Karen Docter's Blog, page 153
May 30, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: WHAT TO DO ABOUT WEDNESDAY, Book 7 in The Page Turner Cozy Mystery Romantic Comedy series (A Page Turners Novel) by Jennie Marts
[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!
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WHAT TO DO ABOUT WEDNESDAY
Page Turner Cozy Mystery Romantic Comedy Series Book 7
BY JENNIE MARTS
Blurb
What happens when hump day turns homicidal…
Finally out on her own, all college freshman, Piper Denton wants is to live a normal life. But any chance of normal is annihilated when her roommate is murdered on her first day of class. Add in the antics of a surprise new roommate, a scruffy stray dog, and the attention of three Star Wars shirt-wearing nerds who want to go out with her, and her days are now anything but ordinary. Except Piper doesn’t have time for murder—she’s trying to focus on her studies, her job, and the crush she has on Fitz, aka The Brilliant Barista, her cute, coffee-brewing coworker.
But dating can be deadly, and after another coed turns up dead—she and the Page Turners, her book-club turned amateur sleuths, go on the hunt for the murderer. Except things never go as planned when the Page Turners get involved, and suddenly they find themselves with pink and blue colored hair, dressed as bikers, and making friends with a large tattooed man named Snake when they go undercover in a dive bar.
Murder is anything but mundane when everyone becomes a suspect, and Piper’s life is on the line. Can she and the Page Turners catch the culprit before it’s too late?
***
Books in The Page Turners series:
#1 Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got No Body
#2 Easy Like Sunday Mourning
#3 Just Another Maniac Monday
#4 A Halloween Hookup – A holiday novella
#5 A Cowboy For Christmas – A holiday novella
#6 Tangled Up In Tuesday
#7 What To Do About Wednesday
~~~
[image error]WHAT TO DO ABOUT WEDNESDAY
Page Turner Cozy Mystery Romantic Comedy Series Book 7
BY JENNIE MARTS
Hi there! It’s Jennie Marts, and I’m so excited to be featured here on Karen’s Killer Book Bench! And have I got a killer book to share with you!
If you don’t know me, I write romantic comedy, Western romance, hockey romance, and cozy mysteries, and today I’m here to talk about WHAT TO DO ABOUT WEDNESDAY, the newest book in my Page Turners cozy mystery series.
This series has 7 books and follows the lives of the Page Turners Book Club, a group of intergenerational women who search for clues and romance while eating really great desserts. Each book features a different woman in the book club and is a standalone book with its own mystery and romance. If you want to start at the beginning, ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT AND I AIN’T GOT NO BODY introduces the series and gives you a great feel for all of the characters as the book club sets up Sunny, an ordinary schoolteacher, on six blind dates and one of them might be with a murderer.
The newest book, WHAT TO DO ABOUT WEDNESDAY, features Piper Denton as she heads off to college—but her hump day turns homicidal when her roommate ends up murdered on her first day of class.
Here’s an excerpt:
Excerpt
Brittle leaves crunched under Piper Denton’s feet as she practically danced up the stairs to her new apartment. Which went to show the importance of the moment, because Piper didn’t do much dancing. She was more of a side-to-side swayer with an occasional awkward clap thrown in, usually right after the beat that called for one.
But today was different. Today was the start of everything.
And nothing was going to get her down. Even the weight of her backpack, also new, purchased the day before with a week’s worth of tips, didn’t bother her. The heaviness of the textbooks served as a symbol of her first day of college—and her newfound sense of freedom. Freedom to finally live her own life, just the way she wanted it.
She realized she was smiling, her face unaccustomed to the expression but trying it out like a woman would test a new hairstyle or fashion choice. Thinking of fashion, she wished again she would’ve grabbed her favorite blue sweater before leaving the apartment as a brisk breeze sent a shiver over her bare arms.
The sweater had been Drew’s favorite too. He’d always said it brought out the blue in her eyes. Her uncommon smile fell, and a different kind of shiver ran through her at the thought of Drew, followed by a stab of pain and the sensation of a giant fist tightly squeezing her heart.
Stupid boys.
The scent of garlic wafted through the air as she pushed through the door and pushed down the heartache caused by the boy who had recently left her behind as he’d headed to a university halfway across the state.
They’d planned to attend the same school, but Piper hadn’t quite made the cut, so she was stuck in town going to the local community college. But it was still college. And she was still out on her own for the first time. And that’s what really mattered.
Who cared about Drew? Stuff. Stuff. So what if he was the first boy she’d fallen in love with? Stuff. Stuff. So what if he’d broken her heart?
She pushed the feelings down, driving them deeper like a camper crams a sleeping bag into a stuff sack. She was great at burying her feelings—had been doing it for years.
Letting out her breath, she put her high school boyfriend behind her and focused on the future ahead of her. Focused on the thing she’d always wanted—to live a normal life, one she was in control of. One that didn’t depend on anyone else or have anything to do with her crazy mother.
She’d taken the first step to that control weeks before when she’d enrolled in college, then moved out of her aunt’s house and into an apartment with another student.
She didn’t have much to take with her, but that didn’t matter either. She was finally making her own choices, her own decisions, and doing things her own way.
Her new home was only a few blocks from campus, on the ground floor of an old Victorian that had been converted into two furnished apartments. Although calling them furnished was a bit of stretch, but each bedroom did have a bed, a dresser, and a wobbly nightstand. And the main room had a lumpy broken-in sofa as well as a scarred kitchen table and four mismatched chairs. All the furniture appeared to be garage sale stock, but it worked. And it was better than what she’d had—which was nothing.
A furrow creased her brow as she squinted at the apartment door. It stood slightly ajar, as if someone had walked out and not gotten it pulled tightly behind them. She’d have to talk to her roommate about that.
That and leaving her makeup all over the bathroom counter. Piper didn’t even know what half of that stuff was for. She could handle the seventeen bottles of hair product in the shower and all the garlic she used in her cooking—she could stock up on vanilla-scented candles, but Piper was nuts about closing and locking the door.
She’d watched way too many movies and read too many stories about college co-eds who had been assaulted simply due to the ease of a circumstance. That’s why she’d never taken up jogging—too easy for a would-be rapist to snatch her from a wooded path. Well, and the fact that she hated running.
Maybe she and Brittany needed to set some ground rules—come up with some roommate guidelines.
Wow—that certainly sounded like a responsible, mature plan of action—maybe she was getting the hang of this adulting thing after all.
Piper pushed through the door, and her breath caught in her throat.
Oh no!
Her heart stopped as her eyes flicked across the room, taking in all the details at once.
The stark white of the filmy gauze curtain fluttering at the window, the shattered bits of the blue plate—one of the set her Aunt Cassie had given her—and the scattered strands of spaghetti sprayed across the floor. A crust of garlic bread leaned against the kitchen chair next to a lone meatball that must have rolled across the hardwood.
And the sight of her new roommate sprawled across the floor, a tan plastic bag wrapped around her head.
Find WHAT TO DO ABOUT WEDNESDAY HERE to keep reading!
Subscribe to my newsletter here: https://jenniemarts.com/newsletter/
Follow me on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LC5e2a
Follow me on Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennie-marts
Thanks so much! Hope you get a chance to check out the Page Turners series- let me know what you think! ;0
And I would love to have you follow me and sign up for my newsletter! I usually send out one newsletter a month, and I try to make it fun with sales, news, and my dog, Cooper has his own corner where he shares recipes and craft ideas (he’s a very smart dog and he loves to eat!)
