An Alpha's Path by Carrie Ann Ryan Guest Post & Giveaway

The New Year, Future Books & Writing


Happy New Year everyone! Thank you so much for having me today. Last year was a whirlwind of finding what I wanted to do and seeing it come to light. In December, my first novella, An Alpha’s Path, was released. It was such a jarring experience so see my name on a book – but I’m so happy that I took that leap. Writing about Kade and Melanie was definitely a learning experience and it was so nice to see them on paper.


This year I’m working hard on developing the Redwood Pack world. An Alpha’s Path was the first in the series and I’m so excited to see where it goes. Next up in the series, A Taste for a Mate, is a full length novel featuring Kade’s brother, Jasper. With the rest of the series, I’m taking a darker turn to include an overall plot line that will weave throughout the series. Jasper will meet his mate Willow, but everything won’t go as well as he wants. He’ll need to prove himself as a strong wolf in order to keep her alive. I’m enjoying digging deeper in myself as a writer and meet my characters. They are all so different and unique in my mind and it’s amazing to watch them interact.


To me, writing is an outlet for all the stories in my head. They are what comes to me – what I want and what my characters want. I may put them in situation that readers wouldn’t think of – but I always get my happy ending. That’s why I read romance – and that’s why I write it.


Thank you for having me today! Happy New Year everyone!

Melanie is a twenty-five year old chemist who has spent all of her adult life slaving at school. With her PhD in hand, she's to start her dream job, but before she does, her friend persuades her to relax and try to live again. A blind date set up through her friends seems like the perfect solution. Melanie can take one night away from the lab and let her inner vixen out on a fixed blind date - a chance to get crazy with a perfect stranger. The gorgeous hunk she's to meet exceeds her wildest dreams – be he is more than what he appears and Melanie's analytical mind goes into overdrive.


Kade, a slightly older werewolf (at over one hundred years), needs a night way from the Pack. Too many responsibilities and one near miss with a potential mate made Kade hide in his work, the only peace he can find. His brother convinces him to meet the sexy woman for a one night of fun. What could it hurt? But when he finds this woman could be his mate, can he convince her to leave her orderly, sane world and be with him and his wolf-half, for life?

Carrie Ann Ryan is a paranormal and contemporary romance author. Her first book, An Alpha's Path, is the first book in her Redwood Pack series. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She love meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:


Website and Blog / Facebook Author Page / Facebook Friend


Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan





Excerpt One:
Melanie took a deep breath as she gave herself a good look in the mirror. This bathroom may be the greatest and most luxurious thing she’d ever seen, but she barely gave it a second glance.
What the hell was she doing? There was a gorgeous god standing in the room that she practically ran from. What the hell was she doing in here?
All throughout dinner, she couldn’t seem to string two coherent sentences together. She resembled acting like a ditzy, shy deer in the headlights. It was no wonder Kade was just fine with not having sex tonight. Oh, he may have said that he wanted her, but he didn’t seem to fight for it.
Oh, that was just great. Kade was considerate of her feelings, yet here she was, making him the bad guy. This whole experience made her a wreck. Maybe Mel wasn’t experienced with men, but she was experienced with meeting people and communicating with another human being. Tonight was a once in a lifetime opportunity to have wild and passionate sex with a near stranger. And oh yes, just looking at Kade, she knew it would be exactly that. She grew damp just thinking about him, and what wicked things could await her if she would just say yes.
And honestly, what was stopping her? Going through with this would leave her with an amazing and glorious memory. She needed more of those. The need to hear she was beautiful, sexy and wanted overwhelmed her. Mel didn’t want to be the “smart” one anymore. She squared her shoulders and looked at herself in the mirror once more.

Excerpt Two:
Melanie sat at her table and checked her watch. He was only three minutes late. That didn’t mean he was going to stand her up. Right? He just wasn’t a perpetually early person like her. It wasn’t evidence that they weren’t compatible.
Compatible? Gawd. She needed another drink. This was just for one night. One night only – if he even showed.
She let out a deep breath and was about to order another drink when she caught sight of an absolutely gorgeous specimen of man.
His body towered over six feet with wide shoulders and a trim waist. The kind of guy displayed on one of those silly romance novel covers. Dark brown, almost black hair, that barely reached his shoulders begged for her hands to tangle in them. A few luscious locks fell into his eyes.
Those eyes.
Deep green eyes set under dark lashes. Pools of jade, swallowing her whole. They were piercing and shifted throughout the room, taking in his surroundings. Yet it felt as though he never let his eyes leave her. Oh my. Mel fanned her face before blushing when she realized what she was doing. Damn he was beautiful.
He practically prowled through the room drawing the attention of almost every woman and even some of the men. An almost animalistic wave of seduction ebbed from him.
Damn.
Please, if there was a God, let this be the mysterious Kade Jamenson. Please. Larissa didn’t give her a picture or description of his looks as she said it would ruin the moment of first meeting. Melanie hadn’t agreed when she read that, but if this were Kade she would take back anything bad she ever thought about her best friend.

Excerpt Three:
Kade could only imagine how she would look with her pale, creamy, skin against his darker, bronze skin. Watching her lashes brush her cheeks as she glanced down at her barely touched meal he knew he wanted to kiss any fears or anxiety she carried away.
Mate? I think it’s time to go upstairs. Don’t you?
He couldn’t agree more with his wolf. But he didn’t want to rush her. No matter what happened tonight, they would be going upstairs – that was a guarantee. What they did once they arrived however – was up to the woman in front of him.
“You look as if you have the same appetite as me.” At the sound of his voice, her head popped up from whatever deep thoughts she was thinking. “What do you say we take a walk around the property?”
“Oh, okay. I guess I am just not that hungry tonight.” She smiled sheepishly as she set down her fork and any pretense of enjoying her food.
“Let’s go then, the check taken care of, so we can take our time tonight.”
She smiled timidly again and grabbed her wrap and black, beaded bag. He fluidly rose from his seat and offered her his hand/
“Where would you like to walk to?” Kade, again, toned down his wolf and waited for Melanie’s reply.
“Our room?”
Her face was still stunning with the shade of beet red it became at her surprising, yet not unwelcome, announcement.
His wolf growled in agreement and preened for attention.
He gave her a smile that promised sinful and wicked deeds.
“That sounds like an outstanding idea, Melanie.”