Julie Elizabeth Powell's Blog, page 9
May 4, 2018
SUBLIME KARMA by Peyton Garver
SUBLIME KARMA
by Peyton Garver
Genre: YA Contemporary (older YA age group)
Content Warning: profanity and violence, contemporary adolescent themes are prevalent and confronted such as bullying, suicide, self-harm
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 a group of popular girls at her new school, and the only available seat on her bus is next to the school’s star wide receiver, 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?
The bus snaked its way through the country roads, and then to the lavish development that backed up to the woods behind his house. Upperclassmen from this neighborhood had their own cars. This bus collected the underclassmen: those few who weren’t chauffeured, as minions of the privileged.
Jake leaned back in his seat and folded his arms across his chest, not looking at the kids coming down the aisle. None dared to ask if they could sit in the empty space next to him. They’d sit three to a seat rather than make that request. Just the way he wanted it.
The over-filled bus pulled to a stop midway down Belmont Circle. New stop? Jake looked out his window at the estate with a circular drive. Huh. It finally sold. He watched as a single figure headed toward the bus. What, so now they get door-to-door service? He rolled his eyes.
Seconds later, she stood in the aisle waiting. From his seat, his eyes skimmed up passed her faded jeans and plain, loose sweater, and his breath caught in his throat. Her long blond hair was pulled to the side in a loose braid. Her face? Ethereal. But then, his flustered gaze became an annoyed glare.
Her bleak gray eyes seemed to look right through him before they darted to the space next to him. Did she even register his indignation? She must have. Yet, she stood there in the aisle twisting the loose adjustment strap on her backpack tightly around her fingers.
“May I sit here?” her meek voice broke the silence that had fallen around them.
Noticing the hush of conversation, Jake’s eyes skimmed the crowded bus. There was no doubt he and this new girl had an audience. Not something he relished.
His eyes swept back to her. He could tell she was nervous. He heard it in her quavering voice and saw it in the way she avoided his eyes. He could just say no. But, as long as she was standing, the bus wouldn’t budge. Becca looked at him from her seat across the aisle then whipped her phone out and started her eager texting. He narrowed his eyes at her, and then with a smirk, he stood.
“Really?” he bit out at her under his breath, leaning close so only she could hear. He grabbed his backpack from the seat and football bag off the wheel well and then moved his six-foot-one frame into the aisle. With a jerk of his head, he directed her to the space by the window.
She slipped by him with lithesome poise, maneuvering in the small space without so much as brushing against him. He watched her settle into the seat with perfect posture, even though her feet were raised up on the wheel well. Her vacant eyes never returned to his. So, why was his heart suddenly beating faster? Was it because of his rudeness and the fact that she ignored it? Could it be remorse? She didn’t seem to have that presumptuous, stuck-up attitude that so annoyed him. She looked almost . . . empty.
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As a child, Peyton called places like Livorno, Italy; Orléans, France; and Augsburg, Germany home. She has since settled in Maryland, where she earned her degree in education at Towson State University, married her sweetheart of two years, and became an instant mother to three spirited young boys before adding another son to the brood. And, with their yellow lab George, it's no stretch to say she's outnumbered.
When not writing, Peyton is a full time teacher. Inspired by the individual spirits, heartaches, and triumphs of her students, Peyton has developed characters who resemble real world teens dealing with real issues: relationships, jealousy, bullying, and depression. Her newest novel, Sublime Karma, is a contemporary story filled with emotion, depth, wit, and suspense.
When asked if she actually involves her students in her stories, Peyton answered that her stories are completely fictional, but then admitted to an activity in which she does involve them. "One quirky, fun thing I like to do with students who have read my book is develop a dream cast for my characters. That all started when a group of girls were arguing over which actor they thought best fit the character Four in Veronica Roth's novel Divergent. They then turned their efforts to my manuscript. I've since added those dream casts to my website."
When she's not teaching or writing, Peyton enjoys traveling. The Caribbean Islands have become a favorite vacation getaway for Peyton and her husband. "Nothing is better than sitting on a beach, in front of the crystal clear sea, enveloped in the warmth of the tropical sun with a frosty piña colada and a good book that I just can't put down."
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April 30, 2018
RIDING BLIND by J.L. Sheppard
RIDING BLIND
Hell Ryders MC Series #3
by J.L. Sheppard
Genre: Contemporary MC/Biker Romance
Hell Ryders MC officer Bryce “Ripper” Knight never knew love until he met Em. Then she disappeared and he was lost. Now, years later, her cousin—a rival club leader—needs him to find her before his enemies do. Ripper has no choice but to protect her, but he’ll be damned if he lets her under his skin again. One look, though, and he can’t deny she still sets him aflame.
Leaving Ripper almost destroyed Emelia “Em” Kenna, but in the midst of a bloody club war, she couldn’t choose between the two men she loved most or raise the child growing inside her with a man who didn’t want to be a father. Suddenly, Ripper is back in her life, and she’s riddled with guilt over the secrets she’s kept. Everything’s changed except two things—the reason she left and the fire he ignites.
