Jillian Neal - An Angel of His Own
Title:
An
Angel All His Own
Author:
Jilian
Neal
Date
of Publication: November 18th 2014
She’s everything Dan Vindico has ever wanted. Fionna Styler embodies
every single thing he told himself could never exist inside of one woman. She’s
beautiful, smart, funny, powerful, and she’s his… almost.
No one can know they’re together. The Interfeci would never let her live.
It was an inevitability, but Dan simply cannot resist her.
After a vow to somehow keep her safe, Dan learns what that really
entails. Betrayal, scandal, millions of dollars, and watching her in the arms
of other men are only the beginning, when danger intrudes into every sanctuary
he secures.
Dan can’t determine if the demons in his soul or the monsters outside are
more vicious, but Fionna’s life depends solely on him. That blasted tomb is
ever-present in his mind. Can he save the Angel who managed to pull him from
the depths of hell, the one he longs to make his own?
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23528731-an-angel-all-his-own
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the Book!
Other Books in The Gifted Realm series
Within the Realm (The Gifted Realm, #1)
Lessons Learned (The Gifted Realm, #2)
Every Action (The Gifted Realm, #3)
Rock Bottom (The Gifted Realm, #4)
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About
Jillian Neal
Jillian Neal is a Romance writer with a passion for passion who pens strong,
character driven novels, told from the male perspective. Her guys aren’t afraid
to let us inside their minds or inside their bedrooms. They’re hot on the trail
of a sinister criminal organization when they’re not burning up the bed sheets.
She’s a self-proclaimed ‘Southern girl with a sassy mouth.’ Her coffee
addiction is barely legal, and she’s most often running around with her hair
and her pen on fire! She's full of smarts, sass, and sizzle and that's a lot to
get into barely five feet of girl with her head always in the clouds.
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Q/A With Jillian
How did you come up with the idea for this story?
This story took over my brain all on its own. When I
started the Gifted Realm series, I wrote to try desperately to get it out of my
head. Rainer, Dan, Logan, all of them were demanding to be heard. They weren’t
gentle about it. I sat down one day five years ago and began typing. I haven’t
stopped. The more I write the more ideas I have. It fulfills me like nothing
ever has. It makes me deliriously happy. I can’t wait to write more!
Where do you find your inspiration?
There’s this old, abandoned warehouse downtown Atlanta,
just off Ponce de Leon. You have to go really early in the morning. No, I’m
just teasing. Honestly, I find inspiration everywhere. I see a couple on TV or
walking in the grocery store, and my mind conjures a life story up for them. I can’t stop it. Everyone and everything has
a story. You just have to pay close attention.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in
your writing?
Time! Time to write, edit, promote, edit, edit,
occasionally see my children’s faces, eat, bathe, there’s never enough time! ;)
Shall we discuss my coffee addiction now?
What are your current projects?
Currently I am working on the final book of my third
series, “The Gifted Islands.” I’ve taken a few minor characters from “The
Gifted Realm” and written another series. This time we see where too much power
can land someone and what the ultimate cost of that can be.
I am also
journaling my fourth series that I hope to start writing in January (please,
please, please!) It involves a kind of gypsy-life cult and what could come out
of extremists in any area. Should be interesting.
Tell us about your first book. What would readers find
different about the first one and your most recent published work?
Oh my goodness, I hope my writing has vastly improved
from my first novel to this one. I always just want the next one out to be
better than the one before. I feel like writing has this fantastic infinite
horizon. You can always get better! That’s very exciting to me.
My first book is really the introduction to “The Realm.”
Books 2-7 have much, much more action. It’s a rip-roaring ride, but I wanted to
use the first book, “Within the Realm” to make you feel like you’re living in
my world.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to
grasp?
So many messages. I would love to take sex out of the
“dirty” category and celebrate it as a beautiful expression of love. I would
love for readers to see Fionna’s strength that is displayed time and time again
in her knowledge of herself, her empathy, her tender care, and her love of Dan.
