Lexi DeHalo lived in the beautiful mountains of Western
North Carolina until she left for college to study Chemistry and Forensic
Science. After graduation, Lexi decided to pursue her love of the arts by
writing erotic romance. When she’s not too busy in the lab, you can find her
working on her latest inspiration or playing with her fur-babies.
Last
Kiss Goodbye
The
Southlands
Haunting memories and shattered dreams of a life he
left behind lead Karson Maddox back to Southlands, Montana and the one man he
can’t forget, Marcus Deveraux . But Karson is a changed man, scarred by the
chains of his past that are unwilling to let him go, and he doesn’t know if he
can be the man Marcus once loved or if he will be forever bound to the horrors
that plague him.
With his lover’s disappearance, Marcus repressed his
pain and heartache by devoting his time to his family’s ranch. When Karson
shows up on his doorstep five years later, battered and bruised, Marcus is torn
between protecting the one man who stole his heart and the fear of betrayal.
As desire and passion reignite, the secrets surrounding
Karson’s past threaten to tear them apart once again, and Marcus will learn
just how far he’s willing to go to keep Karson safe from the demons that
threaten both of their lives.
Excerpt
The
Southlands End. The orange, neon words hung high above the
doorway, glowing brightly in the nighttime sky. The loud music playing inside
could be heard clearly from the crowded parking lot. This place was meant to
serve as a safe haven for the shifter kind who resided in Southlands, Montana,
but to Karson Maddox, it only served as a reminder of the life that had been
stolen from him.
He took a deep breath and inhaled the smell of the
familiar rugged landscape. Montana had been the place he’d called home for many
years, until that fateful night had changed his life forever. After five years,
Karson had finally made it back home, but now, he was uncertain of what awaited
him on the other side of those metal doors, and frankly, he didn’t care. The
only thing he cared about was finding Marcus.
Reaching out with a shaky hand, he opened the door and
stepped inside. He was instantly greeted by the bouncers, set in place to keep
wandering mundanes—a shifter term for the majority of the human population—out.
“Passcode,” the large one on the left requested in a
less than pleasant manner. His voice was deep and his intimidating stare was
enough to stop any sensible person from advancing.
Karson ran a nervous hand through his shaggy hair. “I
don’t know it, but—”
Before he could even get the rest of his sentence out,
the other bouncer, who had yet to speak, grabbed ahold of his arm and pushed
him back outside.
“Hey, wait a minute. Lemme go!” Karson struggled
against the painful grip. “I’m here to see Marcus.”
His words did nothing to stop the two shifters from
removing him from the building. They tossed him to the ground like a ragdoll,
and the sting from the gravel scraping against his exposed flesh burned like a
son of a bitch.
He glared up at the two men, his temper flaring from
their harsh handlings as his mind was taken back to the past five years of
abuse he’d endured in one moment. He could feel the animal inside him rise to
the surface, itching for a release that couldn’t be sated. His inability to
shift only fueled his desire to defend himself as he lunged at the taller man
His fist collided with the bouncer’s jaw, but despite the pain that radiated up
his arm, his target appeared to be unfazed by the blow.
“Fuck,” he cursed as he shook his hand in an attempt to
free it from the ache that emanated from his knuckles.
“Is there a problem here?”
His heart caught at the sound of the slight southern
drawl. He knew the man who had spoken those words even before he turned around
and his rage was instantly calmed by the familiar voice. A wave of nervousness
washed over him as his hands began to tremble. Turning slowly, he met Marcus’s
eyes for the first time in five years and the world around him seemed to fade
away.
Marcus Deveraux stood in front of him, dressed in a
pair of dark-wash Wranglers and his favorite pair of cowboy boots. His white
shirt was left partially unbuttoned, no doubt to showcase his well-muscled
chest. Strands of his blond hair fell in front of his ice blue eyes as he
stared down at Karson. The soft features of his face had hardened with the
years, but everything else was just as he remembered.
Karson’s mouth went dry. He tried to find the words
he’d rehearsed earlier in the day, but nothing came to him. Instead, all he
could do was stand there like a deer caught in headlights.
“Karson?” Marcus whispered as recognition finally
kicked in. A look of shock and confusion fell upon his face as the pain and
agony of the past few years shimmered inside the depths of Marcus’s piercing
eyes.
The desire to reach out to him was overwhelming. It was
an impulse that had surprised Karson given that he’d changed so much in the
past few years. Something shifted inside him, awakening a mixture of emotions
he hadn’t felt since the day he was taken from Marcus. Tears pooled in his eyes
and he tried desperately to hold them back. He wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not now.
“Sir, you know this man?” the large shifter Karson had
punched questioned Marcus.
Marcus gave a slow nod, his eyes never leaving Karson.
“Yes… he’s my mate.”
2014
is finally here and I’m excited to announce the release of Last Kiss Goodbye! This has been an ongoing work in progress for
many months now and I’m very pleased with the outcome. It has definitely
broadened my writing potential and I have been so excited to share it with the
rest of the world that I couldn’t think of a better time than the New Year. To
kick start this celebration, I have decided to offer a free copy of Last Kiss Goodbye to one lucky winner
and give them exclusive naming rights to one of my main character’s in an
upcoming release. All you have to do to be considered is leave a comment below
telling me about your ideal character. Be sure to list their name and job title
and why you think they would make the ultimate main character. Good luck and
happy New Year!
Lexi
Behind the Scenes
Ø What
are your current projects?
My current projects include starting a new pen name for
a M/F BDSM piece I’ve been working on entitled, Beautifully Broken [A Limitless Novel] and supernatural suspense
novel that has yet to be titled.
Ø How
do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
Hmm. An interesting question. I think I have come a
long way since my first book was released a year ago. I have found my own
voice, so to speak, and I’ve quite enjoyed experimenting with different genres.
I’m excited about my upcoming works in progress J
Ø What
was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
The edits. I switched editors with my latest book and
while I was extremely happy with the feedback I got, I also spent many hours
working on their suggestions. It really pushed me as a writer and helped shape
the book to be what it is today.
Ø Do
you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
Yes, I do. The cover is the first impression that a
buyer sees and it needs to reflect the quality of writing, the reader can
expect. A cover doesn’t need to be flashy or over the top, but it does need to
be professional.
Ø What
would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing
against being published or the other way around?
Being published is great route for a writer so long as
it is a reputable publisher that does their share of the work. Realistically, I
don’t want to do business with a publisher if their editing, cover art, and
promotions are not worth 50-60% of my royalties. If I’m doing most of the work
and even having to correct their edits, then I don’t feel like the publisher is
holding up their end of the contract. In that case, self-publishing would be an
ideal situation, especially with today’s technology. Hiring you own editor and
cover artist can be an up front, out of pocket cost, though and if an author
doesn’t earn back enough from their self-published title to cover those costs,
it will be a direct loss that they have to take. For new authors, I feel that
being published is a great introduction into the industry. It gives the author
a feel for the expectations of the industry and is a good place to start. For
more experienced authors who feel like they aren’t getting what they need from
their publisher, they may want to try their hand at self-publishing.
Flash Round
Q. What is your most cherished possession?
A. My black diamond ring. It was one of the few things
given to me by someone very dear to me.
Q. How do you feel about being the center of attention?
A. I hate it. I would much rather be the mysterious
person in the background than the one everybody is focusing on.
Q. What makes you blush?
A. Flattery. Anytime anyone gives me a compliment,
especially one followed by a sexual innuendo I can’t help but blush!
Q. Do you have any irrational fears or phobias?
A. Thunderstorms. I absolutely hate them!
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