The Destroyer, #4 in the Viking Warriors Series, is Available!

Fantastic News!!! The Destroyer is now available for purchase at Amazon and other retailers. Click on the cover to go to the Amazon buy link:

Here’s the blurb:
To Viking warrior Magnus, marriage is naught but a contract, a bargain between a man and a woman for land and title. Lust, love—he scorns such notions as weak and unmanly. But three days before he’s to wed a highland noblewoman, he falls into the maelstrom of a maid’s startled eyes. Their passionate tryst has him rethinking his notions, and he struggles to find a way to keep the beguiling Deidra while honoring the marriage contract he’s arranged with the father of his betrothed.

Deidra cannot take a walk in the forest without finding a wounded dove. Devoted to her menagerie of injured bears, peacocks, and wolves, she vows to disobey her da when he betroths her to the Norse warrior known as the Destroyer. Until, disguised as a maid, she’s rescued from a would-be rapist by the Destroyer himself. How can any call him ugly or cruel? For he treats her as if she is made of spun glass and teaches her the magikal pleasures of the flesh.

But Magnus is furious when he learns the woman he’s fallen so deeply for is none other than his betrothed. For there’s nothing he despises more than a deceitful female…except, perhaps, two of them…

The Destroyer is now a full-length novel and is more than double the total word count of the former novella. New characters, new action and intrigue, and a ton more hot romance!!!

Here’s my fervent Friday request for you—go forth, buy, read,and if you enjoy, please, please, please—leave a review. Reviews make all the difference in the world.

Have a marvelous weekend.

Cheers,

Jianne

The Dragon Slayer Releases Today, June 13, 2017!

Yes, this time I got it right *still cringing with embarrassment about my faux pas last week*. Here’s the cover, link, and the blurb:https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Slayer-Viking-Warriors-Book-ebook/dp/B071FQQN76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497351755&sr=8-1&keywords=the+dragon+slayer+by+jianne+carlo

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Ruard, the Viking warrior known as The Dragon Slayer, hopes for a biddable wife who has all her teeth and doesn’t drool – a plain, humble woman. He has no use for a luscious siren who draws every man’s attention.
Catriona hopes for a cruel warrior, a man ’twill be easy to poison. Not a Thor God come to life with golden hair, sky blue eyes, and a laughing smile.How can she kill Ruard? But she must to save her sister.

 

 

 

 

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Since I was born on the thirteenth, albeit not in June, and The Dragon Slayer releases on June 13, 2017, I’m taking this as a good omen (did I mention I’m superstitious?). Cross your fingers for me. I really love this version of Ruard and Catriona’s tale and I hope you do too!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Cheers,

Jianne

The Dragon Slayer, Viking Warriors #2, Now Available for Pre-order!

Okay, okay, I had the release date for Viking Warriors Book #2, The Dragon Slayer, totally wrong. It actually releases on June 13, 2017, but you can pre-order it now by clicking on the cover.

Be forewarned – I must apologize to anyone who pre-orders The Dragon Slayer as there is a glaring error, which I didn’t catch in the Author Notes. The error will be corrected once the book goes live, but I’m horribly embarrassed that I didn’t catch this mistake. It’s in the last line of the author notes, where I give the date that William invaded England as 1065 instead of – as everyone and myself even more so knows should be – September 28, 1066. My bad.

This version of The Dragon Slayer is more than twice the length of the previously published novella coming in at 166 pages versus 64. Here’s the cover, tag line, and a short excerpt:

To save her sister Catriona must kill her new husband, Ruard, the Viking warrior known as The Dragon Slayer.

Excerpt from The Dragon Slayer:

Dunsmuir Castle, Scottish and Northumbrian Border AD 1029
Ruard’s first sight of Dunsmuir Castle, the new holding awarded to him by King Canute of Britain for his years of service, near blinded him with pride. ’Twas an enormous and magnificent holding; four stone towers, defense walls nigh a score ells high, and a forged drawbridge wide enough to accommodate four steeds simultaneously.

An iron bridge could not be fired.

Few strongholds boasted such richness of defense.

He estimated the distance between the two guard towers facing him to be half-a-dozen furlongs in length. His chest swelled with gratification. All the battles and the wounds and scars had been worth this splendid reward.

“A fine holding,” Njal, Ruard’s second-oldest brother, reined his ebony destrier, Veðr, to a halt beside him. Veðr, so named as the steed was swift and fierce as a gale, stamped a foreleg and snuffled billowy puffs. “Stone, not wood. ’Tis unusual in this land. ’Twill be difficult for an enemy to seize.”

A satisfied grin curled Ruard’s lips. Aye, King Canute’s recompense went beyond his wildest expectations. In the dawn’s gloaming the faint rays of the sun winked silvery ribbon streams over the rippling waters of the wide moat fronting the castle’s walls.

