Karen Docter's Blog, page 234
September 15, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Karen/K.L. Docter Connections Update!
Karen Docter/K.L. Docter Connections Update!!
Calling all readers, bloggers, reviewers, contemporary romance and romantic suspense lovers…
Since many readers still don’t know that I write both contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, I’ve been busily updating all of my social media and connections so that readers can find me.
Last week I put out the call for readers to join my Street Team. Did you miss it? Want to know more about what a Street Team does for an author as well as discover what kind of goodies YOU get by joining my Street Team? You can find that blog here: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-join-karenk-l-docters-street-team.html
Today I want to give you a comprehensive look at where you can find me. Let’s play everywhere! 
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.karendocter.com
You’re looking at it! Here, you can find connections to almost everything. Like every other author website, you can use the tabs at the top to peek into my bio, books, photos I’ve taken, the workshops I teach, etc. You can find photos of Colorado during the seasons. There are even photos of Bumblebee. Haven’t heard me refer to Bumblebee yet? Go check out the photos under Girls Need Toys, Too!
Since I write two separate genres with two different names, I’ve divided up the columns to make it easier for you to see everything I’m doing. Although there are some general things on both outside columns, I’ve devoted the left column to my contemporary romance, Karen Docter, persona. The right column belongs to my romantic suspense, K.L. Docter, persona.
The middle column is my Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. I blog almost every weekday now sharing Interviews and Book Bench spotlights on a wide variety of other author books, (mostly romance, but not all). I talk about my work on occasion but I also love sharing my fellow writer’s work with my readers. I also host two blog tour companies so you’re bound to find something you like. We all love books, right?
Another blog special feature is Karen’s Killer Fixin’s on Fridays. I post one of my favorite recipes from my two personal cookbooks or run an **Author Special** for that author who wants to share one of their favorites along with a spotlight of their new release. All of the recipes I’ve shared these past few years can be found in the menu in the right column.
If you don’t want to miss a blog, you can Subscribe to Blog via Email (top left column). As a subscriber, each day’s blog photo and brief explanation comes directly to your Inbox. Easy peasy. If the headline intrigues you, simply click on the link in the email and it takes you right to the blog article. This is a great feature for those of you who don’t want to miss anything but need a few days to get to it. All blog subscribers are entered in a monthly drawing for a chance to win a $5 Amazon or Starbucks (winner’s choice) gift card, my way of sharing my love of books and coffee with my readers.
If you don’t want to subscribe to the daily blog, I do have a News Alerts ONLY button (top left column, too) that adds your name to my mailing list. This mailing list isn’t a newsletter. You will only receive the occasional email about my upcoming releases/appearances/sales.
I have three pages on Facebook: my personal page, my Karen Docter Fan page, and my K.L. Docter Fan page. It looks like I’m on Facebook all day. I’m really not. I do, however, dip in throughout the day between projects. I don’t have time to chat much but I do try to respond to all comments…eventually. And I love sharing fun things to make us all smile.
Karen Docter: https://www.facebook.com/karen.docter
Karen Docter, Author: https://www.facebook.com/Karen-Docter-Author-112017712223396
K.L. Docter, Author: https://www.facebook.com/kldocter
I also created a Facebook Group page for romance lovers only called Book Bench for Romance Lovers. All members are romance authors or their PAs or bloggers or romance readers, and includes all romance genres from Inspirational to Erotic. You can request membership here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/281099382014548/
Karen/K.L. Docter’s Street Team is also on Facebook and is a “closed” group, which means you CAN join and be a part of my team, but you’ll need to request membership at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/248004508712978/ Please read the blog from Monday about what joining this group entails.
Join me on Pinterest! I have a variety of boards to share and love finding fun new stuff to pin. I have an eclectic mix of pins, from foods, clothes, and outer space to pins I compile for my books, i.e. hero and heroine photos I use for inspiration, their cars, homes, etc. Join me here: https://www.pinterest.com/karendocter/
GOODREADS
Join me on Goodreads. I have all of my books there, as well as my blog and books that I’m reading or have read. I’m about to run a couple of Book Giveaways for my paperbacks so watch for those in the next week or so. I list both of my genres here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754902.Karen_Docter
SHELFARI
I know Shelfari has fallen out of favor with many readers but I still have a page there and try to update it whenever I’m updating Goodreads. If you’re on Shelfari, you can find me here: http://www.shelfari.com/karendocter
I’m on Twitter as @KarenDocter. I try to dip in on Twitter every day. Feel free to join me there, too.
I have several fun things coming up soon. I’m working on a holiday novella that fits in the True Love In Uniform series, as well as a third book I hope to publish by the end of December.
My romantic suspense novel, Killing Secrets, is coming out in a box set called SEASON OF THRILLS, along with four more wonderful masters of the suspense/mystery/thriller genres. It’s up for Pre-order now for only $.99. Five full-length, exciting novels for one low price. That book will release December 1st. Pre-order your copy now.
As you can see, I’m busily writing and I’m all over social media so you can keep up with my books and activities. Please join me whenever and wherever you can.
See you soon! Thanks!
Karen
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: I’m giving away one ebook copy of SATIN PLEASURES or COP ON HER DOORSTEP or KILLING SECRETS to every reader who joins my Street Team this week. Don’t miss a chance to read one of these stories!
September 14, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Waiting For Ethan by Diane Barnes
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!
~~
WAITING FOR ETHAN
BY DIANE BARNES
Blurb
When Gina Rossi was in junior high, her best friend’s psychic grandmother got everything right—from predicting that Gina would break her arm and travel to Italy, all the way to leading police to a missing neighborhood child. The one time Gina didn’t listen to her, she almost got herself killed. So when she says that Gina will marry a man named Ethan—but she will have to wait for him—Gina believes her, and waits…
Now thirty-six, Gina’s Mr. Right is nowhere in sight—until the day she’s stranded in a snowstorm, and rescued by the last type of Ethan she expected. It’s very romantic, yet surprisingly not. This Ethan is sexy, and clearly her hero. Still, instead of her “Aha” moment, Gina’s confused. And when Ethan is happy to discover she’s single, does Gina dare tell him, It’s because I’ve been waiting for you? But the bigger question is, does she dare question destiny—by taking it into her own hands? And is she brave enough to handle what happens once it’s time to stop waiting—and start living?
WAITING FOR ETHAN
BY DIANE BARNES
Excerpt
When the waiter returns, Gregory tries to make friends by commenting on his nose ring. “Looks good. I’m thinking of getting one myself.” He winks at me. “Did it hurt?”
