Krista Ames's Blog, page 57

#TeaseMeThursday with #SizzlingPR @SizzlingPR #MiaHoddell #StephanieWitter

Bet on Me by Mia HoddellAmazon - Barnes & Noble - iBooks  We Shouldn't And Yet by Stephanie WitterAmazon - Barnes & Noble - iBooks  

Release Boost Blitz: RED NIGHT by RK Close @SizzlingPR @RKClose #SizzlingPR #RKClose #RedNight @RCKCLOSE

Red Night by RK Close Release Date: May 10, 2016Publisher: Limitless PublishingGenre: Paranormal RomanceRelease Boost Blitz: May 24, 2016
For five hundred years I have feasted on the blood of the innocent. 
For centuries I have seduced beautiful victims into my bed. 
And all this time, I have never gone without… 
I am Zachariah… 
While enduring endless days as an immortal, only one urge soothes my savage need. 
Blood. 
I have consumed countless humans—I have witnessed mountains of corpses piled beneath my feet. But none more significant than the woman I once loved. 
My heart was not the only one she captured, but it would be the last… 
An inferior creature turned her heart against me—Adam. Such a pathetic identity to be named after the original creation of God, and always besting me in life. But in death—I am king. 
I am far more treacherous. 
I should be feared. 
I demand to be remembered. 
And I am, for being known as the immortal who slayed the woman we both loved, and my rampage continues… 
Now in the scorching desert, I find prey well worth the chase… 
Samantha. 
And my interest in this mortal runs deep. Adam has pursued me over the globe in search of revenge—but his own weaknesses have made him vulnerable. He’s taken to the striking mortal, which means only one thing. 
She will be my next target. 
But this time, not for the taste of blood. I will take her as my own mate, and neither Adam, or anyone else, will stop me…Buy now or read for free with Kindle Unlimited:Amazon US – Amazon UK About the Author:Hello! I’m RK Close, author of the ‘Vampire Files Trilogy’. ‘Red Night’ is the first book in the series. I write paranormal-romance & urban-fantasy with a hint of darkness and a dash of humor. Creating characters that my readers will fear, fall in love with, despise or cheer for, is what I love most about writing.
Ann Rice gets all the credit for my vampire addiction which started in my early twenties. Like so many others, I fell in love with her vampires first.
Originally from Kentucky, I’ve lived most of my life in Arizona where I met and married my true love. We were late to the game so we knocked out three ankle-biters in quick succession. We often joke that parenthood saved us from ourselves. Now we need to be saved from parenthood. *just kidding* We love our darling spawn.
When I’m not writing, I’m taking care of a busy family, dragging my butt to CrossFit, thinking about my stories or spending time with family and friends. My dream is to sell enough books to hire someone to clean our house and cook our meals. Okay, maybe that’s my family’s dream. I tend to get a little obsessed when I write.
Truthfully, I would love the opportunity to pull you into my world of strong independent females, mysterious vampires, noble hunters, hungry werewolves and seductive yet deadly fae. If you like paranormal-romance in a modern-urban setting with plenty of romantic tension, mystery and suspense, then my novels were written for you.Limitless Publishing - Facebook - Website - TwitterGiveaway:a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

1 Day away - For The Clan by Archer Kay Leah #SizzlingPR #Oneclick #ForTheClan @bloggerbees

For the Clan by Archer Kay Leah#SizzlingPR #BookBlitz #ForTheClan #ArcherKayLeah #ComingSoon#OneClick #PreOrderPublisher– http://bit.ly/1SlaxkaAmazon – http://amzn.to/1TeLYsIInternational – smarturl.it/FortheClanKobo – http://bit.ly/257Tf3jSmashwords – http://bit.ly/1VZ6PABAll Romance Ebooks – http://bit.ly/1OwCrWH

#Bookblitz CLOSE LOVE by #ZoeAdams @SizzlingPR #FastLove

  Close Love by Zoe Adams Genre: Billionaire Romance, Western RomanceRelease: December 8, 2015Publisher: Limitless PublishingBook Blitz: May 23, 2016
   Lady runs away until she meets Del. Together, they find out where loving her leads.  
Buy now or read for free with Kindle Unlimited:Amazon US – Amazon UKExcerpt:Del lifted his black cowboy hat. “Good evening, ma’am.”

She sputtered nervously, “What? Who says stuff like that anymore?”

“Del Ericson.” He put his hand out in greeting.