[image error]Meet Author Jennie Marts…
Jennie Marts is the USA TODAY Best-selling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was “the most fun I’ve had reading in years.”
She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet that loves to tweet to the oldies. She’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends.
~~~
Links to Jennie’s website, blog, books, etc.
Buy Link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/2INJzpI
FB Jennie Marts Books: https://www.facebook.com/JennieMartsBooks/
Her books include the contemporary western romances of the Cowboys of Creedence and the Hearts of Montana series, the cozy mysteries of The Page Turners series the hunky hocky-playing men in the Bannister Brothers Books, and the small-town romantic comedies in the Cotton Creek Romance series.
Jennie loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, or Twitter at @JennieMarts. Visit her at www.jenniemarts.com and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with the latest news and releases.
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[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**
I had such fun being in the world of the Page Turners again as I wrote this book! So many readers tell me they feel like part of the book club and feel like they are visiting old friends when they pick up the next book, and I love that so much! To celebrate the release of What To Do About Wednesday, I’d love to giveaway a Kindle ebook copy of ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT AND I AIN’T GOT NO BODY to TWO LUCKY WINNERS! For a chance to win, just comment below with your favorite dessert and if you are a cozy mystery fan!
Thanks, Jennie, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
May 29, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: HOW TO FORGET A DUKE, Misadventures in Matchmaking Series by Vivienne Lorret
[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!
HOW TO FORGET A DUKE
Misadventures in Matchmaking
BY VIVIENNE LORRET
Blurb
The Bourne Matrimonial Agency has one rule: Never fall in love with the client. A simple thing to remember… unless you’re a matchmaker with amnesia.
The Duke of Rydstrom requires a wife. Preferably one with a large fortune and a complete lack of curiosity. The last thing he needs is a meddling matchmaker determined to dig up his dark family secrets.
All Jacinda wants is to find a bride for a duke. How hard could that be? He’s handsome, enigmatic… and hiding something. She’s sure of it. Determined to discover what it is, she travels to his crumbling cliffside estate. Yet, by the time she washes up on his beach, she can no longer remember who she is, or why the duke is so familiar to her. All she knows is that his kisses are unforgettable—and she intends to use every skill she can to discover what’s in his heart . . .
When Miss Bourne can’t remember what brought her to his ancestral home, Rydstrom intends to keep it that way. Yet as the days pass, his true challenge will be safeguarding his secret while resisting this woman who—confound it all—may well be his perfect match.
About the Book
How to Forget a Duke
by Vivienne Lorret
Series
Misadventures in Matchmaking Series
Genre
Adult
Historical Romance
Publisher
Avon Books
Publication Date
May 29, 2018
[image error]HOW TO FORGET A DUKE
Misadventures in Matchmaking
BY VIVIENNE LORRET
Excerpt
“Things should be kept where they belong.” Like matchmakers who lived in London and dukes who did not.
If things began to stray, there was chaos.
“At opposite ends? Yet, by your own words, these pillows”—she reached down and snatched it again—“and the iron horses are mated. Why not allow them to be side by side like your peas?”
“An object’s design is not to be consumed but admired. Those are bookends, one at either end. You would not have your ears on one side of your head, crowded together, would you?” He added this, hoping to quiet her.
This time it did not work.
“You are rather obsessed with my ears.” From her quadrant, she tilted her head to study him. “See? I do use them to listen. On occasion. You even said they were pretty. Do you really think so, or were you trying to unsettle me?”
Suddenly his mind was back in the corridor again, hands gripping, bodies flush, sheer panic transforming into a reckless desire.
He glanced down at the silver pillow. Only now he realized that it matched the hue of the counterpane on his bed. Then, he was helpless to notice the way she gripped it, the tips of her modestly manicured fingernails pressing into the silk.
An unrepentant surge of arousal tore through him. “Miss Bourne, would you return the pillow to its proper place, take your gloves, and then leave my study?”
In response, those lips curled again.
His palms began to itch, craving the delicate abrasion of cream-colored muslin, and the softness of the flesh beneath.
“You just looked down at my lips again.” She tsked. “A clear indication that you have, in fact, kissed me.”
“We’ve already discussed this.”
“And you didn’t deny it.”
“I am now.”
She shook her head, adamant. “It’s too late. Your denial is invalid.”
“Well, I am denying it because that, Miss Bourne, is the truth.”
She would not let it rest. He had not even concluded a week of his fortnight prison sentence with her and he was ankle deep in a swirling chasm of madness.
“So you say now . . .” She shrugged. “I do have one more question, however. Do you—”
“By all that’s holy! I can take no more. You refuse to give me a moment’s peace until your curiosity is satisfied. Then so be it.”
He crossed the empty path between the rugs—the first step on the hardwood echoing like the twelfth strike of a clock tower, the second muffled by the woven wool.
“Rydstrom, I—”
Crispin took her by the shoulders and lowered his mouth.
Amazon | Avon Romance | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iBooks
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Tour Wide Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of HOW TO FORGET A DUKE by Vivienne Lorret, we’re giving away one gift package containing a clothbound copy of Emma by Jane Austen, a travel journal, and a packet of Forget Me Nots seeds!
GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. One winner will receive a gift package containing a clothbound copy of Emma by Jane Austen, a travel journal, and a packet of Forget Me Nots seeds. 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 Vivienne Lorret…
USA Today bestselling author, VIVIENNE LORRET transforms copious amounts of tea into words. She is an Avon author of works including: The Wallflower Wedding Series, The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series, The Season’s Original Series, and the Misadventures in Matchmaking series. For more information on her books, sign up for her newsletter at http://www.vivlorret.net.
Author Links
May 28, 2018
**Author Peek** Interview with Character Joshua Cain, BEYOND CONTROL (The Texas Trilogy) by Kat Martin
[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!
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[image error]INTRODUCING Kat Martin’s BEYOND CONTROL Character, Joshua Cain ….
What is your name? Do you have a nickname?
Joshua Cain. “Josh”.
Who is your best friend? What kinds of things do you do when you’re together?
My brother, Linc, is my best friend. He’s pretty busy running his megasuccessful company, but when he comes out to the ranch, we take time for each other. We usually ride horses or motorcycles.
If you have a family, how do you get along with them? If you don’t, are there people in your life that you consider family? How do you get along with them?
Linc is my only family. We shared the same rotten, no good wife-beating dad. He disappeared years ago and good riddance.
Do you have a birthmark? Scars? Where is it/are they? How did you get it/them?
I was a special ops soldier in Afghanistan. I was shot and was forced to retire from the military. I carry battle scars from that time.
When you’re angry, what do you do? Where do you go? How do you deal with your anger?
I try to get off by myself. I take off on my favorite horse, a big buckskin named Thor, and get as far away from civilization as I can.
If you had to make me a meal right now, without going to the store, what would you find in your refrigerator to feed us?
Eggs and bacon. I’m a lousy cook but a guy has to eat.
What’s the one thing you’re afraid of losing?
Now that I’ve met Tory, the thought of losing her ties me in knots. I don’t want to live my life without her.
What makes you laugh out loud?
