Julie Elizabeth Powell's Blog, page 25
October 1, 2017
ALL FOR HIM by E.M. Denning
ALL FOR HIM
by E.M. Denning
Publisher: PGP Liquid Gold
Genre: Romance (older woman, younger man)
Ashley Hartman has always been child free by choice. It’s a decision her first husband knew about when they met and it’s the same decision that tore them apart years later. Now a thirty-six-year-old divorcee with an overly opinionated best friend and a career she no longer wants, Ashley is trying to move on with her life.
Liam White swaggers his way up her driveway and into her life a year after her swift and brutal divorce. Though he’s twelve years younger than her, their friendship is instantaneous and it’s not long before she hires him to finish the renovations on her house.
Their relationship quickly explodes into something neither of them expected. As Ashley starts to let herself believe she could have a second chance at happiness, everything goes sideways.
“You must be new here.”
Ashley slowed her pace and resigned herself to the fact that this guy wasn’t going to be so easy to shake.
“Only new to the neighborhood. I used to live across town.”
“What part?”
“West Village.”
“Ah, where all the upper-crust hang out.”
“Yeah, the upper-crust and their mooching friends who live in their guest houses for a year.” Ashley shut her eyes and shook her head. She hadn’t meant to say so much to this guy, but she’d been drinking all afternoon and the beer had loosened her tongue.
“So, you’re not just slumming, then?” Liam winked at her, she assumed this meant he was joking. “Seriously though, that carpet had to be three times your weight. Are you sure you don’t need more help?”
“Is this a thing you do?”
“What?”
“You know, walking down the street and running to the rescue of damsels in distress?”
Liam laughed. It was deep and sexy and slid inside her like velvet and satin. She felt her stomach wobble, but it wasn’t the beer. It was him; and maybe the beer, just a little.
“You hardly seem like a damsel in distress.” His hungry gaze raked over her and she wondered what he saw other than her dirty jeans, messy hair, and her dust covered skin.
Releases November 1, 2017
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E. M. Denning is a writer from British Columbia. She loves her family and her animals and anything cute and fuzzy. She was born a hopeless romantic and when she’s not writing romance, she’s probably reading it. She loves love.
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SWEET HEAT: Where Romance and Suspense Meet
SWEET HEAT
Where Romance and Suspense Meet
Genre: Romantic Suspense
6 NYT and USA Today Bestselling authors come together to bring you romances guaranteed to make your blood run hot! Only 99c
Passion, suspense, mystery. Something to suit every reader's taste. Grab a blanket and curl up with us for an unforgettable escape.
Get yours today before it goes away. LIMITED TIME ONLY.
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Roll the Dice by Mimi Barbour
How can she love the guy who shoots her rather than the criminal?
This powerful romantic suspense about two detectives with differing agendas, yet after the same rapist, will grab your attention and keep you riveted. Their continuing conflicts will keep you entranced and their humor will make you laugh. Kai, the bald-headed, blue-eyed, purse-carrying cowboy tries to wrestle control from his new partner, gorgeous yet grumpy Aurora. Right till the shocking end she fights him… and then things really deteriorate.
Two Hearts Surrendered by Tamara Ferguson
A Readers’ Favorite Military Fiction Award Winner, as well as an IAN Book of the Year Finalist and New Apple Romance Selection for Excellence in Publishing.
After years of fighting their feelings, Luke Bryant and Kelly Callahan share an enchanting night of passion at her sister’s magical wedding. So when Luke returns home from Iraq as a disheartened wounded warrior, Kelly refuses to give up on him. It's not about his looks or his tragic past—it's all about the connection they've shared since they were kids. Fate has always meant for them to be together—she’s sure of it. But will that past night of enchantment be strong enough magic for a military hero to finally surrender his heart to the woman he loves?
Slow Dancing by Suzanne Jenkins
After a wrong turn in Mobile, Margaret Fisher and her toddler, Ellen are lost. Then, their car breaks down in a small town in front of the garage owned by eligible bachelor, Frank McPherson.
Twelve years later, the peaceful life fifteen-year old Ellen has with her stepfather is threatened when after midnight, a stranger appears at the edge of the woods.
Jealousy, intrigue, and murder strive to tear them apart in this tale of unrequited love.
Luke, the Unexpected by Dani Haviland
Brought together by their love of vintage motorcycles, Luke and Holly have more than just an out of tune Indian Chief to deal with. The spurned Tanya wants revenge, and will stop at nothing to hurt Luke and all those he cares about.
Missing: The Lady Said No by Jacquie Biggar
The Race is on to find a Killer in the heart of Kentucky horse country
Detective Augustus Grant is faced with his most baffling case to date. Well-respected race horse breeder, John Jorgenson, is murdered in his den days before the Kentucky Derby and the list of suspects is growing.
Complicating matters, Gus' ex-girlfriend is the last person to have seen the victim alive.
Rebecca Hayes owes the Jorgenson family her loyalty. They gave her a new life after a disastrous affair leaves her alone and pregnant.
With all the evidence pointing in Becky's direction, will Gus do his duty?
Or follow his heart?
Turning Up the Heat by Susan Jean Ricci
Malibu O’Hare and Mark Bouchard are headed towards matrimony, until an old adversary sabotages their plans with a devious scheme.
Targeted next are Mark’s Uncle Clayton and Malibu’s best friend Priscilla. An unfortunate accident forces Clayton and Priscilla to postpone their upcoming wedding, and a criminal investigation is underway.
Contributing to the chaos is the arrival of Malibu’s estranged mother Ronnie O’Hare and her singing partner Javier, a man who’s no stranger to Mark and his beloved mama.
Will the sinister plots continue to succeed, or will love, commitment, and justice prevail?
Mimi Barbour is an incredibly busy New York Times, USA Today and award-winning, best-selling author who has five series to her credit. The Vicarage Bench Series – Spirit/Time -Travel tales that have a surprising twist / The Angels with Attitude Series – Angels Love Romance / The Elvis Series – Make an Elvis song a book / Vegas Series – 6 books full of romantic suspense, humor and gritty conflicts / and… the fast-paced, edgy, humorous, romantic suspense, Undercover FBI Series. She also has numerous box collections and single titles to add to her credits.
