A Shadow's Kiss by Kirsten S. Blacketer ♥ Fun Facts, Book Tour & GIVEAWAY ♥ (Historical Romance)

Torn between duty and desire, a knight and his lady must decide if their love is worth the price of treason.

Madeline Campbell has been whisked away from her uncle's barony to be reunited with her family in the Scottish Highlands. Her happy reunion quickly sours when she realizes her father intends to present her as a bride to the winner of the Highland Tournament. With no one to turn to for comfort or guidance, Madeline chooses to do her duty to her clan as well as her father and marry the winner.

An English knight has no place on Scottish soil, but Alexander must complete the mission with which he was tasked. Find Madeline and ensure her safety. When he finds her, he must decide between his honorable duty and his love for Madeline.

No one can deny their attraction and their desire for one another, but when it sparks jealousy in the other clansmen, they have no alternative but to run. Secrets emerge from the shadows of the past and threaten to tear their happiness apart. How can one choose between their duty and their heart?

“I am merely a possession to be bartered and traded.” She sighed. “Evelyn was right. Tis not fair.” She wiggled against him, trying to find a more comfortable seat.

“Madeline,” he groaned. “Do not do that.”

“What?” she asked innocently, glancing at his face. He had drawn his lower lip between his teeth, his eyes had drifted closed. She released his shirt and touched his unshaven cheek. The rough prickle of new beard scratched her palm.

“Cease your torture, lass,” he said, his voice hoarse and breaking.

“Am I hurting you?” she shifted again, bracing her hand on his thigh. His hand tightened, gripping her waist tightly.

“Stop. Moving.” He ground out the words.

“I do not mean to hurt you,” she said sympathetic. She truly had no idea what she was doing to cause him pain.

“If you would stop your wiggling,” he rasped out. She pulled away from him in an effort to give him some space. Madeline slipped, nearly tumbling from his arms when he caught her, his palm cradling her breast. She felt the heat of his hand through the fabric of her gown. A knot formed in the pit of her stomach, twisting and pulling, threatening to tear her apart. She gasped, grasping his plaid to right herself again. As soon as she steadied, his hand released her, resuming its firm grip on her side.

“My apologies, my lady,” he said as their mount climbed the hill toward the keep. Madeline could see Angus and Heather ahead of them, but far enough their words were a whisper on the breeze.

“Twas my fault I nearly fell,” she said, the heat rising in her cheeks.

“I meant for…” He coughed, unable to finish the sentence.

“Oh, that, well,” she stammered, her face enflamed. The darkness hid her embarrassment, but it also emboldened her. “I must admit, I liked it.”

Alexander said nothing, but his fingertips digging into her side belied his reaction. She felt daring in the moonlight.

“Did you like it as well?” she whispered, her gaze fixed on his face. He bit his lip again. A familiar tingle shot down her spine, landing in the pit of her stomach.

“My lady, twas naught but an accident,” he replied stiffly. “It will not happen again.”

She leaned closer to him, curling against his warm body. “Your touch warms me the way strong wine does. Making me feel weak and helpless and happy, all at once. I cannot help but want more.” She reached her hand up to caress his face again. “Would you kiss me again, Alexander?”

She felt his breathing quicken. His heart beat louder beneath her cheek and his jaw twitched beneath her touch. “You want it as much as I do,” she said, feeling wicked and wanton. She had wanted him for so long, to have him so close now and not take a chance seemed wrong.

“I do,” he whispered so softly she almost missed his confession.

“Then I am yours.” Her breath hitched when he glanced at her, his eyes as dark as the skies above them.

“I cannot,” he replied, regret evident in his tone.

“You can,” she pleaded. Her body ached for his touch, her lips burned for his kiss. For two years she pined for him, forcing herself to be content for the chance of seeing him around the keep. Ever since he kissed her, she knew he wanted her with as much passion as she desired him. Her fingertips journeyed into the soft curls at the nape of his neck, twisting them. “Please, Alexander.”

There are several fun facts about the creation of my series I can share with you. When I first came up with the idea for Evelyn's story (An Irresistible Shadow), I was fifteen years old. There is one scene in the book I wrote when I was in 9th grade. It had to be edited several times before it fit into the story perfectly.
The character of Evelyn came to me when I was a teenager, and I wrote that scene in an effort to tell her story. In the initial stages, she was a man-hating princess who despises one of her father's best knights. He loves her and wants to prove himself worthy but is unsure how to turn her hatred of men into a love for him. I had no idea of the time period, the setting, or the external conflict. After jotting down all my notes on the story and becoming frustrated with my lack of direction, I ended up setting Evelyn's story aside until I was in my mid-twenties. I had no idea how to effectively write her adventure or even begin to plot it.
When I came back to those notes and decided to work on the outline for her story I knew only two things...She wasn't a princess, and he was a Shadow Guardian. I built the story around Evelyn and her Shadow Guardian, Gabriel. I followed the characters where the led me and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
Even more surprising was the gentle nudge from Madeline for her own book. Okay, so the nudge wasn't so subtle. As you'll see in the first book, I wove Madeline and her paramour into the story as an introduction to their characters, and that led to the need for a second book...thus A Shadow's Kiss was born.
My decision to submit An Irresistible Shadow for publication was on a whim. I discovered Breathless Press was offering a critique session where their editors would read the first five pages your manuscript and give you feedback on your work. A friend of mine convinced me to send in the first five pages of Evelyn's story and I scrambled at the eleventh hour to edit those pages for submission. The next day, I got an email from the editor requesting the full manuscript. I think I scared my family when I screamed with joy and danced around the room. It was even worse when she read my manuscript and offered me a contract for publication.
I never expected an idea born in my mind at the age of fifteen to become a tangible work of fiction. It was a dream come true. Now I'm cultivating my craft and striving to provide the best quality stories for my readers. I hope you enjoy A Shadow's Kiss and An Irresistible Shadow. Thank you for stopping by to chat with me today!

Stick her in the middle of a chaotic home with two children, a hyperactive dog, and a camouflage wearing husband, and she can cook and clean with the best of them. But when the sun goes down and the children are nestled in bed fast asleep, she tucks away her pots and broom and like Cinderella she transforms.

Her characters creep forth from the dark recesses of her mind taking their places in the castles and forests built from her words. No simpering heroines linger there with forlorn gazes turned to the horizon, waiting for their Prince Charming. They straighten their spine, arming themselves with blade and bow, prepared to do their part in defense of their honor and destiny. She breathes life into the women she believes our ancestors to be, showing how they lived and loved with passion and grace.

Never bored by the tales still left to tell, she battles the ever sarcastic muse in her quest for romance.