Karen Docter's Blog, page 152

June 11, 2018

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: TEMPTING FATE, A Hidden Beauty Novel #10 by Mary Crawford

[image error]KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!

[image error]TEMPTING FATE

A Hidden Beauty Novel #10

BY MARY CRAWFORD

Blurb

For as long as she can remember, Mindy has always been able to see the future.

Until she can’t.

As a child, Mindy always wished she could be normal. Now that she is, she’d give anything to be special again.

After she wasn’t able to help one person she cherished using her gifts, Mindy isn’t sure she can ever trust her ability again.

Elijah rose to the top of the bestseller lists with his first novel—but he can’t seem to find the same magic again.

Over his publisher’s objections, he wants to take his writing career in a whole new direction. A frantic call from home threatens to completely derail his dreams.

He never expected to go home and find one of the few people from his past who took the time to listen to him despite his Tourette’s syndrome.

Mindy knows Elijah and his family are in danger, but she knows her answers may not be enough his family or their love.

What if she is wrong?

Can Elijah convince Mindy that love is reason enough to tempt fate?

You’ll love this sweet romance about first love with a touch of mystery

~~~

[image error]TEMPTING FATE

A Hidden Beauty Novel #10

BY MARY CRAWFORD

Excerpt

“Jigger, jig, jig, why are you home? I thought you were studying medicine or law or something in California.”

The corner of my mouth hitches up as I answer, “Or something — seriously, for a really bright person, I was having a terrible time figuring out what my major was.”

“You dropped out of school because you couldn’t pick a major, jigger, jig, jig?” Elijah asks, his brows furrowed with confusion. His hand comes up and hits the side of his face.

Without meaning to, I reach out in an attempt to rub away the pain in his jaw. I wince as I ask, “Doesn’t it hurt when you do that?”

Elijah draws in a sharp breath and lets it go. “I’ve been like this for as long as I can remember. I hardly notice it anymore.”

I watch Elijah fight the involuntary movements in his hands and watch a muscle twitch underneath his eye. “You have no way of controlling it or predicting when it will happen?” I confirm.

Elijah shakes his head and a sad expression crosses his face. “I wish. Have you ever been in church or someplace quiet and needed to sneeze? The harder you try not to sneeze, the more you need to, right? That’s how it is with my tics. If I try to control them or suppress them, it becomes painful and they get even worse. I hate them. I wish they would simply go away.” His hand swings up and hits him square on the nose. He sighs wearily. “I’m tired of being weird.”

I nod. “I understand.”

“How could you possibly understand hating a part of yourself so much you wish it away every single day of your entire life?”

Carefully picking through my cheese fries and taking a few bites, I remark, “I know more about that than you might think.”

“Jigger, jig, jig, I don’t think that’s possible.”

I sigh. “It’s not only possible, it’s the story of my life.” I wipe my hands on a napkin and lean back against the vinyl booth as I try to explain my very strange existence. “Imagine everyone you meet has a television above their head with a different program playing. Sometimes, all of it is in English. Sometimes it’s not. Sometimes you can tell what the actors are doing and sometimes you have no clue. Sometimes the station is coming clearly, but other times it’s fuzzy and muddled.”

Elijah’s eyes widen. “Seriously? Does the other person know you see this weird television above their head? Does it get confusing to pay attention to the actual conversation and still see things no one else can see?”

“Oh, absolutely! That’s why most of the time people think I’m slightly out of it,” I answer with a grin. “Most of my friends and family know by now. Everyone is mostly used to it. But when I was a little kid, nobody knew. Well, I guess my birth family knew because they thought I was possessed by the devil. That’s why my parents and my grandma beat me so bad. My grandma always said she was trying to beat the evil out of me.”

“How long has this been happening to you?”

“Honestly, I don’t remember a time when it didn’t. That’s what makes it so weird now. It’s like all those wishes I made as a kid to wish my abilities away have come true. You have no idea how many times I wished I could just turn those invisible TVs off. Now that my ability is gone, I miss it. I never in a million years thought I would ever say that.”

“So, let me get this straight — jigger, jig, jig, all those years ago, you knew Behind Glass Bars would be a huge hit? Why didn’t you tell us? It would have saved us a bunch of sleepless nights and helped us get through some tough times when we were trying to get it ready to be published.”

I lean forward and catch his gaze intently. “You have no idea how often I want to reassure people and share all the great news I see. Unfortunately, I can’t. It’s against the rules. If I interfere, it might change the path of the future. If I had told you what a groundbreaking novel it would be, you might not have pushed the boundaries quite so far. You might’ve been tempted to take the easy road if you guys had known success was already guaranteed.”

Elijah is quiet for a few moments. “So, you see this stuff about everyone — whether you want to or not? Jigger, jig, jig, even if you don’t know them — like the guy who pumps your gas or the person who is simply standing in front of you in line at the grocery store?”

“I used to,” I answer as I take a sip of my drink and fight back tears.

“Jigger, jig, jig, you see random stuff about their lives like if they’re about to have a baby or if they’ll get a promotion at work or a good grade?” Elijah frowns and swallows hard. “Jigger, jig, jig but, that’s not all you see, is it?”

Involuntarily, my eye twitches as I shake my head.

“It must be awful to know when someone’s father is going to die or jigger, jig, jig, if they’re going to be evicted from their house or if a family is going to get killed in a car crash —” Elijah rambles as if thoughts are tumbling around in his brain. He pauses and studies me carefully for what seems like an eternity. “Jigger, jig, jig, or if you know someone is about to get shot. Suddenly the story I heard about Logan and Katie makes a lot more sense now,” he adds with a sense of wonderment. “Wow! That must be a trippy burden.”

“It can be. Fortunately, I can make an exception to my ‘no interference’ rule for matters of life and death.”

“What’s that best thing you’ve ever been able to tell someone, jigger, jig, jig?”

“I got to tell my mom that my little brother would be fine despite the fact that her pregnancy was considered high risk.”

“Jigger, jig, jig, how fun. Was she surprised?”

“I don’t know if she was surprised so much as profoundly relieved. My dad is a huge worrywart so for once my precognitive abilities made things so much easier.”

We eat in silence for a few more moments before Elijah gazes up at me with a serious expression, “What’s the worst news you’ve ever had to share, jigger, jig, jig?”

“The worst thing I ever had to do was tell my Uncle Aidan that my Aunt Tara had miscarried their daughter and no matter how quickly they got to the hospital, nothing could be done because she was already gone.”

Elijah looks stricken. “Jigger, jig, jig jigger, jig, jig, I’m sorry.” His right hand comes up and strikes his face with an astounding amount of force. He shoves it back down to his side and sits on his hand. “I was wrong jigger, jig, jig. You do understand what it’s like to wish you were normal. A few random words and physical tics are nothing compared to what you go through,” he insists.

“Life doesn’t work that way. We all deal with stuff. I don’t think ranking the stuff we deal with helps anybody. Actually, I don’t think there’s really a way to do that. I used to think my so-called gift was a huge burden and that it was probably the reason I have a hard time making friends. Yet now it would be a stretch to say I have any pre-cognitive abilities at all these days and I’m still having a tough time.”

“You might be right, jigger, jig, jig.” Elijah shoots me a ghost of a smile. “Jigger, jig, jig, isn’t that weird? You know, the whole time I was growing up, I thought everything would be different if I was popular and people knew who I was. Well, my friendship with Sadie and the whole social experiment which led to Behind Glass Bars made me more well-known and popular than I ever could have imagined, but I’m still lonely and I still feel as awkward and shy as I ever did. So, everything I thought would happen if only I was popular never really did.”

“As a kid, I just wanted to be normal so my family would accept me and stop thinking I was evil.”

Elijah looks furious. “No one should jigger, jig, jig have ever thought that about you. Kids can’t be evil. Jigger, jig, jig, that’s just wrong.”

I flash him a teary smile. “You would get along famously with my dad. That was one of the first things Jeff tried to teach me from the first moment we met, even before he and Kiera adopted me. He tried to drum two things into my head: First, kids can’t be evil. Second, it wasn’t my job to worry about the world. It was only my job to try my best at school and to have fun.”

Elijah nods. “Sounds like something my dad would say. Pretty solid advice, jigger, jig, jig.”

“It was great advice. I did a pretty good job of absorbing his advice about kids not being evil. I’m still not so great about not worrying about the whole world. Right now, I would give anything to get my gift back. There are so many people who need answers. These people have serious problems and they need my help. For the first time in my life, I’m helpless. I have no answers for anyone. I have never felt more worthless in my whole life.”

Elijah makes a series of odd facial grimaces. This seems to go on for a couple minutes. He appears frustrated with himself. Finally, he takes a deep breath and lets it out. “Jigger, jig, jig, jigger, jig, jig you’re not worthless to me. Mindy, regardless of whether you can see the future, you mean a lot to me.” He looks down at his cell phone and he raises an eyebrow. “We’ve been talking for more than an hour and a half, jigger, jig, jig. I can’t remember the last time someone besides my family had the patience to listen to me talk so long. Most people give up or they get freaked out if I make faces or hit myself.”

I flinch at his disclosure. “I hope you don’t think I’m that kind of person. I wouldn’t treat you like that.” I take a long drink of my soda to avoid saying more. People like that make me so angry.

“Jigger, jig, jig, I know. I wasn’t trying to suggest you were. I don’t think most people mean to be. They’re just uncomfortable with what they don’t understand.”

“I understand more than I’d like to,” I confess as I wipe tears away.

Elijah’s expression gentles. “I’m sorry you’re in a position where you have to understand, but it’s kinda nice not to have to pretend I’ve got everything under control when I totally don’t. Jigger, jig, jig, I like just being me.”

For the first time in several weeks I feel like I can take a deep breath and let it go as I wipe away tears. “You took the words right out of my mouth. Can we do this again … soon?”

“Anytime you want,” Elijah offers with a smile.

“You might be sorry you said that,” I admit. “I seem to have a lot more free time than I used to.”

“I’m a wildly creative person, I’ll probably find ways to occupy your time,” Elijah responds with a gleam in his eye.

Something in his tone makes me sit up and take notice. It seems a lot more than Elijah’s appearance has changed over the last few years. My stomach tightens and flutters a little with anticipation. Maybe coming home wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

[image error]Meet Author Mary Crawford…

Mary Crawford has been lucky enough to live her own version of a romance novel. She’s married to the guy who kissed her at summer camp. He told her on the night they met that he was going to marry her and be the father of their children. Eventually, she stopped giggling when he said it, and they will soon celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. They have two children. The oldest is a Doctor of Osteopathy. He is across the United States completing his residency, but when he’s done, he is going to come back to Oregon and practice Family Medicine. Their youngest son is in high school and hopes to be a mechanic when he grows up.

Ms. Crawford writes full time now. She has written and published over two dozen books and has several more underway. She volunteers her time to a variety of causes and has worked as a Civil Rights Attorney and diversity advocate.

Ms. Crawford spent many years working for various social service agencies before becoming an attorney. In her spare time, she loved to cook, decorate cakes and of course, obsessively, compulsively read.

Credits:

Cover Design: Mary Crawford and Trish Ruschke Rice

Author Photo: Shaded Tree Photography

Cover Photo: Kelsi Rose

Hidden Beauty Series:

Until the Stars Fall from the Sky

So the Heart Can Dance

If’s You Knew Me (and other silent musings) (novella)

Jude’s Song

The Price of Freedom (novella)

Paths Not Taken

Dreams Change (novella)

Heart Wish (100% charity release)

Tempting Fate

Hidden Hearts Series:

Identity of the Heart

Sheltered Hearts

Hearts of Jade

Port in the Storm (novella)

Love is More Than Skin Deep

Tough

Rectify

Pieces (a crossover novel)

Hearts Set Free

Freedom (a crossover novel)

Other Works:

Vision of the Heart

#AmWriting: A Collection of Letters to Benefit The Wayne Foundation

