Karen Docter's Blog, page 189

Karen’s Killer Book Bench BLAST: Kiss, Marry, Kill (Iron Clad Security #1) by Sidney Halston

 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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KISS, MARRY, KILL

Iron Clad Security #1

BY SIDNEY HALSTON

Blurb

He’s been chasing a memory . . .

It was just supposed to be a regular Thursday afternoon…and then he saw her. Sitting in seat L214, one seat over from his at the baseball game, right next to her douche of a soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend. An impromptu kiss for the kiss cam, and Jax knew his life would never be the same. Five years and a tour in Afghanistan later, Jax is back stateside running his own private security firm, Iron-Clad, with his best friend. He isn’t the man he used to be… but Megan isn’t the sexy and sweet, though sheltered, twenty-two-year-old he left behind, either. And she’s in trouble.

…but now they’re on the run.

Megan Cruz has made something of herself. She’s turned her dreams of pop stardom into a reality. But when a deadly stalker breaks into her home claiming to be her number-one fan, the only person she can turn to is the boy who got away. But Jax isn’t the same carefree charmer who stole her heart, then broke it when he joined the military. This man is seductive, hard, guarded. And he’ll do anything to protect what’s his.

KISS, MARRY, KILL

Iron Clad Security #1

BY SIDNEY HALSTON

Excerpt

“Promise me, you’ll be happy,” he sang from the other side of the door. “Promise me, you’ll always sing. Promise me you’ll never settle . . .” He jiggled the door handle. “Meggy? Where are you, my little mouse?” he said in a sing-song voice, sounding nice enough. Soft enough.

Safe enough. But Megan Cruz knew better. The man trying to lure her out of her enormous walk-in closet was deranged. Megan huddled in a corner behind all of her cocktail dresses, her knees pushed up and a butcher knife in one of her trembling hands. Just waiting. Waiting for the cops to show up, or for Ryan to finally find her. If she could stop breathing, she would. Trying to stay perfectly still and utterly quiet was an impossible feat with her hands shaking so violently. Surely he could hear her fear from where he stood on the other side of the door. If he walked deep enough into the closet, the dresses that served as a barrier between them would not be sufficient to shield her. And the fact that he’d broken into her house in the middle of the night was a good indication that he did want to hurt her.

Twenty minutes earlier she had been sitting on her bed, completely immersed in writing some lyrics in her notebook, when she heard the sound of a window shattering downstairs. Her house may have been huge, but it wouldn’t take long for whoever had broken in to find her, especially since her room was the first one up the grand staircase, even more obvious because of its huge double doors. Not about to sit and wait to find out if it was her stalker or a robber who had broken in, she immediately sent a text to her parents who lived close by, praying they’d understand the message: Break in. 911. Help! Then she silenced her phone and tucked it into her bra. She had also grabbed the enormous butcher knife she’d hid under mattress six months ago when Ryan had started sending her disturbing emails and letters.

At that time she’d thought he was just an overzealous fan and had worried she was being overly cautious, but now, as she cowered in fear, she realized how wrong she’d been. Megan actually held her breath when she heard the squeaky noise of the hinges of her closet door. He was inside now. Sweat dripped down her back and her heart pounded so loudly it seemed he had to have heard it. It felt as if it was going to physically come out of her chest, together with the sandwich she’d eaten a few hours ago. Peering under the hanging clothes she could see green

Converse sneakers moving closer to where she sat curled into a small ball, her arms around her knees.

“Oh Meggy, where are you? Sing for me, my naughty little mouse. Just one song. Just ‘Promise Me,’ that’s my favorite.”As he stepped closer, she tightened her grip on the knife.

“You’re supposed to make your fans happy.” His voice was louder and more agitated this time.

She could hear the fabric running through his fingers as he caressed her clothes, shifting the fragile curtain of dresses and shirts she was hiding behind.

“Oh, this is what you wore to the Grammys last month!” He pulled the dress out, and Megan tensed when a sliver of light cut through her hiding place. The small gap where the dress had hung made her more visible, and if he happened to look down he’d undoubtedly see her on the floor behind the rest of the clothes. She shut her eyes. “This is perfect. You can wear this when you sing for me at my house. Does anyone else know how much you love the chase, Meggy? Am I the only one that knows your secret? I have your new room all ready for you. We can play and sing all the time…It’ll be so fun, Meggy.”

His feet were moving slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. She could tell he was directly in front of her now by how close the sound of his heavy breathing was and by the way the rubber soles of his sneakers skidded against the wood floor. She shut her eyes harder and braced herself. She didn’t need her eyes open to see him—the memory was burned into her brain. His face was unassuming and his body unimposing. White skin, rounded cheeks, kind-looking face, maybe even cute, if he wasn’t a complete sociopath. He wasn’t too thin or too large, not too tall, not too short. Just an ordinary-looking guy. One you would smile at in line for coffee or at the grocery store. The non-threatening Good Samaritan who helped you with your flat tire. Completely harmless, completely average, except for his eyes, gray eyes that were a bit too large and had a slight tilt upward, reminding her of a cat. Gray eyes that could be considered attractive if it weren’t for the coldness behind them.

Megan didn’t want to die looking into that coldness. She didn’t want to die hiding in her closet, with the creepy man asking her to sing the song that was about the best four days of her entire life. The four days that also changed the course of her life. Ironic, she would potentially die thinking of those memories.

Meet Author Sidney Halston. ..

USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It”–Nike. And that’s exactly what she did.

After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative, romantic side and wrote Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading and reading and reading. She’s a reader first and a writer second. When she’s not writing or reading, her life is complete and utter chaos, trying to balance family life with work and writing (and reading). But she wouldn’t have it any other way. 

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

Link to Follow Blast:

http://tastybooktours.com/tours-master/2017/1/25/kiss-marry-kill-sidney-halston

Goodreads Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33004156-kiss-marry-kill

Buy Links:     AMAZON | B & N | ITUNES | KOBO

Author Links:   WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

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Thanks, Sidney, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Author Peek** Interview with His Virgin Mate Character Von, An Open Letter to Human Females, Interstellar Brides: The Virgins Book 1 by Grace Goodwin

**Author Peek** Interview with

His Virgin Mate Character, Von 

An Open Letter to Human Females,

Interstellar Brides: The Virgins Book 1 by Grace Goodwin

INTRODUCING…Von, An Open Letter to Human Females.

