Robyn Bachar's Blog

Author Thursday: Interview with Casey Wyatt

Interview1. What inspired this book?

Cherry Cordial, the heroine. From the moment she appeared in my mind during a car drive, I had to write her story. She arrived, personality large as life, which rarely happens until I’m about 30,000 words into a story. She was a like a gift. And her story, a vampire stripper who is forced to join a colony of undead on Mars – how often does one get to write something that fun?

2. What was the most difficult part about working on this book?

Getting the order of events straight. Even though this book was mostly written in a linear fashion, there were parts that I spliced in. That is always tricky and hard to do when you’re in the thick of writing. The other challenge was trying not to get bogged down in scientific jargon or details. The book is, what I would class as, urban fantasy even though it’s in a sci-fi setting. We learn more and more about Mars every day thanks to those plucky rovers. I didn’t want to be so specific that I dated the book or bored my readers. I do have to say I had a lot of fun playing with Google Mars (do check it out!)
3. Who is your favorite character in this book?

I love Cherry. She’s my girl. I love her sass and her spirit in the face of crazy circumstances. She does things that I wouldn’t be brave enough to do like taking her clothes off on stage and not batting an eyelash.

4. What are you reading now or what books do you have in your TBR pile?

I read several books at a time. For non-fiction: Grain Brain by David Perlmutter, M.D. and for fiction I just finished Dr. DOA by Simon R. Green and, manga, The Heroic Legend of Arslan #1 – 4 by Yoshiki Tanaka and Hiromu Arakawa.

5. What are you working on now?

Dead Girls Don’t Sing, book 2 of the series. I’m also preparing to work on another paranormal romance in the fall once I complete the first draft of Dead Girls Don’t Sing.

Think Fast Questions
Sweet or spicy? Spicy

Hot or cold? Hot

Wine or beer? Neither

Series or standalone? Series

Print or e-book? E-book

Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Info Cherry Cordial, vampire stripper extraordinaire, spectacularly messes up her life with a single act of kindness. How could she have known when she rescued gorgeous rogue Ian McDevitt that she would be implicated in the vampire queen’s murder?

Soon, she faces the wrath of the entire vampire community. To escape retribution, she joins a settlement program to colonize Mars. Her choices are grim: hurtle through space to the red planet to face the unknown and possible death, or stay on Earth and face certain annihilation.

To make things even more complicated, a certain gorgeous rogue seems to be shadowing her every move...

Available at Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, and BN.

Excerpt
Suddenly, I wasn’t the biggest, baddest thing on the block.

Revenants.

They always traveled in packs. Enough of them could take me down. Revenants were cousins to vampires, undead beings with too much spirit. Essentially ghosts with physical reality.

I picked up the pace, steering toward the middle of the street and well away from dark corners. If I had a heart rate, it would have been pounding. My blood was rare and prized. One sip and the revenants would keep me alive to serve as a drink dispenser.

I fished through my bag. Where was my cell? Jonathan would come. Provided I could find the damn phone.

Meaty thwacks rang out in the alley as I passed by.

Do not look.

A soft oomph, followed by a clipped English accent, “Try that again, bastards.”

I looked.

Shit.

A lone and gorgeous male vampire had been captured. Three revenants had him pinned against the wall. Two held his arms and one pinned his legs. Three more surrounded him like a pack of knife-wielding hyenas.

The vampire snarled. Long fangs bared, presumably pissed off at his capture. With his sculptured physique, he could handle the situation. Right?

None of the baddies had noticed me yet. I could leave.

Another punch landed, connecting with the vamp’s mouth. The crack echoed in the alley. Liquid splattered, followed by cruel laughter. The vampire hottie spat, his lip broken. Blood trickled down his jaw, seeping into the stark white collar of his button down shirt. “Think twice before you cut me, mate. I’ll smash all of your fucking heads in.”

“Shut up, meat.”

One added, “I’m so scared,” before swinging his knife and tearing a gash in the vampire’s chest. The pack laughed. A revenant approached the vampire with IV bags.

Crap-a-roni, now I had to get involved. They planned to bleed him out. That’s what revenants did. They took a vampire’s blood and drained him or her dry. The blood was then sold to the highest revenant bidder. They believed our blood could remove the excess spirit from their bodies, returning them to their true vampire form.

Problem is—it’s a myth. There’s no way for a revenant to become a vampire, any more than I could become a zebra if I wanted to. These guys were zealots. Deranged lunatics.

“This is your last warning, blokes,” Mr. Sexy English accent said. I tried not to shiver at the sound of his rich voice. Heady whiffs of his sweet scented blood drifted my way. Like a fine wine, the smell promised a delicious and satisfying taste. Saliva pooled in my mouth. My fangs dug into my bottom lip.

“Well lookee here!”

Damn. I should have run when I had the chance. The pack turned in my direction, their faces eager for more blood. I cringed under the gaze of the hollow-eyed, pale-skinned nightmares who all wanted a piece of me.

The nearest one licked his gray, rubbery lips. “Yum. Dessert.”

About the Author

Casey Wyatt grew up in a mid-size Connecticut town where nothing exciting ever happened. To stem the boredom, she spent plenty of time reading fantasy and sci-fi novels and imagining her own adventures in her head. Not much has changed since she’s grown up, only now she shares those made up stories with her readers and earns a coin or two.
Newsletter: http://goo.gl/EtyaitWebsite: www.caseywyatt.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/casey.wyatt.37Twitter: @CaseyWyatt1Tumblr: http://caseywyatt.tumblr.com/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caseywyatt37/

Author Thursday: Interview with Sharon Ashwood

Interview1. What inspired this book?

I love putting new spins on old legends. What would the Knights of the Round Table—and their immortal enemies—do if they were dropped into modern times? Sure, the knights were heroic, sexy, and brave, but they had real emotions and foibles. Our world and the people in it are very different for them—especially since they have to do their heroics in secret. Add romance to the mix and let the fun begin.

2. What was the most difficult part about working on this book?

The Camelot stories have their roots in Arthurian legends, which some readers know well and others not at all. I’m careful to fill in the background so that no previous knowledge of the stories is necessary, and I do that without big chunks of explanation. It takes some time to get that right so everything is smooth and fast-paced.

3. Who is your favorite character in this book?

I love the version of Merlin I’ve created. He’s very wounded and guilty and has more secrets than even I know about. He’s a minor character but he really wanted to steal the show. Maybe someday I’ll let him.
4. What are you reading now or what books do you have in your TBR pile?

I just started Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara. I love her Elantra series because it beautifully balances serious and funny themes. That mix makes her stories believable even though they are set in a fantasy world.

