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Category: Erotica/Erotic Romance
Description: "Lord of Blackwood:" Carolyn takes a trip to England to work on her art history thesis, and she finds the perfect subject for her last chapter when she finds Marius Blackwood's estate. But when the handsome Lord Blackwood materializes before her eyes, she finds out that all the local legends are true. When he offers to let her stay, she has to ask herself if she'll say yes because of her research, or because of love. "Lord of the Forest:" Ever since her friend Carolyn began dating a vampire, Melissa has been unable to get her mind off her ex-boyfriend Sean, who happens to be a werewolf. If Carolyn can find happiness, why can't she find it with Sean? He claims they can?t be together, but she knows he still loves her as much as she loves him. Melissa is finally ready to fight for what she knows is best for both of them. She follows him up to his cabin in the woods, determined that she won?t leave until he sees how perfect they are together.
eBook Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press, 2006
eBookwise Release Date: January 2007

7 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [75 KB]
Words: 16203
Reading time: 46-64 min.

"'Lord of Blackwood' and 'Lord of the Forest' are two tales of paranormal passion that will have you looking for more! Susan M. Sailors turns up the heat in this pair of erotic romances, and she'll have you wishing for another helping of her multidimensional, likeable characters!"--Michelle, Fallen Angel Reviews

"I'm heading back now, Carolyn," Melissa called up the stairs.

"Okay. See you in the morning," Carolyn replied.

Melissa sighed. "I don't feel like screaming up three stories. I'm coming up." She ran up the steps, and then stopped to catch her breath. "You're sure you want to stay?" she asked.

"Yes," Carolyn said without looking up. "I have to get to know this place."

"But you could do that during the day."

"I'll learn so much more staying here. I'll really get a feel for the house, and its owner."

"Its owner? Are you going weird on me? You insist it's safe to stay here because the legends aren't true."

Carolyn shook her head and stood up, then tightened the rubber band holding her long, blonde hair out of her face. "I mean that, if I stay here for the whole trip, live here as if it's my house, I'll be able to write about it on a completely different level. My whole thesis is based on the idea that these houses reflect the men who built them, so I have to get to know the house as intimately as possible."

Melissa crossed her arms defiantly. "The guy at the inn is going to be pacing the floor all night because you didn't come back with me. And I'm not crazy about leaving you up here alone either."

Carolyn ignored this comment. She didn't care about what the townspeople thought. She cared about finding what she needed in the Blackwood mansion. She wasn't afraid of being in the house alone because she didn't put much faith in the stories, but she liked the paranormal aspect. American academics loved a good old English ghost story, whether it literally had a ghost in it or not. It would certainly draw attention to her research.

Melissa continued. "Do you believe the legends? Do you think the original owner is still in this house, lying in a coffin somewhere waiting for a beautiful damsel to be stupid enough to open his coffin and faint from fear?"

"No, I don't," Carolyn finally said. "So I don't know what it is you're so afraid of."

"These small towns can be dangerous in and of themselves. You know how locals can get about outsiders poking around. Some guys hanging out at the local pub might come up here and try to scare you."

"It would be nice if there were some guys around here. I've seen nothing but old men." Carolyn laughed

Melissa laughed. "I'll agree with you there. It does seem like a desolate place." She shrugged and turned to go. "Is your cell phone fully charged?"

"Of course."

"I'll be back at nine in the morning with breakfast."

"You can sleep in if you want to."

Melissa shook her head. "I doubt that will be possible. The whole town will be in that little Catholic church next to the inn praying for your soul."

"Tell them to pray for my thesis instead. It needs more help than my soul does."

Melissa dropped a little curtsey at the top of the stairs. "Good night, my Lady."

Carolyn rolled her eyes and laughed. "Good night. Be safe."

After she heard the bolt on the front door sliding into place, Carolyn sat back down and continued with her work, reattaching the rubbing paper she had been using to the wall with fresh tape. She was making a rubbing of a very unusual wall panel, and the tape kept giving every two minutes. The panel was covered in flowers, but as she'd been admiring the intricate design, she'd noticed something that gave her chills. Interlaced with the flowers, very subtly, were bones. She'd decided against showing them to Melissa. It had been hard enough getting her to come to the small town of Blackstone in the first place, even though they'd both dreamed of a trip to England together for years, because Melissa was convinced the townspeople were going to run them off and put them on the next boat back to America.

But Carolyn knew this house was just what she had been looking for. It proved her thesis all by itself. The original owner, Marius Blackwood, had been a recluse who only left the house at night and had a reputation for practicing magic and seducing women. His house was covered in ancient symbols. Pentagrams were on all the doors, hung right side up for his protection. A Thor's Hammer hung over each of the outside doors, again as a symbol of protection for the house. Most of the fireplaces had runes carved around the mantles. All the windows were covered in heavy velvet draperies that allowed no light in. And the bedrooms were all enormous. The black marble, the carvings, the tapestries, and the paintings all reflected the legend this man had been.