Blog-versary Author Post : Elizabeth Noble, The Vampire Guard + Giveaway
Thank you Kazza and Cindi for including me in your blog-versary! It’s always such a joy to me to see a review of one of my books here. I wish you many more wonderful years.
Kazza ‘hinted’ that I might do a write up on my newest series, The Vampire Guard. So, her wish is completed and here it is!
Series: The Vampire Guard
Book #1 Code Name Jack Rabbit, release date July 12, 2016
Book #2 Quarry, release date January 17, 2017
Book #3 Endosymbiont, Work in Progress
The Vampire Guard is an urban fantasy/scifi/espionage mystery series
The Vampire Guard is part of a secret intelligence agency called the Akhkharu Nasaru, an ancient society independent of any nation. It’s a worldwide organization and The Vampire Guard is the intelligence gathering/protective division. Each operative team is comprised of four members, two sets of soul bonded couples. In this world, vampires can become bonded to a soul mate. The bond is for life and creates exclusivity for each couple. There are a few exceptions, but each of the couple is able to sense the other’s feelings and emotions and sometimes almost know each other’s thoughts. This ability varies from individual to individual. Vampires can soul bond with other vampires, humans or werewolves and each sort of bonding provides different attributes. The couples and teams are more than the sum of their parts. A huge asset is that vampires and werewolves have much longer lifespans than humans and often see patterns of criminal activity that are decades or centuries long.
To remain secret, they employ the hiding in plain sight method of stealth. The paranormal part of the population lives and works among the human world, have human friends and lovers. There are humans who know about vampires and werewolves, others do not. The three species live in a symbiotic sort of relationship dating back to prehistoric times. One requirement to joining the Vampire Guard is at least one of each pair has some experience or ties to the military, law enforcement or intelligence agency, it’s part of their hiding in plain sight.
Werewolves are stronger with a superior sense of smell to vampires or humans. Their average lifespan is 250 years. They can morph completely into their werewolf form or partially, depending on what the situation calls for. All werewolves have a forced change during the full moon. At that time, they become vicious and unpredictable and lock themselves away. They along with vampires have superior eyesight to humans. Wolfsbane can kill them as well as silver.
Vampires are faster with far superior hearing to humans or werewolves. They are able to attain short bursts of speed that can’t be followed by human or werewolf vision. Silver hurts and can kill them if it gets into their bloodstream. Under normal conditions they can’t be seen in mirrors or on camera. A spike in adrenaline and certain technology can circumvent this if needed. Cats can see a vampire’s reflection. Natural lifespan is unknown and there are vampires of a variety of ages in the series.
As powerful and incredible as they seem, neither species is invincible nor is technically immortal since they can be killed. It’s simply more difficult. Both species have the ability to heal very quickly, but not immediately and if the injury outpaces the body’s ability to heal they will die. Chopping off a head, splitting a skull or lighting one on fire will kill them as well. Of course with vampires there is the old standby of a wooden stake to the heart. Some individuals do suffer diseases, however, because they heal so fast most ailments tend to be beaten down before becoming an issue. They’re more apt to have conditions such as allergies and as werewolves age they suffer from maladies such as organ failure and arthritis.
The series is a spinoff of The Sleepless City series, but I’m going it solo this time and am the only author of The Vampire Guard.
Code Name Jack Rabbit:
Introduces the central team of the series, Operative Team Jack Rabbit, as well as a number of other series regulars. There is a bit of general evolution and history on werewolves and vampires and information on the werewolf pack system. Operative Team Jack Rabbit team consists of Jonas Forge, Blair Turner, Lucas Coate and Declan. They are recruited by, and work with, a team called Armored Train to stop a string of assassinations.
Blurb:
Jonas Forge, vampire. Once a spy and soldier, now a cop, Forge enjoys the life he’s built with his friends in Flint, Ohio.
Blair Turner, PhD. Blair, a vampire and computer hacker with exceptional skills, shares a powerful empathic bond with Forge, his soulmate.
Declan, vampire, ex-pirate, ex-fur trapper, thief, and con man. Declan is Forge’s former lover and soulmate to Lucas Coate.
Lucas Coate, MD, Flint’s medical examiner. A werewolf living amongst vampires, Lucas is also one of Forge’s best friends.
Their lives become complicated when an impending presidential visit throws them headlong into a world of high tech vampire spies and espionage. Recruited into the Vampire Guard by the secret society of the Akhkharu Nasaru, they uncover a werewolf terrorist organization known as the Qiguan.
