Monday, April 6, 2015

Once an Alpha by Callie McKenna!


Once An Alpha (The S Files: Book 1 - BBW Paranormal Romance) (The S Files Paranormal Investigation Agency)
Once An Alpha
The S Files  
Paranormal Investigation Agency
Book 1
Callie McKenna

Genre: BBW Paranormal romance

Date of Publication: 16th January 2015

ASIN: B00SDFDRJU

Number of pages: 138
Word Count: 42000

Cover Artist: L. Armstrong

Book Description:

Mystery. Intrigue. Lust. The sexiest shifters. This book has it all...

Curvy FBI agent Myla Peyton has always believed in logic and science. But when she is assigned to the paranormal S Files investigation agency, everything she believes in is challenged.

And what’s worse is her partner, David Lyndon. Sexy as hell and arrogant to boot, Myla can’t stand him after encountering him during her time at the FBI academy. There’s something different about him that she can’t put her finger on. Why does he sniff the air like a dog, and why do his eyes sometimes seem to glow?

The two are sent to the sleepy mountain town of Bakewell Springs, Colorado, to investigate multiple disappearances of hikers over the years. Someone…or something…is snatching them up in the night, and it’s up to the two agents to figure out what’s really going on.

Can Myla resist David's mysterious charms while solving the case? And can David resist the urge to claim his curvy mate?

Warning: This book contains lots of HOT sex, adult language and violence. If this is not the kind of stuff you like to read, skip this book. However, if you like dirty, raunchy sex with a strong, sassy and smart BBW heroine, then this is right up your alley. Enjoy!

Available at Amazon

Excerpt:
“Anyway, I’d tell you what the position is right now, but we’re still waiting on a third party,” Director Armstrong said, leaning back slightly. “You are one of two agents we want on this task force, and unfortunately he is quite late.”
“Who is he?” I asked, but I didn’t need to. Only a second after I spoke, the door opened, and I had to suppress the urge to roll my eyes as David Lyndon sauntered in.
Seeing him always sent my body into a tailspin of confusion. I couldn’t stand the guy, but there was no denying what he did to me and probably every other woman he came within ten feet of. The man was gorgeous. With a lot more than a capital G. Seriously, even thinking of him made my heart jump in my chest and fireworks go off in my stomach.
He had golden-tanned skin with dark hair, flawless chiseled features and piercing green eyes, and also enough muscles to share with at least five other men. But like I said, I couldn’t stand him. Not after spending all that time down in Quantico with him at the academy, and certainly not after that night. He was a smooth-talking asshole, a womanizer and arrogant to boot. I suppose he couldn’t help it, what with women melting in his presence and practically throwing their panties at him.
“Myla,” he said, nodding in my direction and flashing that panty-dropping grin at me. Not today, Lyndon. You wish.  I seethed at the idea of having to be paired with him, and I gave him a stiff nod in return. The last time I’d seen him was at some agency function in the city a year ago, where I’d taken pains to avoid him and then given him the cold shoulder when he’d caught me off guard and tried to start a conversation with me.
“Okay, let’s get down to it,” Director Armstrong said, motioning for Lyndon to sit. “I’ve asked you here today because we want you both working in this little department that’s been around for a while, but…err… well, most agents have never heard of it. And for good reason too. It’s a little… unorthodox.”
“Unorthodox how?” I asked sharply.
“It’s called the S Files,” he replied, looking at Lyndon and me to gauge our responses. I’d never heard of it, and I raised an eyebrow, but Lyndon clearly had because he simply smiled and nodded.
“This department investigates strange events around the country that regular police departments have classified as unsolved due to… how can I put this… due to extenuating circumstances.”
I raised my other eyebrow this time as well.
“What sort of extenuating circumstances?” I asked.
Director Armstrong looked slightly flustered, and it was clear he thought he was going to have a hard time getting me on board. “Paranormal events.  Unexplained phenomena. Those sorts of shenanigans.”
This time I could barely contain my surprise. I’d heard of departments like this existing, but I’d always assumed it was part of the agency lore. Not real in any way. But here I was being asked to join the S Files, with David Lyndon of all people.
“Um. Okay then…. and why exactly is he here? Couldn’t find any other decent agents?” I jerked my head in Lyndon’s direction, plastering a big old fake saccharin-sweet smile on my face. I knew I was being unprofessional, but I just couldn’t help myself when it came to him.
Director Armstrong pursed his lips into a thin smile. “Now, now. I’m aware of the fact that you two didn’t exactly get along back in the day, but we need you both on this. Agent Lyndon has experience with certain matters that may come in handy.”
Lyndon smirked at me and I rolled my eyes. Experience, huh? As far as I knew, the only thing he was experienced at was talking women out of their panties…and out of their minds, I presumed. You’d have to be insane to actually fall for his so-called charms.
“Why is it called the S Files?” I asked. “What does the S stand for?”
Director Armstrong coughed and crossed his arms. “The S stands for Shifter. We have compelling reason to believe that many unexplained events that go on in this world can be explained by the existence of shapeshifters.”
I snorted back laughter. “This has got to be a joke. Shapeshifters?”
Lyndon narrowed his eyes at me, and Director Armstrong smiled. “Keep an open mind, Agent Peyton. Not everything can be explained with the logic of science. But that’s where you come in, to try and prove us wrong. To sort out the paranormal from the regular old things that can be explained rationally.”
This time I didn’t suppress the urge to roll my eyes. “Right. So when would we start?”
“Right away,” Armstrong replied. “You’ve both already been relieved of your current postings.”
Great. So apparently I didn’t even get a choice in the matter. Whether I liked it or not, I had been removed from my geeky position with the computer scientists and forced into the S Files, with Lyndon foisted upon me as well. Double whammy.
The S Files. What a ridiculous name. And the FBI believing in shifters? I’ll be damned. I was willing to bet that whatever allegedly paranormal events we looked into, there would be a rational explanation for all of them. Or else I’d eat my shirt.
Armstrong continued. “We’ll need you both to take a plane to Denver tomorrow morning. Your first case awaits…” 