5. What are you working on now?

Royal Enchantment, which is the next Camelot book.

Think Fast Questions
Sweet or spicy?

Are we talking books or food? Either way, a bit of both.

Hot or cold?

Cold. I’m a northern girl.

Wine or beer?

Wine, but I do like a good IPA.

Series or standalone?

Series. If I like a world, I want to hang out for a bit.

Print or e-book?

I read both, but I get tired of screens after working on a computer all day. E-ink is the best of both worlds.

Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Info Enchanted Guardian- A love of legendary proportion

In another time, in a place once known as Camelot, they had been lovers. Torn apart by betrayal and lies, Lancelot Du Lac and Nimueh, the Lady of the Lake, had each suffered greatly.

But the magic of the fae had reawakened a man once trapped in stone, and Lancelot was determined to find his long lost love. Only, Nim was desperate to hide her fae soul, as she was marked for death by their mutual enemy.

Though centuries apart had not diminished their passion, they would once again face a dangerous test to prove each was the other’s destiny.

Book Trailer https://youtu.be/btP6qzxOmpk

Available at Amazon, BN, Harlequin, Kobo, iBooks, and The Book Depository.

Excerpt
Lancelot caught her arm, pulling her up short. Nim scowled down at the long, strong fingers. Fine scars ran along his tanned knuckles, evidence of a life around blades. Heaviness filled her, a primitive reaction to the strong, aggressive male taking control of her in the most basic way. Once it might have grown into anger or lust, but now it confused her.

“Take your hand off me,” she said, letting her voice fill with frost.

“No.” He pulled her closer, turning her to face him. “You will answer my questions.”

Nim jerked her arm free. They were so close, she could feel his warm breath against her skin. “About what?”

His nostrils flared as if scenting her. Still, Nim studied his tense jaw and the blood flushing his high cheekbones. The heat of his emotions made her feel utterly hollow. His hand closed around her wrist again, almost crushing her bones.

“There are too many people here,” he growled.

“There are enough people here for safety. Perhaps I don’t want to answer you.”

His eyes held hers a moment, dark fire against the ice of her spirit. That seemed to decide him, for he pulled her close and took a better grip on her arm. “Come with me.”

“Where?”

He didn’t reply, but steered her toward the door, moving so fast she skittered on her heels. She took the opportunity to pull against him, but this time he held her fast. “Don’t.”

The threat was real. Her fighting skills were nothing compared to a knight’s. Lancelot could crush or even kill her with a single blow. Still, that didn’t make her helpless, and she would not let him forget that fact. Rising up on her toes, she put her mouth a mere whisper from his ear. “You forget what I can do. My magic is nothing less than what it was when I was the first among the fae noblewomen. I can defend myself against your brute strength.”

Just not against what he’d done to her heart. She closed her eyes a moment, feeling his breath against her cheek and remembering the past for a long moment before she denied herself that luxury. “Let me go,” she repeated.

In response, he pulled her to the side of the building, refusing to stop until he was deep into the shadows. The ground was little more than cracked concrete there, tufts of grass straggling between the stones. He pushed her against the siding, her back pressed to the rough wood. “Not until I’ve had my say.”

He had both of her arms now, prisoning Nim with the hard, muscled wall of his chest. Anyone walking by might glimpse two lovers in a private tête-à-tête, but Nim drew back as far as she could, something close to anger rising to strike. No one handled her this way, especially not him.

“Then talk,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Aren’t you even surprised to see me?” he demanded.

“Why should I be?” She needed to squash any personal connection between them. Even if she was whole and their people were not at war, he had betrayed her.

He put a hand against her cheek, his fingers rough. She jerked her chin away, burning where his touch had grazed her.

But he was relentless. “I’m told you were caught by Merlin’s spell along with the rest. I know what the fae have become.”

Soulless. As good as dead inside. Lancelot didn’t say the words, but she heard them all the same. “It’s true,” she replied. “It’s all true.”

His expression was stricken as if hearing it from her lips was poison. Good, she thought. Better to be honest. Better that he believe her to be the monster she was.

“Maybe that’s true for some. I don’t believe that about you. You still have too much fire.”

With that, he claimed her mouth in an angry kiss. Nim caught her breath, stifling a cry of true surprise. The Lancelot she’d known had been gentle and eager to please. Nothing like this. And yet the clean taste of him was everything she remembered.

His mouth slanted, breaking past the barrier of her lips to plunder her mouth. The hunger in him was bruising, going far beyond the physical to pull at something deep in her belly. Desire, perhaps, or heartbreak. She wasn’t sure any longer, but she couldn’t stop herself from nipping at his lip, yearning to feel what she had lost. A sigh caught in her throat before she swallowed it down. Surely she was operating on reflex, the memory of kisses. Not desire she might feel now. The warmth and weight of him spoke to something older than true emotion. Even a reptile could feel comfort in the sun. Even she…

Still, that little encouragement was all the permission he needed to slide his hand up her hip to her waist and she could feel the pressure of his fingers. Lancelot was as strong as any fae male, strong enough certainly to overpower her. That had thrilled her once, a guilty admission she’d never dared to make. She’d been so wise, so scholarly, so magical, but an earthy male had found the liquid center of heat buried under all that logic and light. They had always sparked like that, flint against steel.

But then his hand found her breast and every muscle in her stiffened. This was too much. Memory was one thing, but she wasn’t the same now and she refused to have a physical encounter that was nothing more than a ghost of what it should be.

Nim pushed him away. “I don’t want this.”

Something in her look finally made him stop, but his eyes glittered with arousal. “Are you certain about that?”

About the Author

Sharon Ashwood is a novelist, desk jockey and enthusiast for the weird and spooky. She has an English literature degree but works as a finance geek. Interests include growing her to-be-read pile and playing with the toy graveyard on her desk. As a vegetarian, she freely admits the whole vampire/werewolf lifestyle would never work out, so she writes her adventures instead.

Sharon is the winner of the RITA® Award for Paranormal Romance. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness.
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sharonashwood/Newsletter: http://www.sharonashwood.com/newsletter/Blog: http://www.sharonashwood.com/daily-strange/Website: http://www.sharonashwood.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/SharonAshwoodFacebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/authorsharonashwood

Author Thursday: Spotlight on The Judas Contact by Heather Long

Book Info
Hope may prove their most dangerous threat.

