Nancy Lee Badger's Blog, page 41

Fall into Romance Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY

The Fall into Romance Giveaway Hop has started 
and I want to share a few of the books that had me falling in love with Scottish-themed romance novels.
*Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (surprise?)
*My Fierce Highlander by Vonda Sinclair
*Heart of the Highland Wolf by Terry Spear
*Highland Blessings by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

I hope you will consider my new book...

My latest Scottish romance is
SMOKE, Clan of Dragons, Book #2

Blurb
How far will Wynn, a green and white dragon, go to save their species? An accidental meeting with a wolf-shifter leads him on a merry chase beneath the lure of the coming full moon. Will he follow her, or shift into a human to find a mate among the villagers? Dragons don’t wear plaide. Nancy Lee Badger brings you SMOKE, the 2nd book in her Clan of Dragon series. Join the hero, pirates, and Scottish villagers trying to survive in this historical paranormal with a humorous bent, set on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. 
Buy Links  Amazon    Amazon CAN    Amazon UK    Amazon AUS<Coming Soon> Amazon Print    B&N Print     BAM     Book Depository
Nancy is giving away a Scottish-themed prize. 
DRAWING is Oct. 21st
Enter to Win the following Prize Package:
*a glittering Dragon Brooch 
* a pirate pencil 
* butterscotch
*a green and white notebook (my dragon-hero's colors)
*a full-color 34 pg brochure Scotland: Essential Guide
full of beautiful information of what makes Scotland so romantic!  


*You may enter using one or all of these methods (You NEVER have to do them all!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & ConditionsNo purchase necessary. Open to USA and International residents.  Due to shipping costs & food gifts, International winners will receive a selection of Nancy's ebooks. All entrants agree to me adding their names & emails to my Newsletter list, and will be eligible for future GIVEAWAYS. Info will NOT be shared.
MAKE SURE TO CLICK AND VISIT THE OTHER BLOGS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN OTHER PRIZES!
ADD LINKY LINK!!!

