I recently posted my review of Kendra Leigh Castle's newest release, "Wild Highland Magic", please go back here to read that if you missed it, then come back and visit with Kendra. She's has a question for you guys so be sure to read to the end. And if you pay attention you will spot a giveaway from me to you.

I enjoyed the book so much I wanted to have a chance for you and I to learn more about the author. Thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks we have this awesome Guest Post from Kendra herself:

A Chat With Author Kendra Leigh Castleby Kendra Leigh Castle:
For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by things that go bump in the night. And by "fascinated by," I mean, "in at least semi-lust with." Vampires, werewolves, tortured spirits, and even the occasional wizard behaving VERY badly, make my heart go pitty-pat like nothing else. My barbies? Had shoebox coffins. Yeah, it goes that far back. Ken might have worn a shiny gold rocker suit (hey, it was the 80s), but to me, he always had a vampire's heart. I mourned Keifer Sutherland when he got staked at the end of Lost Boys. I probably watched Monster Squad two hundred times just to stare at the yummy Count Dracula. And though I am technically a grown-up, I have a Slytherin tee-shirt. Um, and a scarf. Because Severus Snape, in all his nasty, tormented glory, is soooo my man.

In my not so humble opinion, a lot of the bad boys from monster cinema could have been redeemed if they'd just had the love of a good woman to set them straight. And fortunately, there's a job that allows me to help them get the happily-ever-afters they deserve. It's called "paranormal romance writer." And oh, how I do love my job:-)

My new release, "Wild Highland Magic", is the final book in my trilogy about a pack of Highland werewolves and their otherworldly counterparts, the Drakkyn. The series has been a dream for someone with my supernatural predilections: werewolves, dragon-shifters, and a tribe of blood-drinking demi-goddesses all appear in my pages, and I’ve loved every minute of it. Now, to finish off the trilogy, I’ve put together the only male ever born to that tribe of demi-goddesses with a beautiful werewolf who’s only just discovering her heritage.

Here’s the blurb:
Bastian an Morgaine has always been a man apart. The only male ever born into the Dyadd Morgaine, Tribe of the Goddess, his unusual powers and silent strength have kept him a mystery even to those closest to him. But Bastian hides a terrible secret, one that drives him to isolate himself on the remote Highland estate of the MacInnes Wolves: he carries a terrible curse, one he knows he must either find a way to remove, or make sure that it dies with him alone.
Catriona MacInnes, the daughter of the powerful Pack Alpha’s long-estranged brother, has only just begun to discover her family’s rich legacy. Worried about her father’s increasingly strange behavior, Cat hopes that Scotland might somehow hold the answers to all of her family’s problems. But upon Cat’s arrival, it’s the reclusive stranger with the face of a fallen angel who consumes her thoughts and fires her blood. Cat soon begins to suspect that her father isn’t the only one with secrets. If only her every instinct wasn’t telling her that Bastian must be hers alone, no matter the cost…
In the western Highlands, as the Wolves gather, an ancient evil watches, waiting to reach from the shadows and fulfill its dark destiny. A daemon’s curse has terrible power. But the love of a Wolf might just be stronger…and as Bastian and Cat are about to discover, the Highland moon has a magic all its own.

I’ve always loved a good Beauty and the Beast story, and in this case, both my hero and heroine are a bit of both. I hope, if you enjoy lots of sizzling attraction, plenty of wicked humor, and a little something different in your romances, that you’ll check out Wild Highland Magic!

Thanks so much for having me here today, and to everyone for stopping by. I’ll be around all day to chat.

And now, my question to all of you is: who or what is your favorite creature of the night?

Kendra Leigh Castle is the author of the MacInnes Werewolves trilogy, as well as the upcoming series The Fallen, coming from Harlequin Nocturne. She lives in Maryland with her husband, three kids, and menagerie of pets, and loves to be visited online at http://www.kendraleighcastle.com/

We are giving away TWO books.. one new ARC from me, and one from the Sourcebooks Casablanca. Giveaway ends May 30th. To enter in the drawing for your copy of "Wild Highland Magic" you need to do ALL of the following:

1. Follow Me/Subscribe to my blog

2. Comment with your answer to Kendra's question.

3. Leave me your email address in a spam-blocking format.

4. Let me know which book you would prefer, the ARC or the New Release Version.

5. Have fun, be creative, and be open-minded about the Paranormal!

"Wild Highland Magic" by Kendra Leigh Castle

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1402218567
The Burton Review Rating = 3.75


"Wild Highland Magic" is actually the third book by Kendra Leigh Castle along these same lines of sexy shifters of werewolves and sorceresses. I see your raised eyebrows. Keep reading. I myself do not typically (have not ever) read paranormal romances. But I have broadened my horizons and I am glad I did. Featuring your predictable love story it is told with a unique setting and circumstances, obviously unlike anything I've ever read before. Instead of getting turned off by the fantasy worlds I was quite absorbed. First off let me explain that there is no gore, bloody stuff which some may think of when they hear of 'paranormal'. There is nothing here to be afraid of.

This novel is focused on the romance that immediately occurs between Catriona, a woman who has the ability to shape into a werewolf, and Bastian, who is a sexy mysterious powerful mix of man and magician. He can jump worlds. (I just wanted to see myself write that phrase with all seriousness.) Oh and he can make water move. But Sexy Bastian is lugging around the Family Curse, aka a vicious shadow who swears to eat him up and whoever loves him as it has done to generations before him. Catriona's family of werewolves get involved in trying to save Bastian and Catriona from dragons and evil shadows with a fight to the death. Their attraction is extreme and that's where some of the 'bodice-ripper' stereotypical scenes come in, and it gets hot and heavy a few times. Mini sub-plots occur with Cat's family members with love affairs and secrets, and the actual magic itself which were all entertaining. The main characters are appealing and the dialogue is modern and witty. I enjoyed the paranormal factors more then I expected I would, some of the magic described was wonderful to imagine. One drawback is the non-development of the character of Cat's father. I kept expecting more to be said about him with insight into his secrets and personal life. And although this is set in Scotland, there isn't a lot of "Scottish" characterizations except for kilts at a gathering... and then the other settings are indeed out of this world.

After getting halfway through the book is when I realized that were two books before that focused on some of the same characters, but knowing that did not detract from the current plot. I will just have to go hunting for those other two. On Kendra's site there is a summary of the books and how they relate to one another. This is a great summer read, this came out May 1 in paperback for a great price, so you really can't go wrong. I know some readers will balk at the phrase paranormal romance, as I have done myself, but I recommend this one for anyone who wants to let go of the typical romance and go for a ride on the other side where demons and love at first sight mixes into an uncommonly great story. I definitely believe that Paranormal Romance Readers will love it. Overall a good ride, and I enjoyed it.

Kendra Castle's books: 'Call of The Highland Moon' released 5/2008, and 'Dark Highland Fire' released 10/2008, and the new one releases May 1st available here on Amazon.

Please stay tuned for Kendra's Guest Post that she has graciously agreed to adorn my blog with, which occurs May 12th. I will then be hosting a giveaway for an unread copy of the ARC and a new copy of this release from the publisher! But you have to participate during the May 12th event :)