Mireille Chester's Blog, page 9

Displaced: Chapter Three

Alright! So, remember when I said I'd post a chapter a week?   Yeah, I definitely crapped the bed last week.  I'm blaming it on the flu that ravaged out household.  Anyhow, here you have it. Chapter Three!!
Chapter Three
“How’s your breakfast?”  Neeka refilled their coffee cups.“Excellent, thank you.”  He took another bite of his omelet to prove he wasn’t lying.  He wasn’t sure what kind of eggs had been used, but they were delicious.  She smiled and sat once again.  “Once we’re done here I’ll show you to your room and you can get cleaned up.  I’ll have head to the stables.  It’s my turn to clean the stalls.”“I’ll come give you a hand.”She shook her head. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”“Of course you could.  It’s the least I can do to thank you for the food and room.”Neeka mulled the offer over for a moment before nodding.  “Alright.  Thank you.”He grinned.  “It’s my pleasure.”Though there was nothing more he wanted than to go home, he knew that simply running out into the woods wasn’t going to help with his situation.  Even if he made the trip to the coast, there was no way he could afford to buy passage on one of the Gysps’ trading ships.  He needed information .  “You’d better hurry getting to your chores, Neeka.”  Hanna scooped up their empty plates.  “Brian will be back from the market soon.”Her sister nodded.  “We’re just heading there now.” Kendall thanked Hanna for taking the dishes before following Neeka out to the stables.  She handed him a shovel and pointed to the first stall.“We tie the horses inside and clean around them.  We’ve had a few instances where a horse managed to get loose when they were tied outside.  Personally, I think someone let them go, but Brian doesn’t believe me.”He frowned.  “This Brian, he’s what to you?”“My guardian.”  She moved to the end of the aisle and came back pushing a cart before entering the stall across from his.  “He’s been raising us since before I can remember.”Kendall tied a tall bay mare before getting to work on his stall.  “So, you’ve lived in this town all your life?”She nodded.  “As far as I know.”  Done her first stall, she moved on to the next.  “It’s not the most exciting town, but most of the folks that live here are decent.  There are a few who like to cause trouble, but never anything major.  It’s mostly outsiders that will do the most damage when they come through town.”  She grinned.  “You’re not going to cause any trouble, are you?”He laughed.  “You’ve my word, I’ll behave.”“Neeka, when you’re done here I want you to…”  The newcomer stopped short at the sight of Kendall.The shifter tightened his grip on the shovel should he need to use it as a weapon.  The man, shorter than him by at least a head, though thicker in build, widened his stance.“Brian, this is Kendall.  Kendall, Brian.”  Neeka deftly stepped between the two men.  “Hanna and I came upon Kendall while we out gathering vegetables.  He’s been robbed and wasn’t sure where he was.  We made him something to eat and he offered to help muck stalls as payment.”Brian grunted.  “Well, when you’re done here, maybe he could give you a hand in room twelve.  The bastards destroyed it last night.”  Without giving them another glance, he turned on his heels and left.Kendall let himself relax.  “Friendly fellow,” he mumbled.“Don’t mind him.  He’s in a foul mood because of the mess the soldiers left the inn in last night.  Room twelve was one of theirs.”They went back to cleaning the stalls, though this time with less talking.  Once done, Kendall pushed the cart back where it would sit until the next day. “Thank you.”  Neeka smiled and led the way back to the inn.They stopped at the kitchen and helped themselves to water.“That was quick,” remarked Hanna.  She wiped a forearm across her brow before returning her attention back to the bread dough she’d been kneading. “It’s going to be a busy day.  Brian wants Kendall and I to take care of room twelve.”  Hanna grunted.  “You’ll be there until tomorrow if you don’t get to it.  I was in there this morning and it I don’t think there’s one piece of furniture that can be saved.”Neeka shook her head in disgust.  “Soldiers.”“Maybe once you’re mated to Christopher you could have a chat with him about his little army’s manners.”Neeka scoffed.  “Not likely.  I plan on spending as little time as possible in the man’s company.”  She gave Kendall’s arm a tug to let him know they were leaving.Kendall glanced at her as they made their way down the hall.  “Your intended runs the soldiers?”She rolled her eyes.  “He likes to think he does.  We call them soldiers, but really their just goons with sharp weapons.  Christopher put them together to hunt for shifters.”“And they’re good at what they do?”Neeka shrugged.  “They’ve never brought one in to prove they’ve actually killed one.  It’s always a piece from whoever they’ve killed.”She opened the door to room twelve and Kendall stopped short.“By the moons, what in the world did they do in here?”The entire room was destroyed.  Anything that could be broken had been splintered, smashed, or ripped apart.  The floor was covered in wood, glass, and mattress down.  Neeka let out an exasperated sigh.  “Bastards.”He walked to the window which had somehow been spared and glanced outside.  “Do you have a bin we could place under here?  We could simply throw everything out the window.”Her brow furrowed as she thought.  “I think we have one in the back.  We’ll need some bags as well.  Hanna will want the mattress down to make pillows.”“This happens often?”He opened the door and let her lead the way to wherever they needed to be next.Someone behind them whistled.  “If she wasn’t Christopher’s, I’d be having my way with that one.”Neeka’s back straightened at the comment, but she didn’t stop walking.Kendall, however, turned with a growl.  He found himself looking at three drunks, one of which was leaning against the wall to stay upright.  “Just ignore them, Kendall.”  Neeka tugged at his tunic sleeve.  “It’s not worth it.” He reluctantly followed her once again.  “How about that?  Does that happen often?”She shrugged.  “It’s only words.  They all know Christopher would kill them if they touched me.”“But…”“Let’s just concentrate on cleaning this room.  I’d rather not talk about Christopher.” Kendall put a hand on the exit door before she could open it.  She was upset.  He could see it in her clenched jaw and her rigid posture.“I’m sorry.”She relaxed slightly then closed her eyes as he brushed his thumb over her frown.Whatever it was this girl was going through, it was weighing heavily on her being.  She definitely put on a brave front, but under the happy exterior, something was definitely wrong.“Are you alright?”She gazed up at him and nodded.  “I’ll be fine.”  She smiled.  “Come along.  This room won’t clean itself.”
A strange shiver ran through him as she opened the door.  The feeling was gone before he could decide what it was and he quickly forgot about it as the day went on.