Jan Scarbrough: 2nd Chances & Tangled Memories

Given a second chance, I write about second chances

*My guest this week is author Jan Scarbrough. Take it away Jan!
When I was thirty-eight, I almost died . I was in the intensive care unit for four days. After I recovered, I decided it was time to make my dream of becoming a novelist come true.
Tangled Memories was one of the first two novels that I wrote after my recovery. It was a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist. First published by ImaJinn Books, a publisher that embraced paranormal romance before vampires became popular, Tangled Memories has had an eventful history hopping from one small publisher to the next. I now have my rights back and have given my old book a “second chance” makeover.
After my life-threatening illness, I wondered “what if” we were all given second chances. What would we do? And especially, what would happen to a heroine if she were given another chance to find her true love? In Tangled Memories , there’s a supernatural suspense element, but there’s also a happy ending. I like to write about heroines who find true love, but grow in the process. My heroines learn from their mistakes and embrace the second chances they are given—as we all should do in real life. 
Blurb for Tangled Memories
After losing his wife, Dr. Alexander Dominican is determined his infant daughter will not grow up motherless as he did. Offering sensible, kind kindergarten teacher Mary Adams a marriage of convenience seems like the perfect solution. The widow’s husband left her with a mountain of debt. For Alex, paying it off is a small price to pay for his daughter’s happiness. Until his sensible new wife begins to lose her mind.
On the day of their marriage, Mary starts having frightening hallucinations of medieval England—visions that feel more like the memories of woman who lived centuries before. More terrifying, someone—or some thing—is stalking the new mistress of Marchbrook Manor. Could it be one of the sinister servants? Or Alex himself? Alex is reawakening hidden desires and longings in Mary, but until she can untangle the web of nightmares and secrets, she can trust no one. Not even Alex.
Alex has no idea he’s unleashing a destiny that’s taken him seven hundred years to fulfill.
If Alex and Mary are to salvage their future, they must first unravel centuries of…Tangled Memories.
Excerpt – Tangled Memories
Present Day
     His eyes were gray. I had never noticed before. They weren’t the color of slate but smoky and mysterious.     Swallowing a hard knot of dread that surfaced in my throat, I walked down the silent aisle toward him. Chin held high, very lady-like in posture and demeanor, a trace of smile upon my lips—I was the picture of confidence.     Inside, I trembled.     I stopped in front of the altar. A cloying scent of gardenias assaulted my senses. How curious the delicate white flowers in my bouquet should be so overpowering. Just like the man beside me. Just like the deep, heady gray of his eyes.     I extended my hand. He took it, and I drew a breath and held it. The firmness of his fingers surprised me.     “Friends.” The minister glanced up at us and smiled. “We are gathered together in the sight of God to witness and bless the joining together of Mary and Alexander in Christian marriage.”     Alex was tall, so tall I had to look up to connect with those mesmerizing eyes. I was aware of my breathing, erratic and shallow. I’d married for the second time in my life and, once again, my reasons were more practical than romantic.     How even more ironic was the Methodist minister’s white stole, a symbol of purity and love. I felt neither pure nor in love. His black robes better matched my somber mood.     “I ask you now,” Reverend Watts continued, “in the presence of God and these people, to declare your intention to enter into a union with one another.”     To enter into a union.     Heaven help me. Would it be a union? How could it be? Our union was a business arrangement, plain and simple. I understood that. For some reason though, sadness settled around my heart.     Reverend Watts looked at me. “Mary, will you have Alexander to be your husband to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”     Alex’s penetrating gaze burned upon my upturned face. “I will,” I said at last.     “Alexander, will you have Mary to be your wife?”     From underneath my lashes, I watched him. He wore his black hair swept back and long, curling at his neck. A stray lock touched his forehead and set off his eyes. His high cheekbones and jawline gave him a classic look. His lips were full and inviting. Enigmatic in his formal black tuxedo, crisp white shirt, and bow tie, he seemed a brooding Byronic hero. Handsome, though austere, his masculine good looks belonged to another century or, at least, on the cover of a romantic novel.     How different would my life have been if I hadn’t become pregnant my freshman year in college…if I hadn’t married Bill…if I hadn’t miscarried? What if I had met Alexander Dominican under different circumstances, before life touched me so cruelly?     “I will.” His deep voice resonated throughout the empty chapel.     Turning from the minister to me, Alex’s eyes brightened as his gaze captured mine. Out of habit, I licked my lips, but nothing eased my tension. The strain I felt surely communicated to the self-assured man who held my hand. Did he feel the hypocrisy of our oath? Or was he simply satisfied with a marriage of convenience?     Daring him with my stare, I narrowed my own eyes in challenge to his casual acceptance of our deceit before God. His black brow lifted to meet my taunt. He cocked his head as if to tell me I could yet back out. I could walk away a single woman. Poor, but single.     I shifted my gaze, unable to continue our silent joust. He knew full well I couldn’t back out. Bill’s death had made my current situation untenable.     “Let us pray. Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life.”     I bowed my head but couldn’t shut my eyes. My dilemma didn’t seem right. Nothing seemed right these last few weeks. Not since the dark-clad police officer had come to my door telling me my husband of eight years had been killed in a car accident.     Bill and I hadn’t been lovers in the end. Or even in love. Oddly, ours had been a pragmatic marriage because of the baby…the baby who died. Yet, we had made a compact and married before God. I had honored our agreement, much as I planned to honor my new one with this man by my side.     When the prayer ended, the minister motioned us to face each other and join both our hands. I gave my bouquet to Gail, my maid of honor. She hesitated as if to object, then took it. I was able to accept Alex’s free hand. The grip of his fingers transmitted tingling warmth through my arms. Trite as it sounds, I felt my heart skip a beat.     What was this reaction? It had been a long time since I’d felt sexual attraction, and I certainly did not expect to feel ardor toward this man with whom I had signed a contract. What good would my feelings do? Although married, we had an arrangement. Ours would be a platonic relationship. Because his wife Allison had died so suddenly, I would be a mother to his infant daughter. He would pay my debts.     Why had I agreed to such a stark and precise agreement? It left no room for this unexpected play of emotion.     “I, Alexander, take you, Mary, to be my wife.”     To be my wife.     My throat constricted. I had met Dr. Alexander Dominican the night I lost my baby. The partner of my regular OB-GYN, Dr. Hilliard, Alex had been on call. Still regretting my teen years, I knew I had been such a fool to let myself get pregnant.     Straightening my shoulders at the thought, I caught the slight narrowing of Alex’s eyes, and turned self-consciously from his scrutiny. What did he really think about me? Did he remember that scared eighteen-year-old-patient of eight years ago? I had changed. Did he know I’d changed? Did he care?     The minister nodded. Summoning all my willpower, I repeated in a hushed voice the same vows. My hands were damp when Alex released them to turn to his best man, Dr. Hilliard. At the same time, Gail handed me a wide gold band. Unable to meet Alex’s gaze, I took his left hand and slid the band across his third finger.     A strange feeling of familiarity enveloped me. In a different time, I believed he would have bowed and kissed the back of my hand. Today, he held onto it and gently slipped the new wedding band into place on my finger. I glanced up to find his eyes appraising me. As I tightened my lips, my returning gaze did not falter. The weight of the ornate, gold ring nudged into my flesh and created a symbolic link between us.     “Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may live in your peace and continue in your favor all the days of their lives.”     Alex smiled a slow, half smile, as if he understood something I had failed to discern. The smile softened his stern features, bringing back my recollection of the gentle doctor who had once comforted and cared for me. I offered a smile in reply and was gratified to see his eyes lighten in response.     The minister joined our hands together again and wrapped his white stole around them. He cleared his throat and raised his voice to include all the guests in his pronouncement.     “Now that Alexander and Mary have given themselves to each other by solemn vows with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I announce to you that they are husband and wife; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”     A surprising disquiet pricked my scalp and traced down the back of my neck. What was wrong? I swallowed once, to ease the dryness in my mouth and then looked up from our joined hands. We were husband and wife. It seemed so appropriate, so right. As if it was meant to be. But how could it under the strained circumstances?     “Are you going to kiss the bride?” I heard amusement in the minister’s voice.     Alex released my hands. I felt oddly bereft. He stared at me, his eyes shadowed by coal-colored lashes. I read the speculation in them. He lifted his hands, and I fixed my gaze upon them, charmed by the beauty of his tapered fingers. His hands lingered in the air briefly, and then Alex raised the thin veil from my face. My gaze now held spellbound by his, I watched as he gently elevated my chin with a fingertip and caressed my cheek with a thumb.     For an instant, my heart hung suspended in my chest, then dropped into a relentless beat. Why did I welcome the touch of his hand upon my skin?     He stood so very close. His warm breath touched my face. I saw the flecks of dark in the lighter gray of his eyes. My own eyes widened in dismay as Alex lowered his lips to mine, tenderly touching them with a kiss so poignant it pierced my soul.     The kiss startled us both. I could tell by the way he hesitated, seeming to gasp for breath. With his left hand, he caressed my face, connecting us to each other in an untold way. I found it hard to breathe. I found it hard to move. In the recesses of my mind, warning bells clamored.     I straightened my shoulders and shifted my chin away from his touch. We may be married, but his kiss was not appropriate for two people with a business arrangement. Awkwardly separating, we held each other’s gazes an instant. I felt dazed, swaying from side to side. Alex set his jaw and glanced away.     “Congratulations.” Reverend Watts pumped Alex’s hand.     Gail gave me my bouquet and offered me a swift hug. Her face was strained, her lips pursed. “I hope you’ll be happy, Mary.”     “Thank you.”     Holding on to Gail’s hug longer than necessary, I then stepped back, embarrassed. I knew she was upset with me for marrying Alex. My friend had tried to talk me out of it, especially so soon after Bill’s death. My reasons were wrong she told me. I was being purchased like a broodmare for the price of my late husband’s gambling debt. A significant gambling debt, I tried to remind her. Bill had owed more than three hundred thousand dollars that became my debt after his death. I had no other way out. Gail and I had argued. It was no surprise we now had so little to say to each other. We treated each other uneasily.     Nearby, Dr. Hilliard congratulated Alex, slapping him on his back.     “How do you capture the pretty ones, my man?” Dr. Hilliard asked. “How do you do it? You’ve got a beauty here for a wife. I ought to know….” He finished his sentence with a meaningful wink.     I thought his remark crude. He was my gynecologist, after all, and, of course, knewme in a medical sense. But I overlooked it and allowed him to congratulate me with what I thought was to be the obligatory kiss for the bride.     It was more like a lover’s kiss. His tongue invaded my mouth. He held me tightly with too much familiarity.     Tasting bourbon, I abruptly ended the kiss, tossing my head as if to fling the flush of outrage from my heated face.     “Why, Dr. Hilliard,” I snapped. “You certainly have a knack for exploratory surgery. Did they teach you that in medical school?”     He laughed. “Yes, Alex, I love a woman with spunk.”     “Or is it just my women you love, John?” My husband’s tone was slick ice.     I tried to assess the undercurrents swirling around me, only to find Alex’s stony demeanor unreadable.     Thankfully, Reverend Watts interrupted our conversation. “Please step into my office to sign the marriage certificate.” He stepped back to allow us to precede him out of the quiet sanctuary.     Alex took me possessively by the hand and tucked it under his arm. He kept hold of my fingers, his own hand warm and sure. I had no trouble keeping up with his deliberate pace. There was something strangely comfortable about the way our strides matched.     “He’s been my doctor for eight years,” I murmured, “but I never realized Dr. Hilliard could be so insufferable.”     “You’ve only seen him on his best behavior at the office. My esteemed partner usually doesn’t come to work under the influence of Maker’s Mark.”     “He’s not an alcoholic, is he?” I asked, thinking about my late husband.     Alex paused and looked down at me. “Let’s just say he’s walking a fine line where I’m concerned. I’ve been monitoring his behavior. Oddly, it has worsened in the months since Allison’s death.”     I gave Alex a slight smile, grateful for his explanation.     “They are waiting,” he remarked. “Let’s go in.”     The minister’s office was hot. Summer sunshine streamed through open drapes. We crowded inside while Reverend Watts went to a window air conditioner unit and turned it on. A blast of cool air erupted into the room. Returning to his desk, the minister shuffled papers for what seemed an eternity, finally producing a formal-looking document. When he nodded at us, Alex released me and stepped forward. Standing slightly away from him, I watched my new husband bend over the minister’s desk and put his signature on the paper.     My situation seemed so unreal. Gail was angry with me. My trusted doctor had a drinking problem, and I was married…again…to a man who mystified but also intrigued me.     Suddenly, a high-pitched, ringing sound shrilled loudly in my ears, growing in intensity until it blocked out other sounds. Was something wrong with the air-conditioning unit? Alex turned toward me, offering me the pen. His mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear him speak. The stuffy little office grew fuzzy. Sweat beaded on my upper lip. I felt weightless—as if I was floating.     Like Fourth of July fireworks, pulsating lights of exploding colors shot before my eyes. I closed them. In the distance behind my eyes, I saw a young girl dressed in a strange yellow gown. The room vibrated….Tangled Memories buy linksAmazon    Amazon UK iBooks     Kobo     B&N 
Check out the US Sale Price!


