We are happy to have special guest Kendall McKenna on our blog today! We are super excited to hear about her hot marine shifters! Also we are pleased to host a giveaway for book 1 in her Strength of the Pack series. You have until Sunday to enter!
Hello! My name is Kendall McKenna, and I write M/M Erotic Romance novels and novellas. My stories feature characters who are authentically written U.S. Marines, and realistic combat scenes. With me, you get some action and intrigue along with your hot romance!
Hello! My name is Kendall McKenna, and I write M/M Erotic Romance novels and novellas. My stories feature characters who are authentically written U.S. Marines, and realistic combat scenes. With me, you get some action and intrigue along with your hot romance!
The lovely and generous
Book Whores have allowed me to come visit, have a chat about my new book, and
share some hot man-pics!
Or maybe it’s about
U.S. Marines who are werewolves.
Oh well! Either way,
it’s about hot, hard-bodied men who turn into wolves and the human men who fall
in the love with them.
I wrote Strength
of the Pack almost on a whim. I have read very, very few shifter
stories. Not because I don’t like them, but I simply haven’t made a point to
seek them out. I’ve enjoyed the very few I have read. It wasn’t until Strength
of the Pack was released, that I became aware that the genre has many, many
tropes, many ‘rules’, and certain patterns that appear in story after story.
Because I’m unaware of most of these, they’re not in Strength of the Pack.
I was halfway through
writing book #1 when I realized I had a supporting character on my hands who
absolutely needed his own story written. I also realized that I had written
certain themes that could easily be developed into overall, multi-story arcs. I
sat down to write Strength of the Wolf, and nearly couldn’t stop. My characters
took over and I ended up with 119,000 words! (No wonder my arthritis is acting
up!)
What I have on my hands
is a series, that was only supposed to be a single book, that features
werewolves that are fully integrated with humans, are serving openly in the
Marine Corps, and are respected to the point of reverence. Readers and
reviewers tell me repeatedly that there’s nothing else out there like them, and
that I broke a whole lotta rules.
I have to take their
words for it, because I still don’t read shifter books!
Curious? Here’s the
blurb for Strength of the Pack:
Lieutenant Lucas Young doesn’t know much about shifters. When
Sergeant Noah Hammond is assigned to Lucas’ platoon, the Marine Corps’ True
Alpha werewolf challenges the Lieutenant’s authority and his self-control. As
Lucas learns to dominate and command Noah, he struggles against a strong
attraction and deepening emotional bond.
During their combat deployment to Afghanistan, Lucas and Noah
begin mirroring legendary partnerships. Their bond and their power grow as they
survive dangerous combat and ambushes. When one of them is wounded in battle,
they both must embrace the strength of their bond before they lose each other
forever.
So, Lucas and Noah have a commanding officer
named Tim Madison. Tim’s a smart, competent officer who takes good care of the
Marines in his command. He’s strangely intuitive when it comes to understanding
and dealing with werewolves. Tim has a dry sense of humor and frequently sees
the irony in life. He’s easy to like, so it’s easy to cheer for him when he
stumbles over his own werewolf in Strength of the Wolf:
Blurb:
After a fiery exit from Afghanistan, Tim Madison is promoted to major. Jeremy Wagner is a civilian, just beginning his Transition to True Alpha. As a lone wolf, he has no one to teach him the vital principles of strong leadership. After a volatile chance encounter, Tim and Jeremy form an intimate bond.
After a fiery exit from Afghanistan, Tim Madison is promoted to major. Jeremy Wagner is a civilian, just beginning his Transition to True Alpha. As a lone wolf, he has no one to teach him the vital principles of strong leadership. After a volatile chance encounter, Tim and Jeremy form an intimate bond.
As Jeremy prepares to
someday lead his own pack, Tim struggles with military werewolves being
needlessly maimed in combat, as well as specifically targeted by hostile
forces. Despite Tim and Jeremy’s feelings, werewolf and human politics or
family conflict could prevent their mate-bond.
Excerpt:
The crowd of Marines backed away, forming a wide circle around Tim. To his left, Lucas dropped what he was carrying. Glass shattered on the wooden deck and dispelled the food it contained. To Tim’s right, Jeremy’s clawed hands wrapped around Terrell Hubbard’s throat. His lips pulled back in a ferocious snarl, revealing long, wickedly sharp fangs. Hubbard’s fingers were claws, as well. One gripped Jeremy’s bicep, the other was fisted in Jeremy’s shirt. Hubbard bared his fangs, barking and growling in Jeremy’s face.
The crowd of Marines backed away, forming a wide circle around Tim. To his left, Lucas dropped what he was carrying. Glass shattered on the wooden deck and dispelled the food it contained. To Tim’s right, Jeremy’s clawed hands wrapped around Terrell Hubbard’s throat. His lips pulled back in a ferocious snarl, revealing long, wickedly sharp fangs. Hubbard’s fingers were claws, as well. One gripped Jeremy’s bicep, the other was fisted in Jeremy’s shirt. Hubbard bared his fangs, barking and growling in Jeremy’s face.