“Just for a minute.” The waiter studies Gregory, probably trying to figure out if he’s serious about wanting a nose ring. “I don’t think you could pull it off.” He turns toward me. “You could get away with it.”
I think he means it as a compliment, but still I’m insulted. I ignore his comment and order hot chocolate and chocolate chip pancakes. Gregory orders coffee and a western omelet.
“What’s with you, Rossi?” Gregory says. “You order a kid’s meal and drive a kid’s toy for a car.”
I never told him my last name. “How do you know my last name?”
“I know everything about you. For example, you have trouble sleeping.” I stare at him, wondering how he could possibly know that. “Don’t look so worried. There was a prescription bottle of sleeping pills on the sink in your bathroom.”
“So, what’s your story, Gregory? Why did you come back to shovel me out?”
He laughs. “Because I dig chicks who call me by my last name.”
I stop to think about it. I saw Gregory written on his toolbox and assumed it was his first name. He’s not in elementary school. It’s not his lunch box. He wouldn’t write his first name on it. “What’s your name?”
“Ethan.”
In all the ways I have fantasized about meeting Ethan, it was never like this. I thought I would recognize him instantly. I imagined him shorter. I pictured his hair darker, his features more chiseled, his teeth white, straight, and evenly spaced. We’d both be dressed elegantly, certainly not wearing old sweatshirts and baseball caps. I never imagined we’d be breathing in the greasy fumes of bacon or the sugary scent of syrup. I assumed I’d be sipping Chianti or champagne, not slurping hot chocolate. Sometimes I even envisioned fireworks in the distance exploding in a star-filled sky, not sand trucks whizzing by a diner window on a dismal gray day.
I never figured out exactly what I would say, but I knew it would be something corny like “I knew you would come” or “You were worth the wait.” And he wouldn’t think it was weird. He’d know exactly what I was talking about.
Here in the actual moment, though, I just stare across the table and try to repeat his name, but it gets stuck in my throat.
“Let me guess. Your ex-boyfriend’s name is Ethan?”
Not my ex-boyfriend. My future husband. For just a moment, I consider saying it aloud, telling him about Ajee and her prediction, but then I imagine him sprinting for the exit before I can get all the words out.
“It’s my favorite name,” I finally say.
About the Author, Diane Barnes…Though she always dreamed about being the shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, Diane Barnes is a marketing writer in Massachusetts. She participates in two monthly writing groups and regularly attends novel writing workshops in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts. She started “Waiting for Ethan” as a challenge to participate in National Novel Writing Month. The original story was about a character who dated a string of freshly divorced men who all had issues with their ex-wives. She won’t say if it was autobiographical.
In 2012, Diane was one of eight writers who attended the Boston Writers’ Studio, an exclusive four-day intense writing workshop taught by bestselling author Elizabeth Berg. Diane says having her idol read her work was a moment she’ll never forget.
When not crafting novels, Diane spends her time playing tennis, going to the beach or watching her beloved Red Sox. She completed her first half marathon last year (to combat her love of chocolate) and lives in central Massachusetts with her husband Steve; they often fantasize about moving to Turks and Caicos – for the winter months at least.
~~~~
Links to Diane’s website, blog, books, etc.
Website: www.DianeMBarnes.com
Waiting for Ethan:
http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Ethan-Diane-Barnes-ebook/dp/B00TE7KNA2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1442158937&sr=1-1&keywords=waiting+for+ethan
~~~
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
Thanks, Diane, for sharing your story with us!
September 13, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Join Karen/K.L. Docter’s Street Team!!
WANTED: STREET TEAM!!
Calling all readers, bloggers, reviewers, contemporary romance and romantic suspense lovers. I’ve put together a Street Team to help spread the word about my current books and new releases.
Join the Karen/K.L. Docter Street Team!
Every author needs help spreading the word about their books through reviews as well as recommendations from readers to their family, friends, book clubs, libraries, book stores, etc. Here are more things you can do as a Street Team member:
Online
Share your honest, positive review of my book(s) on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, iTunes, etc.
Follow me on Twitter @KarenDocter and re-Tweet my Tweets about my books or make up some great Tweets of your own.
Join my Karen Docter Author Page (contemporary romance) and K.L. Docter Author Page (romantic suspense) on Facebook and share some of my posts on your own page.
Visit the blogs where I am being interviewed and post a comment. There are often free prizes involved.
BTW, always participate in BlogHops. They are a lot of fun. You get to meet a lot of other authors, but the best part is there are a ton of free books and other prizes!
In Person
Recommend my books to your family, friends, book clubs, libraries, bookstores, etc.
Please buy my books the first week of release, which helps them get on the bestseller lists.
Ask your library to order my books. All librarians keep a running list of books their patrons request. They have a budget to order new books. Just give them the book title, author name, and publisher. [Note: I am an Indie author, so give them Karen Docter (contemporary romance) or K.L. Docter (romantic suspense) as the publisher.]
If my books aren’t on the shelf at your bookstore, ask the bookseller to order them. (Like libraries, they also keep a running list of books their customers request.)
Remember: Do what you’re comfortable with. Even if you do just one thing on this list, you are being a tremendous support.
As a member of my Street Team, here’s some of what you get:
A free eBook (Advanced Reader Copy/ARC) in exchange for your honest, positive review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, iTunes, etc. (Just email me at karendocter@ymail.com or kldocter@yahoo.com with your name, city/state, and a link to your review. Easy!)
Karen/K.L. Docter’s Free eBook Alerts of fantastic eBooks for your eReader announced on my blog website (karendocter.com) and my Facebook pages.
A chance to win giveaways and/or autographed books in my Street Team only giveaways and contests. (All Street Team members will be automatically entered.)
An opportunity to have one of my characters named after you in my next book.
A chance to name a character in a future book.
Swag
If you’d like to join the Karen/K.L. Docter Street Team, please contact me at karendocter@ymail.com or kldocter@yahoo.com.
Thanks!
Karen
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: I’m giving away one ebook copy of SATIN PLEASURES or COP ON HER DOORSTEP or KILLING SECRETS to every reader who joins my Street Team this week. Don’t miss a chance to read one of these stories!
September 12, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench **SNEAK PEEK**: True Deceit by A.J. Carella
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!
~~
SEASON OF THRILLS BOX SET
5 Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Novels
By Award-winning and Bestselling Authors
A.J. CARELLA, KIM CRESSWELL, K.L. DOCTER,
RACHEL KENT & MARIAN LANOUETTE
Now available for Pre-order
** Special limited time price ONLY $.99 **
#seasonofthrills
Release Day ~ December 1st!