More About Jan ScarbroughA member of Novelist, Inc., Jan Scarbrough has published with Kensington, Five Star, ImaJinn Books, Resplendence Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press. She writes paranormal Gothic romances and heartwarming contemporary romances with a touch of spice. Her favorite topics are families and second chances and if the plot allows, she adds another passion—horses. Living in the horse country of Kentucky makes it easy for Jan to add small town, Southern charm to her books, and the excitement of a horse race or a big-time, competitive horse show. Connect with her here:
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Release Day: SMOKE Bk#2 Clan of Dragons & GIVEAWAY

Please help me celebrate the release of my 2nd book in my Clan of Dragons series.

SMOKE is available in ebook and print.  

Blurb
How far will Wynn, a green and white dragon, go to save their species? An accidental meeting with a wolf-shifter leads him on a merry chase beneath the lure of the coming full moon. Will he follow her, or shift into a human to find a mate among the villagers? Dragons don’t wear plaide. Nancy Lee Badger brings you SMOKE, the 2nd book in her Clan of Dragon series. Join the hero, pirates, and Scottish villagers trying to survive in this historical paranormal with a humorous bent, set on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. 


Buy Links  Amazon    Amazon CAN    Amazon UK    Amazon AUS

<Coming Soon> Amazon Print    B&N PrintBAM     Book Depository




Please enter my Scottish Dragon GiveawayNo purchase necessaryENDS October 21st
You may enter using one or all of these methods (You NEVER have to do them all!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & ConditionsNo purchase necessary. Open to USA and International residents.  Due to shipping costs & food gifts, International winners will receive a selection of Nancy's ebooks. All entrants agree to me adding their names & emails to my Newsletter list, and will be eligible for future GIVEAWAYS. Info will NOT be shared.