~~~

Links to Mary’s website, blog, books, etc.

Tempting Fate is available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited. It is also available in paperback. The link is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BWH9S95

Email: Mary@MaryCrawfordAuthor.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormarycrawford

Website: MaryCrawfordAuthor.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/MaryCrawfordAut

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8294383.Mary_Crawford

~~~

[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Mary will give away a paperback copy (U.S. Only) of TEMPTING FATE to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.

Thanks, Mary, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

View more on Karen Docter's website »

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Published on June 11, 2018 07:27

June 8, 2018

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with BEYOND CONTROL (The Texas Trilogy) Author Kat Martin #recipe ~ Bacon, Tomato, Balsamic Pasta

[image error]

[image error]Karen’s Killer Fixin’s

**AUTHOR SPECIAL**

with KAT MARTIN!

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, KAT MARTIN, and her favorite recipe for BACON, TOMATO, BALSAMIC PASTA!!

~~~

BEYOND CONTROL

The Texas Trilogy

BY KAT MARTIN

Blurb

When Victoria Bradford got engaged, she told herself to give love a chance. Six months later, she’s on the run from her angry, abusive ex-fiancé with her four-year-old daughter and nowhere to go.

Seventy miles north of Dallas, the Iron River Ranch is pretty much nowhere. That’s what its new owner, Josh Cain, wanted when he came back from Afghanistan. Big skies, quiet nights, no trouble.

One look tells Josh the pretty redhead with the adorable little girl will give him trouble of the most personal kind. But he’s seen trouble before, and he doesn’t scare easy. Not when “accidents” start happening around the ranch. Not when Tory’s best friend back in Phoenix is abducted and brutalized. Not even when it looks like their current problems are only the tip of the iceberg.

But if he gets too close to fierce, determined Tory, Josh knows his nights are going to be anything but quiet. And that’s one possibility no amount of training can prepare him for . .