Doctor Ilsa Blaine

Codename: Doc

Abilities: Designs programmable bioware, enhanced understanding of brain chemistry

Mission: Research, analyze and troubleshoot the team’s active microchips

On the cutting edge of neuroscience, Ilsa is developing microchips that can be inserted into the brain and deliver information. The applications are endless, but her current goal is just to get dogs to return to their owners should they ‘become lost.’ When her college roommate turns up asking for lunch, she’s hardly prepared for the chaos that ensues or the revelation her chip changed the world, and the lives of five heroes from the future. And now they need her help…

Garrett Fox

Codename: The Viper

Abilities: toxins, poisons and assassination, he can kill with a touch

Mission: Protect Ilsa Blaine

One of five desperate men sent back in time to save the future, Garrett volunteers to be the doctor’s guinea pig as she studies their neuro-chips. It’s not his first time being a lab rat. In close quarters, the unthinkable happens—an attraction that could kill Ilsa. Drawn together by science, and on the fast track to destiny, Ilsa and Garrett must save his team from their chips before they can end them, and maybe Ilsa can prove to Garrett he isn’t toxic to everything he touches…least of all her.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. An alliance with the modern day Halo has given their leader a taste of hope. For these five lonely soldiers, the single emotion may prove their most dangerous threat.

Available at ARe, Amazon, Kobo, and iTunes.
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

“You don’t have to do this, Garrett. Drake and Rex both volunteered to take your place.” Simon came down to the main level of the warehouse to help him but, instead of loading the van, he studied Garrett’s profile.

“It’s not a problem. I’m the most logical choice. I’ve already developed a rapport with the doctor.” He selected a crate of dried foods. Cooking wasn’t something he enjoyed, but he could add water and heat with the best of them. He liked the noodle cups. They actually reminded him of his childhood.

An oddly pleasant sensation, rather than a painful memory, filled him with every serving.

“Walk me through it again.” Simon let the argument go for the time being, but Garrett wasn’t fooled by his mild tone or patient expression. The telepath may invade their minds upon request, but he kept his own thoughts buttoned up tight.

“We have the estate on the other end of Long Island. It’s extensive and heavily fortified—she can work there. It’s late in the season for the normal tourists, which will provide us with a quiet cover. Once we’re embedded, we’re going to stay in lockdown. I can use an electronic jammer to block cell signals. Depending on how long it takes the doc to finish her work, we’ll check in every day.” The plan was hardly complicated.

“Closest neighbors?”

“Over a thousand yards. The location is a prime piece of real estate with its own beach. Motion sensors will alert me to any arrivals. No one from the team will approach without notifying me ahead of time. You do realize that this is hardly my first picnic."

“How are you feeling about Ilsa?”

Garrett swung around to meet Simon’s paler than pale gaze without a trace of humor. “She’s a means to an end. That’s it. She may prove helpful to the cause. Beyond that, I feel very little.”

Which wasn’t entirely the truth but, unless Simon dug down past Garrett’s innate defenses, it was the only truth he planned on sharing. The woman was beautiful, curvy, and real. She possessed a wildly keen intelligence, but he hadn’t missed the way her eyes lit up or the excitement that teased her nipples beneath the too thin shirt as she hammered them with questions about the chip.

Protect her. The chip’s command aside, he understood his task. Keeping her alive to do her work helped the mission. The entire plan fell within an acceptable parameter.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it. Any unusual urges where she is concerned?”

“You mean lust?” Garrett snorted. “No, my brain is still in my head. I haven’t turned into a hulk of monosyllabic testosterone driven by the urge to strip her naked at the first opportunity.” Although he imagined she would be as lovely without her clothes as she was with them. Her height and generous curves gave her a soft, lush look.

“It’s a valid question. You’ve already established a bond with her, volunteered to let her study you and inserted yourself into an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous position. If you flip, it could have severe consequences.” Michael might be their tactical strategist and leader, but Simon counseled their souls. He kept them whole and on track with his unflinching logic and patience.

“You mean if I go all caveman à la Michael? No. Not likely. It didn’t bother me that you were all in the room or talking to her. I doubt that will change during the course of her work. Besides, if necessary, I can put the doc out without harming her physically or mentally. Until we know what she knows, we need to keep her healthy.” Finished with that aspect of the conversation, he inspected the supplies he’d stored. “Will Rory be able to get the FMRI thing? I know we have the rest of the pieces she asked for.” They’d converted the wine cellar of the Hamptons estate into a medical facility. They only used it periodically if an injury were too severe for their high functioning metabolisms to handle.

Which meant not often.

Simon’s brows knitted together. “Garrett…this might be more difficult for you than you realized. It could wake up a lot of dormant memories.”

“I appreciate the concern but enough with the touchy feely crap. This is a job, no different than every other job we’ve done since we got here. The chips are active. We need answers. She can provide us with answers. End of story.” His temper edged toward frost. “Clear?”

“Clear.” Simon exhaled and held his hands up. “But you call us if you need us.”

“Yes, father. I will call you if I have a booboo that needs a Band-Aid. Or maybe I’ll call Michael if I get the sudden urge to go skipping through the daisies with the doc.” He was done playing the game. The faster they got the scientist to work, the faster this would be over. It was a job.

No different than the hundred other jobs they’d performed, great and small, in the last four decades. He checked the gear one last time and shut the van up.

Absolutely no difference.

It was a job.

About the Author

National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories, her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.
Website: http://heatherlong.net/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherLongAuthorTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/HVLong

Author Thursday: Interview with Juliette Cross

Interview1. What inspired this book?

I tend to romanticize harsh, cold weather conditions (possibly because I live in pavement-melting south Louisiana), so I decided to set my characters on a journey through a frozen wilderness fraught with outlaws and dangerous beasties. That was the first inspiration. But the prime motivation was for my MCs to go on a hunt for a witch who could give them answers about their enemy. And amidst the cold and danger, they’d be forced to face their attraction for one another.

2. What was the most difficult part about working on this book?

The chapters from the villain’s POV was a challenge, but also interesting to write. I find the villains you can sometimes sympathize with to be the best kinds. We’ll see what readers think.
3. Who is your favorite character in this book?

Conn is my favorite. I like flirty, snarky heroes. But a close second is Bastien Silverback, a new secondary character we meet in Aria. And yes, he WILL have his own book. (A few readers have already asked. Lol.)

4. What are you reading now or what books do you have in your TBR pile?

I’m currently reading Shelley Laurenston’s The Unleashing, a rec from a friend. It’s a highly original concept, and I’m enjoying it. I also really want to start Darynda Jones’ series as some of my friends keep talking about it. I tend to stick to paranormal/fantasy romance. Go figure.

