We Loves Us a Good Paranormal Story. And Why Not?

Though its imminent death has been proclaimed on a continual basis over the last decade (mostly by purveyors of other types of literature), paranormal romance fiction is still going strong. The current crop may lean more toward light paranormal than the yummy, dark, steaminess of the recent past, but millions of paranormal fans are showing no inclination to give it up any time soon. Because, let's face it, paranormal is pure, unadulterated fun! What better way to escape from real world woes than immersing yourself in a world that is wholly fantastical, where nothing is impossible and, although the characters’ problems might be much bigger than ours, they always find some magical and interesting way to deal with them. It’s pure fun without guilt to watch the hero and heroine deal with saving the world and beating back evil while trying to conquer their own self-doubts and personal challenges in the midst of it all.

Especially in the current climate, where escapism is more than fun…it’s almost an imperative…readers need to feel as if something larger than life can be controlled. We need to believe that, though the odds seem stacked against us, good and justice will eventually win out over evil. In fantasy fiction, problems can often be solved with a flip of a magic-infused hand, or the blink of a power saturated gaze. Bad guys can be obliterated without a crisis of conscience...good guys almost always beat back evil...and cultural gray areas only make for more interest in the reading. When you add in a sexy, darkly brooding or breathtakingly competent hero, and a heroine we can all identify with, it’s enough to make a romance reader swoon with delight!

Let's face it, good versus evil carries an age-old fascination for mankind. The pages of our history only come alive when a classic story bends along the lines of this type of battle...and good wins out over all. So it's no surprise our reading fare trends in this direction. Nothing brings good versus evil to life like a good paranormal. The idea of magic isn’t new to our time in history, but our treatment of it in the pages of popular fiction is unique. And whatever happens to our sexy, brooding vampires and muscular, sensuous, werewolves, I know one thing…they’ve more than earned their place in history, and they’ll be around for a long, long time!

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Sam Cheever’s published work includes 30+ books of romantic suspense and fantasy/paranormal. Her books have won the Dream Realm Award for fantasy, a CAPA award, and eCataromance’s Reviewer’s Choice award. Sam is published with Changeling Press, Ellora’s Cave, Red Rose Publishing, and Musa Publishing (January 27th, 2012). Visit her website (www.samcheever.com) to learn about her work, her life, and her upcoming activities.

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Hey everybody! I wanted to share a taste of my upcoming paranormal with you. The story is entitled Cupid Only Rings Twice and will be released as part of a Valentine's anthology called Love Notes, through Musa Publishing! I hope you enjoy this little taste!

 Cupid Only Rings Twice - Sexy Paranormal by Sam Cheever 

Rori Foster is too beautiful to find love. Men just can’t seem to look past her exterior to recognize the human being inside. But, this Valentine’s Day, Rori’s gonna meet an honest to god Cupid. And he’ll use more than arrows to win her love.

Unfortunately he’ll have to save her from the bad intentions of a cocky Love Demon first.

But Damios is determined to protect her. Even if he loses her in the process.

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Rori looked at the appetizers and groaned inwardly.

“I hope you like oysters.”

“Oysters? Oh, um, I’ve never tried them. I’ll probably just stick to the antipasto, it looks delicious.”

Damios lifted a shell from the platter and squeezed fresh lemon on it, holding it toward her. “Just one try. I promise you won’t die from it.”

Rori grimaced. “Are you sure?”

His sexy dark eyes sparkled with mirth. “I am reasonably certain, yes. And if I’m wrong I will give you mouth to mouth resuscitation.”

Rori grinned. Talk about motivation. “I’m pretty sure mouth to mouth won’t do a thing for food poisoning.”

“No. But at least we’ll both enjoy your last moments.”

Rori shook her head, rolling her lips to keep from laughing.

Damios lifted the oyster closer. “Come. Try. Expand your horizons.”

For just a moment, looking into Damios’s dark eyes with the thick, velvet fringe of black lashes, Rori had a déjà vu moment that nearly took her breath away.

Deciding he wasn’t going to give up without a fight, Rori sighed, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth.

She heard the scrape of Damios’s chair against the rough carpet. Smelled his warm, sandalwood scent as he leaned close. Felt the cool, rough edge of the shell against her lips. Then a slight pressure as Damios tipped the shell to expel its contents.

The oyster was cool and silky against her tongue, surprisingly not unpleasant. She swallowed quickly, feeling it glide down her throat in a cool wash.

The scent of sandalwood enveloped her. A warm fingertip touched her chin. Then Rori felt the sweetness of a pair of lips gently touching hers. She gasped, her eyes flying open, and looked into a pair of beautiful olive green eyes.

Damios brushed a finger over her chin, holding her gaze for a beat, before sitting back down and fixing her with a soft, sexy smile. “In my family we call it blessing the oyster. It is a practice passed down through generations.”

Rori swallowed hard, her lips still tingling from the delightful touch. She cleared her throat twice before she thought it was safe to speak. “I guess that’s why they call oysters the food of love.”

Damios didn’t respond. He simply picked up another oyster. “Would you like another?”

“Yes.”

His husky chuckle sent heat spiraling through her and made her wish there were more oysters on the plate.

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Coming 1/27/12 to Musa Publishing! 

Sam

Magic, Adventure, Love on the Run

www.SamCheever.com

www.si-decker.com (young adult)

"Ms. Cheever writes with class, humor and lots of fun
 while weaving an excellent story." The Romance Studio