TO LOVE AND SERVE visits fan favorites FBI Agents Diana Reyes and Southern vampire Diana Reyes as they deal with a very difficult decision: whether to let Diana die or turn her into a vampire.
Not an easy decision and it led to a story that was difficult to write. Why? Well, what woman wouldn’t want to spend eternity with the man that she loves?
Seems like an easy choice right? But imagine all that you’d give up. Normal things like a family and children. Imagine the things you’d lose along the way – everyone else that you love as they age and die and you don’t.
Imagine that becoming a vampire may bring out the worst in you and make you a horrible person. A demon with only your worse traits and none of your goodness.
I needed to get that all across in the story as Diana and Ryder consider all those things and struggle with such a difficult life decision.
I hope you’ll check out TO LOVE AND SERVE and let me know if found the decisions that Diana and Ryder made to be believable.
The Book
Born to Love…
Five years ago, vampire Ryder Latimer stepped into the path of a bullet meant for FBI Agent Diana Reyes, at once saving her life and condemning her to death when his blood contaminates her open wounds. Now only an experimental treatment, transfusions, and allowing Ryder to sink his teeth into her when they make love keep her alive.Born to Survive…
Ryder has always known that no matter what they try, Diana can’t possibly survive what contact with his blood did to her. The reality for him is that no matter how much he loves her, he will lose her if he doesn’t turn her—a choice Diana may have put off for too long.
Born to Serve…
Even as her health continues to deteriorate and they battle with that difficult decision, Diana tracks a serial killer targeting their vampire friends. It’s a dangerous job, but she was born to it and, with Ryder’s help, she’ll serve and protect until the day she dies—or until a miracle turns their world upside down.
The Excerpt
Diana loved the feel of the wind racing past them and the crisp smells of the early autumn night as they drove through Manhattan. She raised her head and took in the silver, glittering stars and the familiar Lower East Side skyscrapers, golden against the night sky. But then Ryder turned off Park Ave too early, heading away from his club.
“I thought we were going to the Lair?” she asked, swiveling on the bench seat to face him.
He shrugged uneasily and his hands clenched and unclenched the large steering wheel. “Some stuff is up there, and I thought—”
“You didn't want to trouble me with it.”
He shot her a quick glance. “I guess you can say that.”
She laid a hand on his thigh and noted the tension in his body. “You should know by now I'm not afraid of trouble, and if you need me—”
“I know. I can just ask. But tonight, I didn't want any drama.”
“What if I said I want to go? Want to remember what it was like that first time...the magic I felt with you?” She stroked his thigh, feeling tension of another kind work into his big body.
He groaned and sneaked another quick peek. “You're not playing fair, darlin'.”
She grinned and inched up on her knees until she was close enough to whisper in his ear, “Didn't you say all was fair in love and war?”
For good measure she licked the shell of his ear and he growled his response. “Never let it be said I didn't fulfill a lady's desire.”
With a chuckle and another quick swipe of her tongue, she sat back down. “No one ever said I was a lady.”
Her humor calmed the tension beneath the surface and with a few quick turns, they were on their way to the Lair.
As Ryder wheeled the car into the alley next to the club, she sighed and said, “That was nice.” It was dark and intimate between the tall buildings, and for a moment she imagined them climbing into that big back seat for some sexiness.
When Ryder shot a heated glance back there, too, she realized his thoughts weren’t far from hers. She tucked her legs beneath her, kneeled, and leaned forward to brush a kiss against his lips.
He smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist, keeping her close as he returned her kiss. “I’m glad you enjoyed the ride.”
“I did. It brought back some nice memories.” She raked her fingers through his thick, cocoa brown hair.
“You didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to. I want you to be happy.” Cradling her cheek, he rubbed his thumb along the line of it before tipping his head to kiss her again.
It began as a simple touch, but he lingered, tracing the edges of her lips with his, tunneling his hand into her hair as he deepened the kiss. She accepted, opening her mouth and sampling him. How she'd hungered for his taste. Needed the feel of his strong body hard against hers.
Ryder didn’t want the moment to end. This was how it should be. Simple. Loving. Full of promise.
Diana broke from him only long enough to draw a breath, then she met his mouth again. Her lips were mobile and welcoming. The soft press of her breasts against his chest oh-so-tempting. But through the haze of his desire, the uneven beat of her heart registered. It was too unsteady, He held back, worried that the almost frantic rhythm was from more than passion.
When she bit his lower lip, he shuddered, fighting his need, but then a push of power grated against his vampire senses. An energy filled with both light and dark, and familiar now that he'd been touched by it.
Reluctantly he ended their kiss, leaned back, and glanced in the direction of the formidable energy.
The Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling paranormal and romantic suspense author Caridad Pineiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project – to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word and in 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released. Over a decade later, Caridad is the author of more than thirty published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is an attorney, wife and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista.
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The Contest
5 comments:
This sure sounds interesting. Thanks for the guestpost.
I love the premise of the book, very unique and intriguing. The excerpt makes me want to read it even more.
This is going to be an amazing read.
Fabulous post - Thanks for sharing!!!
Thank you so much! I appreciate you letting me visit. Also, thanks so much to all of you for dropping by!
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