Today I'm excited to share an excerpt from Bespelled by Dani Kristoff, a paranormal romance set in Sydney, Australia. You can also find my review of this fast paced, fun romance, right here.
From the Blurb:
This isn't your mum's Bewitched...
Elena Denholm is a mild-mannered half witch. As a favour to her cousin, she agrees to meet with top Sydney lawyer, Jake Royston, to negotiate a property deal. Sparks fly immediately, but before they can even take a sip of wine, let alone explore where the sizzle might go, Jake is hit by a love spell and is helpless against his feelings for Elena.
Jake may be at her mercy, but Elena is keeping her hands off — exploiting humans is a no-no. But Jake’s good looks and powers of persuasion are breaking down her resolve, and Elena knows she must do something fast.
Desperate to set things right before her resolve crumbles, Elena begins a frantic search to find the witch or warlock who hexed Jake and return him to his right mind, even if it means breaking her own heart...
Excerpt:
Elena’s gaze lingered on the moulded ceiling and chandeliers, and then Jake led her to another room. This one had been tastefully renovated, and included a large marble fireplace. She shivered once and sucked in a breath.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked.
‘Yes, fine. Old buildings like this make we wonder what life was like in those days. I think about the spirits of those who died — whether they still linger.’ She noticed his intense gaze and felt her face heat. ‘Sorry, silly talk really.’
Jake grinned. ‘Not at all. I’m not one for ghosts normally, but I can tell you, Port Arthur in Tasmania creeped me out.’
Grateful for his reassurance, she smiled. ‘I’ve not been there myself, but I have heard the tales.’
They finished the tour of the conference rooms and headed back to the restaurant. Surprisingly, she was relaxed in Jake’s company. She liked his informed description of the hotel building, and the way his eyes lit up when he talked. If only…
‘Shall we go in? I reserved a table. Your assistant gave me the contact number,’ she said when they were once again in the foyer. Standing aside, he held out his arm so she could precede him.
On entering the restaurant, she was having a hard time containing her nervousness. Looking at the rooms had been an ice breaker, and she had warmed to him in a way she hadn’t expected. She was certain he liked her too, but now they had to get down to business.
Smoothly, he pulled out the chair for her, a courtesy she wasn’t expecting. ‘Thank you.’ He really was catching her off guard. He took a seat opposite her and signalled for the waiter. She was trying to figure out if he was being polite, or dominating to win the negotiation.
The waiter came over. Jake turned to her. ‘There’s an excellent pinot noir served here. It’s light and refreshing. Would you like to try it?’
A smile lit up his face and made his eyes sparkle. His charm was working on her, but in the back of her mind she worried it was only a tactic.
Bespelled by Dani Kristoff was published by Escape Publishing on February 1, 2014 and is available from Amazon.
About the Author:Dani Kristoff is an Australian author based in Canberra, the nations capital. She delights in reading and writing paranormal romance. For the last 13 years, she been concentrating her efforts on science fiction, fantasy and horror. She's just finished up a Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Canberra. Her day job is in the public service. Her partner is also a writer and they live is a big house overlooking the mountains.
Social Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Next week Dani Kristoff is also stopping by the Love Reading Romance blog to talk about writing her first paranormal romance. Stay tuned!
