Blood of the Maple

A seduction-gone-wrong leaves vampire Parker Hollis with a new vegetarian lifestyle and on the run from a vengeful
witch. Moving to small-town Maggie’s Grove, Parker meets a redheaded dryad with green, leafy blood that draws him in a
way he hasn’t experienced in decades. His new neighbor smells divine, and it isn’t long before craving gives in to need.

In a unique community of supernaturals, tree-loving outcast Amara Schwedler has never quite fit in. She’s scarred by a
traumatic incident and feared by the local townsfolk. She’s convinced Parker will look elsewhere for a mate once he
discovers she’s not one of the O-positive set, and can’t believe it when Parker finds her irresistible.

When the witch who’s been plaguing Parker’s life discovers the newfound attraction between Parker and Amara, she
takes out her anger on the town. Can the supernaturals of Maggie’s Grove accept Amara and band together in time to
withstand the assaults of the enraged witch?

Read an Excerpt from Blood of the Maple:

Parker found himself staring at the most incredible redhead he’d ever been privileged to lay eyes on. Something about
her scent tantalized him, teased him. For the first time in decades his mouth watered over a person rather than a salad.
“The new owner.” He took a step forward and held out his hand, juggling the urn. “Parker Hollis. Are you one of my
neighbors?”

She stared at his hand, a frown marring her lovely face. “You’re dead.”

Parker’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“You’re a vampire.” She said it with such authority that he couldn’t deny it.

Parker checked his fangs with his tongue. Nope, his teeth felt human. “What would make you say that?”

“You’re unnaturally pale, you’re carrying around another dead guy, which is freaky even for a vampire, and your eyes
are glowing ruby red.”

He laughed, but even to his ears it sounded awkward. “Vampires don’t exist.”

She poked him in the stomach. “Funny. You feel real enough.”

Want to feel some more? “Whatever would give you the idea that there are vampires?”

“You mean besides the fangs poking your bottom lip?”

Parker blushed. That hadn’t happened in years. These days they only descended at the sound of a blender. Made going
into a smoothie shop a real chore. “Oh. Sorry about that.” He forced his beast back and away from the pretty, pretty girl.

“Don’t worry about it. One of my best friends is a vampire.”

“That explains a lot.” Humans and vampires rarely became friends, but if it could happen to Parker, it could happen to
his lovely neighbor. “For a moment there I thought I was wearing a sign.”

Her frown smoothed out into a shy smile. Her lips made a lovely cupid’s bow, tempting him to sample them, to see if they
tasted as rich as they looked. “I don’t know. You could be. Have you looked in a mirror lately? Oh wait, would you even
see the sign?”

“Ha-ha. That’s a myth, I’ll have you know.” He stuck his hand out again, wondering why the woman wasn’t more freaked-
out. She knew what he was; did that mean she too was supernatural? He couldn’t detect any scent of were, none of the
sparkle the fae had. The only odd thing was that utterly delicious scent wafting from her. She smelled like the highest-
quality syrup mixed with the rarest of greens, combined with that hint of copper every vampire craved. “You are?”

“Amara Schwedler. I live next door.” She pointed toward the lavender Victorian with a sad smile. “My friend Glinda left it
to me.”

“Left it to you?”

“She passed away a year ago.”

Parker frowned. “I’m sorry for your loss. I recently lost a good friend myself, so I know how much it hurts.” He set the urn
down on the front porch. He had no desire to crack Greg’s final resting place, but damn, he wanted to get closer to the
sweet-smelling female standing at the bottom of the steps.

“Aw, how sweet.”

Parker ignored Greg, glad no one else could hear him. No matter what Greg thought, watching him die had been painful,
almost as bad as his conversion.

“Why didn’t you change him?”

He took a chance and prayed Greg would forgive him. “He was a witch.”

“Parker!”

“Ah. Of course. He’d have lost his powers if you changed him. No witch wants that.”

He dared take a step closer to her. “You seem to know a great deal about witches as well as vampires.”