Together they must thwart a murder attempt on the open waters of Lake Superior while tracking a previously unknown biological weapon controlled by the Qiguan—a weapon that may very well mean death for one of them.
Excerpt:
Lucas decided it was his good luck—no, it was a real blessing—neither Declan nor Forge could read his mind. Right now he wanted to kill them both. Lucas could do it too. Ten minutes wolfed out was all he needed. Vampires might be faster, but werewolves were stronger.
Being in a surveillance van with three vampires wasn’t the fun and excitement one might expect it to be. Lucas liked Kai, but he was sure Ori would agree that in this circumstance, Kai would have to die too.
Forge was pacing, at least as well as a man could inside a van with three other decently sized men. Lucas was leaning against one side, gazing at a camera feed, and doing his best to stay out of the way and not strangle Forge.
Declan put both hands on Forge’s shoulders and said, “Jonas, he’ll be fine.”
“He’s never done anything like this.” Forge turned and stared at the monitor. “Damn, I wish I could see him and not just hear him.”
“Jonas, it’s a pizza parlor, and she’s a research scientist. What the hell can she do to him?” Declan asked. Forge and Kai both turned to look at him. Declan heaved a sigh and shoved Forge into the seat beside Kai. “Relax. You can hear every word they say and feel what Blair feels. If anything goes wrong, you’ll know it practically before he does. You and I muddled through information collection with far less support and lived.” Declan rolled his eyes and focused on Lucas.
“I should go out there and back him up. In case.” Forge started to stand, but Lucas helped Declan push him back down.
“In case of what? They run out of pepperoni?” Lucas asked.
“She might recognize you,” Kai said. “You’re the head detective of this town. There is no need to take the risk someone will recognize you and blow everything. Besides, when making contact with someone with the express purpose of entering some sort of relationship with them, having your bond mate hanging around a few feet away is a bad idea.”
“He speaks from experience,” Ori chimed in and chuckled.
“You all do realize I can hear you, right?” Blair’s voice was crisp and clear coming from the speaker.
“Heads up. There she is. She’s about to walk through the door,” Kai said. He pointed to the monitor. “Got to love predictable people.”
Quarry:
In book two there is more personal history of the Jack Rabbit team members, how they met and why they work together. They are working on a case that is a ghost in the machine sort of scenario. They discover that the sociopathic vampire they’re chasing has come into their lives in the past in a variety of ways. He must be stopped! Jack Rabbit is joined by another operative team called Northern Lights. The whole plot is very high tech espionage sort of stuff.
Oh, and we get to meet Moose when he’s a wee little ball of fur puppy!
Blurb:
The members of the Vampire Guard—Jonas Forge, spy and soldier turned cop; computer hacker extraordinaire Blair Turner; Declan, thief, con man, and ex-pirate; and medical examiner and werewolf Dr. Lucas Coate—face a dangerous and elusive enemy.
And this time, it’s personal.
Over the course of three hundred years, a man has touched each of their lives in ways they are only just realizing. When a hunt for a psychotic killer in the present resurrects memories and clues from the past, they discover how they have been affected and are bound by the existence of a ruthless vampire criminal. Now, while preventing a heist at a high-tech art show and thwarting several large-scale explosions, the team must employ their unique blend of science and supernatural abilities to put an end to the machinations of the man toying with their lives.
This time, he won’t slip through their fingers.
This time, it’s more than a case. It’s a hunt, and Forge, Blair, Declan, and Lucas won’t stop until they’ve captured their quarry.
Excerpt:
Varian snarled and stabbed at his phone’s screen for a minute before he shoved it into his pocket.
“Something I can help with?” Blair flicked his earlobe. “Vampire, so the hearing has improved since we last met.” He smiled. “But you knew that already.” Leaning closer to Varian, Blair lowered his voice. “Truth is, I’ve been looking for you ever since our night together. Damn hard tracking down a man who leaves no photographic evidence.”
“You came here because of me?”
Blair nodded and said, “It took me a few years, but I can be persistent.”
Forge snorted and Blair cleared his throat.
“But you didn’t even know my name.” Varian seemed very interested in this piece of news.
“You left fingerprints and some… DNA. There’s nothing I can’t find. The trick is knowing where to look and how. Do you think cybersecurity is all about putzing around online putting up firewalls to prevent viruses? For instance, I found evidence of why you’re so interested in this exhibit. Now me, I like the art for the sake of what it is and how it looks. But you….”
