Tag Archives: ellora’s cave

The Research (Part Two) for Pack of Lies (@cw1985) #werewolf #paranormal #erotic #romance

packoflies02Hi everyone,

Wow, I can hardly believe that I did so much research for a book that it warrants more than one blog post. But this one did—it’s a 96,000 word thriller with historical elements, sex, romance and werewolves. And the werewolves, as the main characters, had to be paid very close attention to—for example, where would they change on the full moon?

The answer to this question explains why, last September, I found myself wearing a hard hat and clambering down into an old cave and mine system. Not by myself, I hasten to add, but with a very nice local gentleman, who generously gave up a few hours of his Sunday to take me and my other half down (who was also very generous with his time and patience as I dragged us off into the Peak District in the name of research!) into the cave system so I could see if it was feasible for two grown men to go down there and change into werewolves on a full moon.

Fortunately, after much banging of heads on low ceilings (thank goodness for the hard hats!) and crawling about in dark and narrow passages, I discovered it was indeed, feasible. Granted, it’s a fictional novel so it would have been okay to make it up, or stretch the truth, but I’m nothing if not a perfectionist. So imagine my relief when, having finally reached a cavern where I could stand up straight, I discovered that two large werewolves could indeed, prowl around in the darkness. Even better, the lack of space in the passages we’d entered through was such that, in werewolf form, they wouldn’t be able to get back out. Not until they’d changed back into human form. I can’t say why this is important without giving away some of the plot, so you’ll just have to read it and see!

Check out the photos on my Pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/cw1985/pack-of-lies/

The book has been incredibly well received so far, with lots of four and five star reviews—so if you’re a paranormal romance fan, I hope you’ll check it out!

*****

Pack of LiesBlurb:

Werewolf brothers Matthew and Isaac have lived in the peaceful village of Eyam all their lives. The villagers know what happens every full moon, and are happy to keep their secret. But their privacy comes at a cost—neither brother has taken a lover in almost four hundred years.

Then at the full moon, a sheep is slaughtered on Eyam Moor, by what could only be an animal. A large, vicious animal. Even the brothers’ staunchest supporters begin to have their doubts. Meanwhile Isaac is smitten by a handsome newcomer to the village, while a vivacious visitor is happy to offer Matthew her all.

As they indulge their lust, they must clear their names and convince their neighbours that they aren’t also letting their baser instincts out to play.

Inside Scoop:  This book contains sizzling scenes of both M/M and M/F sex.

Buy links: https://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/pack-of-lies/

Add to your Goodreads shelves: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22756241-pack-of-lies

Happy Reading,

Lucy x

My Sexy Saturday #46 – A Sexy First #MySexySaturday

My Sexy Saturday

Welcome back to My Sexy Saturday. This is where writers post either 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs from their published work or work in progress, sticking to the week’s theme. This week’s theme is a sexy first. So I’m sharing a snippet from Pack of Lies, where one of the lead characters, Isaac, meets his love interest, Nathaniel, for the first time.

Turning and reaching for his beer, he lifted the glass in a salute to the man who had done so much good, then drank deep. Then, on the spur of the moment, he made a decision. Standing, he carried his pint across to the newcomer’s table.

“Hi,” he said softly, giving a friendly smile. “Mind if I sit down?”

Green Eyes gestured to the stool opposite. “Please do.”

“Thanks.” Isaac put his pint down on the table and held out his hand. “I’m Isaac Adams.”

“Nathaniel Marsden. But everyone calls me Nathan.” They shook hands for just a millisecond too long, then parted.

Clearing his throat, Isaac spoke again. “So, you staying around here? I haven’t seen you before, and as you’ve probably noticed this is a pretty small village.”

“I just moved here.”

You can buy Pack of Lies here.

Please use the list below to head on over to the other blogs participating in My Sexy Saturday, and don’t forget to leave us all comments, we love ’em!