5. What are you working on now?

Believe it or not, I’m writing a prequel for the Vale of Stars, DRAGON HEARTSTRING. It’s the love story between the stern businessman Demetrius Cade and the demure healer Shakara Icewing. And it’s the first story with a human man and Morgon woman as the MCs. I’d decided I needed to write this one while I was in production with WAKING THE DRAGON, but unavoidable circumstances kept making me put it off. I’m excited to finally add this one to the list.

Think Fast Questions
Sweet or spicy? Spicy.

Hot or cold? Cold.

Wine or beer? Wine.

Series or standalone? Series.

Print or e-book? Ebook.

Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Info When desire bites, there’s no patience for a slow burn.

While all seems quiet in Gladium Province, the Morgon Guard—the global justice force for the dragon hybrid race—knows their enemy is rebuilding its forces in the underground.

Valla Moonring, an assassin for the Order of the Morgon Guard, is ordered on a mission into the Wastelands of Aria—a formidable, icy wilderness fraught with all manner of dangers, including outlaws, deadly weather, and big-game predators.

To her great distaste, she’s partnered with a Nightwing Security operative, Conn Rowanflame, a Morgon with the aggravating ability to get under her skin. While she takes her mission seriously, Conn’s confident charm throws her off balance, a dangerous place to be in conditions like these. Especially when cold nights require close contact.

Sensual attraction binds them ever closer, igniting a passion of unexpected force—the soulfire. But when the hunters become the hunted, their bond could prove perilous. Even fatal…

Dragon in the Blood is available at Amazon.

Excerpt
Conn slowed his descent as treetops came into view beyond the fading mist, which had thinned to nearly nothing in the past hour. Whipping open my wings, I landed softly on the hard ground among a grove of evergolds. Even in this frozen tundra, the giants famous for their flora of fire-gold leaves grew tall and thick-branched in abundance. I lifted my visor to a brilliant burst of color that contrasted against the brown earth and snow-swept embankments.

Bowen landed quietly behind me. “How about some lunch before we set out on foot?” He removed and tucked away his visor and unpacked his crossbow from its sheath on his back for the first time on this journey.

“Let’s get into the cover of trees,” said Conn, moving along the natural path. “And lunch sounds perfect.”

“Benta’s breakfast wasn’t enough for you?” I asked, meeting his long stride.

“I always have an appetite, sweetheart.”

“While you two continue flirting, I’ll find some small game nearby. Set up the hotpad over near that big evergold.”

Without a sound, Bowen disappeared into the trees.

“Flirting?” I scoffed. “I wasn’t flirting.”

“I was.” Conn grinned.

“Stop it.”

“I haven’t even gotten started yet.”

“You’re infuriating.”

“So you’ve said before.”

“Listen—” I put up both gloved hands to stop his snarky banter for just one second. “I’m glad we’re finally alone.”

“Me, too.” His lopsided grin made my heart flutter.

Exhaling a frustrated sigh, I stopped under a thick oak with ample coverage from above and unhooked my chest pack before dropping it to the ground. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about…about last night.”

“Mmm. Last night.”

He removed his own pack and gloves, then pulled out the small, electronic hotpad. After opening the tripod that kept it off the ground, he turned it on. Gisa ordered us to use the hotpad instead of fire when we were in the open to avoid alerting predators or criminals to our presence.

Conn stood and propped his hands low on his hips. “Would you like a second round?”

About the Author

Juliette lives in lush, moss-laden Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids, and black lab, Kona. Multi-published author of paranormal and urban fantasy romance, she loves reading and writing brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.
Website: https://www.juliettecross.com/Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Juliette-Cross/e/B00MQ18Z1W/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliettecrossauthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/Juliette__CrossPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/crossjuliette/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7795664.Juliette_CrossNewsletter: http://eepurl.com/XeKIn

Author Thursday: Spotlight on Waylaid by TL Reeve

Book Info Trust no one.

Les-Tar Nar is out for revenge. After watching his brother compete and die in the Intergalactic Virtual Reality Games, he’s ready to kick ass and take names—as the humans would say. Armed with his military training, the Venusian doesn’t want or need a team. But, all is not what it seems.

Auven, Cyborg from the planet Kapor 9, is aware of how the game is played and ready to bend it to his will. Anything a human made can be destroyed. So, when he is paired up with a Venusian and a human, he knows his chance of winning grows exponentially. With Les-Tar’s muscle, even a human who has no skills won’t hold them back.

Hacker Lyna Hiat isn’t even interested in the games. As a small time video game de-constructer, she spends her days finding flaws in the systems and improving games—almost lifting the veil of sorts and showing gamers just how inferior their products really are.

When the IGVRG begin, a glitch in the system transfers the game and gamers from the virtual level to reality, leaving them on the run with no true winners or losers. The only way to survive: get off the planet. Where they’ll end up, no one knows. All that’s important right now is survival.

Waylaid is available at ARe.
Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway

California had long since became a ghost state, due to insufficient rains, and a culture of “take, take, take” had seen the state’s natural resources vanish. The idea of a delicate ecosystem being destroyed by the human condition disturbed Les, if not disgusted him. The bountiful lakes and rivers of Venus trumped the small oceans and waterways he’d seen so far on Earth, and a lot of it had to do with Venusians respecting the world around them. They cultivated the land. Helped to make it flourish, and didn’t use more than necessary. Most would call him or his people arrogant; he called them natural born conservationists.

As he stepped farther into the lobby, beings from different planets signed in at their designated areas, then scurried about. The cacophony of noise surrounding him made his ears ring. Vibrant colors and glorious clothing designs dotted the foyer. To see so many cultures together in one space filled him with a sense of pride. Content to walk about, Les sized up his competition. In his estimate, none of the present species compared to him. At one time, he’d been part of the warrior class of Venusians, sworn to defend his home planet and others until to his dying breath.

Until 2255.

Five Earth years ago, his brother left the battlefield and joined the IVRG games, hoping to showcase the warrior prowess of the Venusian people.

Les watched the games via the holodeck of his battleship. With each level Kreus passed with his team, Les knew they were one step closer to winning. But, as the game opened on the very last day, and the instructions were given, a large explosion ripped through the playing field.

In the beginning, he thought what they were seeing had been part of the level—even with the guttural screams of those who were injured. Yet, it took seeing his brother being struck by a projectile—blue blood pouring from his chest—to realize it wasn’t part of the level, and something terrible had happened.

The minute Kreus hit the ground, Les knew he had to avenge his brother’s death. None of the competitors were supposed to die. In fact, new rules were put into place after the 2060 games to prevent such from happening.