Displaced: chapter two

Whoohoo! Three weeks in a row where I remember to post a chapter!  I'm on a roll.  :D  Anyhow, here you are.  Chapter two of Displaced.  <3

Chapter Two
“I need to find a town.”  Kendall ran his hands over his face and groaned.  He’d found a small deserted cave to lie in until his headache had calmed down which, fortunately, had only been a few hours. Once he’d been sure he could move without feeling ill, he’d travelled at a jog for the past hour. He stopped and shifted.  He was definitely getting closer to some sort of civilization.  The smell of smoke and people was getting stronger.  He turned back to his human form, unsure of what he’d find once he finally found another living being.  He took another look at his surroundings.  Now that the sun was coming up, he was even more confused as to where he might be.  There were a lot of narrow trails weaving their way through the woods though he’d yet to come across any animals that might help him ascertain which part of Quelondain he was in.  And the foliage… Though all of the plants seemed somewhat familiar, they also differed drastically from what he was used to seeing.  There were more plants with teeth here than he’d ever seen before.  A woman’s voice rang through the air.“I swear, Hanna, the men I meet simply get worse and worse.  Why can’t I simply find one decent man who’ll take me on as his mate?”“Maybe it’s where you go to meet them, Neeka.  You go to a pub, you’ll bring home a drunk.”“And where else am I supposed to go?  There’s nowhere in this bloody part of the land that has any decent men in it.”“There’s the soldiers…”There was a grunt.  “Right.  No better way to get loved and left.”“You know, you are intended to Christopher.”“And you know I won’t be his mate.  That was Brian’s doing, not mine.  The man scares me.  There’s something off about him.”The two women rounded a corner in the trail and stopped short at the sight of the man before them.  Kendall tried to hide his surprise. They weren’t wearing any style of clothing he remembered seeing anywhere in Quelondain.  Their dark grey
pants were loose in the leg to the point where, had he not seen them walking, he’d have thought them to be wearing skirts.  They were both holding baskets laden with fresh food.  The shorter of the two met his eye and frowned.  She adjusted the basket on her hip, the gesture pulling his gaze to her torso which, instead of being covered in a tunic, was wrapped in a cloth band, like someone had started at her hip, continued their way up, then looped it over her shoulders before moving back down and tying it in a knot along her waist.  The black shawl she wore over her hair blended in with the raven color of her long, curly hair.  The sheer material covered her head then crossed so that it wrapped around her neck before coming back around and tying around her hair at the nape of her neck.  The second woman nudged her and the light green eyes holding his blinked.Kendall was the first to recover.  “Good afternoon, ladies.”  He nodded to both and was rewarded with smiles.  “I seem to have gotten off course.  Would you be so kind as to tell me where I might be?” The taller of the two cocked her head to the side.  “You’re not a shifter, are you?” “Hanna!”  Neeka shook her head.  “You’ll have to excuse my sister.  We all know that whatever shifters are left have vacated the area.  She still accuses everyone of being one.”“What?  Can’t a girl have a little fun?  It’s funny to see the looks on people’s faces when I ask them.  I mean, you should have seen yours.”  Hanna grinned at him.“Soon enough, we’ll be completely rid of the bastards.”  Neeka grunted.Kendall’s mind was racing.  The war was over.  The humans had lost.  This was all wrong.  Were these women rogues, they wouldn’t be out in the open like this. “Um, right.  See, that’s what I’m wondering.  I was attacked a few days back and forced to travel blindfolded.  All of my things were taken…”  He glanced from one to the other, hoping he was running with the right thought.  “I’d like to know where I was dumped.”Neeka nodded.  “Well, you’ll be glad to know you’re still in Thistendal,” she teased. Hanna elbowed her.  “He’s been through enough.  You’re  just outside the town of Jaish.”It took a moment for their words to sink in.  “Bloody hell.”  Kendall’s curse was loud in the sudden silence. His heart pounded in his chest and butterflies fought to break out of his stomach.  Thistendal.  He wasn’t even in Quelondain anymore.  He was on a completely different continent!  How, in the name of the moons, was he going to get home?“Are you alright?”  Neeka put her basket down and reached for the canteen she had in it.  She handed it to him.He nodded and cleared his throat.  “I’m just surprised at how far I’ve travelled.”  He ran a hand over his face.“Come.  Our guardian runs the inn in Jaish.  We’ll get you a room for the night and you can get your affairs in order.”“I’ve no money.  Robbed, remember?  I’ll be fine, I’m sure, though I do appreciate the offer.”She grinned.  “You must be from farther south.  I love the accent.  Anyhow, it’s not an offer, it’s an order.  You need to eat and sleep somewhere tonight.  They say the shifters are gone from this area, but you never know if you’ll run into one.  Dangerous.  They’ll kill you in your sleep if they can.  Come along.  I insist.”  She picked up her basket and waited until he was beside her before starting off.His curiosity getting the better of him, he glanced down at Neeka.  “Have you ever met one?”“Hmmm?”“A shifter.  Have you ever met one?”She looked up at him.  “How do you meet an animal?”“Well, they’re human as well, yeah?”She shook her head.  “It doesn’t matter what form they take.  They’re all beasts.  And no.  I’ve never seen one.”Kendall decided to drop the subject.  Could it be that shifters here were different than the Majs and Namaels of Quelondain?  Maybe they were more animal than man.  Whatever the case was, it was obvious that to let on he wasn’t human was the worst thing he could do.  Steering clear of that particular subject seemed like a swell idea.“Have you?”He was drawn out of his thought by Neeka’s question.“Have I what?”“Seen a shifter.”“Oh.  No.  Never.”  At least, not the kind she seemed to be talking about.  He wondered what she’d do if he told her shifters weren’t what she thought.  He took a deep breath.  It was best to leave it alone.  He’d find some supplies, some food, and take the day to try and think of how he could get home.  Who knew… maybe Hayden would somehow manage to displace him home again.“So, do you have a name?”He smiled.  “Kendall.”“And what do you do, Kendall?”“Fisherman.”She blinked.  “Really! Here I had you pegged as a soldier of some sort.”“Oh?”She shrugged.  “It’s the way you hold yourself; like you’re about to jump out of your skin.”He grinned.  “It never hurts to be prepared.”Neeka raised an eyebrow in his direction.  “Like you were when those men jumped you?”By the moons, was the woman ever going to stop asking questions?  “I was sleeping at the time.”  He breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the small town before them.“Come along.  The inn is this way.”As they wandered into town, he enjoyed the brightly colored roofs and white walls of the buildings.  The red, blue, and yellow paint made it seem like such a cheerful and happy place.  His brows drew together as he watched the people wandering the streets.  Kendall’s unease increased once again.  This was a bad idea. It was obvious that even though it was morning, a large number of people were already stumbling about intoxicated.He watched as one man pulled his pants down, barely making an effort to turn and hide as he relieved his bladder in the street.“Is there a celebration happening?”A woman yelled out of the window and threw a plate at the man.Hanna nodded.  “Some soldiers came into town late last night, swearing they’d killed a shifter.”Kendall’s stomach dropped.  “They had proof?”She shrugged.  “If a lock of white blond hair is proof, I suppose you can say they did.”Now, he wanted nothing more than to leave.  What was wrong with these beings?  There was never a time when he’d been out on patrols when he’d thought it alright to rejoice over a kill he’d made.  He was a soldier, not a savage.And what was he thinking?There was no way a shifter was going to go unnoticed in a town full of humans with an obvious hatred of shifters.  He glanced back to the safety of the forest then looked down where Neeka had put a hand on his arm.  She cocked her head to the side in question.“I’m just hoping the crew who robbed me aren’t here.  This seems like it might be their kind of scene.”She smiled.  “Well, if they are, I’ll protect you.”He laughed despite his unease.“Come along.  You can’t tell me you’re not hungry.  I can hear your stomach from here.”He nodded.  “I could use a bite.”  He glanced at Hanna who was watching them intently.  “Careful!”Hanna let out a small squeal as he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him.“Watch where you’re going,” he growled at the couple of drunks who’d almost crashed into her.Both sisters glared at the men before gathering the vegetables that had fallen out of Hanna’s basket.“Here.  Let me take those.”  Kendall took both baskets and followed along as they led the way to the inn.Here was hoping nothing happened to draw any attention to him between now and whenever he’d be able to leave.