Happy Reading,

Lucy x


The Research (Part One) for Pack of Lies (@cw1985) #werewolf #paranormal #erotic #romance

Pack of LiesHi everyone,

Wow, I can hardly believe that I did so much research for a book that it warrants more than one blog post. But this one did—it’s a 96,000 word thriller with historical elements, sex, romance and werewolves. It’s the historical elements and the setting that meant this book needed so much research—I wanted to make sure I was getting it right, since I was writing about fiction based on fact, and a story set in a real place.

I mentioned in my previous posts on my blog this week that this book is partially based on real events, namely the plague hitting a Derbyshire village in the 1600s. It was for this reason that I needed to get those facts straight. The majority of the book takes place in modern day, but the events of the “now” are very much tied in with what happened then. And so I made sure I knew exactly what happened then. The internet was my friend, of course, with lots of information at my fingertips. But I also went on several research trips to the village, taking plenty of photos and plenty of notes, as well as visiting the museum and asking lots of questions of the staff—who were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I was also able to get my hands on some non-fiction books and maps that helped me keep things straight in my head as I began to plan the book. It was time-consuming, and I ended up with lots of notes before I even wrote a word of fiction, but it was worth it. I’m really happy with the finished article, and I hope readers will enjoy it, too.

Check out the photos on my Pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/cw1985/pack-of-lies/

The book has been incredibly well received so far, with lots of four and five star reviews—so if you’re a paranormal romance fan, I hope you’ll check it out!

*****

Blurb:

Werewolf brothers Matthew and Isaac have lived in the peaceful village of Eyam all their lives. The villagers know what happens every full moon, and are happy to keep their secret. But their privacy comes at a cost—neither brother has taken a lover in almost four hundred years.

Then at the full moon, a sheep is slaughtered on Eyam Moor, by what could only be an animal. A large, vicious animal. Even the brothers’ staunchest supporters begin to have their doubts. Meanwhile Isaac is smitten by a handsome newcomer to the village, while a vivacious visitor is happy to offer Matthew her all.

As they indulge their lust, they must clear their names and convince their neighbours that they aren’t also letting their baser instincts out to play.

Inside Scoop:  This book contains sizzling scenes of both M/M and M/F sex.

Buy links: https://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/pack-of-lies/

Add to your Goodreads shelves: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22756241-pack-of-lies

Happy Reading,

Lucy x

The Setting for Pack of Lies (@cw1985) #werewolf #paranormal #erotic #romance

Hi everyone,

Pack of LiesToday I’m going to talk a little about the setting for Pack of Lies, which is a paranormal erotic romance novel. The setting is a beautiful village called Eyam (pronounced Eem), which is in Derbyshire, England. It’s also in the Peak District—which is my very favourite place to spend time.

It’s quite an old-fashioned village—at least at its heart. There are newer properties creeping in around the edges, but there are still lots of very old houses and cottages, lots of remnants from the past, and all surrounded by stunning countryside. It’s also steeped in history, which naturally brings in lots of tourists. And well it should, it’s a fascinating place, with a museum, a village square, a stately home and a lonely moor on the outskirts.

It was easy to be inspired by this gorgeous village setting, even without the unique history that sparked off my imagination. Want to see what all the fuss is about? Check out the photos on my Pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/cw1985/pack-of-lies/

The book has been incredibly well received so far, with lots of four and five star reviews—so if you’re a paranormal romance fan, I hope you’ll check it out!

*****

Blurb:

Werewolf brothers Matthew and Isaac have lived in the peaceful village of Eyam all their lives. The villagers know what happens every full moon, and are happy to keep their secret. But their privacy comes at a cost—neither brother has taken a lover in almost four hundred years.

Then at the full moon, a sheep is slaughtered on Eyam Moor, by what could only be an animal. A large, vicious animal. Even the brothers’ staunchest supporters begin to have their doubts. Meanwhile Isaac is smitten by a handsome newcomer to the village, while a vivacious visitor is happy to offer Matthew her all.

As they indulge their lust, they must clear their names and convince their neighbours that they aren’t also letting their baser instincts out to play.