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Writing steamy yet sweet compassionate stories of fate that are wonderfully romantic, Tamara Ferguson is the multi-award winning, #1 international bestselling author of 8 #1 books and novellas in the Tales of the Dragonfly Romance Suspense Series, the Kissed By Fate Series, and the Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Series.
Her wounded warrior romances, Two Hearts Unspoken. Two Hearts Surrendered, and Two Hearts Undone were all winners at the 2016 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards; with Two Hearts Unspoken earning the Silver Medal in Military Fiction. Two Hearts’ Christmas Wish, the fourth story in the series, just spent 6 consecutive weeks at #1 in the Mistletoe Kisses & Christmas Wishes romance set. Two Hearts Surrendered was just announced as a Romance Selection for the 2016 New Apple Book Awards.
Along with the 2015 Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Award Winner That Unforgettable Kiss, Two Hearts Surrendered and Two Hearts Unspoken were also finalists for the 2016 IAN Book of The Year. Tales of the Dragonfly In Tandem was a romance finalist in the Indie Excellence Awards, while Tales of the Dragonfly In Flight was a romance suspense winner at the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards.
Since she remains a full-time caregiver for an autistic son (along with a bunch of adopted pets!), you can usually find Tammy working at home, where she spends a lot of time not completing her numerous home improvement projects, because she's writing or helping author friends promote their books on twitter.
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Suzanne Jenkins writes page-turning contemporary romance, mystery, and women's fiction with passionately gripping characters that stay with readers long after they turn the last page. The Detroit Detective Stories, beginning with The Greeks of Beaubien Street are a reflection of American fantasy with historical reality. Pam of Babylon books consistently rank in the Top 100 Best Sellers in American Drama with over 500,000 downloads. A retired operating room nurse, Jenkins lives in Southern California.
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USA Today best-selling author Dani Haviland, a Mayflower and Mormon pioneer descendant, recently semi-retired from selling tractor parts, tools, and roses in Alaska, relocating to a more temperate climate in western Oregon to pursue her passions: writing, gardening, and photography.
Life has changed from jumping into a skidsteer loader to plow snow to pull-starting the walk behind weed whacker, but there are still enough hours in the day for the feisty old lady to propagate people for her novels and plants for her yard. Sharing is part of her personality, so creating books and photos to share all over the world makes her happy.
Her tenacious and perky attitude is reflected in many of her cyber children, whether they be a British lord stuck in 18th century North Carolina or a 6'7" time traveling 'fairy' who is out to champion anyone who is having a rough time dealing with difficult life situations.
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Jacquie Biggar is a USA Today bestselling author of Romantic Suspense who loves to write about tough, alpha males who know what they want, that is until they're gob-smacked by heroines who are strong, contemporary women willing to show them what they really need is love. She is the author of the popular Wounded Hearts series and has just started a new series in paranormal suspense, Mended Souls.
She has been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoys writing romance novels that end with happily-ever-afters.
Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family and loves reading, writing, and flower gardening. She swears she can't function without coffee, preferably at the beach with her sweetheart. 🙂
Free reads, excerpts, author news, and contests can be found on her website. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter or email her via her web site.
Jacquie lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and loves to hear from readers all over the world!
You can join her street team on Facebook, her exclusive Review Crew or sign up for her newsletter.
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An Award-Winning, From Women’s Pens Author, and Humorist, Susan Jean Ricci is best known for her Cindy’s Crusades Series, starring the hilarious duo Cindy and Jay DeMatteo. These cherished characters are first introduced in the novel Dinosaurs and Cherry Stems, and return to entertain you in the sequel The Sugar Ticket. Their mischief making continues in these shorts Two Miracles for Christmas, A Valentine’s Day to Remember, and The Blind Seer.
Ms. Ricci’s Christmas stories and novellas have been published in the beloved Annie Acorn Christmas Treasuries 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. Other selections appear in Annie Acorn's Romance 2015 Treasury, Annie Acorn's Romance Treasury 2016, and Annie Acorn’s Spirited Tales 2015. All may be purchased as stand alone stories, as well as other her titles, including those smoking, hot novellas available in Ms. Ricci’s catalogue, The My Sexy Chef Series.
More recently, Ms. Ricci’s When Sailors Play has been included in Uvi Poznansky’s Bestselling Anthology Love in Times of War. Her current tales are offered in the following anthologies Unforgettable Heroes – Unforgettable Passion, and Sweet Heat – Where Love & Suspense Meet.
Susan and her husband Joe live in a beautiful town near the sea, and when time allows, they love to travel. Together they have seven children, ten grandchildren, and harbor their queen of the castle Emma the Lab.
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UNACQUAINTED by Leigh Lennon
UNACQUAINTED
by Leigh Lennon
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rose
One night was all I could offer to a man I barely knew. I intended to return to my perfectly planned life, but now he is back, and with him the reminder of the irrefutable connection we shared.
It’s still there.
I crave him.
One night may unravel my perfect plans as I find myself at a crossroad between security and desire.
Brody
One night, that was all she could give me. Yet here I am back in her life as fate has intervened. When I first saw her in that form-fitting red silky dress,
I was captivated.
She owns my heart.
As I set out to make her mine, she has to choose between her past and future. I don’t think I will survive if her choice isn't me.
Rose:
“Really, Brody? I’m going to look hideous in this. I’m not this Skinny Minnie like Jane or Lila.” I’m tall, taking after my dad and not my mom. A size two would not look right on my five-foot-ten frame. Brody looks at me with an amused look on his face.
“Rose, you forget I have seen you naked, I think you can pull it off just fine.”
“You are telling me this was all they had?”
“It’s February, slim pickings.” Pleading the fifth, his smile is not fooling me.