He is far superior in physical strength, but ultimately she is so much more
powerful. I would love for women to
recognize their own strengths through hers.
Does music play any type of role in your writing?
Music plays a huge role in my writing. I always have
music on when I write. All of my characters have playlists. Lyrics move me like
nothing else. I love words! I have heard a song only once and immediately had a
story idea come from a single line of the song.
Music soothes me and lets me tap into a deeper well of creativity.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in
your life?
I think I draw on events in my own life for little bits
of detail in my writing. I also people watch and, yes, even eavesdrop to try
and get a glimpse into the human psyche. I seek to understand what makes people
tick, whether I know them or not.
What books have influenced your life most?
Oh my goodness, so many of them! I was the weirdo in high
school that preferred to skip the football game so that I could read Austen,
Bronte, Chopin, and Steinbeck. I have always been an avid reader, but the most
influential would probably be: “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin, “On the Road,”
by Jack Kerouac, “Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen, “Grapes of Wrath” by
John Steinbeck, and “Anne of Green
Gables,” by Lucy Montgomery.
Are there any new authors that have grasp your interest?
I’m never, ever on the forefront of news. I usually
figure things out a solid 4-5 months after everyone else (if I’m lucky.) I do know that Nicki Solcedo’s debut novel,
“All Beautiful Things,” comes out January 2, 2015. I can’t wait to read it! It
is absolutely going to be fantastic! Check her out!
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I feel like what I’m currently writing is too far ahead
in the timeline for me to give you a scene from that without giving too much
away. How about a quick scene from “An Angel All His Own?”
Very, very carefully,
Dan wrapped Fionna up in his arms and tried to make it appear that it wasn’t
the place that she belonged. Nonchalance was not his forte. He attempted to
hide his love and all-encompassing desire for the woman, who fit in his hands
like she was made for him alone, but she melted into him.
Relief soothed her
fraying rhythms. She drew a deep breath, inhaling his cologne and his musk.
Discreetly, she touched his wrist and pulled his energy into her own.
Dan fought not to
groan from the heavenly sensation. He embraced her and let his energy work
through the bare skin there. “I’ve got you.” The words disappeared in the
blaring music. Only she had heard them.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to
your readers?
Thank you! Thank you for buying the Realm and loving my
characters! I could never have done any of this without you! You have no idea
how much I love hearing from you. Your words of encouragement and desire to
keep reading my work delights my soul! Thank you from the depths of my heart!!
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How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Check out my blog at http://jillianneal.com Or “Like”
my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jilliannealauthor Or follow
me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JillianNealAuth
On top of hearing about my books, you can also hear about
my clumsiness, my inept parenting attempts, and what I’m confusing my brain
with at the moment. Oh, and I also post sexy pics of my characters that will
surely make you smile!
Do you have a special time to write? How is your day
structured writing-wise?
I do my best writing when I’m alone. I can hear myself
think. I will, however, write at a moment’s notice. I’ll sprint to my laptop
and get down an idea or one sentence when it strikes me in the middle of
dinner. DH often rolls over at 3 in the morning to find the bed empty. My
characters drive me from my sleep. I try to blog, check social media, check
emails in the morning, at lunch, and just before dinner. I’ll occasionally
check in after my kiddos are in bed. Other than that I’m writing or editing.
Getting the words on the page is what it’s all about. I also try to squeeze in
laundry, cleaning, parenting, school activities, yoga, and spending time with
that stud that I married that makes my entire world go round!
Why did you choose to write [genre] stories?
I truly, truly love love! I adore every single piece of
getting a couple together. All of the complications, the trials, the whirlwinds
of emotion, and yes the sexy sex scenes, they all make me tick.
I never really
chose to write. It chose me, but from the moment I began, I wanted to write
Romance. I never say never, but I doubt I ever write anything but Romance. I
just love it too much.
What is for you the perfect book hero?