Displaced: chapter one

Hello, my patient readers!Just as promised, here's the first chapter of Displaced!  
Chapter One
Kendall lay by the creek, his arms behind his head.  It was a perfect day to lie around and do nothing.  He stretched and yawned; the perfect day to be lazy.  It was one of the things he loved to do most since the war with Paradin was over; relax.  It had taken a while to get to this point.  For months after they’d returned home from fighting, he’d had nightmares of the events that had taken place.  The beings that had been injured, killed… all because of one deranged human.  He remembered the agony engulfing his body as Laif’s magic had started to rip his tiger out of him.He shivered then inhaled deeply to help rid himself of the thoughts taking over his mind.  Peaceful.  Things were peaceful now.  Braw was dead and the staff of Laif had been destroyed.  Things were quiet now.  Other than the odd human rogue stirring up trouble here and there, there hadn’t been much to worry about.  “Kendall!  Are you here?”  Brice’s voice drifted out of the woods towards him.He sat up with a good natured groan which turned into laugh.  “How are you doing, mate?” Brice grinned.  “I’m well.  You?”“I can’t complain.  It’s a beautiful day.”His friend nodded.Kendall brushed shaggy black bangs out of his light blue eyes.  “What brings you out to these parts?”“I’m on a recruiting mission.”Kendall stiffened.  So much for peaceful.  “What happened?”Brice chuckled.  “Relax. Everything is quiet.  Hayden is looking for volunteers to practice her displacement spell on.”  The blond man grunted.  “I was her target yesterday and I just managed to rid myself of the headache.”Kendall laughed.  Poor Hayden.  It didn’t matter that she was the most powerful sorceress in Quelondain; the poor woman was never going to master the displacement spell.  “I suppose I could take the brunt of it this time.  You’ll owe me one.  I had plans today.”“Oh?”“I was planning on staying in this exact same position until supper time.”  He stood and stretched one last time before shifting into his tiger.  He cocked his head at Brice to lead the way.  His friend smiled, shifted into his leopard then bound into to the woods toward Hayden and Jasper’s cabin.“Uncle Kendall!” He shifted in time to world took a wild spin and he rolled to his side in case he threw up.  His stomach churned, his heart pounded.  He kept his eyes closed, sure the pressure behind his eyes would force them out of their sockets.  It took a moment to realize he couldn’t hear Brice cheering and that Hayden still hadn’t rushed to his side to make sure he was alright.  He opened one eye at a time, hoping the sunlight wouldn’t make the pounding worse.  Why was it dark out?“Bloody hell! What happened?”  He wrapped his arms around his knees and looked around slowly before attempting to stretch.  Why was he so stiff?  His formed blurred and he felt his bones move into their proper order as he shifted into his tiger. Kendall took in his surroundings more closely.  Even with his feline vision, nothing looked familiar.  He shifted back.  “Not even a bit,” he mumbled to no one in particular.  “What kind of plant is that, do you suppose?”  He reached over to a large blue flower growing from the trunk of a light pink tree.  “These look like the pink trees in the Wedelven forest, but I’ve never seen flowers like these growing on them before.”  He jumped back with a growl as the flower bared teeth and attempted to bite his outstretched hand.  “By the moons!  It tried to eat me!”
He’d never heard of a plant like this one. His heart raced and he inhaled deeply a few times to try and focus.  What had happened?  Where was he?  And better yet, how was he going to get home?
That's it, Sweetlings!  Stay tuned for chapter two next week sometime!!

