PYN Review of Lucas: A Black Cougar Novel by Eliza Gayle

Lucas: A Black Cougar Novel By Eliza Gayle
Review written by Morgan Wylie

Blurb from the book:

Kira MacDonald is in trouble. Plagued by false visions and erotic dreams of a man she’s never met, she fears losing both her psychic powers and her sanity. The cure? Finding and bonding with her mate. The stubborn red-haired warrior might not want one, but fate has other plans, plans that include her rescuing Lucas Gunn.
 

As the Guardian of his shape-shifting clan, Lucas Gunn lived a quiet, solitary life. Until he was kidnapped, examined, and tortured. Now imprisoned, his only tie to the outside world is the memory of his dreams and the passionate woman who appears nightly in them. He thought she was nothing more than a vision. Then she came for him. 

An uneasy alliance, a mating call that won’t be denied, rituals that must be honored, and unrelenting enemies who will stop at nothing to get what they want. It all comes together in the first of Eliza Gayle’s sensational Black Cougar Series. Passion and Pride. Duty and Danger. In the end, there’s really only one choice…for Lucas.

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Lucas is the first book in this paranormal shifter series by Eliza Gayle.

The rare black cougar shifters of the seclusive area of Dragon Trail have been burdened through heritage with the title of “Death Enforcers”. Lucas Gunn, the Guardian, is bound to his duty, until he unexpectedly meets his mate, but there are rules about mixing among the clans- rules that are not to be broken.

Lucas imprisoned in a cell- his only connection to anyone aside from his torturers is with a fiery red-headed woman who saunters into his dreams nightly and ultimately into his life. Unfortunately for Kira, her timely appearance into Lucas’ life, even if to rescue him from his tormentors, has him doubting her motives. She has enough to deal with being a woman from the MacDonald clan (a community of psychics) just entering into her mating cycle. According to the customs of her clan, if she is not mated before her cycle ends the council will determine her mental state and whether she is fit to live or sentenced to die. And on top of it all, she is marked.

This story kept me turning the pages with it’s fast-paced action scenes and steamy, passionate romps! There’s just something about a powerful, confident, and fiercely protective alpha-male shifter and a strong, feisty female character that keeps me coming back for more. Ms. Gayle has done a great job with these characters and setting the stage for the subsequent stories. I look forward to reading the rest of this series. If you’re in the mood for a little paranormal erotica, you won’t be disappointed! I give Lucas 4 out of 5 fangs.
 

Lucas is the first of this series. Followed by Kane, and then Malcolm. Visit Eliza Gayle’s website for excerpts from Lucas.

Interview with Eliza Gayle, Author of Malcolm: A Black Cougar Novel

Welcome to our interview with Eliza Gayle, author of Malcolm: A Black Cougar Novel. Eliza is giving a copy of her book to a luck commenter so don't forget to include your email address in your comment.

What inspired the story behind your Black Cougar Series?

There were two things actually. First there is a stretch of dangerous road through the Mountains of North Carolina called Dragon Tail. Reading the website and visiting the area inspired the setting for my shifter.

I decided to write cougars because I wanted something you’d actually find in NC and bobcats are a little too small in my mind for these alpha shifters. When I happened across an old Native American legend that talked about the mysterious (and believed to not exist) Black Cougars that represented death, the lightbulb went off. 

Is each novel interlinked or are they stand alone?

The three books do have an overarcing storyline that is wrapped up in Malcolm’s story. While I think you can read Malcolm and get the idea of the other two, it’s probably a much richer experience to read them all and in order. Lucas then Kane then Malcolm.

You’re hero, Malcom, is a shifter. Can you tell us what makes him tick?

From the start of the series, Malcolm is pretty much consumed by rage and resentment. He’s made some pretty big mistakes in his past and he has to pay dearly for them. With this much pent up frustration it’s really no surprise how much he’s lashed out through the series.

Cheyenne’s hired to find Malcolm. Can you tell us a little more about her?

It’s hard to say too much without giving away spoilers for the book. Suffice it to say she’s had a rough few years and doesn’t want to play anymore. She’s got a singular goal she’s been so focused on that connecting with Malcolm is going to be far more intense than she expects.

Aside from shifters, are there any other supernatural beings in your book?

Yes. There is a psychic and a witch. Both show up in book 1, Lucas, with the witch continuing into Kane’s story. 

Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

I’m usually somewhere in between a plotter or a pantser. These days I at least outline a story before I start as well as write short character descriptions. Much more than that and I begin to lose interest and get frustrated.

Why did you choose to write paranormal?

I write paranormal because I love to read it. I fell in love with the genre thanks to Sherrilyn Kenyon and her Dark Hunter series. Since then, I’ve read many many series.

What’s your writing routine like?

I try to write most every day and I set a word count goal for each week every Monday morning. I have a full time job in addition to the writing career but I am lucky to work from home. So throughout my day I go back and forth between writing and the day job as necessary. I’ve found that I produce my best writing in the mid morning hours so I try really hard to at least write during those hours. 

