Denna Holm
An expert horsewoman from Oregon, now retired from training and showing horses, Denna has now devoted her whole attention to her second passion, writing novels.
https://www.facebook.com/denna.holm.author/
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dholm
SOUL OF A WARRIOR
A handsome blond stranger shows up at Kimi Wicker’s place of work claiming to be her mate. But he also claims to be from another world. She does what any sane woman would do in her situation. She runs. Tagging along are her two best friends and a feisty tabby cat. No one could anticipate the second stranger showing up, one with a completely different agenda.
Kimi and her friends are abducted by the second man, a vampire, then tortured and abandoned on a hostile alien world. Given only the clothes on their back, they must now try to find a way back home again.
One man will do everything in his power to see Kimi and her friends are brought safely back home, even sacrifice his own life. The second man wants Kimi and her mate to suffer, alive, but forever out of reach of each other. Kimi and her friends must work together against astronomical odds for any hope of surviving this nightmare.
Five Star Goodreads Review:
With a vast array of alien creatures and extraterrestrial landscapes, mixed with several forms of space travel technologies, this is a must read for science fiction fans and anyone who enjoys cross genre writings. My compliments to the creative genius and visual delivery of this author.
GHOST WARRIOR
Amanda
Cross always considered herself a strong woman, but the many trials she
faced on the hostile planet of Lavina almost break her. After her
rescue, she turns down the chance to return to Earth when a handsome
wolf shapeshifter named Tallyn catches her eye. Amanda decides to stay
with Tallyn on his world and see where the relationship takes them. Not
everything goes according to plan, especially when Tallyn’s father
rejects their union and tries to have Amanda killed.
Calem has waited centuries to right a wrong done to his mate and daughter. Their deaths nearly destroyed him, but he sees a chance for redemption through Amanda. Tallyn was right to ask for Calem’s help in preparing his mate to face his father’s deadly tests. Only he can guide the petite human female toward her destiny. Only Calem knows who she really is to their people. He is determined to keep Amanda from facing the same fate as his mate and daughter, even if it ends up costing him his own life.
A WARRIOR’S NIGHTMARE
Jessica is excited about starting college in the fall, already enrolled at the University of Oregon. Every year for as long as she can remember, she has enjoyed spending a week camping with her father before school started, but this year is special because her best friends are coming with them. She has no way to know they will all be walking into a nightmare straight out of a horror movie.
Eighteen years before, Jessica’s mother died under mysterious circumstances right after giving birth to her. Her dad refuses to speak about it, though his eyes grow haunted every time the subject comes up. All Jessica knows is that it was a violent death. Her answers will come from a stranger, one who knows far more than he should.
Nethaniel is a Lycaeonian from the planet Laizahlia, a wolf shapeshifter. He is taking his first trip off world with his father when he runs across Jessica fly fishing at the lake. Though it shouldn’t be possible, he recognizes her immediately as his fated mate. Unfortunately, Nethaniel’s father has enemies, and three have followed them to Earth, vengeance on their minds. Jessica and her friends are considered little more than collateral damage.
Amazon Reviews:
4.0 out of 5 starsA New Spin on Warewolves
July 19, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition A Warrior’s Nightmare is a Sci-Fi novel that focuses on the character of Jessica, a graduating senior that is trying to enjoy the summer break before she heads off to college. During this particular break, Jessica is spending time with her friends camping when something unexpected and devastating happens that takes Jessica back to her past – to when she was born. The reader learns early in the novel that Jessica’s mother when Jessica was only a newborn, and the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death have never been revealed to Jessica. It seems that things aren’t always what they seem as Jessica begins to learn the truth about her mother’s death. Meanwhile, Jessica is noticed by Nethaniel, a wolf shapeshifter from a different planet. Nathaniel is convinced that Jessica is his one and only soulmate and sets about trying to prove this; however, it seems that his presence presents a complication and danger to Jessica and her friends. Through twists and turns within the novel, the reader begins to understand that everything is not always as it seems and evil comes in many forms.