Regular price of $7.99
SEASON OF THRILLS **SNEAK PEEK**
TRUE DECEIT
By A.J. Carella
Blurb: The truth will set you free … unless it kills you first.
Mike is sure he has hit rock bottom after his wife leaves him. Little does he realize that it’s just the beginning and things are about to get worse. A lot worse. But all is not as it seems and soon he is forced to face the truth of his past in order to protect his future. Intense and fast-paced, this ride will have you on the edge of your seat.
TRUE DECEIT by A.J. CARELLA
EXCERPT
The phone was ringing as Elliot stepped through the door to his apartment. He briefly considered letting the machine get it but he knew that if he did that and they didn’t leave a message, it would just bug him.
Flinging his jacket onto the couch, he quickly grabbed it and answered. “Hello?”
“Hey Elliot.”
He recognized the voice immediately. “Frank, hey. Long time.”
“Too long, buddy. How’s life treating you in smallsville?”
Elliot let out a short laugh. “It’s not that small, but yeah, it’s taking a bit of getting used to. How are things in big bad Boston?”
“Not the same without you, that’s for sure. The guy I had to replace you with? Jeez, I’m surprised he ever made it through the academy.”
Though it was nice to hear from his old boss, Elliot knew that he wasn’t calling just to shoot the breeze. “So to what do I owe this pleasure? You coming down for a visit?”
He heard Frank let out a long breath and knew this wasn’t going to be good news. “We got him Elliot.”
Elliot walked over to his couch and sank down onto it. He didn’t need to ask who he was talking about, he knew already.
“Johan. We got Johan.”
“How?” he croaked, his voice raw with emotion.
“There was a big drug bust and we got lucky. He wasn’t expected to be there. You can imagine how surprised we were to see him. He was supposed to be in Columbia, we had no intel that he was back on US soil.”
“Has he been indicted?”
“Yes, he going to stand trial on charges of murder, drug trafficking, extortion, blackmail … the list goes on. Thing is, we’re going to need you back here for the trial. I’ll clear it with your bosses there.”
“Okay, let me know the details and I’ll be there.” he paused. “Thanks Frank, I owe you one.”
“Nah buddy, what he did to you, he did to us as a family. Now it’s time for him to pay.”
Elliot put the phone down and realized that his palms were damp and his hands were shaking. They’d got him. The man who had kidnapped and murdered his wife and baby boy was in prison.
Going into his bedroom he sat on his bed and picked up the photo frame that had pride of place on his bedside table. With his fingertip, he traced the outline of the woman in the picture before touching the little boy who stood at her feet, his arms wrapped around her lower leg. The picture had been taken when Robert was just two years old while they were on vacation at Disneyland. Both of them were smiling at the camera widely, happy to be spending some much needed time together as a family. Two months later they were both gone.
Meet the Author: AJ grew up in Switzerland but now lives by the sea on the South Coast of England.
She always wanted to be a lawyer and after several years working for the police, she decided to go back to school when her son was born. Graduating law school she decided that while her son was young she wanted to stay at home as much as she could and started writing, something she’d always done as a hobby.
She’s never looked back and these days she spends her time writing what she loves to read, suspense and romantic suspense.
To stay in touch, or contact AJ, please go via her Facebook Fan page here: http://www.facebook.com/ajcarella
Find A.J. here:
To Kill For: http://www.amazon.com/Kill-McKays-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00IYJUGQC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
Gang Land: http://www.amazon.com/Gang-Land-McKays-Book-4-ebook/dp/B00MU143ZU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
WATCH FOR MORE
SEASON OF THRILLS
**SNEAK PEEK** EXCERPTS!!
REFLECTION
A Whitney Steel Novel – Book One
By Kim Cresswell
Blurb: Lunch with the ex-husband is not always a fun thing especially when bullets start flying and reporter Whitney Steel finds herself in the middle of a human cloning story that will rock the world…providing she lives long enough to get her byline. “A deeply emotional romantic suspense that starts bold and holds you captive to the very end.” –New York Times Bestseller, Dianna Love
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-sneak-peek-season-of-thrillsreflection-by-kim-cresswell.html
KILLING SECRETS
A Thorne’s Thorns 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.
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-…-by-k-l-docter.html
BROKEN PIECES
Bits & Pieces Book One
By Rachel Kent
Blurb: Tara Jacobs had her life completely planned. She truly did have it all after a lifetime of struggles. Unfortunately, her stepbrother arrives in town and threatens to ruin her well-laid plans with some blackmail. Tara stops at almost nothing to keep her skeletons from tumbling out of the closet.
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-sneak-peek-broken-pieces-by-rachel-kent.html
If I FAIL
A Jake Carrington Mystery Book One
By Marian Lanouette
Blurb: Are rules really meant to be broken? Jake Carrington finds out the hard way and the answer is no! Dating Chloe Wagner was a huge mistake, and Jake should have known better—he’s investigating the murder of Chloe’s sister. Now Chloe is the number one suspect in that murder. If she’s convicted, Jake could lose not only his rank, but his career. If that’s not bad enough, he’s got a stalker on his hands, someone who’s threatening his fledgling relationship with the lovely Mia. Things are getting just a little too personal for comfort!
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-…rian-lanouette.html
SEASON OF THRILLS Box Set is a value-packed, thrill ride for those who love romantic suspense, procedural suspense, detective mysteries, thrillers, and so much more! Get all five, full-length novels for one low price NOW!
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/season-of-thrill…/1122601725
Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/season-of-thrills
Chapters/Indigo:
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/…/s…/9780996382199-item.html…
iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/…/season-of-thrills/id1033661475…
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!
September 11, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench **SNEAK PEEK**: Broken Pieces by Rachel Kent
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!
~~
SEASON OF THRILLS BOX SET
5 Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Novels
By Award-winning and Bestselling Authors
A.J. CARELLA, KIM CRESSWELL, K.L. DOCTER,
RACHEL KENT & MARIAN LANOUETTE
Now available for Pre-order
** Special limited time price ONLY $.99 **
#seasonofthrills
Release Day ~ December 1st!
Regular price of $7.99
SEASON OF THRILLS **SNEAK PEEK**
BROKEN PIECES
Bits & Pieces Book One
By Rachel Kent
Blurb: Tara Jacobs had her life completely planned. She truly did have it all after a lifetime of struggles. Unfortunately, her stepbrother arrives in town and threatens to ruin her well-laid plans with some blackmail. Tara stops at almost nothing to keep her skeletons from tumbling out of the closet.
