Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Danube in Candlelight

Enjoy this "spine-tingling" post from Danube in Candelight. Leave a comment today, Saturday, and Sunday and Monday I'll pick a winner to receive my giveaway goodie bag: A GC to Panera, a bag of chocolate, a decorative autumn pumpkin hand crafted by my friend, Lori Powell, and MacIntosh Apples Yankee Candles.

Thanks so much for supporting me during this week.
Smiles
Moderator Steph

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Zoltan stood in the middle of a patch of red roses. His eyes were closed, and he breathed deeply. Should she approach him? He furrowed his brow, fisted one of his hands, and brought it up to his chin. Her heart went out to him.

"Zoltan?"

His eyes snapped open. "Morgan? You shouldn't have followed me. Go away."

"You look awful. Can I help?"

He glanced at the moon and raked a hand through his hair. "I can't manage anymore. I must leave. Now."

"Then let's do so with dignity. Take my hand, and we'll walk back in there and leave through the front door."

His expression betrayed his struggle.

"I don't think I can. Even now I feel the tug of the moon. Its wicked light is draining the rest of my strength."

Morgan pursed her lips, knowing he had grown progressively weaker throughout the evening. Still, she offered him her hand. She wanted him to know she trusted him.

"Be strong just a little bit longer."

His eyes darkened dangerously. A look of warning crossed his features, but she ignored it. She could handle this. Her father could. Why couldn't he?

"Take my hand, Zoltan."

With a suddenness she didn't expect, he lunged for her hand, pushing it against the roses. The thorns on the rose stem pricked her flesh, making her bleed.

"Oh!" She brought her hand to her chest, but Zoltan pounced on her and grabbed her wrist. For a moment he studied her intently, then he opened his mouth. Long, white, pristine incisors hung past his lower lip.

Morgan's heart spiked with fear. He couldn't handle this. By God, the man was gone and had been replaced with a beast.
"Let me go, Zoltan."

He refused, pulling her hand toward him. She tried to tug it free, but he was incredibly strong. She couldn't break his grasp.
He brought her blood-stained hand to his nose and took a long breath.

"Sweet and coppery..." he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as he let the words trail away.

"Zoltan, let me go." Fear and panic laced her voice.

He flicked out his tongue and licked the blood off her hand. She tried to pull away. Instead of letting her go, he jerked her toward him, wrapped his powerful arm around her waist, and continued to lap up her blood. His sharp incisors brushed her hand. Fear thrummed through her veins. She couldn't break his hold. A glance at his eyes revealed all common sense had left him. Venom dripped off his elongated teeth.

"No, Zoltan, no..."

His teeth sliced into her flesh at the wrist. Her head spun. She pushed feebly against his chest and grew weak in his grip.

The pleasure was heady -- like that of a narcotic. Zoltan became one with her, his heart beating in time with hers. His life in Miskolc before the war came to life inside her head. She experienced his heartbreak and sadness, becoming one with him as she experienced his turning.

"No more killing. I won't kill again, ever. I swear it."

"Zoltan..." Her life force ebbed.

"Forgive me, Morgan."

He had satisfied his need to take, and her narcotic high drained away. She must take now if she wanted to live.

He offered her his wrist.

"Bite me. Take from me so you will live."

Morgan snapped her mouth open and sank her teeth into his flesh. The high returned, and she greedily took from him. In the back of her mind a man shouted her name, but she couldn't pull her attention away from Zoltan, or she would die.


*****

REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Reader's Favorite:
This story is the closest I have ever come to reading a book that feels like a movie!

5 Hearts, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews:
Once again, Stephanie Burkhart has touched my imagination and with her writing brings 1922 Hungary to life. Danube in Candlelight is a very romantic, yet spicy read. This is a must read if you enjoy the paranormal werewolf stories or even if you merely enjoy a great romance.

Book Trailer on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgzUIHCRN0I

BLURB:
Set in Budapest 1922, The Hungarians are recovering from the war. Adam Varga is Hungarian to the bone and becomes an architect to help rebuild his nation. Morgan Duma returns from England also intent on helping to rebuild her country.

After a tragedy happens to her mother, Morgan discovers her father is a werewolf. She begins to question who she is, becoming more reckless, more daring, and her choices more bold. When Zoltan Kristos, a known werewolf, requests Morgan accompany him to the summer ball, Morgan has to decide which man will best fit her life.
PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-219/Budapest-Moon-Book-III/Detail.bok

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Hungarian-Moon-Book-Three-ebook/dp/B0061XJFG0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320188529&sr=1-1
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hungarian-moon-book-three-stephanie-burkhart/1107039692?ean=2940013659148&itm=1&usri=danube%2bin%2bcandlelight

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

10 NOV