Alpha Geek by Milly Taiden

Lioness shifter Scarlett Milan hates that she wants her boss more than her next breath. All she thinks about is how his black-rimmed glasses and bow tie are sexier on him than any other man. But since he’s human, she’s afraid she could break him, even kill him, during a night of wild sex.

Knox Daniels, wimpy bean counter, has lusted after Scarlett since the moment he met her. The fact she’s his best friend’s little sister has stopped all dirty thoughts. Well, almost. After he breaks up with his girlfriend, getting his hands on Scarlett is the first thing on his to-do list. Being murdered was not.

A vicious attack almost kills Knox, but science comes to the rescue. Now he’s no longer the weak human Scarlett was afraid to touch. Actually, no one knows what he is except possessive, aggressive, and demanding she be his. They’ll have to team up to keep him alive while figuring out if he’s a deranged killer or just the most powerful alpha ever known.

Reader's Note: Hang on to your panties, folks. This is going to be quick, dirty and will have your ereader asking for a cigarette. As with all my books, adults only, please. That means if you're a prude and don't like hot sex or dirty talk, step away from the book. All others, I love you freaky people.



https://amazon.com/Alpha-Geek-Milly-Taiden-ebook/dp/B01LE8YDTK/https://www.ffadultsonly.com/t/milly-taiden/alpha-geek.htmhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alpha-geek-milly-taiden/1124519638https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/alpha-geek






Author Bio:New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

Hi! I’m Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romance with action, humor, suspense and happily ever afters.

I live in Florida with my hubby, our boys, and our fur children “Needy Speedy” and “Stormy.” Yes, I am aware I’m bossy, and I am seriously addicted to iced caramel lattes.
I love to meet new readers, so come sign up for my newsletter and check out my Facebook page. We always have lots of fun stuff going on there.

SIGN UP FOR Milly's NEWSLETTER FOR LATEST NEWS!
Just copy and paste the following link into your web browser: http://eepurl.com/pt9q1

Website: millytaiden.com
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Prologue to Displaced

