Julie Elizabeth Powell's Blog, page 49
December 10, 2016
THE BIKER'S BROTHER by Victoria Danann
THE BIKER'S BROTHER
Sons of Sanctuary MC series, book 2
by Victoria Danann
Genre: contemporary romance
*Please note this books contains dark material that may be unwelcome by sensitive readers*
Brand takes a job nobody wants to earn the respect of club members. Being third generation SSMC doesn't go very far in biker cred.
Camden Carmichael is running from a psycho ex. Lucky for her that her father has the means to hire Sanctuary Security to protect her until the divorce is finalized.
Two strangers set out on a road trip together. At the end of it, neither will ever be the same again.
Brant shrugged a big shoulder. “Too much green to turn away even if I need to do it myself. Arnold said the dad could have taken out a contract for what he’s paying us. And he’s right. It’s a chunk of change.”
When Arnold had blurted that out in meeting, he’d gotten several awkward minutes of silent stares from around the club table. They were bikers, but they weren’t killers. Even back in the days when they operated outside the law, they hadn’t been killers. At present they were businessmen who happened to like bikes and hold a certain disdain for authority and rules of all kinds.
“What’s involved? Pick her up and fly her here?”
Brant laughed and shook his head. “If that was all there was to it, guys wouldn’t be ducking around corners avoiding me. The man has hired the club to execute the disappearance of his daughter and keep her in the wind until after the divorce is final.”
“Why does she need to disappear until after the divorce is finalized?”
“The soon-to-be ex-husband is dangerous and greedy. The girl’s father thinks he may try to have her killed before the divorce goes through. He suspects this man of devising some clever means that would give him an airtight alibi while also making him eligible to inherit her trust fund.”
“Who is it?”
“The client?”
“Yes.”
“Severn Carmichael.” Brand’s eyebrows went up and he whistled. “I suspected you’d know who he is.”
“Our enterprises have touched circuits now and then.”
“He know who you are?”
“He probably knows who I am, just like I know who he is, but we’ve never met.”
Brant seemed satisfied with that. “What do you think?”
“Let me make sure I’ve got this straight. I need to pick her up somewhere in New York, bring her to you, and make sure she’s not seen or followed on the way.”
“In a nutshell.”
“What aren’t you telling me? Why isn’t it safer to shelter in place wherever she is?”
“He’s scared. Really scared. Thinks this guy can get through any defense he can mount.”
Brandon nodded thoughtfully. “When did you tell him we’d get her?”
“Day after tomorrow.”
“Day after tomorrow? Forty eight hours to come up with a plan and make arrangements to be away from the office?”
“Security will work with you on a plan. Taking time off work? Come on. You’re the boss, aren’t you? You want the job or not? If you do, I’ll call a meeting and get a vote on patching you.”
Brandon hadn’t realized how badly he wanted that until it was offered. He’d thought it was something that would never be within his grasp, but suddenly there it was. He didn’t really have a choice. Once in a lifetime offer to get the only thing he wanted that he didn’t already have?
Hell, yes.
“Hell, yes.”
Brant smiled as they stood up. He slapped Brandon on the shoulder and it made Brand’s heart ache for the years he’d missed not having his father in his life.
“I’ll call you later with the verdict,” Brant said.
They mounted their rides and ignited the engines. The noise made all the patrons of Chuy’s turn and look. The men wished they were on those bikes. The women wished they were sitting behind the men on those bikes.
Brant turned west on Bee Caves. Brandon saluted as he turned east.
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AMAZON[/caption]Two brothers, unknown to each other, are on a crash trajectory with destiny and two broken hearts.
New York Times and USA Today BESTSELLING AUTHOR, Victoria Danann, dishes up the sizzle with a new biker romance series.
"A hot, sweet romance that will make you laugh and sigh." - Cafeworld
Brigid was a graduate student at the University of Texas. It wasn't hard getting her thesis approved, but finding a Hill Country motorcycle club willing to give her access to their lifestyle was starting to look impossible. Then she got a lead. A friend of a friend had a cousin with family ties to The Sons of Sanctuary. Perfect. Or so she thought.
What she wanted was information to prove a scholarly proposition. The last thing she had in mind was falling for one of the members of the club. Especially since she was a feminist academic out to prove that motorcycle clubs are organized according to the same structure as primitive tribal society.
Brash was standing in line at the H.E.B. Market when his world tipped on its axis. While waiting his turn to check out, his gaze had wandered to the magazine display and settled on the new issue of "NOW". The image on the cover, although GQ'd up in an insanely urbane way, was... him.
After reading the article, he threw some stuff in a duffle and left his only home, a room at The Sons of Sanctuary clubhouse, with a vague explanation about needing a couple of days away. He left his truck at the Austin airport and caught a plane for New York, on a mission to find a mysterious guy walking around with his face.
INCLUDES BONUS NOVELLA: Intro to the Sons of Sanctuary MC, A Season in Gemini
"She couldn't live in my world. I couldn't live in hers." - Brant Fornight
Get your copy TODAY and find out why readers call Two Princes awesome sexy, fantabulous, and sentimental in the juiciest way!
New York Times bestselling author of thirteen romances. Victoria's Knights of Black Swan series won BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES for the past THREE YEARS IN A ROW. Reviewers Choice Awards, The Paranormal Romance Guild.
Her paranormal romances come with uniquely fresh perspectives on "imaginary" creatures, characters, and themes. She adds a dash of scifi, a flourish of fantasy, enough humor to make you laugh out loud, and, occasionally, enough steam to make you squirm in your chair. Her heroines are independent femmes with flaws and minds of their own whether they are aliens, witches, demonologists, werewolves, hybrids, psychics, or past life therapists. Her heroes are hot and hunky, but they also have brains, character, and good manners... usually.
The rich characterizations come from being a lifelong student of behavior, casually, and a serious student of behavior academically. She also studied comparative religion, myths, and Dark Ages history.
Victoria lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and a very smart, mostly black German Shepherd dog.
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TEARS TO CHEERS by Stacy Eaton
TEARS TO CHEERS The Celebration Series, Book 2
by Stacy Eaton
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Linda Maxim is a woman who learned early on how to work hard and succeed. Her only regret is that the man she loved disappeared just days after she got pregnant at the tender age of sixteen.
Fourteen years later, Ian Dugan needs a break from life and ends up crashing his vehicle and waking up in the hospital to find Linda watching over him.
Can Linda forgive Ian for leaving her alone as a pregnant teen? Will Ian be able to forgive Linda and himself when he learns of the daughter he never knew about? Find out on New Year’s Eve if Ian can erase the tears and find something to cheer about.
The Celebration Series
Welcome to the second book in the Celebration Township Series, Tears to Cheers. This series consists of thirteen novel and novellas that take place over the course of a year, beginning with Christmas. During that year, twelve more stories will unfold in the Township of Celebration, Pennsylvania, and each release will coincide with an upcoming holiday.