“You and the woman who called are working together?”
“She thinks we are. She hired me to make some… adjustments to the alarms here,” Blair said.
Varian leaned back and studied Blair. “Show me what you can do.”
Blair pulled out his phone. “Connect to the hotel private Wi-Fi, issue a few command prompts, and….” Blair looked up and grinned when the lights in the room dimmed, then brightened, then flickered.
“How would you like to make more money than any corporation will pay you in two years?”
“And if I want more than money?”
Varian smiled and laughed softly. “I think that can be arranged. The first thing I need is the phone the woman has. Bring it to me and we’ll talk some more.”
“I’ll call you when I have it.” Blair finished his drink and stood up.
“You’ll need my—” Varian stopped abruptly when Blair turned his phone around and showed him the screen.
“I can get the contacts and numbers of everyone in a twenty-foot radius.” Blair turned the phone’s screen off and pocketed it. “Like I said, nothing I can’t find in the digital world.”
Smirking, Blair tapped the top of the bar then walked away.
Endosymbiont:
Book three and I’m hopping on the zombie train! This book features two men who, up until now, have been supporting characters, Kai Richter and Ori Bier. There is a secret deep sea research lab and a nasty virus on the loose causing all sorts of bad things to happen. It’s under the ocean so it is contained for now. The Vampire Guard goes in to save the survivors and figure out how to squelch this thing that infects all three species.
Unedited WIP Excerpt:
Ori swiveled around and watched the bend and bridge that were coming up fast.
Kai grabbed his arm and gave him a shove. “This is our stop.”
One glance between them and they took a running start, rushed over the top of two more cars where the land sloped away from the tracks.
“Here,” Ori barely breathed out the word before they were airborne.
They crashed through trees and underbrush before hitting the ground and rolling to the bottom of a ravine. Ori felt the bottles he’d stolen and hidden in his shirt shatter. Just as he stood up and shook the glass shards out he was knocked off his feet by Kai tackling him. They rolled even farther into the ravine.
The train’s engine jumped the tracks, the cars dropped off and tumbled down the hillside chasing Ori and Kai. Flames shot from the engine as it barreled into the mountainside and blew apart. Trees and grass burst into flames only to be snuffed out by the boxcars careening down the hill.
“Run!” Kai yanked on Ori’s arm, not that Ori needed much encouragement.
They raced down the ravine ahead of the cars gouging up dirt and trees in their paths. Finally, they reached a point they could vault to higher ground. Ori stopped to watch the spectacle. The detached boxcars carrying the prisoners were no longer in sight, but they could hear the people moving away. Ori said a silent prayer all the freed prisoners lived long, peaceful lives. One final explosion from the locomotive caused them to duck away. Ori stumbled backward, caught his foot on a branch and landed on his rear.
Kai smiled at him, reached down and hauled Ori to his feet. Before Ori could think or react Kai pulled him into a long, deep kiss. His fingers stroked through Ori’s hair and Ori wrapped one arm around Kai’s back. When another explosion cracked through the air they broke their kiss and turned to watch.
“Not bad for almost no planning,” Ori said.
~|~|~|~|~|~
**GIVEAWAY**
First the give away. I’m offering one eBook off my backlist of the winner’s choice. This offer excludes the books published in 2016 and the complete list can be found on my website. http://www.elizabeth-noble.com/ The contest will remain open until Midnight (US EST)October 16.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. CONGRATULATIONS TO DEB B.
I have a few special pricing events below:
October 9 – 16 On the DSP Publications site only Code Name Jack Rabbit eBook edition will be $1.99. No special code or coupon required. http://bit.ly/1NM4nuB
The weekend of November 18 On Dreamspinner Press site only Electric Candle (The Sleepless City book #2 http://bit.ly/2d1krbb), Run for the Roses and Gone Away (Circles books #1 and #4 http://bit.ly/1WI8Phd) will be priced at 99c for the Weekend Reads Sales.