His gaze locked with hers, and because a part of him swore she’d be gone, he held it for longer than he cared to admit. Finally, he tore his eyes away. He couldn’t help it, so he trailed them from top to bottom. She wore a black tee with the word “Harley” written in freehand cursive across the chest.
He knew that tee. Not much different than most of his tees, black and it read, “Harley,” but it’d been his favorite because all those years ago, she wore it to bed.
The first time he had her, she found it on the floor and put it on. From that night on, she slept with him in that tee. The only nights she didn’t wear it to bed, the nights he dealt with club business, and she went to bed without him. On those nights, he stole it back and wore it laced with her scent, so with every breath he took, he’d smell her. After she left, he realized he did it because she wasn’t around and he wanted her to be.
When she left, she took everything with her, like she’d been trying to erase the memory of her from him. She was gone, and he didn’t know why, and he didn’t want her to be. He needed something, anything. He thought he had at least that shirt, so he looked everywhere, tearing his room apart, but he never found it, and now he knew why.
She took his favorite tee. She stole it and left...
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When the perfect life Alyssa Holden planned turns out to be a life of lies, she runs to her brother, the only person she can trust. She has no idea she’s running straight into a world of badass bikers who live and ride by their own rules. One tatted rebel in particular calls to her wilder side, and while everything in her draws her toward him, every experience she’s had with men warns her away.
Jace Warren is doing what he’s done his whole life—trying to survive, making the best with what he’d been given. The only life that makes sense after the military is Hell Ryder’s Motorcycle Club, but the sweet innocence of his army buddy's sister promises a different life, one a man like him can only dream of. Problem is, being his MC brother’s sister puts her off limits. Hard as it is, he keeps his distance. Then she kisses him, and all bets are off.
Thomas “Cuss” Layne has never wanted for anything, except the beautiful girl he saved so long ago. But she’s a rich girl, and he’s a biker. For years, he hasn’t had a glimpse of her. Still, he's never been able to get her out of his mind. When her life’s in danger, he rides to her rescue once again. This time, he’s determined to do what he should’ve done long ago—make her his, in every possible way.
Tiffany Hamilton has never gotten over the bad boy with the sapphire eyes and midnight hair, the boy who once saved her. She wants him—a touch, a taste—but he’s never wanted anything to do with her. It’s past time to move on. When the sexy biker barges back into her life, saving her yet again and making demands, he makes it impossible to say no to his raw magnetism. She’ll finally have everything she’s dreamed of…but will it be enough?
J.L. Sheppard was born and raised in South Florida where she still lives with her husband and son.
As a child, her greatest aspiration was to become a writer. She read often, kept a journal and wrote countless poems. She attended Florida International University and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelors in Communications. During her senior year, she interned at NBC Miami, WTVJ. Following the internship, she was hired and worked in the News Department for three years.
It wasn’t until 2011 that she set her heart and mind into writing her first completed novel, Demon King’s Desire, which was published in January of 2013.
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ONCE UPON A TIME... by A.L. Simpson
ONCE UPON A TIME...
by A.L. Simpson
Genre: NA Military Romance
A high school graduate.
A Special Forces Operative.
Friends their whole lives.
Or, were they?
PIPER
Once upon a time……
It’s how every fairy-tale begins or, almost every fairy-tale.
My tale begins on the night of my prom, but would I capture my prince?
Would I have the happily ever after?
Chapter One
PIPER
Once upon a time……
It’s how every fairy-tale begins or, almost every fairy-tale.
My tale begins on the night of my prom, but would I capture my prince?
Would I have the happily ever after?
***
Everyone expected us to attend my prom together. As a couple. Dalton and I have shared everything in our lives. The good times and the bad—the cuts, scrapes, bruises and broken hearts. Throughout everything, we’ve been there for each other. But no, we are not attending the prom as a couple. We will be there, hand in hand, as best friends.
We’ve known each other since I was born – Dalton was four years old. Our parents are best friends, both of our fathers serve in the Navy and have been posted to the same places together. So, we’ve always been neighbors. Dalton and his older brother, Mitchell, my protectors. Where Mitchell is my knight in shining armor, Dalton is my prince.
I can’t wait to see him. Much to our father’s dismay, Dalton joined the Army – Special Forces and has been posted out of Fort Bragg for the past three years. It’s been almost a year since he was last home. He promised to take leave for my prom and he kept his word, like he always does. He flew in late last night.
Turning to the mirror, I check myself one final time. My gorgeous dress was carefully selected because the deep blue matches my eyes. The strapless bodice is lacy and dotted with sequins. The plain silk skirt flares ever so slightly over my hips and falls to my knees. My stiletto-heeled shoes afford me some much-needed height and I pray I can manage to stay upright in the damn things. My cornsilk blonde hair is swept up at the sides with sparkly clips while tendrils of loose curls have been left to dance over my face.
I twist from one side to the other in an effort to capture every angle. Does my ass look enormous? Why don’t I have more than bee stings for breasts? I sigh deeply. There is nothing more I can do; Dalton will be here in ten minutes. There is no time to change into anything else. Not to mention, I have nothing else suitable.
My mother’s voice floats up the stairs. “Piper, Dalton has arrived.”