Tory’s little girl, Ivy. She’s only four. She is just so darn cute.
Has anyone broken your heart? Who was s/he?
I’ve dated a lot of women, was never in love until I met Tory. I never thought I would be lucky enough to find someone like her. If she left me, it would break my heart.
What’s the one thing you want out of life that you don’t think you can have? Why can’t you have it?
I didn’t think I could have a wife and family. At least not yet. I was trying to get myself together after the war, figure things out, build my ranch. But sometimes things happen and you have to choose what you really want.
BEYOND CONTROL Blurb:
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 even when he realizes their troubles are only the tip of the iceberg.
[Available for Pre-order]
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Be sure to come back to learn more about Kat Matin’s novel, BEYOND CONTROL, on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s blog on Friday, June 8th!
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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
~~~
[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.
May Contest: https://www.katmartin.com/monthly-contest/
For MAY, Kat Martin is giving away to THREE winners a copy of both INTO THE FURY and MIDNIGHT SUN.
For JUNE, Kat Martin is giving away to THREE winners a copy of both INTO THE FIRESTORM and SEASON OF STRANGERS.
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Thanks, Kat, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
May 25, 2018
Congratulations Week 05-14-18 Blog Giveaway Winners!
[image error]
CONGRATULATIONS WEEK
05-14-18
BLOG GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!
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[image error]Karen’s Killer Book Bench with Paty Jager…
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Paty is giving away an ebook copy of the second book in the series, Love Me Anyway, to one person who comments on her **Author Peek** Interview or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs.
Thanks, Paty, for sharing your book with us!
WINNER: SAMANTHA McFARLAND!!
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[image error]Karen’s Killer Book Bench with Linda Rettstatt…
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Linda is giving away an ebook copy of GONE TO THE DOGS to one person who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.
Thanks, Linda, for sharing your book with us!
WINNER: KATHLEEN BYLSMA!!
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DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THESE BOOKS!!
[image error] KILLING SECRETS, Thorne’s Thorns Book 1
By Bestselling Author K.L. Docter
Blurb: Some secrets are better left dead.
Rachel James’ ex-husband is released from prison determined to reclaim her and her little girl — the child is his key to controlling the James fortune. Frightened, Rachel flees to Denver with the child who hasn’t uttered a word since her daddy went to prison.
Contractor Patrick Thorne wants nothing to do with another of his parents’ charity cases. He failed his own wife so abysmally she took her own life as well as his unborn son’s. After two years, it’s time to concentrate on the bid he’s won and the saboteur trying to destroy his construction firm.
There is no room for trust in either of their hearts. But trust is all that will untangle the secrets that dominate their lives, free a little girl of her silent prison, and save them all from a serial killer who stands too close.
(All Karen/K.L. Docter novels have HEAs, no cliffhangers.)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iFFWmg
B&N: http://goo.gl/wsqVxB
Kobo: http://goo.gl/KM563U
Google Play: http://goo.gl/mogQqs
iTunes: http://goo.gl/pg58wN
[image error] COP ON HER DOORSTEP, True Love In Uniform Book 1
By Bestselling Author Karen Docter
Blurb: In the six years since her husband was killed by S.W.A.T., Carrie Padilla has spent long hours at work, rebuilding a life for herself and her son. The little time she has at home is spent keeping her eight-year-old son out of trouble, but he is all too eager to try to be the man in the house. When a handsome cop shows up on her doorstep, her errant son in tow, Carrie’s heart stutters. The sexy Italian cop sets off all kinds of bells in her system, and she knows there’s only one thing she can do to save what is left of her family, her husband’s memory, and her heart…avoid her new neighbor at all costs.
S.W.A.T. officer Jake Stefani already lost one little boy to gang violence, the dead boy’s older brother is missing, and Jake’s not about to let the same thing happen to a neighbor’s son. He drags the youngster home only to discover much more than a passing interest in the boy’s beautiful, but wary, mother. Forced to take a leave of absence after a bust goes awry, Jake can think of nothing better to occupy his time than to keep Carrie and her son safe, and locate the missing teen who holds the key to taking the gang off the streets, once and for all.
But Jake doesn’t count on his stubborn, intriguing neighbor distracting him from his job, or the passion that flares between them. He doesn’t expect her amazing son to steal a piece of his heart. Jake is ready to risk everything for Carrie, body and soul. But it’s not all up to him. If their new love is to survive, Carrie will need to be strong enough to see the man’s beating heart behind the badge, to look beyond the pain of her past, and decide that loving again is worth the risk.
[All of Karen/K.L. Docter’s books are HEA. No cliffhangers.]
Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://goo.gl/bUHNMu
B&N: http://goo.gl/6uoZTd
Kobo: http://goo.gl/fd92aB
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26183834-cop-on-her-doorstep
HAPPY READING!
All giveaway winners chosen by random.org from reader comments with the exception of Rafflecopter giveaways which are determined and announced offsite by publisher/authors. Thank you!
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with THE CARRERO EFFECT ~ The Promotion: Jake & Emma (The Carrero Series Book 1) Author L.T. Marshall #recipe ~ Mug Cake
[image error]Karen’s Killer Fixin’s
**AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with L.T. MARSHALL!
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, L.T. MARSHALL, and her favorite recipe for MUG CAKE!!
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THE CARRERO EFFECT
The Promotion: Jake & Emma (The Carrero Series Book 1)
BY L.T. MARSHALL
Blurb
Emma Anderson has everything in her life worked out. She has her perfect job in a Manhattan empire allowing her to live a quiet and organised safe existence. A necessity to her, after a childhood filled with bad memories, abuse, and a mother who was less than useless.
But, with it comes a problem, one that could derail everything she thought she needed in her life. Her promotion sends her straight into the close employment of young, gorgeous, playboy billionaire, Jacob Carrero with his formidable reputation for being a player.
Stuck as his right-hand man, every waking moment of every single day, she realises he is exactly the type of person who could drive her crazy, and not in a good way. Like chalk and cheese, he is everything she’s not. Compulsive, confident, laid back, dominant and fun, with a seriously laid back attitude to casual sex and dating. Jake is the only one with an ability to steamroll over her manicured ice maiden exterior, who is not phased by the closed in demeanour and cool manners, but as much as she wants to, letting him in is another thing entirely.
A past that made her man wary and no desire to ever let one close enough to hurt her again, Jacob Carrero has his work cut out. He is not someone who takes NO for an answer and will have to learn how to break through if he wants more than the mask she shows the world. Jake needs to show her that even someone like him can change when that one girl that matters breaks through. Lovable sexy characters and deep emotional topics.
Contains some mature, adult content and language.
Quote from Author L.T. Marshall:
‘Domestic abuse is a subject close to my heart, something I have seen and experienced. I know the devastation and scars that can be left behind. When I set out to write, I knew I wanted to write what I know and as someone who has always been a rock to people going through the same I just felt like it was important to bring the topic out of the shadows. Show how complicated it can be and what effects it has on children in the situation.’