As you all know, Earth has recently been accepted into the Interstellar Coalition, a group of more than 200 member worlds that have banded together to fight the horrible Hive menace. As a token of membership, all worlds are required to send both soldiers and brides to support the Coalition Fleet and encourage interplanetary relations and cross-cultural understanding. As an elite warrior eager to meet his Interstellar Bride, Von of Everis has a message for you:

Dear Human Females,

My name is Von. I am an Elite Hunter on the planet Everis, and I have been told that one of you is to be my bride.

There are a few things you should know before you decide to accept this match. I am what you refer to as an Alpha. I commanded a group of Hunters on so many secret operations during the Hive wars, I’ve lost count. My people are hunters. We track and kill our enemies with stealth and power. And I am stronger and faster than most, my instincts honed to near perfection.

If you decide to be mine, you will always be mine. There is nowhere in the universe that I cannot find you.

No one will dare harm you. You will be safe. Always. I am feared, even among my own kind. None would challenge me.

But most important, know this, I will claim you in the sacred way of my people, the sacred rite of three. If you accept me, mate, I will bring you pleasure you cannot yet imagine. I will claim your body completely, in every way.

If you are mine.

Don’t make me wait, love.

I hunger for you already…

~Von

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Be sure to come back to learn more about Grace Goodwin’s novel, HIS VIRGIN MATE, Interstellar Brides: The Virgins Book 1, on Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.

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

Amazon: https://goo.gl/DWTuwS

iBooks: https://goo.gl/HY0Vcn

Nook: https://goo.gl/Gg7iZ8

Kobo: https://goo.gl/D1iKuK

Google: https://goo.gl/I5vtCa

Newsletter:

http://bit.ly/GraceGoodwin

Web:

https://gracegoodwin.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011365683986

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/luvgracegoodwin

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15037285.Grace_Goodwin

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Thanks, Grace, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with A CONVENIENT MARRIAGE (A Paranormal Romance Book 1) author, Maggie Tideswell #recipe – Beef Bourguignon

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s

**AUTHOR SPECIAL**

with MAGGIE TIDESWELL!

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, MAGGIE TIDESWELL, and her favorite recipe for BEEF BOURGUIGNON!

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A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE: A Paranormal Romance

The Moragh Saga Book 1

BY MAGGIE TIDESWELL



BLURB

A marriage of convenience, helpful fey friends, hidden agendas, and a haunting—can love blossom?

Set in the beautiful winelands of the Southern Cape in South Africa, strange things start happening from the moment Holly accepts Joshua’s offer of marriage— in response to an advert placed in the newspaper by Holly’s ‘helpful’ friends. They meet for the first time on the steps of the chapel where they are to be married.

Holly has to solve a thirty-year-old mystery before the ghost that is haunting her will be at peace. Over and above everything that is taking place, Holly and Joshua do battle with her ex-husband over their two children, as well as Joshua’s fiancée who is not the least bit happy about his marriage to another woman and gets up to all sorts to show her displeasure.

Risky as the marriage between strangers is—is it possible for Holly and Joshua to fall in love?

A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE: A Paranormal Romance

The Moragh Saga Book 1

BY MAGGIE TIDESWELL

EXCERPT

Holly cringed when the back door slammed loudly in the still of the night. This wasn’t her fault. She had never meant to… Oh, God, what a mess, she thought. She sat on her legs in the middle of the bed, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. She didn’t want Joshua to think badly of her. Turning toward the window, she wondered where he was going in the middle of the night. Dawn was still some hours away. Would he go to the woman he had betrayed?

She brushed the moisture from her eyes. The moon was still high enough to shine into the room. It had a hazy quality, as if it came a long distance through a filter. Mist had risen, amplifying the light so that it seemed brighter than it should have. It was eerie, and at the same time peaceful.

Behind her, the doorknob rattled. Holly snatched the sheet to her chin, watching, waiting for Joshua to come back into the room. She wanted him to come back so that she could explain. When the door slowly, silently, swung inward, Holly pressed her sheet-covered fingers to her lips.

The fire had burned to ashes, and the candles had gutted long ago. The only light in the room came from the window, unreal and eerily bright. A floorboard creaked a moment before the door slammed shut. A picture frame fell from the tallboy and shattered on the floor. The silence that followed was deafening. It was freezing in the room.

Then she heard it again, breaking out in goosebumps, her tongue stuck to her pallet.

Who-o-o, who-o-o.

Holly shivered with fear. The dark had eyes. She had to do something to bring normality back, to occupy her mind and take it off the unexpected turn of events. Her imagination was running amok.

Hopping out of bed, she turned all the lights on while donning her gown. That was much better. Light and clothes did much to bolster a flagging bravado. She sat down at the table and turned the laptop the girls had brought, on. It came naturally to Holly in times of stress. She went to work. She was scared to death.

The monitor flickered as it booted up while Holly glanced apprehensively around the room. The temperature was normal again, the room brightly lit, and the door firmly shut.

She was no closer to solving Moragh’s riddle, and now she was rather far from the resources she needed. The Internet wasn’t the most reliable form of research, but it would have to do for now.

What had happened to Moragh was a well-kept secret, assuming that there was a mystery involved in the first place. It was frustrating. If Moragh wanted her story told, why didn’t she tell Holly what she wanted her to write? And what exactly was her connection with Fairley? There had to be one, for why else would she have followed Holly there?

A distant rumbling of thunder drew Holly’s glance to the window. No sign of a storm brewing, as the moon was still bright beyond the well-lit room, and there was only a light breeze stirring the curtains.

Her aimless glance swept the room, and it was a second before she registered the woman standing against the closed door. She wore a white shift that reached the floor, her hands clasped demurely in front of her, and her long red hair streaming over her shoulders. But it was her face that held Holly’s stare, for she was crying tears of blood.

About Author Maggie Tideswell… 

Maggie lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with hubby Gareth. Over the years she’s worked in everything from nursing to catering, and then she started writing love stories. With three kids, a girl and two boys and eleven cats at that time, life could become quite interesting.

The paranormal, things that happen for which there are no logical explanations and ghosts are of particular interest to Maggie. What events in a person’s life would prevent that person from ‘resting’ after death? The ‘Old Religion’ is another special interest.

And love, of course. Why do people fall in love? What keeps them together for a lifetime when so many relationships fail?