Forever in her Eyes by Karen Rose Smith

Author Karen Rose Smith stopped by to share the news about her latest book, Forever in Her Eyes, so please scroll down and read all about it! Take it away, Karen!


Excerpt:
In just a few moments she'd find out whether he was the man in her dreams.  If he was...Melanie's heart thudded so hard, she felt as if it were going to jump out of her chest as Flo Briggs led her through a spacious living room, then down a hall.  There the housekeeper motioned to an open door. Melanie stepped inside and came face-to-face with Zachary Morgan.  Her organ donor's husband was sitting at his desk, his oxford shirt sleeves rolled up, deeply involved in his work and seemingly oblivious to her presence.This is the man, everything inside of her screamed.  She felt almost dizzy with the realization that her dreams had been much more than dreams.As he stood to greet her, their eyes locked and Melanie's heart lurched."Ms. Carlotti?" he asked, his voice deep and rich, striking a chord inside of her.  He extended his hand, and for a moment she was afraid to take it.Then she did.  His grip was strong, his skin warm, his hand tanned, and she was so relieved when she didn't feel anything strange.  "Yes.  It's good to meet you."Releasing her fingers, he leaned away and nodded to the black leather chair in front of his desk.  "Tell me why you'd like to decorate my offices."After she took her seat, he lowered himself into his chair but kept his gaze on hers.  She still couldn't believe she was finally face-to-face with the man she'd been dreaming about for months—a man she'd found so very compelling.  Yet she knew if she told him her real reason for being here, he wouldn't believe her or worse yet, he'd think she was crazy.Smoothing her hand down the rose skirt of her two-piece dress, she gave a logical explanation for wanting this job.  "The way I understand it, this is a large project—four floors of offices.  I'd enjoy working on a job that size, starting from scratch and choosing everything from wall coverings to furniture."He glanced down briefly at the papers on his desk.  "You've mostly decorated homes.  Why do you feel you have the qualifications to do this job?""I'd expect you'd want your offices to reflect something about you and your business and how you run it.  It's really not so different from decorating a house to match a client's personality as well as likes and dislikes.""I suppose that's so."  Keeping his gaze steady on hers, he noted, "There's almost a two-year gap in your work history, and you've only finished a couple of minor jobs in the past few months.  Can you tell me the reason for that?"She could lay it all out on his desk right now—tell him about the fire and her cornea transplants and the keening ache that had brought her to him.  If she did that, he might escort her out of his building, lock the doors and never let her back in.  She'd be left with dreams and no explanations.  "I had some health problems," she explained.  "Now they're resolved and I'm ready to get back into the swing of my career again." He seemed to think about that.  "Why here in Northern California rather than back in L.A.?""I need a change.  I've heard that Santa Rosa is a particularly lovely place to live.  I have a good reputation that I can take with me anywhere, so I decided to start fresh.  If I get this job."He arched a brow.  "And if you don't?""I might stay in the area for a while and see if there are any other opportunities."After another long, silent appraisal, he asked, "Do you have a place to stay?""Not yet.  I checked into the motel at Cool Ridge last night."  Cool Ridge was about forty-five minutes outside of Santa Rosa and consisted of little more than a main street.  She'd been fortunate to find a room in the one motel there.  A country-music festival was being held at nearby Clear Lake this week and vacancies were hard to find anywhere in the area.As her gaze held Zachary Morgan's, there seemed to be more than words between them.  Something akin to electricity.  She wondered if he felt it, too.His brows furrowed as he once again looked down at the papers on his desk, and she suspected he was buying time as he made a first impression of her.  "Your résumé is certainly complete.  I phoned—"Suddenly a toddler came running into the office.  From Jake's background report, Melanie knew Zack's daughter was eighteen months old.  The little girl made a beeline straight for Zack and held onto his knee, looking up at him with a beatific smile.Melanie's breath caught at the wave of feelings that washed over her.  Zack's daughter had dark brown eyes and his dark brown hair."Da-Dee.  Up," she said gleefully.Flo Briggs came tearing into the office, breathless.  "I'm so sorry, Zack.  She got away from me.  Right after her nap, she's got more energy than ten of me."Zack laughed and lifted his daughter onto his lap.  "How's a man supposed to conduct business with a distraction like you around?"  His voice was teasing and warm and altogether loving."Da-Dee, Da-Dee," she said, as if that explained absolutely everything.He shook his head.  "I can't play right now.  Maybe Flo can find a cookie or two for you."As if telling her dad that was a fine idea, the child wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a tight squeeze.He hugged her back, and looking over her tiny shoulder, he said to Melanie, "This is my daughter, Amy.  Since we moved here and I often work out of the penthouse, she takes advantage of any time she can find me."Amy suddenly let go of her dad's neck and turned to look at Melanie.Melanie had felt an almost-hum when her gaze had first connected with Zachary Morgan's.  Now as she looked at his daughter, there was that same feeling of connection.  Was it her imagination?  Truth be told, if she hadn't already been dealing with strange things since her operation, she might think she was going crazy.Her heart told her another story...especially when Amy blinked twice at her, broke into a super-wide smile and scrambled from her dad's lap.  She ran to Melanie and looked up at her with wide brown eyes."Hi, there," Melanie said almost reverently, feeling like a mother again.  Joy and sadness and an unfathomable yearning filled her.Amy held her arms up, never taking her gaze from Melanie's.  Instinctively, she lifted the toddler to her lap.  The little girl touched Melanie's cheek, her soft baby fingers leaving an imprint on Melanie's heart.
Book Blurb
Melanie Carlotti lost everything, including her eyesight. Because of a donor, she regained it again. But with this gift came haunting dreams, a man's face and questions to be answered. Thanks to the help of a psychic, Melanie discovers the identity of her donor. She steps into the life of her donor's husband Zack and toddler Amy, finding clues but not the definitive answer and peace. Until...she realizes she's in love with Zack, not because of his wife's memories that accompanied Melanie's cornea transplant, but because of her own feelings for this widowed single dad. The truth sets Melanie free but can cost her the man she loves. If Zack can believe Melanie's story and trust her, they will both find happily ever after. But if he can't believe...


