Nancy Lee Badger's Blog, page 33

Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Belle Ami

Belle Ami stopped by to share intimate details about her life and her latest books. Take it away!
Thank you, Nancy, for hosting me today on Where Happy Ever After Takes the Road Less Traveled. I’m delighted to share with your readers my series Tip of the Spear. Escape and Vengeance, my fifth and sixth published novels, which abound with thrills, political intrigue, and romance.
I quote The Romance Reviews 5-Star review of Escape “This story is suspenseful, it's smart, it's sexy, it's a page-turner that you will be loathed to put down.”
The 5-Star review for Vengeance from The Romance Reviews continues the praise. “VENGEANCE is an intriguing second book in the series, especially for me. Intriguing because there aren't a lot of books that follow a couple after their HEA, and rarer for me, because I don't think I've ever read one. In this, VENGEANCE was a pleasant surprise, because the intrigue plot was compelling in that I couldn't put the book down, and the romance was satisfying. This book makes you believe in true love.”
I’m currently working on the third book which is titled Ransom where my hero and uber-Mossad spy, Cyrus Hassani, will once again fight the forces of evil with his wife Layla by his side.
Book Blurb from Vengeance
Vengeance is a sexy thriller teeming with romantic suspense. A well-researched tale, scary in its possibility, packed with excitement, it will leave you breathlessly turning pages. Layla Wallace Hassani is living her dream, curating a major art exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. She has it all, a fabulous career, the perfect marriage and the perfect child. She’s madly in love with her husband Cyrus Hassani, a Mossad agent, and lives in Tel Aviv with their four-year-old daughter Cerise. Her life takes a disastrous turn when she’s kidnapped by Iranian terrorists during the bombing of a restaurant in Manhattan. Chained to a bed at a remote location, Layla is a pawn in a deadly game. She’s the bait to lure Cyrus to his death.
Driven by vengeance and a love that knows no bounds, Cyrus will do anything to rescue his wife and stop the terrorist’s plot to blow up a nuclear facility. Teaming up with the FBI he’s the only man capable of stopping a bombing that would result in the deaths of millions of people. Filled with vengeance, stopping the terrorists is his goal, but saving Layla is his mission.
Layla knows her Superman, Cyrus, is coming to save her. She also knows, unbeknownst to him, that by doing so it will mean the death of their child. Caught in a mousetrap, she struggles to find a way out of her deadly situation and to fend off the sexual advances of the kidnapper terrorist who’s fallen for her.
Layla must make a choice, save her child or sacrifice herself and her marriage. The clock is ticking. 

Excerpt: Chapter 3 from Vengeance
Tel Aviv, IsraelSeptember 12th5 a.m.New York time 10 p.m. September 11th
Cyrus’ cell phone rang, waking him from a dream of making love to his wife. He glanced at the clock—five a.m. Not good.His throat was glued shut. He squeezed out, “Yes?”“Cyrus, I’m sorry to call with such devastating news.”It was Rafi, the director of Mossad’s Americas’ desk. A chill crept up Cyrus’ spine.“I just got a call from New York. There’s been an attack.” Rafi’s voice came tense and strained…the act of speech seemed to produce immeasurable pain.Cyrus’ heart pounded as if a regiment of infantry stampeded on his chest. His voice barely above a whisper. “What happened?”“A bomb exploded in a restaurant…near the Museum of Modern Art. Probably a hundred or more people have been killed. Avi Zaken was there. We assume he’s dead.”“Oh, my God, they got the consul general. Layla’s going to be devastated. She’s very fond of Avi.”“About Layla.” Rafi’s voice softened. “Her name is on his calendar. His dinner appointment. I’m so sorry, Cyrus.”Cyrus’ blood froze, and his heart refused to beat. It took every ounce of his strength to hold it together. He held the phone in a death grip. “How do we know she was in the restaurant? Have you checked with her security detail? Maybe there’s been a mistake.”“Layla released them earlier in the day—”“Why would she?” He closed his eyes. “Shit. Shit. Shit, that sounds like Layla.” He fought to steady his voice. “Anything else?”“The FBI’s tracking down museum security to see who saw her leave. I can’t tell you for certain if she was in the restaurant, but in all likelihood, she was there. God…” Rafi’s voice cracked. “This is such a fucking disaster. I hate to be the bearer of such news.”“This can’t be right?”“Cyrus, it’s all over the news. The FBI’s calling it terrorism. We’ve already requested inclusion in the case. The prime minister’s up in arms. He’s adamant this attack will not go unanswered. He’s called for an emergency meeting at the Office, but given the circumstances…if you feel you can’t—”Cyrus interrupted him. He struggled to control the scream climbing up his throat. I need to keep it together. “No, I’ll be there as soon as I can. What about Aleck, Layla’s father, has anyone notified him? I can’t—I mean—I don’t think I could handle talking to him right now.”“Dodi’s calling him.”The prime minister. Good. “I’m on my way.” He hung up and stared at his cell phone, feeling the walls close in around him. Layla. Dead. Layla. Dead. Layla. Dead. The words burned into his brain like a firestorm leaving nothing but ashes. Impossible. No warning. No premonition. Nothing but emptiness. Shouldn’t I have felt something?“Noooo!” He roared with grief. He howled, keening like a wild beast. Everything of beauty in the world dead or dying.Layla. Dead. And it was his fault. He should have kept her from going. I’m the target. It’s me they want. Oh, dear God, what have I done? Why didn’t you take me?There was no way he could live without her. He wanted to kill someone—something—anything that might stop the pain. He thought about the Jericho pistol in his drawer. He wanted to hold the shiny, black, instrument of death to the head of her killers. He wanted to pull the trigger. He wanted to see blood gush, brains splatter—he wanted revenge.
BUY LINKS for VENGEANCE:
  AMAZON      KOBO
SMASHWORDS    BARNES & NOBLE 
 **************************************************