A year after those first fateful games, an initial investigation had begun. By 2062, a trickle of arrests were made. However, it did nothing to bring back those who were killed. The transcripts from the Intergalactic Judicial Committee showed a diabolical plan to systematically kill anyone who might have a penchant to overthrow any of the galactic governments.

Instead of cultivating the gamers’ skills and intelligence, they sought to destroy it. Unfortunately, their scheme had been cut short when those players’ family members became increasingly suspicious when communication with the winners had been shut off. When the trials were over, a mass grave had been found on an uninhabited planet. Nothing, due to the soil content and instability of the atmosphere, could be retrieved. Each family, including his, were given a small vile of sand, kept in a hermetically sealed container. One they were instructed to never open.

“Welcome, Les-Tar Nar.” A small Kreotien stood before him. The adolescent female gazed up at him with bright iridescent eyes. She blinked, the thin inner membrane, almost like an Earth bird’s, closed first then the outer lid. Her purple and blue hair had been cut into a short bob, and she wore a shimmery silk multicolored dress. “Have you signed in yet?”

Contestants upon arrival on Earth had a small dermal translator patch placed behind their ear, translating each language into one primary form, English. It made communication easier with one universal language, but it didn’t mean it was easy to master. “Not yet,” he answered, “I arrived a half hour ago.”

“Then I shall assist you. My name is Ka’lecka Nor. This way,” she said, motioning him to follow.

About the Author

TL Reeve, a multi-published author with Cobblestone Press, Decadent Publishing, Evernight Publishing, and Loose-Id, was born out of a love of family and a bond that became unbreakable. Living in Alabama, TL misses Los Angeles, and will one-day return to the beaches of Southern California to ride the waves at Huntington Beach. When not writing something hot and sexy, TL can be found curled up with a good book, or working on homework with a cute little pixie.
Website: www.tlreeves.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorreeve.tl2Twitter: https://twitter.com/tl_reeve

Author Tuesday: Interview with Rachel Rawlings

Interview1. What inspired this book?

I was driving on I-95 and Heaven Knows by The Pretty Reckless came on the radio. By the time the song was over I had a beginning, middle and end roughed out in my mind. Par for the course when I write, we detoured a little. I’m a fly by the seat of my pants kind of writer so I learned a while ago to just listen to the voices in my head.

2. What was the most difficult part about working on this book?

Payable On Death came a little easier than I expected. At first, because this is a new series, there was an awkward getting to know you phase between with the characters but once we got acquainted it was smooth sailing. I really enjoyed working on this book and the second in the series is going just a smooth. Of course, now that I’ve said that I’ll hit the wall, lol!

3. Who is your favorite character in this book?

Jax She had a rough time before the start of her journey and has a lot thrown at her in Payable On Death but she perseveres. She’s tough and pretty much a no nonsense kind of girl.
4. What are you reading now or what books do you have in your TBR pile?

I’m reading Priceless by Shannon Mayer and I have Nora Roberts Dark Witch series on my night stand. Yes, all three because I didn’t know they existed until a friend gave the set to me as a gift! I know, I know- I can’t believe I haven’t read them either.

5. What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a couple of things. Payable On Demand, the second book in Jax’s trilogy, A Haunted Life which is a stand alone ghost story and the next Maurin Kincaide book. Payable On Demand is talking to me the most so it’s getting a larger portion of my attention but I’m still working on the other two when I can.

Think Fast Questions
Sweet or spicy?

Sweet! I have a terrible sweet tooth. Cookies and brownies are a major downfall for me, lol!

Hot or cold?

Hot- if we’re talking beverages. Temperature, not so much, lol.

Wine or beer?

Wine. I never did develop a pallet for beer. Cider is the closest I get to beer.

Series or standalone?

Oh toughie! I’m going to go with series.

Print or e-book?

Another toughie! Hmmm, probably print. I am still a sucker for the look, feel and smell of print editions.

Book Info A deal with the Devil. Demons haunting your every step. When an Angel offers you the chance to redeem yourself, you take it. Because eternal damnation isn't all it's cracked up to be.

But the Devil always gets his due.

On the streets of Baltimore redemption is..... Payable On Death.

Available at Amazon, Kobo, and iTunes.

About the Author

Rachel Rawlings was born and raised in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. Her family, originally from Rhode Island, spent summers in New England sparking her fascination with Salem, MA. She has been writing fictional stories and poems since middle school, but it wasn't until 2009 that she found the inspiration to create her heroine Maurin Kincaide and complete her first full length novel, The Morrigna.

When she isn't writing, Rachel can often be found with her nose buried in a good book. An avid reader of Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Horror and Steampunk herself, Rachel founded Hallowread- an interactive convention for both authors and fans of those genres.

More information on Hallowread, its schedule of events and participating authors can be found at www.hallowread.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/Hallowread.

She still lives in Maryland with her husband and three children.
Websites: www.rachelrawlings.com and www.authorrachelrawlings.comTwitter: @rachelsbooksFacebook: www.facebook.com/themaurinkincaideseries and www.facebook.com/hallowreadTsu: www.tsu.co/@rachelsbooksGoodreads Author Page: http://goo.gl/FZW0RNAmazon Author Page: http://goo.gl/Q6Ubn1

Book Blast: City of Hope and Ruin

Book Info Every night the monsters hunt.

A city that is the whole world: Theosophy and her companions in the City militia do their best to protect the civilians from the monsters, but they keep crawling from the Rift and there’s nowhere to run. Theosophy knows she’ll die fighting. It’s the best kind of death she’s seen, and at least she can save lives in the meantime.

They say the Scarred carve you up while you’re still alive.

A village in the shadow of a forest: Refugees from the border whisper about the oncoming Scarred, but Briony can’t convince her brother to relocate his children to safety. Briony will do anything to protect them. She owes them that much, even if it means turning to forbidden magic.

When Theosophy and Briony accidentally make contact across the boundaries of their worlds, they realize that solutions might finally be within reach. A world beyond the City would give Theosophy’s people an escape, and the City’s warriors could help Briony protect her family from the Scarred. Each woman sees in the other a strength she lacks—and maybe something more.

All they need to do is find a way across the dimensions to each other before their enemies close in.

City of Hope and Ruin is on sale for $0.99 for Kindle or Nook, and here is a multi-region buy link for ebook.

Giveaway
The authors will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Be sure to follow the tour and comment--the more you comment, the better your chances of winning! Tour dates can be found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

First, when I heard the magic words "Fantasy with LGBTQ romance" I was definitely this:



Because this is a genre I want to read more of. And so far I have no complaints with City of Hope and Ruin. ;) I'm enjoying the characters and I love the world building. As a gamer, any setting that makes me think "Oooh, I'd love to play/run a campaign in that!" is a win.

