Today I am so pleased to welcome Beth Laycock to Joyfully Jay. Beth has come to talk to us about her latest release, The Beta’s Vampire. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

Excerpt

“I’m so sorry, Lucian. Benedict has a bit of a temper, but he’s never hit anyone before.”

I pressed my index finger gently to my nose, but as I’d said before Benedict had left, it didn’t hurt that much. Vampires were made of stern stuff, but it had been somewhat of a surprise. Not least because Benedict had managed to catch me off guard, although in my defence I had been distracted by his unexpected arrival.

Humans usually reacted to my allure by being charmed. Witches tended not to be quite so enamoured but never had I been punched at first sight. “It’s not your fault, Emory.”

He huffed in response. “I can just imagine Cecille’s reaction. You’re supposed to be up here visiting so you can have a break and instead you get in probably what was your first fight.”

I waved his words away. “Despite Cecille being my only family friend, and contrary to what she believes, I can actually look after myself. That’s not your job.”

“I would blame the whole inner-animal thing but I’ve never seen him behave that way before.”

I raised an eyebrow, trying not to reveal just how curious the “inner animal” comment made me.

We stared at each other for a drawn-out moment before Emory added, “He’s my familiar.”

“Ah, of course.” So, he was a mutt. That explained the earthy, damp dog scent he’d brought in with him. Yes, that was what distracted you, Lucian. Not the hair the colour of the midnight sky swept back from his face to show off those cheekbones. Or the scruff that peppered his strong jaw that looked soft as cotton wool, or even those sinfully dark chocolate-coloured eyes.

Nor did his scent account for the absence of my lightning-quick reflexes or the fact that he had managed to hit me. I was blaming that anomaly on the bloodlust from him catching me mid-feed. Yes, it was definitely bloodlust. Nothing to do with Benedict’s presence at all. “I’m not sure you can class a single punch as a fight. Either way, maybe it would be for the best if I erm…fed elsewhere from now on?”

Just the thought of finding a human was exhausting, and a tad repulsive. Unfortunately, the apathy I’d felt back home had followed me up north on my visit. After more than a hundred years as a vampire, life—such as mine could be described that way—had become…monotonous. Predictable even. Humans were…human—tiresome, greedy, a way to survive. But there was little pleasure in them. I sighed and shifted on the sofa as restlessness stirred me.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Benedict doesn’t get to come in here and throw his weight around in order to get his own way. He may be my familiar, and the beta of his pack, but he is not my keeper. I trust you. If we are careful, there is no reason for you not to feed on me.”

I gave the approximation of a smile but even the thought of feeding on Emory wasn’t enough to lift my spirits. Not like the sweet scent of Benedict’s blood. Even if it had been spilled from punching my face.

The thought of tasting that sweet elixir had saliva pooling in my mouth and my fangs aching to sink into the soft skin of his throat. Except he was a dog. I had no idea what drinking his blood would do to me. Not that I was about to find out.

Lucian Dupree did not drink the blood of a mutt.

Especially not one that had hit him.

Blurb

Penhul Pack, Book 2

Beta of the Penhul pack with a vampire? Over his dead body.

Lucian is bored. After a century of being a vampire nothing surprises him anymore. Life, such as his can be called one, has become predictable. Humans are predictable. Add in the fact he’d rather not feed from them, and a visit with a witch friend of his clan is a welcome distraction. But when he meets Benedict it’s anything but predictable, especially when he stumbles across the man transforming into a dog before his eyes. And never in an eternity did he think he would find himself wanting to drink the mutt’s blood.

As beta of the Penhul pack, Benedict knows pack comes first, like having to spend weeks away in the Lake District on pack business. But the last thing Benedict expects to find when he returns is his brother having found his fated mate, or worse, a vampire feeding from his witch. His homecoming definitely won’t go down as his finest moment, and he’s certainly not prepared for his reaction to the bloodsucker.

Can Benedict see past their differences and put aside his prejudices of vampires? Or will his choice of mate cost him his pack?

This MM romance from Beth Laycock features enemies to lovers, fated mates, a vampire with an aversion to feeding on humans, a sexy man that can shift into an adorable dog, and of course a HEA. The Beta’s Vampire is the second book in the Penhul pack series and should be read in order.

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Bio

Beth Laycock’s books are influenced by her time living overseas as well as the gritty, urban landscape of the north of England where she grew up. She has been reading romance since she was old enough to tell herself that line every book lover does—just one more chapter.

As a teenager, she attempted to write her first novel, and many more since then are still gathering dust on her bookshelf. It wasn’t until she discovered the M/M genre that her muse showed up and refused to quit telling her stories about beautiful men finding love together. She hasn’t stopped scribbling them down since.

Beth’s muse usually shows up when she is in the shower, is allergic to cleaning, rarely lets her watch TV, and insists she drinks copious amounts of coffee so she can turn caffeine into words.

Beth’s books range from sweet to sexy, long to short, contemporary to paranormal, but a HEA is always guaranteed.

Connect with Beth:

• Website: https://bethlaycock.com
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• Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/author/bethlaycock

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of The Beta’s Vampire, Beth is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card + an ebook of The Beta’s Vampire. Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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