BUY LINKS FOR ESCAPE:
AMAZON     KOBO
SMASHWORDS   BARNES & NOBLE

More About the Author Tema Merback writing as Belle Ami believes “Dreams do come true”.  As a mother and wife, she dedicated herself to her family and loved every minute of it. One day, like Sleeping Beauty, she awoke to find gourmet cooking and being a classical pianist wasn’t enough, she needed to reinvent herself. So, she brushed away the cobwebs and locked herself in a room and spent a year writing a historical novel which, low and behold, was a Finalist for a national book award. Her first author incarnation was born.
When she read Fifty Shades of Grey, her world tilted. Like a laser beam focusing on a target, she had found her passion: Sexy, steamy, romantic suspense. Hence came a second incarnation and a fitting nom de plume, Belle Ami. A quote that Belle considers her mantra is by Wilferd Peterson, “Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.”She is a Kathryn McBride scholar of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. She lives in California with her husband, two children, three dogs, and horse.
She is the author of The Only One series, The One (#1), and The One & More (#2). Her third in the series titled One More Time is Not Enough, was published July 13th, 2016. She was honored to be included in the RWA LARA Christmas Anthology Holiday Ever After featuring her short story The Christmas Encounter. Her next series entitled The Tip of the Spear begins with Escape, published January 10, 2017. The sequel to Escape, entitled Vengeance was published September 12, 2017, and she’s currently writing the third in the series titled Ransom. Connect with her here:
FACEBOOK    TWITTER     PINTEREST
LINKEDIN     INSTAGRAM     WEBSITE

Author Mia London's Character Interview and Kindle Giveaway!

Mia London stopped by to share intimate details and an interview with a certain sexy character in her new book Undeniable Fate, which was published December 26th. Take it away, Mia!
About this book: This originally appeared in the steamy anthology called Blame It On Fate. As I wrote, I fell in love with these characters and knew this had to be a series. Although Undeniable Fate has an HEA, I knew these characters were not done. I’m thrilled to announce Undeniable Love (book 2) is on pre-order now.