Reviews…

“As the excitement in Iron Springs continues, two strangers with tragic pasts form an unbreakable bond. Beyond Control is the last installment in the Texas Trilogy. It’s delightfully fast-paced, riveting, and amazingly compelling. Martin has outdone herself with unpredictable twists and suspense that will leave readers panting for more. Definitely a must read for readers who enjoy mystery, thrills, and romance to spice up their life.”– RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars, Top Pick

BEYOND CONTROL by Kat Martin (Zebra MM/June 2018/978-1-4201-4319-5)

“[A] gripping tale…Martin has a consummate skill for developing the most loveable and the most despicable characters; readers will cheer when sadistic Damon meets his well-deserved end. Martin’s finely described Texas is a delight.” – Publishers Weekly

BEYOND CONTROL by Kat Martin (Zebra MM/June 2018/978-1-4201-4319-5)

“Bestseller Martin brings her Texas Trilogy contemporary romantic suspense series (Beyond Danger, Beyond Reason) to a hair-raising finish with the gripping tale of a single mother on the run and the Marine veteran who offers her a second chance at happily-ever-after. With her four-year-old daughter, Ivy, in tow, Victoria “Tory” Bradford is trying to stay one step ahead of her abusive ex-fiancé, Damon Bridger. She bounces around the Southwest before landing at Iron River Ranch in Iron Springs, Tex. After returning stateside from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, retired sniper Joshua Cain bought Iron River and planned for a more placid lifestyle. But when Tory shows up on his doorstep, desperate for a job that will allow her to support her daughter and stay off her rich ex’s radar, he’s plunged right back into danger. The dynamics of abusive relationships and obsession ring true throughout, as does the redemptive power of love. Martin has a consummate skill for developing the most lovable and the most despicable characters; readers will cheer when sadistic Damon meets his well-deserved end. Martin’s finely described Texas is a delight.” – Publishers Weekly

“Bestseller Martin brings her Texas Trilogy … to a hair-raising finish with the gripping tale of a single mother on the run and the Marine veteran who offers her a second chance at happily-ever-after. Martin has a consummate skill for developing the most loveable and the most despicable characters; readers will cheer when sadistic Damon meets his well-deserved end. Martin’s finely described Texas is a delight.” – Publishers Weekly

~~~

[image error]BEYOND CONTROL

The Texas Trilogy

BY KAT MARTIN

The Texas Mystique

Since my new book, BEYOND CONTROL–Josh Cain and Victoria Bradford’s story–is set in Texas, I thought it might be fun to talk about one of my favorite places.

There is something special about Texas. My husband and I lived in Houston for a couple of months one summer and it was a wonderful experience, though at times it was sort of good news and bad. The people in Texas are extremely friendly, and they always seem to be in a good mood.

We gorged ourselves on gourmet meals in some of the country’s finest restaurants, but also ate a ton of delicious Tex Mex, Asian, Indian flatbread, and just about everything else. We visited art galleries, the beach, and some of the beautiful ranches in the area.

That was the good news. The bad news was Houston in August is HOT. It’s also muggy and sticky and you just can’t wait for October to arrive.

Two years ago, we traveled to Lubbock for a Western Writers of America conference. I was reluctant to go in the summer, but it turned out to be a really great trip–hot but dry. We visited some great museums and met some fun people, including old-time movie star, Barry Corbin, who’s been in everything from Urban Cowboy to The Best Little Whore House in Texas–along with forty-three other movies.

For the past few years, I’ve been setting my stories in and around Dallas, one of my favorite U.S. cities. In BEYOND CONTROL, Victoria Bradford and her four-year old daughter are on the run from Tory’s abusive ex-fiancé. Seventy miles north of Dallas, the Iron River Ranch is pretty much nowhere, exactly what Josh Cain wanted when he came back from Afghanistan. Big skies, quiet nights, no trouble.

When Tory shows up with her adorable little girl, Josh realizes he is in for trouble of the most personal kind. But Josh has seen trouble before, and he doesn’t scare easy. Not when “accidents” start happening around the ranch. Not when Tory’s best friend is abducted–not when it looks like things are going to get worse.

I’ve had great fun writing books set in Texas, including BEYOND REASON and BEYOND DANGER, the first in my Texas Trilogy. Fortunately, I get to write four more novels set in Dallas around the Maximum Security Agency. Chase Garrett (You meet him in BEYOND DANGER) runs the company and is the hero of my first book. It’s out in January of next year.

Texas is a magical place that captured a piece of my soul long ago. I hope some day you get to visit. If not, perhaps you might enjoy Josh and Tory in BEYOND CONTROL. Till next time, all best and happy reading, Kat

Excerpt

Iron River Ranch

Iron Springs, Texas

Victoria Bradford drove the old blue Chevy Malibu along the two lane road. Up ahead, a sign hung above a narrow dirt track running off to the west, IRON RIVER RANCH.

“Are we there yet, Mama?” Ivy, her four year old daughter, had asked at a dozen times since they’d left the Walmart parking lot in Iron Springs. The ten mile drive didn’t take long, but to a four year old who’d been in the car for days, they couldn’t reach their destination soon enough.

“We’re very close, sweetheart. This is the turn, right here.” Tory checked the gas gauge as the wheels left the pavement and started rumbling over the bumpy dirt road. Less than an eighth of a tank. She hoped the ranch wasn’t much farther.

More than that, she prayed the job hadn’t already been filled.

She sighed as the aging Malibu rolled along. She was basically in bumfrick Egypt, ten miles north of Nowhere Springs, almost out of gas, with twenty three dollars and thirty three cents in her wallet.

Last night, without enough money for a motel room and afraid to use her credit cards for fear Damon would somehow track her, they’d slept in the car in the Walmart parking lot. As soon as the McDonald’s opened, she had pulled into the drive-thru and bought Sausage McMuffins, then driven out to the ranch to somehow convince the owner to hire a woman with a daughter and no actual ranching experience.

She thought of the ad in the paper she had spotted last night on the counter in the Iron Springs Café. If she somehow managed to get the job, it would be perfect. Besides a steady paycheck and the ranch being way off the grid, the position included the use of a double-wide trailer.

After being on the road for the past three weeks, living out of motel rooms and suitcases, the trailer sounded like a palace.

“Look, Mama, there it is!” Ivy pointed toward the cluster of buildings up ahead, a couple of barns, several fenced training arenas, and a two-story home with dormer windows and a covered porch running the length out in front. A double-wide sat fifty yards away.

Vast stretches of open green pastureland surrounded the complex where horses and cattle grazed, and there were ponds and woodlands in the distance, and dense copses of trees.

The Chevy bumped over the last patch of road, pulled up in front of the house, and Tory quickly turned off the engine. No use wasting what little gas she had left.

“Mama, there’s a man over there by the barn.”

Her gaze swung in that direction. There was, indeed, a man. The noisy buzz of a saw covered the sound of their arrival, giving her time to assess him.

Shirtless, he was working with his back to them, broad, tanned, and muscled above a narrow waist that disappeared into a pair of faded jeans. The jeans hugged a round behind and long, powerful legs.

He was tall, she saw when he straightened away from his work and walked into the barn, with medium brown hair cut short. She got her first look at his face when he walked back out, handsome, with a solid jaw and masculine features, at least three days’ growth of whiskers.

The front of him was just as impressive as the back, a broad chest with solid pecs, muscular biceps, and six pack abs.

Unease filtered through her. This was a strong, powerful male. She knew first hand what a man like that could do to a woman.

Tory forced down the notion. Not all men were like Damon. Before she’d met him, she had been married to a good and decent man, the father of her child. Jamie Bradford, her high school sweetheart, was one of the gentlest people she’d ever known. Her father was a good man, before he’d fallen in love with his secretary and divorced her mother, leaving the two of them alone.

Tory took a courage-building breath. “Stay here, sweetheart.” Cracking open the car door, she slid out from behind the wheel. “Don’t worry, sweetie. Everything’s going to be okay.”

She hoped.

Ivy sank down in her booster seat, trying to make herself invisible. Tory had survived the fights, arguments, and finally the brutal beating Damon had given her that had put her in the hospital. Though he had never hurt Ivy, the little girl had seen the results of his mistreatment, leaving her with an unnatural fear of men.

Tory glanced at the big, thick-chested male striding toward her, shrugging into a blue denim shirt. Ivy would be terrified of him. If there was any other way, she would climb back in the car and just drive away.

There wasn’t. Tory started walking, meeting the man half way. She glanced around but didn’t see a soul besides the big man in front of her. Her uneasiness returned but she forced it away.

“May I help you?” he asked, and she thought that at least he was polite.

“My name is Tory Ford. I’m looking for Joshua Cain. Is that you?” He had blue eyes and a cleft in his chin. From a purely physical standpoint, the man was flat out hot.

“I’m Josh Cain. What can I do for you?”

“I saw your ad in the Iron Springs Gazette. You’re looking for a stable hand. I’m here to apply for the job.”

He just shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s a man’s job, Ms. Ford. Mucking out stalls and cleaning tack, feeding the livestock. It isn’t something you’d want to do.”

“Work isn’t supposed to be fun, Mr. Cain. That’s why they call it work. I can muck out stalls, clean tack, and feed stock as well as anyone else.”

“Sorry. I’m looking for a man. I appreciate you’re coming out, but–“

“There are laws, Mr. Cain. Equal rights for women. Have you never heard of that? Lawsuits against discrimination?”

His jaw hardened. His eyebrows came down in a frown. “Are you kidding me? You’re going to sue me because I won’t hire you to shovel horseshit out of the barn?”

She could feel the heat creeping into her cheeks. With her fair skin, and fiery red hair, there was no way to hide her embarrassment.

She looked him straight in the face. “I need this job, Mr. Cain. I need the house that comes with it.” She forced herself to smile. “Why don’t we compromise? You give me three days to prove I’m up to the job. If I’m not, I won’t give you anymore trouble. Three days. If you don’t think I can handle the work, I’ll leave. I won’t argue, I’ll just go.”

A muscle jerked in his cheek. He didn’t like being pressured. He looked at her hard, then those condemning blue eyes traveled over her shoulder to something behind her.

“Who is that?”

She didn’t have to turn to know Ivy had climbed out of the car. Like Tory, she was small for her age, but her hair was blond instead of red, and her eyes were blue instead of green.

“That’s my daughter. She’s only four.” Desperate now, she could feel her heart throbbing softly inside her ribs. “We need a place, Mr. Cain. I’ll work hard. I’ll do whatever you need done. Just give me a chance.”

He swore the f-word under his breath, not loud enough for Ivy to hear. Damon wouldn’t have cared. She clung to the hope that represented.

“What do you plan to do with your daughter while you’re working? You can’t leave her in the house alone.”

Tory glanced wildly around. She had known this would be a problem. Before, she’d had money enough to hire a sitter or there was day care for employees’ kids.

She looked at the fenced yard off to the side in front of the trailer. The grass was sparse and in need of a trim. Maybe he’d had a dog or something, but it was clean and empty now. The weather was still good and there was a little gazebo with a table and benches in the middle. She’d be able to keep an eye on Ivy while she was working.

“She could play in the yard. She likes to color and she already reads kids’ books. She wouldn’t be any trouble. If this works out, I’ll have money to pay for a sitter.”

Cain looked at Ivy, paced away then back. “Dammit.”

“It’s just three days. If I do a good job, you won’t have to search for someone else.”

He ran a hand over his short brown hair, paced away, then walked back. “Did you sleep in your car last night?”

She refused to answer. She didn’t want charity from Cain for anyone else.

“Fine,” he said. “You’ve got three days. But I’m not cutting you any slack. You do a man’s job for a man’s pay. If you can’t hack it, you’re out of here.”

And from the look on his face, he was clearly hoping she would fail. Hell, maybe she would.

She managed to fake a smile. “Okay, it’s a deal.” She stuck out her hand to seal the bargain, for a moment didn’t think he was going to shake. Then he sighed and took hold of her hand, not too hard, just firm enough to let her know he was in charge.

“You start tomorrow morning. Six A.M. sharp. There’s enough food in the trailer to last a few days. I’ll bring you a quart of milk. After that, board’s on you. If you’re still here, you’ll need to make a trip into town for groceries.”

Relief filtered through her, so strong it made her head swim. She had a place to stay where no one would look for her. She had a job, which meant food and whatever necessities they needed. If he kept her on, she’d find a sitter to watch Ivy. She’d have time to figure things out, make a new plan.

She took a step back, set an arm around her little girl’s shoulders and drew her forward. “This is my daughter, Ivy. Ivy, this is Mr. Cain.”

“Hello, Ivy,” he said. He had an unusual voice, deep and resonate, but at the same time soft and oddly compelling.

Ivy shrunk back.

“Say hello, honey,” Tory said.

“I don’t want to stay. I want to go.” Clinging to Tory’s waist, she burrowed into her.

“She’s shy,” Tory said.

“The trailer’s unlocked,” Cain said. “It’s clean and ready to go.”

“Thank you.”

He turned and started striding back to the barn. She probably should be at least a little afraid of him. Oddly, she wasn’t.

Then again, she hadn’t been afraid of Damon, either.

[image error]Meet Author Kat Martin…

Leanne Marshall is a Scottish born and bred romance writer with more than the average person’s life experience. She has been a torrent of wild things, including singer in a girl band, animal rights activist and charity owner, worked in radio and offered jobs in TV.

A passionate, restless soul, who has always found peace in writing, the only way to calm that fiery spirit. She uses her wit and dark humour to her advantage in her works and has been an avid reader for most of her life. Her influences vary, but from early life and a teen stint in journalism, she applies logic to most of her plot lines, is a self-confessed research fiend, and likes a lot of psychology behind her characters actions.

She currently resides in Central Scotland with her two children and Fiancée of 13 years, making waves in the book world with her signature ‘WTF moments’ she likes to apply in each story, hints of humour and devastating emotional rollercoaster rides.