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Links to Maggie’s Website, Books, & Social Media:

My contact info : maggietideswell@outlook.com

Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/mvoeuwm

Blog: Wonderful Words – maggietideswell.blogspot.com/

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 304 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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BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Prep:

15 min

Cook:

3 hr 45 min

Ingredients

Marinade:

5 cloves garlic, smashed

3 fresh bay leaves

2 carrots, peeled and halved

2 ribs celery, halved

1 large onion, peeled and quartered

One 750-ml bottle red wine, such as Burgundy

4 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch chunks

Stew:

Extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

8 ounces slab bacon, cut into lardons

1 pound cremini or white button mushrooms, quartered

2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice

2 ribs celery, cut into 1/4-inch dice

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 large onion, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice

1/4 cup tomato paste

3 to 4 cups beef stock

3 fresh bay leaves

1 bundle fresh thyme

1 pound red bliss potatoes, quartered

1/2 bunch fresh chives, finely chopped, for garnish

Crusty bread, for serving

Directions

For the marinade: Combine the garlic, bay leaves, carrots, celery, onions and wine in a large bowl or container. Add the beef; cover and let sit in the refrigerator at least 4 hours or overnight. (This is a really important step: it makes a huge flavor difference.)

For the stew: Remove the beef from the marinade. Strain the veggies and bay leaves from the marinade and discard. Reserve 2 cups of the marinade.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Coat a large, wide pan or Dutch oven with olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. Sprinkle the beef with salt and toss with the flour; do not flour the beef until you’re ready to brown it. Add the flour-coated beef to the hot pan, but be sure to not crowd the pan; you will need to work in four batches. Brown the meat well on all sides, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the pan to a baking sheet.

After the first two batches, deglaze the pot with 1/2 cup of the reserved marinade, scraping up any browned bits. Drain the liquid into a small bowl. Add more olive oil to the pan to coat and cook the remaining two batches of meat. Add the meat to the baking sheet. Deglaze the pan with 1/2 cup marinade, scraping up any browned bits.

Add the bacon and cook until it gets brown and crispy, about 5 minutes. Toss in the mushrooms, carrots, celery, garlic and onions, and season with salt. Cook until the mixture starts to soften and becomes very aromatic, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the remaining 1 cup marinade and deglaze the pan, stirring up any browned bits, 1 minute. Add the beef. Stir to combine and cook until the wine has reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes. Add enough of the beef stock to just cover the surface of the beef. Toss in the bay leaves and thyme bundle. Cover the pan, bring the liquid to a boil and put in the oven.

Cook the beef for 2 hours. During the last hour of cooking time, add the potatoes. Cover the pan with the lid and put the stew back in the oven to cook for an additional hour.

Remove the pot from the oven and skim off any excess grease from the surface of the stew. Garnish with the chives and serve with crusty bread to sop up all the sauce.

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Thanks, Maggie, for sharing your book and recipe with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

Congratulations Week 03-06-17 & 03-13-17 Blog Giveaway Winners!

 CONGRATULATIONS WEEK

03-06-17 & 03-13-17 BLOG GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!

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Karen’s Killer Book Bench with Sarah Butland…

**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Sarah is giving away a print signed copy of Arm Farm to a reader in Canada or US who comments on her **Author Peek** or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs.. (If international she’ll gift an ebook copy.) A second winner will get a copy of Blood Day the Short Story ebook. Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your story with us.

ARM FARM WINNER: KATHLEEN BYLSMA !

BLOOD DAY WINNER: KENNA McKINNON!

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Karen’s Killer Book Bench with Devorah Fox…

**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Devorah is giving away an ebook copy of “Naked Came the Sharks, Murder and Mayhem in the Texas Coastal Bend” to one lucky winner who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. Thanks, Devorah, for sharing your book with us!

WINNER: AOIFE!

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Karen’s Killer Book Bench with Monica DiSimone…

**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Monica is giving away a signed copy of SECOND HALF to a lucky (U.S. ONLY) reader who comments on her **Author Peek** or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs.. (International winner, an ebook copy.) Thanks, Monica, for sharing your book with us.

WINNER: BN100!

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EVERYONE’S A WINNER WHEN YOU READ A DOCTER NOVEL!!!

KILLING SECRETS (A Thorne’s Thorn Novel – Book One) by K. L. Docter

Blurb: Some secrets are better left dead. Too bad the Angel Killer’s digging them up. Rachel James’ ex-husband is released from prison determined to reclaim her and her traumatized child, his key to the James fortune. Patrick Thorne isn’t interested in helping another of his parents’ charity cases, especially after losing his unborn son and wife to suicide. Only trust will untangle the secrets that dominate their lives, free a child of her silent prison, and save them both from a killer who stands too close.

“This romantic suspense is full of wonderful secrets, twists, turns and has an evil serial killing villain. The kind of killer we see on the TV show CRIMINAL MINDS.”–RT Book Reviews, Bernadette Cychner

All of Karen/K.L. Docter books are stand alone novels. No cliffhangers!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2m6Bv4P

B&N: http://goo.gl/wsqVxB

Kobo: http://goo.gl/KM563U

iTunes: http://goo.gl/pg58wN

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21965828-killing-secrets?ac=1&from_search=true

HAPPY READING!

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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 Book Bench: Walk Of Shame (Love Unexpectedly) by Lauren Layne

 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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WALK OF SHAME

Love Unexpectedly

BY LAUREN LAYNE

Blurb

Sparks fly between a misunderstood New York socialite and a cynical divorce lawyer in this lively standalone rom-com from the USA Today bestselling author of Blurred Lines and Love Story.

Pampered heiress Georgianna Watkins has a party-girl image to maintain, but all the shopping and clubbing is starting to feel a little bit hollow—and a whole lot lonely. Though Georgie would never admit it, the highlights of her week are the mornings when she comes home at the same time as her uptight, workaholic neighbor is leaving to hit the gym and put in a long day at the office. Teasing him is the most fun Georgie’s had in years—and the fuel for all her naughtiest daydreams.

Celebrity divorce attorney Andrew Mulroney doesn’t have much time for women, especially spoiled tabloid princesses who spend more time on Page Six than at an actual job. Although Georgie’s drop-dead gorgeous, she’s also everything Andrew resents: the type of girl who inherited her penthouse instead of earning it. But after Andrew caps one of their predawn sparring sessions with a surprise kiss—a kiss that’s caught on camera—all of Manhattan is gossiping about whether they’re a real couple. And nobody’s more surprised than Andrew to find that the answer just might be yes.

WALK OF SHAME

Love Unexpectedly

BY LAUREN LAYNE

Excerpt

Georgie

Tuesday morning

Let’s talk about five a.m. for a second.

Also known as the worst hour of the day, am I right?

Here’s why:

If you’re awake to see five in the freaking morning, it means one of a few things, all of them heinous.

Scenario one: You’re on your way to the airport for an early morning flight. Heinous.