When the technicians were ready, I stepped out of the room after one final glance at the monitor to confirm that he was still stable. Outside the room, the team huddled, waiting to be let back in to prepare for the next step.
I glanced at the assistant who was talking to John Pointer, one of Celebration Township’s police officers, “Is someone trying to notify the family?” she asked him.
“His license said he is from Bryn Mawr, which I think is down by Philadelphia. Thad is trying to contact someone down there to try and make a notification.”
“Officer Pointer,” he nodded as I approached him and asked, “What is the patient’s name?”
John glanced at the small notepad he held in his hand, “Ian Dugan, age thirty-one.”
All eyes landed on me as the gasp left my lips. “Ian Dugan? Is his birthday April twenty-fifth?”
“Yeah? Why? You know him?” John queried back.
I glanced back at the door, “Yeah, I know him.”
“Damn, sorry about that, Linda. How long has it been since you’ve seen him?” Jason asked from beside me.
Memories of my sophomore year of high school flashed to the front of my mind like a strobe light. Ian’s light green eyes and boyish smile as he grinned down at me when I said I’d go to his junior prom with him filled my mind.
I’d been enthralled with his eyes, with the smile that could light up a room along with the deep voice that commanded attention, even at that young age.
“I haven’t seen him since I was sixteen, no one around here has.”
I stared at the door as the voices around me faded. Ian Dugan was the man I had fallen head over heels in love with in high school, the one I had lost my virginity to on his prom night. He was also the one who disappeared out of my life two days later. He not only vanished from my life, but from our school and our town as well. Shortly after he had left, I had resolved to never fall in love again.
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Welcome to Celebration Township.
Casey Lowe is new in town and hiding from her past. Her next-door neighbor, Thad Wagner, is a sexy police officer, who is good with his hands, and his lips, but Casey refuses to get involved with a married man, and Thad can't seem to understand why she keeps pushing him away. No matter how they try to stay apart, something keeps drawing them together. When an unexpected visitor shows up at Casey's house the week before Christmas, her future is on the line. Will Thad figure it out in time to save her, or will Casey become a conspirator to a murderer?
Tangled in Tinsel is the first book in the thirteen-story novella series that takes place in quaint Celebration Township, Pennsylvania. The rest of the series will begin to release in the fall of 2016.
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Jason Hayes loves working as a nurse and living in Celebration Township—or he did until Riayn Simmers showed up in town, and a secret from his past is threatened to be exposed.
Riayn Simmers is shocked to find her college love-and the man she had called a heathen-residing in the same town as her aunt. Now Riayn needs to decide if she can handle sticking around to run her aunt’s bakery, My Baked Buns.
Somehow Riayn and Jason must find a way to coexist in the small town, but what happens when Jason’s secret is exposed and he’s up to be auctioned off at the Valentine’s Day Party? Will the town believe, as Riayn once did, that Jason truly is a heathen, or will he finally win over her heart for good?
Stacy Eaton began her writing career in October of 2010 and as each year goes by, she releases more and more novels. Stacy recently took an early retirement from law enforcement after over fifteen years of service, with her last three in investigations and crime scene investigation.
Stacy resides in southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, who works in law enforcement, and her teen daughter who is working toward her second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and on the choral and cheerleading squads at school. She also has a son who is currently serving in the United States Navy.
Stacy is very involved in Domestic Violence Awareness and served on the Board of Directors for her local Domestic Violence Center for three years. She continues to volunteer with them when she has time.
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MoB Promotions[/caption]
BAND GEEKS AND RIPTIDES by Monica Duddington
BAND GEEKS AND RIPTIDES
by Monica Duddington
Genre: YA contemporary fiction
Can a homesick band geek find happiness in Surf City, USA?
High School band geek Olivia never asked to move from her hometown in Oregon with its motto Keep Portland Weird, to Surf City, USA, a.k.a. Huntington Beach, California. However, just before her senior year that’s exactly what her mother decides they will do. Olivia finds herself in a foreign land of surf, sand, and sun where she’s not even sure she speaks the language. She’s convinced she’ll never fit in.
Homesick and desperate to find her place in her new school, Olivia makes some potentially serious mistakes. But has she missed noticing friendships that have snuck up on her? And then there’s the enigmatic drummer Sean, who seems to be making Olivia’s heart beat some odd rhythms.
Maybe it’s not time to give up on Surf City, USA.
The following excerpt takes place at a marching band practice for the percussion instruments. Olivia, who plays marimba, loves this kind of practice. After a couple of miserable weeks being homesick she’s about as happy as she’s been since moving from Portland, Oregon to Huntington Beach, California. At an earlier practice she had noticed a tall boy who played drums and was wearing a fedora.
*
Tall Boy With Fedora is approaching me. I don’t look away, just watch as he gets closer. I’m still smiling. And swinging my arms.
“You shouldn’t squint.” He points at my eyes.
“Huh?” I have to tilt my head back to see his face. It’s way up there. I’m short. Really short. Five-foot-three on an especially tall day. There’s a sneer on his face, like he can’t believe I’m so stupid to be squinting.
“When you were playing. I saw you squinting into the sun. It’ll give you a headache.”
Tall Boy With Fedora removes the hat and gently places it on my head, where it falls all the way to my eyebrows, it’s so large. He takes the front rim and scoots it up my forehead a little, angling the hat.
“There. That will help you,” he says, as he runs a hand through his brown hair, mussing it up so it’s going every which way. The gesture allows me to catch a glance of a tattoo on his inner forearm. Not a picture of anything, more of an intricate design.
He’s eyeing me and his hat sitting on my head.
“Um, thanks. But don’t you—”
“I’m used to practicing in the sun,” he interrupts me. “Portlandia people aren’t so used to it, I’m guessing.”
He’s turning to walk away. “Wait,” I say to his retreating figure. “How do you know where I’m from?”
Looking over his shoulder, he smiles at me. Smiling is a good look on him, much better than sneering. It brings light to his dark brown eyes. “Don’t know. Heard it around I guess.” He shrugs and continues on his way.
I run a finger along the rim of the hat and watch him as he starts talking to a group of friends.
Now I wish I knew Tall Boy Without Fedora’s real name.
* * *
It’s heaven.
More than two hours of nothing but percussion. My mallets fly as if my hands aren’t guiding them. Everything we play is something I already know, and most are old favorites. The late-afternoon sun is warm, and the marine air caresses my skin. Marine air. Not concrete and asphalt air. Today it’s sweet and salty. I can’t stop smiling.
During our first break, I chat with Grace and even Kevin. Twice my eyes wander to Tall Boy, and I catch him staring at me. Probably making sure I’m taking care of his hat.
“Hey, why you wearing Sean’s hat?” Kevin asks.
Sean. Tall Boy Without Fedora has a name!
“You mean the tall drummer with the mussed-up brown hair?” I ask, just to make sure.
“Yeah, what’re you doing with it?” Kevin’s acting like I’m standing before him with an AK-47 or something.
“He thought I was squinting too much, so he lent it to me for the practice.”