~~~

Links to Kat’s website, blog, books, etc.

WEBSITE: http://www.katmartin.com/

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/I9vEWYddAug

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Control-Texas-Trilogy-Martin-ebook/dp/B075CBDPZ7

b&n:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyond-control-kat-martin/1127062567?ean=9781420143195#/

indiebound:

https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420143195

kobo:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/beyond-control-9

google play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kat_Martin_Beyond_Control?id=GskzDwAAQBAJ

itunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/beyond-control/id1278683477?mt=11

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katmartinauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatMartinAuthor

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36190397-beyond-control

I hope you enjoy the recipe Kat is sharing today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy Eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 378 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BACON, TOMATO, BALSAMIC PASTA

Directions

Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels with a slotted spoon; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings. Sauté tomatoes, garlic, and onions in drippings until tender. Drain spaghetti; stir into skillet. Add the spinach, bacon, vinegar, salt and pepper; heat through. Sprinkle with cheese. Yield: 4 servings.

Ingredients

16 ounces uncooked spaghetti
½ cup minced red onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 pound thick-sliced bacon strips, chopped
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Grated Parmesan cheese

~~~

[image error]**SPECIAL CONTEST**: https://www.katmartin.com/beyond-control-giveaway/

To CELEBRATE the release of BEYOND CONTROL, enter my new contest for a chance to win a KINDLE FIRE 7″ Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB and a Kindle copy of AGAINST THE WIND, AGAINST THE FIRE and AGAINST THE LAW. Contest runs from May 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018.

For JUNE, Kat Martin is giving away to THREE winners a copy of both INTO THE FIRESTORM and SEASON OF STRANGERS.

