Moonglow (47 page)

I’m half Norwegian—on my mother’s side. If there is one thing you need to know about Norwegians, it’s that they are very egalitarian. This sense of equality defines them in a number of ways, but one of the more interesting aspects is that Norwegian men treat women as equal partners.

Take my grandfather. He was a man’s man in the truest sense of the term. A rugged fisherman and farmer who hung out with the fellas, rebuilt old cars, smoked a pipe, and made furniture on the side. Yet he always picked up his own plate after dinner. He never hesitated to go to the market if my grandmother needed something, nor did he complain if he had to cook his own meals when she was busy. My grandfather was one of the most admirable men I’ve known. Thus when I began to write about heroes, I gravitated toward men who share some of the same qualities as my Norwegian ancestors.

Ian Ranulf, the hero of MOONGLOW, started out as a bit of an unsavory character in
Firelight
. All right, he was a total ass, doing everything he could to keep Miranda and Archer apart. So much so that, early on, my editor once asked me if I was sure Ian wasn’t the real villain. While Ian did not act on his best behavior, I always knew that he was not a bad man. In fact, I rather liked him. Why? Because Ian loves and respects women in a way that not many of his peers do. While he feels
inclined to protect a woman from physical harm, he’d never patronize her. For that, I could forgive a lot of him.

In MOONGLOW, Ian is a man living a half-life. He has sunk into apathy because life has not been particularly kind to him. And so he’s done what most people do: He’s retreated into a protective shell. Yet when he meets Daisy, a woman who will not be ignored, he finds himself wanting to live for her. But what I found interesting about Ian is that when he begins to fall for Daisy, he does not think, “No, I’ve been burned before; I’m not going to try again.” Ian does the opposite: He reaches for what he wants, even if it terrifies him, even with a high possibility of failure.

While Ian certainly faces his share of physical battles in MOONGLOW, it is his dogged pursuit of happiness and his willingness to love Daisy as an equal that made him one of my favorite characters to write.

“A compelling Victorian paranormal with heart and soul… The compulsively readable tale will leave this new author’s fans eager for her next book.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“
Beauty and the Beast
meets
Phantom of the Opera
in this gripping, intoxicating story… An exceptional debut and the first of what promises to be a compelling series.”

—
Library Journal
(starred review)

“41/2 stars! Top pick! Seal of Excellence! Like moths to a flame, readers will be drawn to the flickering
Firelight
and get entangled in the first of the Darkest London series… Callihan crafts a taut tale filled with sexual tension. This is one of the finest debuts of the season.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“
Firelight
draws readers in… Murder, a secret society and overwhelming desire keep Archer and Miranda on their toes—and keep readers turning pages.”

—BookPage

“A perfect 10!
Firelight
is a debut novel that will knock your socks off. Readers are not going to be able to casually read this novel. It’s a page turner… The growing passion between Archer and Miranda steams up the pages… Excellent secondary characters and an amazing premise… I can’t wait for the next book.”

—
RomRevToday.com

“All this reviewer can say is
wow
! The sexual tension and story suspense is so thick it becomes tangible like the very fog of Victorian London.”

—
TheRomanceReadersConnection.com

“This is one powerful story… Never read anything quite like it. Could not imagine the ending either. Read it—if you dare.”

—
RomanceReviewsMag.com

“Evocative and deeply romantic… a beautiful debut.”

—Nalini Singh,
New York Times
bestselling author, on
Firelight

“A sizzling paranormal with dark history and explosive magic! Callihan is an impressive new talent.”

—Larissa Ione,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Immortal Rider

“A dark, delicious tale of secrets, murder, and love, beautifully shrouded in the shadows of Victorian London.”

—Hannah Howell,
New York Times
bestselling author of
If He’s Dangerous

“Inventive and adventurous with complex, witty characters and snappy writing. Callihan will make you believe in the power of destiny and true love.”

—Shana Abé,
New York Times
bestselling author of
The Time Weaver

“A sexy, resplendent debut with a deliciously tortured hero, an inventive supernatural mystery, and slow-building heat that simmers on each page. I can’t wait to see what Kristen Callihan comes up with next!”

—Meljean Brook,
New York Times
bestselling author of
The Iron Duke

“A dazzling debut, sexy and thrilling. Callihan now has a place on my to-buy list.”

—Anya Bast,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Dark Enchantment

“Utterly phenomenal! Sword fights, magic, a heroine with secret strengths, a hero with hidden vulnerability, and best of all, a true love that’s hot enough to burn the pages.”

—Courtney Milan,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Unraveled

“A compelling and emotional page turner that will have readers burning the midnight oil.”

—Anna Campbell, award-winning author of
Midnight’s Wild Passion