“Huh, he never lets anyone even touch that hat.” Kevin peers in the direction of Sean, as if to find the answer. “And, well, even though Sean’s a friend and all, during practices he’s not exactly the friendly type. More the keeps-to-himself kind. Really into his music. Not the kind of person to just give a stranger a hat.” He’s shaking his head in disbelief.
“Don’t know,” I say. “But it was nice.”
This time I peek at Sean, catch him looking at his hat, and smile at him. One corner of his mouth goes up, and he quickly looks away.
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Despite the fact that at the age of three, Monica Duddington had two imaginary friends who were motorcycle-riding men from Santa Monica who lived part time in a utility shed at a reservoir, her parents never got her into therapy. Today, many years later, any imaginary friends who might pop up get to have their day as characters in her novels. Monica writes paranormal, historical, and contemporary young adult novels.
Monica is quick to admit that she has a serious reading addiction—an addiction she likes to foster. She can’t live without her husband and family, chocolate, tea, red wine and, of course, stacks of books.
Though she grew up in the beach towns of Southern California, home is Oregon, and has been all her adult life. She loves the mountains, trees, beaches, and wine country of the Pacific Northwest, and even the rain, since it encourages people to curl up with a good book.
In addition to writing young adult fiction, Monica also writes mysteries and paranormal romances under the name Monica Knightley.
THE SECRET SANTA series by Nikki Lynn Barrett
THE SECRET SANTA series
Official genre of book: Holiday Romance
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Free now on AMAZON[/caption]The magic of Christmas has been lost to Jacob Winston. At the suggestion of his ill sister, Jacob takes a job as a Secret Santa at the mall, hoping to restore his Christmas spirit. Even that doesn't seem to work, until a special little boy ambles up to make a very special wish...
Cheyenne Jensen is struggling to raise her two kids without the help of her ex-husband who refuses to acknowledge his daughter's existence and doesn't provide for the son he does. This Christmas is shaping up to be as heartbreaking as the last, until her son Ben's kind actions lead a stranger to them.
Ah, but it's Christmas time and the magic has begun.
When Jacob and Cheyenne meet, neither can deny their immediate attraction to one another. As situations arise that require they spend more time together, their feelings grow stronger and stronger.
With Christmas fast approaching, the pair learn what matters most in life. Now, if only they could ditch the ghost of Christmases past.
Maybe this holiday will bring some wishes come true- for everyone after all.
"I have a question to ask you." Jacob let her go to kneel next to her son, his tone serious. "You're the man of the house, and I need to get your permission about something."
Ben looked at him, then at his mom, curious and confused.
"I'd like to know if it's okay with you if I become your mom's boyfriend. You and Desiree are an important part of her life, so if I'm to be in it, I want to make sure you're okay with it."
Cheyenne watched her son's expression, waiting. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until Ben burst into tears. "Ben, honey?"
"Will you be our Daddy, too? I love you, Mr. Jacob." Ben threw himself at Jacob, crying into his shirt. Jacob wrapped his arms around the little boy, hugging him and comforting him.
"I think being your daddy would be amazing, Ben. But to be honest, your mom and I aren't that far into our relationship to think that way. But let me tell you this. You can call me and talk to me about anything. I know you have a dad in your life, and I don't ever want to take his place. That wouldn't be fair."
Ben lifted his head, sniffling. "My daddy isn't very nice. He doesn't seem to like me, and he doesn't like Desiree."
Cheyenne wanted to cry, too. She made her way beside Ben, Jacob and Desi, who didn't understand what was going on. "Jacob and I are taking it one day at a time, Ben. I care for him very much, but it's a long way before thinking about forever. You have been a brave boy, and I know it's hard for you when your dad isn't there for you. It hurts me here." She rubbed a hand over her heart. "But we do the best we can, right?"
Ben nodded and came over to her for a hug. "I love you, Mommy. I just want my wish to come true." She stroked his hair, attempting to soothe him.
"What wish, Ben?" She already had an idea, of course. She just needed to hear what her son wanted.
"That you don't have to work so hard, and we could have a Daddy that loves us. I thought that would be Jacob." At those words, Cheyenne thought her insides would explode. This was the first time Ben admitted his wish out loud to her. He wanted so badly for a family and a dad. He wanted Jacob to be his daddy. For a little boy to have such a heartbreaking wish tore her up. She'd been wanting the same thing for so long, but Ben didn't understand that she and Jacob weren't there yet. They were a long way from that step.
After being mugged, Robin Sorenson is left shaken and her spirit in humanity is broken. Worse, she's not sure how to deal with the new anxieties or who to confide in, since she's always preached to pick oneself up and move on. Yeah, she's been the go to girl when anyone's had problems. Christmas is coming, and her belief in magic and miracles has faded.
Then Jonas comes back.
Jonas Aimes made a mistake when he walked away from Robin a year earlier. A big one. He'd loved her, always had and still does, but his desire to please his aging and strict parents took precedence. Back from the overseas internship they'd struggled to get him in, he plans on winning Robin back. What he didn't count on was discovering the shell of the vivacious woman he'd loved.
Broken.
Remembering her love of Christmas, Jonas pulls the holiday heartstrings. What? All is fair and love and war, right?
Twelve days, Twelve Dates.
Robin is speechless when Jonas not only refuses to leave her alone, but dares her to accept his cheesy holiday-themed challenge. Twelve dates to give him a chance to prove that he loves her and is never leaving her again.
But in the season known for miracles, can Robin find the magic needed to open her heart and faith once more ... or will she forever wonder about the ghost of the Christmas past that could have been?
A smile lit up his face. "Give me twelve dates."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Twelve dates? What are you talking about?" Now he was just acting strange.
Kind of cute, but definitely strange.
"Twelve dates to show you just how much you mean to me. On the twelfth date, if you don't feel like we could at least try to work things out, I'll leave you alone. If I don't at least give this a shot, then I'm going to have a lot of regrets."
"Twelve dates, huh? You seriously sound like someone from one of those cheesy films they air this time of the year." Okay, this man looked and sounded like Jonas, but his twelve dates idea made her wonder what happened to the real Jonas Aimes. Robin shifted in her seat and narrowed her eyes.
He feigned hurt. "Cheesy? Ouch. That's a blow to the heart."
"Twelve dates isn't a long time to decide." He was being serious about this, wasn't he? Twelve dates? How in the world did he plan to try and show her anything with only twelve dates? The idea sounded cute, charming and sweet, it really did. But how did he plan to pull it off?
"Maybe for people who don't have our history. But we've known each other since high school. Come on, what could it hurt?"
A lot, actually. She kept the words to herself. Despite it all, she couldn't hide her curiosity.
"Of course, we can talk and spend time together outside of the twelve dates, so it's not like we're limited," Jonas continued. He circled her palm with his thumb. "Oh, and right now doesn't count as one of the dates."
Robin laughed. Butterflies danced around in her belly. Good grief, what happened to her promise just a few hours ago? To focus on her own life and not get wrapped up in a man?