“Coming.” I swipe on a final lick of lipstick, gather a wrap in case it becomes cool and leave my room. My descent down the stairs is calculated and slow. The last thing I need is to faceplant at Dalton’s feet.
Dalton whistles and I feel my face heat. He’s never seen me dressed so formally before, I was ill on the day of his prom and like the good friend he is, he’d refused to attend without me. On occasion, I’ve worn dresses, but mostly jeans and a shirt fit the bill. I guess you would say I’m a tomboy.
My date offers his hand as I reach the bottom and I slip mine into his. I laugh as he twirls me around. “You’re absolutely gorgeous. Where have you been hiding?” He kisses my cheek—a chaste, brotherly kiss.
“Thank you. You look pretty hot yourself.” Dalton is mind-blowingly sexy in his tux. Tall at more than six and a half feet, he dwarfs me even in my stilettos. Without them, I don’t reach his shoulders. Our height difference is hilarious.
As I take him in, I notice his shoulders have become broader in the past couple of years. His waist is narrow, hips are slim. His body is a testament to his daily workouts and sensible diet; he carries not one ounce of extra fat. He says he has to be fit and strong to be part of the Special Forces.
He tugs at his tie. “I’m glad you approve. I have something for you.”
Dalton holds a clear box toward me. A gorgeous purple orchid with glossy green leaves is inside. I open the top and remove it at the same moment mother and father step into the foyer. My mother leans over my shoulder as Dad shakes Dalton’s hand. “It’s beautiful, sweetheart. Would you like me to pin it on?”
I glance at Dalton and see the disappointment in his eyes, but I don’t understand why. I turn back to Mom. “Dalton will pin it on. After all, it’s his gift to me.”
My dad glares at me and I try not to giggle. I know exactly what he’s thinking. No man is going to put his hands anywhere near my eighteen-year-old daughter’s breasts. The fact Dalton and I are only best friends means nothing to my dad.
Dalton takes the orchid from my hand and moves closer. His hand trembles slightly as he positions the flower and reaches inside the top of my dress to secure it. His hand brushes my breast and my body responds with a powerful tingling sensation. Our eyes lock and I search for any sign that he felt it too.
“It looks beautiful, sweetheart.” Mom kisses my cheek and then kisses Dalton. “Have fun.”
“Not too much fun,” my dad growls. He moves to peer through the glass at the side of the front door. “The car is here.”
I stand on tiptoe and kiss my father’s cheek as we leave. “I’ll be fine, daddy. Dalton will take care of me like he always does.”
“Peter, stop fussing. Dalton isn’t one of your sailor’s you can order about. Let them leave.” Mom takes dad’s hand and they stand in the doorway watching as we descend the steps and head for the stretch limousine which is parked out in front.
Dalton manoeuvres the driver out of the way and holds onto the door. “Your carriage awaits, m’lady.” He kisses my cheek before I slip onto the soft leather seat. As he closes the door, I fasten my seatbelt and within seconds, the other door opens and he climbs in beside me. After fastening his seatbelt, he gathers my hand into his.
“Excited? This will be our last school function. Probably our last function together with me in the Army and you joining the Navy.”
I tense at Dalton’s words, I’ve been avoiding telling him my plans. “When we arrive, can we find somewhere quiet so we can talk? I have something I need to tell you. Something I’ve been keeping from you.”
Dalton swivels on his seat. I can barely see his face in the darkness, but I know if I could, disappointment would be clear.
“You’ve been hiding something? We never keep secrets from each other. It sounds serious.”
“It is. It’s time you knew and I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”
I have always loved to write and have a vivid and overactive imagination.
In my spare time, when I’m not writing, I love to walk, read and shop.
I believe no mountain is too hard to climb, no river is too wide to span and no journey is too difficult to complete. I follow my dreams and I urge and encourage others to do the same.
With a positive attitude, the impossible can become possible.
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April 27, 2018
Slings & Arrows - FREE
Many of you may know of Samantha's life and how her heart stopped when she was two and a half years old, so leaving her severely brain damaged for a further seventeen years until her second and final death.
Slings & Arrows is a non-fictional account of those waiting years.
To mark her birthday, Slings & Arrows will be FREE on 28-30 April.
Slings & Arrows myBook.to/slings
It is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Blurb:
Nobody expects to lose a child but when it happens what can we do? In the sea of grief that seizes the soul how can we swim against the tide? But when that loss is compounded in each minute of every day, what do we do then?
Slings and Arrows is a story about the consequences of a moment, a moment, which separates a mother and daughter in ways impossible to imagine.
It charts their parallel lives, each suffering, one knowing, one not.
It is brutally honest; an account filled with bewilderment, guilt, anger and pain yet it also holds the key to hope. That whatever happens, the bonds of love can never be broken.