Forever in Her Eyes Buy Links: 
Amazon    NOOK  iBooks    Smashwords
More About the Author


An only child, USA Today Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew, and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there.  Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Readers often ask her about her past times. She has herb, flower and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. Karen's 97th release will be available in 2017.


Connect with Karen Rose Smith here:
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Mystery Website      Blog  

Alpha Beta Omega: A Shifter Box Set

I invited fellow author, and member of my local Romance Writers of America Chapter, Beth Caudil, to visit and share a boxed set project she is with. 
Alpha Beta Omega is a multi-ordered boxed set by Lia Davis, K.N. Lee, Marissa Dobson, Beth Caudill, Misha Carver, Xandra James, Laxmi Hariharan, Bethany Shaw, Nicole Morgan, and Lily Marie
From today’s hottest USA Today and Bestselling authors comes a collection of 10 novellas, featuring hot alpha, beta, and omega shifters. If you like tigers, bears, wolves, and more you’ll love this box set. Each story is either a first in a series or a stand-alone novella.
AND it’s only on sale for a limited time so be sure to grab while it’s available. $.99
Available at:Amazon   iBooks    B&N    Kobo     ARe 
What’s inside:
A Tiger’s Claim by Lia Davis As the Alpha’s only daughter Shayna Andrews has always been treated like a rare gem, protected like royalty, and she’s suffocating. Her longing to be independent has driven her to sneak out one evening after dinner. After relishing in being able to run free without an escort, she finds herself face-to-face with the enemy, miles from home, and nearly loses her life until a lone wolf comes to her aid. But when he discovers she wears the enemy’s brand, things will go from bad to worse.

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Newsletter
The Scarlett Legacy by K.N. LeeWizards. Shifters. Sexy mobsters with magic. The arrival of Avalon Prince brings a century-old feud to a dangerous climax. Scottish Old-World magic, mixed with a dangerous obsession with Evie and a sinister plot for revenge threatens to bring the Scarlett family to its demise. 

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Newsletter Tiger Time by Marissa DobsonTabitha Leigh has no idea her mundane life is about to change or that danger stalks her every step. Now as the Queen of the Tigers with a bounty on her head, she must embrace her future and her mate. If she doesn’t, it will mean the end of everything she’s come to know and never realized she needed.

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Healer’s Fate by Beth CaudillCorliss Rumdone’s the healer of her werewolf clan, destined to save lives and live in the shadows. He's the alpha's son, destined to mate to cement his status at the top of the pack. What happens when he chooses her instead?

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Bearly Smitten (The Alpha’s Bride Book 1) by Misha Carver When bear shifter Jed Barton’s keynote speaker engagement and his role as pack alpha require him to have a wife, he does what any other tycoon would do – he hires one – the  last thing he wanted to do was fall in love with her.

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Reluctant Revenge - Under the Demon’s Skin by Xandra James Demon-hybrid Nash is hungry for revenge. Promising to protect the daughter of his sworn enemy, he's torn between his duty as an Alpha Enforcer and his desire to avenge his murdered fiancée. Can Nash forgive the past? Or will losing Sienna be the only way to heal his dark heart?

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Feral - A Many Lives Story by Laxmi Hariharan He was her destination. She just didn't know it. When Maya leaves Luke to go in search of her blood family, nothing prepares her for the secrets she uncovers about herself.  An intense, shifter romance, set in a Bombay of the future.

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The Beta’s Mate by Bethany Shaw Nina’s tired of the lies and disappearances. Her marriage is on the verge of dissolving, but fate has other ideas. Now if she could only get in touch with her soon-to-be ex. Logan hates that his wife filed for divorce, even though everyone tells him it’s for the best. He’s the beta of the pack—second in command—and she’s human. When he discovers he’s going to be a father, he’ll do anything to keep Nina and the baby safe. But will she let him back in when she finds out he’s been lying to her for years about turning into a giant wolf?

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Night Falls by Nicole Morgan When Paul, the leader of the Racinitine Pack crosses paths with Kinzey, a tenacious reporter, he knows he’s in trouble. Not only can he see the fire in her, but he can feel it as well. When Kinzey gets too close to his secrets, it may change the only way of life his pack has ever known.

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Wounds to Bear (Heart of The Bear Book One) by Lily Marie A wounded shifter, and a beautiful, curvy woman. Two hearts, with one goal – to save the children taken by an old enemy.  Roman Black’s past has finally caught up with him – and he isn’t the only one paying for his mistakes. Dr. Jenna Morgan is running from her own past – and hopes to find her place in the small town of Pine Heart. When a wounded bear shows up at her door, she discovers that the rumors about this small town are true, and that one of those shifters is bleeding all over her front porch. She treats him, and learns that he was shot protecting a group of shifter and human kids – who are now being held by an old enemy bent on revenge.
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Visit a Scottish Highland Games soon!