Adrenaline surged into Tim’s bloodstream. His heart
pounded, his mouth went dry. “Jeremy! Knock it the fuck off!” he shouted,
reaching for the brat’s shoulders to pull him away from Hubbard. “Sergeant
Hubbard! Stand down! Right the fuck now!” Tim’s skin tightened over his bones
and his clothes were suddenly painful.
Tim hadn’t been this afraid in combat. Hubbard was inches
taller and tens of pounds heavier than Jeremy. He was a trained Marine, battle
hardened. Jeremy was outclassed and that scared the shit out of Tim.
“Submit, Terrell,” Noah shouted, voice rough and
commanding. He sounded more wolf than human.
Just as Tim reached for Jeremy, strong hands grasped his
wrists.
“Stay out of it,” Lucas said, trying to drag Tim away from
the embattled werewolves. “You’ll only get hurt.”
“Jeremy’s no match for Hubbard,” Tim said angrily, trying
to shake off Lucas.
“Yes, he is.” Lucas put himself between Tim and the
shifters, giving a mighty shove. “Let Noah handle it.”
Tim stumbled, Lucas’ shove sending him off balance. He
started back toward Jeremy, desperate to get him away from the larger, stronger
Hubbard. Lucas blocked his path. Dawson was suddenly behind Lucas as silent
reinforcement.
“Submit to him, Terrell,” Noah ordered again. He stood
beside the two werewolves but didn’t touch. Tim wondered why the hell he didn’t
break up the fight. “If you make him shift he’ll rip your throat out.”
In the blink of an eye, Hubbard gave up the fight and let
himself be carried to the ground by Jeremy’s weight. Now on his back, Terrell
let his arms go limp beside him. He tilted back his head so that both his
throat and his belly were vulnerable to Jeremy’s attack.
A strange silence fell over the yard, save for Hubbard’s
labored breathing as he struggled to get air past Jeremy’s grip on his throat.
Jeremy crouched over Terrell’s supine form. He gripped Hubbard’s throat with
only one clawed hand now. He leaned down until his open mouth hovered just
above Terrell’s throat.
“My wolf has submitted, Jeremy,” Noah said calmly. He knelt
next to the combatants, still not touching Jeremy. “You’re the victor. He
submitted. Let him up.”
Jeremy continued to crouch over Hubbard. He snapped audibly
at the vulnerable flesh of Terrell’s throat. Hubbard flinched. Tim clenched his
jaw, silently begging Jeremy to accept Hubbard’s submission.
“You can’t filter this through any human or military standards,”
Lucas said quietly. Tim had nearly forgotten he was there. “I know you think
it’s too soon, but do you feel a connection to Jeremy?”
Tim swallowed hard, his throat tight. To his relief, Jeremy
released Terrell, rising gracefully to his feet. “Yes,” Tim admitted, eyes
following Jeremy as he stalked back and forth, glaring at the werewolves
circled around them.
“Let him mark you, then,” said Lucas. “Right now, in front
of the Pack.”
Tim realized everything had been leading him to this very
moment, despite his efforts to deny and avoid it. “Yeah,” he sighed. He had
feelings for the kid he knew weren’t mixed up with Jeremy’s, or tied to the
full moon. Jeremy’s well-being mattered to Tim, but he was the reason Jeremy
was angry and aggressive. Jeremy needed Tim to stop hiding.
“It’s got to be a visible mark,” Lucas reminded him. “He’s
going to want to get his scent on you, too.”
None of that bothered Tim. Well, the visible marks made him
apprehensive. He’d had such sympathy for Lucas, watching him struggle with
werewolves making things public that humans usually kept private.
“The brat had better be worth all the drama,” Tim muttered
darkly, decision made.
Lucas chuckled. “You wouldn’t like him if he wasn’t a
challenge.”
Lucas and Dawson both stepped aside, leaving Tim free to
approach to Jeremy. Or Jeremy to approach Tim. It wasn’t clear yet how this was
going to go down. Terrell had rolled onto his side, but he still lay on the
ground at Jeremy’s feet. The neck of his muscle shirt was darkened with blood.
Jeremy’s claws had done some damage. Thankfully, it didn’t appear too severe.
Jeremy stopped pacing. Noah stood behind him, speaking
quietly. Jeremy stood tall, shoulders squared, staring directly at Tim. His
eyes were amber and those of a wolf. His chest heaved with each breath. At
least his hands were no longer claws. Tim couldn’t tell if Jeremy still had
fangs.
It didn’t matter if he did. Tim knew he was in no danger
from Jeremy. Focusing all of his attention on Jeremy, Tim realized he should
have done this before now. Jeremy’s need was a physical ache. His desire to
mark Tim, and be marked in return had always been there. It lingered at the
back of Tim’s mind like white noise, making it easy to ignore. Tim’s own regret
poured through him, drowning out everything else. He hoped this effort would
make up for his mistakes. Releasing a shaky breath, Tim silently acknowledged
that he’d wanted this all along.