Okay, just because I agree to this doesn't mean I'm changing my mind. They're just dates. Dates with a man I love, but they're still just dates.
"What about your family? What will they say?" she blurted.
A storm of anger built up in his eyes. "I don't care what they say anymore. My family shouldn't have so much sway on how I feel about you. I should have realized that a long time ago. They don't get to choose anymore.”
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AMAZON[/caption]Eric Jensen doesn't need the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future to know he's made his fair share of mistakes. The reminders haunt him every day of his life, but a terrible loss becomes an eye opener this holiday season. A heartbreaking question from a young boy pushes Eric to do some serious soul searching, and helps him strive to be better.
Forgiving is the key...
Petra Cavannaugh spent the past two years growing as a person. She left her ex-boyfriend and struggled to make it on her own as a single mother. When Eric shows up at her doorstep one night just needing to see her, she wonders if he's finally becoming the man she always wished he'd be.
The best gift could be a second chance...
As Eric shows a side to Petra she's never seen, the two grow closer. But is forgiveness enough to take another chance on love? Eric must learn to forgive himself, and Petra has to learn to put her trust in the new Eric and not let his past dictate her future.
There are more than presents waiting to be opened. Will this Christmas finally open the two hearts sealed tightly shut?
“You're not exhausted?” he blurted.
She let out a yawn as if on cue. “A little bit. You don't have to sit, I was just letting you know it's okay if you do.”
He finally sat, glad to have made a decision one way or another. But now what? How did he ever manage to win Petra over at one point? He had no people skills. He had no talking skills. Hell, what kind of skills did he have?
“See, that wasn't so bad, was it?” Petra turned her head and laughed.
“ I'm not good at this stuff.” Eric muttered. A surge of frustration ran through him. He didn't like her mocking his awkwardness.
Or maybe she isn't. Chill, man.
Petra sat up. “What stuff?” Her face scrunched up in confusion.
“ Talking. Sitting. This.” He waved his hands around.
“You're getting better.” Petra replied softly. “Something got to you today. What was it?”
Eric sighed. “When I went to talk to Adrian's widow, her little boy asked a question that haunts me. He asked something along the lines of 'doesn't he love us enough to stay'? Got me thinking about Ben, Desiree and Kinley. Adrian went back to his angry ways one night and it changed his family's world.”
“Damn.” Petra's eyes were wide. “I'm sorry, Eric.”
“ I wonder how many nights Ben asked the same thing. He's the only one old enough to remember and understand the things I did. He looked at me today with such disappointment and even warned me. He's dealt with way more than a nine year old should.”
“That explains the stricken look on your face when you watched the kids.” Petra's eyes were full of compassion and warmth.
did he have to start this conversation? Eric wished it would end. He didn't like this exposing his feelings thing. Weird. Just weird.
Maybe it was time to go and end this strange night.
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AMAZON[/caption]Life is full of complications, so why not have an uncomplicated arrangement between friends?
Former figure skater Caitlin Aimes doesn't care to make life complicated. Publicly humiliated by her ex-fiancé years ago, she closes herself off to relationships and love. She never thought she'd be that girl- the one having a friends-with-benefits relationship. No complications, right?
Wrong. This holiday season, the unexpected happens, catching Caitlin and Ron off guard...
Ron Mercer lost his wife four years ago and has no plans to commit himself to another relationship. Life as a widower with two teenagers is already complicated enough. But in a world constantly changing, he finds himself in a predicament he never expected....
The arrangement they made has consequences which neither ever prepared for. Caitlin and Ron are in for a Christmas like they'd never had before.
Too bad she didn't believe him. Kate craned her neck and scanned the room. “Caitlin's here with her friends.” She whipped her head around to stare wide eyed at him. “Do you have a thing for her?” She raised her voice, causing several people to look their way.
“Why in the world would you think that?” Ron's pulse raced. Did his voice crack slightly? Damn. Kate caught on, but at least for now she didn't know the rest of the story.
“Well, that answers my question. You look so guilty. But seriously ? You and Caitlin? She's young and so not your type.” Kate rested her hands on the table.
“Are you saying I'm old?” Ron gasped, trying to pull it off as playfully as possible.
“Umm, yeah. I kinda am.” Kate rolled her eyes. “Too old for her, anyway.”
“She's thirty. I'm forty. Why is that too old?” Why was he even arguing this point with Kate, anyway?
“Because forty is … ancient. Thirty seems it too, but I don't know. I can't imagine being thirty and wanting to date a forty year old.” Kate's lips twisted in some weird expression.
“Gee thanks, Kate,” Ron muttered. “Love your vote of confidence there.”
“Sorry, but come on! Wait, does that mean you actually like her that way? Caitlin's so out of your league, Dad. She's fun. You're … not.”
That hurt. A lot. “Why am I not fun?” Again, he avoided her comments and questions. It bothered him more than he cared to admit that his daughter didn't think he was fun. Okay, so maybe lately, he'd been a buzzkill. But as the only parent, he had to when it came down to it.
“Sometimes you're grouchy and mean. But stop avoiding my comments and questions. Do you seriously want to date Caitlin?”
“Would it bother you?” There it was. The ultimate question. He should have asked this ages
ago, but there'd never even been a hint of a dating possibility in his life, let alone he never wanted to go that route again.
No matter where she goes, USA Today Bestselling author Nikki Lynn Barrett hears voices in her head. Instead of calling her crazy and locking her up, her family realizes it's just a product of being an author and allows her to write the stories so that the voices shut up.
But they don't. And probably never will. There's no need to lock her up, Nikki knows she'll never escape the voices, not until each and every last story is written. And for every story she writes, about ten or more ideas pop up.
When she isn't slaving away at her computer writing books that will probably make you cry and keep you in suspense, Nikki plots to take over the world one book at a time. What? It's a sickness. One she can't escape!
Books aren't her only addiction, though. Nikki can be found making up parodies to drive her son crazy, and bantering back and forth with her husband, who somehow manages to steal her away from the fictional world she lives in all the time.
Nikki lives in Arizona with her husband and son, where she can be found using every creativity outlet she can find through music, photography, handcrafted things, and random interests that she may pick up from time to time.
If you want to learn more about the author who makes people cry for a living, check out her website.
Amazon ✯ FaceBook ✯ Facebook: Nikki's Book Nook ✯ Facebook: Nikki's Book Stormers ✯ Twitter ✯ Goodreads ✯ Blog
December 9, 2016
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 January. No question is out of bounds. Check it out!
Hi there and welcome! I’m Faith Andrews and I’m known for writing relatable romance that’s guaranteed to give you all the feels.
I came out onto the indie author scene in 2013 with my debut novel Man of My Dreams and kind of hit the ground running. Writing has always been a passion, as well as being a mommy to my two beautiful and wild young daughters. As a creatively inspired stay-at-home mom and avid reader, I tried my hand at a lifelong dream and the rest, my friends, is history.