~~~

Thanks, Kat, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

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Published on June 08, 2018 07:10

June 7, 2018

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: THE FIRST TIME AT FIRELIGHT FALLS, A Hellcat Canyon Novel by Julie Anne Long

THE FIRST TIME AT FIRELIGHT FALLS

A Hellcat Canyon Novel

BY JULIE ANNE LONG

Blurb

Single mom Eden Harwood has a lively daughter, a blooming business—and a juicy secret she’s hung on to for ten years. She doesn’t mind a bit that there’s no room for romance in her whirlwind life . . . until six-foot-infinity, smoldery-eyed, bass-voiced Gabe Caldera reminds her of what she might be missing.

The principal of Hellcat Elementary is usually knee-deep in fawning PTA moms, but Gabe only has eyes for the fiery, funny, skittish redhead who barely knows he’s alive. But this ex-Navy SEAL never fails to get what he wants. And what he wants is to fan those sparks between him and Eden into the kind of bonfire you can see two counties away.

The passion is explosive . . . and the tenderness has them thinking about forever. But when Eden’s past waltzes into town for a reckoning, her secret blows them apart. Still, Gabe will never back down from a fight . . . especially if the ultimate prize is Eden’s heart.

“Julie Anne Long’s writing glows with emotional intensity.” —New York Times Bestselling Author Jayne Anne Krentz

About the Book

The First Time At Firelight Falls

by Julie Anne Long

Series

Hellcat Canyon Series

Genre

Adult

Contemporary Romance

Publisher

Avon Books

Publication Date

May 29, 2018

[image error]THE FIRST TIME AT FIRELIGHT FALLS

A Hellcat Canyon Novel

BY JULIE ANNE LONG

Excerpt

Editorial Note: Edited for language.

She was a devil woman.

“I’ll kiss anything you want me to.” He made it sound like a blood vow.

She gasped when he slid his hand up through her hair and held her fast. This time he went in for a take-no-prisoners kiss, designed to melt bones, stop time, erase the memories of all kisses that had come before, what-the-f*@k-did-they-have-to-lose kind of kiss. Molten, savage, skillful. They were on the clock.

He was a guy who knew how to make a point, and he never half-assed anything. Clearly, neither did she. Silk, heat, tongue, lips—the taste of her roared through his bloodstream, tightened all his muscles.

He curled one hand into the edge of his desk, a reflex against floating up to the ceiling, because suddenly whatever boundaries he’d once had melted away. And damn, she gave as good as she got. It was a hot, deep, dangerous tangle of tongues, the slide of lips. When she moaned softly, low in the back of her throat, guttural, helpless pleasure, he slipped his hand from her hair and sank backward into his chair.

One second before the bell rang.

Amazon | Avon Romance | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iBooks

Tour Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the release of THE FIRST TIME AT FIRELIGHT FALLS by Julie Anne Long, we’re giving away five paperback copies of HOT IN HELLCAT CANYON!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. Five winners will each receive a paperback copy of HOT IN HELLCAT CANYON by Julie Anne Long. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance. Giveaway ends 6/10/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About Author Julie Anne Long…

USA Today bestselling author JULIE ANNE LONG originally set out to be a rock star when she grew up (and she has the guitars and fringed clothing stuffed in the back of her closet to prove it), but writing was always her first love. Since hanging up her guitar for the computer keyboard, her books frequently top reader and critic polls and have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Rita, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice, and The Quills, and reviewers have been known to use words like “dazzling,” “brilliant,” and “impossible to put down” when describing them. Julie lives in Northern California.

Author Links

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Published on June 07, 2018 08:00

June 6, 2018

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: LONG WALK, SHORT PIER by Linda Rettstatt

[image error]

LONG WALK, SHORT PIER

BY LINDA RETTSTATT

Blurb

Blaire Copeland is told she’s going through ‘the change.’ Between hot flashes and mood swings, she tries to figure out what she’s changing into. At fifty-five, she thought she’d slip quietly into menopause. She was so wrong. Her mother tells her it’s her time–time to stop doing and start listening to her inner voice that will guide her through this change. Confused, but trusting her mother, Blaire heads south to Eventide, her family home on Isle of Hope, Georgia, to reflect on what it might mean to change and to take a long walk off a short pier. Where will she land?

~~~

[image error]LONG WALK, SHORT PIER

BY LINDA RETTSTATT

When I first started writing, I wrote women’s fiction. But I soon realized that some elements of romance kept creeping into my stories. Then I wrote a contemporary romance and learned why—writing romance is fun. My heroines generally tend to be beyond the traditional contemporary romance age and, as I get older, so do they. I discovered a group of authors who write ‘seasoned’ romance. Now, you might associate the term with hot and spicy, but that’s not necessarily the case. Though some of the more mature heroes and heroines still have a fire blazing in their furnaces. I found that, as a woman of a certain age (and no, I’m not saying what age), I can better relate to seasoned characters, women and men who have been around the block a time or two, generally involved in a second-chance romance. Technically, seasoned romance refers to romance with characters age thirty-five and older. Mine tend to be in the older (forties or fifties) category.

In my newest book, Long Walk, Short Pier, I’ve blended my two writing loves—women’s fiction and seasoned romance. And I had so darned much fun writing this book. Seasoned characters have so much to offer a writer. They’ve lived a little, and they have baggage that they prefer to think of as ‘experience.’ That doesn’t mean they can’t be surprised or that they can’t fall in love again.

Such is the case with Blaire Copeland. At fifty-five, she is told she’s going through ‘the change.’ Between hot flashes and mood swings, she tries to figure out what she’s changing into. Her friends have already made this transition, so Blaire thought she’d slipped quietly into menopause without notice. She was so wrong. She’s divorced and also feeling a pull to step away from her life and examine all these changes. Her father’s favorite phrase had been, ‘Some people should take a long walk off a short pier.’ Blaire now thinks this could apply to her, that she needs to take a long walk—or run—and drop off the end of a metaphorical pier to see where she lands.

Her mother tells her it’s her time—time to stop doing and start listening to her inner voice that will guide her through this change. Confused, but trusting her mother’s wisdom, Blaire heads south to Eventide, her family home on Isle of Hope, Georgia, to reflect on what it might mean to change—and to take a long walk or a flying leap off a short pier. The solitude she anticipates is not to be had. She finds a single mom of two—the caretaker’s fiancée and children—living in the house. She is also reunited with Davis Rembert, the boy she once fantasized about marrying, and the attraction has not died. If she thought the hot flashes were going to consume her, they were barely a spark compared to the heat Davis reignites.

Excerpt

Blaire strolled the bluff overlooking the river. Frogs croaked along the water’s edge. The heavy aroma of earth filled her nose. Lights twinkled on the dock at the marina farther down the bluff. An occasional burst of laughter rolled from one of the porches. She reached the corner and stopped to observe the Rembert house. It was a much larger Victorian that occupied the entire corner. Live oaks and magnolia trees were scattered around the property. A fieldstone walk led to the front porch.

Lights shone from the first floor. She followed the stone walk, but stopped again before climbing the steps to the porch. So many memories flooded back to her. The one that stuck was that of the last time she’d been inside this house. Davis’s mother, Christine, had passed away. Blaire insisted on driving down for the funeral, even though Martin protested. That had been nearly twenty years earlier. She and Martin had left the children with her mother. A part of Blaire had hoped the time away for just the two of them would rekindle a spark, but she’d been wrong.

After the burial service, guests had been invited to return to the house for lunch. Martin hastily ate and interrupted her conversation with Davis to say he was going back to their house, to call if she needed a ride. She told him she didn’t need anything, to go, embarrassed by his behavior.

Later, when she carried plates to the kitchen and began to clean up, Davis came in and stopped her. “That’s why I hired caterers.” He’d asked if she was okay, and she’d burst into tears. He hugged her, she sank into him, and, before either of them knew what was happening, he kissed her. He apologized, she forgave him, and then she slipped out and returned home. She didn’t take his call the next day. They’d not spoken since.

“Are you just going to just stand there, Irish? Or are you coming in?”

His voice startled her. That and the use of the nickname only Davis had for her.

[image error] Meet Author Linda Rettstatt…

Linda Rettstatt is an award-winning author who discovered her passion for writing after years of working in the human services field. When she’s not writing, Linda loves travel, penny slot machines, and figuring out what makes people tick. Her fantasy is to win the lottery, buy an old Victorian home on the eastern shore, and open a writer’s retreat. While she waits for that fantasy to materialize (i.e. that miracle to happen), she continues to live and work in NW Mississippi and to write under the constant observation of her tuxedo cat, Binky.