BROKEN PIECES by RACHEL KENT
EXCERPT
“Give me the money and he’ll never see these,” he breathed, his noxious breath caused Tara Jacobs’s stomach to heave in rebellion. Her evil stepbrother Markus Lambert was threatening her. Well, she’d never truly considered him “family” since their parents were only married for about 18 months before they both died in a drug overdose.
Tara shivered when she saw the hideous photos Markus waved in front of her face. She couldn’t believe that Markus had taken them all those years ago, and they were essentially child pornography. Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered the humiliation.
She had only been 15 at the time. Young and innocent. She’d come to this horrific place to help her mom. The floorboards creaked, and the smell was putrid. The people were just as worn down as the sad excuse for a room.
Her mother lay, passed out in her own vomit with very few clothes on. Tara ran to her, when a man reached out his gnarly hand and stopped her.
“She still owes us some dances,” he growled. “If you want to take her home, you’ll have to dance in her place.”
B—but, I’m only 15,” Tara stuttered quietly.
The man laughed evilly and said “even better. Get those clothes off and stand in the middle of the boys over there.”
When Tara hesitated, he grabbed her by the arm and said, “Look Miss Priss, you’d better take those clothes off and shake what your momma gave you if you want to get her out of here in one piece.”
She took a deep breath, and just did it. She’d never even had a boyfriend, and she certainly had never had her clothes off in front of men. She quickly slipped out of her clothes and tried to put her mind in another place.
She’d never forgive her mom for this. Her mom had certainly never been a ‘good’ mom, but this was a new low even for her.
Tara tried to block out the catcalls as she slowly swayed back and forth. The men surged forward, and reached out to squeeze her breasts, and even though he was so horrible, the man who’d forced her into this put a stop to their groping as they tried to reach between her legs.
“Now, now guys, this is a look don’t touch show,” he said with a leer at the underage girl.
That night was a low point in Tara’s life. She nearly threw up as she continued to dance in place of her wasted mother. She freaked out when she heard a camera click, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. She just had to grit her way through this and get her mom out of here.
Finally, after what felt like hours, she was finished. As she struggled to wake her mom up, the man sauntered over to her and said, “any time you want to come back, you have a job here. Your mom is getting too old, and you’d be a perfect replacement.”
As if she’d ever come to a place like this again. Never. This was it, and her mother had better straighten up this time.
Looking at the photos now, she could not believe that Markus had been the one snapping pictures of her.
“Those pictures are child porn Markus.”
He laughed, and said, “Like you’re going to do anything about it. Do you want your hotshot lawyer fiancé James Hartmann and his perfect family to find out what a little whore you are? Dancing nude at only 15. You wanted it BAD didn’t you?”
Markus knew that Tara wasn’t like that, but the taunts further lowered her resolve about not allowing him to take advantage of her. He was right. She’d do nearly anything to keep James from finding out and this nightmare from becoming public. She certainly wasn’t proud of what she had done, but she had felt she had to do it to save her mother despite the fact that her efforts proved to be in vain when her mom died of an OD just a few short months after that incident.
Meet the Author: Rachel Kent is a 30-something mother of two who has been writing since the 7th grade. When she’s not writing she follows her other passions — working out, practicing yoga, teaching group fitness classes, running, or dancing.
She loves writing steamy romance and steamy romantic suspense.
Find Rachel Kent here:
Broken Pieces:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZUYLQ1S?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-pieces-rachel-kent/1122187715?ean=2940152208023
Bits & Pieces:
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZTJPVFG?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bits-pieces-rachel-kent/1122186575?ean=2940152192414
WATCH FOR MORE
SEASON OF THRILLS
**SNEAK PEEK** EXCERPTS!!
TRUE DECEIT
By A.J. Carella
Blurb: The truth will set you free … unless it kills you first.
Mike is sure he has hit rock bottom after his wife leaves him. Little does he realize that it’s just the beginning and things are about to get worse. A lot worse. But all is not as it seems and soon he is forced to face the truth of his past in order to protect his future. Intense and fast-paced, this ride will have you on the edge of your seat.
REFLECTION
A Whitney Steel Novel – Book One
By Kim Cresswell
Blurb: Lunch with the ex-husband is not always a fun thing especially when bullets start flying and reporter Whitney Steel finds herself in the middle of a human cloning story that will rock the world…providing she lives long enough to get her byline. “A deeply emotional romantic suspense that starts bold and holds you captive to the very end.” –New York Times Bestseller, Dianna Love
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-sneak-peek-season-of-thrillsreflection-by-kim-cresswell.html
KILLING SECRETS
A Thorne’s Thorns 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.
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-…-by-k-l-docter.html
If I FAIL
A Jake Carrington Mystery Book One
By Marian Lanouette
Blurb: Are rules really meant to be broken? Jake Carrington finds out the hard way and the answer is no! Dating Chloe Wagner was a huge mistake, and Jake should have known better—he’s investigating the murder of Chloe’s sister. Now Chloe is the number one suspect in that murder. If she’s convicted, Jake could lose not only his rank, but his career. If that’s not bad enough, he’s got a stalker on his hands, someone who’s threatening his fledgling relationship with the lovely Mia. Things are getting just a little too personal for comfort!
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-…rian-lanouette.html
SEASON OF THRILLS Box Set is a value-packed, thrill ride for those who love romantic suspense, procedural suspense, detective mysteries, thrillers, and so much more! Get all five, full-length novels for one low price NOW!
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/season-of-thrill…/1122601725
Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/season-of-thrills
Chapters/Indigo:
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/…/s…/9780996382199-item.html…
iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/…/season-of-thrills/id1033661475…
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!
September 10, 2015
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Cate Rowan
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s
**AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with Cate Rowan!
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, Cate Rowan, and her favorite recipe for GET-A-HUSBAND BRUNSWICK STEW!
KISS THAT FROG: A MODERN FAIRY TALE
B
Y CATE ROWAN
Blurb
A Regency frog prince stuck in modern Los Angeles . . .
In Kiss That Frog: A Modern Fairy Tale, a cynical Los Angeles artist reluctantly pet-sits for her young niece’s frog and discovers magic in the terrarium—in the form of a sexy enchanted prince.
This romantic fairy tale remix with a Regency time-travel twist is a short novella of 12,000 words (approximately 50 pages) and sells for just 99 cents.
“A perfect mix of enjoyable plot, ridiculously funny scenes, and wonderful romance.” —PW Reader
“Fill a gap in your day and grab this book. It’s sweet and short and you’ll love the mini escape from reality to enjoy some magic.” —Amazon reviewer
“Full of charm and feel-good romance.” —Amazon reviewer
KISS THAT FROG: A MODERN FAIRY TALE
B
Y CATE ROWAN
EXCERPT
Even in the short trek from the shopping mall parking lot, Sofia noticed Alexander was causing a stir.