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[image error]THE CARRERO EFFECT
The Promotion: Jake & Emma (The Carrero Series Book 1)
BY L.T. MARSHALL
Excerpt
We finally enter the side room and I get my first glimpse of my mother. I release Sophie and she instantly goes to her bedside and lifts her hand tenderly. I can’t deny the genuine love I see in Sophie’s face, yet I feel only irritation. My mother’s appearance causes me to take an internal sharp breath, but I steady myself, I have to be strong for the girl’s sake, be her rock, like no one ever was for me. My mother’s face is swollen, bruised and scraped up, almost beyond recognition. It makes me feel sick to my stomach. Her left arm is in a cast and her body, concealed by covers and sheets, looks thinner and more fragile than I remember. I glance at the clipboard of notes quickly, able to determine that most of her injuries are minor, the broken arm and concussion seem to be most of the worst. I see her move as she awakens and clasps Sophie’s hand, an attempt at a smile on her face. She hasn’t seen me yet.
‘Emma is here.’ Sophie breathes softly and looks towards me with a smile, her blue eyes cloudy with the strain of trying not to cry. It tugs at my heart. My mother’s face follows and breaks into a smile when she sees me.
‘Emma! My little girl.’ She releases Sophie’s hand and reaches out to me, her other one bound in a cast and strapped to her chest. I hesitate, straighten my tailored pants and blouse and walk forward, bracing myself internally so that I stay calm and in control.
‘Mother.’ I take her hand, it’s cold and smooth but feels like skin and bone and it angers me. She’s obviously not eating properly again, so caught up in another affair of the heart, bogged down with infatuation. She was always good at ignoring her own basic needs when wrapped up in another unhealthy relationship.
‘It’s so good to see you…. You came home to Chicago for me!’ Her voice is soft and injured, the emotion catches in my throat. Guilt, tears, anger, a chaos of emotions and I can’t look at her in the face, already uncomfortable holding her hand. I glare out the side window over the buildings in Chicago and the dull weather outside, trying to be impassive. Trying to steel against all that she makes me feel. I want her to cut the crap with the over sentimental greeting, it’s obviously purely for Sophie’s benefit.
‘What have you told the police?’ I say flatly, I don’t want to do this tear jerking, emotional conversation crap with her. I just want to make sure she’s okay, that she’s healing, then I want to get the hell out of this place. As soon as earthly possible.
‘Emma, please? You know it’s never that straightforward.’ She whines, I bristle and drop her hand coldly. My face snapping around to lock eyes with her in rage. Same old familiar conversation.
[image error]Meet Author L.T. Marshall…
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 L.T.’s website, blog, books, etc.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IzcHkx
Social media Stalker links
May 24, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: CAUGHT UP IN A COWBOY, Cowboys of Creedence by Jennie Marts
[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!
~~
CAUGHT UP IN A COWBOY
Cowboys of Creedence
BY JENNIE MARTS
Blurb
This cowboy plays to win
Rockford James was raised as a tried and true cowboy in a town crazy about ice hockey. Rock is as hot on the ice as he is on a horse, and the NHL snapped him up. Now, injuries have temporarily benched him. Body and pride wounded, he returns to his hometown ranch to find that a lot has changed. The one thing that hasn’t? His feelings for high school sweetheart and girl-next-door Quinn Rivers.
Quinn had no choice but to get over Rock after he left. Teenaged and heartbroken, she had a rebound one night stand that ended in single motherhood. Now that Rock’s back—and clamoring for a second chance—Quinn will do anything to avoid getting caught up in this oh-so-tempting cowboy…
Cowboys of Creedence series:
Caught Up in a Cowboy (Book 1)
You Had Me at Cowboy (Book 2)
What People Are Saying About Jennie Marts:
“An absolute delight.”—Harlequin Junkies TOP PICK for Romancing the Ranger, 5 Stars
~~~
[image error]TOP FIVE REASONS COWBOY HOCKEY PLAYERS ARE THE BEST!
BY JENNIE MARTS
You had me at hockey playing cowboy…
Caught Up In A Cowboy is the story of Rockford James, a hunky cowboy who also happens to play hockey for the NHL. Yeah, you heard that right… A hockey playing cowboy… Could he be any more delicious?
The only thing that could make him any better would be if he had two handsome cowboy brothers who also played hockey… Oh wait… He does.
The Cowboys of Creedence is a new series featuring the James brothers, who are all as hot on the ice as off. Feel free to One-Click now, or if you need any more convincing, here’s The Top Five reasons why hockey-playing cowboys are the best…
1- They have hundreds of Pinterest boards dedicated to good looking men who are cowboys and hockey players. Whether you are looking for abs or chaps, you’ll find your McDreamy hero, times ten!
2- They’re good with their hands—and they don’t mind getting a little dirty. They have great hand eye coordination, and know how to handle their stick. Speaking of stickhandling, these guys know how to score. They play to win and can go all night.
3- These guys are bad-a** tough on the outside, but tender on the inside. They epitomize manliness, whether they are riding a horse or crashing their opponent into the boards. And you never have to worry about anyone messing with you.
4- They are very driven to get a Hat Trick—which in hockey terms, means they score three times in one night. And they have great endurance. Enough said.
5- They work hard, value the respect of their peers, and take their responsibilities seriously. They value family, and honor, and they love their mamas.
So, there you have it. Don’t these guys sound like great heroes?
I grew up on a farm in Kansas so I love cowboys, and I married a hockey player, so I have several series featuring both kinds of heroes, but I knew I had to do a mash-up of the two. And I’m so glad I did. I love creating small towns with fun, quirky characters and building a whole world of books around it, so I set neighboring ranches, The Triple J and Rivers Gulch, in the small mountain town of Creedence, Colorado. And of course the ranches have been in a family feud for years. But the kids never cared. The three James brothers, Rock, Mason, and Colt, grew up with the Rivers kids, Logan and Quinn, learning to skate on the same pond they swam in during the summer. Eventually that friendship turned into more for Rock and Quinn and they fell in love and had great plans for their future. Until Rock got drafted into the NHL and left her behind.
I had a great time writing all of these three brother’s stories, and I can’t wait for you to meet Rockford. On his way home to the ranch to recuperate from an injury, he happens upon Quinn, the only woman he’s ever loved, and the one he left behind, as she is riding down the side of the road on a child’s bicycle and wearing a pirate’s outfit. After laying on the charm, he convinces her to at least let them be friends again, and she agrees, on one condition…that he dons the other pirate outfit….
See what I did there? Not only am I giving you a hockey-playing cowboy to fall in love with, I also temporarily turn him into a pirate and give you a little swashbuckling flirty fun! Could this guy get any hotter?
I hope you love Caught Up In A Cowboy. I know I loved writing it.
Happy Reading…
[image error] Meet Author Jennie Marts…
Jennie Marts is the USA TODAY Best-selling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was “the most fun I’ve had reading in years.”
She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet that loves to tweet to the oldies. She’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends.
Her books include the contemporary western romances of the Cowboys of Creedence and the Hearts of Montana series, the cozy mysteries of The Page Turners series, the hunky hockey-playing men in the Bannister Brothers Books, and the small-town romantic comedies in the Cotton Creek Romance series.
Jennie loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, or Twitter at @JennieMarts. Visit her at www.jenniemarts.com and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with the latest news and releases.
~~~
Links to Jennie’s website, blog, books, etc.
Website: www.jenniemarts.com
Purchase links from Sourcebooks website:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Caught-Up-Cowboy-Cowboys-Creedence-ebook/dp/B077Y4DGRB/ref
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/caught-up-in-cowboy-cowboys-creedence-series-book-1/id1374546296
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/caught-up-in-a-cowboy
~~~
[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: Jennie will give away an ebook copy of one of her books (reader’s choice) to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.