Scenario two: You’ve been out all night, and now your vodka buzz is fading, and you’re just sober enough to realize that the rest of your day will likely involve Excedrin, carbs, and indoor voices. Heinous.

Scenario three: You’ve got a crap-ton on your mind, and you’re lying awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, hating your life. Maybe hating yourself a little bit, I dunno, who am I to judge? Heinous.

Now brace yourself, because scenario four is the most heinous of them all: You’re awake at five a.m. because you’re an uptight prick whose schedule is even more rigid than your posture, and your life is an endless string of working out, the corner office, repeat. You’re also likely the type of person who subsists on protein shakes and kale smoothies, and you have been known to utter the phrase the body is a temple, thus solidifying what we already knew about you.

You have no friends.

But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself.

See, it’s five a.m., and I, Georgie Watkins, am . . . kind of excited about it.

I know. I know. Four months ago I’d have bet my favorite vintage Chanel bag that there was exactly zero chance I’d actually look forward to the ghoulish hour of five in the morning.

And yet here we are.

I guess you could say there’s a scenario five on reasons to be up this early.

“Good morning, Ramon,” I sing, pushing through the revolving doors of the luxury high-rise on 56th and Park, the place I call home.

The concierge/security guard/all-around good guy glances up and gives me a friendly smile. “Ms. Watkins. Good morning.”

Usually the massive front desk is a bustling, busy affair. Starting at around seven, an army of well-dressed concierges will be smoothly facilitating the needs of impatient residents, as tiny dogs let out sharp, high-pitched barks of greeting from their Louis Vuitton carriers.

But that’s later.

Right now, the luxurious lobby is mostly silent, with just the lone overnight guy working the front desk, holding down the fort until the day guys arrive to handle the morning crush.

My new Tory Burch clutch tucked into my armpit, I hold up the box in my hands and waggle my eyebrows. “Brought you something.”

Ramon’s smile grows wider, brown eyes lighting. “My wife says you’re going to make me fat.”

“Tell Marta that the dad bod is totally in style right now,” I say, setting the box of donuts on the counter and lifting the lid. “Unless, of course, you don’t want a maple bacon donut?”

Ramon is already reaching inside the box, shaking his head in reverence as he lifts the sugary treat. “Still warm.”

“Well, technically the shop doesn’t open until five, but I’m such a loyal customer, they let me in a bit early,” I say, surveying the array of donuts and trying to decide if I’m in a chocolate kind of mood or if I want to risk the powdered sugar one.

Since my Alexander McQueen minidress is black (the archnemesis of powdered sugar), I reach for the chocolate as I set my clutch on the counter and fish out my phone: 4:58 a.m.

Two more minutes.

“How’s Marta dealing with the pregnancy of baby number three?” I ask, taking a bite of the donut and shifting attention back to Ramon, who’s already polished off his donut and is contemplating a second. I nudge the box toward him.

“She’s good,” he says. “Excited that we’re finally having a girl.”

“A girl!” I say, reaching across the counter and squeezing his massive forearm. “Congratulations, I hadn’t heard!”

“Just found out yesterday,” he says with a happy smile, apparently deciding that the occasion calls for another donut.

“Oh my gosh, I have the perfect baby gift,” I say, nibbling at a piece of my donut. “I saw this adorable Burberry onesie in Bergdorf’s the other day, with this precious little red bow—”

“Yes, because that’s what every infant needs,” a low voice interrupts. “A four-hundred-dollar piece of fabric that needs to be dry-cleaned. Don’t be ridiculous, Georgiana.”

I don’t have to look at my clock to know what time it is.

Five o’clock.

On the dot.

Not even bothering to turn around, I roll my eyes as my red nails tear off another piece of donut and pop it into my mouth. “Ramon, do you think you could talk to maintenance about adjusting the temp? It just got a little cold in here.”

Ramon’s been working here long enough to know my request isn’t for real. He’s not even paying attention to me. He’s already set his donut aside and has straightened up, practically saluting the newcomer.

“Mr. Mulroney. Good morning, sir.”

“Mr. Ramirez.” The voice is low and serious, a touch impatient, although not quite rude.

You know that adage that you catch more flies with honey? I’m not so sure it’s true. I bring donuts to the front desk guys just about every morning, and they adore me. I know they do.

But they respect him.

Giving in to the inevitable, I finally let my eyes flick to the side, my gaze colliding with a stern brown scowl.

I put on my widest, sparkliest smile, only because I know it drives him crazy.

As always, I see a muscle in his jaw twitch as I flutter my eyelashes.

“Good morning, Andrew,” I say sweetly.

“Georgiana.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Only my late grandmother has ever called me that, and I’m pretty sure that’s because I was her namesake. Everyone else calls me Georgie. Well, okay, not everyone. Ramon and the other guys still insist on calling me Ms. Watkins, but I’m working on it. See: daily donuts.

I smile wider and push the box in Andrew’s direction. “Donut?”

His lip curls. In case you haven’t already gotten a read on this guy, he’s the type that sneers at donuts.

He lifts a boring black travel mug. “Already have my breakfast.”

“Blended-up quinoa sprinkled with a few bits of spinach and pretension?” I ask.

“Whey powder protein shake.”

“Sounds immensely satisfying.”

He takes a sip of the nastiness and watches me with cold brown eyes. “The body is a temple, Georgiana.”

There it is.

Full circle to my above commentary about what sort of people are up and about at five a.m.

Meet the author, Lauren Layne. ..

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen romantic comedies.

A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career.

She lives in midtown Manhattan with her high-school sweetheart, where she writes smart romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush. In LL’s ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.

~~~

Lauren’s website, blog, books, etc.

Link to Follow Excerpt Reveal:

http://tastybooktours.com/tours-master/2017/2/4/walk-of-shame-excerpt-lauren-layne

Goodreads Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32491187-walk-of-shame

Goodreads Series Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/series/177149-love-unexpectedly

Buy Links:     AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

Author Links:

WEBSITE   |   FACEBOOK  |   TWITTER  |   GOODREADS

~~~

Thanks, Lauren, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Joyce Renee Jones, Character Interview, The Baby Chronicles: Where You Were Before You Were by Beatrice Bruno

 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 BABY CHRONICLES:

WHERE YOU WERE BEFORE YOU WERE

By BEATRICE BRUNO

Blurb

The Baby Chronicles – Where You Were Before You Were

Have you ever wondered where you were before you were born?

