Delayed gratification has its place. This wouldn’t be it.
Halle Pumas, Book 5
Gabriel Anderson has accepted a unique position in the shifter world. He’s about to become a Hunter, one of the few trained and sanctioned to hunt down the rare rogue shifter dangerous to humans and shifters alike. There’s one catch: until his training is complete, he must hold off on marking his mate. No problem…after all, she probably couldn’t handle the sexual demands he dreams of making on her.
Her mate’s apparent desertion devastates Sarah. And his friendship with another woman threatens the bond they should be sharing and building. Maybe flirting with another man will make him sit up and take notice—and finally win Gabe’s heart. It works. Almost too well.
One touch of another man’s hand on Sarah’s tempting body brings every ounce of Gabe’s possessiveness roaring to the surface. He wastes no time making his erotic dreams of dominating her a reality—whether she’s ready for it or not.
If she’s not, the only place he’ll ever have her is in his dreams…
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Once upon a time Gabriel Anderson, Sheriff of Halle, Pennsylvania, Marshall’s Second to the Halle Puma Pride, and mate to Sarah Parker, was given a wonderful opportunity to serve the shifter community even more than he already did. He was asked to fill the shoes of a deceased Hunter, one of the few shifters sanctioned to hunt down rogues. But the training required would take him away from his newly found mate for six months. So rather than have them both tortured by memories of being together and then apart he accepts the advice of his trainer and slips away in the dead of night, leaving her without marking her.
Six months later, he’s come to regret that…
Only In My Dreams came about when I asked myself a simple question: What happens when you do the wrong thing for the right reason? Let’s face it, we’ve all done something that, at the time, we thought was the right thing to do, and for very good reasons. For instance, I told a friend that some of our mutual friends were fighting about her. I thought I was doing the “Good Samaritan”, hey-you-should-know-about-this thing by letting her know what was being said behind her back. She was upset, and I understood why. I remember I kept telling her that, because she was the center of the storm she had the right to know what was going on and, if no one else would tell her then I would. I hoped she understood I was trying to be the best friend I knew how to be.
Instead I got angry letters from both her and her fiancé telling me and several other people that we sucked and they never wanted to talk to us again. Apparently she’d been a lot more upset than I thought just knowing people were fighting about her and blamed us all equally, them for fighting and me for telling her about it. I hadn’t even been part of the original fight, yet because I did what I thought was the right thing to do I lost two friends. And that wasn’t the first time my “helping” lost me people I cared about, even though I meant well. Over the years I’ve managed to let it go, since people do eventually outgrow “young” and… okay, usually you don’t outgrow “stupid”, so I’ll say “naïve” instead. I did what I thought was right, though I know now that it was wrong. I should have stayed out of it, let it run its course. Instead most of those people never spoke to each other again. (Although, frankly? Most of them were headed that way anyway.) But, like Gabe, I was punished for doing the wrong thing for the right reason: trying to help a friend.
That’s where things get tricky for poor Gabe. He does everything he can to ease the unavoidable separation between himself and Sarah, but instead tangles things up so badly he almost loses her. And make no mistake, Sarah is strong enough to walk away from her mate and never look back. It will take a lot of fast talking and a lot of loving for Gabe to win back Sarah’s trust. Is he an idiot for doing what he did? Possibly, but he acted on the advice of someone he thought knew more than he did about the subject, and who hasn’t done that? Who hasn’t acted on “expert” advice and, hindsight being what it is, looked back and gone, “D’oh! What the hell was I thinking? Or drinking, for that matter?”
Gabe will win his girl. But what Sarah and Gabe have to go through to get to their happy ending will leave them both shaken to the core and more tightly bound together than any other shifter couple I’ve written. And this time it will be the right thing to do.
