The Names from Maiden Behind the Mask: 

The name Catalina Rodriguez, the heroine of my latest release, Maiden Behind the Mask, has a special origin for me. Catalina was my great grandmother’s name. I’ve always thought it was a beautiful name. Sadly, she passed away when I was a baby, but her daughter, Paula, carried on her legacy, raised her family, cooked for everyone, opened her home with love. That was my grandmother, to whom the novella is dedicated to.

The name Rodriguez is very common, but has no family ties to me. However, it is the last name of what I like to call my adopted grandpa, a man old enough to be my grandfather almost, who was very kind to me at my former aviation job. Some people, though you no longer see them, stay with you in thoughts.

My father’s name is Eduardo so it seemed fitting that Catalina’s padre share the same name as my own padre. Like any dutiful daughter, I had to put my father in a book, and of course, he’s handsome, dashing, brave, and has good wits about him. In the heat of the moment, he is the only one thinking clearly.

And last, but not least, there is, briefly, a Senorita Lolita. My Pekingese is named Lola, and often, I call her Senorita Lolita. Even though she has her own story in another book, diva that she is, she insisted on being in this book as well. And there you have it. Senorita Lolita! I, however, drew the line at making Senorita Lolita the most beautiful woman in the story. I said, “You can’t have a woman more beautiful than the heroine!”

Fellow writers, do you use names inspired from your real life and family? Readers, if you could name a character from someone in your life, who would it be and why?

Maiden Behind the Mask

Tara Chevrestt

 

When Catalina Rodriguez is attacked by a would-be rapist and rescued by the dashing Ricardo Garcia, she not only becomes more aware of the handsome man, but also vows that she’ll never be a damsel in distress again. Using the timeless method of blackmail, she convinces her uncle to teach her to fight and becomes a masked crusader in the night, saving damsels from robbers and rough handling.

But scandalous rumors and dwindling funds force Ricardo and Catalina to marry.  Not immune to each other’s charms, their marriage starts fiery, but when one of Catalina’s nightly escapades results in dire consequences, she is forced to spurn her husband’s amorous advances…or reveal a secret that could turn him away from her forever.

Ricardo is not a man to be cuckolded or left in the dark. Is his wife having an affair with El Capitan, the masked savior? If so…they will both pay.

Excerpt:

She tore her gaze away from the horse and said firmly. “Cinco pesos. And only because this caballa has fire, not because of your terms. Selena, pay him.”

Selena’s hand shook, but the pesos were transferred to the dirty palm. The man laughed with glee, the crowd dispersed, and Catalina was left with a dirty, starving horse.

“We’ll get you fed and cleaned up,” she promised the horse, patting its neck. A cloud of dirt rose in the air, and Catalina struggled not to cough. “I shall call you La Reina, because once in my establo, I shall treat you like a queen. Your body may be beaten, but your spirit is not broke.”

“Catalina?” Her maid’s voice tentative as it interrupted her quiet chattering. “Whatever possessed you—”

“Fetch me a mozo,” Catalina interrupted her. “Take the remaining pesos and fetch me a groom. La Reina is going to her castle.” She wasn’t offering more explanations than that. She didn’t owe anyone an explanation. She’d done what was right.

As her maid turned to comply, heading toward the livery, a loud pffffht rendered the air. Catalina stared at the mare in surprise, aghast.

Selena froze and swung around to admonish her charge. “Senorita! Your behavior has been questionable enough this day. Mind yourself.” She shook her head and her finger both before turning back the task at hand.

Catalina heard her muttering as she sashayed away. She was too surprised and too tired to defend herself, but the breeze picked up, and a waft of foul air assaulted her. Catalina immediately tugged a delicate, lace handkerchief from her sleeve and placed it over her nose as she glared at the horse.

La Reina snorted and pawed the ground. Catalina could swear the horse was laughing at her. She merely shook her head. “Dios mio, and you let me take the blame for that?”

Pffffhht. Pfffht.

La Reina whinnied and bared her teeth as though she was smiling.