Inside Scoop:  This book contains sizzling scenes of both M/M and M/F sex.

Buy links: https://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/pack-of-lies/

Add to your Goodreads shelves: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22756241-pack-of-lies

Happy Reading,

Lucy x

My Inspiration for Pack of Lies (@cw1985) #werewolf #paranormal #erotic #romance

packoflies01Hi everyone,

Over the next couple of weeks or so, I’m going to be sharing some behind the scenes information about my second novel, Pack of Lies, which is a paranormal thriller with werewolves, love, sex, betrayal and much more! If you followed my blog tour for the book, you’ll likely have read much of this information already, but I wanted to compile it all in one place and also give those that haven’t seen it before another opportunity to check it out. I hope you enjoy finding out more about the book 🙂

 

Today I’m going to talk a little about my inspiration for this novel, which is a paranormal erotic romance. It’s actually a pretty unusual type of inspiration—the plague, or Black Death. Before you run away screaming, or think I’m insane, let me explain. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.

There’s a village in Derbyshire, England, called Eyam, which was hit by the plague back in the 1600s. It was rumoured to have entered the village on some cloth from London, which was rife with the Black Death at the time. So far, so depressing, I know. But the villagers did something incredible—they quarantined themselves, having no contact with the outside world, in order to stop the disease from spreading. Brave, huh?

Now, that’s an incredibly short version of what happened, but if you’re a history buff you can look it up online, or check out the addendum in Pack of Lies. Anyway, this true story was something I learned about in school when I was much younger, and it stuck with me. As an adult, I visited the village and was still fascinated by the subject, so much so that I began to think about writing a book set in Eyam.

Fast forward to summer 2013 and I’m thinking about starting work on my second novel. I wonder if the Eyam idea is worth considering further. Another visit to the village and I made my decision. It’s a beautiful, fascinating place with a rich history, and I wanted to write something which would meld fact and fiction, past and present—and so my werewolf brothers, Matthew and Isaac, were devised. They’ve lived in the village all their lives, but as werewolves, were immune to the plague, and as immortals, are still around over four hundred years later, in modern day Eyam.

This isn’t a historical novel, however. It has historical elements, but is very much set in today’s world. It’s very different to anything I’ve written before, as it’s a thriller with lots of romance and sex, lies and betrayal and, of course, alpha male wolves! Yum.

The book has been incredibly well received so far, with lots of four and five star reviews—so if you’re a paranormal romance fan, I hope you’ll check it out!

*****

packoflies02Excerpt:

As Matthew and Isaac Adams opened the front door to their house, the telephone started ringing. Matthew sighed. “Typical. No rest for the wicked. I’ll answer it, you go and get ready for work.”

Isaac nodded and headed off to do as his brother advised. Matthew, the older of the two, walked toward the ringing phone and snatched it off the hook. Then, remembering that the person on the other end of the line would have no idea what a rough night he’d just had, he made the effort to inject some politeness into his tone.

“Hello? Adams residence.” Isaac had told him time and time again that the last part about the residence was old-fashioned, that people didn’t say that anymore, but Matthew couldn’t seem to shake it.

“Hello, Matthew? It’s Richard.” The village vicar’s voice, even though he’d only spoken four words, sounded strained, almost panicked. “You boys just get back?”

“Yeah, a moment ago. Why, what’s up?”

“I, uh… I got a call. A dead sheep has been found up on the moor. Not just dead. Mutilated. Like a wild animal attack.”

An unpleasant feeling wormed its way under Matthew’s skin and his stomach flipped. “Oh?” He paused, then figured he had nothing to gain by not saying the next words he wanted to. “You don’t think it was us?”

The vicar’s gasp was instant, one of genuine surprise. “Lord, no! Absolutely not. I just phoned to let you know and I was wondering if you’d come up there with me and take a look. You and Isaac are probably more qualified than anyone else in the village to tell what did this.”

