Blog Tour ~ Song of Howls by M.D. Grimm ~ Excerpt || Teasers || Giveaway
Afternoon all!
A warm welcome to the Blog Tour for the 2nd book in the Sisters of Song series: Song of Howls written by M.D. Grimm. You can check out my post for the Blog Tour for the first book here.
For today’s post I got an exclusive excerpt,
Cover Artist: selfpubbookcovers.com/DDuchnitski
Primary Plot Arc: Romance
Pairings (Only if PRIMARILY a romance): F/F
Main Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance
Story Type: Novel (>50k)
Word Count: 65,000
LGBTQ+ Identities (if applicable): lesbian, bisexualIs This Part of a Series?: Yes
Position (Number) in Series: 2
Necessary to Read Previous Books: No, But It Doesn’t Hurt
Series Title: Sisters of SongTitle for Other Book(s) in Series: 1 – Song of Flames
Book Blurb:
As Alaiya reclaims her life, she never intended to capture the heart of a she-wolf.
Alaiya was trained by her parents to be the perfect wife. Due to her beauty, they knew they could entice a wealthy man to wed her and raise their status. She was a trophy, a prize, brought out to entertain like an obedient dog. Their efforts were rewarded when Lord Salazem claimed her to become his next wife, intent on adding her to his harem. But when two mighty dragons and her sister save her, Alaiya is given a new chance at life.
Determined to stand on her own and discover who she truly is, Alaiya has little interest in relationships. Even when she meets the silver-haired Talla, Alaiya pushes down her desire, unwilling to be caged again.
Talla is the alpha of her large wolf pack in the Firestar Mountains and knows Alaiya is her mate. She is entranced by Alaiya’s strength, courage, and loyalty, and is determined to prove herself as a worthy mate. But first she must overcome Alaiya’s barriers, which might prove to be her greatest challenge.
As Alaiya and her sister adjust to their new lives, they must secure their home from those who would take it from them. Including their parents. As Alaiya struggles to stand on her own, she learns that true strength lies in letting others stand beside her.
Series Blurb:
Venya and Alaiya are sisters born to greedy and selfish parents. One is neglected and the other exploited. Despite this–or because of it–they cling to each other, best friends as well as family. They find freedom in the mountain range beyond their city of birth… as well as unexpected chances at love with extraordinary beings.
Forging a new future is never easy, but with their unbreakable bond, and lovers and allies at their side, the impossible just might be attainable.
Buy here:Books2Read || QueeRomance Ink Link
M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!). After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier. Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.
Excerpt
Good day lovely readers! I’m M.D. Grimm, and I want to thank you for joining me to promote my newest release, Song of Howls (Sisters of Song 2). This is the second and final book in a duology about two sisters, their adventures, growth, and romances with magical beings. This story is about Alaiya, the younger sister, and her unexpected romance with Talla, a she-wolf alpha. This is my first FF romance, and I really enjoyed writing a very woman-centered story. I’ve spoken before about my concern that there aren’t enough positive depictions of relationships between women, whether that be friendship, romance, mentorship, or all of the above. Due to that, it was a treat that the real movers-and-shakers in this story are three women.
Please enjoy this exclusive excerpt!
***
“That was a rush,” Alaiya said with a slight laugh. “I knew you were fast but… that was faster than fast. I think you could win a race against a horse.”
Talla huffed, preening. Unable to stop herself she leaned over and nuzzled Alaiya’s head.
Alaiya giggled and nudged her away, but the gesture was playful. “We have plenty of coin if you or your wolves wish to purchase anything.”
Talla smiled and rested her arm across Alaiya’s shoulders. “That is generous of you. But we have little desire for items or trinkets. Where would we carry such things? But experiences? We live for those. If you wish to go to market regularly, I will need to switch my wolves so everyone gets to experience it.”
“I think we can arrange that.” Alaiya leaned her head against Talla’s shoulder.