Sure, his attire must have been part of it. In modern times, it took a secure man to walk around in a puffy shirt, tight breeches, and knee-high boots–at least anywhere other than a riding stable. Still, the women’s gazes didn’t just settle upon his clothing, but wandered back up to his face, often accompanied by a happy sigh or a none-too-subtle whisper to their girlfriends.
“I’m a bit obvious in these clothes, eh?” Alexander gave her a modest smile. “Thank you for helping me something more suitable.”
“Oh, of course,” she said, somewhat distracted by her own reaction to the stares and whispers. It was, unmistakably, sheer jealousy. The kind that made her want to grab his hand, wrap her arm around his waist, or otherwise mark him as hers as they strode through the crowd. Maybe she could tattoo him. Or get him a tee that said “I’m Sofia’s” from one of the custom shirt vendors. And yet he wasn’t. Not at all.
Panic nibbled its way through her brain.
She steered him into the Banana Republic and toward the men’s section. His keen eyes seemed to take everything in: the items for sale, the people, their behavior as they looked through the clothes. “Shoppers try on clothing right here, in public?”
“Men might change shirts out here, but women usually use a dressing room for changing clothes.” She pointed toward the curtained area.
He nodded, and she could almost see the gears turning in his head as he looked for the differences from his time and assimilated them. Smart men had always been her Achilles’ heel.
Down to business. Clothes, Sofia. Clothes. “Hmm, maybe this,” she said, holding up a cerulean polo shirt. “Yes, the color sets off your eyes.”
“You’re noticing my eyes, are you?”
D’oh. “If we’re going to get you new clothes,” she stammered, “they should be ones that look good on you.”
“Is that so?”
With his gaze locked on hers, he began to tug his long-sleeved shirt from the waistband of his breeches and roll it up his body.
Was that sweat beading in the small of her back as he exposed more of his manly torso? Yes, definitely sweat. He was going to strip off his shirt right here in the middle of the store. She should direct him to the dressing rooms for her own sanity. But it was just a shirt, right? Oh, sweet cheese…
Her mouth went wet at the sight of his rippling muscles. She found herself leaning against a rack of men’s dress shirts, her knees threatening to wobble.
About the author…Cate Rowan.
Cate has washed laundry in a crocodile-infested African lake, parasailed over a Mexican beach, swum with dolphins in the Florida Keys and had Costa Rican monkeys poop in her hair, but her favorite adventures are in story worlds. Her lush fantasy romances about magical deeds, kismet, and true love in realms near and far have made her won more than thirty awards and made her an Amazon Bestseller. Discover more at http://CateRowan.com.
~~~
Links to Cate’s website, blog, books, etc.
Website: http://CateRowan.com
Get Kiss That Frog: A Modern Fairy Tale at Amazon for just 99 cents: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008HW917Q/ or get links to all vendors at http://CateRowan.com/frog.
I hope you enjoy the recipe Cate is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 217 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GET-A-HUSBAND BRUNSWICK STEW
This recipe comes from another of my tales, the FREE short story Flirting with the Fireman (http://CateRowan.com/fm). Jessica Walker, a reclusive artist moving from Atlanta into the Colorado mountains, receives this recipe card from her happily-married best friend Lily—along with a kick in the pants.
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onions
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 1/2 pounds ground pork (or pre-packaged pulled pork)
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 (3-pound) whole cooked chicken, deboned and shredded
3 (14.5-oz) cans whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped (or peel & chop fresh tomatoes, retaining the juice)
1-2 medium potatoes (optional)
1 cup ketchup
3/4 cup hickory-flavored barbecue sauce
Salt and pepper to taste (Jane’s Krazy Mixed-Up Salt and hickory-smoked salt are good here, as well as a little Old Bay)
Hot sauce to taste (optional)
1-2 whole bell peppers (green is fine, although orange or red add interest)
2 (14.75-oz) cans creamed corn or 16 oz frozen niblets
Directions:
1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Sauté the onions and celery until soft. Mix in the pork and beef and cook until evenly browned. Do not drain.
2. Transfer the mixture to your stockpot and put over low heat. Stir in the shredded chicken, tomatoes and their liquid, potatoes, ketchup, and barbecue sauce. Season with salt, pepper, Old Bay and hot sauce. Place whole pepper(s) into the mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 hours or until thickened.
3. Stir the corn into the stew mixture. Continue cooking 1 hour, or to desired consistency. Remove the pepper(s); chop and return to the stew.
4. IMPORTANT: Over the first bite, wish for your husband to appear!
Makes 16 servings…so share it with someone special, Jess.
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Cate is giving away another of her tales, the FREE short story FLIRTING WITH THE FIREMAN (http://CateRowan.com/fm). . Don’t miss the chance to read these books! Thanks, Cate, for sharing your story with us!
September 9, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench **SNEAK PEEK**: Season of Thrills/IF I FAIL by Marian Lanouette
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!
~~
SEASON OF THRILLS BOX SET
5 Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Novels
By Award-winning and Bestselling Authors
A.J. CARELLA, KIM CRESSWELL, K.L. DOCTER,
RACHEL KENT & MARIAN LANOUETTE
Now available for Pre-order
** Special limited time price ONLY $.99 **
#seasonofthrills
Release Day ~ December 1st!
Regular price of $7.99
SEASON OF THRILLS **SNEAK PEEK**
If I FAIL
A Jake Carrington Mystery Book One
By Marian Lanouette
Blurb: Are rules really meant to be broken? Jake Carrington finds out the hard way and the answer is no! Dating Chloe Wagner was a huge mistake, and Jake should have known better—he’s investigating the murder of Chloe’s sister. Now Chloe is the number one suspect in that murder. If she’s convicted, Jake could lose not only his rank, but his career. If that’s not bad enough, he’s got a stalker on his hands, someone who’s threatening his fledgling relationship with the lovely Mia. Things are getting just a little too personal for comfort!
IF I FAIL by MARIAN LANOUETTE
EXCERPT
The next morning Jake picked Louie up. Together they headed to Farmington, to the medical examiner’s office. The ME, Doctor Lang, would perform the autopsy on Keisha at nine a.m.
“I checked my email this morning. The lab sent over the tox report on Washington. I don’t know how a guy with all that shit in his system remained conscious. I printed out a copy for you,” Louie said.
“Okay, I’ll look it over when we get to Farmington.”