“Oh, sure, whatever. Let me hop in the shower. I should have made you wear a speedo.”
“Sorry, they certainly didn’t have any of those, either.” Giving me the rest of what I have asked for, he continues with a cocky grin. “Listen, I will wait for you and we can go down together. When we are done we can get cleaned up and order a pizza and some beer, or sorry, OJ.”
When we near the pool, I take my jacket off and Brody stops in his tracks. I see he is technically walking forward, but is turned around watching me. When he gets closer to the pool, I don’t say a word and just stand there, waiting for him to fall in the pool, which he does. I can’t stop laughing at him when he’s standing in the pool, shaking the excess water out of his hair. He swims over to the side where I am standing, places his hands on the cement and looks at me. “Never doubt how good you look, you single-handedly are responsible for my fall in this water.”
“Are you all right?” I’m still laughing.
“Yes, the ego is just a tad bruised.” Pulling himself out of the water, he comes up behind me and puts his arms around my waist, touching my stomach. “I’m sorry, I’m just trying to find a way to touch your belly. Rose, I feel close to you and very comfortable with you.”
I see him watching every move I make when I walk down the steps to the pool. “Hey, Brody, this is the way you get in the pool,” I tease.
I see something on his face and kidding time is over. He jumps in, swimming next to me, pulling me in for a hug. “The second I found out you were carrying my baby, I realized how that bond could connect two people.”
“I know what you mean,” I say as he backs away from me, giving me the space he has promised.
After swimming for a little bit, we sit on the steps of the pool as Brody watches me with an intense longing. I do want him.
Brody:
When we stop a couple of hours up the road to fill up my tank, she asks me to get her a bag of Skittles. “Ah, you have a little sweet tooth about you,” I tease.
When we get back on the freeway, I notice she has poured all her Skittles out on her lap into a handkerchief I assume she had in her purse. “What in the world are you doing, Toots?” I ask.
Looking at me, she only smiles. “I have to eat my Skittles in color order,” she says as if this is common sense.
“And what is color order?” I ask, not knowing there is indeed an etiquette to eating Skittles.
“It’s rainbow order, silly. Red first, then orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.” She scoffs at me and I’m not sure how to even respond to her. My girl is a little quirky. Quirky has never bothered me before.
“Well, now that I know I have been doing it wrong all these years, I will be following suit, Toots,” I tease but she doesn’t say much, just smiles at me while she eats all the red Skittles, one at a time, before moving onto the next color.
***
After her Skittles are eaten, she falls asleep in my passenger seat. She is beautiful, with full breasts, luscious lips and dark skin. No denying the looks make her attractive but there is a connection I can’t deny, not that I want to.
As she stirs, I say, “Well, we made good time so let’s stop.”
Rose stretches, looking at the hotel I have pulled into. “Wow, Brody. I didn’t think it was possible but this hotel matches your car.” The truth is money is tight so I need something as inexpensive as possible. Plus, I feel I should pay for Rose’s room.
“Okay, now that hurts, Toots,” I say, trying to feign a look of hurt. She has given me notice on my car, but it has been a good car that I wanted to keep for another year, though I understand her worries concerning our child.
As we attempt to secure our rooms, we start fighting in the front office about the bill. “This was my idea, I am paying for this, Rose.”
“No, you are not,” Rose says, as it is apparent that the man behind the counter doesn’t enjoy the time our disagreement is taking.
He finally says, “I don’t care who pays, but I have Wheel of Fortune to get back to so you both stop squabbling about. I tell you what, this whole women’s lib business, she wants to pay, let her pay. That will teach them.”
I immediately am overprotective with the harsh words he uses toward Rose. When she gently touches my arm, she simply says, “Thanks so much for seeing my side, sir. Case settled, Brody.”
However, the guy behind the counter deserves something for his rude comments and I quickly grin, looking at Rose as I say, “But can you please not chain me up and beat me when we get back to the room as you hammer me into submission?”
The guy gives me a dirty look as he retreats into his back office to the cheers of the studio audience of Wheel of Fortune.
“That was cruel, Brody,” Rose says, playfully hitting me, although she laughs.
“No, it wasn’t, he was a dick.”
Justine
I never will get my happy ending. With my past threatening to ruin the possibility of love in my future, I keep every man at arm’s length. Nick appears out of thin air, becoming a part of my life instantly, leaving me breathless and wanting more. The pain that haunts me is still present, but Nick is worth the risk. When he promises me forever; can I trust him?
Nick
Justine makes me see that a forever is in reach with her. She keeps telling me she is hard to love; yet I find it quite easy. Once I break down her walls, she finally lets me in. But, I have a secret of my own which can expose her to the demons that destroyed me in the past. However, with Justine, I will do anything and everything to make her mine.
Leigh Lennon is mother, veteran and a wife of a cancer survivor. Originally with a degree in education, she started writing as an outlet that has led a deep passion as she wrote twelve books. Now ready to publish all of them, she lugs her computer with her as she crafts her next story. She can be found drinking coffee or wine, depending on the time of the day.
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MAJESTIC by Kay Maree
MAJESTIC
Midnight Crest series
by Kay Maree
Genre: Paranormal Romance
A man trapped in darkness.
A woman unable to escape the heartbreak of her past.
And, the magical powers of a Majestic waterfall which brings these two together.
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I live in Newcastle, on the New South Wales coast of Australia with my husband and three beautiful children.
Between being a taxi for my children, and working full-time, I somehow find the time to write. It’s something I love with a passion and with the encouragement of my very supportive husband, I have accomplished one of my dreams – releasing my first novel.
I hope you fall in love with my characters as much as I have.
I love reading and getting lost in a good book when I manage to snatch five minutes to myself.
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September 29, 2017
Back 2 School Special
REJOICE! The children are back in school.
For those who live to read...here are some awesome books provided by the incredible authors who wrote them. All in celebration of the new school year.
While a few of these books might be oldies, but goodies...others could be new and fresh off the presses.
Relax and find your new favorite author.