Thanks, Jennie, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
May 23, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: HERE TODAY GONE TO MAUI, HAILEY, I Got Your Back, Hailey Book 4 by June Kramin
[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!
~~
HERE TODAY GONE TO MAUI, HAILEY
I Got Your Back, Hailey Book 4
BY JUNE KRAMIN
Blurb
A relaxing day on her favorite beach on Maui comes to a screeching halt when Hailey finds a little girl wandering alone, searching for her mother. When she gets the child to her father and discovers who he is, their vacation is officially over. Parker has no choice but to once again bring in Amanda and Hunt (from Hunter’s Find) to help.
Amanda is the one who helped this man leave his New York life behind. As they struggle to find if his previous mob involvement had anything to do with his wife’s disappearance, they discover her father has secrets of his own. The circle of deceit stretches over oceans, with too many players to let the family safely return home.
Trusting anyone is a luxury even Parker can’t afford. Drug activity, property wars, and more secrets from the past come back to haunt them all.
~~~
[image error]HERE TODAY GONE TO MAUI, HAILEY
I Got Your Back, Hailey Book 4
BY JUNE KRAMIN
Excerpt
Bianca was quiet as we wandered the beach, searching for her mother.
I felt we’d gone far enough and wanted to head back. I got us turned back around, then we headed just as far in the other direction. Nothing. “Maybe we should go find her father, Donny.”
He stopped and knelt in front of her. “Do you know the name of your hotel, sweetie?”
She shook her head. “No, but it’s that one right there,” she said, pointing to one just past where we’d found her. It was our hotel.
“That’s where we’re staying, too. Can you take us to your room?” I know this was a tall order for someone so small. I’ve been known to get lost in smaller hotels than this. Of course alcohol was involved, though. Maybe we had a chance.
“Uh-huh. We’re right off the beach.”
Donny stood and took her hand again. “If he’s not there, then what?” he whispered to me.
“Manager, then cops, I suppose. I’m starting to get an uneasy feeling about this. You want me to take her? You go hop on Maryann and see if there are any Greek officials vacationing here?” Not a shred of information was safe from Donny and his hacking ability on his device he dubbed Maryann. To say he was obsessed with reruns of Gilligan’s Island was an understatement.
“If that were the case, I’d think they’d be after the kid, not the mother. My money is still on she’s a wreck, searching the beach. In any case, I’m not leaving you until we get some kind of answer.”
A man came running down a path toward us. I thought maybe he was her father but he kept going and dove into the waves. He was fully clothed, but I’ve seen stranger things. I try to make light of it. “Someone was happy to go for a swim.”
She let out a small laugh, then tugged us along the path the man had just cleared. “We’re just over here.” Releasing both our hands, she ran through the gate then the open sliding glass door. “Pa-pa! Pa-pa! Is Mommy here? Pa-pa! Where are you?”
My heart skipped a few beats. I was worried he was missing as well. Finally a handsome Italian-looking man came around the corner, drying his hair with a towel. “What are you doing back so soon, baby doll?”
He immediately dropped to his knees when he caught her distress. She burst into tears and ran to him, flying into his arms. His face scowled with concern as he held her tight and approached us. “Who are you? What’s wrong with Bianca? Where’s her mother?”
“We don’t know. I’m sorry. We found your daughter wandering on the beach alone. We tried to find her mother, figuring she was out looking for her as well,” I explained in a word-vomit kind of way.
“Did you call the police?”
“Not yet,” Donny said as he extended his hand. “Donny Cummings. This is Hailey Mitchell. I mean, Peters. We’re staying here, too. That was the next step if we didn’t find you.” Donny ran his fingers through his wet hair. “Not to jump to conclusions here, but…is there a reason you jump straight to calling the cops? No chance she just lost track of time?”
He held Bianca even tighter to his chest with one arm, one hand cradled her head, which was buried deep in his neck. She was still sobbing, poor dear.
“No.” He said after a long pause. “Not my Denise. She would never leave Bianca alone. Never. Especially near water. She’s just learned to swim.” His gaze went from mine to Donny’s, frantic.
“Do you want me to call the police?” I asked.
He shouted “No,” a little too quickly.
Goddammit. There goes our vacation.
[image error] Meet Author June Kramin…
“There is a fine line between genius and crazy…I like to use that line as a jump rope!”
June, who prefers to go by Bug, was born in Philadelphia but moved to Maui, Hawaii when she was four. She met her “Prince Charming” on Kauai and is currently living “Happily Ever After” in a small town in Minnesota. She writes women’s fiction ranging from time travel, romantic suspense, to new adult/college age romance. She also writes middle-grade fantasy under the pen name Ann T. Bugg.
Her son and daughter are her greatest accomplishments. She takes pride in embarrassing them every chance she gets.
Being hopelessly addicted to 80’s music is her superpower.
~~~
Links to June’s website, blog, books, etc.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2rWnZnU
Website: http://www.junekramin.com/
http://www.beforehappilyeveraf ter.com/
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/JuneKr amin
Twitter @junekramin
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bzRiIr
~~~
[image error]**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: June’s first book in the series, I GOT YOUR BACK HAILEY is #FREE to all readers of her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. Get your #FREE book here:
http://www.amazon.com/I-Got-Your-Back-Hailey-ebook/dp/B00JH1P9A4
Thanks, June, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
May 21, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: CHOSEN, Chosen Series Book One By Stacy Jones
[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!
~~
CHOSEN
Chosen Series Book One
BY STACY JONES
Blurb
One minute Lily is trying, and failing, to run her grandmother’s farm—her last remaining connection to her family. The next, she wakes to find herself in a cold, sterile cage surrounded by monsters, with no memory of how she got there. Accidentally abducted by alien poachers, unsure if she will live or die, she is dreading the worst. What she doesn’t expect is for her captors to dump her on an alien planet, leaving her to fend for herself. Now, she must fight to survive the planet… or die trying.
Frrar, Tor, and Arruk have been Searching endlessly for a mate to belong to, someone to finally accept them, but they are losing hope. The time of cleansing, when the great waters drown the land, draws near. They are on the verge of abandoning their search and fleeing the forest when they spot a strange, tiny, two-armed female. They are immediately drawn to her, fascinated by her differences, but they must act fast to save her life, and their own, from the coming flood.
~~~
[image error]CHOSEN
Chosen Series Book One
BY STACY JONES
By the time they broke apart Lily was flushed, Frrar’s tail was dancing wildly on the nest beside him, and they were both breathing heavily. She smiled when she saw his dazed expression, feeling surprisingly turned on from just a kiss.
“Kiss,” she whispered, again touching her fingertips to her now swollen lips then his.
“Kisss,” he repeated in his deep voice, sweeping his dark grey tongue over his lower lip where she had bitten him.
[image error]Meet Author Stacy Jones…
Stacy is the wife of a loving, bearded husband and mother to a (very) spirited child. She is also the harried keeper of two dogs, two cats, two goats, two ducks, and twenty-three yard dinosaurs (chickens) each with their own name ranging in absurdity from Mephistopheles to Bjorn. She is deathly allergic to sharing, has nearly uncontrollable addictions to soft blankets, knives, chocolate, and coffee, and greatly dislikes excessive socializing. She can usually be found dancing like a loon with her child, lost in a book, or frantically typing away on her laptop on her porch swing, trying to get the scenes written before they disappear as quickly as they came.