The Baby Chronicles Volume 1 is a fictionalized account of the creation process as seen through the eyes of its four main characters, preborn Spirits: Beverley, Joyce, Emmaline, and Margarette Ann. These four female pre-borns give an insider’s view of creation and birth that’s never been told before, but many have questioned. After being given everything in the Chambers of Gifts and Talents they will need to fulfill their assignments, they prepare for their trip to Earth – a trip they might not return from!

Come along and experience life before you existed with these four who experience time in the United States Army and beyond.

A brief introduction of The Baby Chronicles characters…

“…A poor Negro family? That’s where I’m going? Why? Why me? They aren’t even married…to each other! They’re…what’s the word Jesus used? Adulterers! Does God know about this? An Earth-assignment was out for Beverley!

***

“For the first six months of your life,” Almara interjected, “your only sustenance or food will consist of breast milk from your mother and soft foods that can be easily digested. You will not have teeth… by the age of six months, you will learn to sit up by yourself and maybe crawl…”

“No teeth! Can’t feed myself! Can’t walk or sit up… What about my adventures? I won’t be able to do anything during this time except be a…a baby?” An Earth-assignment was a let-down for Joyce!

***

“…Abba, I don’t like people!”

The Voice of the Ages boomed in laughter. “Spirit child, I don’t like the humans I have placed on the Earth either. They are never satisfied and always want more of what they already have. They don’t want to listen to Me yet they want Me to do things for them,” Almighty God explained. “But, I do love them. I am sending you as a dose of reality…” Margarette Ann certainly didn’t want to have to deal with…people!

***

“Woman, I told you before: we are not bringing any children into this horrible world,” Alton shouted. “And if I have to beat every one of them out of you, I will,” he threatened angrily.

The call came for angels Hazmar, Kangor, and Eliasa to quickly attend to the pregnant young woman. The three of them deflected as many of the blows as they could so that pre-born Emmaline would not be harmed during the assault.

These same three had helped the pre-born’s Earth-father when he was assaulted by the six men in Nashville… And it didn’t look like Emmaline would even be able to make it to Earth for her assignment!

THE BABY CHRONICLES:

WHERE YOU WERE BEFORE YOU WERE

By BEATRICE BRUNO

Character Interview, Joyce Renee Jones

1.What is your name? Do you have a nickname?

My name is Joyce Renee Jones. My nickname is JoJo.

2. Who is your best friend? What kinds of things do you do when you’re together?

My best friend was my twin brother, Jeffrey. We used to hang out together until he started hanging out with gangsters in the neighborhood. He started acting funny. Sometimes, he acted as though I wasn’t his sister. But, everyone in the neighborhood knew I was his sister. We look a lot alike.

3. 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?

I love our family. We got along well with each other until Jeffrey was killed. Then, I lost my reason for living. I miss my twin. I used to love going down South to Alabama to spend time with my grands and my cousins, aunts, and uncles. We still get along, but I miss my twin.

4. Do you have a birthmark? Scars? Where is it/are they? How did you get it/them?

I have a tiny strawberry on the inside of my right ankle. Funny thing? Jeffrey had a tiny strawberry on the inside of his right ankle. I guess whoever created us wanted us to really be a matched set.

5. When you’re angry, what do you do? Where do you go? How do you deal with your anger?

I go to the park. Well, I used to go to the park when I got angry. You know, Astoria Park. I would take the train and ride around for awhile until I got over whatever made me angry and then walk around the park until the streetlights came on. I used to hang out with these kids who always had some smokes. I would pretend that the smokes would take my problems away and leave me deflated.

6. 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?

I keep Ramen Noodles on my shelf. Before I left home and joined the Army, my mom always had plenty of food. Since I came into the Army and have my own apartment, I would much rather eat out than in. I hope that changes soon because eating out is expensive, especially for a young soldier.

7. What’s the one thing you’re afraid of losing?

I don’t know. My life? Since my twin, Jeffrey, died, it seems as though he took my life with him. We were so close. (Sob.) I don’t know who that guy was that stabbed him in the back. He died trying to say our stepfather. That’s something I still can’t understand because Jeffrey hated Pops! Other than losing my life, I don’t really have anything in my life that I would care about losing.

8. What makes you laugh out loud?

My younger sisters and baby brother: Sharon, Angie, and Allen. They are the funniest kids in the world. They just do stuff that makes me roll on the floor and laugh out loud!

9. Has anyone broken your heart? Who was s/he?

My brother Jeffrey. When he was murdered, (by the way, they still haven’t found his murderer) my heart broke in half. We were a matched set. Even when he was going through growing pains and started hanging out with thugs, we still had that twin thing going on. I will never forget him. I just wish he could have come back.

10. What’s the one thing you want out of life that you don’t think you can have? Why can’t you have it?

Peace? Love? Joy? Seems like all that stuff eludes. When I joined the Army, it was because the sign on the window of the recruiting station said, “Be all that you can be.” I don’t know what all I can be. I don’t even know what I want to be. I see other families, whole families, loving and caring for each other. I guess I want that. I mean, I love my mom and my stepdad, and my siblings. I love my other family members. But, I guess I just don’t see me being in love with anyone. After Jeffrey left me, I lived a pretty fast life, a life I knew was wrong. But, I didn’t care. What’s the one thing I want out of life that I don’t think I can have? I want to be happy. I want to find that thing I’m supposed to do and do it with all my heart and be happy. That’s all. Thanks.

Meet the author, Beatrice Bruno. ..

Beatrice Bruno is the author of two motivational/inspirational titles:

How To Get Over Yourself, Get Out of Your Own Way, and Get What YOU Want Out of Life!
How To Get Over Yourself and Let Go of the PAST

She is also the author of two soon-to-be rereleased Christian Living titles:

Up the Down Escalator – Are You Really Saved?
God Has Prepared the Table! Why Aren’t You Eating?

Beatrice is an Army veteran and former (but always and forever) Drill Sergeant. She is also an ordained gospel minister and life and writing coach who loves showing folks how to get over themselves and let go of the PAST. Having trained over 2000 Basic Training soldiers through Army Basic Training to graduation, she has seen characters who run the gamut from straight-arrow to cone-head! Many of these real life characters will find their way into her fictional characters in her books.