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PARANORMAL
Paranormal in traditional literary terms is related to the claimed occurrence of an event or perception without scientific explanation, such as psychokinesis, extrasensory perception, or other purportedly supernatural phenomena.
Please enjoy these books that focus on paranormal and all the sub-genres. The list is available in alphabetically order by title.
Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win an Amazon Giftcard.
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Paranormal romance
Bob, our favorite martini-loving ghost, has vanished. Now Roz faces a miserable snow-bound winter alone. Well, almost alone. Thank goodness for David, the practical, kind grape grower who lives up the hill... (Book 2 in the 'Bob' books--see Book 1, Bob at the Lake)
Midnight Angel by Tracey A Wood
Paranormal romance
After almost losing her life in a vicious, bloody attack. Kat Shaw, a thirty-something divorcee, discovers that there are such things as monsters. And the predator who attacked her is not human. She starts to develop unusual skills that have murderous consequences. And she becomes an unwilling witness to multiple, brutal murders, seen through the eyes a killer. Thrown into a battle of Good vs. Evil, she falls in love with two men who are not what they seem. While her attacker stalks her and continues to murder the innocent, she has to find the inner strength to take on and fight the demons from hell—to protect her family and friends while also trying to save her own life.
My Soul To Give by Magali A. Fréchette
Paranormal Mystery Romance
When Celina Leviet escapes the brutal home invasion that kills her husband, she’s left with a bullet in her gut and vengeance in her heart. An alluring demon, Mekaisto, offers an irresistible deal—in exchange for her soul, he’ll let her live long enough to get her revenge, but she must hunt and kill the murderers herself.
After sealing the contract, Celina digs into her husband’s past for clues about his murder, and what she uncovers makes her question everything she thought she knew about him.
His company never existed.
His family history was a lie.
And he was involved with The Lumen, a shadowy religious order whose members know too much about demons. As the life she thought she knew crumbles around her, Mekaisto's charms become harder to resist. Forced to face a horrible truth, Celina struggles against her late husband’s betrayal and the dark seduction of the devil she knows.
Paranormal
Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre has been granted what every man wants: a rich English estate in exchange for his valiant service at the Battle of Hastings. To claim this reward, the Norman knight must wed the estate's Saxon heiress. Most men would leap at such an opportunity, but for Alain, who broke his vow to his dying mother by failing to protect his youngest brother in battle, it means facing more easily broken vows. But when rumors of rampant thievery, dangerous beasts, and sorcery plaguing a neighboring estate reach his ears, nothing will make him shirk duty to king and country when people's lives stand at risk. He assumes the guise of a squire to scout the land, its problems, and its lady.
Lady Kendra of Edgarburh has been granted what no woman wants: a forced marriage to an enemy who may be kith or kin to the man who murdered her beloved brother. Compounding her anguish is her failure to awaken the miraculous healing gift bequeathed by their late mother in time to save his life. Although with his dying breath, he made her promise to seek happiness above all, Kendra vows that she shall find neither comfort nor love in the arms of a Norman…unless it snows in July.
Alain is smitten by Lady Kendra from the first moment of their meeting; Kendra feels the forbidden allure of the handsome and courtly Norman ""squire."" But a growing evil overshadows everyone, invoking dark forces and ensnaring Kendra in a plot to overthrow the king Alain is oath-bound to serve. Kendra and Alain face a battle unlike any other as their honor, their love, their lives, and even their very souls lie in the balance.
Storm Watch: Book Three in the Unfinished Business Series by Carole Ann Moleti
Paranormal Romance
Mike and Liz thought they'd gotten control of the specters haunting the Barrett Inn. But things get very complicated when they're the ghosts from your past life. The Category Five Hurricane bearing down on Cape Cod appears to be headed directly for them--or has it been spawned from inside them? Knowing it’s their last chance to end the hauntings, Mike and Liz must decide whether to run or to defy evacuation orders. Will they survive the storm?
The Reaper's Kiss by Dale Ibitz
Paranormal Romance
Sex and poison aren’t enough to help William forget his status as a shunned reaper with a sordid past. Rejected, disgraced, and hopeless, he straps on his emotional armor so no one will ever hurt him again. His path to redemption for his sins is side-tracked by Natalie, an exquisite human trying to save her sister from the horrors of the Other World. But then Natalie’s reckless actions sets William on a collision course between his past and his present: a demonic tyrant who wants William back in her bed; the sadistic daughter of an angel who wants revenge on his murdering mother-goddess; and the mother-goddess who demands obedience and love from William, her favorite child. After learning the dark secret of Natalie’s past, how much will he sacrifice to save her soul?
The Widow's Walk: Book Two in the Unfinished Business Series by Carole Ann Moleti
Paranormal Romance
Liz Levine is convinced her recently deceased husband is engineering the sequence of events that propels her into a new life. But it’s sea captain Edward Barrett, the husband that died over a century ago, who has returned to complete their unfinished business. Edward’s lingering presence complicates all her plans and jeopardizes a new relationship that reawakens her passion for life and love. What are Captain Barrett’s plans for his wife, and for the man who is the new object of her affections?
VEIN RIVER by Kellie Honaker
VEIN RIVER
by Kellie Honaker
Genre: Horror
The locals of Vein River fear the covered bridge and avoid it at night at all costs. They say she hangs in the darkness, her long silk nightgown drifting in the breeze. She swings from a noose, her toes rat-tat-tatting across the hood should someone drive beneath her.
As legend goes, if you receive her withering kiss, you either die, get sick, or go stark raving mad. Your only chance of pardon is to kiss her dangling feet and beg for mercy.
The fate of the town rests on the shoulders of Annie Forrester, a sixteen year old girl with psychic powers.
Only Annie will have the strength to enter the bridge and face the evil head on.
Ed Meeker became a missing person that wasn’t actually missed. Local cops poked around and asked questions, but didn’t delve too deeply, in my opinion. He didn’t stay missing for long though, he washed up after three days. Some poor kid with a fishing pole caught what he thought was a hell of a catch. What he really caught was a few therapy sessions. Corpses are ugly, traumatizing things, especially those who died from supernatural causes.