Tim saw the moment Jeremy sensed that their needs finally
synced. He closed the distance between them in a few long strides. Tim clutched
at Jeremy’s shirt as Jeremy wrapped his arms around Tim’s waist, pulling their
bodies together roughly. Their open mouths collided and Tim felt the hard press
of teeth. Jeremy did still have his fangs, their sharp tips drawing blood from
Tim’s lips. A thrill ran down Tim’s spine, knowing Jeremy’s lethal strength was
leashed, just for him.
Jeremy licked deep into Tim’s mouth, their tongues tangling
wetly. Jeremy’s body was flame-hot, pressed to the length of Tim’s. His breath
was scalding as it ghosted across Tim’s cheek.
Breaking the kiss, Jeremy buried his face in the join of
Tim’s neck and shoulder. Tim shuddered. He pushed his hips against Jeremy’s,
feeling Jeremy’s already hard cock. Tim tilted his head slightly, asking at the
same time he gave consent.
Jeremy pried Tim’s fingers from his shirt. Tim gasped as
Jeremy forced his arms to cross at the small of his back. The strength in
Jeremy’s hand was surprising as he restrained Tim’s wrists. The arch in his
back pushed Tim’s body hard against Jeremy’s. His own cock was completely hard
now and he rubbed himself back and forth against Jeremy. Tim closed his eyes,
letting his head fall back in silent pleading.
Jeremy kissed up the length of Tim’s throat, dragging the
sharp tips of his teeth along the edge of Tim’s jaw. The slight sting sent a
thrill down Tim’s spine and he wanted more. Jeremy nipped at Tim’s pulse where
it throbbed just below his skin. Tim moaned when Jeremy soothed the spot with
his tongue.
His body went rigid and Tim unleashed a decadent groan when
Jeremy’s hot mouth latched onto the side of his neck. Tim’s blood rose to the
surface as Jeremy sucked hard at the spot. Jeremy soothed the bruise with a
swipe of his tongue. Tim relaxed into Jeremy’s hard body, moaning each time
Jeremy sucked a bruise into his throat, or nipped sharply at his too-sensitive
skin.
He wanted to touch. Tim struggled to free his hands from
Jeremy’s grip. When Jeremy released his wrists, Tim buried his fingers in
Jeremy’s hair, holding him close. Jeremy nosed at Tim’s ear, dragging his sharp
teeth along the sensitive lobe. Tim shuddered again and moaned.
Lowering his head, Tim found Jeremy’s mouth. He chased
Jeremy’s tongue with his own. Curling his fingers in Jeremy’s hair, Tim used it
to tilt his head back. He skimmed his lips and nose over the pounding pulse in
Jeremy’s throat. Tim pressed his open mouth to the same spot and drew heated
blood to the surface. Jeremy panted. He cradled the back of Tim’s head,
encouraging him. Tim sucked blood to the surface of Jeremy’s skin. He was
deeply satisfied that Jeremy wore his mark. The werewolf pack that surrounded
them would know that Jeremy was his, and only his.
Jeremy pulled back abruptly. “Okay, that’s enough,” he
gasped. “Any more and we’re going to put on a much more revealing show than I’d
planned.”
Tim blinked, struggling to understand Jeremy’s words. He
watched Jeremy’s eyes roam over his throat, taking in the bruises Tim could
feel darkening on his skin. Jeremy’s expression was satisfied, bordering on
arrogant. Tim couldn’t help but chuckle. It was such an Alpha thing to do.
The world began to move around them. Dawson directed
someone to clean up the shattered glass and spilled food. Noah tried to save
the meat left forgotten on the grill. Mundane conversations swirled around
them.
Tim and Jeremy stood alone, completely surrounded by Noah’s
Pack, breathing heavily, looking only at one another.
“How long do we have to stay?” Desire was obvious in
Jeremy’s still-amber eyes.
“It would be polite to eat something, then help clean up a
little,” Tim replied, already calculating how he might maneuver them into an
early departure.
“Stay with me tonight?” Jeremy asked.
Tim nodded emphatically. “Of course.” Everyone associated
with a werewolf pack was excused from duty for the next two days for the
full-moon run. He imagined the two of them had much to discuss over the course
of the next twenty-four hours.
“Good,” Jeremy said. He turned toward the cluster of
Marines who had begun to serve themselves food. “Now let’s go let them all know
it’s time to keep their hands off of what’s mine.”
Jeremy’s possessive words should have angered Tim. Instead,
it made him consider being rude and skipping out on food.
If anyone would understand, it would be Lucas and Noah.
If you’d like to find out more about my series,
The Tameness of the Wolf, you can get more information on my website: http://kendallmckenna.com/books/the-tameness-of-the-wolf/
I’d like to give an interested reader a chance to become
acquainted with my beloved Marine werewolves!
Enter below for a chance to win The Tameness of the Wolf Book #1 – Strength of the Pack,
and be ready for the release of Book #2 – Strength of the Wolf on September 6th!
Enter below for a chance to win The Tameness of the Wolf Book #1 – Strength of the Pack,
and be ready for the release of Book #2 – Strength of the Wolf on September 6th!