I'll have more once I've finished reading, but so far it's:


ExcerptThe spirit was beautiful, a tall, statuesque woman who had a hard glint in her eyes. Her hair was short, indigo blue through the glow and tightly curled, her skin a lighter shade over wiry muscles. One hand clenched a smallish item made of metal, the other a long tube with some kind of blade on the end. Briony had never seen anyone like her. Though she glanced around and held her body like someone expecting danger, her bearing was proud and strong, and every inch of her spoke of power and competency. A warrior. Briony had heard stories of them, left over from the Great War, but had never seen one herself.

Was that when this woman was from? The War?

“The trio—the monsters—where am I?”

Briony realized she hadn’t responded, and that perhaps this spirit had been looking for someone to talk to for a very long time, and maybe she would assume Briony couldn’t see or hear her either. “Don’t be afraid,” she said.

The spirit's eyebrows rose. "That's a...never mind. What is this place?"

“Well,” Briony started, taking a step forward. But her ankle buckled and she stumbled, managing to catch herself before she fell.

“You’re injured,” said the spirit. “Were you attacked?”

“Yes—you see, there was a Fracture back there, and—” Confusion crossed the spirit’s face. Maybe she was even older; maybe she didn’t know about the War.

About the Author

It is a little known fact that Kit was raised in the wild by a marauding gang of octopuses. It wasn't until she was 25 that she was discovered by a traveling National Geographic scientist and brought back to civilization. This is sometimes apparent in the way that she attempts to escape through tubes when startled.

Her transition to normalcy has been slow, but scientists predict that she will have mastered basics such as fork use sometime in the next year. More complex skills, such as proper grocery store etiquette, may be forever outside her reach.

Kit can be found cavorting about the web at her blog or website, on Pinterest, and even occasionally on Twitter.

Siri Paulson writes all over the fantasy and science fiction spectrum, including (so far) secondary-world fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, Gothic, historical paranormal, and YA with spaceships. She is also the chief editor at Turtleduck Press. Siri grew up in Alberta, Canada, but now lives in an old house in Toronto. By day, she edits non-fiction for the government. Her other current passion is contra dance, a social/folk dance done to live Celtic and roots music. Her favourite places in the world are the Canadian Rocky Mountains and a little valley in Norway.

Siri's short fiction and the anthologies she has edited can be found on Turtleduck Press, at http://turtleduckpress.com/wordpress/2010/11/30/who-is-siri-paulson/. She blogs at https://siripaulson.wordpress.com/ and tweets at http://twitter.com/Siri_Paulson.

Book Blast: Stare Him Down by Riley Murphy

Book Info
This Dom’s life is turned upside down when he agrees to enter into a modern-day marriage of convenience with a woman who’s sassy and vanilla.

Only problem?

She’s not vanilla. And the side of sassy she comes with is sure to get them both into trouble when he finds out.

Giveaway
Riley will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Make sure to follow the tour and comment--the more you comment, the better your chances of winning! Tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-blast-stare-him-down-by-riley.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway
ExcerptJames waited until Mickey stopped on the bottom step. They were almost eye-to-eye between the boots she was wearing and the additional inches afforded by the stair riser. “Did I misread the invitation?” He let his gaze flicker down to her snugly fit bustier. “Are costumes required?”

“Nope, just for me. Don’t you like it? The kids are going to love it.”

No he did not like it. And as for the kids? “Is this an all-boys hospital?”

She made a face that said he was being a jerk, and then tilted her head as though assessing him. “Why would you ask that? Because Wonder Woman is a babe?” She straightened her head and glared at him. “Superheroes are not to be sexually coveted.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and glared right back. “Says who?”

“Says every mother and father ever.”

That made him grin. “Oh. I suppose you went to Comic-Con and took a survey when those mother and fathers were drinking their costume-coiffed faces off, before they sexually coveted each other in their hotel rooms at the end of the evening?”

About the Author

Riley Murphy writes sexy, humorous, and emotional romance, happy ending guaranteed. An optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are complicated, but in a good way, and we should never stop learning. Riley currently calls Florida home with her gorgeous husband. She has two phenomenal kids, one adorable-to-the-max grandchild, and a very bossy pooch.

When Riley’s not working she enjoys reading, oil painting, and getting to the Sunday crossword before anyone else does, so she can fill-in all the easy answers first, and pull the smart card with the family.

Author Thursday: Interview with Jane Godman

Interview1. What inspired this book?

Otherworld Renegade is part of a series (the second book), although each one stands alone.

Otherworld is a mystical realm and Tanzi, the heroine, is on the run from her fae home. She has arrived here in the mortal realm with no idea what our world is like.

I’m fascinated by the ancient Celtic idea of an ‘otherworld’ that is situated, not in some distant, unknown region of planetary space, but here on our own earth just out of sight and within our grasp (if we really believe in it and want it enough). The Otherworld of my imagination is a beautiful place inhabited by many races, including faeries, vampires, lycanthropes, phantoms and gods. Unfortunately, the constant battles between these warring dynasties threaten to spill over into the mortal realm.

I also love the Arthurian legends and they feature strongly throughout the series. There are some intriguing hidden identities and some figures from the past make an appearance in Otherworld and the modern day mortal realm.

2. What was the most difficult part about working on this book?

I think it’s always difficult to do justice to a paranormal world. So many stories have been written about vampires and werewolves, for example, and each author has his or her take on the legends surrounding them. My Otherworld books are not vampire or werewolf stories (although those beings do feature in them), and I want to make sure I get it right. Creating ‘believable’ characters isn’t necessarily the issue, but creating one that readers love? That’s the challenge!

3. Who is your favorite character in this book?

The hero, Lorcan Malone. He’s an Irish charmer who never stays in one place for long. He is also a necromancer, one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all, and leader of the resistance who are sworn to fight Moncoya, the evil Faerie King. He’s acutely intuitive and, when he meets Tanzi, who is one of Moncoya’s twin daughters, it really is a case of opposites attract, since she doesn’t do feelings.
4. What are you reading now or what books do you have in your TBR pile?

I’ve just started reading Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica. It comes highly recommended.

5. What are you working on now?

Where to start? After Otherworld Renegade, there are three more books to come in the Otherworld Series plus a gothic paranormal romance. I have a confession to make… gothic romance is my first love! The title of this book is IMMORTAL BILLIONAIRE (and, let's face it, who wouldn't want to capture the heart of one of those?). For Connie Lacey, an all-expenses-paid holiday on a privately owned, heart-shaped Floridian island seems too good to be true. And maybe it is...