The story is about a man and woman (Brandon and Lily) who happen to meet on a plane ride to Rome, Italy. Later, the hotel in Rome accidentally double-books her room, and Brandon walks in. She was in the middle of something, and it doesn’t take Brandon to realize it. And so it begins.
Interview: We are so pleased to have with us Brandon Morgan, president and chairman of Laurel Medical, Incorporated.
Press: Welcome. So glad you could take time from your busy schedule to chat with us.Brandon: Thanks for having me.Press: First, I’d like to start be asking about Laurel. You recently took over the running the company from your father, yes?Brandon: Yes, in a way. My father had a heart attack—Press: I’m sorry to hear that.Brandon: Thank you. As I was saying he had a heart attack. Prior to that my sisters and I were vice-presidents. My father had us work our way up in the company, learning all we could. Now, I have the title of president, but truly it’s a joint effort with my sisters.Press: That’s impressive. You must get along well with your sisters to work side-by-side with them every day.Brandon: [He grins.] We do get along for the most part.Press: I read that you’ve recently acquired Corticelli Labs, based in Rome, Italy.Brandon: That’s correct. We saw some great synergy between the two companies, not to mention gaining entree into the European market.Press: This is the first acquisition for Laurel, yes?Brandon: That’s correct. So far the team is doing an excellent job of transitioning Corticelli into the Laurel fold. I expect no loss of jobs. Just some reassigning of roles in Italy.Press: I’m sure they were happy to hear that.Brandon: [He nods.] There are several trends in healthcare that Laurel and Corticelli are acutely aware of. Whether it’s artificial intelligence, Block Chain, which relates to the flow of health information, an aging population, or disease management. The success of Laurel depends on expansion and growth in ways that address these issues smartly.Press: Excellent. So let’s shift to your personal life. Tell us what we are most wanting to know. Are you seeing anyone? Miami Monthly named you most eligible bachelor last year. Nice compliment.Brandon: [He smiles.] Thanks. I am seeing someone. It’s not always easy because I work a lot. Running a Fortune 1000 company is not for the faint of heart. Just in the short time we’ve been sitting here, my phone has buzzed four times. I won’t talk too much about my girlfriend to protect her anonymity, but I will say this. She came into my life in an unexpected way. She threw me for a loop. She is kind, understanding, and beautiful- inside and out. I cannot keep my eyes off her. At first, I denied that we could have a relationship, but we do and it’s working. And I feel so tremendously blessed.Press: Are there wedding bells in the future for you two?Brandon: That remains to be seen.
Blurb from Undeniable Fate Was it fate that the hotel in Rome double-booked her room and he, of all people, walked through the door?
Project manager Lily Bennett dreads the trip to Italy for she suspects a pink slip awaits her return. Fate brings her fantasy man alive when Brandon enters her room by mistake. Kiss by kiss, he breaks down her insecurities making the next four days the best (and hottest) of her life. But when she dares to hope for more, he becomes distant. Now, to forget this man she knows so little about, who’s turned her world upside down.
Brandon Morgan is driven, successful, and wealthy. Handed his father’s company at thirty-six, he is not about to let his family, his employees, or Wall Street down. His company’s latest acquisition will prove he can handle anything thrown his way. He just hadn’t planned on the encounter of a lifetime with Lily. He craves for her like a heart needs to beat, but a relationship is absolutely out of the question. 
Buy LInks
AMAZON     AMAZON UK     AMAZON CAN
AMAZON  AUS     KOBO     NOOK     IBOOKS
Meet Mia: Mia loves to write!         She’s been reading fiction for years and finally decided that the images and scenes floating around in her head needed to make it to paper.
She’s a huge fan of romance, highly optimistic, and wildly faithful to the HEA (happily ever after). She’s inspired by most anything around her. And her biggest obstacle is not having enough time to get it all down on paper (or computer, as the case may be).
Her goal is create a fantasy you will enjoy with characters you could love.

She lives in Texas with her attentive, loving, super-model husband, and her perfectly behaved, brilliant children. Her produce never wilts, there are no weeds in her flowerbeds, and chocolate is her favorite food group.
And then she wakes up. 
*Don't forget to enter this Giveaway brought to you by Mia and a group of wonderful writers!
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Presenting UK Author David Russell & Self's Blossom

