Tour: North of Need by Laura Kaye (Guest Post & Giveaway)

Happy Thursday lovelies! Today I have a special guest joining us, Entangled Publishing author, Laura Kaye! Laura is here to talk about her new release, North of Need, which looks so good and I have heard nothing but fab things about it, I'm dying to get my hands on this novel! And can I just say- I love it when authors send me juicy pics to share! 

A Hero for Every Palette

By Laura Kaye 


I’m very excited to be on Reading Between the Wines today! I love a good glass of wine, especially something a bit sweeter like a merlot or a pinot grigio or a shiraz, and I have a huge soft spot for Lambrusco, a sparkling wine I first tasted while visiting my then boyfriend, now husband, in Italy—we bought and drank a whole case from a small wine store in the town of Modena!


My latest release is a contemporary fantasy romance called North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series. The Anemoi were wind gods the Greeks associated with the season (Greeks totally go with wine, people! *grins*), and North of Need is the story of the long-exiled snow god Owen, son of the Supreme God of the North Wind and Winter, who falls in love with a grieving window. Full of sweet holiday magic, hot paranormal romance, and a unique mythology based on Greek gods, the story has a little something to satisfy any palette! *winks*

So, in celebration of being a guest here and the release of North of Need, I thought I’d see if I could match my books’ heroes up with a particular wine, and I found a vineyard that just totally inspired me. Read on!

Owen Winters, snow god her of my contemporary fantasy romance, North of Need. Comtesse Thérese 2005 Traditional Merlot, described by Wine Enthusiast as “Wonderfully rich with lush dark chocolate and espresso notes” – this is sooo Owen! With his black hair and dark eyes and his complete and total love for chocolate. Oh, my, yeah.

Caden Grayson, hero of my contemporary romance, Hearts in Darkness: Comtesse Thérese 2006 Hungarian Oak Merlot, described by Wine Enthusiast as “surprisingly sexy, supple wine that’s dripping with vanilla and spicy dark plum flavors” – yeah, that’s my tattooed, pierced, big-hearted Caden Grayson.

Lucien Demarco, Italian vampire hero of my paranormal romance, Forever Freed: Comtesse Thérese 2005 Château Reserve Merlot, described by Wine Enthusiast as “Layers of char, black pepper and briar patch help to build complexity in this dense, concentrated black plum Merlot. Overall, it’s a fruit-driven, luscious wine accented with spice and smooth, supple tannins” – layered, complex, dark but sweet, luscious and spicy. Oh, yeah, that’s Lucien.

Anyone else thirsty now? ‘Cause I can’t wait to get my mouth on one of these! The wine, people, totally the wine! But I see where your minds went. Uh huh. Besides, I told you I liked merlot! LOL

In the spirit of Reading Between the Wines, comment on this post and be entered to win a set of snowman wine glass charms. They’re totally cute and festive miniature representations of Owen! Now, tell me, which of the above merlots most attracts you?

Thanks for reading!

Laura Kaye

Buy Laura's Books

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About North of Need – picked by Paperback Dolls as THE romance novel for holiday gift giving!

Her tears called a powerful snow god to life, but only her love can grant the humanity he craves...
Desperate to escape agonizing memories of Christmas past, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband, realizing too late that she's recreated the very thing she'll never have.

Called to life by Megan's tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity.
Megan is drawn to Owen's mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things. But this Christmas miracle comes with an expiration--before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow's grief and learn to trust love again, or she'll lose Owen forever.

EXCERPT:

The men in her life wanted her to be happy, wanted her to let go of the pain. Wanted her to embrace life. To live.

John couldn’t. But she could.

Owen’s mouth dropped open when she dragged her exploring fingers across the deep red of his bottom lip. So soft.

For now, she’d start with what she knew. “I do want you, Owen. And I need you.” She swallowed. “So much.”

A deep sound of satisfaction rumbled low in his throat and ricocheted down her body. Those soft lips found hers, already open, waiting for his touch. With his kiss, he possessed her. His scent—winter spice and male—filled her senses. His body covered her. She could live on the cool, sweet taste of his tongue. And, God, his little moans and grunts reverberated right down to the wet heat between her legs.

He trailed open-mouthed kisses over her cheek to her ear, sucked her lobe between his lips and flicked it with his tongue. She gasped as goose bumps erupted everywhere and she offered her neck to his exploration.

“I want you, Megan. Be mine. Gods.”

He licked and sucked down her neck. She shivered and grabbed onto the firmness of his sculpted biceps. He nipped at the tendon where neck met shoulder. A moan exploded from her, loud and wanton, but couldn’t be helped. She threaded her fingers into his silky black hair and held him to her. “Again,” she rasped. He teased her with his teeth, then his tongue and lips. “God, Owen.”

She chuckled even as she whimpered at the spine-tingling nips and bites.

“What’s so funny?” His warm breath caressed her bare skin.

“Sorry, it’s just…” She covered her mouth with her hand, humor-induced tears now gathering at the corners of her eyes.

He pulled her hand away. “Never hide your smile from me.”

He pressed kisses to her knuckles, then pinned her wrist beside her shoulder.

She finally reined in her amusement. “I’m sorry. It’s just, I said, ‘God, Owen,’ and then”—the chuckles threatened again—“it hit me that, you know, you really are a god, and all.”

A playful smirk framed Owen’s face. “Are you amused by my godhood?”

She nodded. He thrust his hips into hers, rocking the ridge of his impressive erection against her right where she craved him. Her lips dropped open as she sucked in a breath.

His mismatched eyes blazed. “Still amused?”

She nodded and pressed up against him. Wrapped one leg around his waist and dug her heel into his firm ass. He grunted and ground down on her, just as she hoped he would. Then his mouth crushed against hers again, their tongue intertwining. He drew away with little kisses on the corner of her lips. “I like you amused. Smiling. Laughing. I want to make you feel that way.”

His words wrapped around her heart, mending, binding. She cupped his cheek in her palm. “Sweet, sweet man.” She took a deep breath and a leap of faith. “Make love to me.”

“Gods, yes.” In a flash, he’d pushed up from the couch, lifted her in his arms, and crossed the room.

Butterflies took flight in her stomach. His humor, his gentle kindness, his raw sexuality, his masculine beauty—he appealed to every part of her mind and body. And, maybe, just maybe, her heart.

About Laura Kaye:

A multi-published author of paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance, Laura Kaye’s hot, heartfelt stories are all about the universal desire for a place to belong. Laura is the author of the bestselling contemporary romance and award-nominated HEARTS IN DARKNESS and the bestselling and award-winning paranormal romance FOREVER FREED (NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011), as well as an erotic romance novella, JUST GOTTA SAY. Her fourth book, contemporary fantasy romance NORTH OF NEED, is the first in the 4-book Hearts of the Anemoi series. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

~*GIVEAWAY*~

Laura is kindly giving away this awesome set of wine charms that you see above! (US/Canada only) To enter, just leave a comment on this post answering Laura's question and then fill out the Raffle Copter below with your name and email address. Extra entries are available but not required. Good luck!
***Actual charms may vary from the ones pictured above***