Now having written her first novel, Beatrice is spreading her wings as a novelist and creating the series, The Baby Chronicles, Volume 1, which includes the GI Josephines (Volume 2) and the Soldiers of the Lord (Volume 3). But Beatrice will not stop there. A mind for the unusual Christian experience, Beatrice is also working on Lara Rose, HGPI. Ask her what that acronym means and she will be glad to share it with you.

~~~

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

The Baby Chronicles – Where You Were Before You Were, is available at the following retail outlets:

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/2ldcgRo

Barnes and Noble:  http://bit.ly/TBCBook

Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/BabyChr

Powells Books: http://bit.ly/PowBC

For speaking, book clubs, presentations, contact Beatrice at Beatrice@DrillSergeantofLife.com or 720-212-9780.

To purchase a personalized copy of The Baby Chronicles or to receive a free chapter, go to: http://drillsergeantoflife.com/thebabychronicles/

My website is www.DrillSergeantofLife.com . All my books are listed on my website and The Baby Chronicles has its own page.

~~~

**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Beatrice is giving away a PDF copy of her book, HOW TO GET OVER YOURSELF and LET GO OF THE PAST to all readers who comment on her **Author Peek** or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs.

Thanks, Beatrice, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: The Trouble With Bachelors (Windy City Bachelors #1) By Caitlyn Blue

 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 TROUBLE WITH BACHELORS

Windy City Bachelors #1

BY CAITLYN BLUE

Blurb

Falling for her sister’s first love, how could that possibly go wrong…

Zach Thorne is supposed to be off limits. He’s her sister’s high school boyfriend and his love life is a revolving door of women. He’s also handsome, sexy and the one guy Emma Callahan has never been able to forget.

Now they’ve been thrown together as best man and maid of honor for her sister’s wedding and some serious sparks are flying. Zach is perfect wedding fling material until he starts to take their romance seriously. Now, Emma is left wondering: is he for real or is she about to get her heart broken?

The trouble with bachelors is you never know.

THE TROUBLE WITH BACHELORS

Windy City Bachelors #1

BY CAITLYN BLUE

Excerpt

“This was fun,” I murmur as his fingers coast over my cheek.

He tucks a lock of hair behind my ears and traces my jaw. It’s been a year since a man has touched me. And no one has ever caressed me like this. It’s like he’s trying to memorize my features. I’m enthralled. It’s hard to know what to do next, so I clutch my hands in my lap and stare at him. His eyes lock on my lips and I realize I’ve seized the lower one between my teeth.

His breath hisses out on a soft sigh. “Do you have any idea how sexy you are?”

“No.” It’s not the default word anyone uses when describing me.

“You are.”

How many women has he used this line on? Hundreds surely. He’s a player. A guy you sleep with not someone you date.

At the moment I’m standing at the line that separates the woman I am and the woman guys like Zach sleep with a few times and never call again. I can listen to my body and have several amazing orgasms to relive over and over, or I can listen to my heart, stay true to who I am and keep looking for a guy who can make me happy long term.

His fingers curve around the back of my neck. As he draws me forward, I ask, “Are you going to kiss me again?”

“I’d very much like to.”

This time his kiss is more direct. Firm and determined, he claims my lips and as his tongue darts forward, I open for him. He tastes like the striped peppermint candy we snagged on our way out of the restaurant.

The kiss quickly goes nova. Heat explodes in my midsection and lances downward as Zach’s hand curves over my knee. I clutch his shoulder, trembling with longing. Phrases spill through my mind. Naughty things I’d want to say to him. Images of taking him into my mouth again and making him cry out my name as he comes. I’ve forgotten that I’m not the type who has sex in cars. Right now, all I’m thinking is: yes, please, let’s do this.

Meet the author, Caitlyn Blue. ..

Caitlyn Blue is a voracious reader with an overactive imagination and a chocolate addict. She loves fancy cocktails and tasty edibles, is a sucker for adventure movies and any music with a beat. When not writing, Caitlyn loves to connect with her readers for whom she’s extremely grateful. Join her VIP list to stay up to date on giveaways and exclusive offers.

~~~

Caitlyns’s website, blog, books, etc.

Link to Follow Blast:

http://tastybooktours.com/tours-master/2017/1/26/trouble-with-bachelors-caitlyn-blue

Goodreads Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33813952-the-trouble-with-bachelors

Buy Links:     AMAZON | B & N | ITUNES | KOBO

Author Links:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

~~~

Thanks, Caitlyn, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Author Peek** Interview with Beatrice Bruno, author of The Baby Chronicles: Where You Were Before You Were

**Author Peek** Interview with BEATRICE BRUNO

THE BABY CHRONICLES: WHERE YOU WERE BEFORE YOU WERE

INTRODUCING…. Beatrice Bruno.

Before we get started talking about your writing, tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do for a living (if you’re not a full – time writer) what hobbies you have, etc. Whatever you’d like to share to introduce yourself.

I was born in Queens, New York and raised in a little town called Vaucluse, SC. I was raised by my dad’s mom and dad, Lizzie and Freeman. I grew up in a little wooden shack that didn’t have indoor plumbing until I was about 11 years old. We had an outhouse and took baths in a tin tub. When I was 13, my granddad died. Up until I was about 15, I thought my dad was my oldest brother and my grandma and grandpa were my parents, with their other children being my siblings. Long story on that. You’ll learn a lot about this behind the seens when you meet one of the characters in my book. (Hint, hint!)

I am a motivational/inspirational author and speaker. I write full time and also ghostwrite for several clients as well as edit. I served in the US Army for 15 years of honorable service. When I left the Army, I found it extremely challenging to work for companies and organizations whose structure lacked the discipline of the military. I quickly learned that, besides truck driving, I did not fit the mold, especially of corporate America. (That job lasted for a hot second!)

I love writing! I love spinning a tale with my fiction or researching the Bible and related books to help my readers grow in their Christian walk. And when I’m not writing, I love crocheting. I can crochet a hat in about 2.5 hours and I love it!

1.  What genre(s) do you write in and why?

Although I love writing nonfiction and self-help, I love writing Christian fiction with a twist. You always read stories about criminals, psychopaths, and sociopaths from a world perspective. However, I want the world to know that there are Christian criminals, psychopaths, and sociopaths in the Christian realm.

2.  What’s your favorite beverage?

Wild Sweet Orange Tea by Tazo.

3.  If you had to listen to one song over and over again for a whole day, what would it be?

You’ll get a hoot out of this: Anything by Loretta Lynn! I love that Country Sister!

4.  What is your least favorite part of writing?

My least favorite part has nothing to do with writing. Writing to me is cathartic, even when I’m working on a fiction project. The least favorite part for me is marketing. But, I’m getting better at it.

5.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Italy. I visited there when I was a singing soldier with the Army Band and Chorus. My goodness, those precious people fed us soldiers like we were never going to eat again! We had a blast and got to learn a lot about their culture.