The woman took his hand and tilted her head. “I’m Lady, umm.”

“Lady Umm?” Del tried to figure her out.

“Is Lady your real name or a title?” “I don’t know.” She put her nose down and fumbled with the gas door. Lady’s tone of voice matched the distraught look in her eyes. Del thought he saw something deeper. She had a frozen smile attached to a poker face. Her expression got longer as she straightened to meet him.

“The gas station is closed, but you can still get gas. It accepts credit cards at night. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Del gave a reassuring smile and began to turn away.

“Oh no.” Lady’s composure went to panicky tears. “Oh no.” She repeated herself sickly. Lady stomped a high heeled shoe on the concrete and it made a weak click. “Oh no.” She lifted her face to his. “I lose again.”

Lady had a little temper. Del considered her a loss. Then those three little words melted any preconceived notion of being spoiled or rich. She had said she lost again. Those words drew Del’s interest back. “What did you lose?” he asked.

“Anonymity. I lose to technology.” She humpffed and a piece of brown hair floated above her cheek. When the wayward strand settled, it fell somewhere indifferently. “I just can’t ever run away from my family. They will see my credit card and follow my every move.”

She looked up at Del. Her eyes held a serious look of discomfort. But there was more to it than that, it was a hopeless look about belonging. She grimaced like she wasn’t sure if he was a better place for her to turn toward or not.
Review Quotes:5 stars: Sexy, steamy and action packed! This book is a best seller in the making. The guys are hott, the writers writing great, and the plot interesting! By Cutting Muse Book Blog – Laura and Makayla Redmon
4 Stars: Fashion, Farming, and a whole lotta love. What will Lady do?Love steam and so much more. Lady wanting to be free from her family finds the happiness she wants with a man she never expected to meet. Del a farmer, just out to get gas, comes home with more than he bargained and found the one thing that would make him happy.Running isn't easy when you have others that want you and will do anything to have you. Enter billionaire Royce Blackwater. He promises her the world.See exciting and filled with drama and passion this is the type of book you could curl up with and stay nice and toasty without the need of a fire.Another hit for Zoe! - The Book Fairy ReviewsAbout the Author:Zoe Adams currently resides in Hawaii. She was born to a big family in the center of North America. A family store gave a lot of human interaction and work experience from a very young age.
Her mother gave a love for books, paper, pens, and any other creative mediums. Her father instilled work ethic for making, repairing, or polishing things until they shine. There was a lot of competition in the large family and Zoe learned how to tell a good story with few words.
When not writing she manages vacation rentals in world renowned Lanikai Beach. She can be found on the beach or kayaking with her husband and partner of thirteen years. They have no children but are perfectly content to spoil a dog.Website – Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads

For the Clan by6 Archer Kay Leah #SizzlingPR #BookBlitz #FortheClan #ArcherKayLeah #One Click #PreOrder #ComingSoon

For the Clan by Archer Kay Leah#SizzlingPR #BookBlitz #ForTheClan #ArcherKayLeah #ComingSoon#OneClick #PreOrder
Publisher– http://bit.ly/1SlaxkaAmazon – http://amzn.to/1TeLYsIInternational – smarturl.it/FortheClanKobo – http://bit.ly/257Tf3jSmashwords – http://bit.ly/1VZ6PABAll Romance Ebooks – http://bit.ly/1OwCrWH

#SPOTLIGHT: The Dream Diaries by Philip Hoy #Book2 of the Evelyn Hernandez series @Evernightteen @PhilipAllenHoy #giveaway

The Dream DiariesEvelyn Hernandez Series, Book 2Philip Hoy
Contemporary/Romance/Suspense/Interracial (paranormal elements)Evernight Teen Publishing, Word count: 45K
The rumor at school is that after the varsity quarterback broke her heart, Evelyn
Hernandez broke his hand. Then she demolished his car, beat up his girlfriend, and smashed all the windows in his house—or so the story goes. Some say that under the long hair and blunt cut bangs, beneath the cute dresses and colorful tights, and behind the pretty face and big brown eyes … hides a black-hearted, spell-casting, evil witch.
Only Evelyn doesn’t care what people at school say, or think. She couldn’t be happier. Her bullies have been brought to justice, her parents trust her, and she has a boyfriend who adores her. She’s even returned to drawing in her journal … but that’s when the nightmares begin.
Evelyn believes her violent dreams are messages from the future. Something terrible is going to happen at her school and only she can stop it—but how, and at what price?