I live right outside of New York City with my husband, two daughters, and a furry Yorkie son named Rocco Giovanni. When I’m not belting out a Mumford & Sons tune or busy running ragged as a dance mom, my nose is stuck in a book or I’m sitting behind the laptop, creating my next colorful daydream. Coffee addict, lover of wine and cheese, and sucker for concerts and Netflix, I truly believe in love at first sight and happily ever after.
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December 8, 2016
PALADINE by Kenneth Eade
PALADINE
2016 quater-finalist in Publisher's Weekly's Book Prize in Fiction
Meet terrorism's worst enemy
From the best-selling & award winning author critics hail as "one of the strongest thriller writers on our scene" comes an unforgettable story of an unlikely "anti-hero."
Robert Garcia was an unremarkable man, tapped out of a promising military career to become a death squad assassin for the CIA. Retirement was not in the cards for Robert, so he disappeared instead. After he comes out of the cold to answer the call to aid a fellow soldier facing a bum rap, he is thrust back into the spotlight when he is in the wrong place at the wrong time and kills a terrorist, thereby saving dozens of lives. He finds gainful employment in the slaughter of jihadists, which sparks an urban social media legend that Robert, a dangerous and unfeeling assassin, is a living paladin, whose mission is to rid the earth of evil for the betterment of mankind. Social media gives him the name: "Paladine" and God help whoever gets between him and his next target.
The apartment obviously belonged to a bachelor, but it was neat and orderly, like a military man’s freshly made bed. The cushions on the couch were soft and comfortable and the Colonial style furniture practical and functional, rustic but not antique. The décor was earth tone and neutral, and the walls were peppered with tasteful framed prints, replicas of art that said nothing about the occupant. They were just hanging there so the walls would not be bare. There were no framed family photos on the tables, no stacks of well-worn books and no magazines. It was almost as if nobody lived there.
Robert Garcia was an unremarkable man. Other men, the exceptional types, could never be forgotten. Men of striking, imposing persuasion, or those with a certain superior intellect or cleverness. Robert held none of those attributes but, if you had the misfortune to have him touch your life in any way, and were fortuitous enough to live after the experience, he would be indelibly etched in your memory.
Robert’s characteristics were fine-drawn, precise. He could drift in on the night air with only a whisper of the wind, and then disappear into the shadows, the only place where he ever felt secure and content. At five-foot-eleven, dark-haired with a touch of grey around the edges, he was a chameleon that blended in with most crowds. But under the ordinary clothing he wore he had the body of a herculean powerhouse, chiseled and ripped. Née John Richards, Jr. to an American military career man who had taken a Lebanese wife, since Robert had been old enough to walk, he had marched in the footsteps of his father. When his country came calling, John Richards, Jr. proudly answered that call and served with pride as his father’s son, the nephew of his Great Uncle Sam. There was never any question of it. Working up the ranks the hard way, he made Captain, and it wasn’t long before his special traits and abilities landed him his first secret assignment, along with his first alias – Malik Abdul.
Malik was a name that had fit Robert well. He never did look or behave like a John Richards. That was a name his Anglo Father, John Richards, Sr., had insisted on giving the child and his mother dutifully went along with it. Eventually, it was adept profiling that helped Malik recognize his destiny. His swarthy skin and his second language – Arabic – made Malik a valuable asset to his country. Beyond his language prowess and physical attributes, Malik possessed a unique set of special skills, forged by intensive training and honed to perfection with experience. Malik and his band of assassins were utilized only in the most extreme of circumstances – covert operations for well-known agencies who called themselves by three letter acronyms – and the unknown ones as well.
Malik had tried to retire, tried his hand at transforming his life into the “normal” one of Robert Garcia, and had dutifully taken the number 4 train Monday through Friday, from his little brownstone in El Barrio to Two Penn Plaza, where he worked as a janitor. But Malik’s past had beckoned. It was a call he could not resist. He had come out into the open to support a fellow soldier who had been given a bum rap. About the only thing Malik had left which resembled a conscience was the soldier’s creed. He had no morals, no principles, except for those, which were burned into his hardwiring like a brand on a cow: The mission comes first; never accept defeat; never quit; and never leave a fallen comrade.
The comrade was Captain Ryan Bennington, an officer serving in the war against the insurgency in Iraq who had been sent on a mission by his superiors with instructions to breech four houses in an Iraqi village that intelligence had confirmed were being run by Al-Qaeda terrorists and kill any one of them who did not actively surrender. It was a mission the likes of which Malik – Robert – knew well, as he had been on many of them, committing unspeakable acts in the name of the War on Terror during the insurgency. Now the accused officer was being court-martialed and could face life in prison for simply doing his duty.
Robert had come back from the court-martial trial on the coast a ball of nerves, constantly looking over his shoulder. Now that the record had been set straight, Robert’s life was in a state of distress and disquietude. He couldn’t resume his job as a custodian. They could be watching for him there. He couldn’t return to the woman he had been seeing regularly, and who had given him hope that he actually could rejoin society after all that he had seen and done, and he couldn’t go back to the little apartment in the quaint brownstone on 118th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in Spanish Harlem that he had called home for the past five years. Well, he had to come back here – for only one last time, he thought, as he shut the door behind him.
***
Now that Robert had exposed himself and his new identity to set the record straight it was, once again, time to slip back into the shadows. Without a glimpse of emotion, he had left everything behind in the top floor of that little brownstone that had been collected by Robert Garcia over the years –the furniture, the clothing, the little knick-knacks reminiscent of the life he had simulated. He also left something in the apartment that had never been there before, a product of his life’s work – something that he had not produced for the past five years – the body of a dead man, five-foot eleven, olive-skinned and dark-haired. He took one last look at the life of Robert Garcia as he threw the match on the floor and then slipped away.
Come visit ManyBooks.net and see the latest interview with this incredible author of spine chilling thriller as he is honored with as the "Featured Author of the Day".
Described by critics as "one of our strongest thriller writers on the scene," author Kenneth Eade, best known for his legal and political thrillers, practiced law for 30 years before publishing his first novel, "An Involuntary Spy." Eade, an up-and-coming author in the legal thriller and courtroom drama genre, has been described by critics as "One of our strongest thriller writers on the scene and the fact that he draws his stories from the contemporary philosophical landscape is very much to his credit." He is the author of the "Brent Marks Legal Thriller Series", the fifth installment of which, Killer.com, won best legal thriller in the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Awards, and the "Involuntary Spy Espionage Series".
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MoB Promotions[/caption]
December 6, 2016
THE REMINGTON KINDLE WORLD
THE REMINGTON KINDLE WORLD
Kindle World is: Simply put, it’s fan fiction inspired by some of the best books, movies and televisions shows out there! Fans get the chance to write a story that spins off of the series and submit it to Amazon. Amazon then publishes it and BAM! fans can download it and find out more about a certain world. Sometimes one of those small characters you might have seen in one of the series stories will come to life in their own story, or new characters are born that are friends of main characters. There are all kinds of ways for these worlds to grow.
