The Feline Character - Mary Pritchard
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 07:20AM Leopard Dreams is part of a shape shifter series entitled, Tales of the Cat. The first book, Jaguar Nights, introduces the king, Cole, and his newly acquired mate. This all takes place in Mississippi as they are the Southern Pride of cats. Leopard Dreams is Zack’s book. Zack is the First in Cole’s guard and his best friend.
Zack has watched Cole and his mate Syndee and wants to find his mate as well. Unfortunately, when Zack does find his mate, she isn’t accepting him as her mate and, she could be their enemy. Zack may have to make a decision between his best friend and his mate. Included in all of this is the ever present threat of the humans who are trying to capture and experiment on them.
I love writing shifter novels. Their entire world is so open to almost anything you want to throw at them. For this series, I let the characters write the book and tell me about their world. I was surprised with a lot of it. For one thing, they are happy being shifters. They don’t want to be human. I tried to incorporate as much of natural feline behaviors as possible into the books and did a lot of online research on Jaguars and Leopards and their nature. Their world is fascinating to read about.
In doing research, I utilize every recourse available to me. My favorite one is the Internet of course but I also enjoy talking to real people. With this book, I wasn’t able to talk to anyone about the big cats like I would have enjoyed doing. But, I did use my muses. I have seven of them. J They were more than happy to fill me in on the domestic cat’s take on my characters.
I blog with them on weekends so if you want to learn more about them and what I am up to, you can always check them out at www.maryalicepritchard.com/blog
Leopard Dreams is available for presale right now at The Wild Rose Press www.thewildrosepress.com It will officially be out July 30th in both e-book and print. I hope you will check it out and don’t forget Jaguar Nights, the first book in the series. You can learn more about my other books and short stories at www.maryalicepritchard.com
Here is an excerpt for your enjoyment.
Warm scented water lulled her into a pleasant lethargy. It was her only defense at missing the scent of another weir at her bathroom door.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
Kristen’s eyes flew open. The sight of the tall dark haired stranger lounging in her doorway stole her breath. His hazel eyes captured hers with an intensity that stopped her heart. It took her two tries to answer.
“Taking a bath. What are you doing in my house?”
“Watching you take a bath.” His eyes never left her face.
She sank deeper into the water wishing the suds hadn’t begun to dissipate. The water covered up to her neck, but the tops of her knees protruded in protest. The sight of him so comfortable leaning against the door frame stirred her anger.
“Get out of my house,” She growled
“Not until you tell me what you’re doing here.” He took a step into the room and towered over her.
“None of your business,” she ground out between clenched teeth.
“Well that’s where you’re wrong. It is my business. I’m first to the King of the Southern Cats, and you are not part of my pard.”
Kristen swallowed and scrambled to think of what to say. “I’m on vacation. I won’t be here long.”
“You know the rules. You contact the pard leader when you’re in his territory. So, again, why are you here?”
“I’m looking for my brother.” Why did she tell him that? What was wrong with her?
“Who’s your brother?”
“His name is Ethan.” Why did she just tell him her brother’s name? She refused to say anything else, just glared at him gritting her teeth.
Before she could second guess herself, Kristen lunged from the tub and hit him square in the chest.
He staggered under her weight before he caught himself on the door frame. She swung and missed. He used her momentum to twist her around and pin her back against his chest. His hands shackled her wrists.
“You should have approached Cole and asked him about your brother. We’ve had several join us in the last month.” His voice curled around her like a warm blanket.
“I’ve asked around. You haven’t had a leopard join.”
“Hmmm, leopard. I should have known. You’re feisty,” he said.
His comment renewed her resolve to get away and she struggled in his arms. It only made matters worse. Her wet body plastered his clothes to his body, and she became aware of his solid chest and the hard muscles of his arms as they held her wrists tight against her stomach. And, she felt the hard length of him pressed against the small of her back. It was enough to freeze her in mid-twist.
“Fuck you!”
“That’s the usual result when a female is hot for sex.” He leaned in and sniffed along the side of her face. “I can smell your arousal.”
“Let-me-go.”
“I think not she-cat. You’d only go for my eyes.”
“No, you have it all wrong. I’d go for your crotch, with teeth and nails.” She promised in a calm voice.
“Hmmm,” was all he said as he rubbed his face against hers, his hot breath caressing her cheek and temple.