She has an obsession with all things science fiction, romance, and adventure, and enjoys writing love stories of all shapes and sizes.
~~~
Links to Stacy’s website, blog, books, etc.
She can be contacted at…
stacyjonesauthor@gmail.com
And found here:
facebook.com/groups/728238767375518
~~~
Thanks, Stacy, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
May 20, 2018
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: THE LIGHT BEYOND THE STORM CHRONICLES, Book 1 by A.L. Butcher
[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!
~~
THE LIGHT BEYOND THE STORM CHRONICLES
Book 1
BY A.L. BUTCHER
Blurb
The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles series – an adult fantasy/fantasy romance series, with a touch of erotica.
In a dark world where magic is illegal, and elves are enslaved a young elven sorceress runs for her life from the house of her evil Keeper. Pursued by his men and the corrupt Order of Witch-Hunters she must find sanctuary. As the slavers roll across the lands stealing elves from what remains of their ancestral home the Witch-Hunters turn a blind eye to the tragedy and a story of power, love and a terrible revenge unfolds.
18 rated.
Audio editions narrated by Rob Goll
~~~
[image error]THE LIGHT BEYOND THE STORM CHRONICLES
Book 1
BY A.L. BUTCHER
Olek stayed in shadow and walked in silence, forever gaining upon his prey. As Petrus stepped towards the door, he was suddenly grabbed with a gloved hand across his mouth. He saw the edge of a crossbow bolt in the sleeve attached to the hand now gripping his hair as he tried to turn his head and was dragged back behind the house. As he struggled, a voice said close to his ear, “At this range I reckon I can hit the door yonder. Your brain will merely impede the speed it hits. Struggle, lad, and I will test my theory.”
The young man was forced into a small empty courtyard with no windows overlooking it, as it was full of rubbish and refuse. The voice in his ear said, “How nice privacy…”
The hand was removed from his mouth and Petrus blustered, “Who do you think you are, common thief? I will see you flogged through the streets then hanged. My father is an important man! Unhand me.”
Petrus found himself with a sharp blade pressed against his groin, the deadly edge close to his privates. He could feel the weight of the blade pressing into him. The shadows played around him and the voice in his ear softly replied, “Unhand me? Please, could you not think of less of a cliché? Move or scream and your balls will be rolling in the gutter before the cry is finished.” The young man tried to turn and felt the edge of the blade press against him again and the voice hissed, “The city guard would never find me, for I am the shadows. Now, who would this illustrious father be that I am to be so afraid of?”
Trying to look down and as he moved, the swift edge of the blade split the silk of Petrus’ breeches. “My father’s men will hunt you down,” he managed, now feeling distinctly less brave.
Olek yawned loudly. “By all means, call his men. They will be hunting a shadow, a ghost. Much expense will be used, to no avail. How much is your life worth to him, do you think? Not only do you deem it suitable to rape young women and brag about your prowess to your friends, but really, you are extremely dull in conversation. If you answer my questions, you might yet live. Believe me when I say I could take you to a man who would not be as…merciful as I, for what you have done and said. A man who could no doubt keep you alive for some while, although I doubt you would be in much of a state to enjoy that life. Now, who are you? This young lady whom you found so…enjoyable, where is she?”
With the blade against his skin, Petrus’ courage failed him. His voice trembled as he whispered, “I am Petrus, son of Lord Renfrew. The girl, the little virgin whore, she is in the Mermaid. She was just an elf. I paid the price thus she was mine.”
There was a hiss from behind him and the blade moved yet closer to his balls. Suddenly there was a sharp pain as the edge scratched him, not quite breaking the skin. He whimpered and tried to back up. The voice continued, “There was mention of an elven girl called Dii. How do you know her? The other fellows, who were they?”
Petrus swallowed and whispered, “Just a little slut…er…I mean, girl that I had a while ago, a Kept of Lord Tremayne, used to share her around. Little witch warmed his bed too when that human witch bored him. Just an elf Kept, no one of importance, just some fun for the menfolk…the others…oh…er…fellows I just met.”
“Oh, now, lad, you were doing so well… You seemed too intimate to be mere acquaintances.” Olek smiled beneath his cloak.
Petrus felt the blade against him and with a whimper and a squeak, he felt the skin break and a thin trickle of blood begin to flow, soon joined by wetter warmth as he pissed his breeches. Suddenly the only focus was the blade against him and he squeaked, “Just a little Kept whore, I swear, merely Tremayne’s girl. The others, oh, just Janik of Argen; Edwaen, son of the House of Andert; and Reflin, son of the House of Sardak, the merchant.”
Olek twisted his wrist and drew his blade deep into the man’s private parts and as he fell screaming, drew the sword across his throat, cutting off the scream to a gurgle. Crouching, letting the blood flow away from him, he hissed, “Women are not yours to use, elf or not. I do not like a man who betrays his friends. This information will be most useful.”
[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.
~~~
Links to A.L.’s website, blog, books, etc.
Universal Link https://www.books2read.com/Lightbeyondstorm1
Bundle Rabbit https://bundlerabbit.com/members/ebook/overview/XDOAydON
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2bPpspP
Amazon.com audio http://amzn.to/2iBgmQV
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2i2KJfE
Amazon UK audio http://amzn.to/2iXfIdc
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2iB9PWl
I-books http://apple.co/2j0pYW2
Audible UK http://adbl.co/2bGqZvO
Audible http://adbl.co/2hHT8El
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/290716
Thalia https://www.thalia.de/shop/ebooks/suchartikel/x/x/EAN9781301230921/
Angus Robertson (Australia) https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/by/A.%20L.%20Butcher
Bundle Rabbit https://bundlerabbit.com/members/ebook/overview/XDOAydON
Website http://www.libraryoferana.co.uk/books.html
Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/2hK33OM
Smashwords Author Page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ALB123
Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/LightBeyondtheStorm/
Twitter http://bit.ly/Twi2hJZ3h9
Goodreads http://bit.ly/GR2iqokvK
Library of Erana Blog http://bit.ly/Blog2iAWL3o
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-butcher-8342ab13b/
Tumblr https://www.tumblr.com/blog/libraryof...
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/abmonkey/
Books2Read newsletter sign up
https://books2read.com/author/a-l-butcher/subscribe/1/97541/
~~~
Thanks, A.L., for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
May 17, 2018
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with WOLF’S QUEEN, Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series Book 7 Author Lynn Nodima #recipe ~ Nate’s Favorite Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Pecan Cookies
[image error]Karen’s Killer Fixin’s
**AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with LYNN NODIMA!
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, LYNN NODIMA, and her favorite recipe for NATE’S FAVORITE OATMEAL, CHOCOLATE CHIP, PECAN COOKIES!!
~~~
WOLF’S QUEEN
Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series Book 7
BY LYNN NODIMA
BLURB
With the Oklahoma Huntsmen routed, the injured healing, and the battles over, at least for now, Janelle, Queen of the Were, wants nothing more than for things to get back to normal.
She takes a mixed group of were ladies to Houston for a ‘girls day,’ but the fun stops when human traffickers kidnap two of her pack.