 

About the author:  Tara Chevrestt is a deaf woman, a dog mom, a reader, and a motorcycle and airplane buff. She worked as an aircraft mechanic for eleven years before turning to a career in writing. When not chasing her dogs around the house (or writing about them!), she battles over her laptop keyboard with her alter ego, Sonia Hightower.

Tara never knows what a story is going to turn out to be. Whereas Tara writes historical or contemporary romance, humor, young adult, and even a memoir, Sonia pens erotic noir or bdsm. Be it a Tara or a Sonia book, you’re sure to find something that interests you.

Website / Blog / Facebook

Amazon

The Serenity of the Land of Faerie is threatened as the Unseelie Queen Aveta rages war against the three remaining Seelie Realms of Faerie. As Shade’s powers grow, she finds she is running out of time to keep the war from spilling into the human world. Winter is growing in strength as the evil Queen’s horrifying legions scar the land in their frigid wake. No one is safe. Shade becomes enemy number one for the Unseelie legions. Questioning her true role of power, Shade discovers the cost of winning may come at a much higher price than she ever imagined.

Excerpt :

“What are you waiting for?” Benton’s voice startled her out of her reverie. Shade turned and stared up at her brother. She rolled her eyes and resumed staring at the sunset’s streaks across the horizon.

“Nothing.”

Benton sat down next to her and handed her a can of coke. He was loudly slurping his own can, and paid no attention to her as she glared back. His invasion of her space was something she did not tolerate.

“What do you want?” Shade grumbled as she opened her soda without thanking him, and chugged down a swallow.

“Most people say thank you, you know. I’m just wondering what it is you’re waiting for out here every freakin’ day? The sunset doesn’t change that much.” He spit out a sunflower seed that he had been chewing on, dumping a few more in his mouth as he waited for her to answer.

“None of your business,” Shade sighed. She knew she should attempt to get along better with Benton, but his paranoid nosy ways drove her insane. She continued to sit in silence, listening to him crunch on the husks.

“Alright, fine. Don’t tell me. I knew something was going on with you since right before graduation. I’m not stupid you know. I know it has something to do with that Dylan guy too. I swear there is something not normal ‘bout him. I’m going to figure out what it is. Where is Dylan anyways? He finally decide to go back to his family?” Benton turned and watched her. His dark eyes studied his sister. He wished she didn’t keep so many secrets from him.

 

About the Author:

I live in Las Vegas, Nevada- Sin City!!! I love to spend every free moment writing, or playing with my four rambunctious kids.  Working as an RN currently to fund my dream career of writing.  I devour books daily, especially paranormal fantasies and find genre books and independantly published books to be irresistible.  I’ve has been writing since I can remember (probably since the age of 6) and love creating paranormal urban fantasy and poetry.

I review books too and highly support all authors. I also enjoy watching movies, dancing, singing loudly in the car and Italian food (yum).

Website / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads Author page / Alexia Purdy’s Facebook Fan Page / Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale) Facebook Fan page / Reign of Blood Series Facebook Fan Page

Ebook Only

Dark Kings #1

July 31, 2012

Dark Craving

B&N | Amazon | Itunes

Fueled by ancient magic—and enflamed by human desire—the Dragon King known as Hal can transform himself at will into one of the legendary winged creatures he is sworn to protect. But one thing he can never do is fall in love…with a mortal woman.

Searching for her brother in Scotland—and succumbing to the freezing cold—Cassie Hunter awakens to find herself in the arms of a magnificent Highland warrior. Across his chest is the tattoo of a fiery dragon. And in his heart is a burning passion that, once unleashed, will consume them both…body and soul.

This is a story of destiny and desire, magic and mystery, warriors and lovers.

These are the forbidden cravings of the Dark Kings.

 

Dark Craving

Read the Excerpt

Dreagan Distillery

Hal shut and locked the doors to the distillery for the day before he turned and looked out over the land. Snow blanketed everything and the light the crescent moon cast upon the ground made it look almost as if it were glowing.

The need to lose himself in the land in the forest sometimes was overwhelming, as it was this night. Other times he could ignore the call, but not tonight.