P.S.: Only In My Dreams is the last Halle Puma book. It was always meant to be the last Puma book. Now, before you start hunting me down, chaining me to my desk and refusing me chocolate until I comply with your demands, I AM starting a new shifter series. The Halle Shifters will be full length and will have more Weres than you can shake a stick at. Lions and Tigers and Bears and Foxes and Coyotes and…um, yes. Pumas. Pumas will definitely be there. In Halle. Where they belong. *cough*
Maybe it’s the right thing to do to end the novellas and take the stories to full length, and maybe it’s the wrong thing, but I have to run with it, because I’m doing it for the right reasons. The biggest request I get from all of you is to make the stories longer and for me, that’s the best reason of all.
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Many thanks to Dana Marie for being our guest today! Leave a comment for the chance to win a download off her backlist. You can find out more about Dana Marie and her books at her website here.
Longer is always better 🙂 Can’t wait to read Only in My Dreams and really can’t wait to see what you do with a longer novel.
Thanks Booklover! I just submitted Bear Necessities this weekend to my editor. It’s the first Halle Shifter novel and involves a Bear and a Wolf. (Yes, I actually said that: a Bear and a Wolf.)
I’ve also got a full-length novel coming out December 7th with Liquid Silver Books called Shadow of the Wolf, a shifter/wizard story that’s been in the back of my head for a looong time! In fact, it’s the story that Max and Emma kicked out of my head to make room for theirs! Turns out it was a good thing they did that, because Chris and Lana wanted a full-length story rather than a novella. 😀
This book sounds awesome. I havent read any of the puma books yet, buy I have the first in my TBR pile. I look forward to getting to know the people of Halle. Full length books sound great. happy writing.
Patty
I’m so excited for Only In My Dreams and the new longer stories. I have absolutely loved your Shifters and will definitely be ones of the people waiting for me.
I’m crossing my fingers that you GET more, lol! Thanks, Brandy!
I love the novellas but will love full length books as well. I just hope that we get to see recurring characters to bridge them together. I have loved all of the Halle Puma books, although I think my favorite is still the original “The Wallflower” I just love Max and Emma.
I am so behind the power curve, I didn’t even know you had another Halle novella coming out. What a treat for me today. I guess that means I just have to buy it huh? I mean you can’t have all except for the last, right? Thanks for all your hard work, I really enjoyed the others and look forward to this one as well. Have a great day!
Maria, I made sure that the original Pumas made an appearance in Bear Necessities. In fact, Max and Gabe both play an important role. One of the reasons I love doing series is seeing how the character’s lives turn out. I love watching the HEA go on!
Thanks, Angela! The Pumas were a joy to write, but I think the decision to expand the series will turn out to be the right one. Besides, nobody said I can’t do the occasional novella with a Puma or two, right? ;D
Please do not post email addresses in the comments–read this. Thank you.
Hi Anna! I just turned in the first full-length shifter novel, Bear Necessities, to my new editor Laurie and Samhain. I’m hoping I’ll hear back after the holidays since these things take some time.
In the meantime, besides Only In My Dreams I have Shadow of the Wolf coming out with Liquid Silver Books on December 7th. It’s about magic, werewolves, curses and sworn enemies, with a hero who falls for the heroine before she has a chance to say “woof”.
It’s NOT set in the Puma world, though. Wizards, witches and warlocks don’t exist in Halle, PA. 😉
You can check out Shadow of the Wolf here: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10090
And you can check out Only In My Dreams here: http://samhainpublishing.com/authors/dana-marie-bell
Can’t wait to read this one and for the next series to start.
I’m glad I saw your post on Samhain Cafe. I wasn’t familiar with your work and have discovered another new author.
I am happy that you are creating another series… I love novellas, but I do enjoy a book with more meat in it… 😀
Hey Dana,
That is such awesome news! I’m definitely going to keep my eyes out for them!!!
Hi Dana 😀
thanks for your post! I have to say I love the cover – there are so many components which perfectly underline the story…
wish you all the best!
Ina
Thank you, Andrea! I hope you enjoy my work.
Hi, Ina! The first time I saw the cover I didn’t care for it. Something about it seemed off. The first version had Sarah in the foreground with Gabe in the back, but everything else was the same.