The traffickers don’t know what they have.
More important, they don’t know what’s coming for them.
The Alpha Queen is hunting . . .
[image error]
WOLF’S QUEEN
Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series Book 7
BY LYNN NODIMA
EXCERPT
Chapter 1
Her panther hated the hospital. Everything smelled bad. Worse, her were hearing meant she heard every word, every murmur, and every breath the surgeons and nurses made while operating on her mate. I should have kept him here! Refused to let him go. A soft whimper escaped, and she bit her lips to prevent screams of pain and fear he might die. The Huntsmen did this! Arms clasped tight against her waist, Flora Garrett paced the hospital waiting room, stopping only when an arm slipped around her waist.
“Sit, Flora. Rest. You won’t be any good to help Will if you exhaust yourself.”
She leaned against her dad, allowing him to comfort her. It still felt weird for him to hug her. Sighing away regrets for the years they missed, she briefly hugged him, then pulled away, and sank into a hard, molded-plastic chair. “Sorry, I just . . ..”
Ben Garrett sat in the chair beside her. “He’s your beta. Don’t be sorry for worrying about him. You wouldn’t be much of a clowder queen if you weren’t concerned.”
A soft smile curved her lips. Even her dad didn’t know yet that Will was her mate. And she wouldn’t tell him until she could talk with Will. “Thanks, Dad.”
Raising her eyes, she stared at the ceiling. It stinks in here. Flora agreed with Leesha, her panther. “I hate hospitals.”
With a nod, Ben settled back in his chair, allowing his head to rest against the white-painted wall behind him. “Me, too, but we’re fortunate General Brighton knew of a surgeon that knows how to handle were physiology. Without surgery, Will didn’t have a chance.”
Flora rolled her neck. “Hmm. Remind me to thank them both for having Will brought here.”
In the distance, she heard the doctor curse, then the loud, long beep indicating a flat-line. No heartbeat! Sounds of frenetic activity and the loud thump of the defibrillator were more than Flora could bear. Sobbing, she surged to her feet and ran down the hall to the elevators. She jabbed the call button for the elevator multiple times, then jerked open the door to the stairs and thundered down the narrow stairwell. When she exited on the first floor, startled nurses and patient’s visitors jumped aside as she ran to the front door. She shoved it open, dashed outside and stopped beneath the covered walkway.
I’m a panther! I shouldn’t be so winded! But it wasn’t the stairs or the running that had her chest aching and her lungs fighting for breath. Her mate was dying, and there was nothing, absolutely nothing she could do to help him! Leesha screeched in her mind, then howled. Flora squeezed her eyes shut, trying to calm her panther. When her breath evened out, she sniffed and looked around. Concrete benches lined the walkway. Moving woodenly to the closest one, she sat and bent forward, her face in her hands. It never occurred to her she would have to live without him. If it had, she wouldn’t have put off their mating ceremony so long.
She sank into her misery, felt wrapped in cotton. Sounds that were too sharp now seemed so distant. How she wished she hadn’t heard that machine whistling. Tears filled her palms, but she couldn’t stop crying. She didn’t know how long she cried and didn’t hear her dad’s soft footsteps when he came out the door. Didn’t know he was there until he sat beside her and pulled her into his lap, just as he did when she was a small child.
“Hush, baby girl.” His strong, broad hand patted her back. “He’s okay.”
Flora gasped and pulled back to look at her father’s face. “What?”
“Dr. Travis came out a minute ago. He said it was touch and go for a bit, but Will pulled through. The doctor will meet us in the recovery room when we go back up.”
She wiped the tears with the back of her hand, then laughed when her father waved a hanky in her face.
“It’s clean. Go ahead. Blow your nose. The doctor wants you to come to his office for a chat.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
Ben Garrett shook his head. “You need to be strong, Sweetheart. Will is healthy, so his recovery won’t be as traumatic as it could be, but the bullet they removed wasn’t a normal bullet. It’s caused some lesions in his brain tissue.”
“Brain damage?” The words came out as a whisper. “How bad is it?”
“We won’t know for sure until he wakes, but, Flora, he’s alive.” Ben took her face in his hands. “He’s going to need you.”
He bowed his head. “I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t shoved him . . ..”
“The bullet would have gone through his heart.” She tried to smile at him, but her lips trembled too much. “He’d be dead if not for you, Dad.”
“I should have gone first. I was a cop, better trained and more prepared to deal with shooters.”
“And you think I would feel better about losing you than him?” Flora hugged him. “After Aunt Lenora kept us apart for most of my life, it would be as hard to lose you again as it would be to lose Will. I just got you back.” She blew her nose again, then looked at the soiled hanky, not sure what to do with it.
Ben took it from her and shoved it in his pocket. “It’ll wash, Flora. Let’s go see Will.”
He stood and set her on her feet, then caught her hand. Flora couldn’t remember the last time she walked hand-in-hand with her father, but his strong grip steadied her. This time, she was patient enough to wait for the elevator.Eachann’s alive. He’s breathing! Leesha frolicked in her mind, anxious to return to their mate. As much as she wanted Will to wake, Flora hoped Eachann, Will’s panther, woke soon, too. Otherwise, Leesha’s frantic energy would have her twitching.
In the elevator, Ben put his hand on Flora’s back. In her mind, Marcel, her dad’s panther, curled around Leesha, calming her. She gave Ben a weak smile. “Thanks, Dad. I thought I was going to climb the walls.”
Ben gave her an absent nod. “Our panthers are pretty sensitive to our emotions.”
Flora felt her shoulders and neck relaxing as Leesha settled. The door opened. She took a deep breath and stepped into the hall. When she stopped at the nurse’s station, a nurse glanced up. Standing, she motioned for Flora and Ben to follow her. “Your fiancé is in recovery, Miss Garrett. Dr. Travis is waiting for you.”
Flora hurried after her, Ben’s steps right behind her. When she stepped through the door into recovery, Flora’s breath caught in her chest, increasing the ache she felt behind her ribs. He was alive, yes, but his head was swathed in sterile bandages. IV tubes fed lactated Ringer’s solution and medicine into his arm, while a plastic cannula provided oxygen. Unbidden, tears filled her eyes. Of all she had endured, she never thought to see a werepanther from her clowder as a hospital patient. Their natural healing saved them from all but the most lethal of blows.
“Miss Garrett?”
Flora blinked and turned her gaze to the man in green scrubs standing before her, a stethoscope draped around his neck. “Yes?”
“Miss Garrett, I’m Dr. Travis, your fiancé’s surgeon. To ensure our conversation is private, I’d like you to come to my office. My nurse will stay with Mr. Feyen until we return.” A woman in white scrubs smiled and sat on a stool beside Will’s bed.
Dr. Travis led them into a room with a desk and chair, as well as two visitor’s chairs. The soft squeak of her father’s leather-soled shoes followed her. After she and Ben entered the office, Dr. Travis shut the door behind them. “Please sit down.”
Surprised when her words came out in a whisper, she nodded. “Will he be okay?”
She and Ben sat in the offered chairs and watched him. Dr. Travis hesitated. “Will was hit with a frangible round packed with silver powder. The jacket was hard enough to penetrate Will’s skull, then fractured, driving the silver into his brain. The silver caused scarring in the frontal lobe.” He walked to the desk chair and sat facing them. “Because he’s were, eventually, his body may overcome the damage entirely. Will’s healing abilities are impressive, even for were. We were forced to reopen the wound twice to finish cleaning it.”