Not one of their favorite parts of the job, they geared up mentally for the autopsy. Some just hit you harder than others. Jake’s stomach rolled like waves in a storm over this one. As he drove down the road, his mind wandered back in time to his first visit to the morgue. The year was 1992.
A buzzing rang out in his ears. He didn’t know if it was from the florescent lights overhead or the starkness of the corridor as their footsteps echoed in the silence. The buzzing grew louder as the door drew closer. The medical examiner, Doctor Ed Jerome, put his hand up to stop them.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “James, I know you’ve done this a hundred times, but this time it’s different. I can make the identification for you.”
“No, I need to do this, Ed.”
“Okay, why doesn’t Jake wait out here?” Doctor Jerome offered, giving Jake an out.
Jake spoke up, his voice louder than intended. “I’m going in.” He said it with such force it brooked no argument.
“Okay.” Ed pushed open the door.
On the table lay a body covered with a white sheet. Ed’s assistants had set the victim up for viewing. There was no way to hide the odor of death, though they tried to camouflage it with disinfectant, air fresheners, and Clorox. ’The house of death’ is what cops called it.
Jake took a deep breath; he looked to his father for support. A tall man, whom Jake favored in height only, his father squared his shoulders and nodded to the ME.
“Show me,” James demanded.
Doc Jerome pulled back the sheet to reveal a girl in her mid-teens, badly bruised, the trauma of her death etched in her horrified expression. Fright forever pasted in her expression.
“Was she raped?” James asked, while tears escaped his eyes.
“Yes.”
Neither man paid attention to Jake’s weeping at their side. Jake couldn’t stop as he viewed his younger sister. He gently touched her forehead, her cheek, kissing her on the lips.
He turned away in grief, saw both his anger and his pain reflected in his father’s face. His father’s fists clenched, his shoulders racked with heavy sobs as he viewed the broken body of his daughter. Jake understood he looked with a father’s eye, not a cop’s.
“Who could do such a thing to such a sweet, innocent girl?” James cried. Asking the same question that many, many parents asked him throughout his career. Jake understood his father never thought he’d be here asking the same questions, viewing his own.
The buzzing in Jake’s ears increased. The next thing he knew, someone held a glass of water to his lips. The stress of the situation had overtaken him—he’d collapsed on the floor.
“I’m sorry, Jake. I shouldn’t have brought you here.” James hugged Jake, crushing him to his chest.
“I’m fine, Dad. Only, when you catch the bastard, I’m going to kill him for what he did to Eva. You need to know that.” He cursed in front of his father for the first time.
“Jake, don’t speak…”
“Jake, Goddamn it, Jake…” Brought back to the present by Louie yelling, horns blasting—Louie shaking him—Christ, he looked pale. Did I blackout? Jake wondered.
“What’s up, Louie?” Jake tried to shake off the memory.
“What’s up? You almost got us killed. Where the hell did you go?” Louie shouted.
“I’m sorry, Louie.” Jake pulled off the road, on to the shoulder of the highway. He put the car in park. “I don’t know what got into me. Here, you drive.” Unbuckling his seat belt, Jake climbed out of the car, walked around to the passenger’s side, climbed in.
“What gives?” Louie asked after he took the wheel.
“Only a flash back,” Jake stated. Louie knew about them, no one else did.
“Only? Jesus, you almost got us killed, Jake. You haven’t had one in a long time. A bad one? You know, I think I’m gonna have to check my shorts later,” Louie rambled.
“Funny. It was my first time at the morgue.”
Meet the Author: A graduate of Post University, Marian Lanouette is one of ten children. She took up writing to explore new and adventurous places. While her friends traveled on planes for vacation, Marian traveled in books. With an overactive imagination she started creating her own characters and stories. Her first book If I Fail, A Jake Carrington Mystery hit the Amazon top two hundred and was followed with Burn in Hell following winter which also resided in the top 500 on Amazon in its first month of release.
Marian also writes romance under the pseudonym Merry Holly. Her brain child Season of Magic Box Set hit the Amazon Bestselling list and stayed there for 17 weeks. This May Marian followed it up with Season of Love Box Set. She plans many more books in the Season of series.
An avid reader, she discovered her love of mysteries by reading the Daily News as a youngster. Intrigued by the real life crimes, and how the police worked and eventually solved cases, ignited her imagination beyond the ordinary.
Marian has many books planned for Jake Carrington and his crew. The third book in the series Mated for Life will be out in late 2015. Also planned for 2015 is the Season of Surprises Box Set.
Find Marian Lanouette here:
Website: http://www.marianl.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marian.lanouette
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMarian
Marian Lanouette:
http://www.amazon.com/Marian-Lanouette/e/B0095YFGZ6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1433520796&sr=8-1
Merry Holly:
http://www.amazon.com/Merry-Holly/e/B00OZR4JEC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1433520838&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Season-Surprise...
http://www.amazon.com/Season-Surprise...
Books:
http://www.amazon.com/Season-Magic-Holiday-Box-Set-ebook/dp/B00OZ136A6/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
WATCH FOR MORE
SEASON OF THRILLS
**SNEAK PEEK** EXCERPTS!!
TRUE DECEIT
By A.J. Carella
Blurb: The truth will set you free … unless it kills you first.
Mike is sure he has hit rock bottom after his wife leaves him. Little does he realize that it’s just the beginning and things are about to get worse. A lot worse. But all is not as it seems and soon he is forced to face the truth of his past in order to protect his future. Intense and fast-paced, this ride will have you on the edge of your seat.
REFLECTION
A Whitney Steel Novel – Book One
By Kim Cresswell
Blurb: Lunch with the ex-husband is not always a fun thing especially when bullets start flying and reporter Whitney Steel finds herself in the middle of a human cloning story that will rock the world…providing she lives long enough to get her byline. “A deeply emotional romantic suspense that starts bold and holds you captive to the very end.” –New York Times Bestseller, Dianna Love
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-sneak-peek-season-of-thrillsreflection-by-kim-cresswell.html
KILLING SECRETS
A Thorne’s Thorns 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.
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-…-by-k-l-docter.html
BROKEN PIECES
Bits & Pieces Book
By Rachel Kent
Blurb: Tara Jacobs had her life completely planned. She truly did have it all after a lifetime of struggles. Unfortunately, her stepbrother arrives in town and threatens to ruin her well-laid plans with some blackmail. Tara stops at almost nothing to keep her skeletons from tumbling out of the closet.
SEASON OF THRILLS Box Set is a value-packed, thrill ride for those who love romantic suspense, procedural suspense, detective mysteries, thrillers, and so much more! Get all five, full-length novels for one low price NOW!