Turning the CABER/Telephone PoleModern Day highland games have a short history here in the United States and I have been fortunate enough to attend several over the last thirty-five or so years. I am also proud to be a long-time volunteer at the annual New Hampshire Highland Games, even though my husband and I moved to North Carolina. We still go back each fall to help. It takes hundreds of volunteers to pull off a multi-day event attended by over 40,000 people!

The wearing of kilts, kilt hose, sporrans, billowing ‘ghillie’ or 'Jacobite' shirts, tams, and more (or less, if most men have their way) have become tradition. With a wool kilt made to order and costing upwards of six-hundred dollars, they are worn with pride and ceremony. Luckily for many, kilts made in fabrics other than wool cost less than $200.

Many U.S. states, and Canadian provinces, host highland games and all are family-friendly with programs for children. Scottish dress is never required, nor do you have to be of Scottish descent. Try to attend one to get the flavor and romantic vibes that emanate from every clan tent, dance performance, and rock concert.
Practice before the Clan ParadeIf you can, spend a weekend visiting a Scottish games or festival. You will have a great time!

"A dragon by any other name would still breathe sparks." 
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Angela Quarles, her RITA, and MUST LOVE KILTS

Angela and her RITA with Margie Lawson
Photo courtesy of Margie LawsonAuthor Angela Quarles recently returned from the 2016 Romance Writers of America conference in San Diego with some extra luggage...her first RITA award! The RITA is to authors what the Oscar is to actors. It is the quintessential proof that an author's hard work has true meaning. 
Angela stopped by my blog to share a brand new book that follows her award winning book Must Love  Chainmail, her second book, which followed Must Love Breeches (I love that title!) 

Here is the Book Blast about her new release
Must Love Kilts.
The Genre: Time Travel RomanceRelease Date: July 6, 2016
Length: Novel (80,000 words)
Ebook Price: $4.99
ISBN: 978-0-9905400-6-9
Content advisory: Adult language, explicit sexBlurbThe Jacobite Rebellion--not the best time to get drunk, hook up with a guy, and lose your sister.
A drunken bet...
When computer game designer Traci Campbell gets too close and personal with a bottle of Glenfiddich while vacationing in Scotland, she whisks her kilt-obsessed sister back to 1689 to prove hot guys in kilts are a myth. Hello, hundred bucks! But all bets are off when she meets Iain, the charming playboy in a to-die-for kilt.
Wrong place, wrong time, wrong name...
Iain MacCowan regularly falls in love at the drop of his kilt. The mysterious red-haired lass with the odd accent is no different. But when his new love is discovered to be a Campbell, the most distrusted name in the Highlands, his dalliance endangers his clan's rebellion against King William.  
It’s all hijinks in the Highlands until your sister disappears...Traci thinks men are only good for one thing--thank you, Iain!--but when she awakens once again in Ye Olde Scotland and her sister is gone, she must depend on the last person she wants to spend more time with. He wants to win a heart, she wants to keep hers, but can these two realize they're meant for each other before the Jacobite rebellion pulls them apart?Excerpt from Must Love Chainmail    That night, Traci lay curled up in the huge, dark-timbered, four-poster bed, hearing every scurrying noise in the rambling stone edifice that Iain’s clan called home. Let’s be real, it was a friggin’ castle. And it was just so damned...quiet. Outside and in. As if the quiet were a heavy weight, so that every whisper of a noise became a giant ripple through that weight, kicking her heart, her nerves.    Who knew that even a curtain moving in some unseen breeze made a noise? Well, it did. A kind of swish-thurr. And there were curtains on all four sides of her bed. A weird mixture of safety and fear infused her, being enclosed like that. As if she were wrapped in her own cocoon made up of just her bed, its covers, and pillows. But, on the other hand, she couldn’t see what was on the other side of those heavy curtains. What if that scrrritching was a seventeenth-century rat coming to gnaw on her shoes? Or to steal up into her bed and gnaw on her bare toes?    She pulled her feet deeper under the covers. Man, if it was a rat, she’d friggin’ lose it. She shivered. She’d hated rats ever since she’d been introduced to her creepy cousin’s pet rat Ivan. Ivan the Terrible, she called it, because her cousin had trained it to sneak up on her whenever she was alone and press its disgusting, whiskery nose on her bare feet. Her cousin apparently lived for her shrieks.    A much louder sound than some would-be rat ricocheted through the room, and she stiffened, her heart pounding. A drawn-out creak followed.    The door. It was the door opening. Iain. It has to be.    She’d gone to bed much earlier—on purpose—to avoid the awkward moment when they had to go to sleep separately. But then she’d lain awake for several hours, trying to absorb all that had happened, her mind unable to shut up.    A soft glow of light bloomed from the direction of the door, muted by the thickness of the bed curtains. A rustle and a thump. A muffled curse. The light bobbed and shifted from the left to the right side but didn’t come closer to the bed.    It was Iain, right?    She eased back her covers, careful not to make a noise. She bit her lip and rolled up onto her side, placing her head near the gap in the curtain to her right. She reached forward and edged the fabric back, just a fraction.    She sucked in a breath but clamped her lips shut.    Oh. It was Iain all right. He stood, three-quarters of him facing her, highlighted by the orange glow of the lingering peat fire, his candle perched on the mantel. That light, mixed with the moon’s feeble glow from the lone window, cast his form in shifting shadows. But, oh boy. It was enough to see.    See as he unclasped his kilt where it draped over a strong shoulder. See as the fabric rustled downward to pool in drapes along his back side. See as he grasped his linen shirt and dragged it up by slow degrees, revealing his powerful torso in the dim light. His muscles bunched and flexed as the fabric swished over his head.    Oh, what a lovely chest. So she had remembered that correctly.And then... And then his long, strong fingers settled onto the belt holding his sporran and plaid, the light sprinkling of black hairs across his powerful chest narrowing down to a point where his hands had paused. His chin raised, and his eyes lifted to her position, but with her nestled in the dark depths of the bed, he couldn’t possibly see her. All the same, she felt the heat of his stare, and she squirmed.
    The light played across the planes of his strong hands and forearms, allowing her to note the miniscule shifting of muscles signaling his next move. His shapely fingers moved with practiced ease, and he unclasped the belt. The kilt dropped.Book LinksAmazon    Amazon Print    Nook     Kobo iBooks      Google Play    ARe  More About Angela QuarlesAngela Quarles is a RWA RITA® Winner and USA Today bestselling author of time travel and steampunk romance. Her steampunk, Steam Me Up, Rawley, was named Best Self-Published Romance of 2015 by Library Journal and Must Love Chainmail won the 2016 RITA® Award in the paranormal category, the first indie to win in that category. Angela loves history, folklore, and family history. She decided to take this love of history and her active imagination and write stories of romance and adventure for others to enjoy. When not writing, she's either working at the local indie bookstore or enjoying the usual stuff like gardening, reading, hanging out, eating, drinking, chasing squirrels out of the walls, and creating the occasional knitted scarf. Connect with Angela here:
WEBSITE     BLOG     TWITTER FACEBOOK     PINTEREST
Join her mailing list HERE     Paranormal Unbound, the group blog I belong to is HERE

