Chivalry Never Dies Tour for Immortal Hope by Claire Ashgrove

Hopeful Holidays

Well, we’ve hit the downtime briefly. Christmas is over; New Years has come and gone. We’ve relaxed with family, toasted with champagne and eaten until we could roll down the hall. The last year has been quite eventful for me. I released a few stories that were extremely special to me (A Broken Christmas), I launched a paranormal short-story series, and I sold some projects that were very important to me.

I spent some wonderful time with my children, and relearned the magic of Santa, as I do each year. It’s such a special feeling to see their faces alight with joy when they come bounding into my room – “Mommy! Wake UP! Santa’s been here!”

And I find myself wishing, just for a little while, that I could wake up, just once, so glad to see morning. I sincerely despise waking. Though their exuberance makes it worth it one day a year. (Laugh)

Now, January is here, and while the world has officially put New Years back on the shelf until December 31, 2012, I’m just celebrating my turning of the year. This coming year is one of hope for me—hope that I’ll please my readers, hope that my new projects will be strong, hope that what I’ve worked on the hardest will be as rewarding to romance enthusiasts as it was for me to craft.

I spent a lot of time working on IMMORTAL HOPE. A lot more time waiting for it to move from contracted to released. It seems like eons have passed since I penned those words, and yet, I’m still as in love with the series as I was when I typed the first sentence.

And it too, as the name implies, is based on hope.

Unlike my brimming hope, however, Merrick du Loire has lost his. Too many years of fighting the dark minions of Azazel’s realm have eradicated his ability to believe the Templar will know anything but damnation. He too has been waiting. Waiting so long on the promise of salvation that he’s forgotten the prophecy of salvation. I can relate to that. At one point it felt like his story would never make it to the shelves. But it’s here now, and with its coming, I’m once again inspired.

That inspiration has fed way-too-many resolutions! But I think we all get gung-ho at the turning of a year. For a little while we’re on top of the world, believing we can do anything. Case in point – I have this crazy notion I will finish all the novels lined up in my “Idea” folder. In another month or so, after that darn Valentine’s hype, and after I age another year, reality will kick in. I’ll go back to my GANTT chart and start adjusting dates. Just like that promise to cut back on coffee is apt to turn into a promise to consume twice as much.

Only, unlike Merrick, when my hope begins to falter, it won’t be because I’ve been eternally cursed, or that my soul is dying, or that I’ve fallen in love with a woman who can save a Templar Knight…and doesn’t belong to me.

What about all of you? What New Years promises did you make, and which ones are most apt to change along the way?

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com
TWITTER: @ClaireAshgrove.com

Claire will be giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a second $25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate to a second randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour.

Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning!

Click the Blog Tour badge for a complete list of blog stops.

Author Bio

Claire Ashgrove has been writing since her early teens and maintained the hobby for twenty years before deciding to leap into the professional world. Her first contemporary novel, Seduction's Stakes, sold to The Wild Rose Press in 2008, where she continues to write steamy, sexy stories for the Champagne and Black Rose lines. Adding to these critically acclaimed contemporaries, Claire’s paranormal romance series, The Curse of the Templars, debuts with Tor in January 2012. For those who prefer the more erotic side of romance, she also writes for Berkley Heat under the pen name Tori St. Claire.

Claire lives on a small farm in Missouri with her two toddler sons, fifteen horses, four cats, and five dogs. In her “free” time, she enjoys cooking, winning at rummy, studying ancient civilizations, and spending quiet moments with her family, including the critters. She credits her success to her family's constant support and endless patience.

To learn more about Claire, visit her at:

www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com
Twitter: @ClaireAshgrove


Blurb:

CENTURIES AGO,Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll, revealing the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they forever roam the earth protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever-closer to eternal damnation.

One promise remains to give them salvation – the return of the seraphs.Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin’s soul. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she’s fated to heal.

As he struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he’s sworn to uphold. Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache, he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she's destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death.

Excerpt:

“Merrick, wait,” she called softly.

“Nay,” he answered on a hard swallow. “Nay, Anne. If I stay another moment, I will have you in that bed.” He shoved a hand through his hair and reached for the doorknob.

“But that’s where I want you,” she whispered.

He nodded once, a sharp dip of his chin. Pulling the door open, he answered, “I know.” Another protest, and he would turn right back to her waiting arms, cart her off to that oversized bed. When he finished with her, he would hate himself.

He entered the hall and shut the door.

Determination narrowed his gaze as he descended the stairs. He trained his thoughts to his cousin, focused on the oath he swore to Fulk. The very moment Anne discovered her intended, he vowed to leave. No sacred nail, no protected relic, no other oath would he honor until he fulfilled the promise to his kin. In so doing, he would free himself from this torment and lift his blade in Azazel’s name. It was a price he no longer feared to pay.