Until I sat down to write Darkest Caress, I’d never even attempted paranormal romance before. I’d thought about it trying it, letting little story details form, but never took the idea all that seriously. All I knew was that if I ever did write a paranormal romance, I wanted it to be about something other than vamps and shifters. I just didn’t know what.
Then in the fall of 2009 I went to Lithuania on holiday (oh, it’s a really long story, and part of me is still surprised that I went), and something magical happened. In the midst of a picturesque, magical seaside town named Nida, I found my inspiration.
Walking along towering sand dunes overlooking the Baltic Sea and following a shadow-dappled path through the woods past wooden sculptures depicting local folklore, it suddenly all came together.
That place was filled with a magic so strong that my skin tingled and the hair on my arms stood on end. I had to wait a while before I could plot out the story, but I couldn’t wait to bring my magical race to life on the page. The ancient tales I’d heard of witches and a Baltic sea goddess named Neringa were too incredible for my overactive imagination to ignore. I suddenly knew what my characters would be, and where they came from. In that moment, the idea for The Empowered was born. I hope you enjoy Darkest Caress.
Which paranormal romances feature the best world building, in your opinion? Please leave me a comment to enter a contest for a digital copy of Darkest Caress.
Two-hundred-year-old Daegan Blackwell is one of the last remaining Empowered, an ancient magical race. Daegan’s duty is to lead and protect his remaining Brethren in the coming war foretold by prophecy. The last thing he expects is to meet the one woman who will either save or destroy him-his destined mate.
Fiercely independent Realtor Olivia Farrell believes darkly handsome Daegan is simply a prospective client. Until she’s attacked by a man with a strange aura-and Daegan fights him off, taking away her pain with just his touch. At first, Olivia refuses to believe she’s part of a magical race, yet mounting evidence and her powerful chemistry with Daegan are too strong to deny.
But as Daegan’s partner, Olivia becomes a target in the battle between good and evil that threatens her life, as well as the very existence of the Empowered. And the only one who can save her is the man claiming to be her destiny…
Happy reading!
Kaylea Cross
Kaylea Cross is an award winning author of edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense. A Registered Massage Therapist, Kaylea is an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dancer and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband.
You can find her through her website, Twitter, Facebook, and blog.
Honorary Mention of Book Sluts 'R' Us Blogger Awards by 
RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk 
oooo venturing into paranormal romance. very exciting for you I’m sure. congrats on the new series. Sounds really good.
I think Thea Harrison’s Elder Races is pretty awesome! I love in paranormal romances the idea of the one mate. These types of books give you a little bit of everything. Thanks and congrats!
Thank you for your guestpost Kaylea, and I wish you good luck with this new series. It sure does sound interesting.
I think Urban Fantasy has more of a world building than Paranormal Romance, for instance the Dark series by Christine Feehan and the Merry Gentry/Anita Blake books by Laurell K. Hamilton. I’ll pick the Psy/Changelings by Nalini Singh as one of my favourites PNR series.
I love Pamela Palmer’s Feral Warriors world building. It is a great series about shifters.
Wow hard questions.. Kresley Cole IAD series would be my top pick and now Stephanie Rowe’s new series Order of the Blade (loving it) Cant wait to read your new world.
Hi, Eileen, and thanks! It’s a tiny bit nerve wracking, but hopefully most of my reader base will fall in love with these new characters and world I’ve created.
Shelley, I haven’t read any of her books yet! Must get on that.
Thanks, Xaurianx. I’ve read a few of Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changelings books too, and I’m awed by the ease with which she creates her world building. She makes it look so darn easy. My fave Christine Feehan book was the Ghost Walker book with Dahlia as the heroine. I loved the building romance in that one.
Stacie, thanks for the rec. Katie Reus has a new shifter romance series out too. Have you read any of her books? She’s great.
Just wanted to give a supportive wave to my bud Kaylea, so keep me out of the drawing! Love the story behind your story 🙂
Best of luck with your paranormals! The book sounds wonderful! I have enjoyed stepping into the worlds created by Laurie London and Sherrilyn Kenyon… always looking forward to more paranormals to get hooked on!
Cindy, I haven’t read any of Ms. Cole’s books either! *blushes and hangs head* I did, however, get my first taste of Gena Showalter’s voice and thought it was pretty darn awesome.
Hey, Rashda! It was so sweet of you to drop by. *waves and blows kisses*
Thank you, Colleen. I’m not familiar with Ms. London but I’m going to look up her books now. I love getting recs from other romance readers! Thanks for the heads-up.
Two of the best world building paranormal series is the Psy-Changling and Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh. JR Ward is another great world builder.
Darkest Caress sounds like it would be a great read.
Thanks for the giveaway,
Elizabeth Gray
elizabethgr@sbcglobal.net
I completely agree with you, Elizabeth! Ward and Singh are both masters.
Ilona Andrews is known more for the Kate Daniels series which is UF and has fantastic world-building, but I also love their Edge series which is more PNR and also has very inventive and strong world-building.
I think the best feature of creating a paranormal romance world is building off myths and legends. Greek/Roman myths created worlds for the paranormal romance. It build upon the old and yet give us a new world that is different from the old.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit with me! I have a whole new roster of authors to choose from now.
And guess what–Cindy Overton, you’re the winner! Please email me at info@kayleacross.com and let me know whether you’d like the PDF or ePub version of Darkest Caress.