A Story is Born by Sherrie Hansen

Author Sherrie Hansen stopped by to share her latest BOOK BLAST!Take it away, Sherrie!

The second I stepped out of the car and looked out over the tree-covered hills and valleys surrounding Loch Carran, Scotland, I knew I’d found the setting of my next book. It wasn’t just the beautiful view and the amazing pine trees, firs and wildflowers that lined the banks of the lake – it was the abandoned ferry station that led to nowhere, and the little strip of houses between the shoreline or Loch Carron and the steep hill behind. It was the soft, smooth, tartan wools woven with such intricate colors at the local woolen mill.

I’ve already started working on Golden Rod, the Wildflowers of Scotland novel that was born along that day in early June. It’s gotten me thinking – what is it about a place that reaches out and grabs a person’s attention and makes them want to spend a lifetime – or at least a book-life – there? I think the thing that first made me fall in love with St. Conan’s Kirk on Loch Awe, the setting of Wild Rose, my first Wildflowers of Scotland novel, was the fact that it was so over grown and tucked off the beaten path that we almost missed it. The quirky, eclectic architecture mirrored Rose Wilson’s personality perfectly; its lofty, stunning, reverent, holy feeling gave rise to Pastor Ian MacCraig.
The rainbow-colored waterfront reflected in the waters of Tobermory Bay, Isle of Mull, Craigievarwas the first thing that drew me to the setting of Blue Belle, but it was the castles – Glengorm, Duart, and Torosay – that made me want to stay. A Spanish galleon that went down in the bay in 1588, fully loaded with gold, that’s supposedly never been recovered, cinched the deal.

There are a million reasons to love Eilean Donan Castle. The backdrop for Shy Violet was born of a lone bagpiper playing in front of the castle, a pirate boat docked offshore, and the absolutely delicious Castle Pâté I had for lunch on the day we visited.

Rabbit Hill Lodge, in my new release, Sweet William, is an actual inn (renamed to protect the innocent) we happened upon on the road from Loch Ness to Dorney. There was just something about the stone fence and the gate, and the pretty little tables all set for dinner that grabbed my attention. It didn’t take long before Lyndsie and William were in the kitchen, living out a real life episode of Chopped.

I thought maybe Sweet William was where my fascination with Scotland would end, but we returned to Scotland in June, and not unsurprisingly, toured two castles whose stories will become a part of my next book, Golden Rod. The first was Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire, whose Green Lady is said to haunt its halls to this day.  The second was Craigievar, a castle riddled with legends, including one that says the eldest son will never inherit.

Skye viewThere’s also a farm in a valley, deep in the Isle of Skye, that beckons to me, and a seaside village, and a wee boothie surrounded by pastures dotted with sheep. One day, they may become a novel called Mountain Laurel, or Seaside Daisy, or who knows? Sometimes it’s a building, or a story, or even a name that captures my fancy. And a story is born.

Sherrie’s new release is Sweet William available HERE  

He’s a real sweetheart. She’s a wee bit tart. When Minnesota farm boy,
William McKnight, and sassy Scot, Lyndsie Morris, are forced to work
together in the kitchen of Rabbit Hill Lodge, the atmosphere is as charged
as an episode of Chopped. Will someone get cut, or will they find a recipe
that works? Things just start to get spicy when an angry bull butts his
way into the picture, and Lyndsie has to decide if she loves William more
than everyone and everything she holds dear.
Sherrie at Fyvie CastleMore About the Author
Twenty-five years ago, Sherrie Hansen rescued a dilapidated Victorian house from the bulldozer’s grips and turned it into a B&B and tea house, the Blue Belle Inn. Sherrie and her husband, Mark, who is a pastor, divide their time between two different houses, 85 miles apart. Sherrie writes murder mysteries and novels whenever she’s not working at her B&B or trying to be a good pastor’s wife. Her contemporary romantic suspense novels include Night and Day, Love Notes, and Thistle Down, Wild Rose,
Blue Belle, Shy Violet and Sweet William, her Wildflowers of Scotland novels.