Author David Russell is back to share his latest book, released December 16th. Self’s Blossom is a Romantic quest of Self Discovery. David, please tell us more!
Self’s Blossom  is a short novella in the erotic romance genre, with Selene, a woman in search of her sexual identity, as the vibrant main character. Selene is intellectual, independent, free spirited and totally trapped in the limitations of her peer group and society. pragmatic best friend Janice describes her as a dreamer, living in the cuckoo land of her imagination. Desperately looking to find herself and get a bit of erotic adventure, Selene goes on holiday to South America. Brought to life by the Sun, sea and holiday atmosphere, Selene's first erotic awakening comes about through the ocean – “the spirit of love beckoning her with a pulsing sinewy body”. After this, Selene searches for a lover and has a brief sexual encounter with an eighteen year old local.
But it is her through her meeting with the American anthropologist Hudson that Selene' erotic nature is awakened and she explores herself on many layers. Hudson is her intellectual rival and mentor, and he introduces Selene to the other side of South America – the primal elemental energy of the carnival, the 10,000 year history of South American civilisation and the breathtaking and often cruel power of its environment and landscape. With Hudson, Selene's holiday adventures suddenly become fraught with danger and intrigue – she is threatened with death by hunters when she plays environmentalist with Hudson and his friends, she is bitten by a deadly snake when she goes exploring with him, Hudson has to save her from a barroom brawl with the locals which suddenly explodes due to a sexual indiscretion. The indigenous population have an entirely different culture and life-rule than Selene knows from her predictable friends in London. Although Hudson is the catalyst for Selena’s awakening, it is fair to say that she challenges him intellectually and opens his world weary eyes for the magic of the moment also.
Their mutual search for something beyond the mundane leads them both to the top of a South American pyramid, where Selena visualises herself as a modern God Queen and Hudson as her God King. They have both gone on a dangerous and fascinating journey down through time and braving a foreign culture and environment. It is therefore significant that Selene does not seek full surrender to her lover in the passion of the moment on the moonlit beach – in fact she slaps his face when he attempts to do so – Instead she wants their love to be fully consummated through the pampered and luxurious Western trappings of the hotel Bridal Suite. “True Seduction was total theatre”, “The true ideal lay in laced artifice” not in ‘ideals of naturalness’. Here, in the luxurious trappings of traditional Western romance and eroticism, the adventure ends and the God Queen and God King sublimate their experience like some modern day High Priest and Priestess and the alchemy is complete.
Knowing that they will be unable to ever rival or surpass this moment of absolute sexual apotheosis, the lovers now part and go their separate ways – Hudson to his job in the US and Selene back to London. But the author leaves us with a sense that more has been accomplished here than just a nice holiday memory for Selene and her lover. Selene can now return to the humdrum of her everyday existence and the emptiness of her London life with the alchemical blossom inside her – the Blossom of the self which has been totally awakened inside her. There is the very real sense that Selene will never be the same again after this.
EBOOK Available at AMAZON  and  AMAZON UK 

More About the Authorb. 1940. Resident in the UK. Writer of poetry, literary criticism, speculative fiction and romance. Main poetry collection Prickling Counterpoints (1998); poems published in online International Times. Main speculative works High Wired On (2002); Rock Bottom (2005). Translation of Spanish epic La Araucana, Amazon 2013. Romances: Self’s Blossom; Explorations; Further Explorations; Therapy Rapture; Darlene, An Ecstatic Rendezvous (all pub Extasy (Devine Destinies). Self-published collection of erotic poetry and artwork, Sensual Rhapsody, 2015. Singer-songwriter/guitarist. Main CD albums Bacteria Shrapnel andKaleidoscope Concentrate. Many tracks on You Tube, under ‘Dave Russell’ www.davidrussell-author.blogspot.co.uk

Nancy Lee Badger Presents UK Author David Russell

Author David Russell lives in the United Kingdom and shares his new book, Pearlman. It was released December 9th, just in time for the holidays. David, please tell my readers more.

Pearlman was inspired by a passage in the Spanish epic poem La Araucana, which I have translated. In the original story, a Spanish soldier, after a battle, is accosted by an Indian woman who asks him to lead her to her husband's body, to pay her last respects. In the original story, she disappears. 
In Pearlman the hero is contemporary, but he does time and space travel to those legendary times, and the woman turns out to be Auchimalgen, the Araucanian Moon Goddess. She seduces and enlightens him. 
There is a backdrop of Chile, with its incredibly volatile ecosphere and long history of protracted conflict. This story combines romance with sci-fi and time travel. Check out the reviews. As well!
EBOOK Available at   AMAZON
More About the Authorb. 1940. Resident in the UK. Writer of poetry, literary criticism, speculative fiction and romance. Main poetry collection Prickling Counterpoints (1998); poems published in online International Times. Main speculative works High Wired On (2002); Rock Bottom (2005). Translation of Spanish epic La Araucana, Amazon 2013. Romances: Self’s Blossom; Explorations; Further Explorations; Therapy Rapture; Darlene, An Ecstatic Rendezvous (all pub Extasy (Devine Destinies). Self-published collection of erotic poetry and artwork, Sensual Rhapsody, 2015. Singer-songwriter/guitarist. Main CD albums Bacteria Shrapnel andKaleidoscope Concentrate. Many tracks on You Tube, under ‘Dave Russell’.
www.davidrussell-author.blogspot.co.uk

