Welcome to my stop on Caridad Piñeiro’s For Love or Vengeance Blog Tour! Paranormal Romance author Caridad is here today chatting about her first book in her latest Vampire Reborn series and the dark side of her writing oh and I’ve got an excerpt to share with you. Learn more about this fabulous author and feel free to show her some love in the comments 😉
Thanks for letting me visit on Romancing the Dark Side. I’ve been walking along the Dark Side for nearly ten years now with THE CALLING/REBORN vampire novels.
People often ask me why I’ve gone to the darkness with the series when I used to write light and very romantic contemporary romances.
I wrote a lengthy blog about the personal why of it recently. A lot of it has to do with 9/11 and the aftermath of that for me on a personal level.
But even before 9-11, suspense kept on creeping into my contemporary romances. My very first book, NOW AND ALWAYS, (which I’ve recently re-released) had a subplot where the FBI Agent heroine was investigating a serial killer.
I found that I often had to restrain myself from going to that dark side of suspense and when 9-11 happened, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I had to know that good would always triumph over evil. That there could be a happily-ever-after even if at some point, it seemed as if the darkness would triumph.
THE CALLING/REBORN series was born from that darkness. The first book in the series was even called DARKNESS CALLS. LOL!
In FOR LOVE OR VENGEANCE, there is darkness inside the heroine, FBI Agent Helene Alexander. She’s had a rough childhood, but an even harder gig as an adult. You see, she’s actually Nemesis, the Goddess of Vengeance, and she’s on earth with a mission she can’t fail. If she does, she risks losing her powers and maybe even her life.
But there is always light after the darkness. In Helene’s life that light is her sexy new partner, Miguel Sanchez. He’s a man with some darkness in him as well, but he knows the difference between vengeance and justice. And he knows how to love. He knows he wants Helene to understand and to love as well.
But first, Helene and Miguel have to solve a difficult serial killer case. One that will challenge their love and their lives.
Thanks again for letting me visit! I really appreciate it and I’d love to hear from you all if you like taking a walk along the dark side as well!
About the Book…
Title: For Love or Vengeance
Author: Caridad Piñeiro
Series: Vampire Reborn #1
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Entangled Publishing – Ignite imprint
Publication Date: September 23, 2013
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books
Goodreads
FBI Special Agent Helene Alexander is a goddess. An actual frickin’ goddess. And her mission is clear, see that justice is served at all times or her days as a goddess are numbered.
Helene’s new FBI partner defines good-looking, but Miguel Sanchez, wants nothing to do with her ends-justify-the-means attitude. He knows through experience the type of guilt her actions can bring and Miguel wants nothing to do with Helene’s careless ways. Even if she’s so damned hot she makes him burn with the need.
When the serial killer they’re tracking strikes again, Helene and Miguel are drawn into a case that will challenge their most fundamental beliefs about justice and vengeance. But it’s the passion between them that forces a goddess to choose: eternal life with all her powers…or death—to save the man she loves.
Peace filled Helene as Miguel lazily stroked her back. She snuggled closer to the warm strength of his body and he splayed his fingers across the small of her back to urge her even closer.
She went willingly, basking in a serenity that filled a part of her that had been empty for so long, she hadn’t known it could be any other way. But now she knew. And when he was gone from her life, as surely he would be soon, she would feel that emptiness even more profoundly.
“Helene?” he asked. “You okay?”
“Yes,” she replied, unwilling to allow him further entry into that space. Distracting him from probing deeper by saying, “I’m just thinking about the case.”
“We’ll get a break soon. I promise.”
Such earnestness in his voice and the way his hand tightened at her waist. But then, she had sensed that determination in him from the first. Admired it.
“I know, Miguel. I just wish we’d had that break a little sooner.”
“Yeah.” He moved so they were face to face, cupped her cheek and ran his thumb across her lips.
“It was hard to make the call to Lanie’s parents.”
Very hard. She recalled the words of comfort he had used, and the pain in his voice as he’d said them.
Which was only a fraction of the agony in the cries and denials from the girl’s parents when he had broken the news.
But he had done it, gracefully and full of compassion.
Raising her hand, she trailed it over the tight line of his jaw. “You handled it well.” Far better than she could have. In a few hours, they would have to speak to the roommates. “Will you tell her friends? I’m not sure I…”
“Can do it right?” he completed for her. He touched her chin with his fingers and urged her gaze upward. “I know you feel for them.”
He moved his hand down to her heart. “I see you hurting. I understand how much you want justice for Lanie.”
She glanced down to where his hand rested. She covered it with hers, pressed it tight, until he could feel the steady beat of her heart. A human heart that was filled with uncertainty.
Not like her real heart. Her immortal heart knew no doubts or hesitation. Only black and white.
Only true justice.
“Maybe the pain I feel is because I’ve failed. Failed to find justice,” she said, unwilling to believe it was about anything else.
He shook his head. “You know that’s not true. You feel pain for the victims and their plight. And you haven’t failed. This was a setback, yes. But we will not fail. You know that.”
She wanted to believe him. She wished that she wouldn’t disappoint his belief in her. And yet she knew she would. “The only thing I know for sure is that I want this bastard to pay for his crimes. That’s the only certain thing within me.”
About Caridad Piñeiro
New York Times and USA Today bestselling paranormal and romantic suspense author Caridad Pineiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project – to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word and in 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released. Over a decade later, Caridad is the author of more than thirty published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is an attorney, wife and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista.
Love her work!
Heed the call!!! I love Caridad’s books. I would recommend them to anyone & everyone!!—Rachel
Thank you both for coming by and to the Dark Side for letting me indulge my darkness. You guys rock!
I really enjoy this series.
jmcgaugh (at) semo (dot) edu