“Isaac has to work, he just went to get ready. But yes, I’ll come up. I’ll let my brother know where I’m going, then I’ll be straight over. Are you at the rectory?”

“Yes. Okay, I’ll see you soon. Thanks, Matthew. Bye.”

“Goodbye.”

Matthew hung up the phone with another sigh. The horrible feeling that had crept under his skin and taken over his gut seemed as if it was there to stay, and it was never a good sign. The vicar’s news was surprising, yes, but he also had an inkling that it was going to spell trouble, or at the very least inconvenience, for him and his brother.

Pulling in a deep breath in an attempt to calm his jangling nerves, Matthew walked upstairs and toward his brother’s bedroom. The door was closed. He knocked. “You decent?”

“Yeah,” Isaac replied, “close enough.”

Stepping into the room, Matthew looked at his brother. He was half-dressed, ready for his shift at the doctor’s surgery, where he was a general practitioner. “Sorry to interrupt, mate, but that was Richard on the phone. They’ve found a mutilated sheep up on the moor, and he’s asked me to go with him to check it out.”

Isaac paused with one arm pushed into his shirtsleeve. “He doesn’t think—”

Matthew cut him off. “No. He was quite adamant about that. He just thought we’d be able to help figure out what did it. I explained that you’ve got to go to work, though. I’m going to head across there now and go up with him.”

“I could phone in, let them know I’ll be late.”

Matthew held up his hand. “There’s no need, brother. Relax. Just go to work and help the sick people. I’ll let you know what—if anything—I find out.”

Opening his mouth, then closing it again, Isaac seemed to have thought better of whatever he was going to say. He continued to dress. “All right, I will. But make sure you let me know what happens. Send me a text or something, and I’ll phone you as soon as I have a gap in between patients.”

Matthew grimaced. He hated texting. Hated mobile phones, actually. Technology was one of the things he disliked most about modern-day life, though he realized it was a necessary evil. It solved as many problems for him and his brother as it created, so he dealt with it as best he could. Fortunately, Isaac had always had an affinity with computers and phones, so he tutored his older brother.

“Yeah, all right. I’d better go and find my phone first then, eh?”

Smirking at his brother’s rolled eyes, he left the room and headed for his own bedroom, where he thought he’d left the device the previous night, before he and Isaac had headed for the caves. Immediately spotting the mobile phone—which Isaac often made a point of telling him was akin to a brick—he grabbed it and stuffed it into his pocket and made his way downstairs.

Retrieving his keys from the hook by the front door, he called up to his brother. “I’m going now, Isaac. I’ll see you after my shift at the pub. I’m working until closing time.”

“Okay. Don’t forget to keep me posted!”

“I won’t.” As if he could forget. The dead sheep was going to be a big thing, he just knew it. The vicar might not think he and his brother had anything to do with it, but some of the other villagers might. When there was no proof either way, just his and Isaac’s word, it was understandable, really. Since he and his brother changed into wolves every full moon, it was a natural conclusion to draw. Particularly since normal wolves had been extinct in England for over five hundred years.

*****

Pack of LiesBlurb:

Werewolf brothers Matthew and Isaac have lived in the peaceful village of Eyam all their lives. The villagers know what happens every full moon, and are happy to keep their secret. But their privacy comes at a cost—neither brother has taken a lover in almost four hundred years.

Then at the full moon, a sheep is slaughtered on Eyam Moor, by what could only be an animal. A large, vicious animal. Even the brothers’ staunchest supporters begin to have their doubts. Meanwhile Isaac is smitten by a handsome newcomer to the village, while a vivacious visitor is happy to offer Matthew her all.

As they indulge their lust, they must clear their names and convince their neighbours that they aren’t also letting their baser instincts out to play.

Inside Scoop:  This book contains sizzling scenes of both M/M and M/F sex.