In an age where authors are releasing books faster than I can change a load of laundry, I have to admit that I am one slow writer.  Other than a short story or novella here and there, I haven't actually released a full length novel in years.  Despite this, I still have readers following me, letting me know they are rereading and rereading yet again The Chosen One Trilogy while they wait for my next book.  I love my Sweetlings.  They're the most patient fans turned friends ever and I feel blessed and lucky that they've stuck around.  This post is to say thanks.  I'll be posting a chapter a week for the next little while until I FINALLY finish  up with Displaced.For those of you new here, Displaced is the first book in the trilogy set after The Chosen One Trilogy.  Haven't read that one yet? Go to any ebook store and pick up the first book, Crossover, for free. Have a good one, Sweetlings, and stay safe.  
Prologue
“Run, Paul!  Run!” The five-year-old boy wiped tears from his eyes, his feet stuck in place with fear.  His mother turned and drove her shoulder into the strange man’s chest, the impact sending both of them sprawling to the ground.  Paul glanced around frantically, hoping someone was close enough to hear the commotion.  His mother grunted as the man’s large fist closed around her throat before slamming her head backwards into the ground.“Momma!”  He pulled a rock out of his pocket and put it in his slingshot.  Pulling back like his daddy had shown him, he let the projectile fly.The man cried out in surprise and let go of his momma to clutch at his cheek, the blood flowing freely where the rock had struck him.His momma scrambled to her feet and sprinted to him, her arms wrapping around him so she could hoist him up.  He clung to her as she ran, his eyes wide as the man recovered and started chasing after them.“They’re running!”Paul tried to reach for another rock, but couldn’t manage from this position.  He heard his father’s bellow of rage, his deep voice echoing through the woods.  His mother’s sobs rang in his ears.“Hang on, Paul.”“Alright, Momma.”  Fresh tears pooled in his eyes and he blinked them away.  The man was catching up.  His mother tripped and the pair fell to the ground just as four more men appeared.  She pushed him behind her, putting herself between the strangers and her son.“Where’s the rest of the crew?” inquired the man who had been fighting his momma.“Dead.”“How, in the name of the moons, did he manage to kill three of you?”Paul cowered as they started to move slowly around him and his mother.“These ones aren’t like the ones back home.  They fight.  The bastards are crazy!”The man with the cut on his cheek peered at them curiously.  “Did you take care of him?”One of the men nodded.  “Tied him to a post and slit his throat.”“No!”  His momma’s form blurred and almost completely disappeared before reappearing as a beautiful silver wolf.  She snarled, her teeth bared, the hair on her back standing on end.“Bloody hell.”  She lunged at the man he’d hit with a rock, the human’s surprise giving her the advantage.  Her weight knocked him off his feet, her teeth already clamped onto his throat as he fell onto his back.  Her head shook and jerked, the man’s scream turning into a bloody gurgle.“Momma!”  Paul tried to wiggle out of his newest captor’s grasp, his teeth clamping on the man’s hand as he tried to silence him.The man swore and adjusted his hold on the boy before running off.  “Settle down, little man.  I don’t want to have to hurt you.”A sharp yelp was followed by his mother screaming his name.“Moooommmaaaaaa –” Paul’s scream was cut short by a hard slap to the face. Spots filled his vision.  He gasped for air as he was dropped unceremoniously on the ground.“Quick.  Give him the drink.  Even the little ones here are crazy.”Paul coughed and sputtered as his nose was pinched and a warm drink was forced into his mouth.“Did he swallow any?”“I don’t know.  Give it a minute.”Paul’s eyes focused on the man that had slapped him.  He fought against the men holding him down, the sound of his heart beating resonating in his ears.  His chest tightened with fear.  They’d hurt his momma.  He wanted his momma.  His sobs intensified.  He tried to blink his tears away, but found that once his eyes were closed he couldn’t open them again.“It’s working.  Give him another swallow so he doesn’t wake up for a while.”“Are you sure he’s young enough?”“He didn’t shift, I’m sure of it.”“You know they need the little ones before they learn to shift.’“I’m not daft.  Of course I know that.”
The men’s voices started to fade and Paul yawned.  His last thought before he felt himself be lifted from the ground was of his momma.

Finding Love Again by Christa Ann

Finding Love Again
Crystal Lake, Montana - Book 1By Christa AnnGenre: Contemporary western romanceHeat level: 3 flames (sensual to sizzling)



Summary:
Widow Shannon Ward lives for her job and her children.  Her closed off heart helps her hide from the pain of losing her husband suddenly. Her four best friends and children decide she needs to get out and live again.  A ‘girls only’ vacation to the Mountains of Montana might be just what she needs. Finding love again is farthest from her mind and definitely not on her to-do list. However, a certain sexy rancher could change her mind…
Rancher Ryan Collins finally divorced his high school sweetheart. The only good thing that came out of the marriage were his three children. Ryan is done with love and women. He's happy with running his ranch and being a bachelor…or so he thinks until he meets Shannon.
Two hearts closed off from love and determined to stay that way, until that first glance. Will Shannon and Ryan risk their hearts one more time or just walk away?


Find it in eBook: Amazon http://amzn.to/2bZo7fUB&N http://bit.ly/2ckT67eiBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id11... https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...