6.  Are you an avid reader? When you do read someone else’s writing, what is your favorite genre?

I am an avid reader. My first love is Thriller and I love James Patterson as well as Brad Thor and JA Jance.

7.  Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

That’s a good question. When I have time to look at TV shows, I love dramas. I’m not a comedy person. When I listen to the characters on these dramas, I spin them in different directions to see where I can take them.

8.  Tell me about your ideal reader .

My ideal reader is first of all, someone seeking to understand why they do what they do. Secondly, my ideal reader is someone who isn’t afraid to go behind the seens and see what God meant for them to be in the first place, even if it means they have to start all over again short of birth. You know, the main reason we get off track is we don’t recognize our purpose. Many of us are seeking to find our purpose in life. I believe that through my books and the characters I create, my readers will find themselves and be able to move forward with purpose.

9.  If you were to choose one superpower, what would it be?

Immortality, not in the God sense. There can only be One. But in the people sense in that I can live hundreds of years and go around helping folks to live to their full potential.

10. Tell us about your next book & when is it being published?

My next book, Dark White Chocolate, is sure to cause my readers to want to have me committed. It tells the story of twin girls, one born white, one born black, and the psychosis one develops because she was not allowed to grow up with her birth parent, the one who chose to live with the other twin. I expect to have that ready to go by the fall of 2017.

~~~

Be sure to come back to learn more about Beatrice’s book, THE BABY CHRONICLES, on Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog.

~~~

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

The Baby Chronicles – Where You Were Before You Were, is available at the following retail outlets:

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/2ldcgRo

Barnes and Noble:  http://bit.ly/TBCBook

Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/BabyChr

Powells Books: http://bit.ly/PowBC

For speaking, book clubs, presentations, contact Beatrice at Beatrice@DrillSergeantofLife.com or 720-212-9780.

To purchase a personalized copy of The Baby Chronicles or to receive a free chapter, go to: http://drillsergeantoflife.com/thebabychronicles/

My website is www.DrillSergeantofLife.com . All my books are listed on my website and The Baby Chronicles has its own page.

~~~

**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Beatrice is giving away a PDF copy of her book, HOW TO GET OVER YOURSELF and LET GO OF THE PAST to all readers who comment on her **Author Peek** or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs.

Thanks, Beatrice, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with DAUGHTERS OF DESTINY author, Devorah Fox, #recipe ~ Linguine con Crema e Lemone (Linguine with Cream & Lemon)

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s

**AUTHOR SPECIAL**

with DEVORAH FOX!

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, DEVORAH FOX, and her favorite recipe for LINGUINE con CREMA e LEMONE (Linguine with Cream & Lemon)!

~~~

DAUGHTERS OF DESTINY BOXED SET

10 Science Fiction and Fantasy Heroines Novels

By ALESHA ESCOBAR, SARA C. ROETHLE, H.M. JONES, RAVEN OAK, DEVORAH FOX, H.M. CLARKE, H.B. LYNE, KYLIE QUILLNAN, JC CASSELS, CHRISTA YELICH-KOTH

Blurb

Ten full-length novels, ten heroines at the right hand of destiny…

Whether you’re slaying vampires or holding your own alongside superheroes, one of the best things about heroines is that they show us how strong, cunning, and magical they can be.

This box set contains TEN complete novels, all gripping and intriguing stories with women rocking rebellions, handing out justice, battling shadow gods, and bending the wills of kings.

Contributing authors include: Seattle Times bestselling author Raven Oak, Amazon bestselling authors Alesha Escobar, Devorah Fox, Christa Yelich-Koth, NIEA finalist HM Jones, the fantastic sci-fi/fantasy mavens HM Clarke, Sara C. Roethle, HB Lyne, JC Cassels, and Kylie Qullinan.

These science fiction and fantasy tales will take you on a thrilling journey!

THE REDOUBT

The Bewildering Adventures of King Bewilliam Book 4

By DEVORAH FOX

BLURB

 Voted one of 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2016. Having bested beast, man, and even his own failings, King Bewilliam, also known as Robin, has regained his throne, reunited with his sons, and restored his embattled kingdom, yet something is lacking. When a crippling famine threatens the Chalklands’ very survival, his vassals propose a risky plan to seek aid from a distant ruler. King Bewilliam strikes off on a perilous journey to the island empire of Sea Gate accompanied by a cadre of loyal knights and nobles who are unaware that the plan will reunite the king with a spurned lover.

THE REDOUBT

The Bewildering Adventures of King Bewilliam Book 4

By DEVORAH FOX

EXCERPT

They tramped through the underbrush until they found a creek. Robin pulled a flask from his rucksack, watered the remainder of the wine in it, and passed it to Alexandra. He tried not to stare at her face which was both flushed with exertion and mottled with bruises. He looked away. “Is this not just about where we met years ago?” he asked as she sipped. “You were out fighting a dragon. No, I stand corrected: a wyvern.”

Alexandra chuckled and handed back the flask.

“Are there still dragons around?” he asked.

“Not here.”

“Just back at the fortress,” Robin said, his ire mounting.

Alexandra narrowed her eyes at him.

Robin squared his shoulders. “All right. Tell me. How did that happen?”

Alexandra sighed and paced in a small circle. She threw up her hands. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“You were lonely. No one could blame you. I’m sure your subjects wondered why it took so long for you to remarry.”

“Yes, that was it. I felt … I wasn’t getting any younger. The empire … yes, it was growing. But with each passing year it was just getting harder and harder to manage on my own.” She stopped and faced him. “No, that’s not true. I had no problem being empress. I had vassals on whom I could depend. I had loyal friends. It wasn’t the same as when Emperor Merek was alive but what he and I had built was thriving. In preserving his legacy I felt a sense of accomplishment. Connected to him, still.

“And then there was Gilbert of Blackstone.” She sighed and shook her head.

“I’m sorry,” Robin said. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“No, I want to. I want to understand it myself. He pursued me. Quite relentlessly. It was flattering.”

“And you fell in love.”

“I thought I did.” She shrugged. “Now I have come to see that I fell in love with … being the object of his affection.” Alexandra kicked at a chunk of bark. “As it turned out it wasn’t me he wanted, it was Sea Gate. The mines at Blackstone had played out, you see.”

So James had said. “Avaricious bastard coveted your wealth.”

Alexandra shrugged. “Not for himself so much but for Tegen. And now instead of the object of the emperor’s affection I am simply an object.”

“All right. That explains the marriage. What about this?” He took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up. “How did this happen? You are Alexandra, the Empress of Sea Gate.”

