By Christina Lynn Lambert (Guest Blogger)
Fun facts and behind the scenes of Bear’s Dream (Haven Forest Resort book 1):
Aiden “AJ” Shepherd and his brother Greg were both a small part of Bear’s Edge (Stranger Creatures book 2) and the characters stayed on my mind. Eventually I decided that the Shepherd brothers needed their own series so I had the brothers open up a shifter resort in the Haven Forest Resort series. The first book in the series is AJ and Ellie’s story.
A little about Ellie and AJ:
Ellie makes decisions quickly and sometimes worries that she’s being impulsive. She is an amazing cook and incredibly kind-hearted. She has a giant dog named Curtis who she found tied to a tree and starving when she was on a hike with a friend.
AJ is quiet and serious. He spent a lot of time in the Shifter Enforcement Army and saw some horrible things that have weighed heavily on his mind. He and his brother work on opening the resort so shifters can have a place to celebrate things and run free without worries.
Ellie hates AJ in the beginning of the story but a chance meeting in a hotel bar on New Year’s Eve gives her a chance to see maybe he’s not such a horrible guy after all. Working with AJ throws her a curveball she wasn’t expecting. When a relationship between the two of them seems impossible, she starts having a recurring steamy dream about him that just won’t leave her alone.
Ellie has a terrifying time trying to drive a moving truck to Haven Forest Resort. She has difficulty with depth perception and hit a bush while trying to park the truck.
AJ has a black cat with white tipped ears named Opal. Opal prefers fresh salmon and likes ice cubes in her water.
AJ often tells Ellie how much he loves her cooking. He tells her a lot of really sweet things not because he wants to please her but because he sees the truth of her wonderful personality and is honest with her about what he thinks.
If Bear’s Dream had a candle, the scent would be called Ellie’s Kitchen which would be the aroma of cinnamon roll cake drifting onto a back porch to mingle with the breeze on a spring night.
I wanted to throw my computer out the window several times while writing this book because my kids were in virtual school for almost a year and a half and I couldn’t get any peace and quiet to work.
What’s next: I’m currently working on book 2 in the Haven Forest Resort series. This book will feature Rob, the leopard shifter Head of Security at the resort who had a small part in book 1. I will also be working on completing book 4 of my Stranger Creatures series, which will be Trevor and Kylie’s story. In addition to writing in the romance genre, I’ll be publishing some poems and essays in different anthologies such as The Order of Us and Gifts and in some magazines and ezines such as The Mandarin Magazine and Feral Feline Literary Magazine.
Blurb
A snowstorm on New Year’s Eve brought bear shifters Ellie and AJ together but a secret threatens to tear them apart.
She had every reason to hate him
Aiden "AJ" Shepherd's mistake during a Shifter Army Enforcement rescue mission cost Ellie Ortiz's brother, Marco, his life. She hates AJ with a passion until a chance encounter with him on New Year’s Eve reveals he's not the cold, heartless man she once thought him to be. Her attraction to him takes her by surprise and she vows to ignore her feelings. When a new job puts her in contact with him every day, the heat building between them threatens to flare out of control. Her resolve to keep the sweet, sexy man in the friend zone is weakening by the day.
His secret could ruin everything
During a disastrous assignment with Shifters United, AJ uncovers some information that changes everything. Keeping the truth hidden from Ellie is killing him but he might lose her forever if he tells her what he learned on his mission. When Ellie ends up in danger, AJ will stop at nothing to save her. To survive, they’ll have to work together to stop a reporter who is determined to prove the existence of shifters.
Excerpt
“You’re pretty amazing. I hope you know that.”
Her cheeks got hot at the compliment. She popped the last bite of cherry pie into her mouth to keep from saying something stupid and gushy back to him.
The opening chords to R.E.M’s “It’s the End of the World As We Know It” played and spotlights hit the screen behind the stage. Colored lights all around the courtyard lit up in time with the music. She and AJ stood and cheered with the rest of the crowd. The drum beat and guitar notes of every song reached out to fire up the courtyard. The music washed over her and she forgot for a moment every other care she had as the light show dazzled her.
After the show ended, they both agreed it was time to call it a day and head back to the hotel room. AJ made some chamomile tea in the coffeepot and she sat down next to him on the sofa. They were halfway into an episode of The Twilight Zone when he turned to her. “Thanks for looking out for me today, and getting me into the woods so I could shift out my injuries. I would’ve hated to have passed out and been forced to go to a hospital by some well-meaning regular.”
“I wouldn’t have let that happen.”
He brushed a curl from her face. She didn’t back away. His lips brushed hers, softly, as if he just meant a sweet, gentle kiss, but his grip on her hips was anything but gentle. If only their circumstances were different, then she could kiss him all night long if she wanted to. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from leaning into the kiss. Guilt and desire went to war inside her mind and he drew back, as if he understood.
“Night, Ellie.” His hands were gone from her body but his voice rumbled around her, reaching for her.
“See you in the morning.” She stood up and walked down the hallway, refusing to look back.
What is wrong with me? Kissing him was not okay!
The quilt and soft sheets on the bed made a nice nest for her to hide inside while she forced herself to think about anything except for AJ and how he’d touched her with more tenderness than any man ever had. Including Darien.
Purchase Links
Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/Bears-Dream-Haven-Forest-Resort-ebook/dp/B09XT1WX5G
Amazon UK
About the Author
Before I had the wild idea to write a book, I worked in a few different fields. I was in sales for a while, and after I finished college, I worked as a case manager. When my children were little, I was a personal trainer and running coach. During the evenings, when I was supposed to be studying for another fitness training certification, I started writing a story. Finally, I gave in and acknowledged that writing is what I’m meant to do. I love creating imperfect but determined characters who find the courage to love and the strength to survive in a world where there are no guarantees. My stories include a fair amount of sarcasm, suspense, steam, and violence. When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time outside and finding ways to avoid cooking. I live in beautiful Virginia with my husband, two daughters, a sweet, hairy monster of a dog, and two devious cats.
Social Media Links
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Christina-Lynn-Lambert/e/B01MCYK0K7
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christina-lynn-lambert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinalynnlambert
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15900423.Christina_Lynn_Lambert
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinalynnlambert
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chris4lamb
Wordpress: https://christinalynnlambertwordpress.com
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