My Life Telling Stories by Author Joanna McKethan

Author Joanna McKethan stopped by to tell my readers about her life telling stories. Take it away, Joanna!
When I lived in Germany, I would take my legal sized, thin-lined pads of yellow paper in a leather open binder to a nice Lokal with plenty of pens to do my writing, creating my own private closet much more exciting than sitting at home thinking I need to clean my bedroom. There is nothing quite so exhilarating as an impersonal but lively atmosphere for getting the juices flowing. And the miniscule bits of action that come in such a location can inspire their own novels--I have two waiting in line that grew out of exactly that environment.
German restaurateurs are quite happy with authors who want to write on their premises--you can stay all day, unlike at American restaurants where the owner threw me out for staying too long. How humiliating was that!
My whole 9-year stay in the Munich area of Germany supplied me with countless themes, since we traveled out from there on secret missions into many of the East Bloc (Communist) countries crossing numerous scary borders in the Cold War days.
Take me back to Camp Monroe, a Presbyterian camp near Laurinburg or Wagram, North Carolina, and you will see me telling scary camp stories to my roommates in the screened-in, primitive porch, loving to hear them scream in horror as destruction approached. So in a way, like Grandmother used to say, “You’re a born story teller, Daughter,” I just kept on telling stories to create effect. And to think, I’ve been criticizing Stephen King and Daphne du Maurier for liking to do what I liked to do way back then, and now.
Because what I like to do is to search the normal for the one thing that is ‘off.’ Having an extremely suspicious mind, I can do that. I am also by turns gullible, so that sets the stage for playing one of my sides off against another. I also pick the ordinary for bits of intense tenderness or romance. It is amazing, once on the hunt, what you see--in newspapers, among friends, a whirlwind love story, a tragic accident or suicide.
I guess the clue is seeing, really seeing, and remembering, really remembering, because when you do the insight just jars you awake, and you think, why didn’t I see that before? Why did that not strike me. So staying close to people who are not always soothing, but who challenge the status quo is something I’m committed to doing, even when it is off-putting, because they are the people who jar loose the story threads, the moments of intense hunger, passion, love, and evil, the ones who discover the plot that makes the story.
‘What if’ clauses excite me, because they are so true. Although I write fiction, I do it because there is often more truth to fiction than to life.
And now that I’ve finished telling the story in Stone of Her Destiny which has at the very last minute spawned a sequel, I can’t wait to get back to my yellow legal-sized pads of thin-lined paper and my gel fountain pens to write fresh copy, fresh story.
BUY LINKS FOR JOANNA'S BOOKSYuletide Folly at AmazonVeiled in White at Amazon Deadly Provenance at Amazon
For Nancy's Readers only, click this link to purchase a Specially Priced PDF of  Stone of Her Destiny

More About the Author            Joanna A. McKethan grew up in the country of the Old South in Harnett County, one of the offshoots of the Scots Presbyterians who came up the Cape Fear Riverin the 1700’s. After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill she lived 9 years abroad in Germanyand Austriaworking in Communist Bloc countries. She now writes and paints full-time from her studio in North Carolina. She loves everything Scottish and secret, loves combining gothic romance with thrillers and ‘a little Armageddon’ thrown in.

Joanna is a member of Romance Writers of America with PAN status, Heart of Carolina Romance Raleigharea, and North Carolina Writers’ Network. She has attended numerous writers’ conferences in many states. Writers in the

She has completed six novels to date. She is an Amazon Author with three novels for sale on Amazon, two released for promotional, and one which is being soft-launched prior to publishing on Amazon.
Please visit her website at http://books.joriginals.net/for books, and http://joriginals.net/ for her blog. She is on Facebook as Joanna A. Mckethan Author and on twitter as @JoMcKethan. She is also on LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Have you Made YOUR Reading Resolutions Yet?

The holiday shopping season is upon us, and I have already made my annual visit to my local mall. I've accumulated a pile of gifts to be shipped to Vermont, and another pile headed to Florida. With families no longer living in the same house or even the same town, as they did back a hundred years ago, we have had to change the way we wish others 'Happy Holidays'.

I am a writer with a good amount of books to my name, including my award-winning novella, Dragon in the Mist . I keep active  around the house by cleaning, cooking, and caring for my dear hubby (so he can get to work). I volunteer with several groups, and just sold a manuscript to Soul Mate Publishing. 

2017 is coming to a close. I have published various books over the past year including my contemporary novels, With Every Heartbeat and With Every Kiss , and I want y'all to enjoy the coming year by READING A BOOK. 

I still love dragons, so I am giving away the following autographed print books in my
READING RESOLUTION PRIZE PACKAGEand will ship the books out after the New Year, so you can start 2018 right!
* Shimmer: The Beginning* SPARK, Clan of Dragons #1* SMOKE, Clan of Dragons #2* SMOLDER, Clan of Dragons #3*no purchase necessary. Any international winner will receive an ebook from Nancy's selection of books. All entrants agree to me adding their names & emails to my Newsletter list, and will be eligible for future GIVEAWAYS. 



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Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Barbara M. Britton

Barbara M. Britton stopped by to share another lovely story with my readers. Take it away, Barbara!