I eat most of my meals at the Floured Fork because it’s too hard to cook for one. It’s depressing to cook for one, not that I was ever a pro at it to begin with. I’ve sat in this corner booth so much that the cushion remembers the curve of my rump. It’s my favorite corner at the far end of the restaurant, far from the bathrooms and the entrance. It shares a wall with the kitchen, and I like the heat that passes through the swinging doors each time a waitress makes an exit. You can hear the sizzle of the grill, the clash of pans, and the occasional swear word from the dishwasher. People avoid this booth for these very reasons, but I find the racket comforting.
Gretchen has scarcely refilled my coffee cup when a shadow passes over me.
“Mind if I sit?”
I look up to find Detective Robbins. I’ve known him since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. Always was a good boy. He grew up in the house beside of mine, until he turned sixteen. His mother was a pretty thing; good natured, hard worker. A single mom that worked two jobs. She did a phenomenal job on her own, but when the lawnmower needed fixing, or the roof leaked, I made sure to help her out. I don’t mind helping those that help themselves. I even taught Robbins how to throw a curve ball on evenings when she couldn’t get him off the school bus. I don’t know if he ever regarded me as the father he never had, but I surely know how fond I was of him.
“Sure, have a seat,” I say.
He slides across from me and waves to Gretchen. She brings him a coffee.
“How are you doing, Charles?” he asks.
“Just fine, how are you and the missus?”
“Quite well.”
He stares at me, tracing the rim of his coffee cup with his thumb.
I look him in the eye. “Something on your mind, son?”
“What do you think of them finding Ed Meeker?”
I shrug and take a sip of my coffee.
“You should have seen the body, Charles. It was horribly wrinkled.”
He waits for me to make eye contact before he continues.
“He was wrinkled just like you. The wrinkles were so identical, that I’d swear the two of you were twins. It’s true that bodies and water don’t mesh well, that’s a fact. But what I really expected to find was a bloated body, not a body that looked like it’d been shriveled in the sun. Three days in the water, Charles, and he was like a stick of jerky. How does that happen? It was a hideous sight, Charles, he looked like he died while he was screaming. There’s no way there’ll be an open casket. That’s why it’s odd, Charles, that’s why when we arrived, there was a ten-year-old boy vomiting on the edge of the river bank. A normal body wouldn’t have rattled him so. I think you know what happened to him, Charles, or at least you have a theory. You haunt that bridge just as much as the ghost you claim swings from the rafters.”
Robbins leans away from me as Gretchen tops him off. She’s on auto-pilot. She wouldn’t pay attention to a customer’s conversation even if we were planning an assassination. She makes off for the far end of the room with a plate of eggs. He leans back in closer to me.
“You were the last person to talk to him, your home phone called his, we have a record of that.”
“I had car trouble, he helped me out and I went on my way. I didn’t see anything.”
He nods his head as if he already knew.
“I think you did see something, Charles,” he whispers. “but I know that whatever it is you’ve got in that head won’t fly on a legal document. So, I’m not going to ask you what you saw.”
I want to smirk and glare at the same time, but I keep my poker face.
“Now, I’ve never seen this so called ghost that you’ve been morbidly obsessed with for the whole of my existence. I don’t believe in it, either. I’m a man of facts. I don’t solve cases with mumbo-jumbo. I think you know exactly what happened. I think you lured him to the bridge in the hopes that your pet ghost would scare him to death. I’m not sure what you did, but I know you did it. I can’t say that I blame you. There’s a long line of people that would have loved to kill him. Do you know what the coroner said he died from? Old age. Forty-five years old and died of old age. What do you think of that, Charles? Now that doesn’t look good on paper either. So I’m going to tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to pull some strings, have it written up as a heart attack. Everybody knows that Ed was a dick. He kept me busy with all the riffraff. Quite frankly, I’m glad he’s gone, but I’ll never tell anyone but you. My report will list it as a suicide. His dirty deeds finally caught up with him, so he jumped. Maybe once he hit the water, he changed his mind and tried to swim to shore. He was a smoker and a drinker, and ate his fair share of Big Macs, so his heart gave out. That’s what happened, right, Charles?”
“You’re the detective.”
“You’re right,” he says sliding from the booth and slapping a five on the table. “You’re exactly right.”
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Kellie is the author of Grandfather Hollow and The Web Weaver, two short story collections available through Amazon. When she isn’t rescuing animals or fueling her book addiction, she’s busy mastering the art of becoming a hermit and a writer. Kellie incorporates her pets into her stories at every opportunity. In fact, her author picture features Salem, the kitten who makes his debut in Vein River. Even though the fictional Salem is robust and into mischief; the real Salem is blind. It doesn’t slow him down though. He still manages to climb his cat tree and catch the wayward fly. Once his bug-catching duties are over, he lounges around with a French Bulldog named Dumplin’.
Romance Between The Pages presents...
Ever wondered about the personalities behind your favorite books? Victoria Danann's new podcast with Riley J. Ford has an incredible lineup of authors booked through the spring. No question is out of bounds. Check it out!
THIS WEEK'S BEST SELLING AUTHOR...
DANIELLE STEWART!
Danielle Stewart is a USA Today Best Selling Author of over twenty books. Her series include The Piper Anderson Series, The Edenville Series, The Clover Series, The Piper Anderson Legacy Mystery Series, The Rough Waters Series & The Barrington Billionaire's Series. She has had more the 2.5 million books downloaded and held the number one book rank on iBooks, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Danielle currently live in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and six year old son. She works hard to perfect the ability to write in a noisy house and create story lines while folding laundry. She loves hearing from readers so please find her on social media!