Buy Links:   Amazon      ARe     Evernight Teen Publishing



Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Diaries-Evelyn-Hernandez-Book-ebook/dp/B01FWVVFGY?ie=UTF8&keywords=The%20Dream%20Diaries&qid=1464008997&ref_=sr_1_10&sr=8-10All Romance Ebooks - https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thedreamdiaries-2043614-168.htmlEvernight Teen Publishing - http://www.evernightteen.com/the-dream-diaries-by-philip-hoy/


16+ due to sexuality, language, and adult situations  
Excerpt:“I’ll be right back,” Karen said over her shoulder as she stepped out into the cold night. She set the bulging bag of trash down long enough to close the door behind her and then hefted it again in both hands and began walking awkwardly with it down the stairs. Her sandals slapped loudly against the bottoms of her feet and the unwelcome odor of chicken bones and baby diapers wafted upwards with each waddling step.At the bottom of the stairs, she stopped and looked around self-consciously, but the apartment complex was strangely quiet this late in the evening, with most of the windows around her already dark and not another person in sight. She tightened her grip on the neck of the garbage bag and started walking again. The dumpsters were just around the back of her building at the end of the parking lot, but in the dim light of the yellow security lamps they looked much farther. It was colder outside than she expected and Karen regretted not putting on a sweater before leaving the apartment.A brick wall surrounded the trash bins with large metal gates in the front that were kept locked, but there was a smaller walk-in opening around the back. What if someone was in there, she thought, or something … doing who knows what? Rather than step a foot inside, Karen was tempted to just heave the bag over the wall and hope the lids were up. But the thought of her nephew’s shitty diapers strewn across the parking lot, along with the junk mail and old homework with her name on it, stopped her, and she took a breath and walked inside.She was relieved to find the lid on the nearest bin was already thrown back, which meant she wouldn’t have to touch anything. She lifted with one hand at the top and the other pushing from below until the weight of the bag rested on the dumpster’s edge, then she pushed it over and let it fall with a muffled splat.When she turned to leave, a figure was standing in the opening, blocking her way.“Who’s there?” she shouted, taking a step back.“Hey, hey,” the figure quickly reassured, slowly moving forward and lowering his raspy voice as he spoke. “Don’t be ascared, girl. We’re not gonna hurt you.”“Spider?” Karen recognized his bug-eyed, boney face, but she hadn’t seen him at school in over a year. She heard he was locked up.“Orale!” he said, looking back. “See, Creeper? I told you this heina was down.”A second figure stepped out of the shadows behind Spider, filling the entryway and smiling nervously at Karen.“Hey, Creeper,” Karen said, smiling and suddenly walking past Spider toward him. “Why you up so late?” she asked, as if they were old friends. “Don’t you have homework or something?”Most likely confused by the friendliness of her greeting, he shuffled back a step, clearing the doorway just as Karen hoped he would, and she bolted for the opening.Spider was faster and grabbed her from behind. She tried to scream, but his hand was already covering her mouth.
 The Series:  Evelyn Hernandez






Author Bio:Philip Hoy is a high school English teacher by day and a short-story author, novelist, and poet by night. When he is not creating lesson plans or grading essays, he is writing. He lives in Southern California with his wife Magdalena, also a teacher.
Website      Blog      Facebook      Twitter
www.booksbyphiliphoy.comwww.writerphiliphoy.blogspot.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Books-by-Philip-Hoy-1507682796122032/?ref=bookmarkshttps://twitter.com/PhilipAllenHoy




Giveaway:  $10 Evernight Teen gift card

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Learning Curve & Curve My Appetite by Melissa Kendall @Decadentpub @mkendallauthor #1NS #amazongiveaway

Learning CurveMelissa Kendall
Decadent Publishing, 1Night StandContemporary BBW Erotic romance

Madame Eve may have helped them find one another. But meshing their two worlds together isn’t easy.
When Dean is nominated for an Emmy, he is so excited he invites Sally to be is date for the evening.
Sally is reluctant at first but eventually agrees. Petrified the world media will make fun of her for being the fat chick on Dean’s arm, she works her butt off to lose weight before the big event. 
Can Dean and Sally learn to make life together work? Or will the reality of the differences in their lives be too difficult to overcome?