~~~

Links to Linda’s website, blog, books, etc.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2xHS9Bf

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/829658

Website: www.lindarettstatt.com

Blog: www.onewomanswrite.blogspot.com

Facebook: Linda Rettstatt, Writing for Women

Editing service FB page: Linda Edits 4 U

Twitter: @linda_rettstatt

Or at Amazon.com as Linda Rettstatt

~~~

[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Linda will give away an ebook copy of LONG WALK, SHORT PIER to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.

Thanks, Linda, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

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Published on June 06, 2018 07:52

June 5, 2018

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, Hellfire Book 1 by Jena Gregoire

[image error]

[image error] THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

Hellfire Book 1

BY JENA GREGOIRE

Blurb

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE.

Following a drunken night together, the vampire Michael “Vegas” Tremayne takes off with no explanation, leaving Deziree Davanzati to wonder if they’d made a terrible mistake. Rather than obsess about it, Dez spends most of her time at Onyx, the rock club she owns and operates for the supernatural citizens of New York City. All are welcome-werewolves, witches, and anyone else willing to play nice while under her roof and pay their tab at the end of the night.

After two weeks of radio silence, Vegas returns with alarming news. For the first time in more than four centuries, there is reason to believe a pureblood demon is walking among them. They suspect someone from the the Council may be behind the creature’s return, but to what end?

With the Sentinel Stone missing, they’re down to the wire and don’t know who to trust. Will Dez and Vegas stop the demon in time? Or will Hell itself be unleashed upon the world?

About the Book

The Devil You Know

by Jena Gregoire

Series

Hellfire Series Book One

Genre

Adult

Urban Fantasy

Paranormal Romance

Publisher

Independent

Publication Date

June 5, 2018

Purchase Your Copy Today!

Amazon

Also Available On

The HELLFIRE Series

Genre Adult Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance
Publisher Independent
Publication Date See Book Synopsis Section
June 5th – Hellfire Anthology – Whispers in the Ether https://amzn.to/2kI5LmR
June 5th – Hellfire Book One – The Devil You Know https://amzn.to/2LPpJs0
June 12th – Hellfire Book Two – Speak of the Devil https://amzn.to/2J3fse7
June 19th – Hellfire Book Three – Dance With the Devil https://amzn.to/2Lfti9T

[image error]THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

Hellfire Book 1

BY JENA GREGOIRE

Excerpt

Editorial Note: Edited for language.

After raining for the previous two days, the constant barrage of water had finally come to an end. Just in time to have to go to work, she thought while glancing in her car’s rearview mirror. The downside to living in New York City was the completely unpredictable northeast weather during the summer. The forecast could call for sunny, cloudless skies one day, and snow the next.

The shrill sound of her cell phone ringing cut into the best part of her favorite song. Turning the radio down, she picked up her phone and answered. She touched the speakerphone button and waited. It was quiet for a moment and then the sound a familiar voice filled the interior of her fully-restored 1951 Mercury.

“Did you miss me?” He offered no greeting or introduction.

“Vegas. Nice to hear from you.” She was trying to sound aloof and nonchalant, “And where the f*ck have you been?” and failed miserably.

“I’m sorry. I had to leave town for a while,” he replied. “Had to take care of a few things and had to run out at the last minute. I didn’t want to wake you up, and I didn’t anticipate going this long without getting in touch with you. It’s a long story, and one I promise to explain later. What are you doing tonight?”

No matter her level of irritation, the sound of his voice was perfectly disarming. Something along the lines of gravel wrapped in velvet, rugged and raspy but still silky smooth. Disgusted with herself, she rolled her eyes and then answered, “Onyx. To work, not for fun. Why? Are you going to come see me?” Her heart began to pound. She wanted to see him. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized how much she missed him.

“I’ll be there.” She could hear the smile in his voice and grinned in return. She pushed her gas pedal to the floor, suddenly wanting to be at Onyx more than ever.

Hellfire Celebration Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of the Hellfire series, Jena Gregoire is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to three lucky winners!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open internationally. By entering, you are agreeing to sign up for Jena Gregoire’s weekly newsletter. Once the giveaway closes, all of the entries from the giveaway landing page and the Rafflecopter giveaway will be combined and the winners will be chosen at random. Three winners will each receive a $50 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR. Giveaway ends 7/1/2018 @ 11:00am EST. Pure Textuality PR will send the prizes to the winner via email. Limit one entry per reader. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About Author Jena Gregoire…

Bestselling author JENA GREGOIRE was born and raised in New Hampshire, USA, and despite her abhorrence for any season which dares to drop to a temperature below seventy degrees, she still currently resides there with her two children and several furbabies. Always a passionate reader, her love of urban fantasy books inevitably morphed into a love of writing them. She is currently working on two series – the Hellfire series and the Executioner series.

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Published on June 05, 2018 17:51

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: SCREWED by Kelly Jamieson

SCREWED

BY KELLY JAMIESON

Blurb

Cash Hale has been in love with his best friend’s wife forever. Now Callie and Beau are divorced, but she’s still way off-limits. Dating her would betray his friendship with Beau. And Cash is nothing if not loyal.

Callie Sutherland is starting over. The end of her marriage was just one more way she failed to live up to her wealthy family’s expectations, so from now on she’s not even going to try. It’s time to live her life the way she wants. And she wants Cash.

Cash and Beau aren’t just friends, they’re business partners, and the drop in the price of oil has hurt their business. They need to win the bid for Sutherland Industries’ next big project—but it may get messy since Callie’s family owns the business. Not only would Cash risk his friendship with Beau to be with her, he’d be risking the company they worked so hard to create.

But this new Callie isn’t taking no for an answer.

He’s so screwed…

[image error]SCREWED

BY KELLY JAMIESON

Excerpt

Editorial Note: Editing for language.

Their eyes locked together. Cash went very still, his hand on her back, warm and strong. “What?”

Callie slid off the stool, her body brushing against Cash’s, went onto tiptoes, and touched her lips to his. “Sex,” she whispered. “I need sex.”

She gripped his T-shirt in both hands and pulled herself closer, pressing against him. He sucked in a sharp breath, and his hands went to her hips. “Callie…”

Her eyes drifted closed, and she pressed her mouth to his. “Mmm.”

A groan rumbled in his chest as she licked his bottom lip, then kissed him again. And he kissed her back, his mouth opening. He took control of the kiss immediately, and her knees went weak. She clung tighter to him as her head spun, tasting the inside of his mouth with her tongue, electricity zipping through her body when he slid his tongue into her mouth.

He tasted delicious, and his lips moved on hers, firm and warm and perfect. His hands gripped her hips, fingers digging into her buttocks, and he pulled her against him. He was hard.

Oh sweet hopscotching Jesus, he was so hard. She whimpered and tipped her pelvis against him, then slid her arms around his neck, fingers slipping into his hair.

“Callie,” he groaned.

“Mmm.” She nipped his full bottom lip, stroked it with her tongue, then kissed his stubbled jaw. “Cash. Kiss me.”

“F*ck.” But he did it, arms now going right around her, crushing her against his big, hard body. She wanted to climb up him and get even closer. She rubbed her aching breasts against his chest and found his mouth again in a long, deep kiss.

Need zoomed low in her belly, a hot pressure coiling inside her. She needed more, needed him. “This is crazy,” she whispered against his jaw. “I’m dying for you.”

About the Book

Screwed

by Kelly Jamieson

Series

n/a; standalone

Genre

Adult

Contemporary Romance

Publisher

Entangled Publishing

Publication Date

May 28, 2018

Get Your Copy Today!

Amazon | Kobo

Tour Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the release of SCREWED by Kelly Jamieson, we’re giving away for a $25 Amazon gift card!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open internationally. One winner will be chosen to receive a $25 Amazon gift card (winner chosen at random). This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Entangled Publishing. Giveaway ends 6/8/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Entangled Publishing will send one winning prize, Pure Textuality PR will deliver the other. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About the Author Kelly Jamieson…

Kelly Jamieson is a USA Today bestselling author of over forty romance novels and novellas. She writes the kind of books she loves to read–sexy romance with heat, humor and emotion. Her writing has been described as “emotionally complex”, “sweet and satisfying” and “blisteringly sexy”. She likes coffee (black), wine (mostly white) and shoes (high!). She also loves watching hockey. She is the author of the popular Heller Brothers Hockey series and the Rule of Three trilogy. Visit her website at http://www.kellyjamieson.com or contact her at info@kellyjamieson.com

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Published on June 05, 2018 07:46

June 4, 2018

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: THREAT OF DANGER, Mission Recovery Book 2 by Dana Marton

[image error]

THREAT OF DANGER

Mission Recovery Book 2

BY DANA MARTON

Blurb

Falling in love can be a deadly proposition in this pulse-quickening Mission Recovery novel from the New York Times bestselling author.

Jess Taylor and Derek Daley were in the throes of first love in a small Vermont town when they were kidnapped by a serial killer. They escaped his clutches—but not the trauma of the unsolved crime. With their lives changed forever and their romance cut short, they went their separate ways to exorcise their fears.

Jess is living on the edge as Hollywood’s hottest stuntwoman. It’s no longer terror thrumming through her veins. It’s adrenaline. Derek is a former Navy SEAL spinning his ordeals into heart-pounding bestselling thrillers. But when Jess is called home on a family emergency, she must face the past—and face the man she left behind, who is just as haunted and, like her, still so much in love.

Now, as an old flame reignites, Jess and Derek are taking advantage of second chances and putting their bad memories behind them. But here, in the quiet town of Taylorville, a killer is getting a second chance as well.

