s
power ever come to harm in it.”
“But—”
“Do you
see that you are speaking? That you have energy enough to talk back at me?”
“I...
I...”
All at once,
she ceased her struggle. In truth, his words must have had effect, for she at
last let her body meld with his, allowing him to repeat his earlier dance with
the river’s current, shoving off here, letting the stream take him there,
forging through the water as easily as if he were picking his way across lily
pads.
It took
little time before he managed to set them ashore, appearing, to anyone who
might have been looking, that the river had lovingly placed them there. At
once, High Wolf left the water, and with her tucked under his arm, he crept
into the protection of the bush, where he granted her a moment to catch her
breath.
Brave Wolf and the Lady
The Clan of the Wolf Book 2
He saved her life, then stole her heart….
To escape an arranged marriage, Mia Carlson, daughter of a U.S. senator,
instead elopes with the man she loves. As they are escaping from her
Virginia home, heading west, their wagon train is brutally attacked,
leaving Mia alone and in grave danger. Rescue comes from a most
unlikely source, a passing Lakota scouting party, led by the darkly
handsome Indian, Brave Wolf.
instead elopes with the man she loves. As they are escaping from her
Virginia home, heading west, their wagon train is brutally attacked,
leaving Mia alone and in grave danger. Rescue comes from a most
unlikely source, a passing Lakota scouting party, led by the darkly
handsome Indian, Brave Wolf.
Although Brave Wolf has consented to guide Mia to the nearest trading post, he
holds himself apart from her, for his commitments lie elsewhere. But
long days on the trail lead to a deep connection with the red-haired
beauty. Yet, he can’t stop wondering why death and danger stalk
this beautiful woman, forcing him to rescue her time and again.
Who is doing this, and why?
holds himself apart from her, for his commitments lie elsewhere. But
long days on the trail lead to a deep connection with the red-haired
beauty. Yet, he can’t stop wondering why death and danger stalk
this beautiful woman, forcing him to rescue her time and again.
Who is doing this, and why?
One thing is clear, however: Amid the flurry of dodging assassin bullets,
Brave Wolf and Mia come into possession of a powerful love. But is it
all for naught? Will Brave Wolf’s obligations and Mia’s secret
enemy from the past finally succeed in the sinister plot to destroy
their love forever?
Brave Wolf and Mia come into possession of a powerful love. But is it
all for naught? Will Brave Wolf’s obligations and Mia’s secret
enemy from the past finally succeed in the sinister plot to destroy
their love forever?
Writing under the pen names of Karen Kay and Gen Bailey, Karen is a
multi-published author of Native American historical romances. She
has been praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing the
historic American Indian culture to life, and she has been nominated
for several different awards. Karen's great-grandmother was Choctaw
Indian, and because of this, she is honored to be able to write
stories that depict the Native American point of view.
multi-published author of Native American historical romances. She
has been praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing the
historic American Indian culture to life, and she has been nominated
for several different awards. Karen's great-grandmother was Choctaw
Indian, and because of this, she is honored to be able to write
stories that depict the Native American point of view.
All of her books concern the Native American culture, and says Karen,
"With the power and passion of romance, I hope to bring about an
awareness of the vital forces that helped shape the American Indian
culture. There are some things that should never be forgotten."
"With the power and passion of romance, I hope to bring about an
awareness of the vital forces that helped shape the American Indian
culture. There are some things that should never be forgotten."
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2 Comments
Thank you so much for hostessing the blog tour today. What a gorgeous site you have. Again, thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! :) And thank you so much for the compliment!
DeletePlease try not to spam posts with the same comments over and over again. Authors like seeing thoughtful comments about their books, not the same old, "I like the cover" or "sounds good" comments. While that is nice, putting some real thought and effort in is appreciated. Thank you.