Hal didn’t bother to tell the others where he was going. He simply walked down the steps and into the night. The weather didn’t faze him.

His boots crunched in the thick snow, but he never noticed. His gaze was trained on the forest ahead. Every one of them answered to something, and for Hal it was the forest.

Always had been.

Always would be.

Once he was in the trees, he took a deep breath and lifted his face to the sky. Snow landed on his lashes and rain dripping from the limbs above pelted his face.

It was glorious.

Hal smiled and spread his arms wide. He touched his chest, through his jacket and sweater, to the tattoo beneath.

A person could get lost in the glens of the Highlands, and there were thousands of glens. Which made it a perfect place for Hal and the others like him to stay hidden.

It had been a long time since he’d allowed his other self to show, his dragon self. And for some reason, this night he desperately yearned to spread his wings and fly.

To feel the wind around him as he soared through the sky.

He still remembered flying low over the trees, the leaves brushing against his underside as the sun beat on him. He hadn’t needed to hide then. For once upon a time, he had been able to call to his brethren and listened to their roars fill the forest.

So very long ago he had lived a completely different life. Back before the humans betrayed them, before a war that changed everything.

A sound off to Hal’s right had him turning his head in that direction. He dropped his arms as his eyes fastened on a large, fast-moving animal loping through the trees.

Hal let his coat drop from his arms as he sprinted toward the animal. As he neared, he realized it was a dog—a very large dog. And the only person near Dreagan land who had such a dog was Dan Hunter.

With more frustration than Hal wanted to concede, he came to a halt. He had been able to take flight, but now he had to chase a dog. For several moments he watched the Great Dane running, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth.

There had been a few times in Hal’s life where he’d felt that free, been that free. Those times were the barest of memories now.

When a person was as old as Hal, time blurred.

It was so easy to get lost in his memories, of what had once been, and what he had once been. But to allow himself to get absorbed in such recollections was not wise.

He pulled himself back from the brink and gave a loud, short whistle, which pulled Duke up short. The Great Dane turned his head to Hal and issued a deep, booming bark in greeting.

“Come here, lad,” Hal called.

Immediately, the dog ran to him, his tail wagging.

Hal rubbed the dog’s massive head. “It’s no’ like Dan to allow you to run like this. Nor is it like you to run off. What’s the problem, lad?”

Duke jerked against the hold Hal had on his collar. Hal narrowed his eyes. He’d learned very early in life to listen carefully when animals tried to speak. They might not be speaking your language, but they were talking. It was obvious Duke was trying to tell him something.

“Show me,” Hal said, and released the collar.

Duke took off at a run and Hal was quick to follow. Dreagan land extended far as the eye could see, and Dan’s cottage was the closest anyone lived to Dreagan.

It was because Dan rarely rented the property and didn’t cause any problems that Hal and the others hadn’t made a point of getting rid of him.

Hal easily kept pace with the Great Dane as they traversed over the land. When they crested the last hill that overlooked Dan’s cottage, Duke stopped and whined.

Dan’s Corsa could be seen by the light of the moon and despite the heavy snowfall. Thankfully, the rain had tapered off, but the snow made it difficult to see where Dan was.

Duke butted Hal’s hand with his head before he took off down the slope to the cottage. Hal had memorized the lay of the land centuries ago and knew where the boulders lay hidden in the snow.

He leapt down the slope and landed in thick snow. Duke caught up with him, and they both ran the rest of the way down the side of the mountain.

Hal rushed to the front door, but found it locked and all the lights out. When Hal turned to look for Duke, he found the Great Dane standing beside the car.

That’s when Hal noticed there was someone inside. In three strides he was beside the car. He tapped on the window, but the figure didn’t move.

Read More About the Dark Kings Series

The Dark Kings series is a spin off the Dark Warriors series and Dark Sword series.

 

Dark Craving Dark Kings #1 July 31, 2012

Night’s Awakening Dark Kings #2 August 28, 2012

Dawn’s Desire Dark Kings #3 September 25, 2012