Mates Series Inspiration Songs

by Cardeno C.

Most of my book titles are inspired by songs I listened to while writing the book to put myself in the right mood and mindset. With the newest standalone novel in my Mates having been recently released, I thought it’d be fun to go over the songs that inspired my books in the series.

In Your Eyes – Inspiration Song: Animal by Miike Snow

It’s hard to come up with a better song to inspire a book about wolf shifters than one called Animal, especially when one of those shifters – Samuel – struggles not to stay in his animal form and leave the human world behind. Samuel was always a good man who wanted to do right by his pack, but in many ways, he lived in a world dark from a lack of emotions and empathy, which was a danger to him and those he was meant to lead.

From the first moment Samuel saw Korban, he knew there was something in the other shifter’s eyes, but it took him many years to identify what it was. In the end, Korban can fill the hole that has always lived in Samuel. Korban’s strength, while different from Samuel’s, compliments the Alpha well and allows him to be the strong leader he always longed to be.

The last thing I loved about this song for this book is the happy vibe in it. In Your Eyes has some sad scenes and battles, both internal and external, that the characters have to fight. It felt good to hear a peppy song as I wrote it.

Until Forever Comes – Inspiration Song: Chasing The Sun by the Wanted

Until Forever Comes is a novel about Ethan a young, ill shifter who realizes his mate is an ancient, dangerous vampire and Miguel, an intelligent, blood-thirsty vampire who realizes his salvation comes in the form of a spirited young wolf. Ethan has never been right in the eyes of his pack. He is a shifter who can’t shift, something that shouldn’t happen.

Being different and physically weak has given him more than his share of sadness and pain, but it also gave him something rare among his people – the ability to look past what’s supposed to be and see what is. Ethan has lived his whole life in a way that doesn’t make sense by shifter law, so when he learns he is mated to a male and a vampire at that, he manages to look past the complications that block stronger shifters and see the simple truth: Miguel is his mate.

That mating saves both men, bonding their bodies and making each of them stronger. Through their connection and love, they give each other life. A vampire and a wolf mated, it shouldn’t have been possible, that day shouldn’t have come. But it did and instead of running away from it, they embraced it and got to live a not-quite eternal life where a shifter can finally shift and a vampire can see the sun.

Wake Me Up Inside – Inspiration Song: Bring Me To Life by Evanescence

The lyrics of this song speak of someone whose core is numb and spirit is sleeping. They need someone to lead them out of that dark place before they come undone; they need to come home. I don’t want to give too much away for anyone who hasn’t read Wake Me Up Inside, but it’s about shifters and the concept of what true mates need from and mean to each other in that world.

About In Your Eyes

Raised to become Alpha of the Yafenack pack, Samuel Goodwin dedicates his life to studying shifter laws, strengthening his body, and learning from his father. Taking control comes easily to Samuel, but relating to people, including those he’s supposed to lead, is a constant challenge.

When Samuel meets Korban Keller, the son of a neighboring pack’s Alpha, he reacts with emotion instead of intellect for the first time in his life. Resenting the other shifter for putting him off-balance, Samuel first tries to intimidate Korban and then tries to avoid him. What he can’t do is forget Korban’s warm eyes, easy smile, and happy personality.

When a battle between their fathers results in tragedy, Samuel and Korban are thrown together. With his world crashing down around him, Samuel must save his pack and show them he can lead. But first, Korban needs to save Samuel by inspiring him to feel. Two very different men with a tumultuous history must overcome challenges from all sides and see past the rules they’ve been taught to realize they are destined to fit together.

Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks

About Cardeno C.

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few “awwws” into a reader’s day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno’s stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

You can find Cardeno at these sites: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Facebook Page & Blog.

Cardeno has kindly offered up eBook copies of Wake Me Up Inside & Until Forever Comes to TWO lucky winners!! The giveaway starts now and ends August 16, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. To enter, just click the link below!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway, except to verify your Rafflecopter entry.

Don’t forget to check out Nikyta’s review of In Your Eyes to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!