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/season-of-thrill…/1122601725
Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/season-of-thrills
Chapters/Indigo:
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/…/s…/9780996382199-item.html…
iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/…/season-of-thrills/id1033661475…
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!
September 8, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: P.A.W.S. by Debbie Manber Kupfer
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!
~~
P.A.W.S.
BY DEBBIE MANBER KUPFER
Blurb
When Miri receives a silver cat charm from her omama on the night before she dies she has no idea that the charm holds a secret, a powerful magic that saved her omama’s life and is about to make Miri’s a whole lot more interesting.
P.A.W.S.
BY DEBBIE MANBER KUPFER
Excerpt
Vienna, October 2, 1941.
Today was Celia’s tenth birthday. This was not how she imagined celebrating it. She was with her family – her mama, Miriam; her papa, David; her elder brother, Issel; and her baby sister, Sara. They were huddled together in the back room of their tiny two-room apartment in Grosse Spielgasse, in the dark, barely breathing.
Outside the building, the boot steps got nearer and nearer. Celia heard shouting, screaming, gunshots. She crouched down even closer to the ground, wishing that somehow they could all melt away into the shadows. Celia clutched her cat, Max, tightly in her arms, feeling his warmth, his soft tabby fur close to her skin, willing him to stay quiet.
Her mama cradled little Sara at her breast, nursing her so she would not cry out. Outside, the pounding footsteps were getting closer, closer: “Juden, Juden, Heraus, Heraus, Schnell, Schnell!” Now they were at the door of the neighbors – the Wassersteins. She heard crying and a single gunshot.
Miriam beckoned to her. “Celia, mein Katzerl, come here,” she whispered. “I have something for you, for your birthday.”
Celia approached Miriam cautiously, still clutching Max to her. “What is it, Mama?” she asked, gazing into Miriam’s blue, blue eyes. She studied her prematurely wrinkled face, memorizing every crease. Mama, my mama, she thought.
Still holding baby Sara with her left hand, Miriam reached around the back of her neck with her right and unclasped the chain that she always wore beneath her clothes, close to her heart. It was a silver chain with a cat charm on it. “Take this, Celia, mein Katzerl. Wear it always, and remember I love you. Ich liebe dich.”
“I love you, Mama,” Celia whispered as she fastened the chain around her neck just as the doors burst open. Six Gestapo soldiers rushed into their home – “Juden, Heraus, Heraus, Schnell, Schnell…” Celia watched as her family was herded out of the door.
About the Author, Debbie Manber Kupfer… Kathy Clark is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels have sold more than three million copies in eleven languages. Her plot lines have always championed women’s empowerment, placing strong female characters in real-life situations. Her stories will make you laugh and cry, and her characters will live in your heart forever. She lives with her husband and co-author, Bob Wernly.
~~~
Links to Debbie’s website, blog, books, etc.
Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B0129GG6YQ
Paws4Thought: http://debbiemanberkupfer.wordpress.com/
Paws4Puzzles:
Twitter: @CiciCat42
Amazon:
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Debbie is giving away an ebook of P.A.W.S. to one lucky reader who comments on her **Author Peek** Interview or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs. Don’t miss the chance to read this book! Thanks, Debbie, for sharing your story with us!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench **SNEAK PEEK**: Season of Thrills/KILLING SECRETS by K.L. Docter
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!
~~
SEASON OF THRILLS BOX SET
5 Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Novels
By Award-winning and Bestselling Authors
A.J. CARELLA, KIM CRESSWELL, K.L. DOCTER,
RACHEL KENT & MARIAN LANOUETTE
Now available for Pre-order
** Special limited time price ONLY $.99 **
#seasonofthrills
Release Day ~ December 1st!
Regular price of $7.99
SEASON OF THRILLS **SNEAK PEEK**
KILLING SECRETS
A Thorne’s Thorns 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.
EXCERPT
Prologue
Four weeks…
Two days…
Sixteen hours…
‘Til death.
The first time he laid eyes on her, he stood on the threshold of a doorway he dare not cross. He fell into her fathomless dark gaze, unable, unwilling to shake his soul free and, in that one moment, he knew.
She was meant for him to love.
Untouched by the sordid life that flourished around her, she was sunlight in a gray existence. A smile in a dingy room. A joy such as he’d never known. She was a gift from a cold, unforgiving God. Forever innocent.
Why God would give him such a precious angel, he hadn’t a clue. But he suddenly knew what he was willing to die for. What he’d kill for.
In that instant of clarity the monster that lurked in the dark recesses of his mind was freed. A creature designed to kill. To live and die. Over and over again. Until his angel ascended once more to her place in Heaven at God’s feet where he couldn’t reach her.
‘Til death parted them, she was his and his alone.
Certain she’d been lost to him, the shock of spotting her again in LoDo, a lower downtown section of Denver, nearly brought him to his knees. His brain tried to tell him he was mistaken. She had more curves than he remembered. Her hairstyle and clothes were different.
The others were different, too.
He shook his head against the monster’s treacherous whisper. He refused to listen. Couldn’t listen. His angel smiled at him. His soul recognized her. Somehow, some way, his fractious God had been appeased and given him yet another chance.
The past seven days were hell. Watching her. Wanting to take her. He couldn’t screw up and lose her again. Tonight, his preparations in place, she’d return to his side where she belonged.
Breathing slow and measured through the full-face ski mask he’d bought at a thrift store, he sucked in a lungful of musty stench. In this uncommon late-May heat wave, he was sweating bullets, but the wool soaked it up before it could sting his eyes. The itching would drive him insane, though, if she didn’t come home from work soon.
The LoDo sports bar where she waited tables closed almost an hour ago. She couldn’t have gone on a date at two o’clock on a Thursday morning, could she?
Three times he’d entered her ground floor apartment after she’d left for work, and he’d seen no sign she was involved with anyone. No jockey shorts mixed with her
panties in the hamper. No extra razor. The food in the refrigerator wasn’t enough to feed a cat, let alone her and a boyfriend, and the only scent on her pillows was floral. The sole message from a male on her answering machine had identified himself as a special research librarian from the Denver Public Library reminding her to pick up the copy of “The Warwick Genealogy” she’d requested.
That doesn’t mean she isn’t still involved with him, the almighty scion of Thorne Enterprises. She’s probably crawling into his bed like a whore right this minute, letting him do things to her, making her scream….
ScreamsBlood.
Death.
“No! Stop!” he whispered. “That was a mistake!”
Was it? The insidious question lashed him from the dark place in his pounding
skull.
He rejected the smirking voice, the vivid images. Think of something else.
