Red Kingdom by Rachel L. Demeter is a passionate historical romance Inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood Releasing April 10th ➱ Book Tour with Rafflecopter
RED KINGDOM
Rachel L. Demeter
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GENRE: Historical Romance
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BLURB:
Little
Red Riding Hood reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.
Princess
Blanchette’s world shatters when the Black Wolf tears apart her castle and
everything she holds dear. All she clings to is the vow she made to her
grandmother on her deathbed.
Hailed
as the people’s champion, Sir Rowan Dietrich liberates the capital in a quest
for vengeance. He takes Winslowe Castle with an army at his back and his wolf,
Smoke, at his side.
United
by a shared cause and powerful attraction, Rowan and Blanchette embark on a
journey of self-discovery and redemption—a path filled with loss,
transformation, and ultimately, the healing power of love.
Can
Norland’s resplendent princess, with her captivating beauty and spirit, tame
the fabled Black Wolf?
Inspired
by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Red Kingdom is a passionate
historical romance about the enduring quest for love and the longing for a
world at harmony. It is a standalone novel.
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EXCERPT
Rowan stepped close to Blanchette, and suddenly, the training yard seemed to shrink. He stood over her, his eyes sparkling in the light, the sun’s rays gleaming in his hair’s deep black.
“Have you shot a longbow before?” he asked, his voice a
sultry rumble that Blanchette felt move through her bones.
“No,” she said, shuffling back just an inch. Dark memories
came tumbling like water through a dam. “But I’ve used a dagger. An axe too,”
she added with a nervous chuckle, thinking of that night in the woods.
He closed the space she’d just gained. They were chest to
chest, face-to-face, and nearly touching. Blanchette tried to take a deep
breath, but her lungs felt tight. Her throat too. Her heart raced in her ears.
She was sure he’d hear the sound. He looked down at her for several more
moments of jittery silence. “The night of the attack. That was the first time
you killed someone.” It wasn’t a question. But she nodded anyway.
“Here,” he said, handing the longbow to her. It fit her much
better than Mary. But why did her hand feel so damn clumsy as he wrapped it
around the wood and carefully positioned her fingers?
“Keep your elbow up and your gaze on the target. Your eyes
will send the arrow where it needs to go.”
Blanchette felt heat emanating from Rowan’s body as he stood
behind her, guiding her posture. They fit together perfectly. His breath
tickled her neck as he whispered, “That’s it. Now, draw back the string and let
it fly.”
As she released the arrow, she couldn’t believe how smooth
the motion felt, almost like an extension of her own body. It sailed through
the air, hitting the target with a satisfying thump. She turned to Rowan with a
smile, and he grinned back at her.
He looked handsome… achingly wholesome, with a boyish look
of triumph on his face.
“You’re a natural,” he said, his voice low and husky. “But
we can always work on improving.”
Blanchette’s heart skipped a beat as Rowan’s hand rested on
her hip. He reached for another arrow. She could feel the heat of his body
against her back, and the soft hairs on her arms stood up in anticipation. The
hard ridge of his arousal strained against her bottom.
“This time, try to focus on your breathing,” he said, his
breath hot against her ear. “In... and out...” How in God’s name? she inwardly
screamed. She felt close to fainting. Her skin tightened at the sound of his
voice, the way he spoke those words against her neck as if they meant something
else entirely.
She was acutely aware of every inch of her body, how her
skin felt against the fabric of her dress, how her hair brushed against her
cheeks in the cool breeze.
Blanchette felt the heat of his body enveloping her. She
could smell his scent—sandalwood and sweat and leather and something
indefinable that made her heart race. She was growing wet down there, between
her hot thighs.
“You are very good with her. Mary, I mean.”
He hesitated, then met her eyes. “When she was a babe, I was
the only one who could put her to sleep. Not Beatrice or the wet nurse. I’d
sing to her… I still remember how it felt, her little hand gripping my finger…”
His confession faded into silence. Then he shook his head. “It doesn’t matter
now.”
“But it does, Rowan. It matters more than anything. She
yearns to be close to you. You—”
“Must keep your elbow up,” he whispered close to her ear,
his body brushing against hers, his arousal pushing against her hip. She grew
wetter, hotter, and little currents sang in her veins. “Yes, right there, Your
Grace.”
Blanchette turned to face him. She was met with a gaze
filled with a fiery intensity she’d never seen before. She could feel her
cheeks flushing as she realized just how close they stood. They were
practically one. His hand still rested on her hip, and she could feel the
warmth of his fingers seeping through the fabric of her dress.
Rowan’s eyes roamed over her face, taking in every feature,
every curve, every nuance of expression. It was as if he was seeing her for the
first time and couldn’t look away. Their eyes locked for several weightless
moments.
She parted her lips and expelled a long-drawn-out breath.
He studied her mouth.
Kiss me…
“You ready?”
She nodded.
But ready for what?
Blanchette closed her eyes, letting Rowan’s words wash over
her. She could feel her body relaxing under his gentle touch and guidance, and
she took a deep breath in, holding it for a moment before letting it out
slowly. He placed his large hand across her abdomen and applied gentle
pressure.
“Good,” Rowan murmured. “Now, draw back... and let go.”
Let go.
But if I let go, I shall fall…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I live in Sunny California with my dashing husband, who inspires
my romance novels every day!
Writing has always been an integral part of my identity. Before I
physically learned how to write, I'd narrate stories to my mom, and she'd
record them for me.
I graduated from Chapman’s film school, where I often received the
feedback on my scripts, “Your stories and characters are great, but this reads
like a novel!” That’s when I realized my true calling.
In my free time, I frequent reptile expos, lift double my body’s
weight, and indulge in dinosaur trivia.
I'm passionate about writing stories that explore what it means to
be human and to be loved. My books focus on hope, courage, and redemption in
the face of adversity.
Links
Buy Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTK1TB8N
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940167675704
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9798224439089
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id6476895016
Social Links
Instagram: https://instagram.com/racheldemeterauthor
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@rldemeter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rldemeter/
Twitter: https://x.com/RachelLDemeter
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7791305.Rachel_L_Demeter
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER
CODE
Rachel
Demeter will award a copy of the ebook for Beauty of the Beast, the first book
of the series, to a randomly drawn winner.
Thank you so much for featuring RED KINGDOM today!
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