***
What people have said about Slings & Arrows:
"What could have been a purely bleak read proved to be a thought-provoking and, in, many ways, inspirational experience." A. E Thomas
"This story was so powerful and wrought with many emotions and conflicting beliefs." Susanna Mahoney
"It is written from the perspective of a mother who is still to come to terms with the events even after many years have passed, and the idea is that this book will help those who have suffered or are suffering similar losses, or as in the words of the author 'For all those who have lost and are lost still'. I am told by the author that this was a hard book to write and I would say that it is also a hard book to read, but I hope that it achieves the author's worthwhile goal of helping others come to terms with loss." Maria Savva
"...account of events that would have sent many of us to the brink of madness..." BookAddict
"A powerful book!" Martha
***
Some of you may even know about Gone - a fantasy about one possible answer to where she could have been during that same waiting time.
Gone: myBook.to/Gonefairytale
***
So there you have it - both are reads to make you think and maybe even help with those tangles of emotion that enter our souls when difficult times descend.
Thank you
April 25, 2018
Romance Between The Pages presents...
Listen on Itunes (Subscribe so you never miss an episode! It’s FREE!)
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 PODCAST IS ALL ABOUT...
the 1001 DARK NIGHTS authors for 2018!
April 21, 2018
SOLITARY HUNTER by Cherime MacFarlane
SOLITARY HUNTER
by Cherime MacFarlane
Genre: Paranormal Shifter novella
Alicia: I can't get a handle on the man and I'm not ready to tackle his cat, the lynx has claws. His mother encouraged me to work for him. I figure she had an agenda, if its setting Ken up, she doesn't understand her son. He's a shapeshifter, but the cat is a solitary hunter. How can I get close when he runs the other way?
Ken: She's my employee. Bosses don't get cozy with the help. There are rules I'm supposed to follow. The damn lynx doesn't care. But I'm not blind, Alicia is a beautiful woman and my control is hanging by a claw.
Alicia smiled to herself as she cleaned the inside of the bird and worked to skin it. That was a lot easier than pulling feathers. The man must think he had her snowed good. There were big cat prints right inside the flap of the dog door in snow that melted rapidly in the warmth of the cabin. Then they vanished.
But round puddles sat on the first through third stair treads. For a long time she suspected the man shifted. She proved it to herself a while ago. This added evidence to what she had discovered. Kenneth Partland shifted all right, into a large lynx.
A smirk lit her face as she pulled the skin off the bird. She bet he felt irritated at not getting to finish his meal in solitude. The resulting thought wiped the smile off her lips. Lynx were the real loners of the northern forest. Solitary hunters except during breeding season, would it be possible to live with the man and still keep his cat happy?
Although born in New Orleans, I am proud to call myself an Alaskan. I have lived here since 1977. I have seen -40 degrees, hauled water, made bear bacon and I live in a cabin. I have used a fishwheel to catch salmon coming up the Copper River. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and roadie. I have cut firewood on shares. I worked as a cocktail waitress during pipeline days in a small lodge on the Richardson Highway.
My second husband, a Scot from Glasgow, was the love of my life. When I write Scots dialect, I personally experienced hearing it from my in laws. When my husband got on the phone to Scotland, after 5 seconds I could barely understand a word.
We moved to Wasilla to get warm. It barely drops past -25 degrees here in the winter. I became a paralegal and worked for over 26 years for the same firm.
Alaska is my home. I never thought I would love it so much, I never want to leave. The beauty of Alaska is a draw I cannot resist. I love the people and the history. I have been captured by a place I came to under duress. Life does play some interesting tricks on one. My love and I were not apart more than 24 hours for 20 plus years. I never wanted to be anywhere but with him. He was a man to run the river with and was my biggest fan.
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TANGLED ENDS by Taylor Dawn
TANGLED ENDS
Magnolia Series, Book Five
by Taylor Dawn
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense 
Liam McDermott of the DEA had one job. Bring the infamous hacker, Kat McCormick to the FBI field office in Biloxi Mississippi. With her secure in handcuffs, Liam finds himself running from the people who want her dead. He must protect her no matter what, but can’t resist the temptation of the pink haired tech wizard. Lives are on the line as he races the clock to help bring down one of the biggest human and drug trafficking rings in the United States. Can he slay his attraction to Kat long enough to get the job done? Or will he end up in an even more tangled web than before?
Kat McCormick has spent her life hiding behind strings of binary code and screen names. Her hacking ability is second to none but soon she finds herself stumbling across information that puts her at the top of someone’s hit list. As she dodges bullets, Kat fights the brewing attraction to the Agent in charge of keeping her safe. Can she open up her heart and mind to help bring down the bad guys, or will she tuck tail and run like she’s done most of her life? Follow Kat and Liam as they try to unravel the truth in the fifth and final book in the Magnolia Series by Taylor Dawn.
“I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG,” Kat McCormick screamed as the handcuffs constricted around her slim wrists. The grating click of the metal resonated through her entire body as the ramifications of her crimes slammed into her. She had been careful in staying under the radar in the past couple years but now, she found herself with her face pressed against the dusty hood of a DEA agent’s car. Hacking used to be a way to make quick cash but now, it could have her on the hook for murder.
“You’re full of more shit than a Thanksgiving turkey.” Liam snickered. If she thought she was getting off that easily, she had lost her damn mind. “We traced your IP address which was linked to the framing of Agent Remington Archer of the FBI. I don’t know what world you live in, but setting up someone to take the fall for murder isn’t cool.” He added.