Amazon   B&N

Don’t forget to start the series by grabbing your copy of
Curve MYAppetite !
Sally Austens’ sexual experience is limited and unsatisfactory at best. Now, as she turns thirty, it looks like the relationship train has missed her stop. When a friend tells her about 1Night Stand and suggests it might just change her life, she’s skeptical but shoots for the stars when asking for her perfect date. Go big or go home, right?
Dean Martorino lives in the public eye. Surrounded on a daily basis by society’s idea of stunning beauty, he longs for a woman with curves he can get lost in. At the suggestion of his long-time friend and manager, Dean shares his secret with Madame Eve hoping she can find him a match to fill his arms and satisfy his desires.
Can Sally accept the beauty Dean sees in her long enough to curve his appetite or will they both go home hungry?
ARe     Amazon     Barnes & Noble



About The Author:Melissa Kendall is a forty-year-old mother of two from Perth, Western Australia, the second-most isolated capital city in the world. Predominantly a stay-at-home mum, she works a few hours a week as a software support consultant. She has always loved to read and write, and spent most of her teens writing poetry and short stories. Over the years, daily life got in the way and she lost the passion for it, but after the birth of her first child, Melissa discovered e-books and her interest in writing rekindled. She is the author of two published short stories and Matronly Duties her first full-length novel.. Website: http://www.melissakendall.net Blog: http://mkendallauthor.blogspot.com.au Twitter: @mkendallauthorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkendallauthor/



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Join in the giveaway of a $10 Amazon Gift Card
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Happy Releae Day to LEARNING CURVE by Melissa Kendall #giveaway #1NS

Learning CurveMelissa Kendall
Decadent Publishing, 1Night StandContemporary BBW Erotic romance

Madame Eve may have helped them find one another. But meshing their two worlds together isn’t easy.
When Dean is nominated for an Emmy, he is so excited he invites Sally to be is date for the evening.
Sally is reluctant at first but eventually agrees. Petrified the world media will make fun of her for being the fat chick on Dean’s arm, she works her butt off to lose weight before the big event. 
Can Dean and Sally learn to make life together work? Or will the reality of the differences in their lives be too difficult to overcome?


Amazon   B&N

Don’t forget to start the series by grabbing your copy of
Curve MYAppetite !
Sally Austens’ sexual experience is limited and unsatisfactory at best. Now, as she turns thirty, it looks like the relationship train has missed her stop. When a friend tells her about 1Night Stand and suggests it might just change her life, she’s skeptical but shoots for the stars when asking for her perfect date. Go big or go home, right?
Dean Martorino lives in the public eye. Surrounded on a daily basis by society’s idea of stunning beauty, he longs for a woman with curves he can get lost in. At the suggestion of his long-time friend and manager, Dean shares his secret with Madame Eve hoping she can find him a match to fill his arms and satisfy his desires.
Can Sally accept the beauty Dean sees in her long enough to curve his appetite or will they both go home hungry?
ARe     Amazon     Barnes & Noble



About The Author:Melissa Kendall is a forty-year-old mother of two from Perth, Western Australia, the second-most isolated capital city in the world. Predominantly a stay-at-home mum, she works a few hours a week as a software support consultant. She has always loved to read and write, and spent most of her teens writing poetry and short stories. Over the years, daily life got in the way and she lost the passion for it, but after the birth of her first child, Melissa discovered e-books and her interest in writing rekindled. She is the author of two published short stories and Matronly Duties her first full-length novel.. Website: http://www.melissakendall.net Blog: http://mkendallauthor.blogspot.com.au Twitter: @mkendallauthorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkendallauthor/



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Join in the giveaway of a $10 Amazon Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Release to WHIRLWIND AFFAIR by @FrancescaHawley @sizzlingpr #release