Although, I’m typically not a fan of science fiction that involves wolves, I did enjoy Denna Holm’s storyline. I have never read anything about wolf shapeshifters before, so I immediately though that that was interesting. Also, I like how the author didn’t just make this a novel about a boy falling in love with and trying to win over a girl. Those really get boring to read after a while. Instead, Holm’s adds in a few more plot developments, such Jessica beginning to learn the truth of her mother’s death. Ultimately, the struggle that ensues when enemies of Nethaniel’s father begin to cause trouble is what made me want to keep reading. There were a lot of smaller details and plot lines that the author wove together in order to make the novel a more exhilarating read.
One note of circumstance though does exist within the plotline of Nethaniel finding out that Jessica is his soul mate. This happens very early in the novel – chapter one, I believe. We hardly know anything about Jessica, and we know even less about Nethaniel up to this point. What is going on with him to have him be in the position mentally to recognize Jessica as his soul mate. That part of the book just seemed a bit forced, and I would have liked to have seen that early ignition of love and yearning have happened more organically, if that makes sense. At the very least, I would have liked to have known both characters a bit more before this sighting occurred.
Overall, I would give A Warrior’s Nightmare a rating of four out of five stars. Holm does an adequate job of putting a new spin on the typical ware wolf story.
Scarolet Ellis
5.0 out of 5 starsWonderful…..
July 10, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition I have never read anything from Denna Holm before this story. I am so glad I read this story cause I love reading about wolf shifters. This was a wonderful story to read. It has strong characters a wonderful story line I fell in love with the story and characters.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
HEART OF A WARRIOR
Elena Murphy is devastated when Gabriel walks out of her life. When her granddaughter is abducted by aliens and left to die on a hostile world, Gabriel is part of the rescue party sent out by his Council to find her. From the start, they both know there is a strong connection between them, but Elena fears that Gabriel is embarrassed that she is only half vampire while he is a powerful Hunter who has lived for over three thousand years. But when two children under her care are abducted, Elena will do everything in her power to get them back, including swallowing her pride to beg Gabriel to take her with him to track them down.
Gabriel has spent thousands of years searching for his destined mate, his eillelé. When he finally finds her in Elena, it is to learn she is half human. He knows this makes their options as a couple limited. If he takes her back to his world, Laizahlia, his Council will force him to convert her fully to vampire, and he knows she might not survive with her mind intact. And it is forbidden for their kind to live on Earth. Rather than risk her life, he chooses to turn and walk away . . . until two children under her care are taken by Slavers, and it’s him who led them directly to her.
“Heart of a Warrior is a gripping and thrilling fantasy book. The vampire theme and twist in the story are exciting and held my interest. The author is able to engineer some creative scenes that make the unique character both charming and scary at the same time. Following the part about the missing children was scary and fascinating given they had potential threats like the Council and Slavers. Gabriel is a great character whom every reader will, eventually, empathize with. Heart of a Warrior is action-packed, with events that are unbelievable, but you don’t care, and characters who were perfect for their roles.
Every character had some sort of superpower which felt balanced and not overused. They were able to face their obstacles and even confuse the enemies for a while. I appreciated the odd, but well constructed, love story in this book. This novel combines a bittersweet love, a vampire story, and some fantastic characters that really carry this story. This is the fourth book in the ‘Immortal Warriors’ series but I didn’t feel lost and I think anyone can jump into the series from here. You will love the conversations between characters as they are witty and humorous. The plot was epic and the entire story entertaining.” — Literary Titan
Warrior Betrayed
Calem is a wolf shapeshifter from the planet Laizahlia, a loyal pack member willing to do whatever his king and elders ask of him … until the day his daughter Abriel is born. There is a legend among his kind about a pure white wolf, a female born with bright blue eyes. She is called the Ghost Warrior, and it is believed she will bring about the destruction of their people.
Throughout their history, only a few of these white females have ever been born and all were killed by their own pack shortly after birth. Calem’s daughter is born with pure white hair and bright blue eyes. The pack grows nervous as she enters adolescence, demanding Calem hand her over to them. With nowhere safe to take Abriel, Calem and his mate will have to fight to the death to protect her.
DARK WARRIOR
Jada and her three best friends, all avid bow hunters, are attacked by unknown creatures while on vacation during elk season. One of her friends is killed outright and two others are taken captive. She wants to fight to get them back, but a stranger blocks her path.