THE REMINGTONS join the LOVE IN BLOOM series by New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. This 6-book steamy contemporary romance series features alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. They're flawed, funny, passionate, and very relatable to readers who enjoy new adult romance, contemporary romance, and women's fiction.
5 incredible authors have written spinoff books based on characters from different books in the LOVE IN BLOOM series. These books are all featured through the Kindle World. Welcome to part 2!
PROOF OF LOVE BY C.M. ALBERT
Dez Wright bed hops because it’s easier to let a man between her legs than into her heart. After the death of her college sweetheart in a motorcycle accident that leaves Dez with a bum knee and a shattered heart, she throws all of her passion and energy into the one thing that can't hurt her: her flourishing photography career.
Mitch Michaelson thought he was dead the day he wrestled a pissed-off shark snorkeling off the Hawaiian coast with a model whose name he can hardly remember. But the tryst in paradise cost him more than his arm; it destroyed his career as a famous iron sculptor. After years of intense therapy, Mitch is finally rebuilding a new life working with kids at the community center in his sleepy North Carolina town.
When Dez blows into Arden’s Glen looking to take his picture for some do-gooder coffee table book, Mitch wants no part of it. He's put his glamorous past where it belongs and wants nothing more than to lay low, help the kids in his community, and be left alone. When fate steps in and brings the two together to help their friends and a troubled kid in need, will a couple of photographs and a magical one-night stand be all the proof of love they need? Or will their two stubborn hearts stay hell-bent on keeping their walls in place and playing it safe forever?
I felt his presence before I saw him. A masculine energy washed over me while I stood there on the patio, daydreaming as I gazed into the dancing flames of orange and yellow that licked the wall of the fire pit.
“You must be the infamous Dez.”
I held my breath for a moment, on the precipice of knowing and not knowing. Afraid to face the curl of sexual energy tugging me in his direction. I heard his weight shift as he climbed the last step and joined me on the patio.
I turned to face him, a practiced, sexual smile curving on my lips before I could stop it. My eyes slammed into familiar, dark, piercing ones and the smile slipped from my mouth, crashing to the weathered floorboards beneath our feet. “Newman,” I hissed out. For some reason, the old Jerry Seinfeld reference tumbled from my lips with an ease I found disturbing.
His mouth turned up at the corner, amusement reaching his dark brown eyes. “Jerry,” he bantered, laughing. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t run me off the porch first, since you’re so good at it.” I crossed my arms over my body, the chill of the night settling in my bones as I stood there, not sure what to make of this gorgeous man who was now staring me down.
“Wow.” He nodded his head, running his hand through his thick, brown hair before turning away. He gazed out at the woods, the lake nearly impossible to see under the blanket of darkness. He turned to face me. “This is awkward,” he said. “Can we start over? For our friends’ sake?”
I looked him up and down, my eyes caressing the jeans he was filling out nicely and the black sweater that hugged his chest with precision. He was even better looking over firelight than he’d been earlier in the day, but it wasn’t enough to sway my first impression of him. “I don’t know. It’s not every day I nearly get run off the road, plowed into at the market, and then almost made into roadkill all at the hands of the same man. I’m not sure I want to start over again,” I said with sincerity.
He scrutinized me for a moment, his brow crinkling in the glow of the flames. And damn if his thoughtful glare didn’t about melt my panties off.
“Look, first of all, you pulled out in front of me at the Vega Farm. I was driving down the street minding my own business when this”—he waved his hand in the air, grappling for the right word—“tourist, not familiar with our roads, pulls out in front of me and nearly made me swerve off the road.”
“Did you just call me a tourist?” I stepped closer to him and poked him on the chest. Not a good idea. It was a solid wall of muscle. I tempered my libido and steeled myself against his Superman good looks. “I did not pull out in front of you. You were speeding,” I huffed. “I was the one who almost landed in the ditch.”
He rolled his eyes. “You know I was only going about twenty, right?”
“You are so infuriating,” I seethed.
“And you are adorable when you’re acting all righteous,” he said.
MENDED BY LOVE BY STACY EATON
Josey Napier had given up on love after a longtime crush told her he loved her like a sister. Intent on staying busy at work as a surgical nurse to suppress the pain, Josey is shocked when she recognizes Tucker Wheatcraft, the police officer who saved a friend’s child from drowning, on her operating room table—fighting for his own life.
Four months after pulling a young boy from the freezing water while off duty, Tucker is struck by a car and shot. When he wakes up and finds the woman he’s had his eye on standing vigil over him, he’s thankful to be alive, but after weeks of therapy, Tucker still isn’t getting the feeling back in his legs, and the mind games are starting to wreak havoc with him. Can he ever be the kind of man that Josey deserves?
Two of the officers were sitting up, one with her arm in a sling close to her side, another with gauze wrapped around his head, but the third one grabbed my attention like a neon sign. The officer was on his back, his uniform partially removed, and several people were working around him even as they moved him into a treatment area.
I followed the crowd of people into the room, standing back and listening to what was happening. These people were trained for emergency room trauma. I wasn’t here to complete any medical procedure, just to oversee and have a good idea of what we had when he came upstairs.
His blood pressure was high, understandably the material of his pants on his left leg had been cut, and bone stuck out through the skin, damn. I stepped around the gurney to the other side to see what exactly they were working on and found several people fixated on his abdomen area.
I clenched my teeth. A gunshot to the abdomen was never good. There were so many organs that could be damaged. All that soft tissue to check would be hell in the OR. If the bullet had fragmented inside his abdomen cavity, it was going to take a while to find it all.
The ER doctors called out for tests to be done, and I stepped up to Paul. “Hey, Paul, can you order an X-ray of his abdomen while they are doing the leg? I want to know if the bullet fragmented, and if so, how badly.”
“You got it, Josey,” Paul replied and I melted into the shadows again. As I leaned against the wall, I looked at the officer’s face for the first time. He was staring at me, and my heart skipped as I recognized him. Oh, shit.
Normally, I stayed out of the way when it came to the trauma room, but his eyes screamed for help—or maybe he just wanted someone to tell him it was going to be alright. I approached the gurney, resting my hand on his forehead. “Tucker, hold on, okay. We’re going to do everything we can for you.”
He swallowed and gave the slightest nod before he closed his eyes and winced in pain as someone pushed on his stomach. A moment later, he bucked his body and screamed as his leg was shifted.
“His pressure is dropping,” someone called out.
“Tucker, hold on, you got this.” I glanced around the room. “Has he had any morphine?”
“Yes,” one of the nurses stated, “but he’s not responding to it.”
“We have a ventricular fibrillation! Get me the paddles!” Paul shouted as an alarm began to sound.
I stepped out of the way, staring at Tucker as his body went slack.
I grabbed a nurse as she brushed past me, “I need a favor.” She nodded. “Get in touch with Dr. Mark Ellis and tell him Tucker Wheatcraft is getting ready to go into surgery,” I glanced down at Tucker’s pale face, “and tell him it’s not good.”