How do you choose the names of your characters?

After I have written a characters description, which includes their background, I usually turn to baby name books in search of a name that just “feels” right.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and how do you work your way out of it?

I write every day so that helps a lot. But if I get stuck then it’s usually because I need to figure out something in my story so I’ll stop, pull out the notebook I keep by my side at all times, and start making notes.

If that doesn’t work, I take a very long hot shower. No idea why it works but it does. I keep bath crayons in my shower and frequently take notes on the walls. lol

Are you working on any new projects?

I am currently working on another witch book. It’s one I started a long time ago and I figured it was time to finish it. I’ve also got the beginnings of my next shifter book. It might surprise readers of Malcolm to discover I’ve been inspired to write a story about Kitty.

Where can readers purchase your books?

Most of my ebooks can be found at nearly all of the normal online retailers such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble or All Romance eBooks.

I only have a couple of print books available right now and those can be ordered from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The cougar series will be available in print in July.

Where can readers connect with you on the web?

I tend to be all over the place. I try to keep my website updated regularly with all my book info at http://elizagayle.net 

I also use facebook a lot where I love to post pictures about things that are going on like vacations or random things I find at the mall that make me laugh. Lol http://www.facebook.com/elizagayle 

For more frequent and short updates on what’s going on, you can follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/elizagaylebooks

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We’d like to thank Eliza for chatting with us about her book. You can read our review of Malcolm here. We will be interviewing Eliza live today on Blog Talk Radio at 3:30pm PST. The link to the interview is here.

Don’t forget to add a comment with your email address to enter the contest for a copy of Malcolm. Thanks everyone!

PYN Review of Malcolm: A Black Cougar Novel

Malcolm: A Black Cougar Novel by Eliza Gayle

Reviewed by Kelli McCracken

Primal urge isn’t an easy thing. It’s even harder for Malcolm Gunn. A black cougar that had to leave his family and clan behind him. Malcolm is getting used to his new, calm and quiet life. But nothing in his life can remain quiet for long. Especially when his bond mate, a hybrid shifter that he turned his back on, comes back into his life

 When Malcolm comes face to face with the woman that Mother Nature intended for him to have, his life begins to spin out of control.  His attraction to Cheyenne is overwhelming. He tries his best to deny it. His certain she has, after the way he left her four years prior

After their steamy re-acquaintance, Cheyenne explains to Malcolm why she is there. She’s been hired by his brother, Kane, to bring him back to the clan. Malcolm knows this is what Cheyenne and her ‘kind’ do. They’re hired ‘guns’ sent to do the will of those who seek their service. He knows not of her hybrid status, only that she is a half-breed cougar. It’s one of the reasons they couldn’t be together before. The laws of the cougar council forbid mixing. 

Cheyenne goes on to tell Malcolm that his brother insists he return to the clan. Something is amiss and he needs his help. 

Returning to the clan’s land and to his brother is the last thing Malcolm wants to do. He orders Cheyenne to leave. Another steamy confrontation sends both their desires near the edge of insanity. To be this close to a bond mate and not give into the desire is maddening. Malcolm uses this to his advantage and is able to remove Cheyenne from his home. But the hybrid cougar has no plans on walking away from a job she was hired to do. She always gets her man and there is no way she is letting Malcolm gain the upper hand.

Cheyenne leaves the cabin in the woods where she found Malcolm and heads for town. She decides to wait and return for Malcolm later. She goes to a local Waffle House to bide time. While there, she senses another shifter in her presence. When she finds him, she confronts him. He introduces himself as Carl and claims Kane hired him as well, to make sure Cheyenne does her job correctly. 

This ignites rage inside of Cheyenne. No one questions her ability to get a job done. She is about to leave the premises when Carl stops her by grabbing her arm. Before she can react to his advance on her, she hears the growl of her mate. Malcolm is there and is angered at the sight of another man’s hands on his woman. 

His confrontation with Carl is brief. He and Cheyenne go back to his house. After much argument and protest from her end, they end up sharing a passionate moment. But the ecstasy the revel in is short lived when Cheyenne reveals a secret to Malcolm, one that has him ready to kill. 

When he thinks things can’t get any worse, it does. Carl shows up at Malcolm’s doorstep. Dead. This discovery leads to a series of events that neither of them can escape. 

Through suspicion, betrayal, and passion neither can deny, Malcolm and Cheyenne have to learn to trust each other, forget the past, and overcome secrets to find out who is murdering the people they know.

Life is never easy and love is impossible. Will Malcolm and Cheyenee find a way to get the answers they seek and fulfill the desires of their heart, the desires that Mother Nature intended?

This book in the third in the Black Cougar Novels. It is preceded by Lucas and Kane. I highly recommend this book to those who love paranormal erotic romance with shape shifters. You won’t be disappointed.We give it four and half fangs