Sluggish movement to the right of the woods captured Ruard’s attention.

He frowned at the shadowy outlines of foot, horse, and cart traffic lining the path leading to the castle’s gatehouse. His jaw went slack when he realized that the drawbridge had been lowered afore dawn fully broke. “By Loki’s toes, what madness is this?”

“Mayhap ’tis market day?” Njal offered the excuse for the unusual pre-dawn activity and the vulnerability of the keep.

“The drawbridge is down and ’tis not yet dawn. I will punish the fool who ordered this idiocy.” Ruard had participated in numerous castle seizures and knew well that twilight and an open drawbridge left a demesne defenseless.

“By Loki’s toes. Look anon, brother. See you guards at the gatehouse? Or on the towers?” Njal stabbed a finger at each structure in turn.

Ruard stared at the ramparts and peered ’tween the crenellations.

Not a single warrior could he spy on either side of the drawbridge. No armed men prowled the bastions. Worse, assorted carts drawn by mules and, in one case, by two men hauling ropes, clanged over the metal planks, and none challenged them entry.

“Somewhat is amiss.” Ruard studied the wide ramparts near the East tower, and spied a couple of scraggly-clad men conferring with each other, their spears loosely clutched in their arms. None of his warriors would dare be so lax while on duty.

“Aye. Earl Duggal is only dead a moon past. Did not King Canute say he had a cadre of o’er fifty warriors? Where are they now? Why is your keep wide open and nigh completely undefended? I like this not, brother. This screams of bait and ambush.”

*****

Scalling Castle, Carlisle
Catriona examined her reflection in the small mirror attached to her chamber’s wall. Her hair was secured in tight braids to the side of her head. Around her neck she wore the gold locket she had inherited from her mother.

How she wished Mama was still alive to guide her tonight.

Or Papa to counsel her.

But Mama had trained her from birth to her ten and sixth year, and she would do her proud this eve.

Composed and determined, she threaded her way to the staircase connecting the third floor to the great hall. As she descended, Catriona scanned the enormous chamber and noted Sir Rolf speaking with three men dressed in the raiments of the nobility, two of them attired alike in green doublets, gray hose, and knee-high boots. The other knight looked up and met her gaze when she reached the first landing.

She held her breath, stunned by the warrior’s handsome countenance, his inky curls, the noble slope of his broad forehead, his perfectly arched sable brows, the stormy blue of his eyes, and the sensuous pout of his ruby lips. Dressed in the finest navy velvet doublet and matching hose, he brought to mind all the stories she had heard of noble knights who rescued damsels in distress. Then his lip curled, and he raked his glance from her slippered feet to the wisps escaping her braids. Nervous, she smoothed a hand over her hair and missed the edge of the step. Panicked, she grabbed the bannister and righted herself.

The alluring knight’s mouth hitched at the corners into a full sneer.

She felt the veriest country bumpkin in her plain gown and worn slippers.

He eyed her with disdainful contempt.

What had she done to earn his displeasure?

And who was he?

“Ah, Lady Catriona.” Sir Rolf, Scalling Castle’s Captain of the Guards, rushed to her side and assisted her down the last few steps. She placed her hand on his forearm, and he escorted her to the three waiting gentlemen. She curtsied, keeping her gaze on their dusty and scuffed boots. “My lords.”

When she stood, one of the knights dressed in green executed a courtier’s low bow. “Lady Catriona, I am Captain DeGrecy, ordered to your side by the King Máel Coluim’s command.”

“My step-uncle received the message of my father’s death?” Catriona blurted. A lash of fiery heat scalded her cheeks at her blunder. By all dictates, she should have greeted the other two men first before daring her question.

“The king was most distressed to hear the news of his step-brother’s demise. Permit me, milady, I am Lord Ulfric, son of the Earl of Tees, commanded by King Canute to accompany you to Dunsmuir Castle to witness your marriage to the newly knighted Norseman, Lord Ruard.”

She was to marry?

A Norseman? A Viking? A marauder?

Hope you enjoyed!

Have a fabulous Friday!

Cheers,

Jianne

The Dragon Slayer Releases Tomorrow!

Book #2 in my Viking Warriors Series releases at midnight tonight!

Here’s the blurb:

Ruard, the Viking warrior known as The Dragon Slayer, hopes for a biddable wife who has all her teeth and doesn’t drool—a plain, humble woman. He has no use for a luscious siren who draws every man’s attention.

Catriona hopes for a cruel warrior, a man ’twill be easy to poison. Not a Thor God come to life with golden hair, sky- blue eyes, and a laughing smile.

How can she kill Ruard?

Her sister’s fate is in her hands, but Catriona’s heart is in Ruard’s strong grip .

 

Click on the cover to go to the Amazon link for The Dragon Slayer!