Taken by storm…Surprised by the attentions of handsome, sexy Rodrigo Torbellino and seduced into a one-night stand, curvy Erika Bergstrom shares a night of pleasure and walks away to give herself some distance.When fate brings them together again, she’s pleased when he demands more. But does he want her or a business deal with her family? Their whirlwind affair raises the stakes. Will it be business or pleasure?Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks       
Excerpt:His dark eyes caressed the curves of her buttocks like a warm hand. Erika Larson-Bergstrom shivered as she glanced at him out the corner of her eye. She licked her lips as his gaze captured hers and he smiled, unnerving her while at the same time arousing her until she ached with need.A part of her wondered if her mischievous twenty-two-year-old twin daughters had set this up. After all, they were the ones who’d given her the $100 gift certificate for Erotically Bound, the upscale Minneapolis adult store she shopped in right now. But the man eyeing her was no twenty-two-year-old kid. He was all man and she wanted to explore every inch of him…intimately.Erika looked down at the lingerie she fingered, trying to clear her lust-filled mind. Her biggest problem was that she’d spent the last twelve years rearing her daughters as a single mom. She could count on one hand the number of men she’d dated during that time. The number she’d slept with was even less. She was just horny and needed to get laid, and he was the answer to a horny woman’s prayer.“Miss, could you assist me?” His voice was warm and deep with the hint of an Antonio Banderas-style Spanish accent. She looked up into the warmest brown eyes she’d ever seen. At least he’d called her “miss” and not “ma’am”.“Assist you?”“Yes, I must buy a gift for a lady and I have no idea what she might want.”“Oh.” Erika forced a smile to her tight lips. “Sure.”Well, that certainly burst her bubble. He had a woman he was shopping for. It figured. Of course it should have been a relief he wasn’t buying undies for himself since he was shopping in the women’s lingerie section, but she’d been dreaming he might possibly be as attracted to her as she was to him. No such luck.He wanted a buddy to help him shop for another woman. Shit. Buddy seemed to be the only way men viewed her—especially lately—and it was almost always because she was a plus-size woman. Women with big butts liked sex too. Damn men, anyway.“So what’s the gift for? Your anniversary? Her birthday?”“Anniversary? No.” He laughed. She liked his laugh…a lot. He threw himself into it. His head back and his hands running through his hair. Thick, black hair. Yum.Focus, Erika. Do not notice the full, wide lips and straight, white teeth. The high cheekbones. She swallowed, her gaze skimming over him. The broad shoulders, narrow hips and tight ass. Forget how hot he is. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t ignore his appeal.“I’m shopping for my administrative assistant.”“Your…?” Oh geez. Sleeping with an employee. Could it get worse?He waved his hand as he read her expression. “No, she is getting married and this place has a bridal registry.”“A bridal registry? You’ve got to be kidding.” Erika raised her brows.“I know. It sounds insane, and so I told her. But she assured me it was so.” He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her. “Here is a list of things the clerk printed for me that have not yet been purchased for her. My assistant is very organized and wants no duplicates.”Erika looked at the list he held and realized he was telling the truth. It consisted of lingerie, loungewear, dresses, shoes and, good grief, sex toys and movies.“It’s…um…comprehensive.”“Yes. I refuse to buy her some of these items. I am her friend, yes, but her employer first. Can you imagine if I showed up at the office bridal shower with,” he took the list back, glaring at it while shaking his head in disbelief, “a Rotating G-Spot Rabbit Vibrator?”“It would certainly be the talk of the party,” Erika agreed dryly. About The Author:Hi. I’m Francesca Hawley and I’m a fat chick. A woman with dangerous curves just like my heroines. Many people don’t like the word, “fat” but I do because it’s the truth and I’ve learned to own it. I am a fat chick and I always will be. When I first began to read romance, the heroines were all thin. I kept wondering, where were the fat heroines? I wanted to read about a fat chick who loved herself—or at least learned to love herself—and a hot alpha hero who liked her jiggly bits just the way they were.Since I didn’t find many big girls to read about, I decided to write about them, so Francesca Hawley – author of Romance with Dangerous Curves was born.In a Francesca Hawley romance, my readers will find authentic, sensual, fat heroines who love and are loved by their intense, passionate, and seductive Alpha heroes. I hope you enjoy their dangerous curves just as much as their hunky heroes do.
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Twisted Truths & Leveled Lies by S.K. Lessner @sizzlingpr @lessnershannon

Twisted Truths & Leveled Lies by S.K. Lessner My life was a fairytale.He was my everything.All my dreams had come true.But what do you do when you find outthat he isn't who you thought he was...that lives might be lost...and every truth you believed in,is twisted and leveled into a lie?Completely satisfied with her single life, Mel is blindsided when she meets an extremely sexy, accomplished, and irresistible doctor. But unbeknownst to her, there are those who've waited and planned for this moment. When all the truths twist and reveal the lies, it's up to her to save the lives of those she cares most about. Alone again, she's forced to seek help elsewhere. Frantically trying to eliminate the threat, she finds that help in the least likely of places: a tall, tattooed, and pierced stranger.*Warning* This book contains material suitable for ages 18+.