“Anyone can piggyback off my IP address. There’s no way you can prove it was me.” She jerked around as he led her to the passenger seat of his new Camaro.
“Then I guess you’ll have to sit in lockup until we can prove it, huh?”
“You’re a dick. Scratch that. You’re a dick that ate another dick and then threw it up.”
“Your insults don’t phase me, Miss McCormick,” he laughed as he opened the car door. “Think you can sit in the front seat and behave yourself?”
“Bite me,” she sassed with a venomous look on her smooth face.
“I’ll take that as a maybe.” He helped her into the seat, grabbed the seatbelt and pulled it across her.
“If you touch my tits, I’m filing a harassment suit against you.”
Placing his face just an inch or so away from hers, he said, “If I intentionally or accidentally touch your breasts, Miss McCormick, I have no doubt that you’d like it.” He smiled.
“Are you trying to make a pass at me while I’m handcuffed?”
“Nope, just stating facts.”
“Whatever. Even if you were the last man on this earth, I would never be desperate enough to go near you.”
“Really?” Liam raised an eyebrow.
“Yep,” she countered.
“Well, judging by your hard nipples, I’d say you’re lying.”
She glanced down at the front of her shirt, then back to his face. “That has nothing to do with you.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Sweet Pea.” Liam stood upright. Shutting the door, he then rounded the hood of the sports car and stood at the driver’s door with his phone in hand. Hitting the speed dial, he waited for an answer on the other end.
“Agent Archer,” the man on the other end said.
“Hey, it’s Liam McDermott from the DEA. I have Kat McCormick in custody, I’ll be dropping her off in about an hour.”
“We’ll be ready.”
He hung up, opened his door and slid behind the wheel. Liam had been keeping tabs on Kat for the past two years. Her genius level hacking skills had landed her in an interrogation room more than once but somehow, she walked away scot-free every damn time. This time, however, he had her, lock stock and barrel. The pink haired hacker was taken down with the help of Caden Madden, one of the best hackers on the entire planet. He also happened to be the younger brother of Agent Ryan Madden of the FBI. McCormick was on the hook for aiding deceased, human and drug trafficking kingpin, Alastair Bordeaux. She was apparently his go-to gal when he needed something done having to do with computers. According to her bank account, he’d paid her well too. Liam hoped the computer techs would be able to pull valuable information off the numerous computers that were seized at Kat’s hideout. With Alastair Bordeaux dead, the focus was shifted to his partner in crime, Dmitry. They still had yet to uncover the last name for the other man which made it difficult to track him down. The human trafficking industry was growing by leaps and bounds in the United States. Cities that were near major ports seemed to be the central hub for that kind of criminal activity. Liam had originally been investigating the influx of heroin in Biloxi Mississippi, with it leading to the discovery of the human trafficking trade. He now worked side by side with the FBI field office to help bring down the culprits. Bodies were piling up and someone had to put a stop to it. Girls as young as thirteen were bought and sold to wealthy individuals and most ended up dead when they’d served their purpose. Kat was in deep shit for the part she played and Liam wanted to see her put behind bars for the rest of her natural born life.
Blurb for Loose Ends
***Can be read as a stand alone novel***
Ava Greenwood never dreamed she'd be standing at the bus station in Chicago running away from the counterfeit life she'd thought was perfect. On a whim backed by fear, Ava chooses Biloxi Mississippi. Now, the sweet hairstylist must assume a new identity and hope her old life doesn’t catch up with her.
Luke Daughtry has been sent to track Ava down. He has one mission…find the petite blonde and make sure she doesn’t leave the Magnolia State…alive. Everything changes when sparks fly between the two and Luke has doubts about the job he’s been paid to do.
Follow Ava and Luke as they scorch the south and tie up loose ends, in this sweltering romantic suspense from International Bestselling Author, Taylor Dawn.
International Bestselling Author Taylor Dawn began writing as an item to check off her bucket list. She resides in the southernmost part of Illinois, right on the mighty Mississippi river. She enjoys the quiet country life with her husband, son and the many farm animals that make up the rest of the family. Deciding that farm life was just a little too mundane, Taylor began writing romance and fantasy to liven things up, so far so good. Before starting her writing career, Taylor entered the field of cosmetology. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found sitting around a table making people laugh. She has always wanted to be a standup comic. She loves pulling practical jokes, dresses up in a costume every Halloween and believes that dancing is the key to a happy life (even if you aren't a good dancer). She believes that life shouldn't be taken too seriously, we will never get out alive anyway. More than anything, she is a kid at heart, she doesn't believe in bedtimes, eating everything on her plate, or having ice cream only for dessert. Her favorite quote is by Dr. Seuss..."Why fit in, when you were born to stand out."
A PROMISE TO SADIE by JJ Ellis
A PROMISE TO SADIE
A Harper's Rock Legacy Series, Book 2
by JJ Ellis
Genre: Young Adult
PLEASE NOTE: This book deals with teen issues and situations. There is mention of rape due to an abusive relationship (nothing graphic). There is also a theme of teen pregnancy and some "fade to black" petting.