About the Author
Christa Ann started out writing poems like her mother.  Until one day stories started coming to the front of her mind.  Romance, shifter, western and places unknown but demanded to be created. Her debut novel, Finding Love Again—a contemporary western romance and fist in a tantalizing new series—releases in the fall 2016.
She grew up in Maryland and now lives in Southwest Florida with her husband, daughter, and two kitties (one Bengal named Jasmine and one Maine Coon named Midnight). She’s also a proud military mom. Her son is currently serving his country.  
Some of her favorite things are being with her family and friends, reading, hiking, traveling and her love for chocolate.  Being Irish/Scottish Christa also Irish step dances with her daughter and loves St Patrick Day and Bunratty Mead.  She also enjoys playing her piano; she’s been playing for 36 years.

Follow Christa on social media:
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Email: AuthorChristaAnn@gmail.com

BEDMATES by Nichole Chase Release Day Launch

Dark Shadows: A Psychological Horror (YA)

Dark Shadows: A Psychological Horror (YA)

My name’s Ella Raimi.
Until last week, my life was pretty normal for a sixteen-year-old. Until I spent that awful night trapped in the janitor's closet in utter darkness. Until the dreams began — suffocating, panic-filled dreams. My best friend Kyla stays with me, but the dreams still continue. And I wake each morning with cuts & burns on my skin. I don’t recall inflicting them.
And then there is the blood on my hands and my sheets when I wake up.
I’m afraid of myself.
I'm afraid I am a killer.
~~~
This is a standalone title.

https://amazon.com/Dark-Shadows-Psych...


                   Author Bio:
Toni Vallan is the author of two contemporary titles in the contemporary suspense series DESPERATION, and her ongoing Thriller line.

 Toni loves the dark side of the soul, and studied to become a neuropsychologist. A career path taken over by her first love - writing.


Toni lives in the land of the Hobbits, and secretly wants a Hobbit house, although her husband and two daughters may not agree.

Finding Love Again

Finding Love Again
Crystal Lake, Montana - Book 1By Christa AnnGenre: Contemporary western romanceHeat level: 3 flames (sensual to sizzling)



Summary:
Widow Shannon Ward lives for her job and her children.  Her closed off heart helps her hide from the pain of losing her husband suddenly. Her four best friends and children decide she needs to get out and live again.  A ‘girls only’ vacation to the Mountains of Montana might be just what she needs. Finding love again is farthest from her mind and definitely not on her to-do list. However, a certain sexy rancher could change her mind…
Rancher Ryan Collins finally divorced his high school sweetheart. The only good thing that came out of the marriage were his three children. Ryan is done with love and women. He's happy with running his ranch and being a bachelor…or so he thinks until he meets Shannon.
Two hearts closed off from love and determined to stay that way, until that first glance. Will Shannon and Ryan risk their hearts one more time or just walk away?


Find it in eBook: Amazon http://amzn.to/2bZo7fUB&N http://bit.ly/2ckT67eiBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id11... https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...

About the Author
Christa Ann started out writing poems like her mother.  Until one day stories started coming to the front of her mind.  Romance, shifter, western and places unknown but demanded to be created. Her debut novel, Finding Love Again—a contemporary western romance and fist in a tantalizing new series—releases in the fall 2016.
She grew up in Maryland and now lives in Southwest Florida with her husband, daughter, and two kitties (one Bengal named Jasmine and one Maine Coon named Midnight). She’s also a proud military mom. Her son is currently serving his country.  
Some of her favorite things are being with her family and friends, reading, hiking, traveling and her love for chocolate.  Being Irish/Scottish Christa also Irish step dances with her daughter and loves St Patrick Day and Bunratty Mead.  She also enjoys playing her piano; she’s been playing for 36 years.

Follow Christa on social media:
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Email: AuthorChristaAnn@gmail.com

Tainted Bride

Sailing to London, Sophia Braighton only hopes to escape certain ruin. But when she arrives, her Great Aunt Daphne has other plans for the American-born beauty. Determined to marry off her niece to a man of means, she propels Sophia into London society, not knowing that the young woman’s trust in men is shattered. In fact, Sophia never expects to ever feel anything for a man. Then again, she never expects to find herself in the company of the dashing earl of Marlton….

From the moment he sees Sophia, Daniel Fallon feels alive in a way he has not since his broken engagement. Though the vulnerable beauty shies from the passion burning bright between them, Daniel is determined to court her and make her his bride. When he learns of the painful secret she harbors, he is equally determined to take revenge on the man responsible. But will the quest destroy him—and his future with his beloved?