Anything else. Forgetforgetfor—
A car alarm screamed at an outlying parking lot and dragged him out of his
fugue. His eyes cleared. The pain behind them eased to a level he’d learned to carry over the years.
Soon, he would kill the nightmares forever. Patrick Thorne would die and the secrets with him. But the contractor hadn’t been punished enough yet. Before he finished, he’d ruin Thorne’s reputation, his livelihood, destroy everything he loved most in the world.
Just as Thorne destroyed our lives. The man must die! Now!
Restless to escape its bonds the monster thrust knife-hot pain in his brain, but he wrestled it back into the shadows and locked it down. Retribution was almost at hand, but not tonight. This night was about her.
Where was she?
There! Her tennis shoes slapped the sidewalk as she approached. He caught a flash of uniform—shorts and sports shirt, both too tight for decency. Then she walked out of the weak light that pooled across the commons into the dark well that led to her door. Her building superintendent had replaced her broken porch light this morning, but he’d smashed it again. He smiled when she cursed someone named Ronnie.
With a jingle of keys, she passed the niche he’d carved for himself in the shrubs. A bunch of adrenaline surged through him, made him light-headed with anticipation. He shook the buzz from his head and crashed out of the bushes with more noise than he intended.
Her head snapped left. She shot a glance over her shoulder. Her eyes widened. She lunged for the safety of her door.
He chased after her, grabbed her by the throat. A squeeze of her windpipe cut off her scream. He didn’t want to damage her too much. He just needed to get her alone.
To atone. To give him another chance.
With her body crushed against him, he groaned with pleasure. It had been so
long! For a moment he forgot his purpose, lost in the new scent of her, in the innocent softness of her curves. Her breasts were full beneath his forearm. The sweet curve of her ass cradled his stiff penis. With another groan, his grip relaxed.
She screamed. Struggling, she broke loose of his hold.
Shit! Reaching out, he snagged her long ponytail and yanked her back hard. With his other hand, he strangled her next scream into a whimper. “Do that again,” he grated, “I’ll use my knife.” The honed blade was secure in his pocket but she didn’t know that.
“I have money,” she croaked. “Three hundred. Tips. In my pocket. Please! Don’t—”
“Shh. Don’t fight me. Shh,” he crooned into her hair. He tugged a chloroform- laced rag from his pants pocket and fitted it over her face. “Just give me another chance, Angel, and everything will be fine.”
This time she’d make the right choice because, God only knew, he’d truly go insane if he had to kill her all over again.
Meet the Author: Amazon Bestselling Author K.L. Docter writes two different kinds of romance novels…Romantic Suspense w/a K.L. Docter and Contemporary Romance w/a Karen Docter.
Karen/K.L.’s an award-winning author, a four-time Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist, and won the coveted Kiss of Death Romance Writers Daphne du Maurier Award Category (Series) Romantic Mystery Unpublished division.
When she’s not saving her characters from death and destruction or helping them to fall in love, she loves camping and fishing with her family, reading, gardening & cooking. If she can do most of those things over a campfire, all the better!
Find Karen/K.L. Docter here:
Website/Blog: http://www.karendocter.com
Twitter: @KarenDocter
Karen Docter FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-Docter-Author/112017712223396
K.L. Docter FB: https://www.facebook.com/kldocter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754902.Karen_Docter
WATCH FOR MORE
SEASON OF THRILLS
**SNEAK PEEK** EXCERPTS!!
TRUE DECEIT
By A.J. Carella
Blurb: The truth will set you free … unless it kills you first.
Mike is sure he has hit rock bottom after his wife leaves him. Little does he realize that it’s just the beginning and things are about to get worse. A lot worse. But all is not as it seems and soon he is forced to face the truth of his past in order to protect his future. Intense and fast-paced, this ride will have you on the edge of your seat.
REFLECTION
A Whitney Steel Novel – Book One
By Kim Cresswell
Blurb: Lunch with the ex-husband is not always a fun thing especially when bullets start flying and reporter Whitney Steel finds herself in the middle of a human cloning story that will rock the world…providing she lives long enough to get her byline. “A deeply emotional romantic suspense that starts bold and holds you captive to the very end.” –New York Times Bestseller, Dianna Love
Excerpt Shared: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-sneak-peek-season-of-thrillsreflection-by-kim-cresswell.html
BROKEN PIECES
Bits & Pieces Book
By Rachel Kent
Blurb: Tara Jacobs had her life completely planned. She truly did have it all after a lifetime of struggles. Unfortunately, her stepbrother arrives in town and threatens to ruin her well-laid plans with some blackmail. Tara stops at almost nothing to keep her skeletons from tumbling out of the closet.
If I FAIL
A Jake Carrington Mystery Book One
By Marian Lanouette
Blurb: Are rules really meant to be broken? Jake Carrington finds out the hard way and the answer is no! Dating Chloe Wagner was a huge mistake, and Jake should have known better—he’s investigating the murder of Chloe’s sister. Now Chloe is the number one suspect in that murder. If she’s convicted, Jake could lose not only his rank, but his career. If that’s not bad enough, he’s got a stalker on his hands, someone who’s threatening his fledgling relationship with the lovely Mia. Things are getting just a little too personal for comfort!
SEASON OF THRILLS Box Set is a value-packed, thrill ride for those who love romantic suspense, procedural suspense, detective mysteries, thrillers, and so much more! Get all five, full-length novels for one low price NOW!
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/season-of-thrill…/1122601725
Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/season-of-thrills
Chapters/Indigo:
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/…/s…/9780996382199-item.html…
iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/…/season-of-thrills/id1033661475…
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!
Congratulations Week 08-31-15 Giveaway Winner!
CONGRATULATIONS WEEK
08-31-15
GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with Cynthia Woolf!!
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Cynthia is giving away one print copy of the BRIDES OF TOMBSTONE trilogy (US only) to one lucky reader who comments on her **Author Peek** Interview or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs. Thanks again, Cynthia, for sharing your book with us!
WINNER ~ SHERRY!!
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There’s Still Time to #WIN These
Karen’s Killer Book Bench Blog Giveaways!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with M.L. CALLAHAN!!
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Be sure to enter M.L.’s giveaway for a chance to #WIN a $50 gift card or one of five (5) ARCs (print or digital US and Canada only)! (22 Days Left)
Enter Here:
http://www.karendocter.com/karens-kil...
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with KATHY CLARK!!
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Rafflecopter Giveaway (Loveswept & Flirt Mugs and a Select Ebook Bundle!! (9 Days Left)
Enter Here:
http://www.karendocter.com/karens-kil...
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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.