Flora squirmed in her chair, wishing he would get on with it. Ben’s hand captured hers and gave it a squeeze. She sent her dad a soft smile, then looked back at the doctor.
“Even with our best efforts, there are still traces of silver that we couldn’t remove. It’s possible his body will ultimately reject the silver, but even if it does, it will take time. Right now, he’s in roughly the same condition as a human suffering a hemorrhagic stroke.”
Swallowing hard, Flora leaned forward. “I don’t know what that means, Doctor.”
Travis sighed. “Basically, it means Will may have to relearn to walk. Maybe even to talk. Then again, maybe not.” A shrug emphasized his uncertainty. “Because he is a werepanther, his prognosis is good. Really good. But a full recovery will take time.”
Flora pulled her hand from Ben’s and took a tissue from the box on the corner of Travis’ desk, her fingers twitching as she shredded the paper into tiny pieces. “How much time?”
“That depends entirely upon him. Weeks, months, maybe even years.” When Flora opened her mouth, Dr. Travis held up his hand. “Truth is, Miss Garrett, I just don’t know. Were medicine is in its infancy. Were seldom need doctors or hospitals. Their wounds either heal or they die. This is the first case like this I’ve dealt with.”
He dropped his hand to the desktop. “Because the bullet wound is shallow, if it was a normal bullet, he might have already healed without help. However, the traces of silver in the wound irritate healing tissues and cause scarring.” He shrugged. “If he was a wolf, he’d have died, but since silver isn’t poisonous to panthers, he’ll live.”
Ben leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “So, what you’re saying is he may or may not be permanently disabled.”
Dr. Travis hesitated. “My best guess is that he will recover 80% to 90% of his previous abilities, but I’m not sure he will ever get back to 100%. Still, it will take time. If he was human, I’d release him to a rehab facility for a few weeks. Since he’s were, I can’t recommend that. He may not be in control of his shifting for a while. Or his temper. Patients with brain damage often experience emotional swings or anger issues. His physical strength and uncontrolled shifts would be a hazard to human nurses and therapists.”
Flora bit her lip. “If he can’t go to rehab, what can we do?”
The doctor bowed his head. Flora could sense the struggle in him. The needs of his patient versus the needs and safety of his staff. Finally, the doctor blew out a harsh breath and looked up. His tight expression and the sadness in his eyes told Flora he wasn’t happy with his decision.
“He’ll have to be released to his home. You could hire someone with physical therapy training to visit periodically or to set up a training regimen for him, but I can’t in good conscience send him to a facility when it might cost the staff their lives, or expose were to the general population. If you wish, I’ll visit him weekly to help in any way I can. More often, if needed.”
Flora opened her mouth to argue, but her father’s left hand caught and squeezed hers, again. Glancing at the troubled expression Ben sent to her, she subsided, letting him speak for her.
“I would like to know how much you know about were, Doctor.” Ben’s head tilted to the left while he studied the doctor’s expression. “You’re not were. How do you know about us?”
“My father is human, Mr. Garrett. My mother is were.” He nodded at Ben’s questioning glance. “Wolf. I didn’t inherit her shifting abilities. I decided to study were physiology when my mother was injured in a car accident. Her healing seemed miraculous, at the time. Since then, I’ve learned almost all were heal much the same. General Brighton learned I was interested and offered me a position as physician to his were soldiers.”
A rueful smile creased his lips. “Mr. Feyen is the first were patient I’ve had beyond physicals and exams for the unit. Even so, my team was the only one qualified to operate on him, since we are the only team that knows about were.”
“Thank you, Dr. Travis. We’re fortunate you were available.”
“Dad . . ..”
“He’s right, Flora. It’s too dangerous for any but were to care for him.” Standing, Ben shook the doctor’s hand. “We’ll have transportation here as soon as he is released.” He scooped the shredded tissue from Flora’s lap, dropped it in the small waste can at the corner of the desk, then pulled Flora to her feet. “We can take care of him, Flora. I’m sure Nate will hire a therapist for him.”
When she looked up at him, his smile steadied her. “You’re right. If necessary, I’ll learn how to do it myself.” She turned back to Dr. Travis. “When will he be released from the hospital?”
“Right now, I’m keeping him sedated to prevent him shifting.” He met her angry frown without flinching. “Except for my team, the hospital staff is unaware of were. With his metabolism, he’s burning through the anesthetics. Someone is bound to notice the abnormally high doses soon.”
Dr. Travis ran his hand through his hair. For the first time, Flora noticed the exhaustion in the doctor’s eyes. “I’ll release him as soon as we can arrange ambulance transportation. I’ll arrive soon after he’s home and help you set up the proper care for him.” He handed a list of medical equipment and supplies Will would need to Flora. “Once he’s home, without the anesthetics, it won’t be long before he wakens. He should shift as soon as he can since shifting sometimes completes healing. Until he shifts to panther and back to human, we won’t know the extent of his recovery potential.”
[image error]Meet Author Lynn Hodima…
Lynn Nodima’s two favorite activities are writing and reading. She learned to love telling stories from her tall-tale telling grandfather, her story-spinning father, and her mother’s round-robin storytelling games. Spinning yarns is in her blood, and she happily continues the family tradition. The main difference is that Lynn writes her stories down to share with people she will never meet. Lynn writes paranormal romances/adventures, fantasy, and science fiction. Lynn Nodima is a pen name for Linda Pogue. Using her own name, Linda writes non-fiction, which includes textbooks and books for writers.
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Links to Lynn’s website, blog, books, etc.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B073MR8XT1/
Blog: http://www.lynnnodima.com
Contact Email: author@lynnnodima.com or lynn@lynnnodima.com
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/LynnNodima/
Link to Wolf’s Queen: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C6PQHNQ
I hope you enjoy the recipe Lynn is sharing today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy Eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 375 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.
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NATE’S FAVORITE OATMEAL, CHOCOLATE CHIP, PECAN COOKIES
NOTE FROM LYNN:
In Wolf’s Queen, Alpha King Nate’s mate, Janelle, and his mom, Cynthia, use Nate’s favorite cookies to bribe him to let them have a girl’s day out. Nate’s not a tyrant. He’s worried about them leaving the ranch without guard so soon after the pack has been attacked, repeatedly.
Provenance: This cookie recipe is one my family has been enjoying since the early 1980’s and is a family favorite. I’m not sure where it came from. Thankfully, ingredients and even amounts can’t be copyrighted. I have rewritten the instructions to be in my own words to comply with copyright laws.
3 cups sifted flour
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp. salt
2 cups shortening
1 ½ cup brown sugar
1 ½ cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. hot water
1 ½ cups chopped pecans
2 lg. pkg. chocolate chips
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups regular oatmeal (not quick cooking kind)
Sift flour once before measuring, and then sift with soda and salt. Cream shortening. Add sugar gradually, stirring until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Add hot water then sift dry ingredients. Add vanilla, then nuts and chocolate chips. Mix in oatmeal gradually. Drop by rounded teaspoonful on cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees until cookies begin to brown around the edge. Remove from oven and allow to set for a few minutes before removing with a spatula to cool.
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Thanks, Lynn, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
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