Buy Links:

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http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tainted-bride-as-fenichel/1123197404

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https://play.google.com/store/books/details/A_S_Fenichel_Tainted_Bride?id=97pQCwAAQBAJ


Excerpt:

Most young unmarried women spent the entire dance trying to impress him with all of their accomplishments. Sophia didn’t look up and bat her eyelashes or smile and try to press closer. Her warmth seeped through the thin fabric of her gown. The newest fashions left little to his imagination. He was on fire. She sparked in him feelings he’d sworn never to entertain again.
She cleared her throat. “What did you mean when you said you are an admirer of my aunt?”
“She is unique. I like someone who is not a sheep in the crowd and Lady Collington is an original. Some call her the cruel countess and perhaps they have some cause. She can be quite biting if vexed. She can also be a fierce and loyal ally. I quite like her.”
“The cruel countess. I suppose I can see why she’s gained that moniker.”
“Is she unkind to you?”
“No. Aunt Daphne has been very kind and thoughtful in her way. I just wish she would not have to be disappointed.” Sophia sighed heavily. Her breasts swelled over the low neck of her gown.
“Why would her ladyship ever be disappointed in you?”
She shook her head and her silken curls swished from side to side.
“You will not tell me? Then I’ll guess. You are not the woman you appear to be. You are really the scullery maid from the Braighton house in America? No? You are her nephew, not her niece?”
She giggled.
He shook his head. “No, that cannot be it. You are already married?”
She watched him and as he guessed, her mouth and eyes grew wider until she burst into a fit of giggles. She was adorable. “Enough.”
The sound had his heart beating so rapidly, he might have an episode, as if he was one of those horrible characters from a bad novel.
“I’ll tell you, if you promise to keep my secret.”
The dance ended, Daniel took her arm and walked swiftly to the veranda. His hand on her elbow left only his white glove separating skin from touching skin. The idea of actually feeling her flesh was heady. The cool night air helped to cool his desire.
She breathed deeply, causing her breasts to lift dangerously close to the edge of her gown’s neckline.
So much for the cooling effect of the night air.
She leaned over the veranda wall and looked out into the shadowy gardens, lit only by torches.
There were a few people lingering on the veranda—ladies getting away from the heat of the crowded ballroom and a few couples hiding behind Greek statues and Roman pillars.
“Are you cold?”
“No.” Her voice was small and far away.
He yearned for her thoughts. “You were going to tell me a secret.”
Heart-wrenching sorrow filled her eyes and they glistened though no tears fell. She straightened her posture and raised her chin. This woman held herself as if she was a queen.
He wanted her more with every second spent in her presence.
She spoke for his ears only, but her whisper shook with intensity. “My secret is I shall never marry. I should have told my aunt, but my mother made me promise to try to enjoy the season and not ruin it with such thoughts.” As she said the last words, her voice had dropped into a lush Italian accent.
He supposed the accent was her mother’s. Thomas had said her mimicry was amusing, but there was no joke here.
Her face was open and she absolutely believed she wouldn’t marry. Of course, it was ridiculous. She was beautiful, smart, funny and quick-witted. He had gleaned all of this in only a short time in her presence. She had the body of a goddess. She would marry and probably well. He was sure she would have offers before the end of the month, if not sooner.
“I think you will marry.” Regret dripped from his voice.
“No.” Her eyes filled with tears and she moved away to hide in the shadow of one of the pillars surrounding the veranda.
His mind screamed at him to apologize and walk away, but his body disobeyed and he followed her into the shadows. He tugged the glove from his hand and gently caressed the soft skin from her elbow to the cap sleeve of her gown. He dropped his hand.
She turned, only a breath away. The warmth of her body reached him though they didn’t touch.
“Please do not cry.” The soft tone hardly resembled his voice. She moved him in a way no one else ever had.
“I won’t. I’m sorry to make such a scene.” She dabbed at her eyes. Once again, the tigress returned, sad, fierce and distant. The tears made her seem even fiercer, somehow making her even more perfect. This was no stuffy debutante, with little thought for anyone but herself. She was soft, emotional, filled with life and he wanted nothing else in the world but to pull her into his arms, to watch her tigress’s eyes close as his lips covered hers.35



Author Bio:
A.S. Fenichel adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story. Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey. She now lives in the southwest with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When she is not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history and puttering in her garden.


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