You can see what Sherrie's up to at:
https://www.facebook.com/BlueBelleInn

http://sherriehansen.wordpress.com/
www.BlueBelleInn.com or www.BlueBelleBooks.com
https://twitter.com/SherrieHansen
https://www.pinterest.com/sherriebluebell/
http://www.amazon.com/Sherrie-Hansen/e/B007YXQJ4W/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

SPARK, a Book Where Dragons and Horses Mix

Front CoverHorses have been an irrational hobby of mine since childhood. I have a black & white photo somewhere of me riding a pony when I was 4 or 5. I had the biggest smile on my face. I think I was riding around the ring, somewhere in New Hampshire, and I was in heaven. Over the years, I have ridden horses in and around my Long Island, NY neighborhood, thanks to a neighbor who allowed the local kids to muck out the stall and lead the horses through the woods. I twice attended horse camp in Connecticut, and even went on a trail ride with my new husband while honeymooning on Prince Edward’s Island in Canada. I have collected ©Breyer Horse Models ever since I started earning an allowance, and now I include horses as characters in my brand new series, Clan of Dragons.
My latest release is Spark , the first book of the series. Spark is a Scottish paranormal romance full of dragons, shifters, pirates, wolves, and Scottish villagers on the island of Skye. The timeframe is somewhere in the early fifteenth century, and revolves around three dragons who happen to be brothers. They Back Cover with Horse...Click to enlargehave a big problem…the lack of female dragons. One brother likes to shift into a white wolf to run through the forests, and another turns into a huge antlered red stag. The youngest has not tried to shift into anything. Seems he has plenty of fun flying over Skye’s Black Cuillin Hills as a purple dragon. However, to get close to a human female, to see if they might be compatible, he shifts into a horse and winds his way into her life. Sometimes a writer has to follow the advice that says “Write what you know,” but writing paranormal romance means I can take that much farther. 
Smoke , the second book in my Clan of Dragons is already available for pre-order and will be released October 7th. I go a little out of my comfort zone by making the middle dragon one who enjoys shifting into a white wolf. The third book in the series, Smolder , follows their heartbroken older brother, a red stag-shifting dragon, who lost his mate and unborn babe to a hunter's arrow. 


Spark Buy Links:   Amazon     Amazon Can   Amazon UK   Amazon Aus
Smoke Buy Links: Amazon     Amazon Can   Amazon UK   Amazon Aus     

Just Wait For Me-a new book by author Dawn Marie Hamilton

I invited fellow author Dawn Marie Hamilton to stop by and share with my readers her latest book, Just Wait For Me, which she released on August 10, 2016. The Book Blurb: The third match in the Fae Queen's challenge is in play. Will fae magic change Stephen and Jillian's destiny?

In the chaotic aftermath of the battle of Flodden, an injured Highland warrior makes a vow to a twenty-first century lass cast back in time by a meddling, matchmaking faerie. Stephen MacEwen promises to find a way to send her forward to her own time. But is that an oath he'll want to keep after finding love in Jillian O'Donnell's arms? And after saving Stephen's life, will Jillian want to go?

No matter what the lover's decide, Stephen's wife--a woman who acquired the title through deceit--and an old enemy attempt to destroy the couple's chance for happiness. Only with the help of Fae allies can Stephen and Jillian overcome and earn their reward--everlasting love.  The Cave of the mysterious Gray Women was introduced in the first book of the Highland Gardens series and developed upon, with inspiration from Smoo Cave near the village of Durness in Scotland, in 'Just Wait For Me'. Here is an except at the Caves from Stephen's point-of-view shortly after Jillian traveled back in time to 1513 and wasn't yet aware of her exact whereabouts...      Of a sudden, Jillian jerked her feet up onto the shelf where she sat. Wrapping arms tightly around her legs, she stared into the water with a frown.    “What is wrong?” Stephen asked, sliding closer.    “Something brushed over my feet. Are their snakes in the water?”    Her horrified expression made him chuckle. “Nae. Just wee toothless fish.”    “Oh. Like the garra rufa that nibble away dead skin from your feet when you get a fish pedicure at one of the fancy spas in Asheville.”    “I dinnae ken about that, but the fish in this pool will not hurt you.”    She dropped her feet deeper into the water and smiled. “Tickles.”    “Aye. Does.” He sounded like the village idiot.    “I’m lost. The children told me the Gray Women would help me find my way to a phone or to a town where I could call my brother, but they keep disappearing. Do you know where I can go to make a call?”    “The women come and go. Mysteriously.”    “Why are you here?”    “To heal.”    “What happened?”    “Ach. ’Tis a long story.”    “You’re Scottish. Right? You sound a lot like my business partner’s husband, Patrick MacLachlan. He’s originally from Scotland.” She shook her head, making her braid bob. “Of course, you wouldn’t know him. Sorry. I tend to ramble when I’m nervous.”    “I dinnae wish to make you uncomfortable.” She kenned Patrick!    She smiled, and Stephen had to rub an achy spot near his heart. He didn’t ken whether it was because she affected him so or because she kenned Patrick. He missed his cousin terribly.    “So? About a phone?” she persisted.    “Phone? Is that something of your future time?”    Her eyes narrowed, brow furrowed. The look clearly stated she believed him simple in the head. He might strive to be underestimated by an opponent in battle, but he didn’t like the lass thinking poorly of him.
Buy Link:  AMAZON  
More about Dawn Marie Hamilton Dawn Marie Hamilton dares you to dream. She is a 2013 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist who pens Scottish-inspired fantasy and paranormal romance. Some of her tales are rife with mischief-making faeries, brownies, and other fae creatures. More tormented souls—shape shifters, vampires, and maybe a zombie or two—stalk across the pages of other stories. When not writing, she’s cooking, gardening, or paddling the local creeks with her husband. Connect with her: Blog     Twitter     Facebook    Goodreads    Amazon     Google+     Pinterest