Thank you for hosting me on my print release day for “Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey.” I am excited to bring the story of the daughters of Shallum to life. Little did I know that women helped Nehemiah restore the wall around Jerusalem. We don’t know the names of Shallum’s daughters, or how many there were, but I created two, Adah and Judith. Adah’s journey comes from the book of Nehemiah, chapters 1-8. This is the third book in my Tribes of Israel series where I bring little known Bible stories to light.

Excerpt:    Adah slumped against the worn lumber, huffing like a slave girl. Sweat pooled beneath her head covering.     “My mother is not home. She has gone to the well,” said a familiar male voice.     Praise God. She scrambled to her feet. “Othniel, you are a vision. Hurry and help me. I have coins today.”    Othniel slung his satchel near the door. The little storm of unsettled dust rising from the ground almost matched the amount clinging to his dark, curly hair. “What kind of greeting is this?”    “A hasty one.” Adah shook the folds of her skirt to loosen any dirt. “Our governor is coming to Jerusalem and my father is not prepared for his arrival.”    “Doesn’t Nehemiah send letters?” Othniel scratched his stubbled chin. He seemed in as much of a hurry as a bloated mule.    “None that my father saw,” she said.     His eyebrows raised as understanding brightened his eyes. “But someone received them?”    And she knew who. A nobleman never traveled unannounced. Her father ruled a half-district of Jerusalem, but Rephaiah also ruled a half-district, and no one caught him or his brood of sons off guard.    “Come now.” Her pulse sped as if in a race. “Open the room where your mother keeps her wares and help me find a polished pearl jar. I’ve seen it in the marketplace.” She urged him down the alley next to his home, wishing she could give him a powerful push. “My family has need of it.”    “I should warn you. I have labored in the grove.” His steps still lumbered. “I smell like a dung heap.”    “My nose has been in oils all afternoon. To me, you have the aroma of a blossom.”
Book Blurb: When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah’s unexpected visit—God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David.
Nehemiah challenges the men of Jerusalem to labor on the wall and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one sister and no brothers. Should her father who rules a half-district of Jerusalem be forgotten forever?
Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city’s wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside of the city, but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love, honor God’s call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same rocks they hope to raise.
Barb’s bio:Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. Barb writes romantic adventures for teens and adults in the Christian fiction and Mainstream markets. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little known Bible characters to light in her stories. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.Visit Barb on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.Purchase her book on Amazonor B&Nor from Pelican Book Group

Nancy Lee Badger: Maple & Butterscotch Scones

With Every Kiss , an Opportunity Falls novel, was released November 3rd. The idea for this contemporary romance grew from my personal experience growing up on Long Island in the shadow of New York City, then moving to the mountains of New Hampshire. I set the story in both Manhattan and fictional Fairfield, New Hampshire, and send the main characters on a wild chase. Abby, an artist, is bored with the city and its uptight men, while Mitch, the lawyer, hates working in his father’s company. Abby needs someplace where she can paint flowers and waterfalls. Mitch needs to bed the pretty blond artist. While waiting for her to fall for the hints he left, so that she ends up at his aunt and uncle’s campground, Mitch enjoys his Aunt Thalia’s delicious Scottish foods. One of his favorites are her sweet Scottish scones. I want to share this easy, quick recipe with my readers.
Recipe for Nancy’s Maple & Butterscotch Scones
Ingredients:2 cups all-purpose flour1 Tablespoon baking powder¾ teaspoon salt1/3 cup packed brown sugar1 stick (½ cup) chilled unsalted butter1 cup (8 oz.) butterscotch chips½ cup chilled whipping creamReal New Hampshire Maple Syrup
Directions:Preheat oven to 400℉/200℃/GasMark #6. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Dice the butter and mix in with either your fingers or a pastry blender until small peas forms. Mix in chips with a fork. Measure the ½ cream, add the egg, and mix. Add slowly into the dry mixture, stirring with a fork. The dough should be lumpy and stick together. If dry, add a little more cream. Drop the dough on a baking sheet (I always line mine with parchment paper) in balls. Bake until golden brown and a tester inserted comes out clean, about 10-14 minutes, depending on size. Don’t overbake or they will be dry! Remove to a rack, cool slightly. Brush tops with maple syrup. Makes about 14-16 scones. Enjoy! *
*p.s. I shared a plate of these with fellow members of my local writer group, the Triangle Association of Freelancers 


