Bloodlust book blast and guest post by author Nicole Zoltack

Today, we have a guest post by my good friend Nicole Zoltack, author of the newly-released Bloodlust (along with a host of other novels). Nicole has offered to tell us a little about creating conflict between the heroine and hero of the story. And she's even offered to share an excerpt from her new novel.

By the way, how amazingly wonderful is this cover? I love the fact that is shows a woman who looks as though she has just come from battle.

When writing a romance, regardless of whether it’s contemporary or historical, fantasy or paranormal or not, there is always going to be conflict between the heroine and hero. And when the heroine and hero are different races that hate each other, talk about conflict!
Barbarian-Princess Ivy hates that she needs goliath Lukor’s help to find an interpreter for trollish coded messages. Plenty of back and forth and arguments and tension, even battles between them. How can these two ever get together? You’ll have to read Bloodlust to find out! 

Excerpt:
   Grinning, he peered over his shoulder at her. "Enjoying the view from back there?"
   Her tanned cheeks burned. "Your backside leaves a lot to be desired." She quickened her pace to be only an inch behind him.
   She was used to leading. That she needed him must irk her something fierce. He smiled again. Irking her was quickly becoming a favorite pastime.
   As they walked around the base of the mountains, the teal grass melted away to blue bushes and sand. Her strides were just as long as his, but she moved quicker, and soon was a step ahead. Her shield bounced on her back. So tantalizing. He could reach out and snatch it.
   But she'd hunt him down. Probably could outrun him. He'd never make it back to   Ordisium in one piece.
   The shield though. He never thought barbarians used a defensive weapon. True, it did have a spike in the center, but it still struck him as against everything he knew about barbarians. Regardless, if it should be sent back to Barbadia without its owner, war was all but assured.
   Once they bypassed the last of the mountains, he halted. "Time for a meal."
   "Let's press on."
   "The Spirit Realm is not a location to traverse during the dark hours."
   Her small eyebrows rose in perfect arches. "Why would we bother to go that route? The    Smog is a desolate place, yes, but it will be quicker—"
   "Not if you know a certain route through the Realm." He was asking her to trust him.     When he didn't trust her either. And had given her no reason to trust him.
   After a tense moment, her hand resting on her hilt, she nodded. "I'm hungry anyhow." She sniffed. "I think I smell your cousin nearby."
   A pig was not far from them. Snorting, cowardly creatures, how could she compare a warrior to such a timid animal? The insult had him unleashing his axe before conscious thought.
   Her sword met his weapon, a spark flying from the joint metal. With a shrug, she scampered off into the small spattering of nearby trees.

Fun giveaway: 

Oh, and the first ten people who email (Nicole.Zoltack@gmail.com) proof of purchase of BLOODLUST will be gifted another one of Nicole's stories. Spread the word about this and you might win another novel!

Desperation…

Barbarian-Princess Ivy is unwilling to allow her father to provoke the other races into war and forms an unlikely alliance with Lukor the goliath to save her people from utter destruction.

Betrayal…

Unbeknownst to her, Lukor blames the barbarians for murdering his sister and plans on sabotaging her goal.

Bloodlust…

Almost despite each other, they grow to respect each other on their journey to decode secret messages from the trolls. But nothing Ivy can do will prevent the war as her father is blinded by Bloodlust and incites it himself. Not even killing him and becoming Barbaroness can stop the tide. And when Bloodlust claims Ivy, forcing her to kill everyone in her path, she must make a choice to destroy even Lukor, who she may have started to fall for and him in return.

Add it on Goodreads. Buy it at Amazon, B&N, and Kobo.

Author Bio:

Nicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially fantasy romance. When she's not writing about knights, superheroes, or zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic boys. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they're unicorns!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dress in garb. She'll also read anything she can get her hands on. To learn more about Nicole and her writing, visit her blog.

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