It’ll be almost a year since I’ve had a new release. My last book DARK LIES, book two in the Valorian Chronicles was out in October 07. Book three VEILED TRUTH will be out in October of 08. But the month before that I will have a Nocturne BITE (a novella coming out in ebook) in September about another of the members of the OCU, Captain Mahina Garner.

I’m really excited about the upcoming stories in the Valorian Chronicles. They have been so much fun to write. Here is a sneek peek from VEILED TRUTH…

CHAPTER ONE

When the uniformed butler opened the oak doors of the LeNoir estate in Nouveau-Monde, Lyra Magice tried not to be impressed. But she was, big time. If the gated estate with the winding, stately, tree-lined driveway didn’t astound, then the two-story stone castle would have.

The butler inclined his head. “Bonsoir Mademoiselle.”

“Bonsoir.” Lyra loved speaking French, the sounds were so musical.

“Monsieur LeNoir would like you to wait in the parlor for him.” He swept his arm toward an arched doorway to the right. “May I take your jacket?”

She shrugged out of her brown wool coat and handed it to the butler. He slung it over his arm and directed her to the parlor room.

The moment she stepped over the threshold, Lyra felt like she was in a Sherlock Holmes book. The room boasted a huge fireplace with an ornate mantle. An old-style sofa and two chairs with end tables sat in front of the crackling flames. Exquisite artwork adorned the walls. Cherry wood floors were stylishly covered with Oriental throw rugs. By the look of them, they were probably worth thousands of dollars a piece. Even the faint sweet smell of pipe tobacco laced the air.

She’d heard Theron LeNoir was wealthy, but truly she had no idea of the extent of it before now.

Lyra turned to ask the butler something, but he was already gone. Theron LeNoir stood in the doorway instead.

Looking the part of the wealthy home owner, he wore dark wool trousers and a button-down shirt with gold cufflinks flashing at the wrists. His dark hair was slicked back from his high forehead but unbound. The ends fell over his ears and brushed the collar of his shirt. At the seminar today he had tied it back giving him a look of elegance and refinement. With his inky black hair flowing around him, he looked sexy and dangerous.

Smiling, he moved into the room toward her. “Bonsoir Lyra. I am pleased you accepted my offer to come to my home.”

“Well, I appreciate the invitation. It’s not every day I get to see artifacts and books from witch history.”

“Yes, I imagine a lot of things were lost in the immigration to America as well as during the persecution. Witches weren’t the only things burned during that time.”

Lyra tried not to watch him as he busied himself at the bar, uncorking a bottle of wine. He had a fluid way of moving like a meandering stream of cool crisp water. He set out two wineglasses and poured the red liquid into them. Picking them up, he came to Lyra and handed her one. “From the LeNoir vineyard.”

“Thank you.”

He tapped her glass then took a sip, watching her over the rim.

Normally she didn’t drink, but the polite thing to do would be to at least take a sip. Normally she wasn’t polite either, but his obvious pleasure at watching her drink prompted her to do so.

The wine was heavenly on her tongue as she held it in her mouth for a second then swallowed. It was better than she expected it to be.

He must’ve seen the surprise on her face, because he smiled. “It’s the best wine in France. This particular bottle is over sixty years old.”

“Oh, well, it’s pretty good then.”

Chuckling, he cupped her elbow and guided her toward the sofa. “Let’s sit and talk. Catch up on the last five years.”

Lyra sat but she really didn’t want to engage in conversation with Theron. She’d never really been good at that, especially with men. Attractive men, in particular. Or it could’ve just her fear of speaking with Theron. Seeing him again, being this close to him, made her think about the time five years ago when she attended a spell casting class and he had been there. He had made an impression on her then, and it seemed it was still lingering.

What books are looking forward to this year??