“Mm-hmm. Glinda was one.”

He nearly laughed. Some witch had dared name their daughter after the Witch of the North? “I guess she was a good
one.”

“Oh yes, she was the best.” Amara grinned cheekily. “She let me help create the garden behind your house.”

Parker blinked. “I have a garden?” Damn. He had plans for his backyard. Knowing his delicious neighbor lady had
already taken care of it was a serious conundrum. What if he didn’t like what she’d done and decided to rip it out?
Would she refuse to let him crawl inside her the way he wanted to?

“Oh yes. It’s beautiful. One of the best we’ve ever done.”

“Would you be willing to show it to me?” He’d forgo entering his home for a chance to spend some time with Amara.

She bit her lip. “May I?”

“Please.” Please please please. Anything to get her to stay close to him. He waved toward the back garden. “After you, m’
lady.”

She giggled. “I like your accent.”

“Thank you.” She wasn’t the first woman to tell him they liked his British accent. American women went bonkers for an
accent, even one as faded as his, and he used that to his advantage when the urge for sex became too great to satisfy
with his hand.

But he’d been forced to learn caution. Terri had a habit of finding out when he’d slept with someone. The last woman
he’d been with more than once had died horribly, strangled by vines in her greenhouse. The cops had called it a bizarre
accident.

Parker knew better.

Parker frowned. Maybe…maybe instead of trying to end the curse, he should be trying to end Terri. After all, the curse
wasn’t so bad.

Terri, on the other hand…

“Here, let me open that for you.” He reached over her head and unlatched the gate, then pulled it open and followed her
inside.

He stopped dead, arrested by a wonderland of flora.

“What do you think?”

Meandering pathways led to secreted benches, perfect for sitting and enjoying a quiet evening. A patio, complete with
fireplace and outdoor kitchen, was close enough to the house for entertaining, but far enough away to create its own
vignette. Statuary peeked out here and there from under leaves, satyrs and dryads and faeries of all types. Trees were
positioned to provide shade for all but the hottest of days. But best of all was the view of snow-capped Big Savage
Mountain behind the garden, part of the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, framed by two towering oaks. “Beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful.”

Amara blushed. “Thank you.”

He walked around, dazed at the beauty of his secret garden. He fingered each plant, naming them as he went. “This
rhododendron is exquisite. And columbine!” He pointed toward a flowering bush. “Look at that baptisia! That’s a Carolina
Moonlight, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Amara nodded enthusiastically. “How did you know?”

He grinned. “I’m a botanist.”

“A vampire botanist?” Amara’s lips twitched.

He shrugged. “Long story.” One he might be willing to tell her someday. “I’m impressed with what you’ve done here.”
That blush raced across her cheeks once more, and he was in serious danger of having his socks, and other parts of his
apparel, charmed off. “Thank you.”

“Someone’s planning on gettin’ some.”

“Shut up, Greg,” he muttered.

“Greg? Was that the name of your friend?” Amara seemed illuminated by the moonlight, fey and shy and so beautiful his
heart lurched.

“Yup. Some days it’s like he still talks to me.”

“Bow-chicka-bow-wow.”

Parker gritted his teeth against the cheesy bump-and-grind noises.

“I know the feeling.”

"This one was a ‘can’t put it down’ book and I give it the highest of recommendations." Best Book, Whipped Cream
Reviews

"Yes, this book was sexy, and yes there was some intense action and wonderful angst, but in the end, I think what influenced
my rating the most is that it was fun. A dryad heroine, a vegetarian vampire hero, a sexy (and vaguely perverted) ghost
sidekick, mixed with witches, elementals, and shape shifters, makes for a heck of a ride. A very solid 4/5 Stars." The
Romanceaholic

"This is a fresh vampire tale begging to be devoured." Four Stars, Romantic Time Magazine

Maggie's Grove Book 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel

EBOOK
ISBN: 978-14268-9144-1

Carina Press

Kindle

Nook

Audible.com

Not available in Print.