September 26, 2017
FINNGARICK by Victoria Danann
FINNGARICK
Black Swan D.I.T., book 2
by Victoria Danann
Genre: Paranormal Romance
“When it came to my attention that D.I.T. was going to Dublin, I thought of Torn Finngarick. After all he knew the culture and could, perhaps, be useful. I confess to the ulterior motive of wanting to see all the floaters brought in from the cold. He was one of the remaining few. And everybody deserves another chance. Right?
As I mentioned earlier, my wife was working for Black Swan setting up a unit called Department of Interdimensional Trespass. It seemed that creatures coming and going at will were causing havoc that had, until recently, been unexplained, believed to be fiction of the myth or folklore variety, or dismissed as interplanetary visitations. Rosie was busy hiring and training people who were going to function as police.
Anyway, I had served with Sir Finngarick when I was first knighted as the fourth member of the infamous Z Team and came to know him quite well. Most believed he was irredeemable. I did not.”
Glendennon Catch, Sovereign, Jefferson Unit
In the long chronicle of Black Swan knights, Torn was one of only a handful who were not second sons. His particular life circumstances, otherwise known as fate, created the perfect storm necessary to build a potential Black Swan knight.
His mother had died when he was a toddler too young to retain any conscious memory of her. His father was a drunk, on the dole, and the town joke. By the time he was seven he’d learned to fight and was ready to take on all comers, even much older kids, anyone who had something untoward to say about his old man. Even though he’d be the first to acknowledge that there likely had never been a sorrier excuse for an elf.
Other elflings had an arsenal of hurtful things to say.
“He’s a shtate gobshite.”
“He’s a pox” or “eejit” or “maggot”.
Torn knew his father had given up, crawled to the bottom of a whiskey bottle and stayed there because he’d lost his mate. He wanted to shout at his da; that he was still there, that his father still had work to do. But he didn’t. He learned to make modest meals and put a besotted Mick Finngarick to bed.
If tears were shed, they fell with no one to see.
As word spread that a person should think twice before insulting Torn Finngarick or his father, opportunities to find release by pounding someone bloody became fewer and farther between.
He’d grown to just under six feet by the time his thirteenth birthday came around. By that time he’d taken to traveling to nearby towns and hanging around outside pubs in hopes that somebody who hadn’t heard of him could be goaded into a fight. When he scored a taker, they were always put off by the grin that communicated pure pleasure. Sometimes it was accompanied by outright laughter.
That would have given a wise man pause. But a wise man wouldn’t be taunted into a street fight with a kid like Finngarick. So Torn was free to show exactly how much he relished the lesson he was about give on the stupidity of engaging in rough play with strangers.
On one such occasion he stole a car and drove to Derry, the seat of the Irish Elf kingdom. He knew there would be a sea of possible victims there, particularly on a Saturday night.
As it happened, a knight named Draglanore was in Derry having a pint with a friend while standing at the bar at the Crow’s Cock on Queen’s Quay. He overheard the patrons behind him talking.
“The boyo’s fuckin’ put down four hale and hearty men and still ready for more. Ne’er saw nothin’ like it.”
Sir Draglanore turned his body toward the elf who’d been speaking and said, “Pardon me for overhearing. Are you talking about an altercation in progress?”
The man looked Draglanore up and down, undoubtedly thinking the man’s speech was a bit highfalutin.
“That’s right,” he said, eyeing Draglanore with a modicum of suspicion. “Outside in front. Boyo too young for drink, but not too young to fight.”
Draglanore nodded. “Thank you.” As he turned back to his friend he acknowledged the quiet voice, but insistent voice. All knights are trained to pay attention to the inner prompting that pulls in one direction or another. Some said it was a function of the mystic. Some said it was a brain mechanism yet to be fully understood. Black Swan was far more concerned with practical application and function than definition. Turning back to his friend, he said, “You’ll have to forgive me, John. I need to check on something.”
John was agreeable. “Go ahead. I’ll keep the beer warm and the women cool.”
Draglanore laughed. “Indeed. Exactly what I fear when I wake each day.”
It wasn’t difficult to find the subject of bar talk. Finngarick and the small crowd he’d drawn had retired to an alley a few doors down from the pub so as not to draw the attention of law enforcement.
Draglanore arrived just as Finngarick delivered a knockout punch to a man who was in his late twenties and muscled to a point that suggested the use of enhancement drugs.
Finngarick was smiling like he was having the time of his life. Draglanore stepped in front of him and turned to the crowd.
“That’s all for tonight folks. The kid has had enough.”
The idea of being shut down by a prissy-talking stranger infuriated Torn. He pushed Draglanore’s shoulder from behind and was surprised when that had no visible effect on the man.
“Ain’t your fuckin’ business, eegit. You wantin’ some? I got enough for you and them, too.”
Draglanore turned slowly and deliberately. When Torn got a look at his face he could see that Draglanore wasn’t like the other men who showed up to fight him. He was self-possessed in a way that was foreign to Finngarick.
“What’s your name?”
“Who’s askin’?”
“Gray Draglanore. And you are?”
Torn huffed and looked up and down the alley, but said, “Torrent Finngarick.”
Draglanore nodded. “A fine name.” Torn snorted, which made Draglanore cock his head to the side. “You from around here?”
Torn wasn’t sure why he hadn’t already turned and walked away. It crossed his mind, but there was something compelling about the man. So he decided to let things play out a bit and find out what his angle was. “No.”
“Just passing through?”
Torn eyes skittered away in the direction of the stolen car. “Maybe.”
“I see. What year are you in?”
“And why would that be your fuckin’ business?”
“I might have an offer for you. I might not. I won’t know unless you answer my questions.”
Again, Torn thought about walking away, but the event is progress had the potential to be the most unusual and interesting thing that had ever happened in his short life.
“I’m in seven.”
“Seven.” Draglanore nodded. “Do you by chance have an older brother?” Torn shook his head. Draglanore showed mild surprise, but quickly recovered his passive expresssion.
“Just me and my da. Why are ye askin’?”
Draglanore ignored the question. “Are you smart, Torrent Finngarick?”