I have also recently signed a three book contract with Harlequin Romantic Suspense and I can't wait to share these exciting, romantic stories that will get your pulse racing in more ways than one!

In 2017, I have a six book paranormal series with St Martin's Press new digital romance line, SMP Swerve, coming out. Watch out for my hot Arctic werewolves (trust me, they are irresistible)!

I also write historical romance and the third book in my Georgian Rebel Series, The Jacobite's Return, will be released at the end of May 2016. It seems safe to say this is a busy year, publication-wise, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Think Fast Questions
Sweet or spicy?

Sweet. The sweeter the better.

Hot or cold?

Hot. I love hot weather, as long as don’t have to do anything strenuous in it!

Wine or beer?

Wine, but not too much. I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol.

Series or standalone?

Series. I like to know what happened to the characters in the last book even if they only make a brief guest appearance.

Print or e-book?

e-book. I like to load up my kindle and pretend that one day I’ll get through my TBR list.

Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Info Claiming her felt like his destiny…but could prove to be his ultimate undoing.

Desperate to flee a horrific arranged marriage, Princess Tanzi turned to the only man who could help. Lorcan Malone, infamous necromancer, had vowed to come to her aid whenever she needed him. And even as they traveled from the mortal world into the fantastical Otherworld, Tanzi knew her true need ran deeper than just a rescue.

She was his enemy's daughter. A renegade like Lorcan had no business craving a Fae princess, one intended for a greater calling. Yet he was powerless to resist the pull to do more than protect Tanzi…

Available at Harlequin, Amazon, BN, Kobo, iTunes, and Google Play.

Excerpt
“Trust me, Tanzi. If you need me, I will know.”

Those words, spoken by Lorcan Malone in the heat of battle, must have been a bit of Irish blarney. He probably didn’t even remember who she was, let alone recall their strange encounter on that fateful day. So why, in this moment—when she was in more trouble than she could ever have imagined possible—was she suddenly experiencing a fierce longing for the bad-boy necromancer with the twinkling blue eyes?

It’s called clutching at straws, she told herself. It’s what you’re doing right now instead of facing reality and finding your own way out of this madness.

“What are you thinking, my daughter?” Moncoya, exiled King of the Faeries, watched her face.

“I’m thinking that defeat has unhinged you. That you have finally done what others have whispered of for years and taken leave of your senses.” Never before had Tanzi spoken so boldly to him. Defiance was the trait her twin sister, Vashti, proudly exhibited. Tanzi had always been the acquiescent one. Until now. There were some things she could not bow down and agree to. This was one of them.

Moncoya’s perfect features hardened with fury. His blue eyes, so like her own with their sidhe ring of fire encircling the iris, lit with a brighter inner blaze. His fingers tightened on the arm of his chair so that his knuckles gleamed white in stark contrast to the black polish that decorated his perfectly manicured nails. Tanzi braced herself. His retribution would be swift and merciless. She couldn’t hope to match him in strength, but she might be able to outrun him.

The outcome hung in the balance for seconds that stretched into minutes. Then Moncoya laughed. It was a brittle, mirthless sound that set Tanzi’s teeth buzzing. She knew that laugh well. It had never boded well in her childhood. She didn’t imagine things had changed. Unexpectedly, he relaxed back into his seat.

“My child, you are overwhelmed by the honor I have arranged for you. I should have foreseen this.” He rose, draping a deceptively casual arm about her shoulders. “Walk with me a while.”

They stepped through a set of double doors straight onto a sand-and-shingle beach. The entire island, known locally as the Silver Isle, seemed to be made up of sand. Even the ocher-hued cliffs looked ready to crumble into grit at the touch of a fingertip. Ferns, wild fennel and coarse bamboo grasses clung determinedly to soil that was a combination of granule and dust. Tanzi thought of her father’s palace, of the precisely laid-out gardens leading down to the elegant lake. She glanced back over her shoulder at the beachside villa they had just left. Sea breezes and salt water had taken their toll on its elegance so that it had a faded charm she doubted her father would acknowledge. In comparison with the soaring, white marble palace she had called “home” for all her life, it was a shack. Moncoya was as out of place here as a diamond in a dung heap.

“You made sure no one followed you?” Moncoya withdrew his arm from about her shoulders as they walked along the water’s edge. Secrecy surrounded this hiding place. If he was discovered, he faced trial and inevitable execution.

“Of course.” Tanzi was offended at the question. Would he have asked Vashti the same thing? She doubted it. Yet we both trained with the Valkyrie. We are equally astute when it comes to warfare and subterfuge. It came back to the same weary argument. The same reason Tanzi had been summoned to be the recipient of his latest piece of “good news” instead of her twin. Moncoya viewed Vashti as the son he had never had. Tanzi’s only value to her father was as a pawn in the marriage stakes. Not this marriage, father. The sacrifice you are asking of me is too great.

“Tell me what has been happening at the palace in my absence.” Three months had passed since the cataclysmic battle that had forced Moncoya into hiding. It felt like three years.

“There is a peacekeeping council known as the Alliance in place. Each of the Otherworld dynasties has representation on it. The Alliance itself is led by Merlin Caledonius.”

Moncoya’s expression hardened further at the name. “That half-blood cur will pay dearly for his part in this.”

Merlin, the greatest sorcerer the world had ever known, was Moncoya’s half brother and the man who had brought about his exile. Cal, as he preferred to be called these days, had widened the existing gulf of hatred between the two men further by falling in love with and marrying the woman Moncoya had hoped to make his queen.

Tanzi paused, looking out across the turquoise waters toward the horizon. She drew a deep breath. “My father, you wrong him. He is man of conscience who is doing a fine job of uniting the dynasties…” Moncoya’s growl of rage told her she had gone too far.

“Am I, the greatest leader Otherworld has ever known, to be forced into hiding while he lives in luxury in my royal palace? Am I to endure the knowledge that he has stolen the necromancer star, the woman I chose as my own, from under my nose? Must I kick my heels in this backwater while you, my own daughter, take the seat that should be mine at this pathetic council table—” He broke off, his voice ragged. When he spoke again, his tone was softer, the words a caress. “But you know nothing of these things, my child. It is wrong of these men to ask you to involve yourself in their political machinations. They seek to trick you.”