I kept trying to put my finger on what was wrong. The castle, maybe, or the fireworks? Both were things I’d asked for. Then Dusty, my husband, took a look at it and asked why Sarah was in front of Gabe? I blinked, pictured it with Gabe in front of Sarah, and bingo! It worked for me. The artists were nice enough to make the change and now I love it!
Hi Dana, I love the idea of full length stories, and can never so no to more shifters.
I really enjoy the longer books.
Yay, Dana, I can’t wait for the longer length novels 🙂 I’m glad that you’ll continue writing about your shifters in Halle 🙂
I can’t wait for this book. I love me some pumas. Don’t enter me in the contest I have all of Dana’s books. And will have this tomorrow.
More stories are always welcome and alternating between novel length and novella length would be ok. Though I love the Pumas I want to see more of this world and other worlds as well. You lead and all your readers will follow along like baby ducklings.
I’m new to Dana Marie Bell’s works so I look forward in starting a new series.
Thanks,
Tracey D
Happy chair dance all over the place!
Longer books! WOOT
Though they are going to involve the wolfies from this series yeah??? Like a certain omega??
In other words am I going to get the stories I am after?
LOL! Yes, Edie. Chela will get her book too, just not yet. I have an idea for her but her mate hasn’t shown up in my head yet, so until he does I have to hold off. I do know he’ll be human, though. Ben and Dave will more than likely get a novella (my first M/M).
And Bear Necessities involves a wolf who becomes a member of Rick’s Pack. Does that count? 😀
Yay to Ben and Dave!
That definitely counts, can’t wait for Bear Necessities!
this book sounds great! I will miss our puma’s but I am excited to meet new shifters in your new series. do you have a particular story that has touched you within the puma series?
I love Dana’s books and this story sounds awesome as always!
Hi Dana,
Are there any plans to publish your Halle Pumas in a print anthology?
Looking forward to Only In My Dreams
Yes, Samhain will be putting all five novellas into two print anthologies. The first, Mating Games, will go into print in June 2010. That one will contain The Wallflower, Sweet Dreams and Cat of a Different Color. The second anthology, Animal Attraction, will be in print September 2010 and will contain Steel Beauty and Only In My Dreams. 😀
Awesome! Will be getting those, Dana!
I vote for full-length too!
And yeah on the books going to print!!
I have really enjoyed the novellas and am really looking forward to some of the other shifters in Halle as full length books.
Oh, yay, longer is definitely better! *smirk* But I’ll take my DMB stories any way you want to tell them. Just keep them coming. 🙂
I haven’t read this series yet, but now it’s going on my wishlist!
Dana, sometimes we do get bitten in the rear for doing the right things, but I hope that doesn’t discourage people from doing what is right!
And oh boy! I’m definitely behind in your Pumas, but will be looking forward to the print anthologies! Don’t have an e-reader to curl up with yet! 🙂
I don’t have an e-reader either yet. I use either my SmartPhone or read on my laptop. Neither works well in sunlight, but for the most part I’m happy with them. I want an e-reader that does more than just read books for $200. When they come out with one I’ll get one!
And my SmartPhone has color, so I get to see the colors of the covers! 😀
I once told my best girlfriend that her boyfriend was cheating on her…and I ended up being the bad guy. You are so right….sometimes it just doesn’t pay to “do the right thing”.
I have heard great things about your books but have not read any yet (hangs head in shame). I hope to rectify that soon.
Glad to hear another shifter series is on the way!!! And full length will be awesome – the longer, all the better!!!
I love shifters, will look for this series!
Hi, Dana!! Don’t enter me, I have all your back list…LOVE those Halle Puma’s and can’t wait for more!! And I’ve been reading the teasers you’ve been putting up on your blog of your upcoming books…OMG, I can’t WAIT!! YES!!
Off to Samhain to see did this come out TODAY? WHAT? …..
Hey Dana ! You are a new author for me in Shifter world *g*
your series sounds awesome. i’d like to have one of them !
I love this series. Thanks for stopping by, Dana!