Title: Dangerous Temptation
Author : Catrina Barton
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Format: (print, ebook, or both) E-book for now. Print to come later.
Tell us the story behind the story. What inspired you to write this novel? Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated with shape shifters. Paranaormal offers a vast array of elements to play with. I've always wanted to write a story with tiger shifters.
Tell us about the book cover. Hubby made it. I gave him the basic concept and he played with it until we found one we both loved.
How does it represent your book? It has both of the main characters on it, and shows the rain forest where most of the story takes place.
How did you choose the artwork? I wanted something that lent a mystical or majical feel to it, while staying YA. I adore how the tiger head looks like it's rising out of the steam above the water.
Dangerous Temptation:
Seventeen year-old orphan Kaitlin Sinclair's world gets turned upside down when she's forced to move half way around the world to Indonesia with her uncle she never knew existed. Things get worse when the demons she left behind in America follow her to the land of intrigue.
Her uncle forces her to attend a celebration where she meets Cadmon, a mysterious, captivating stranger, who reveals that he knew her parents. She uncovers secrets that in the wrong hands could destroy his endangered clan of were-tigers and the entire world.
When Kaitlin dives into a foreign culture, full of mystique and dangers everywhere she turns, keeping her heart safe might prove as impossible as staying alive!
Long
Excerpt:
The
clearing fell silent as a man with shaggy, dirty blond hair which reached his
shoulders, approached with a wide, purposeful stride. His shoulders were back,
head held high and chest out. Piercing green eyes zeroed in on her.
Kaitlin
inhaled a sharp breath and felt as if his eyes stared through to her soul. She
shifted on the balls of her feet, and licked her bottom lip.
Ean’s
body went rigid. A look of caution crossed his face as the man approached them.
“Evening,”
the stranger greeted with a lazy drawl. His eyes never left her face. “Who is
this exquisite young lady?”
His
eyes settled on Ean’s hands on her hips. To Kaitlin’s chagrin her cheeks
heated.
“Why
are you here?” Ean moved Kaitlin closer to his body.
She
braced her hands on his chest and gasped. “Who’s this?” She pulled back.
“Cadmon
Quinn, madam.” He bowed. ”It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He grabbed her hand and
brushed a kiss on the back of it.
Her
eyes widened. Butterflies brushed inside her stomach.
“Smooth.”
She slipped her hand free and rubbed it down the side of her dress to stop the
tingles and shake off the electric jolt.
“She’s
charming.” A corner of his mouth tilted. “Perhaps she will save me a dance?”
“She
has a name.” She removed Ean’s hands from her hips and then turned to face
Cadmon. “It’s Kate. Use it.” She raised her chin and planted her hands on her
hips.
“Call
me Cade.” He flashed an amused smile.
“What
do you want?” Ean stepped between them and squared his shoulders.
“Couldn't
resis introducing myself to your lovely cousin.” Cadmon sidestepped Ean with a
smile, and then twirled his forefinger through one of her banana curls.
“Interesting choice.” he gave it a loght tug. Her pulse quickened.
“I
won’t let you, or my father put her through anything else.” Ean took Kaitlin by
the elbow and stormed away.
She
glanced back at Cadmon, who continued to watch her as he swaggered over to the
elders, and picked up a tall glass of red wine. He saluted her with the drink,
then sipped.
Kaitlin
swallowed and turned around to break the eye contact. Was he a natural charmer, or was it an act? She hadn’t seen him talk to anyone
else, so maybe he was the silent type?
Ean
pressed a cool glass against her hand.
“What
did you mean?” Her gaze locked with his as she sipped the fruity drink.
His
brow rose.
“Why
would they want to hurt me?” She took another sip.
“He
and Father are not on friendly terms.” Ean scowled and sipped his glass.
“Why
so defensive?” She placed her glass on the table and rested her hands on her
hips.
Ean
placed his glass down and grabbed her by the arms. “He’s dangerous, and will
only bring you trouble.”
Cadmon
appeared harmless, but the sheer magnetism of the man told her otherwise. What
interest would he have in a girl like her? Was he one of those rich playboys?
She frowned.
“Hungry?”
Ean's fingers relaxed around her arms.
“I’m going to take a walk.” The thought of food made her stomach queasy.
“I’m going to take a walk.” The thought of food made her stomach queasy.
“Stay
on the path, Katie.” He frowned. “Want some company?”
“I
need to clear my head.” She walked along the small dirt path that led over to
the river. Inhaling the damp air she sat, and tucked her dress beneath her.
She
closed her eyes and allowed her fingers to glide through the cool liquid,
wishing she could peel off her dress and swim.
Her
eyes opened and she frowned at her reflection. Laneca would give her a serious earful if she saw how heavy the bags
were under her eyes.
“You
shouldn’t be here alone.” Cadmon held out a plate of food.
“I
shouldn’t be here at all.” She stared at the food, then looked away.
“You
need to eat.” He passed her the plate and a glass of wine.
“Why
are you so interested in me?” She sat the drink and plate on the grass.
“Eat.”
He sat beside her with one leg stretched out and the other knee bent, with an
arm resting on his bent knee.
“I’m
not–” her stomach rumbled. She closed her mouth, cheeks stained.
“When
is the last time you let someone look after you?” He picked up his plate and
bit into his meat.
She
twirled the meat-kabob with her fingers.
“Why
so quiet?” He raised a brow.
She
bit into her meat and closed her eyes as the combined juices of the roasted
boar, a hint of ginger and oregano danced over her tongue. She hadn’t realized
how hungry she was until she stared at her empty plate.
He
chuckled.
She
stared at the trees and wondered how the eagle nest back home was. The eggs should hatch any day. One
more thing to add to the growing list of things she’d miss.
“How
about that dance?” He stood up, holding out his hand.
After
a moment she placed her hand in his.
He
pulled her to her feet and into his arms, then spun her around.
“Why
so interested?”
“Are
you always this suspicious?” He swayed their bodies to the music and kept one
arm around her waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
She’d
never been held so close while dancing. It felt good to be held again, even by
a stranger. She closed her eyes.
Something
felt familiar about him, as if she’d met him before, desppite that she’d never
seen him till tonight. How odd…
Inhaling
she tried to figure him out. Maybe he wanted a young debutante to hang off his
arm? She scowled. It would explain why he’d chosen her to talk to out of all
the more sophisticated women in attendance. Was it because she was Ean’s
cousin?
“You
always this evasive? She gazed into his eyes. They were the most unusual green
she’d ever seen, yet seemed to suit him.
He
spun her away, then pulled her back, and dipped her as the song’s tempo
increased.
Her
heart rate sped up. She clung to him. Definitely a first. She’d seen
that move in some of the old movies, but had never experienced it until
tonight.
“Kaitlin!”
Her uncle’s voice caused heat to crash on her face as Cadmon righted her.
“Hello,
Nigel.” Cadmon kept his arm around her waist, with her pressed tight against
his side.
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