Tanzi bit her lip. How could she explain it to him when he insisted on viewing her as a helpless dupe? Being part of the Alliance had brought her new life. Oh, she had been regarded with suspicion initially by many of the council members. She was Moncoya’s daughter, after all. They saw her as the spoiled brat sidhe princess who had been his consort—his puppet—in the past. Together with Vashti, she had blindly carried out his wishes. But things had changed three months ago on that battlefield. She had changed.

A pair of laughing Irish eyes came into her mind once more and she determinedly dismissed them. Cal and his wife, Stella, treated her as their equal, and with their help she was learning how to be the voice and conscience of her people. She was developing an understanding of compassion and democracy. Tanzi cast a sidelong glance at her father. She was learning that there was a way to rule other than Moncoya’s iron-fisted style.

“Let us leave this talk of the mongrel sorcerer for another day. I look forward to dealing with him when the time comes. This marriage I have arranged for you is the highest distinction ever to be bestowed upon a woman. Through this union, I will not only be able to come out of this undignified hiding and return to my palace, I will be the undisputed ruler of all Otherworld.” Moncoya’s lips thinned into a smile. “There will be no need for their puny Alliance when that day dawns.”

“And what of me, Father? While you become all powerful, what will I become?”

He paused then, perhaps considering for the first time the true implications of what he was asking of her. Such was his arrogance, she might have known he would not allow her feelings to influence him for long. “You will be revered above all others.”

She shook her head. “I will not do it.”

His face was set. The silken note in his voice made the threat even more menacing. “You have no choice.”

“By all the angels, Father, you cannot intend to force me into this!”

Moncoya’s lips smiled but Tanzi’s heart quailed at the look in his eyes. “Given the bridegroom I have chosen for you, might I suggest you refrain from speaking of angels in the future?”

About the Author

Jane Godman writes in a variety of romance genres including paranormal, gothic and romantic suspense. Her Otherworld series is published by Harlequin Nocturne and she has a new series coming out soon with Harlequin Romantic Suspense. 2017 will see the publication of a new paranormal series for SMP Swerve.

Jane lives in England and loves to travel to European cities, which are steeped in history and romance—Venice, Dubrovnik and Vienna are among her favorites. Jane is married to a lovely man and is mom to two grown-up children.
Website: http://www.janegodmanauthor.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneGodmanFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Godman-Author/133131640171522Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6923685.Jane_Godman

Author Thursday: Spotlight on A Lover of Men by Julia Talbot

Book Info A former soldier, a spy, and a spinster…three people, three lovers.

For spinster Lelia August, first came the small fortune then came the hoard of unscrupulous characters wanting a piece of it—or more specifically, a piece of her.

She decides to find a suitable man to marry, someone who won't want her to submit to the marriage bed. She settles on ex-soldier Phineas Moore, who has a reputation as a lover of men.

Phineas is intrigued by Lelia’s offer and thinks a marriage of convenience might just work for them. But when someone tries to kill his future wife, Phineas vows to protect her and find who’s responsible. He hires the irresistible spy Rafe Gaudi to investigate, and soon realizes he's outsmarted himself. Can Rafe and Phineas figure out who's plotting against the woman they’ve come to love, and can they even hope to dream of a future where the three can become one?

Now available at ARe and Amazon.
Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
Excerpt“I have a business matter to discuss with you, Sir Phineas.” Lelia August studied the man who sat across from her, his large body stuffed into the tiny black lacquer chair stationed across from her desk. Somehow he should have appeared quite as ridiculous as all of the recent suitors who had wiggled their way into her library intent upon sweeping her, and her fortune, off her feet.

Contrarily, Phineas Moore appeared perfectly at ease, masculine, even somewhat predatory. His hair, black as a rook, was cut ruthlessly short, and his neckcloth was simple and unfashionable.

Had Lelia not done her research she would have thought him the simple country baronet he appeared. Instead, she knew his unfashionable appearance hid a complex man with a soldier’s mind and a surprising reputation among his peers.
“I confess I am curious, Miss August. That is why I find myself here, answering your summons.” His green eyes gleamed when he smiled slightly, lines around his eyes and mouth crinkling.

“I am glad you have that to satisfy. Makes you far more interesting. Tell me, what have you been able to discover about me in the last six hours?” She had sent her invitation to him at eight, which meant he would have received it around nine. He had arrived at five until three. She approved of his promptness.

“That you are a spinster. That your father was the third son of an Earl. That your uncle passed away leaving the title to a cousin who has a great fondness for you, and he’s settled upon you a stipend of some considerable wealth. In a trust, so it cannot be siphoned off by his miserable, whoring, gaming brother.” His expression never changed during the telling, but he did study her closely.

Gracious, she was outclassed here. Lelia curled her hands together, keeping them from fluttering like nervous birds. No sense giving away her sudden nerves.

“That’s quite a lot,” she said. “If you know all that about me, then you know that since I have come into said fortune I have been deluged with suitors.” All shapes, sizes, and classes of men had been calling, so much so that she’d taken the knocker from the door of the modest townhouse her cousin had also settled upon her. He liked her company, he said, and preferred she stayed in Town. Dear Eustace. Still, some of the men had been rather more forceful in their attentions than she felt necessary.

“Indeed.” Sir Phineas tilted his head. “I imagine your cousin hopes settling a fortune on you will erase your spinster status.”

“Hmm.” She wasn’t sure at all that had been Eustace’s intention. However, now he saw her difficulty, he had turned his eye toward that idea, if only to give her relief. Having just gained her independence from reliance on men, Lelia had no desire to go back. “Hence my proposal to you.”

“I am on pins and needles,” Phineas murmured.

“Yes. Well.” She squeezed her hands together so hard her knuckles turned white. “I realize we do not know one another, but you must realize, I have viewed my situation from every angle and I believe this is the best possible solution to my dilemma.”

“I see.” Phineas sat back, the chair creaking alarmingly. “By all means, enlighten me, Miss August.”

“I want you to marry me.” The nausea left her as soon as she said it. Better to have it right out in the open.

The chair cracked, the two pieces of it falling away to either side while Sir Phineas crashed to the floor. His well-polished boots kicked the air for a moment before he sprang to his feet. “I beg your pardon?”

“I said, I wish to propose marriage. To you.”

Shock overtook his expression, and Phineas placed his hands on her desk, leaning into her space. This close she could smell the deep scent of tobacco and freshly pressed linen.

“Why?”

About the Author

Julia Talbot lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Samhain Publishing, Dreamspinner Press, All Romance eBooks and Changeling Press. She believes in stories that leave a mark, and that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved. Find Julia at @juliatalbot on Twitter.
Website: www.JuliaTalbot.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/JuliaTalbotFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliatalbotwriterpage/