Haanta Series

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel

Today we are welcoming Michelle Franklin to the blog.  She’s here to talk about her latest book in the Haanta Series.  Michelle Franklin is giving away a copy of her newest Haanta novella The Reporter from Marridon if you’d like to offer a giveaway. Sit back and enjoy what Michelle has to say.  I’ve included a blurb and an excerpt at the end.  Enjoy!  Remember to leave a comment to be entered to win a copy!

Rautu was struck by the sight of his companion upset. He had

never seen her so painfully reminiscent or so dejected. The subject of

her father’s murder was one she never discussed, not with him nor

with anyone, and though he was never one to ask of personal concerns,

he sensed that there was no resolution for her on this point. He felt for

her and wished he could do more, but there was nothing he could say

beyond claiming that this was one of the downfalls of Mivaari being

attached to their Ambesari. He was silent, but where his ideals were

unspoken, his actions were expressed. He brushed her long, knotted

hair aside and grazed the skin of her nape with the back of his hand. He

raised his hand to place it affectionately atop her head when he noticed

her rough hands were dusted with flour. He drew her attention to it, but

in her wiping it off she had gotten it on the side of her face. He molded

his hand around her chin and raised her features to examine the extent

of the damage. He abraded his thumb along her cheek to remove the

remainder of the white residue, and in its place came a vibrant blush.

The longer he held her in his regard the more it spread across her face to

the tips of her ears. He felt the change in temperateness of her soft flesh.

He thought to remove his hand, but was compelled to keep it cupped

around her chin. He enjoyed its being there, keeping her countenance

high and her face in full view.

He leaned down to gain a closer look at his work, but was stopped

by the very sight of her: her gleaming eyes, her flushed complexion,

and her parted lips recommended expectancy, and though he felt it

imprudent to take the advantage now as it was given, he could no

longer resist. He grazed his thumb across her lower lip and inclined his

head to kiss that which he had wanted to devour since their journey to

the Haven. He pulled her from her seat, gripped her hair by the root to

hold her in place and consumed her. His mouth delighted in the taste of

her lips, his hands reveled in the sensations her sinuous skin afforded

him, his tongue pursued hers, and he overwhelmed her with famished

osculations.

The commander leaned back against the counter and pulled the

giant down to her by his molded locks. She encouraged him to roam her

body by placing his hands on her hips, and his motions soon became

pleasantly aggressive. She taunted him, pressing her knee between his

legs, and she soon found herself lifted onto the counter, both of her

heavy breasts being crushed by his hands. She moaned and leaned back,

inviting him to place his mouth on her chest, but he suddenly stopped

and looked as though he were examining something: a smattering

of chocolate was spread across the commander’s chest. It must have

happened while she was filling the tarts and had not realized it until

now. She was certain the Den Asaan would enjoy cleaning it for her.

She had only to undo the tie at the top of her tunic and wait for him to

act.

The tie was pulled, the top of her heavy breasts exposed, and

Rautu had done. He forced his features into the valley of her deep

chest and sucked her flesh clean of defilement. The taste of his

soothing indulgence blended with the warm fragrance of her skin was

an arrangement too overpowering to endure. He growled in her ear,

expressing his increasing appetite, and when he felt her hands wander

into his war kilt, he grew impatient. He pushed her onto her back and

pulled her toward him by her thick thighs. He stared at her ample figure, tracing

the lines of her wide hips. He trapped her against the counter, holding her in place

with his lower body, and canted his head to gauge the space between her legs

when the sound of someone approaching suddenly broke his concentration. 

The Commander and the Den Asaan Rautu
By Michelle Franklin
Publisher: Red Willow Publishing
June 12, 2011

Book Description:

The Kingdom of Frewyn is being invaded by the Galleisian infantry and at the forefront of the battle is
Boudicca MacDaede, a First Captain in the Frewyn armed forces. Her regiment is charged with defending the borders between the two nations, but when Frewyn’s last line of defense falls, Captain MacDaede enlists the assistance of a Haanta, one of giants from the islands to the far north. Promising to free him from his imprisonment in exchange for his help, she gains his trust long enough for them to win the battle and save the Frewyn border from being breached. The giant’s freedom is granted, but Rautu cannot return home unless he redeems himself in the eyes of his people for past his transgressions. He is offered a place by the captain’s side, and together, they defeat the Galleisian forces and become the saviors of Frewyn.

One year later, King Alasdair Brennin takes the Frewyn throne, Boudicca is made commander, Gallei and Frewyn reach an accord, and Rautu is granted an invitation home. He is eager to return and see his brothers but finds it difficult to leave Frewyn without Boudicca at his side. He has become accustomed to her company and the idea of being made to live without her begins to distress him. Rautu invites the commander to the islands in hopes of finding a way for them to remain together, but when they arrive at the white shores of Sanhedhran, not everything goes as planned: one of the dangerous Haanta magi is freed, Rautu’s three brothers are strangely missing, and the neighboring nation of Thellis leads an attack on the islands.

Together, the commander and the Den Asaan Rautu must find a way to unite their two nations and defend against the Thellisian fleets, but can they do so successfully when outside forces are attempting to keep them apart?

Excerpt
Rautu stood on the bow of the ship remarking his home with the commander at his side. He gazed at the
island’s white sands to the south, dense trees to the north, and the animation of the docks with a
reverential countenance. He had been waiting for this homecoming for the greater part of three seasons,
and when he regarded Sanhedhran for the first time in nine months, all the longing he had reaped during
his separation rushed on him. He was eager to stand on the southern shore again and reclaim his place
among the Amghari. His exhalations became labored, his eyes glowed with quiet joy, and the Den
Asaan’s estrangement was reconciled; he was home, and this was all that occupied him at present.
The commander smiled at the giant’s silent worship and used his fascination as a diversion to
place her hand atop his as it rested against the ship’s railing. She savoured the texture of his stone-like
flesh with her rough fingertips and then placed her hand along the railing beside his. She observed him to

inspect any perceptible difference. There had been a momentary upturning in the corner of his mouth, but
his gaze held firmly toward the island approaching. She was satisfied with his minimal recognition, but
was amazed to feel his small finger suddenly wrapping around hers. He moved not otherwise, did not
even peek at her from the corner of his eye, but she heard the sound of a profound sigh and knew whose
sigh it was. She coiled her finger around his, looked toward their pending destination, and wondered how
he should govern himself once returned to his people.

Links:
The official site: http://thehaanta.blogspot.com/

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4557121.Michelle_Franklin

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00564TGKA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=fangtasticbooks-
20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00564TGKA

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-commander-and-den-asaan-rautu-michelle-
franklin/1031506362?ean=2940012971531&itm=5&usri=michelle%2bfranklin

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66266