Excerpt from With Every Kiss: an Opportunity Falls novel
“It’s near dinner time. Most of our guests are settled in, so let’s get back to the office. We can take my golf cart. You drive,” Uncle Jim said, instructing Mitch to park out front. “Fridays get a bit noisy. I drive around about ten o’clock and ask the rambunctious ones to tone it down.”They joined his Aunt Thalia in the kitchen. The mouth-watering aroma of baked lasagna hit him in the stomach, which growled accordingly. He headed toward a pot of fresh coffee, but another aroma, strangely reminiscent of past summers, tickled his nose.“Do I smell Scottish scones?” He hugged his Aunt the way he could no longer do with his own dead mother. She closed her eyes and he laughed at her obvious enjoyment within his embrace.“If you two wash up, I’ll serve your dinner then maybe, if you are good and clean your plates, I’ll let you try my scones. I also made some apple fritters for breakfast. I sleep in Saturday, remember, so breakfast isn’t until eight.” She turned and cut squares of reheated lasagna and placed them on plates. Mitchell grabbed two bottles of beer and sank into a chair at the kitchen table. A thumping from the dark recesses made him reach down to pet Frik.“I’ll take Frik with me, and we can walk around the grounds at dusk.” Maybe he’d find the slim blonde in the blue bathing suit. Or, the woman in the baseball cap. Weary from another day of hard labor, his plan sounded better than hitting the new tavern, even on a Friday night.“Sounds like a plan, son.” Damn right.
Retail: Ebook-$5.99   Print-$12.99   300 pagesRelease Date: November 3, 2017Genre: Contemporary Romance/Action     Ebook ISBN: 9781386561064Print ISBN-13: 978-1974641352
Buy Links:Amazon     Amazon UK     Amazon CAN  Amazon AUS    iBooks     NOOK     Kobo 
Author BioNancy Lee Badger, formerly of Huntington, New York, has fond memories of growing up on Long Island. Her life changed when she attended college in New Hampshire. After meeting her husband at Plymouth State, and raising two handsome sons, Nancy moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, and the Triangle Association of Freelancers.                                       

Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Beverley Bateman

All the way from Alberta, Canada, Beverley Bateman stopped by to share some news about her book, Targeted.
Targeted is the third book in the Hawkins Ranch Series. The series was born when I was staying at an elegant hotel in Victoria, BC. I was looking down into the lobby from the mezzanine and imagined a cowboy in boots with spurs striding across the marble floor. I came up with the first brother in the Hawkins family. Kye is the third brother, an adopted member of the Blackfoot tribe.
Blurb After an eleven year absence Janna Kincaid inherits a ranch and is forced to return to a town she only remembers with unhappiness, a man to whom she was briefly married and never wants to see again, and someone is trying to kill her.

Kye Hawkins has loved Janna since he first met her. They were married but a few weeks later she ran away, without an explanation. He still hasn’t figured out why. Now she’s coming back. Does she still love him? Can he rekindle the romance and also prevent her from being killed.

Janna doesn’t want Kye’s help in anyway, yet he always seems to be there when she’s in trouble. Can they work together to find a killer, save the Native burial ground and home of the spirits, and find romance again?

Excerpt
Someone had shot her back tire. Janna gripped the wheel to keep the vehicle on the road. She debated whether to try and outrun the shooter, wherever he was, or find cover. The windshield shattered as a third bullet entered the passenger side.So much for outrunning the shooter. She scanned the area and spotted an outcropping of rocks a few feet ahead on her right. She aimed the vehicle in that direction.Two more shots, and both the back tires went down.Definitely find cover.Janna ducked low behind the steering wheel until the vehicle reached the rocks. When the car stopped, she grabbed the keys from the ignition and her purse and dove out the door. Bullets bounced off the rocks behind her as she scrambled for cover. Whoever was doing the shooting was serous. Anyone of the shots could have hit her.She reached the rocks, keeping low until she got to the middle where she curled up as tightly as possible, her back against a rock. Her heart pounded in her ears, her breathing came in gasps. This was getting to be a habit. First someone tried to kill her in Seattle, and now, out in this god-forsaken country. What the hell is going on? Why are they shooting at me? Was it the same person who shot at me in Seattle? That doesn’t seem likely, but who even knew I was coming here? Maybe it’s someone just trying to rob a stranger.Yeah right, be honest, Janna, does this road look like many strangers came this way? And if they did, would they have a lot to steal? You really think this person selected a spot in the rocks where he would have a good shot at my vehicle. Coincidence? Not damn likely.At least she’d worn boots and jeans—even if they were designer jeans. Now they were filthy, and so was her red sweater and jean jacket. Another shot hit the rock behind her. She rolled over onto her stomach, shaded her eyes, and squinted into the sun. He must be up on the cliffs straight ahead. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she might have glimpsed a light, maybe a reflection off his scope.Terrific! Now what? My gun is in my purse. I could fire back, but that would be a waste of bullets at this distance.  She yanked out her cell and punched in 9-1-1.Damn—no reception.A pounding pulsed through the ground. It felt like horses. A hand appeared in front of her face.“Grab it and jump on.”The deep, rumbling voice was not asking. It was an order.  Buy Links
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Author Bio