Flawed. All of my heroes have some major complications to
work through. Yes, they’re sexy and muscular and have a particular knack when
it comes to getting their girl, but they all have to go through some major
changes to get where they need to be. I also find very protective men to be
super sexy. There’s a reason my guys are all Law Enforcement officers with a
penchant for protecting the ones they love no matter what.
When you start a book, do you already have the whole
story in your head or is it built progressively?
I usually have a very loose concept of where we’re going.
I have the opening scene and the ending scene in my head. What happens in the
middle I find out as I write. That’s why I always want to keep writing. I want
to know what’s going to happen!
When and why did you begin writing?
I never decided to become a writer. I never really
decided to write. I woke up one day with Rainer Lawson and Dan Vindico in my
head, and I couldn’t get them to go away. They took over. Out of sheer
desperation to be able to think clearly, I sat down and started typing. I had
250 computer pages in less than 2 weeks. It kept coming. That was five years
ago, and it hasn’t stopped. Ultimately, I discovered as I worked, I was writing
to save my own life. After a bout of post-partum depression and never really
regaining my equilibrium, I wrote my way back to life. I can’t tell you how
thankful I am when I look back at where I was and where I am today all because
of Rainer and Dan.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
There are days I still don’t consider myself a writer.
When I first started, and began to consider seeking publication, I would think
when I see my name on the cover then I’ll be a writer. Well, that happened, and
I still didn’t quite believe it. Then I thought, okay when I get some 5 star
reviews from real reviewers, then I’ll really be a writer. Well, again, that
happened and I wasn’t quite sure that was enough. Now, it’s when I hit the NYT
then I’ll really believe it. I’m very proud of what I’ve done, but I always
want that next goal.
List three books you have recently read and would
recommend.
“When You Dare,” by Lori Foster
“The Look of Love” by Bella Andre
“Taking a Shot” by Jaci Burton
Tell us something that people would be surprised you know
how to do.
Hmm, I’m a good cook, and I can play the piano. I took
lessons for years, but have no desire to do it again. I do a ton of research
for my writing so though I would never, ever DO any of this, I do have the
basic concepts down for disassembling a semi-automatic pistol, hot-wiring a
car, blowing up a car, picking an intricate lock system, releasing a computer
worm virus, and many, many ways to kill people with Gifted energies. ;)
Will you write more about these characters?
Oh, yeah! I have a huge ensemble cast and the stories
there are endless!! I can’t wait to introduce you to more of the minor
characters and let you really get to know them when they tell you their
stories.
Excerpts:
She stuck her bottom lip out in a delicious pout. He turned
back on his side as she wriggled her body closer. His entire being was
thrumming and his mind was drowned with her scent, her taste, her energy, and of
the heavenly space that wrapped around him so perfectly between her legs. He
leaned and whispered in her ear. His hot breath caressed her delicate neck.
“Just wait, baby; be patient for me.” He felt her body tense
against his. “Just keep thinking about how good it feels when we’re together.
Keep thinking about how bad I crave you, and the things I’m gonna do when we’re
finally alone in here tomorrow night. All day I want you to think about me
sucking you.” He slid his hands over her breasts as she panted in deep desire.
She trembled and arched her back, forcing them into his firm grasp. “They’re
tender, aren’t they, baby? I know. I’ll be gentle, but I’m gonna make it all
better.” He massaged her breasts slowly. They were swollen and fevered. He
caught her nipples between his thumb and index finger. With a light squeeze,
she shook in his arms. “You just think about me running my hands all over you,
tracing you, making you feel me, touching you in all of those sweet, hidden
places that are all mine. I know how to make my girl so hot and wet for me.
Think about how good it feels when I run my tongue over your body, and mark you
where no one else will ever see.” She moaned deliciously as she gasped for
breath. He traced his hands down her stomach and slipped them to her lush
backside as he continued.
“I want you to think about me leaning you over this bed,
honey, driving you wild until you can’t stand it anymore. I’m gonna make you
scream out my name, make you tell me you want it harder. You just keep thinking
about me sucking you and biting you. I want you to let it build inside of you
all day, baby, until I get here, and I drink you, and spank you for being my
bad girl, and make you take it until you’re so full of me you explode in my
arms, and then I’m gonna do it all over again,” he promised in a lust-filled
rasp.