Torn’s lips twitched in a way that told Draglanore what he wanted to know. The kid was angry, handy, smart, and on the way to being on the tall side for an elf. He was already six feet and probably looking at another two growth spurts. At least.
“Do you like what you’re doing now? Your friends? Where you live? Where you go to school?” Draglanore already knew the answers to those questions. Black Swan knights are good at reading people.
Torn barked out a laugh, spat on the ground and wiped a rolled up sleeve across his bloody mouth. “No’ even a little.”
“Well, in that case, I may have an alternative to suggest. I work for an organization that recruits people like yourself. You would get the best education anywhere, see the world, meet people you can respect, and, if you’re interested in that sort of thing, make a lot of money. I can send someone to talk to you and your father if you’re interested.”
Torn narrowed his eyes. “Gangsters? Lookin’ for somebody who can fight.”
It was Finngarick’s turn to be surprised when Draglanore laughed out loud. “No.” The knight shook his head, clearly amused by the idea. “Not gangsters. Although we do know something about fighting.”
“You work for the king?”
“Not the mob. Not the king. It’s a secret. If you sign on, it’s a secret you’ll take to the grave, but it’s also a decision you’ll never regret.”
Torn was intrigued. “My da…”
“Yes?”
“He’s a dosser. Likes the whiskey.”
“Oh?”
“Aye. Most of the time he’s locked and manky.” Torn looked down at his shoes suddenly feeling ashamed in front of the elegant well-spoken stranger.
“I see. And you’re concerned that he may not be at his best when our recruiter comes to call?” Torn looked up into Draglanore’s eyes with a vulnerability that wasn’t there before and nodded. “Leave that to us. Give me your address and expect someone in the next two days. We don’t operate on the same time as the rest of the world. We get things done. You need to be prepared to leave if you like what you hear. Day after tomorrow.”
“Why me?”
Draglanore smiled. “I have a feeling about you.”
Torn glanced away, but hurried to ask, “Will I see you again?”
“Maybe someday,” Draglanore smiled. “In our organization paths tend to cross from time to time. I expect I’ll be hearing things about you within a few years.”
Sir Draglanore did indeed hear things about Torrent Finngarick within a few years. They just weren’t good things.
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SIMON SAYS
D.I.T., book 1
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Simon Tvelgar wasn’t always the staid and steady director of the Order of the Black Swan headquarters in Edinburgh who manages the most unruly congregation of talented misfits ever assembled into one organization.
No. He was once a young, beautiful, athletically gifted knight, wild and lustful as any, until he fell in love with a Scottish fae girl who on bereavement leave. He lost her to the stones of the Orkneys as they picnicked there on Lammas twenty years before. She was swallowed up and faded from view, a look of panic on her face as she reached for him while her mouth silently formed his name. He lunged to grab her, but she was simply gone.
Year after year he traveled back to the Orkney Islands and talked to locals, but Shivaun was never seen again. Simon channeled his sorrow and loneliness into work until he eventually rose to the highest position open to an ex Black Swan knight.
Now, for the first time, he thinks there might be someone who could find Shivaun. Rosie Storm.
This novella introduces a new Black Swan series, D.I.T., Department of Interdimensional Trespass.
Victoria Danann is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty romances. For the past four years in a row, Victoria's Knights of Black Swan series have won prestigious Reviewers' Choice Awards for both BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES and PARANORMAL ROMANCE NOVEL OF THE YEAR. This past year three of her series and three of her novels were nominated. Two of her series took the top two places and two of her books took first and second place in the PNR Novel of the Year category.
In addition to vampire hunting knights, Victoria writes other paranormal romance, scifi, fantasy, and contemporary romance.
Victoria co-hosts the popular ROMANCE BETWEEN THE PAGES podcast which can be found on itunes or at → www.romancecast.com
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Back 2 School Special
REJOICE! The children are back in school.
For those who live to read...here are some awesome books provided by the incredible authors who wrote them. All in celebration of the new school year.
While a few of these books might be oldies, but goodies...others could be new and fresh off the presses.
Relax and find your new favorite author.
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Young Adult (YA)
Young adult fiction or young adult literature (YA) is fiction published for readers in their youth. The terms young adult novel, juvenile novel, teenage fiction, young adult book, etc., refer to the works in this category. The subject matter and story lines of young adult literature are typically consistent with the age and experience of the main character, but this literature spans the spectrum of fiction genres. Stories that focus on the specific challenges of youth are sometimes referred to as problem novels or coming-of-age novels.
Please enjoy these books that focus on Young Adult and its sub-genres. The list is available in alphabetically order by title.
Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win an Amazon Giftcard.
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YA Fantasy
A dreamer chases rumours of magic across portals to another world—and into the clutches of a killer…
Jade Gariq is a dreamer—she longs to join the Traveller Force and visit the far-flung worlds of the Dragonverse. When her father suddenly dies, she inherits his cross-portal trading company, turning her life upside down.
Mourning her father, Jade hears rumours that suggest his death is not what it seems. Her uncle suspects foul play and all clues point to an uncharted, uninhabited world.
Determined to find the truth, Jade may finally get the chance to follow her dream--but will her father’s killer find her first?
Airwoman is the first in a fresh, original young adult fantasy series. If you love page-turning epic adventure, portals into incredible new worlds and a dash of romance, Airwoman is a must-read.
Buy Airwoman now and discover whether this dreamer can survive her worst nightmare.
Beneath the Stars by Jude Ouvrard
Young Adult
Back in 1999, university student Clara is doing everything she can to stay focused. She avoids relationships at all cost, not wanting to risk drama or a broken heart before her finals. Until one night, she starts talking to a stranger on the internet, one she has too much in common with. Quickly, her virtual friendship feels like more. Sending letters, phone calls and thinking about him nonstop, turns her reality upside down. Can she really love someone who lives hundreds of miles away, whom she’s never met in person? Is it meant to be or meant to fall apart? Only the future can tell...