Bryce is a tracker of rogues for the Laizahlian Council. He has worked for the Hunter Vaughn for almost three hundred years. The last person he expects to find on this backward planet of Earth is his destined mate. He barely arrives in time to save her from the two rogues he and his partner were sent to track down, but he can’t save Jada and her three friends.
Bryce knows the greatest threat to his mate will come from Vaughn himself, a powerful vampire. It is forbidden by the Council for their kind to take a human mate. If Bryce can’t convince Vaughn that Jada is a born shapeshifter, his partner will kill her. He can’t allow this, even if it means he must go rogue himself to protect her.
Rise of a Warrior
Carla Trystan is a half-breed vampire who has spent her entire life running from powerful Hunters—aliens from another world. She is also plagued by nightmares, hearing the same deep, dark voice say night after night, ‘If you wish to live, child, take my hand.’ When she finally meets the man behind the terrifying voice, it is to discover he is one of the aliens she has spent her life running from.
Azrael, an ancient Hunter for the Laizahlian Council, is sent to Earth to track down three rogues from their world. What he doesn’t expect is to run into his lifemate. Azrael senses there is more than vampire blood running through Carla’s veins. He suspects a Djinn is involved, placing them both in great danger.
Their journey will thrust them both into the Fae realm, where Carla must rise up and fight the cruel queen who means to take Azrael as her own.
“You can find hundreds of books out there on shapeshifters, vampires, fae, and other creatures, but Holm’s version of these beings feels fresh and different. She isn’t taking the same old character sheets and giving them new names, she instead has taken traditional “knowns” about these beings and enhanced them. They come to life more and are relatable in their thoughts and actions. This book is hard to put down because the characters are so engaging, and you get attached and want to know how things turn out. The plot line is complex and layered. It isn’t just a simple story; it builds as it goes and you uncover more and more players all twisted together. There is the building romance of Carla and Azrael, but I wouldn’t classify this as a romance novel, the relationship is just part of the story and mystery, not the end all destination.
While Rise of a Warrior is book five in this series, it stands on it’s own but leaves you wanting more. With so many plot lines twisted you know there will be more to explore, more questions to answer, and even some more romance to build.” — Literary Titan
Dragon Song
Faith is furious with her parents when they force her to move from Portland to some Podunk town in Eastern Oregon. No malls, no movie theatres, not even a bowling alley. They don’t even have a close neighbor. She knows none of her friends will ever want to visit her here. But the hiking trails aren’t bad, so she stocks her backpack and takes off to fume alone for the day.
Headstrong Aeson made a huge mistake. New to shifting forms, he lost control and took a bad fall, breaking his wrist and ankle. Naked and alone, too far from his clan to seek help, he knows his odds of surviving are low. Until a young human female shows up. All his life Aeson has considered humans the enemy. Can he afford to trust Faith? Can he afford not to?
HOUSE OF PAIN
Maggie Shelbador is a half-breed succubus with a heart. Though raised inside one of the worst whorehouses in the world, all she wants is to find one man who will love her despite what she is. She dreams of one day being free of her nightmarish life but fears no man will ever truly trust her.
The year is 3515 and most of the world has been destroyed by a combination of natural disasters and man’s neglect. The whole human race faces extinction. To survive, the leaders of the day approach demons for help, not understanding the high price they will be forced to pay. Normally bound by the summoner’s magic, the demons know Maggie is the key to giving them free access to Earth.
Daniel is a widower with a young son. He is out hunting one day when his settlement is attacked and his son abducted. He tracks them to House of Pain, not realizing a trap is being set for him. Though tortured, Daniel refuses to break when they try to force him to prostitute himself—until a beautiful blonde woman is brought into the room, her power stripping away his self-control.
This book is intended for mature readers only. Sexual scenes are involved that touch on the taboo.
Review from LITERARY TITAN https://literarytitan.com/2018/11/06/house-of-pain…
House of Pain, by Denna Holm, is a dark, provocative and devilish book that will leave you lusting for more! The novel opens with a brother and sister cowering before a terrifying demon to whom they have made a promise. They must deliver on this promise or spend eternity kept alive simply to be tortured by this diabolical creature. Their promise comes in the form of the beautiful Magdalena, Maggie, who is half human/half demon. Although raised in a whorehouse she is our lovely virgin full of kindness but also the ability to suck life from people through sex! Holms paints a grim story of the future and it is not one of hope but one in which humans and nature have destroyed the Earth and demons can enter the planet and are on the cusp of entering to stay.