Scene 2
Dan lifted her face tenderly into his hands, and gazed down
into the sienna depths of the most amazing women he’d ever come in contact
with. “Fourteen days.” She furrowed her brow. “Fourteen days is how long we’ve
been dating. And in the past fourteen days, you’ve made me feel things I swore
I’d never feel again. You’ve made me believe that maybe life really is worth
living, because for ten damn years, honey, I never believed that.”
“You made me understand that I could have it both ways. See, I was damned and determined never
ever to fall in love again, because that meant that I had to stop loving Amelia
and I couldn’t. I can’t. I never thought there was a woman in the world who
would understand that, who would allow that, who would accept that. But you,”
he shook his head in disbelief, “you did so much more. You welcomed it, because
you are the most astounding thing that has ever happened to me.”
“So, for fourteen days, I’ve lived. I’ve done more than
breathe in hatred and vengeance when I drew breath, and I’ve seen the world
through your eyes, instead of through a red haze of anger and volatility.”
“I’ve slept for the first time in years. You have healed me
and filled me in ways I thought I’d never be filled again. So, yeah, I’m
scared. Scared I won’t be enough for you because, my God, Fionna, you deserve
so much more than me.”
She shook her head vehemently, but he continued. “But what
absolutely terrifies me is thinking about waking up and you not being in my
arms, or coming back to the house, I’ve occupied for the last few years, and it
not being my home because you aren’t there. I’ve done a whole lot of incredibly
stupid things in my life, Fionna, but I will do anything in my power to keep
you and to be everything you need and you want me to be, but I cannot lose you,
Fi.
“That would end me. I couldn’t go on. I know this is fast and
it’s been kind of a crazy ride, baby doll, but I’ve experienced enough of the
absolute worst possible things this world has to offer to know when I just
happened to somehow, by some incredible miracle, get the absolute best thing
there is out there.”
Scene 3
Dan climbed back up the stairs without consciously deciding
to eavesdrop. He halted outside the door when he heard the words, “He really
does love you, Fi. I can tell. He’s crazy about you,” Emily was vehement, as if
Fionna didn’t believe that herself.
“I know; I can’t believe how lucky I am. I just kind of
freaked. Do you think I’m crazy moving in with him? It’s been two weeks, even
if I kind of knew beforehand.”
Silence loomed. Dan’s pulse churned and then sped rapidly. He
prayed that Emily would tell her that it wasn’t crazy, that she should move in
with Dan. He didn’t understand how she’d known before him, but he didn’t care.
“You know, I think everyone thought I was just a sassy kid
when I said I was going to marry Rainer, when I was four, but I was serious. I
still think people are just waiting on us to fall apart, because you can’t
possibly love the same guy your entire life. But just because everyone else
doesn’t do it the way I did it, or the way you and Vindico are doing it,
doesn’t make their way right and our way wrong.” Dan was deeply impressed. He
just needed Fionna to hear what her friend was saying.
“I don’t know about you, but I kind of think my love story is
the best.” Fionna laughed at Emily’s teasing words, but Dan knew she did
believe that.
“Fionna, other people moving in together after two weeks
might make me concerned, but something about the two of you when you’re
together, it just seems right. I can feel it, and I know you can feel it.”
“I can, but I’m really mad at him. I don’t know how to feel
about that. If he weren’t so sweet, and so freaking good-looking, and so damn
good in bed, I’d be really pissed that he found my vibes. I am pissed, but
being mad at him makes me hurt. I
knew he’d done something. He felt guilty that morning when I walked him out.”
Fionna’s words rocked through Dan. He’d had no idea that morning how incredibly
powerful she was.
Dan climbed back up the stairs without consciously deciding
to eavesdrop. He halted outside the door when he heard the words, “He really
does love you, Fi. I can tell. He’s crazy about you,” Emily was vehement, as if
Fionna didn’t believe that herself.