Michael Croft, a sensitive, artistic teen, is trying to decipher his father's tragic and complicated legacy.Then, life presents Michael with the opportunity to help his childhood friend Sadie. He agrees, knowing he would do anything for the girl he loves.
When tragedy strikes the young couple, Michael makes a promise that beings to tear his life apart. But he has a guardian angel watching over him. Can his father's broken past help him face life as it should be? Or will Michael turn his back on the lessons of the past and sabotage his own peace?
By the time Thanksgiving rolled around the snow had returned to Northeastern Wyoming and they couldn’t wait to spend the weekend at the Harper Ranch horseback riding and snowmobiling. “So, are you ready for this?” Michael asked Sadie as they pulled into his grandmother’s driveway.
“Yeah, I can’t wait. I love your large, crazy family.”
“And they love you. I personally can’t wait for tonight. You’re going to love the surprise I have for you.”
“You do know that I’m not fond of surprises, don’t you?”
“I know,” he smirked. “But this one is amazing and I gave you a hint.”
“What, that it involves nighttime, a snowstorm, and a snowmobile? That tells me nothing.”
“It’s all you’re getting, SaySay. And I promise you’ll love it.” At least he hoped she would. It was time to confess his feelings and hope for the best. Tonight was the night.
“Well I better,” she teased. “Or there will be hell to pay.”
Michael opened his door and slipped out of the car. When Sadie didn’t follow, he leaned back in. “What, you’ll make me eat your cooking?” Sticking his tongue out at her, he turned and fled into the warm, cozy house. Sadie was right on his heels.
“Whoa you two,” Evie Harper admonished. “What’s going on here?”
“Nothing, Grandma,” Michael said with a big smile. “I was just telling Sadie how much I love her cooking. And she was telling me how sweet I was.”
Sadie’s look was incredulous. “Michael Harper Croft…”
“Well isn’t that nice,” Evie enthused as she pulled on Sadie’s hand. “I was just saying how I wished I had someone who could help cook half of Thanksgiving dinner for me. Come into the kitchen and I’ll get you an apron.”
Sadie couldn't do anything but follow her as she looked back at Michael in horror. “Uh...Mrs. Harper, I really can’t cook.”
“I figured, dear. We’ll just let my naughty grandson stew in his juices for a while.”
Sadie smiled and relaxed. “I can’t cook but I’m a good helper.”
“I was counting on it,” Evie smiled.
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Anguish
One young man
One desperate decision
Being a teenager is hard enough, but when you have a diagnosis of depression and anxiety life can feel like it is caving in on you. When you add in a new awareness of your sexuality and falling in love for the first time, life can become almost too much to bear.
Ben Harper is determined to make it all work with the help of his best friend and new love, JC Croft. But when his inner demons conspire against him, can he come out on top or will he be crushed by the pressure?
JJ Ellis is first and foremost a mom to five kids, four girls and one boy, ranging in age from 6-22. After that, she is a physically limited wife, blogger and now an author. She holds a degree in Communication Studies (Public Relations) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas but never thought she would choose writing as a career, especially at the age of 42. She once wanted to be a publicist in the entertainment industry, but never a writer. Then one day when she was in her mid-thirties she was going through what can only be described as an early 'midlife crisis' and ideas just started to come to her and she felt compelled to write them down. She finished her first book relatively quickly, but life got in the way and it took her eight years to revisit it and then publish her first novel. She can honestly say that now she is finally right where she wants to be.
JJ has been married to her college sweetheart (and romance novel hero) for twenty-one years and they reside in Casper, WY with their kids and one crazy mutt named Kreuger. She enjoys reading, writing, blogging, computing, and graphic design. She will try anything that will allow her creativity to be released.
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LOVE, MUSIC, MADNESS by Tabitha Rhys
LOVE, MUSIC, MADNESS
by Tabitha Rhys
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Songwriting partners Lawson Harper and Jessa Warlow’s musical ambitions are derailed when their so-called relationship ends disastrously. However, neither Lawson nor Jessa is willing to give up on the album’s worth of soul-searing songs they wrote together—songs they’re sure are good enough to change both their lives.
Will the chemistry that fuels their creativity drive them to make the record of a lifetime, or only to absolute madness?
CHAPTER 1
I had no idea why Jessa Warlow wanted to meet with me. For one thing, I hardly knew her. She was one of my brother’s friends back in high school, but I hadn’t seen her for years. Besides that, Jessa is what I can only call Gunther, Pennsylvania royalty. It’s not just that she’s pretty in an old movie star kind of way. She’s also an artist, and a singer. Everybody in town always swore she’d be on the radio someday. I couldn’t imagine she’d have time to meet up with an old friend’s kid brother for nostalgic purposes only.
I found Jessa’s choice of location just as perplexing. The windows of the bar were blacked out—porno-shop style—and the only patrons under fifty were some greasy rockabilly kids slinking around by the pool tables. In the back of the room, a massive jukebox threw off a radioactive glow, but even that saving grace had been ruined. The rockabilly bastards were playing Morrissey on loop.