USA Today Best Selling Author C.M. Albert writes heartwarming romances that are both "sexy and flirty, sweet and dirty!" Her writing infuses a healthy blend of humor, inspiration, and romance. She’s a sucker for a good villain, but is a die-hard believer in everlasting love. In her spare time, she and her husband wrangle their two young kids and enjoy spending time outdoors. When not writing or kid wrangling, C.M. Albert is also a book editor, Reiki practitioner, chocolate chip cookie aficionado, kindness ambassador, and seeker of naps. You can find C.M. Albert online on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest and Instagram.
Stacy Eaton is a USA Today Best Selling author and began her writing career in October of 2010. Stacy took an early retirement from law enforcement after over fifteen years of service in 2016, with her last three years in investigations and crime scene investigation to write full time.
Stacy resides in southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, who works in law enforcement, and her teen daughter who is working toward her second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and on the choral and cheerleading squads at school. She also has a son who is currently serving in the United States Navy.
Stacy is very involved in Domestic Violence Awareness and served on the Board of Directors for her local Domestic Violence Center for three years. Connect with Stacy on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and her Website. Don't forget to sign up for her newsletter.
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MoB Promotions[/caption]December 5, 2016
THE REMINGTON KINDLE WORLD part 1
THE REMINGTONS join the LOVE IN BLOOM series by New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. This 6-book steamy contemporary romance series features alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. They're flawed, funny, passionate, and very relatable to readers who enjoy new adult romance, contemporary romance, and women's fiction.
When event coordinator, Liza Daley, finds herself dumped right before Christmas, she begins to question her life choices. A trip to a bed and breakfast outside of town might be the trick to clear her head, except her solitude is interrupted by the one man who has consumed her every waking thought for the past year.
Baseball catcher, Nolan Collins, has wanted Liza Daley from the moment they met. Out of respect, he’s kept his distance, but it’s nearly killed him to see her settling for a man who isn’t good enough for her. Liza deserves to be loved and cherished, and the longer he waits, the more he realizes he wants to be the man who gives her that.
While the snow continues to fall and temperatures drop, things heat up inside the B&B as Nolan shows Liza there are more things to life than what she’s let herself settle on, like finally getting the chance to catch up with love.
Before she could call out a good morning greeting, he suddenly jumped, releasing a stream of curses that would have made a sailor blush.“Are you alright…” her voice trailed off as his fingers dug beneath the hem of his shirt and he pulled it over his head with a jerk, revealing the mouthwatering muscles that lay beneath. Washboard abs, hard pecks, and muscles bulged everywhere she looked, and she naughtily looked her fill. Oh Lord, she breathed, desire pulsing through every inch of her body. He was going to be the death of her.A hint of a smile curved the corners of his mouth when she finally met his gaze, and the breath caught in the back of her throat at the hungry desire in his eyes.“Good morning,” he said huskily, tossing his shirt into the sink and turning on the tap. “Sleep well?”
“Mm-hm,” was the only legible response she could come up with, her brain sluggish against the fog of desire blanketing her. She really needed to get a grip. Except all she could focus on were the rippling muscles on display. He was going to have to put a shirt on if she was going to have any coherent thoughts today.
“You keep undressing me with your eyes like that and we’ll be late for breakfast,” he mused aloud. Liza was thankful he wasn’t looking at her, because she was fairly certain her cheeks were bright red at that moment.
Clearing her throat, she tossed her long hair over her shoulder, leaning a hip against the countertop. “It’s not my fault you decided to do a strip tease in the kitchen.”
This time he looked at her, a grin cracking his face. “I don’t know if you were aware of it, but bacon grease hurts like a bitch when it hits you. Plus, I didn’t want my shirt to get ruined. It’s one of my favorites.”
Though soaking wet, he held up the faded t-shirt, the tell-tale insigne for the Marlins peeking back at her. She should have guessed.
“Nice shirt.” She tapped her fingers on the countertop, noticing for the first time that they were alone in the kitchen. “No Penelope today?”
“Nope, I convinced her to let me make breakfast this morning, promising I wouldn’t burn the house down. I hope you like bacon, eggs and toast.”
As if on cue, Liza’s stomach rumbled loudly. They both laughed.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He wrung water from his shirt, shutting off the tap with his elbow. Droplets of water run down the front of his pecs, and Liza followed them hungrily.
“Not that I don’t appreciate the show,” she let her eyes linger on his abs, “but if you expect me to eat breakfast with you, it’d go a lot smoother if you put on a shirt.”
With a grin that sent her stomach somersaulting, Nolan dropped the shirt in the sink and stalked towards her, crowding her space with his body until she was completely off balance. Liza grabbed hold of the first thing she came in contact with, which just so happened to be his broad shoulder. His arm snaked around her waist, holding her in place as the heat of his skin seared her hand, burning through her clothes. What she wouldn’t give to be skin to skin with him right now.
“Are you sure about that, Sweet Cheeks? Your lips,” his heavy stare landed on her mouth for a full second before rising back to her eyes, “say one thing, but your eyes are saying something else.”
DENNY SLID HIS BODY DOWN until his head was fully submerged in the Jacuzzi. When his phone starting buzzing, he decided to drown out the sound. Literally. He knew who it was, and he knew why. His friends—mostly Jeff Hammond and Sage Remington—had been hounding him to get out more ever since his wife, Sara, had died a few months earlier. Now here he was on a Friday night alone, and he knew his friends worried about him.He tried telling both friends that he enjoyed staying at home once he finished his day as the manager of Hammond Homes, which his friend Jeff owned.“I told Sara I wouldn’t’ let you feel sorry for yourself, and I’m not going to let her down,” Jeff had said the day before. “Sage and some of the other guys are meeting up tomorrow at Nightcaps, and you’d better be there or Sage and I are going to come over to your house and put you in a strait jacket, or you can go willingly.
So Denny knew who kept calling persistently. With a sigh, he stood up and reached for a towel. In a few minutes, there would be pounding on his door, before Jeff took the liberty of using his own key to come into his house. Sage would be sure to follow.
Only this time, when he opened the door, he discovered they had double teamed him. Kurt and Dex Remington, Sage’s brothers, came along with the other two. When he saw the three hulking Remington brothers and his best friend standing in his living room, he knew he had no choice but to put on some clothes and go out with the four of them.
“Get your ass dressed,” Jeff commanded.
“Or you’re going just like that into the strait jacket,” Sage said. “You’ve got no choice.”
“Besides, Leanna has brought along one of her friends, and she’s a looker,” Kurt said referring to his girlfriend. “And hurry it up, the girls are getting plastered at the bar without us there.”
“And running up our bar tab,” Dex said.
“All right.” Denny caved and gave into their demands because he knew he had no choice. “But I sure wish you’d stop trying to fix me up. I’m not ready.”
The four other men shook their heads, then pushed him toward the bedroom to get dressed.