“I know; I can’t believe how lucky I am. I just kind of
freaked. Do you think I’m crazy moving in with him? It’s been two weeks, even
if I kind of knew beforehand.”
Silence loomed. Dan’s pulse churned and then sped rapidly. He
prayed that Emily would tell her that it wasn’t crazy, that she should move in
with Dan. He didn’t understand how she’d known before him, but he didn’t care.
“You know, I think everyone thought I was just a sassy kid
when I said I was going to marry Rainer, when I was four, but I was serious. I
still think people are just waiting on us to fall apart, because you can’t
possibly love the same guy your entire life. But just because everyone else
doesn’t do it the way I did it, or the way you and Vindico are doing it,
doesn’t make their way right and our way wrong.” Dan was deeply impressed. He
just needed Fionna to hear what her friend was saying.
“I don’t know about you, but I kind of think my love story is
the best.” Fionna laughed at Emily’s teasing words, but Dan knew she did
believe that.
“Fionna, other people moving in together after two weeks
might make me concerned, but something about the two of you when you’re
together, it just seems right. I can feel it, and I know you can feel it.”
“I can, but I’m really mad at him. I don’t know how to feel
about that. If he weren’t so sweet, and so freaking good-looking, and so damn
good in bed, I’d be really pissed that he found my vibes. I am pissed, but
being mad at him makes me hurt. I
knew he’d done something. He felt guilty that morning when I walked him out.”
Fionna’s words rocked through Dan. He’d had no idea that morning how incredibly
powerful she was.
They began giggling again. Fionna stopped abruptly. “But he’s
a boy, and I don’t know how to live with a boy. I’ve never lived with a boy.
Boys are gross!”
Dan had to forcibly quell his laughter.
“I’m serious, Em. I don’t know how to do this. What if I need
to wear that pink pimple stuff on my face to bed? What if I throw up or really
stink up the bathroom? What if I get something on his sheets when I’m on my
period, or I drool in my sleep, or what if I want to play with those?”
Scene 4
Suddenly, he was overcome with the love he felt for her, and
the way she’d illuminated everything in his dark and terrifying world. She
soothed every strain and nursed every wound back to health. He stared into her
beautiful eyes as she gazed up at him. Their laughter ebbed in light of their
love.
He leaned in as she arched her back. Their lips met
passionately in the middle. He was soft and tender with her this time. He moved
his right hand to her cheek, kissing her slowly and softly. He guided her mouth
with his own.
She trembled in his arms. Overwhelmed with the need to tend
to her, he reclined her on his bed and moved over her. Slowly he traced her
bottom lip with his tongue, until she parted her lips and took him in. He
needed to taste her, to explore her, to pull the energy from her as he supplied
her with his own. She was so damn sweet and soft in his arms, small and
helpless under his rippling muscles and his towering height.
Their tongues moved in syncopation. Her energy seeped into
his mouth, and gathered slowly in the emanating heat between her legs.
Desperate for more of her, he slipped his hand under her
sweater and drew from her now-exposed side. Desire defeated her trepidation.
She wanted more of him, too, it seemed. Her hand slid down his chest and she
worked it into his trousers. A shocked, guttural groan tensed from low in his
abdomen.
She gasped as she felt how hard he was strained. Insatiable,
she wrapped her hand around him and drew his own hunger and need straight from
its source. The responses of his body to hers ignited a blaze through her
veins. Aware that he was holding a heavenly fire in his arms, Dan longed to be
consumed.
Continuing his ascension up her, Dan removed the barrier.
Nothing would ever stand in the way of having her in his hands. He lowered the
cup of her bra so he could feel the heavy, fevered flesh.
Working with gentle care, he felt her nipples begin to beg
his palms for the nurturing they craved. They pulsated in a directive he had no
choice but to obey. He lowered his mouth to her right breast. Her breath
caught, her body shuddered, as he began to suckle.
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