This is a dreary story in many ways, due to the state of the world in which it is set and the predicament of many of the characters but also ends up being very much a love story. Yes, there are erotic scenes and themes, but this story is truly about the endurance of family and the strength of love. It is slightly odd to write that about a book which includes incubus’s and succubus’s, a whorehouse full of debauchery and more but it is truly fitting in this first novel in what seems will be a series. I can definitely see future challenges arising for our main characters as well as the possibility of the portal re-opening. Demons are quite clever, after all!
I was impressed with the originality of this story. I love when authors create truly original story lines. It felt like this was a story in which the author was truly enmeshed. I want to know how she got the idea for this story. It was so uniquely creative and unlike any other fantasy story I’ve come across.
As stated earlier, there are some adult scenes, which are done respectfully but not appropriate for people under 17. I loved Holm’s writing style. It was dripping with tension, drama, romance, and a dark-side that I truly found intriguing. Her story did not drag on, the scenes moved quickly, and I did not want to put it down. I found it quite easy and fun to read! Be certain you are one who is down for some macabre, some romance and some sexiness in this fantasy fiction novel.
CLAIMED BY NICOLAI
RAIDEN WARRIORS series, volume 1
When Abby Harris takes her faithful German shepherd out for a hike in Oregon’s beautiful mountains, getting abducted by aliens isn’t even a blip on her radar. Her trusty can of bear spray and pocket knife aren’t much help against the seven-foot monsters who swoop in out of nowhere to transport her to a ship in space.
Nicolai Nekbet is Crown Prince for the House of Nekbet on the planet Raiden. Unable to bear healthy children with females of their own species, Raiden warriors must hunt for a bride outside their own world. Nicolai has his heart set on a human even though their planet is protected by an ancient species called Laizahlian. When he sees the tall blonde-haired beauty out in the mountains with only a dog by her side, he knows he must have her.
With Abby safely on his ship, Nicolai injects her with his shaprata, his essence. His shaprata will change her on a cellular level, making them compatible for procreation, but he must still work hard to win her heart. If she rejects their union, it could easily mean his death.
Mounce574 5.0 out of 5 stars An intense paranormal romance. Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 202.Verified Purchase. Claimed By Nicolai was the first science fiction book that opened my eyes to the possibilities my imagination could reach. Denna Holm crafted the story of Abby Harris’s introduction to the existence of alien lifeforms and how legendary tales are more fact than fiction. When Abby strays off a hiking path, she discovers a lizard-like man facing her. In shock, she tries to run away but gets injected by a drug that causes her to lose consciousness. Nicolai, the crown prince of Nekbet has claimed Abby as his mate and injected her with his shaprata. Abby is a fighter and immediately rejects the possibility of ever loving Nicolai. The story continues with Abby encountering creatures that love, hate, and one that can return her home. Will Abby accept Nicolai as her future husband or will she return to Earth at the first chance she gets?
I enjoyed the amazing detail that Holm gave to every character. Each of their personalities was unique which added to the ability to relate to their feelings. There are several scenes that are highly sexual in content, making this book for mature readers. The inquisitive nature of Abby and some of the dangers she faces make the pace of the story flow easily to the end of the book. This could easily have been a standalone novel, but I eagerly started reading the second book of The Raiden Warriors Series. I used to dislike this genre but have gained a new respect for authors like Denna Holm. She brought the story to life with her unique writing style. I am quite confident in saying this is a five-star book.
Claimed by Rafa
Rafa didn’t think much of the human female when his prince first claimed her for a mate, but her strength of character soon wins him over. He watches with jealous eyes as the love blossoms between them, especially when she begins to swell with the prince’s child. When Rafa’s shaprata begins to mature, and the time arrives for him to claim a mate, he decides to return to Earth to claim a human of his own.
Aaliyah was left devastated when her best friend went missing. Abby was last seen hiking with her faithful German shepherd near one of Oregon’s mountain lakes. Six months later, Aaliyah receives a phone call, the woman on the other end claiming to be Abby, and she wants Aaliyah to drive up to the same lake to meet her … alone.
Emotionally, Aaliyah isn’t as strong as Abby. She’s had a rough childhood and considers herself damaged goods. When the alien tries to claim her, she rejects their union, not sure she is capable of loving a man, even if it means Rafa might die.