Talla beamed and took a deep breath of the fresh air, the scent of her mate enveloping her, enchanting her.
The town sprang up over the horizon and everyone pulled on their hoods. Alaiya joined her sister, and Talla shadowed them with her wolves spreading out through the marketplace, prowling for danger and learning the lay of the land. That was vital if they were going to be regular visitors here.
“Let’s split our needs,” Venya said. “You get the supplies for the saddle and the home, I’ll see to the food and anything else I spot that we might need.”
“Deal.” Alaiya handed her one of the lists.
Nadya fell into step beside Venya as they veered off.
As they approached one stall after another, they received looks of curiosity and puzzlement but no open hostility. That made her breathe a bit easier, though she never let her guard down. Various pungent scents threatened to overwhelm her and for once she was grateful for her muted senses. As her wolf she would have been coughing or gagging as fish mixed with boar mixed with herbs and dyes and dung. No one was selling dung but it flavored the air, souring the more alluring scents.
She was pleased they didn’t stand out as much as the sisters had feared. Others were dressed more colorfully and with more ornate baubles. Her wolves almost appeared underdressed. Other visitors wore cloaks and appeared more suspicious than they did. Each person to pass her provided a whiff, and she realized ports were filled with folks from all over—she smelled deserts, the sea, forests, mountains, and urban areas more saturated with foul scents than this marketplace offered.
She rubbed her nose, snorting a bit. She wanted to bury her face in Alaiya’s hair to cleanse herself. Feeling heated, she yanked down her hood. The sun shone on her hair before hiding behind a cloud.
“It didn’t occur to me that your hair might be a bit strange here,” Alaiya said softly. “I’ve been out of society too long.”
“You thought my hair strange?”
Alaiya chuckled and glanced at her. “Not anymore.”
“And what do you think of it now?”
Alaiya blushed and opened her mouth. But they were interrupted by a male stepping into Talla’s space. She didn’t spare him a glance.
“A fine morning, isn’t it? I wondered if—”
“No.”
He blinked, his dark eyes showing his startlement. “Sorry, I don’t—”
“No.”
“But—”
“No.”
His brows bunched and his mouth turned into a snarl. She turned her head and pinned him with a stare that made full-grown wolves cower in fear.
He paled and scurried away.
Hearing Alaiya giggle, she glanced over. Alaiya stood in front of the tanner’s stall, a bit flushed, and trying to contain herself.
Talla smiled and winked.
Alaiya let out a peal of laughter even as the tanner glanced at them, puzzled.
“Males are the same no matter what the species,” she said for Alaiya’s ears only.
Alaiya nodded. “I suspect that will soon happen to me, especially if I pull my hood down. Can you play interference if it does?”
Talla’s smile turned sharp. “I would be delighted.”
“Oh, and to answer your question. Your hair is gorgeous.”
Talla wanted to strut and lick her mate all over.
***
If you want more shifter action, please check out my on-going series “The Shifter Chronicles” (contemporary shifters, linked stories but with a different couple each book), as well as On Wings of Passion and On Wings of Thunder (for more dragon and angel spice!).
If fantasy is your jam, please consider “The Stones of Power” on-going series, about an angsty, anti-hero mage and his supportive, long-suffering mate. I also have A Priest, a Plague, and a Prophecy, a single title about Elias, an ace temple priest, and Gurrkk, the fierce, cinnamon-role orc who adores him. My trilogy “A Warrior’s Redemption” also packs a punch with action, danger, love, friendship, and a feisty horse that keeps everyone in line (seriously, Brutus is a gem!).
As for current and future projects, I’m still working on the next “The Stones of Power” book, Opal: Master and Puppet, and I’m almost finished with a single title MMF fantasy story. Later this year I hope to write On Wings of Shadow, and a short story collection from the “A Warrior’s Redemption” universe (yes, there will be a story from Brutus’s POV).
Until next time. May dragons guard your dreams,
M.D. Grimm