~~~

[image error]THREAT OF DANGER

Mission Recovery Book 2

BY DANA MARTON

Excerpt

Common sense said to walk away. She’d worked hard to make a life for herself in LA that worked for her.

Screw common sense. He stepped forward and reached around her, looped his fingers around her slim wrists, and tugged her hands from her pockets. Then he took those hands and drew her closer to him.

“Derek . . .”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d ever come back.”

“I’m only back temporarily.”

“Is that how you left things with Eliot?” That she’d be going after him soon? His mouth tightened at the thought.

“He had to go. He had meetings scheduled with directors. And new equipment coming in that he has to test and make decisions on before the next shoot.”

When she talked about Eliot, she talked about the business. That gave Derek hope. Sounded like they’d parted as friends and colleagues, not as lovers who couldn’t wait to reunite.

Two and a half weeks left, at the most. He knew her shooting schedule from talking with Zelda. About eighteen days more before Jess had to report to the set. So why in hell was he wasting time?

He dipped his head and brushed his lips over hers. He’d gotten lost once in the Iraqi desert for three days. He hadn’t been as thirsty for water back then as he was now for a taste of Jess.

When she didn’t protest, he pulled her fully into his arms and kissed her.

The point of no return. He needed to find out if things could still work between them. He wanted her, and he could no longer pretend that he didn’t.

Her body was firm, but her lips were soft and silky, as sweet as Zelda’s prizewinning angel food cake. As sweet as the old Jess. Except, this new Jess, she was a woman. She had the power to bring Derek to his knees.

He’d told her that he would give her whatever she needed from him. He hoped she’d figure out that he was what she needed. He was going to have to help her reach that conclusion.

He breathed her in. She smelled like redemption. Like maybe he could have a do-over and get it right this time.

She stood still in the circle of his arms. Undecided. Wary.

Better than a sharp knee in the balls, but Derek wanted more. He nibbled her lips and licked the seam, tasting her.

She tasted like a whole new world opening up. She tasted like the blank page of a book before he’d written the first word, the possibilities limitless.

Was the story of his life written on her heart? Was the story of her life written on his?

Too early to tell. But he wanted to find out. Letter by letter, word by word, sentence by sentence. If only she’d let him.

She did let him in, let him deepen the kiss. Progress, but this was just the opening of her lips, not the opening of her heart. Still, Derek wouldn’t have been a good SEAL if he didn’t grab every advantage, no matter how small. And, really, the kiss could not be called small by any measure.

As he swept into Jess’s mouth, he felt his boundaries expand. Need rushed in, and filled him like water flooding into a torpedoed submarine. He sank onto the seabed of things he always wanted but never believed he could have. Jess’s forgiveness . . . and more.

All these years, he’d thought her forgiveness was all he wanted.

He’d been stupid.

He wanted this. Jess. And he knew in that moment that he was going to do whatever it took to get her and keep her. Eliot couldn’t have her, no matter how handsome he was, or how much they had in common, or how hot women thought it was that the guy was some grandmaster of stunts.

Derek wasn’t going to let Eliot have Jess. He didn’t care if the guy jumped out of a burning helicopter, tied hand and foot, with a ticking bomb in his backpack, and got an Oscar nomination in every single category for the performance.

[image error]Meet Author Dana Marton…

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Dana Marton has thrilled and entertained millions of readers around the globe with her fast-paced stories about strong women and honorable men who fight side by side for justice and survival.

