You've found the home on the net for romance writer, LaVerne Clark. Thanks for visiting! :)

I write suspense and light fantasy/paranormal set in the beautiful country of New Zealand. A land of myths and magic, Aotearoa (Maori for Long White Cloud) has always been a storytelling nation and it is my pleasure to share mine with you.

Make yourself your drink of choice, stay a while and feel free to leave comments. I love to meet new friends.



Heartpounding suspense and fantasy Downunder



Sunday, March 9, 2014

Spotlighting Favourites and Giveaway!

My publisher, The Wild Rose Press is holding a Rafflecopter Giveaway this week. There are lots of ways to increase your chances of winning a $10 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press, so make sure to enter. Each week there will be a new code to find a new winner, which I will endeavour to post for you. Surely, you all know by now that I can be a bit slack in the posting of blogs department, so feel free to give me a prod in the ribs, or a 'hey, you!' comment if I've forgotten :)

But before that, I wanted to spotlight a couple of my all-time favourite titles from TWRP. The authors are also both a couple of my favourite people in the world. Hugely talented, they are also both so supportive and giving in everything they do. It's no wonder they write such amazing stories.

First up, Out of the Darkness by Lilly Gayle.
I'm not usually a huge fan of vampires, but Lilly's take on this genre was so fresh, intelligent and exciting. And the hero is to die for! I've been a firm fan of hers since devouring this book.

Her research could cure his dark hunger if a covert government agent doesn't get to her first.

Vincent Maxwell is a vampire with a conscience searching for a cure to his dark hunger. But when a scientist looking to create vampire soldiers captures and kills a fellow vampire, Vincent seeks out Dr. Megan Harper. While researching xeroderm pigmentosum, a light sensitivity disorder, Dr.Harper discovered a link to vampirism and she could hold a key to a cure and the answers to Gerard's death. But getting close to the beautiful scientist could endanger both their lives.

When researcher Dr. Megan Harper meets Vincent Maxwell, she believes he suffers from xeroderma pigmentosum, the genetic disease that killed her sister. Sensing a deep loneliness within the handsome man, Megan offers friendship and access to her research files hoping he will offer her a position in his company. But they soon become more than friends and Megan learns the horrifying truth. She's entered the dark and unseen world of vampires and Vincent is her only hope of survival.
(Pages 278) Hot

Excerpt:

Vincent didn't spare her a second glance as he opened the basement door and stepped down.
The sound of his boot heel striking wood echoed up the steps as he disappeared into the darkness.
"But--" Megan switched on the light and hurried after him.
"The first thing you need down here is a table and some chairs," he said when he saw the stacks of unorganized data and reams of paper scattered across the floor. "Do you mind if I bring the ones down from the kitchen?"
"No." She turned back toward the stairs. "I'll help you bring them down." It would give her something to do while she sorted through the confused thoughts and emotions tumbling around inside her head.
Vincent touched her arm and heat shot straight to her belly, turning her insides all warm and fuzzy.
Warm and fuzzy was not good.
Warm and fuzzy made her think of more than just heated sex. It made her think of cozy evenings snuggled up under a blanket and shared feelings. It made her long for an emotional connection she couldn't risk. Not with Vincent. Not with a man who could potentially die a slow, lingering death.
"I'll get it." He let go of her arm and stepped back. "You start going through those papers and find that report you wrote comparing XP to vampire myths and legends. I'd be interested in seeing if you still have it."
He turned to go back up the stairs and Megan shivered. Why had Steve mentioned the vampire report to Vincent? And why was Vincent so interested in seeing it?
Vincent the Vampire.

Pssst - Embrace the Darkness is the next book in this series and features the gorgeous Gerard who you get to meet in the first book. HIGHLY recommended reading too :) 



The other book is one I'd bought and had on my kindle for a long, loooong time before I finally had the chance to sit down and read it. Once I started, I wanted to kick myself for not getting to it sooner! It has everything I love in a romance book. Amazing believable chemistry, engaging writing and paranormal/fantasy elements with a contemporary heroine. PLUS, it is set in Ireland, the land of my ancestors.

Beneath the fairie mound of Dunhaven's Door, two dreamers meet their destiny…

After a decade of trying to outrun her debilitating dreams, Keely returns to Ireland to face the ancient ring of stones and the man haunting them. Within the stones, she embraces her fairie heritage and her mystical gifts. But can she trust the handsome Halfling who shares her dreams and holds her heart?

When Keely reappears in his life, Colin's fairie blood threatens to gain the upper hand. Compelled to assist the lovely Halfling, he agrees to help her break the three-hundred-year-old curse on their families, but he'll do it on his terms—as a black wolf.
Together, two Halflings can stand against any power, but only love can break the bonds of bitterness. Will Colin’s arrogant plan to outwit the King of the Fairies doom Keely for eternity? Or is their love enough to break the curse?

Rating: Sensual
Page Count: 148
Word Count: 38394
978-1-61217-154-8 Digital

Excerpt:
“They were real, Colin. Saraid and Owein were real, not just fictional characters from a heartbreaking legend.”
“So it would seem.”
“They’re your ancestors.”
“And yours,” he reminded her. “You’re a descendant of Saraid and Owein, too.”
“I didn’t miss that detail.”
“Yes, but has it occurred to you what that means?” At her blank look, he added, “We carry Owein’s blood, Keely, as well as Saraid’s.”
She stared at him for a moment. Her disbelieving laughter took care of the residual tightness in her belly. “Fairie blood?” she scoffed. “Please!” A lifted brow was his only response. “That’s as ridiculous as it is impossible.”
“As ridiculous and impossible as sharing your dreams with a handsome Irishman for a decade?”
She narrowed her eyes at his taunting grin, but had to admit, he had a point. Fairie blood. Good God! How was she supposed to feel about that? She had no clue. She was going to need some time to come to grips with all she’d learned in the past few hours—if coming to grips with the unbelievable was even possible.

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