I figured Jessa would clear up all my questions as soon as she arrived. The problem was, I’d been parked on a barstool for nearly twenty minutes and she still hadn’t shown. Chances were, she’d changed her mind. Of course, if she had, I wouldn’t know it. I’d never been able to convince myself to shell out for a cell phone, so any last-minute cancellation messages would only end up on the answering machine back at my mother’s house.
After another five minutes alone in a bar redolent of fresh vomit and ancient cigarettes, all I could do was pull my trusty corduroy jacket over my hoodie and prepare to make my exit. But I was too hasty. The second I touched one foot down onto the stained carpet, a hand locked on my wrist.
I looked up in surprise—and straight into Jessa Warlow’s unmistakable cat-like eyes.
She narrowed them and smiled. “Lawson Harper?”
“At, uh . . . at your service,” I said with only a slight stutter.
“I knew it!” Jessa released me and slid onto the barstool to my right. “Though I must say, you look quite different from the last time I saw you. You know, back when you and your little sister used to sit in the kitchen eating peanut butter sandwiches—while your brother’s friends filled your tiny lungs with second-hand smoke.”
I laughed, careful to keep my mouth closed so as not to reveal a set of teeth nobody would want to show off, and gave Jessa a once-over. She had changed too. Her sandy hair, which once fell in a tangle down her back, was now cut neatly at her shoulders. She was also dressed more smartly than I remembered—in a sweater dress and a military-style coat—but her face was still the same. Heart-shaped, with those feline eyes.
“Going to tell me what we’re doing here?” I asked as I cast my gaze around the bar.
She shrugged. “What can I say? I don’t want to run into any of my old friends tonight.”
I couldn’t imagine why Jessa Warlow would want to hide out. If her friends knew she was in town, I was pretty sure they would roll out the red carpet.
“Of course,” Jessa went on, “you’re probably wondering why I wanted to meet with you at all.”
I was. But I had to wait for my answer because, very suddenly, a bug-eyed bloke of a bartender planted his arms in front of us and raised his brows expectantly.
“Gin and tonic,” Jessa tossed out.
I asked for a rum and cola as smoothly as I could. I’d only been twenty-one for a few months, and I didn’t want to come off like a kid. Or an amateur.
If I did, Jessa—who would have been twenty-five, same as my brother—didn’t appear to notice. As soon as the barkeep moved off, she turned back my way. “The first thing I should tell you is that I’m not here in Gunther for a visit. I quit my job in Philadelphia and moved back home just last week.”
That was a surprise. If I ever found a way to get out of Gunther, I’d never come back. Not in a million years. “Why?”
“I had a good job in the design department of a big company, but it wasn’t creative—and I want to be creative again. Very badly. I also want to take another shot at a career as a musician. A serious one this time.”
When the bartender set down our cocktails, cold and sweating, I reached for my wallet.
Jessa knocked my hand away. “I invited you here. I pay.”
I let her. Mostly because I wanted to hear more. Especially the part that had to do with me. “What do you mean by ‘serious’?” I pressed.
“In high school and college, I was always in a rush, too eager to get out in front of a crowd. This time, I want to build out and polish my songs. I want to record them. Make a real record.” Jessa stirred her drink fiercely. “You still play the guitar?”
I watched her ice cubes chase each other around the glass. “I do.” Work and school kept me running, but most nights I fell asleep playing along to one of the old cassettes my father left behind when he skipped town. Sometimes it was the only way I could get my mind quiet.
“Then perhaps,” she said, “you’d like to help me out.”
It took me a few beats to fully comprehend that Jessa Warlow was asking me to write music with her, when I never expected she would remember I played music at all.
I suppressed a smile. “I want to help,” I told her. “The only problem is, I’m not much of a songwriter.”
Jessa considered. “Well, I’ve got lyrics, melodies, chords. All I really need is a guitarist who can add some interesting leads. Maybe a breakdown or two.” She pointed her plastic stirrer in my direction. “We could always meet up for a session at my place and see how it goes. I mean, if you’re interested.”
“I’m interested,” I said, careful not to sound too interested. You know, not creepy-interested. Or desperate-interested. “When did you want to get together?”
I felt Jessa’s eyes brush over me. “How about now?”
“Now? As in right this minute?”
“Unless you want to stay and finish that drink.” She peered into my tepid rum and cola. “How is it anyway?”
“I haven’t had any.”
“Oh good.” Jessa’s hand locked down on my wrist for the second time that night. “Then you can drive.”
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THE AUTHOR
WITCH WANTS FOREVER by Victoria Danann
WITCH WANTS FOREVER
The Witches of Wimberley Book 2
by Victoria Danann
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fantasy
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT TILL IT'S GONE.
Only one thing could be worse than never finding the love of your life...finding her and forgetting.
From New York Times bestselling author, Victoria Danann, "mistress of modern romantic fantasy".
"...illustrated that love is the strongest magic of all."
Rachel can't imagine life without Dashiell Fonteneau. They were the kind of couple who believed they were destined to find each other eons before they were born.Married people, but forever lovers.
When Dash goes to Denver on a business trip that was supposed to last for three days and doesn't come home, Rachel finds herself in conflict with the colony at Wimberley over what to do.