A New York Times, USA Today, award winning, bestselling author Calinda B crafts paranormal, sci-fi and contemporary romance novels. An avid adventurer and outdoor enthusiast with a quirky sense of humor, she's always finding ways to torture her characters, and to entertain her long-time love, her two cats or her kids and friends. She lives in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest, a place that soothes her soul and gives her plenty of time to write, scuba dive, work, write, bike ride, write, kayak, write and write some more.
With umpteen books roaming the universe and more in her head, you can find her on her website. Or you can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
THE PRINCESS DILEMMA by Heather Hiestand
THE PRINCESS DILEMMA
by Heather Hiestand
Genre: Historical Romance
England, 1837: In the game of kings, there can be only one winner, but a second chance at love is worth more than any throne…
As a British army colonel, Edward FitzPrince deals with dangerous secrets every day. When his mother dies and he learns he may have a claim to the British throne, he quickly finds himself out of his depths. The Scottish-born soldier discovers life in London and political maneuvering foreign indeed.
One woman can help him, German Princess Charlotte von Scharnburg, with whom he had a secret romance more than a decade before, his long-lost wife. As the best friend and lady-in-waiting to his half-sister, Queen Victoria, who has just ascended the throne of England, Charlotte is now his natural enemy.
Edward is determined to have his birthright. Charlotte must ensure her family’s survival. They will be each other’s greatest ally, or tear each other apart.
“Colonel?”
Edward glanced over the balustrade to see a woman of such natural beauty as to put the King’s Staircase to shame. All the magnificence of the palace seemed to dim around her. Her shining gold hair contained more than a hint of auburn and her eyes were very dark under reddish brows. Surely lips were not so naturally red past childhood, and he suspected this woman was in her mid-twenties. Still, she had a splendid figure, and was tall for a woman. She would rest her head right against his shoulder if she leaned against him. Who was she?
He nodded his head at her and came slowly down the stairs, conscious of the kingly effect of his gleaming white trousers and shined boots against the black stairs and gold walls. He could see her breasts rise and fall. She was breathing rapidly, as if she had run down a long corridor to reach him.
A woman so beautiful must have wed right out of the schoolroom, though she wore no ring on her plump little fingers. Strange to see such hands on such a tall lady.
She stared at him a little strangely, as if he should know her. “I am lady-in-waiting to the queen,” she said. When he didn’t respond, she continued. “Baroness Lehzen sent for me in early spring, when it became obvious the princess would need a larger household soon.”
Her beauty must have made his mouth go dry. He worked his tongue against his teeth before he spoke. “You must be a cousin on the German side, and not related to me.”
She blinked then inclined her head, indicating she knew his relationship to her mistress. “I am a second cousin through Her Majesty’s mother, the Duchess of Kent.”
“I see,” he murmured. That explained the faint Continental accent. “I am very happy to see my sister, Princess Victoria, but my appointment is with Princess Sophia. I will, of course, be happy to pay my respects.” In fact, he could hardly contain his glee at reaching his sister so easily.
“The princess is in the queen’s apartments at present,” the lady said, arching one of her brows as she emphasized his sister’s assumed title. “Will you follow me?”
He had been told many a time that he never smiled, but he could feel the corners of his lips tilting up as he trailed the woman. While her wide skirt hid the curves of her hips, he could see she had a pleasingly tiny waist. Being in mourning for the king, she was dressed all in black, but her sash accented those curves with great proficiency. The wide, ruffled sleeves on her arms were pure silliness, however, a waste of money that could get caught in doors, catch fire, and rip on anything protruding. Women’s fashion had never made sense to him.
Sometimes he wondered what a woman would look like in men’s clothing. He wanted to see this lady-in-waiting in tight buff trousers, all the better to see her backside. A trim linen shirt might display her bosom well. It was hidden from view by a fichu, though the bodice of her dress itself was low-cut enough to display her charms if she dared.
Amazon ✯ Amazon Int'l ✯ Goodreads
December 3, 2016
SILVER BELLS by Jacquie Biggar
SILVER BELLS by Jacquie Biggar
Genre: Holiday Romance
Mystery writer, Joel Carpenter, has no time for romance. He has a deadline to meet, and too many skeletons in his closet to trust the slightly spinny artist renting his house.
Christy Taylor has her hands full dealing with an ailing business and a diabetic daughter, she doesn't need the temptation that is her landlord, Joel Carpenter.
Can a Christmas wish bring two stubborn souls together and give a little girl the gift she wants most?
A family of her own.
A pair of dark brown hiking boots—size enormous—came into her line of sight and her heart skipped a beat. Most people on the island were friendly and kind but she was a woman on her own and it was rapidly getting dark. How stupid.
She tightened her grip on the bag and cursing the fact she’d been so irresponsible, slowly rose to her feet, her gaze following the long, clean line of jean-clad legs, dark cotton shirt, tucked in and belted at the waist, open leather jacket, and chiseled jawline covered in a day’s worth of stubble. Glittering eyes stared at her from a deeply tanned, aloof-looking face.
“Quit following me.” The voice matched his visage, cold, harsh, and unforgiving.
So much for her fantasy hero, Christy stiffened and glared. “Kind of full of yourself, aren’t you?”
He leaned back and crossed his arms, his stance unforgiving. And to think she’d found him intriguing. Ha, more like infuriating.
“So it’s just a coincidence that every time I turn around, there you are?” He lifted a hand and she flinched. He hesitated, then rubbed the back of his neck. The rasping sound along with the backdrop of the swishing waves made her feel—restless.
“Look, I don’t do interviews, okay? Not even for cute little pixies. Tell your boss, next time I’ll call the cops.”
Incredulity overrode her curiosity. “Are you serious? I have as much right to be on this beach as you do, buddy. Trust me, you’re not half as fascinating as you seem to think you are.”
In between one breath and the next, Mr. Personality seized the bag out of her grip and delved inside.
“Hey, give that back,” she cried, trying to wrestle it out of his grasp.
“If you have nothing to hide…” He pulled the drawings free and turned his wall of a back on her.
Christy couldn’t believe this was happening. Adrenaline zipped through her body, leaving her feeling more alive than she had in a long while. And it was all due to this… this jerk ripping pages out of her workbook while she stood by helpless to do anything about it. All that work—gone.
“Please,” she begged, her throat husky. “I meant no harm. I draw for a living. That’s all they are, drawings.”
At least the shredding stopped.
He leveled his gaze on her again, as though deciding whether to throw the whole bag out to sea or not. She really hoped not. It had taken months to save up for those pencils. They were the very best and made a huge difference to the level of her workmanship.
“Please,” she said again.
He hesitated, then folded the sheets of paper he’d taken and shoved them into his jacket pocket before handing over her bag.
“Next time you might try asking,” he said dryly. His voice floated on the breeze as he clumped away in those heavy boots. “The answer would’ve been no, by the way.”
Was it too much to ask that he trip over his enormous—arrogance?
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.