“…I loved the author’s abilities to capture my attention and keep me engaged from start to finish. I could not drop the book. Her descriptive ability was top-notch as I envisioned every detail described … The characters were well developed. Aaliyah is my favorite character. Despite the abuse she had gone through, it didn’t make her bitter. She was kind and loving, a strong woman indeed … The pace was neither fast nor slow, just right. The story never dragged. The plot was properly executed…
… I recommend this book to lover of sci fi and romance. – Miraphery (OnlineBookClub)
https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=145619
“…As we get deeper into the book and learn about Aaliyah’s past, I felt the anger and frustrations that she has from living through so much pain. Seeing how she was treated by other humans before leaving Earth filled me with anger. This is a testament to Denna Holm’s ability to pull emotions from the reader and give them a connection to the characters. You want to see Aaliyah happy; you feel Abby’s anger at the male posturing, Samantha is your typical teenager and stubborn but adventurous all in one. All the women are fighters, none are weak and docile. The Raiden men appreciate these traits and encourage them. Of all the different aliens mentioned in the book, I found the Djinn especially interesting. This book hinted that possibly the next one will go more into the Djinn people and how they tie in with the Raiden’s, or at least I hope so. Claimed by Rafa was a unique and deeply engaging novel. I look forward to reading more novels from Denna Holm and certainly more entries int this fantastic series.” — Literary Titan
Claimed by Seraphym
Samantha was only sixteen when her sister Abby took her on an exciting journey through space to live on a new planet. She couldn’t be happier, until her eighteenth birthday, when the king declares she must accept the claim of a Raiden warrior. No one will stand up for her right to choose a mate for herself, not even Abby, until a magnificent dragon shifter drops out of the sky, offering Sam sanctuary with his clan.
When Seraphym’s niece is abducted and claimed against her will by a sadistic Raiden prince, he vows to one day take vengeance against the House of Nekbet. Two years later, he witnesses another young female, this one human, fighting off the advances of a Raiden warrior. Seraphym can’t say no when Samantha begs him for help. He refuses to stand by and do nothing while another innocent life is ruined.
Claimed by Seraphym
by Denna Holm (Goodreads Author)
Stephanie Chapman‘s review Mar 15, 2021
it was amazing
As soon as I got a copy of this book, I dove right into reading the entire story. Unlike other series that I have read in the past, Holm’s ability to keep the story alive and captivating is proven in Claimed By Seraphym. From the time he was introduced in Claimed By Nicolai, I had hoped to learn more about Seraphym’s character. I found his devotion to valuing females and their choice in who they chose to mate with caused inner conflict when he rescued Samantha from an attempted forced mating. Samantha showed him she was more than willing to reciprocate his feelings and I could empathize with her confusion when Seraphym pushed her away. Loyalty to his clan and the forbidden mixing of a Vasi with any other species caused the me to keep reading. I wanted to tell Seraphym to follow his heart and was in utter shock when he let another male form a blood bond with Samantha.
I am rating this book a perfect 5 stars and wonder what is in store for the Raiden Warriors series. The way each book has been left with an open ending keeps my imagination running. There is no predictability in how the stories can turn out because of the quick twists that change the direction of the book. Suspense is on of my favorite elements in books and it was Denna Holm’s writing that opened my eyes to science fiction.
ANTHOLOGIES
Second Chance is Denna’s short story in volume 1 of the Crimson Tales series,
Crimson Timelines.
Gillian had longed for years to see her lost daughter and husband again. Could her prayers have been answered?
THE RIDER is a compilation of the prizewinning and best runner-up stories of 1500-3000 words, based around a stock picture, that were entered in the 2016 Crimson Cloak Publishing short story writing competition.
Denna’s story SPIRIT RIDE, featured in this book, tied with two other stories for third prize and lost out only to a tie-breaker. It is the story of a woman whose child has died: believing it is in retribution for a hit-and-run in her youth when she killed a toddler and kept quiet about it, in order to recover her own child she has sought redemption in vain. Her last hope, the shaman she now consults, sends her on a wild spirit ride that sends her back in time to put things right …
Den of Dragons.
DRAGON SONG by Denna Holm features in this anthology.