My next releases are:
Book #5 of Circles, Bait. It will be available for pre-order October 24 on Dreamspinner Press site and will be released on November 23, 2016. http://bit.ly/1WI8Phd
Book #2 of the Vampire Guard, Quarry, will be available for pre-order on DSP Publications site on October 17 and will be released on January 17, 2017 http://bit.ly/1UKdyvj
Author Details:
Elizabeth Noble lives by the adage “I can’t not write”. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t make up stories and eventually she learned how to write them down. A part of every day is spent living in worlds she created that are filled with intrigue and espionage. Using a real love of scifi and urban fantasy highlighted by twisty plots she crafts stories taking place in a slightly altered version of our world.
When she’s not chronicling the adventures of her many characters Elizabeth is a veterinary nurse living in her native Cleveland, Ohio. She shares her little brick house with an adorable canine princess and her tabby cat side-kick. Elizabeth is a fan of baseball, basketball (go Cavs and Indians!) and gardening. She can often be found working in her ‘outside office’ listening to classic rock and plotting her next novel waiting for it to be dark enough to gaze at the stars.
Elizabeth received several amateur writing awards. Since being published two of her novels have received honorable mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Her novel Jewel Cave was a runner up in the 2015 Rainbow awards in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category.
Please visit Elizabeth Noble at:
Emotion in Motion: http://www.elizabeth-noble.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.noble.77
Facebook group: On the Patio with Elizabeth Noble: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551582581800123/
Twitter: @elizabethnoble1
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elizabethnoble1/
Elizabeth’s direct email is: elizabeth.noble19@gmail.com
Visit The Vampire Guard:
The Vampire Guard website:
Email members of The Vampire Guard: jr.vampx@gmail.com
Elizabeth Noble’s Author Page –
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Thank you to Elizabeth Noble for stopping by to help us celebrate our 4th anniversary and for the great giveaway! I’m all about vamps and werewolves so I can tell I’d be all over this series.
I’m loving Kazza’s visual. 🙂
Haha, I had to put that visual up because it’s from the first book… and I can’t help myself 🙂
It’s great to have Elizabeth Noble be part of our 4th blog anniversary with her Vampire Guard men.
Thank you for including me in your blog-versary. I was so honored and delighted to be asked. I remember that visual you used for the first book. It’s a very nice visual that can’t be seen too many times! I stop by this blog often, it’s one of my favorites, so again thank you having me here this month.
Elizabeth
Thanks, Elizabeth, glad you check out the blog, it’s nice to have you here as part of our 4th year with your wonderful Vampire Guard – and you’re welcome anytime 🙂
thanks for the excerpts!
Thank you for the post and excerpt as well as the look ahead for your books. Thank you also for the heads up on upcoming weekend sale and the giveaway! This one sounds really cool and just my kind of read.
Sounds like an amazing series. Thank you , Elizabeth
Thanks for the write-up on your newest series. It sounds really interesting.
Happy Blog-versary and what a delightful post (and that image, sigh)
Such an inspiring post with good detail for any reader to know what this series and writer will be like. I haven’t read Elizabeth Noble but I’ll put her on my writer look out. I enjoy vampires and werewolves with humans. That’s a scrumptious picture too!
Thank you all! I promised to give an eBook away! I put all the names into a cup and pulled out Deb B! Please email me at elizabeth.noble19@gmail.com with your choice of ebook (anything published in 2015 or sooner) and let me know the format you’d prefer.
Happy Reading!
Elizabeth
Thank you to everyone who commented and popped by. Thanks also to Elizabeth Noble for this great post, and congratulations to Deb B the winner of a backlist e-book.
I’d like to try this series! I’m just still trying to figure out if I should start with the original series or not lol. The stories and characters in this one definitely sound interesting though 🙂
I’ve read the original series, except for the last book, and I can say that it’s easy enough to work things out in Vampire Guard book #1. I do understand your dilemma because it’s kind of hard for me to answer that question with 100% certainty. A lot depends on the individual (series) reader. I know you are like me in your character obsessive tendencies, so, for you, maybe you need to form the earlier connection, Kristen. If I was pushed and asked, ‘do you think it would help to read the Sleepless City series’? I’d say yes, but it… Read more »
Oh who am I kidding, of course I have to start with the original. I both character obsessive and reading-series-in-order obsessive lol. Really it’s just that I need to find the time to fit in all these books since now that’s 4 extra books on my TBR if I end up liking them.
I hear you loud and clear. I hate coming in to a series part the way through. This is a series in its own right but when you care about characters then you need to know more. I get frustrated when characters pop in, even briefly, and I know I should know more about them. I also get the lack of time as well. A book lovers dilemma – not enough hours in the day 🙂