The entire community is in complete agreement when they decide magic can't be used to bring him back. They say she'll have to learn to live without him.
"I was tense the entire time I was reading this book. It keep me riveted. I couldn't put it down."
READERS ARE SAYING: It's the perfect blend of angst, humor, and a little night magic.
A year and odd months earlier, he’d spent a few weeks celebrating finishing his MBA at Tulane. And there was no place better to celebrate anything than the home of Tulane, New Orleans. He was on top of the world. Twenty-six years old with a prestigious degree from a prestigious school and a string of prospective job courtiers lined up to write him a golden ticket. So that he didn’t have to accept the path of least resistance and go to work for his family’s business.
Any day he was going to decide which lucky company would be honored to have him agree to work for them. While he was mulling, he was partying. Right up until the day he got the mysterious invitation to come to an exclusive presentation.
Normally that sort of suggestion would make him scoff and snort at the same time.
He tried throwing the card away. Several times. But would always go get it out of the trash and look at it again. That cycle repeated itself for three days before he called the number and agreed to see what they were offering. Just so his curiosity would be satisfied and he could get back to deciding between serious offers.
He attended the presentation, went to choosing week at Wimberley, and, most important, met Rachel. After that he wouldn’t have cared if he worked as the dog catcher in the world’s tiniest town just as long as he could be near her.
Dash had a tendency to see the world in patterns that largely consisted of numbers. Nature had balanced his business genius by giving him scant imagination and no reason to think he was missing out. So his perception of Rachel as a woman surrounded by light that was a symphony of sparkle and movement, was mesmerizing. Permanently.
In a community full of couples experiencing the kind of marital bliss that was indeed bliss and not intended as tongue-in-cheek snark, Dash and Rachel managed to stand out. It was generally accepted by the residents of the enclave that their relationship was unique.
Dash had given up a career that might have eventually landed him on the cover of Forbes, but once he met Rachel, he no longer cared where he worked. When he’d shown up for the invitational not really knowing why he was there, just like the other guys, he hadn’t needed it to slowly become clear that he was half of a fated match. He saw Rachel across a crowded courtyard and knew instantly where he was supposed to be.
He didn’t need to wait to hear the way her voice slid over his spirit and soothed him like a favorite song. He didn’t need to wait to feel the electricity that arced between them when he shook her hand. He didn’t need to wait to see her blush from the intense way he was visually devouring her.
Dash was more than content to manage the enclave’s money and investments, which benefitted not only the witches and their families, but the residents of Wimberley as well. It was a good fit for his particular talent, skill, and interest. Satisfying to the core.
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Willem
Romance that is destiny laced, fantasy infused, and dressed in a little night magic.
If he leaves, he can never come back. But is he dumb enough to get in his car and drive away anyhow?
New York Times bestselling author, Victoria Danann, begins a sizzling new series about an enclave of modern day witches who are sexy, philanthropic and living in the Texas Hill Country. They're selfless to a fault when it comes to generosity, but when it comes to the men they choose for themselves, they don't settle for anything less than the best.
"Enchanted from the very first page. I couldn't put it down!"
- Night Owl Reviews 5* TOP PICK
While waiting for what would probably be his last acting audition ever, the guy standing in line behind Willem gave him a card with a phone number on it and said, "You're a good looking guy. If you're definitely quitting, try the witches."
Willem took the card for the sake of being polite. He planned to throw it away, but didn't. Crazy as it sounded, it seemed like the card was bugging him. It even kept him awake when he put it in the refrigerator.
He called the number, entered the competition and won. Winning meant getting everything he'd never even dared to dream about.
USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Victoria Danann, is making her debut into Contemporary Romance with releases in May and June 2015, after taking the world of PNR by storm.
Her Knights of Black Swan series won BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES TWO YEARS IN A ROW (2013, 2014). Reviewers Choice Awards, The Paranormal Romance Guild.
Victoria's 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 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, psychics, past life therapists, or financial analysts from Dallas. Her heroes are hot and hunky, but they also have brains, character, and good manners - usually - whether they be elves, demons, berserkers, werewolves, or vampires.
The first book of the Knights of Black Swan Paranormal Romance Series, My Familiar Stranger, was nominated for Best Paranormal Romance of 2012 by both Reviewers' Choice and Readers' Choice Awards. All of her books have opened on the Amazon Best Sellers list and earned Night Owl Reviews TOP PICK awards. Many have appeared on Listopia BOOK OF THE MONTH as #1 across all genres.
For books published in 2013, Black Swan won three awards. 1. Best Paranormal Romance Series 2. Best Paranormal Romance Novel - A SUMMONER'S TALE 3. Best Vampire~Shifter Novel - MOONLIGHT. In 2014, Solomon's Sieve won Best Vampire Novel.
If you're interested in Victoria personally, she is also a classically trained musician who defected to Classic Rock music. Until 2013 she was the utility player for Houston's Roadhouse band, which means she played rhythm guitar, keyboards, sang back ups and female leads. Her band covered everything (note for note) from Styx to Led Zepellin to Rush.
She lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and a very smart, mostly black German Shepherd dog.
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