Sublime Karma by Peyton Garver
Young Adult
When Brie's stepfather moves the family for what he calls a new beginning, it's not the new beginning she would have hoped for. Brie is targeted by jealous girls at her new school, and the only available seat on her bus is next to Jake, who for some reason, finds her offensive. After a humiliating article and picture of Brie is posted in the online school journal, a demon she thought she'd overcome resurfaces, and her life unravels. A newly compassionate Jake has finally taken an interest in her, but can Brie learn to trust her heart, or will she miss out on the best thing that ever happened to her?
Jake has his own secrets and has built his own walls, but eventually his curiosity about the new girl gets the best of him. Unfortunately, now there is competition: the captain of her cross country team. Jake's romantic histories with the girl next door and the school's queen bee, adds tension to a simmering tempest when all he wants is Brie. Is he strong enough to help the one he loves weave sense into her crumbling new reality while overcoming his own tainted past?
Watching July by Christine Hart
YA Paranormal
Sixteen-year-old July MacKenzie can hardly recognize her own life anymore. A few months ago, she was enjoying her urban lifestyle in Vancouver, going to school, hanging out with the same old friends she'd had for years. Now, when she steps out her back door, the only evidence of human existence she sees is an empty road, stretching off in the distance to ... nowhere.
It all happened so fast! Her mom was killed in a hit and run accident, and before she knew it Marie, her other parent, had sold the house, packed up and moved them out into the Interior. How could she leave everything behind like that? July could never make new friends. She'd never get used to the dark nights of the countryside. And she'd never, ever, stop missing her birth mom as long as she lived! But then July meets the boy down the road. Surprised to find herself falling in love and making friends at school, she starts to see the possibility of building a new life. But mysterious events soon make it clear that her new world is still very connected to her past. When it is revealed that her mother's death was not what it seemed, July must face some shocking discoveries that quickly gain a momentum that spirals out of control.
Winter of the Crystal Dances by Angela Dorsey
Young Adult
Evy can telepathically understand horses, but she’s not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse. Her secret “gift” certainly seems to get her in a lot of trouble. When some starving mustangs wander close to the wilderness cabin that she shares with her hermit mother, she knows she must help them - but her act of kindness quickly snowballs into events that forever change her life and the life of a very special mustang filly.
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September 25, 2017
ALL I WANT FOR HALLOWEEN by Marie Harte
ALL I WANT FOR HALLOWEEN
by Marie Harte
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tonight, she plans to let go.
Dressed up and anonymous, Sadie Liberato feels powerful, sexy and free. Where better to lose herself than a masked party?
Gear Blackstone's cheating ex and scheming best friend have managed to spin his life into a serious downward spiral. At least with a mask on he can cut loose for one night. And cut loose he does―with the sexiest, snarkiest chick he's ever met.
After a scorching-hot encounter, Sadie and Gear are desperate to find each other in real life. But can the heat last when the masks come off?
“Harte pens a sizzlingly sexy romance that is both playful and meaningful, exploring real and metaphorical masks, perception, and reality.” KIRKUS
She nodded. “Totally weird.” She poured them both some cider, than added the molasses and cream cupcakes she’d brought home for him. Working at Sofa’s was both good and bad. Good, because she got to take home a lot of their creations, sampling new ideas to see what worked and didn’t. Bad, because if she didn’t constantly work out, she’d weigh a bazillion pounds.
Not that Sadie cared so much about her looks, but twenty pounds over her fighting weight turned her into a slug and made it difficult to sleep. And Sadie prized her ability to sleep anywhere, in any condition.
She led Gear to sit with her at her dining table just off the kitchen. “So give me the details.”
He sat without protest and sipped from his mug. “That is damn good. Tell Elliot he’s a master.”
“He knows he’s good. Adding to his colossal ego gives me nothing but headaches when he starts bragging.” She nudged him to eat a cupcake. “Tell me if you like it.”
“What’s in it?”
“Imagine a soft Mary Jane rolled around cream and touched with caramel.”
He nodded, looking hungrily at the treat. “So like Bit-O-Honey and a Cow Tales?
“No. I said Mary Jane.” She looked down her nose at him. “Quit acting like you know your Halloween candy to impress me and take a bite.”
He did and moaned, and his food-gasm was as sexy as Gear wearing no shirt. Yum.
“Can I have yours too?” he asked as he licked his fingers.
She blinked. “Did you even chew? It’s like watching a dog gobble down a treat.”
“Gimme.”
She slid the cupcake his way and watched him down it with pleasure. Sadie had always liked watching people eat her creations, but seeing Gear enjoy them made it even more satisfying.
“Last bite’s for you.” He held out a small piece. “And trust me, I’m not really wanting to share. Hurry before I change my mind.”
She ate it off his fingers, licking one clean of the creamy frosting.
His gaze darkened, but he merely wiped his hands on a napkin.
“It’s good,” she agreed.
“It’s delicious. But you need better decorations. That’s too plain to add to Sofa’s Halloween treats.”
“I’m going to make spiders out of them. Or big ghosts with lots of cream cheese frosting.”
“Nice.”
She sat sipping her cider, waiting for Gear to talk. They watched each other in silence, each starting to smile more, until they both started laughing.
“I like our staring contests,” he teased. “But I won that one.”
“Like hell you did.”
“You blinked.”
“I did not.”
“Yep, you did.”
“So is this your way of avoiding talking about the fight?”
He groaned. “No. But it’s more fun staring at your face then taking a fist to mine.”
“Man. Who’d you let hit you?”
He laughed. “I totally did. I took a page from your book. If it was self-defense, they can’t come after me later. Except it turned into an all-comers brawl. I went to pick up the box Smoke told me about. I had a few things left I wanted. A cup Iris gave me, some papers of my brother’s he wanted back. Nothing major. Stuff I could have let go, to be honest.”
“But you wanted to see the shop,” she said for him.
He nodded, his look one of grim satisfaction. “It looks terrible. All the girlie posters are down. They have Honda posters up. That’s sell-out material right there.”
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Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit Marie's website and fall in love.
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