Beverley Bateman now lives in Medicine Hat, Alberta, exchanging the Okanagan vineyards and orchards for ranches and farms. She lives there with her husband and Shiba Inu dogs. Winters she heads south. She writes her latest romantic suspense in both places. Hunted , Missing and the newest – Targeted are part of her Montana, Hawkins Ranch series. She also has her Holly Devine series; A Cruise to Remember, and A Murder to Forget . Don’t Go is her darker romantic suspense.

Finding Forever by Featured Author Nika Rhone

Finding Forever is the second book in the Boulder Bodyguards series, although it can be read as a standalone story. A contemporary romance with suspense elements, it follows Amelia, the quietest of the trio of friends dubbed the “Royal Court.” If you haven’t read the first book, What the Lady Wants, yet, it’s on sale for only .99 through Nov 16th.
Book Blurb:
Amelia Westlake is about to marry the wrong man. The only thing to do when her rich and powerful fiancé refuses to accept her change of heart is hide out until the dreaded day is long past. If only the bodyguard chosen to go with her wasn’t so intriguing. And thoughtful. And sexy. Daryl Raintree is starting to see a whole new side to the Westlake Princess while they’re forced together on his parent’s remote horse ranch. No longer the timid mouse, she’s becoming a woman learning her own worth. Even knowing it can only end badly, neither of them seems able to stop the attraction they feel. But not everyone is content to let Amelia ruin their plans. With the clock ticking, she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to give up everything she has in order to gain everything she’s ever wanted.

Excerpt from Finding Forever
The kiss he brushed over her cheek was soft and chaste, and still it made her heart zing. She stared up at him, uncertain if he was going to kiss her again, praying he would, knowing he shouldn’t. So she surprised them both when she went up on her toes and pressed her mouth to his instead. At first he did nothing. Then, just as the doubts wormed their way in and she was about to pull away, he put his hand on the back of her head and took over the kiss.Oh. My. God.That was Amelia’s last coherent thought as Daryl’s mouth plundered hers. His lips were soft and firm and definitely knew their way around a kiss. When his tongue delved into her mouth to brush against hers, she moaned, and when his arms came around her body and pulled her flush against him, she was pretty sure she whimpered. He felt so good. Better than the pillow she’d hugged all night long, that was for sure. Far from being soft and lumpy, he was hard and strong and giving off enough heat to keep her warm forever.Not satisfied to play a passive role in the kiss, Amelia slid her arms around his neck and angled her head a touch more, allowing her to deepen the kiss and draw a sound of either pleasure or surprise from Daryl. He broke from her mouth and rained a flurry of kisses over her cheek and down her throat while his hands roamed restlessly down her back. His mouth had just reached the upper curve of her breast when Kim’s voice calling from the living room froze them both like a dash of cold water.Amelia and Daryl stared at each other, breathing hard. Slowly, as though he had to convince himself to do it, Daryl released his hold on her and took a step back, then another. She was glad he still had enough functioning brain cells to act because everything she had was mush at the moment, totally destroyed by that kiss.Oh, God, that kiss!Daryl shook his head. “That will not happen again,” he rasped. Retreating to the door, he turned back to add, “And you’re not leaving.” He shut the door with a definitive snap.Amelia stared at where he’d been for a long second before collapsing back onto the bed, her legs feeling like they’d turned to pudding. “Wow.”As for Daryl’s assertions, well, he was dead wrong on them both. She was going to find a way to get to Texas and keep everyone safe doing it. And that kiss would definitely happen again before she left.
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AUTHOR BIO:
Nika Rhone spent her childhood wearing out library cards as she read her way through the extraordinary worlds far beyond her small hometown on Long Island, NY. By her teens, her imagination was taking her places all on its own, forcing her to learn how to type (badly) so she could get all the stories down on paper. After a long love affair with science fiction and fantasy, she finally discovered romance, fell head-over-heels, and now spends her days crafting happily-ever-afters for the characters who still tell their stories faster (and better) than she can type them. Connect with Nika here:
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