This version of The Dragon Slayer is virtually re-written and expanded from just under 20K words to over 47K.

When this book first came out, Jesse Potts of USA Today, chose The Dragon Slayer as one – the number one – of her three favorite  Viking Romances – here’s the article – I have to tell you I was Snoopy Happy Dancing all over the place and the article still tickles my heart:

Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She is a top 1,000 reviewer on Amazon and also does reviews for Bitten By Books and AllRomance.com.

Throwback Thursday: Viking romances

Happy Ever After

12:18 a.m. EDT April 4, 2013

Long, windswept hair, a chiseled face turned toward the sea — and did I mention a hot body? This TBT post is for all the Viking romance lovers out there looking for a sexy hero with a sword and dominance to spare. These are my top three favorite Viking romances.

The Dragon Slayer (Viking Warriors No. 2) by Jianne Carlo (2011)

This is the second book in Jianne Carlo’s Viking Warrior series, but it’s my favorite because of the premise. Catriona has a problem: Her sister has been captured by a terrible man who orders her to slay a Viking warrior known as the Dragon Slayer. She hopes he’s terrible, mean and ugly, but Ruard adores her, is kind — and she’s unfortunately falling in love with him. While sometimes the language was a bit much to read (sometimes authentic language throws me out of a novel), I loved Catriona’s issues and how she falls in love with the man she’s supposed to kill. If you’re new to Viking romance, this one has more seduction than dominance and more laughter than control.

The series:

  • The Bear and the Bride
  • The Dragon Slayer
  • The Peacemaker
  • The Destroyer
  • The Seducer

I must apologize to anyone who pre-ordered The Dragon Slayer as there is a glaring error, which I didn’t catch in the Author Notes. The error will be corrected once the book goes live, but I’m horribly embarrassed that I didn’t catch this mistake. It’s in the last line of the author notes, where I give the date that William invaded England as 1065 instead of – as everyone and myself even more so knows should be September 28, 1066. My bad.

Have a great Thor’s Day!
(kind of the most appropriate day for a Viking romance to be released!)

Cheers,

Jianne

Sanctuary!

chest-waves-dougkoziak01For some silly reason I woke up this morning with the first chapter of a new book, Sanctuary, in my head. Weird. Strange. But, there it was. So I thought I’d share a tiny excerpt with you:

 

 

Sanctuary Excerpt:

***

Genie promised God a whole lotta Sundays at church if he gave her an easy mark. She hadn’t survived the last four weeks on Santa Anna without learning a few nasty tricks.

Just let Seathe MacFarland be on the stupid side.

Yeah right.

Dumb millionaires didn’t exist.

Let his prick rule his brain then—that she could handle.

She lifted her lids and found herself looking into the most glacial pair of blue eyes on the planet. Dread snaked up her spine and left a series of icy slithers in its wake.

Intelligence and alertness radiated from his unblinking, predatory stare.

A whiff of some smoky and spicy fragrance enveloped Genie before he ambled to a halt not more than a foot away from her. “Tell me, Ms. Nelson, why is this piece of shit landing strip the official airport when I flew over an impeccably appointed runway five miles south?”

What?

He was a pilot. Crap, crap, and more crap. She squared her shoulders and held out a perfectly manicured hand. “How lovely to meet you, Mr. MacFarland. My name is—”

“Genie Nelson, last surviving member of the Nelson family.” Not an ounce of emotion flared from those hypnotic eyes. His palm closed over hers, and she struggled against the urge to yank out of his firm grip.

Her throat went dry.  She forced a smile. “I see you’ve done your homework, Mr. MacFarland. This is—”

He dropped her hand and shifted his attention to Shaggy. “Donald Smythe, aka Shaggy, General Manager of Ricky’s Landing. I presume we have transport of some sort?”

Shaggy grinned and waved to the building. “We do Mr. MacFarland, but you must clear immigration and customs first.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Genie hadn’t even noticed the other man until he spoke.

They were as different as chalk and cheese, as the old English expression went.

Archangel and Demon standing side by side, one a Viking, the other a dark Highlander.

“It is an international airport, Torolf. I suspect some rules of law actually do apply on this island. Ms. Nelson, Mr. Smythe, this is my lawyer, Torolf Bristol.”

Genie hoped her surprise didn’t show. Why had he brought his lawyer? Had he heard about her rights as the sole, surviving Nelson? That was to have been her ace in the hole if things didn’t go their way.

She kept her smile firmly fixed in place though her cheeks ached from the effort. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bristol.”

Torolf shook her proffered hand. “Torolf, please Genie. No need to stand on ceremony. We’re going to be seeing a lot of each other over the coming months.”

Months? She choked back a gasp and spread her lips wider aiming for a polite smile.

What in hell had just happened?

***

Hope you enjoyed!

Cheers,

Jianne