Book Trailer:Excerpt:“So, will you come?”I really had no idea why she was asking. My sister’s not the type who takes no for an answer anyhow. I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly, trying to avoid telling her what I really thought about her Friday night dinners.“Ugh, don’t make me beg,” she continued. “You know it’s not the same if you’re not there.”As much as I loved spending time with her every day, I despised the thought of more time on Friday evening playing cards, eating, and listening to her play matchmaker.“Okay, fine, but you are not playing Cupid this time!” I started to give her the evil eye as I finished my warning, but I could see the guilty look in her eyes before she had a chance to respond. “Oh, no. No, Joan. Don’t do this to me again!”“Come on, this one’s different. I swear.”“Forget it! I’m not going.”I knew I was being loud as we walked, but she deserved it. Obviously, my kind requests to end this game had gone unnoticed. Besides, after a couple more blocks we’d be out of the business district and surrounded by homes and little driveways. Nobody would notice us then.“I told you last time, I wasn’t going over there again if all you want to do is play Cupid with your endless supply of men. Where do they come from anyhow? Oh, don’t answer that. Why can’t I just be single? Why do you think I have to have a man to be happy?”I could feel the heat rolling off my body and it had nothing to do with the ninety-degree weather outside. My ever increasing anger over this repeating pattern my sister and I had every few weeks was growing unbearable.We continued walking home, but in silence. We only live two miles from our family florist shop in the suburbs of Chicago, but sometimes the walk seemed more like ten. This was one of those days.It must have been the twentieth time this year that she’d tried to set me up with someone. She, on the other hand, was married, had two kids, and saw my “situation” as a fault. I was perfectly happy being single. I was in no hurry to find “Mr. Right.” And I definitely didn’t want to go on any more blind dates!“I’m sorry, Mel. You’re right. I’ll tell Paul to tell him we need to cancel because the kids are sick.”I could hear the defeat in her voice, and for a moment, I was thrilled. Ecstatic even. But then I glanced sideways and saw her shoulders slumped down, her head hanging low, and a damn tear rolling down her cheek!Once again, I put my desires aside, and thought of my sister and her overly-large heart that continually tried to find a fairy tale ending for my life.“You involved Paul too? Why? Oh, don’t answer that either.” I paused, trying to gather the strength to give in to her plans. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly and prepared to do something I knew I’d regret. Again.“I’ll do this one more time. This Friday and then never again!”Before I finished my demands, she was walking with a bounce in her step and her cheeks looked like they were about to burst from her big smile. I shook my head as I watched her, wondering if she’d been taken acting classes and learned to cry on command to get her way. Her persuasive skills definitely seemed to be improving.“You have to promise me that this is the end of it. No more after this weekend. I know you mean well, Joan, but I can’t do it.”Maybe I should make her sign a contract. I highly doubted this would be the last time. Hopefully, it would at least give me a few months before she came up with some scheme like the last time when she “coincidentally” ran her grocery cart into a single man. The same man who just so happened to be “lost” in the store. It was all too convenient that I was with her on that excursion. The guilty look was written all over her face that day too. Yes, a contract sounded like a good idea after all.“Okay, okay, I promise.” She held her pinky up to shake mine like we’d done since we were little girls.Grudgingly, I put mine out and connected with her finger. It’s a good thing her pinkies hadn’t turned purple and fallen off yet for all the promises she’d broken.“But just so you know, Mel, this one’s different. He’s breathtakingly handsome, kind, and…”At that point I went on autopilot and tuned her out. “Breathtakingly?” Is that actually a word? Maybe that’s like the last three when she described them as, “horribly hot,” “sensually sexy,” or my favorite, “cutestibly cuddly.” If she wasn’t my sister then I wouldn’t care how harsh my words were, or how cruel I was when I turned her down. She may be three years older than me, but for as long as I could remember, I’ve been the one taking care of her. Thank goodness for her husband, Paul, who came along five years ago. He was an angel to step in and take over protecting and guiding her. For the most part. Some things a sister would always be needed for.“Did you hear me?” she called out from behind me.Of course, I’d no idea that she’d asked anything and didn’t notice she’d stopped until I was about ten steps ahead of her.“Mel! Hello?”Coming to a stop, I turned to see her with her hands on her hips, foot tapping against the sidewalk.“Yeah, of course I was listening. Sure.” I quickly replied.“Really? Then you don’t mind going skinny dipping after dinner?”“You did not ask me that, Joan. Did you?”