Kirkus Reviews calls her writing “compelling and honest.” RT Book Review Magazine said, “Marton knows what makes a hero…her characters are sure to become reader favorites.” Her writing has been acclaimed by critics, called, “gripping,” “intense and chilling,” “full of action,” “a thrilling adventure,” and wholeheartedly recommended to readers. Dana is the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, the Readers’ Choice Award, and Best Intrigue, among other awards. Her book, TALL, DARK, AND LETHAL was nominated for the prestigious Rita Award. DEATHSCAPE reached the #1 spot on Amazon’s Romantic Suspense Bestseller list.

Dana has a Master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction, and is continuously studying the art and craft of writing, attending several workshops, seminars and conferences each year. Her number one goal is to bring the best books she possibly can to her readers.

Keeping in touch with readers is Dana’s favorite part of being an author. Please connect with her via her web site (www.danamarton.com) or her Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/danamarton).

Having lived around the world, Dana currently creates her compelling stories in a small and lovely little town in Pennsylvania. The fictional town of her bestselling Broslin Creek series is based on her real life home where she fights her addictions to reading, garage sales, coffee and chocolate. If you know a good twelve-step program to help her with any of that, she’d be interested in hearing about it!

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Published on June 04, 2018 07:45

June 2, 2018

#ThatBookRocks Summer Time Fun #Giveaway! Enter to Win A Mix of Ebooks & Paperbacks & Surprise Gift!

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Summer Time Fun Giveaway!

It’s getting even hotter this summer.

I know you need more books to read this summer (don’t we all!)

Go find out more about this amazing contest and enter for your chance to keep your Kindle busy all summer.

http://bit.ly/2Jpd9Bm

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Published on June 02, 2018 12:30

June 1, 2018

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Creamed Dried Beef on Toast or Waffles aka S.O.S.

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It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s! Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers. So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is CREAMED DRIED BEEF ON TOAST OR WAFFLES aka S.O.S.!

How many of us grew up eating creamed dried beef or S.O.S. (Stuff, okay, “That Other Word” On a Shingle) or Creamed Chipped Beef as it was also called? It was a quick and satisfying meal and inexpensive. It was also one of the few times we could justify eating waffles for dinner. No waffles? Toast works, too.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 377 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right-hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

CREAMED DRIED BEEF ON WAFFLES or TOAST

AKA S.O.S.

4 oz. jar dried or smoked dry beef

2 T. butter

2 T. flour

1 cup milk

½ tsp. Worcestershire Sauce

Toast or waffles

In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour all at once to form a roux. Whisk in milk, a little at a time. Increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring, until thickened. Bring to a boil, stir in Worcestershire sauce and beef. Heat through and serve over toast or waffles.

Note: It’s easy to double the recipe.

Happy Eating!

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Published on June 01, 2018 07:00

May 31, 2018

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: THE SHINING CITADEL, The Light Beyond The Storm Chronicles Book 2 by A.L. Butcher

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THE SHINING CITADEL

The Light Beyond The Storm Chronicles Book II

BY A.L. BUTCHER

Blurb

Who rules in this game of intrigue where magic is forbidden, and elves enslaved? Journey where beliefs shatter like glass, truth is unwelcome and monsters from ancient times abound: share the romance and revenge, magic and passion, and the wages of greed in a world of darkest fantasy.

(18 rated)

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[image error]THE SHINING CITADEL

The Light Beyond The Storm Chronicles Book II

BY A.L. BUTCHER

Excerpt

Commander Hendrick of the Order of Witch-Hunters was alone, having dismissed his companions save for the unfortunate victims of his wrath and his greed. A blonde-haired elf knelt at his feet and the mage, her twin, hung in chains at the wall whimpering in pain. Blood stained the stone floor crimson from the whip coiled loosely at his side.

“So, scholar, you will lead us to that Citadel of which your late companions were so keen to tell. All the lost riches of the Elfkind,” he said. Gripping her hair, he pulled the elf close, his mouth to her ear. “A pretty thing, are you not? Both you and your sister. Now if you are a good girl, she might get to keep those looks. The Baneshackle scars will not be so bad. She might yet live to see the sun rise over your Shimmering Forest.”

Dragging the elven woman roughly so she could see her weeping and bloody twin, the Witch-Hunter continued in a voice which made her blood run cold, “See what you have consented to? That she lives. It is simple enough, elf.”

Th’alia fought back her tears, shame and degradation pricking her eyes and burning within her far stronger than her own physical pain, yet she summoned the courage and the pride to whisper, “I have a name, my sister has a name. My name is Th’alia Er’lis. We are not property. I will seek the Citadel, but for her, not for you, Witch-Hunter.”

Hendrick scrutinised the elf woman and, releasing her hair, laughed at her audacity. “Is that what you believe? She is a mage, an elf witch, and thus she belongs to us, to me. However, I may be persuaded to look the other way. Lead the Magelord Archos of Tremellic and that slut who shares his bed to this Citadel, allow them to perform the ritual needed to enter, and I may ignore the fact of your sister’s existence.”

Motioning towards M’alia he removed the whip from his belt, letting the weight of it lie in his hands as though emphasising the point, for she had felt the bite of it and both elves knew he would not hesitate to use it once more.

“I will arrange escort and the required paperwork, for you cannot wander the human lands alone. Mark this however, you will be watched. If any harm befalls your escort, if you escape from him, if you fail or deceive him, the woman who hangs in chains yonder will die. Then I will inform the slavers of what stock resides in your settlement, for if they produce more as pretty as you, the slavers will indeed pay handsomely for the information. One way or the other, I will get my gold. Surely it is an easy enough choice, the lives of strangers for those of your sister and your town.”

He looked into her eyes and saw compliance if not consent, a realisation that choice was not a luxury she could afford. Th’alia nodded slowly, and with an unpleasant grin and the thought of elven treasure shining in his eyes, Hendrick said, “Good girl. Your sister will not be harmed or molested. She will be safe. You have my word on that.”

Th’alia turned her tear-filled brown eyes to his face and replied quietly, “What is the word of a Witch-Hunter to me?”

Hendrick looked over to the chained mage. Running the whip through his fingers once more, he replied, “It is the word of a man who has the power of life and death. Heed it well.”

With that, Hendrick unchained the mage, and instead of letting her fall, he wrapped his cloak about her and gave orders she was to be healed and removed from the cell. Casting one final glance at Th’alia, he exited, locking the door until his plans were in place.

[image error]Meet Author A.L. Butcher…

British-born Alexandra Butcher (a/k/a A. L. Butcher) is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet, and a dreamer, a lover of science, natural history, history, and monkeys. Her prose has been described as ‘dark and gritty’ and her poetry as evocative. She writes with a sure and sometimes erotic sensibility of things that might have been, never were, but could be.

Alex is the author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles and the Tales of Erana lyrical fantasy series. She also has several short stories in the fantasy, fantasy romance genres with occasional forays into gothic style horror. With a background in politics, classical studies, ancient history and myth, her affinities bring an eclectic and unique flavour in her work, mixing reality and dream in alchemical proportions that bring her characters and worlds to life.

Her short novella Outside the Walls, co-written with Diana L. Wicker received a Chill with a Book Reader’s Award in 2017.

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Links to A.L.’s website, blog, books, etc.

Universal Link https://www.books2read.com/ShiningCitadel

Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2c5LghC

Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2iqOXkr

Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2hHRv9K

I-books http://apple.co/2j0B4u8

Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2EeaCaJ

Audible UK http://adbl.co/2iSW5GF

Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2BVsHVK

Audible.com http://adbl.co/2i3tf5t