Alexandra turned her face away. “At first I thought that it was my fault, that I had angered him somehow. By the time I realized that no, he was simply a brute, it was too late. Where would I go? How could I leave? I am, as you said, the Empress of Sea Gate.” She looked about and spoke so softly Robin could hardly hear her. “Now what am I going to do?”

“We will find my men.” With the growing light they would be rising, preparing to break camp and continue home. By now they would be missing their king. Would they set out to search for him or stay put hoping that he would rejoin them? “We will regroup and then we will take action.”

“So you have a plan?”

Robin grinned and shook his head.

“You sneaked into Sea Gate Fortress and carried off its empress and you don’t have a plan?”

Robin shrugged. “That was my plan.”

About Author Devorah Fox… 

“What if?” Those two words all too easily send Devorah Fox spinning into flights of fancy. Best-selling author of award-winning books including The Bewildering Adventures of King Bewilliam literary historical fantasy series and several thrillers, she also penned Mystery Mini Short Reads and contributed short stories to popular fantasy anthologies. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she now lives on the Texas Gulf Coast with rescued tabby cats … and a dragon named Inky. Visit the “Dee-Scoveries” blog at http://devorahfox.com.

~~~

Links to Devorah’s Website, Books, & Social Media:

Email: devorahfox@aol.com

Website: http://devorahfox.com

Twitter:

@devorah_fox   http://twitter.com/devorah_fox

Facebook author page:

https://www.facebook.com/DevorahFoxAu...

Amazon author page: 

amazon.com/author/devorahfox

(http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006L9BJAO)

Smashwords profile page:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mbapub

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DevorahFox

YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/devorahfox

Goodreads: 

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2751371.Devorah_Fox

Mailchimp Fiction Fans newsletter signup form

            URL: http://eepurl.com/LrZGX

Daughters of Destiny Box Set: http://amzn.to/2lXt4bX

King Bewilliam series link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BOW7NQQ/

The The Redoubt, Book 4:  http://amzn.to/2lA9j9p

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 303 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.

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

Note from Devorah: Pasta is my comfort food, and this is my go-to recipe. It’s not original, it’s by Gordon Vivace from his “No, That’s Not Tiramisu,” a book that’s fun to read even if you don’t cook because it is so entertainingly written. https://www.amazon.com/thats-not-tiramisu-discussion-contemporary-ebook/dp/B0089E94G0

LINGUINE con CREMA e LEMONE

(Linguine with Cream & Lemon)

[Recipe from “No, That’s Not Tiramisu” by Gordon Vivace]

Ingredients:

1 pound linguine

2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage

3 cups heavy cream

the zest of one lemon

salt and pepper

Recipe:

Place the cream, sage, and lemon zest in a large pan on medium-low heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Boil your pasta to one minute short of being done. When the pasta is ready, increase the heat to medium-high, add the linguine to the pan and turn for one minute before serving.

(Cook’s note: I’ve cut this recipe down to serve one and I’ve substituted dried sage, and it’s still delish!)

~~~

Thanks, Devorah, for sharing your book and recipe with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Fight For Her (MMA Fighter Romance Book 1) by Vanessa Vale

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FIGHT FOR HER

MMA Fighter Romance Book 1

By VANESSA VALE

Blurb

A fighter ready to give up the gloves.

A woman ready to take on the world.

Grayson Green’s an MMA champion who’s spent years in the limelight where fast times and fast women were easy to come by. The appeal is gone and he steps out of the ring to make some changes and get control of his life. All the training in the world can’t save him from the one-two punch of meeting Emory. She’s different. She has no idea who he is…and she wants him anyway. When someone from his past is prepared to take him down… and Emory along with him, he’ll do anything to fight for her…

Warning! This book has a super protective, super hot alpha male who will stop at nothing to protect his girl.

This book was previously published under the title Naked Choke. Besides a new cover and title, new scenes have been added.

FIGHT FOR HER

MMA Fighter Romance Book 1

By VANESSA VALE

Excerpt

“Okay, so you want to stand like this and put your hands up in fists, here and here.” He stood beside me and I copied his stance. “Good.”

He moved to stand in front of me, hands up like mine. “Punch me.”

My eyes widened and I dropped my arms. “Are you serious? I can’t punch you,” I said, looking at the other men who were over by the locker rooms, taking off their gloves and squirting water in their mouths from their water bottles. “Besides, we aren’t even wearing gloves.”

“Think of something that makes you mad. Got it?”

The first thing that came to mind was Jack. My eyes narrowed. “Yeah, I got it. My ex.”

He offered a quick smile. “Good. Now pretend I’m him. Punch him. Left, right. Like you mean it.”

I lifted my arms back to the position he’d showed me, then thrust out with my left hand. Gray’s arm came up to block my strike. When I shifted my stance and punched with my right, I felt my feet come out from underneath me and the next thing I knew, his hands were on me and I was on the ground with Gray sideways on top of me. In the blink of an eye—and with a care I doubted he gave to his usual opponents—he’d swept me to the ring floor. Gray’s chest was pressed into mine and his face loomed over me. I was breathing hard, perhaps from the surprise move, but most likely because I had him on top of me, his mouth only inches from mine. I felt the firm floor of the ring beneath my back. There was no question he could hurt me, for there was no way I could defend myself from him. Sure, I hadn’t really tried to punch him all that hard or quickly, but still. As a champion at fighting, then he was so far out of my league. I knew, though, if I pushed against him, he’d let me up. I wasn’t afraid of him. I was in awe.

I licked my lips. My heart was racing and surely he could feel it. I could feel every inch of him. “Now what do you do?”

Gray’s eyes lowered to my mouth. “If you were my competition, I’d try to either choke you out or do an arm bar.”

I felt every hard muscle of his torso, even though he held himself off of me with his forearms. Regardless, I felt pinned and at his mercy. I did not mind in the slightest.

“Choking doesn’t sound like fun and I have no idea what an arm bar is,” I replied, licking my lips.

“It’s not fun either,” he said, his gaze dropping to my mouth. “As for you—” His eyes lifted to mine and I blushed. “—I take you to lunch.”

Meet the author, Vanessa Vale. ..

Vanessa Vale is the USA Today Bestselling author of over 30 books, sexy romance novels, including her popular Bridgewater historical romance series and hot contemporary romances featuring unapologetic bad boys who don’t just fall in love, they fall hard. When she’s not writing, Vanessa savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. While she’s not as skilled at social media as her kids, she loves to interact with readers.

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Vanessa’s website, blog, books, etc.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mlrIcM

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Thanks, Vanessa, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!