“I knew you weren’t listening!” She sighed in defeat and jogged the few steps to catch up. “Oh, never mind. Just bring something for dessert, okay?”“No problem. Do you want whipped cream? Or maybe I should bring extra beer in bottles so we can play spin the bottle?” I knew I was being a bit sarcastic, but she got what she wanted, so I wasn’t going to make this easy.“Funny. Maybe you could make mom’s cherry cheesecake. It’s been so long since either of us has made that, and it’ll go good with dinner.”“Fine. Cherry cheesecake. Anything else? You know, I have an awesome little piece of lingerie that makes me look just like a naughty little school girl.” I wiggled my eyebrows and shook my butt suggestively.“Mel, seriously, this one’s different. I promise.” Oh, yes, promises. If only I had her pinky on this one too!“Okay, Joan, cheesecake. Anything else for real?”“Nope, just that, and your beautiful smile.”I looked at her, ready to respond with another snappy reply, but she’d already started to sing and skip ahead of me. If I didn’t know differently, I’d truly believe that I was the older sister and she the younger, wild child. I silently wondered what mom would think if she were still alive? Then again, she’d probably be just as bad and have every available bachelor within fifty miles prescreened, and on a stand-by list.By the time we reached my house, my shirt was soaking wet with sweat, my feet were aching, and I had a splitting headache from the heat and disagreement. Yet, somehow the happiness radiating from my sister made it all worth it. Yes, I may hate the things she puts me through, but to see her smile like that puts everything into perspective.Until Paul came along, she rarely smiled. Our parents died in a car accident seven years ago and Joan was the one driving the car. She completely shut off. She didn’t speak for almost a year and practically stopped eating. I took her to endless therapy sessions, worked with different medications to try to find one to help her, and spent countless nights sitting and holding her when the nightmares would keep her awake. So, if spending another Friday evening in the company of a different man made her happy, then that’s exactly what I’d do.Coming to a stop in front of my driveway, she waited for me to catch up. Her long brown hair was still perfectly styled and she didn’t have a drop of sweat on her anywhere. I was the lucky one who inherited the sweaty-pig gene.“Hurry up already, it’s hot out here!” She yelled.“You think? I look like I ran through the last three sprinklers we passed!”As I walked up to her, she held her arms out for a hug.“I’m off tomorrow, but I still have to stop in to do payroll.” I had to remind her; otherwise she’d be calling me at seven in the morning wondering where I was. Never mind the schedule on the wall next to the phone, she never read it. “I’m gonna go get a shower and go to bed early tonight. I’m exhausted.”“Okay, see ya tomorrow.” Once again her huge grin returned as she began walking backward. “And don’t worry, Mel, you’ll see. This one’s worth it!”“Yeah, yeah, yeah…Love you, sis. ‘Night.”Shaking my head, I walked up the steps to the front door, laughing as I unlock it. Crazy, annoying, lying sister, but I loved her! About the Author:A native of the Chicago area, I've traveled the world and had the opportunity to work in refugee camps, medical camps, and in community assistant groups. Although I could write many nonfiction stories about these places, I much prefer fiction and the creativity that comes with it. I currently live in Indiana, among the cows and flat lands filled with row after row of corn. There are many words that could describe me: mom, wife, sister, the 'crazy aunt,' the first to jump into any adventure (while pulling you by the arm and insisting you join me), or even the quiet one that feels for others on a level that few understand. But what you really need to know is why I write.For me, writing is more than just a window into my head...it's the chance to share things I've seen, I've dreamt, and things I long for with fellow readers. It's nothing short of magical to bring that to life for others to experience it with me!I tend to write more in the romantic genre, but also adventure into paranormal, thrillers, and Sci-fi. Regardless of what it is, there's always some humor involved. Life is too serious, books and stories allow us an escape. Bringing a smile or laughter to someone's day is one of the best things I can do in life. Creating the world for them to feel that happiness while they explore and adventure it with me, that is simply an honor and a joy!I'm currently working on a Sci-Fi, young adult book that is challenging my ability to pull the many ideas and pictures from my mind and put them into words so the reader can fully see, feel, and even smell what it's like to venture into another dimension and fight for your way back home. Tentative publication date is December 8, 2016. In the meantime, please enjoy my first book, Twisted Truths & Leveled Lies, in the romantic/suspense genre. It's an intense book that will keep you flipping page after page, while falling in love with the characters!Newsletter – Facebook – Facebook Street Team – Twitter