Author Interview

First, tell me a little about your book J….
Once An Alpha is the first book in the S Files series, and it follows two FBI agents as they investigate a creepy case in Colorado while trying to fight their developing romantic feelings for each other. Hikers keep going missing, and they need to figure out why before it’s too late. The S Files is an imaginary FBI department (definitely inspired by the X Files!) where agents investigate cases that could be considered paranormal or have shifter involvement. S for Shifter!

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated or did you always just know?
I always loved reading and writing as a kid, so I guess I always just knew that one day I’d like to write a book or two!

What inspired you to write your first book and what was it?
Once An Alpha is my first book. I’d just finished reading a couple of paranormal romance novels, and I was lying in bed thinking ‘hmm, I think this is a genre I think I could totally write if I put my mind to it’. I’ve always loved reading about paranormal things and trying to come up with rational explanations for them, and suddenly the idea for the S Files was born… at two o’clock in the morning. I started writing the first one the very next day.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
As much as I wish I knew sexy shifter FBI agents, unfortunately I don’t, so I can’t say they are based on any of my own experiences. However, some of the events are inspired by real-life events that have occurred in the world. For example, in the second book in the S Files series, there is a serial killer who the two main characters are trying to catch, and that killer is very loosely based on the Jack the Ripper murders in nineteenth-century England. History is always a great place to look for inspiration!

How do you chose when/which characters die in your books?
I’ll usually have a general idea of what is going to happen before I’ve started writing the book, so for some of my characters, they are unfortunately doomed from the very beginning.

Who do you look up to as a writer?
I find other PNR authors to be a real inspiration – Celia Kyle, Milly Taiden, Georgette St Clair. I also love J.K. Rowling, Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwell.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book?
Hmm… I suppose I’d add in a few extra steamy scenes to keep the more insatiable readers happy ;)

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Just finding the time to write can be challenging! I have other work/commitments, so sometimes I won’t have time to sit down and write for a while. I’ll always try and squeeze a little time in when I really need to, though. As you can imagine, that often means very late nights…

What book are you reading now? Or what genre?
Right now I am re-reading my all-time favourite book – Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco. Basically, it’s about three men who invent a wild conspiracy theory, and slowly their lives unravel as they start to believe their own conspiracy.

Who designed the cover? And do you help with them?
My good friend Liam. I am useless with things like Photoshop, so I pick the images that I want to be on the covers and give him a general idea of what I want it all to look like…then he works his magic!

Did you learn anything from writing your books and what was it?
As boring as it sounds, I learned where grizzly bears and brown bears actually live and what their behavior is generally like compared to each other. Yep, it’s not all fun and steamy sex scenes…sometimes there’s actual research involved!

If you could be one of your characters, who would you chose?
Definitely Myla Peyton – she is smart, strong, and doesn’t take crap from anyone!

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Yes J Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy my books! 

 My Review
I loved this book! I'm so glad it's going to be a series so I can get more! I loved the mystery of solving the crime with the paranormal added to it! It's a great start to a fun ride full of suspense and paranormal and romance! 

Nyla is an FBI agent who gets assigned to a branch of the department she's never heard of. Like the x files but not so crazy. She's brilliant. She thinks she's nerdy. And she's stuck with a partner whom she loves to hate- or hates to love! She's one of the best, but guess what, she's human and has no idea about shifters. It's pretty awesome to see her freak out a little. And then there's her partner David Lyndon. He's smoking HAWT! He's charming and smart and can be sweet but so domineering! Lol there's always a reason :) he's always known about the paranormal so he's supposed to help her get situated :) uh huh! Without clothes :) 

I loved the crime solving. And the plot of the crime and how things unraveled. The writing was well done. It's a fun quick read and I definitely want more! I really look forward to seeing what these two will solve next! 5 WOLFY PAWS!!

About the Author:
 
Author Callie McKenna loves to write hot and sexy stories. How hot? So hot that they might very well scorch your e-reader! Usually paranormal, her stories are a great way to satisfy your cravings for smart, sassy heroines with curves and sexy alpha shifters.

Callie was born in the US but raised in South Africa before moving to Australia upon meeting her husband. They live together with their two gorgeous cats and (hopefully) they can add a baby to that mix soon. She is addicted to coffee, marshmallows and Indian food, but thankfully not all at the same time...





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