Buy links: https://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/pack-of-lies/

Add to your Goodreads shelves: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22756241-pack-of-lies

Check out my Pinterest board for the book: http://www.pinterest.com/cw1985/pack-of-lies/

Happy Reading,

Lucy x

Fright Night Blog Hop #thriller #romance #erotica #gay #mm #werewolf #shifter

frightnightJoin us for a little Halloween fun in the Fright Night blog hop! Stop by each blog to check out their favourite paranormal or spooky reads and enter their giveaways!

To really whet your appetite for all things spooky, here’s a snippet from my paranormal romance thriller, Pack of Lies. Werewolves, anyone? It’s over 96,000 (plus novel) words of lies, deception and intrigue… a book you can really get your teeth into this Halloween 😉

*****

Then all they could do was wait. They had the power to initiate the change earlier, but there was no point. It was easier to wait until the moon forced them to, making the entire transition faster and much less painful.

“Okay,” Matthew said, after what felt like forever. “Here we go. See you on the other side, brother.”

Isaac nodded, and after a beat an invisible force made them drop simultaneously to the ground, their hands and knees crashing onto the unforgiving rock floor. But that was the least of their worries. Small fry compared to the agony they experienced as their bones began realigning, their muscles and tendons stretching, popping, tearing, skin stretching and sprouting hair.

Matthew wished, and not for the first time, that their human consciousness was not involved in the change. Because everything they felt, experienced as they morphed from man to wolf, was imprinted into their memories forever, and of course made them dread each and every time they changed. The pain and discomfort never got any less. The only saving grace was that the process had grown quicker over the centuries, so their agony was that much briefer.

Before long Matthew was aware he was no longer a man. He looked over at his brother, now totally unrecognizable as the tall, handsome doctor he’d been just a few minutes ago. Glancing down at his own huge, hairy paws with their long, scary-looking claws, Matthew remembered the other side of the argument. Yes, they had to endure and remember the pain they went through as they transformed, but as that consciousness remained throughout, it meant they knew exactly what they did when they were wolves and could control themselves.

Not that there was anything to control down in the caves. There was no temptation of any kind, unless you liked the taste of bats, spiders or insects. Both brothers had tried bats before, catching the darting winged creatures in strong, long-toothed jaws for entertainment value, but they’d agreed the next day that they weren’t worth the bother. They were so small and irrelevant to their huge wolves that they took more energy to catch than they provided.

And so, once they’d gone through the transformation, a night in the Stoney Middleton caves proved pretty dull. It was a means to an end, a way to let their wolves roam free without endangering anyone or risking the exposure of their secret. It was certainly better than being locked in cages. They loped around the areas of the cavern that were large enough and occasionally crawled along some of the side passages just for something to do. Neither of them found it easy to sleep in wolf form, as there was so much raw energy, so much adrenaline coursing through their veins. In a way, changing on Eyam Moor had been better because there had been room to run around, burn off some of that energy. But that wasn’t an option—especially not now.

Though they’d said they weren’t going to head deeper into the cave system, Matthew turned tail—literally—and headed across the Oyster Cavern and into Eyam Passage. He was bored, and they’d already been down there for hours—if he didn’t do something, he was going to go crazy. Continuing through foot after foot of dark, damp tunnel, he passed a turn off on the left that he knew was a dead end. He was roughly underneath the electricity substation by the side of the Eyam road by now, and he kept going. Now he was beneath the road, now the woods on the other side of it.

There was an old mine shaft that opened up in Eyam Dale, and he made for it. He had no intention of attempting to get out of it—it would be impossible in any case, even more difficult than trying to get back out of the Gin entrance in his wolf form. All he wanted was a change of scenery, an excuse to stretch his legs and something to occupy his mind.

Just then he got it. A loud scuffle from above, the sound of rocks clattering against one another, against the ground, and some swearing. A man’s voice. Christ, Tom and his gang hadn’t seriously decided to come and check on them after all, had they?

*****

Still not convinced? The book has over fifteen four and five star reviews… this isn’t your traditional romance 🙂

More about the book and buy links here.

Now, check out my giveaway, then scroll down and see the list of the other blogs on the hop. Have fun!

Lucy x

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