Karen Docter's Blog, page 239
July 16, 2015
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Pauline Gruber
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with PAULINE GRUBER!
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, Pauline Gruber, and her favorite recipe for TOFFEE BARS!
THE GIRL AND THE GARGOYLE
B
Y PAULINE GRUBER
Blurb
Being half-witch/half-demon and dating Marcus, a gargoyle and demon enemy, is complicated enough for Lucy. She can almost tolerate Jude, her demon father, forcing her to undergo combat training. But when Marcus’s long-lost family returns to Chicago, her world begins to crumble. Marcus’s mother wants him leave to join the gargoyle clan; his father wants him to help kill Jude. There’s one major problem with this: if Jude dies, Lucy dies.
Marcus will do whatever it takes to save Lucy and her father. Meanwhile Lucy has her own plan and with the aid of a surprise newcomer, seeks help from the most unlikely—and dangerous—source.
THE GIRL AND THE GARGOYLE
B
Y PAULINE GRUBER
EXCERPT
Chapter One
Lucy Walker
The clatter of my cell phone bouncing against the nightstand startles me awake. My heavy lids refuse to open. Another late night on the roof with Marcus—and that was after spending two hours working on a killer CD mix for him. Did he struggle this much when he made my CDs last year?
I snuggle into my pillow, sleep beckoning. My phone vibrates again. I reach for it with a groan. Marcus is probably the only person I would forgive for bugging me this early. Maybe my gargoyle boyfriend wants to meet me for an early morning kiss? Nothing could top that.
Seriously??? Are you kidding me??? You’re the luckiest girl alive!
I reread Katie’s text, but it makes no sense.
I bolt upright. Is it possible she saw us last night? Crap. I fell asleep on the roof with Marcus. He and his wings, in all their glorious beauty, delivered me safely to the ground. He doesn’t need his wings for that small of a jump. He did it for me. He knows I love them.
I swallow a shriek as I spot the figure leaning against my dresser.
“What are you doing in my bedroom?” I snap, my heart hammering against my rib cage.
Jude crosses his arms over his chest. In the year that I’ve known him, my father has learned to mimic human gestures well. Then it hits me. That’s one of my most common gestures.
“I would like to meet your great-uncles.”
I swallow hard. “I told you it would happen when the time’s right.”
“I’m done waiting.”
“Let me ease them into it,” I plead.
My phone vibrates in my hand. That’s when I remember Katie’s message.
Well????
What do I say to my best friend and neighbor if she saw Marcus deliver me to my bedroom window? Play dumb?
My uncles putter around the kitchen, clanging pans and chopping vegetables. The smell of fresh brewed coffee drifts into my bedroom, followed by the heavy, smoky smell of bacon.
“Perfect. We can have breakfast together,” Jude says.
I return my cell to my bedside table.
“Please,” I whisper. “Not today.”
The front door creaks open. Sheldon grabbing the Sunday paper from the sidewalk? How do I get rid of Jude? I throw off my sheet and blanket, thinking through a safe response to Katie.
“Bernard? Can you come here, please?”
Something about Sheldon’s tone causes the back of my neck to get all prickly. Do they know Jude’s here? How did he get in, anyway? Did he pick the lock on the front door?
“Lucy?” Bernard calls out.
Jude pushes himself off the dresser. “I’ll be out front. Come and invite me in.” In one smooth motion, he climbs out the window. So that’s how he did it.
I change out of pajamas and into shorts and a T-shirt, my stomach churning.
How do I introduce Jude?
Sheldon despises him for what he did to Momma. Never mind that he’s been absent my entire life. How do I explain that Gram played a role in keeping my father and me apart? And that she used magic to do it? My uncles are in the dark about everything. They don’t know Gram was a witch. They don’t know about all the supernaturals living in the three-flat building. And they don’t know I’m half-witch, half-demon. If they did, I think their heads would explode.
“Lucy?” Sheldon’s voice is much louder this time.
“Hey, Sheldon. Bernard. What’s up?” I say as I enter the living room. Travel brochures decorate the coffee table. Are they still debating between Costa Rica and Alaska for our family vacation?
“We were going to ask you the same question.” Bernard frowns, his hands on his hips.
They know about Jude, but how?
Sheldon grabs my hand as Bernard pushes aside the drapes and jabs his finger toward the window. “What in the world is that?”
I look outside.
Oh no.
Katie’s text message now makes sense.
My mouth falls open as I stare at the brand-spanking new dark blue car that screams, Officer, I’m a teenage driver, please pull me over. Shiny and gorgeous, adorned with a humongous red bow on top with words written in gold, so large I can read them clearly from the apartment, Happy Belated Birthday, Lucy.
My entire nervous system buzzes with panic. Subtlety is not Jude’s strong suit.
I feel the weight of my uncles’ stares.
“Something you want to share with the class, Luce?” Sheldon asks.
I wrap my arms around my stomach. Forget butterflies, I’ve got a violent case of hornets swarming in my belly. “Yeah, that’s a tough one.”
About the author…Pauline Gruber.
Pauline Gruber is a self-professed music junkie, cat wrangler, and travel nut. She went to Paris in the 90’s where she discovered a love of three things: croissants, old cathedrals, and gargoyles. Deciding that the paranormal world could use a new kind of hero, Pauline translated her fascination with the protective gargoyle into a suspenseful love story. She is the author of the young adult series, The Girl and the Raven, The Girl and the Gargoyle and the forthcoming novel, The Girl and the Demon. By day, Pauline is a legal assistant for a Chicago law firm where she steals identities and incorporates them into her books. If you tell anyone, she’ll deny, deny, deny.
Pauline lives outside of Chicago with her precocious black cats.
~~~
Links to Pauline’s website, blog, books, etc.
Contact Information:
Website: www.paulinegruber.com
Author Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/paulinegruberauthor?ref=hl
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulineGruber
Purchase Links :
Barnes & Noble Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girl-and-the-gargoyle-pauline-gruber/1056099821?ean=2940151166706
Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-girl-and-the-gargoyle
I hope you enjoy the recipe Pauline is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 209 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TOFFEE BARS
1 package graham crackers (maybe a little over 1 pkg)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup packed brown sugar (I prefer to mix light and dark brown sugars)
2 cups chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12 x 8” baking pan (jelly roll pan with 1” edges all around) with aluminum foil. Arrange graham crackers in a single layer on the foil (you can break them down to make them fit). Don’t worry if pieces overlap.
Place butter and brown sugar in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Cook a few minutes or until the mixture comes together and doesn’t look oily (I take it to a good healthy boil). Pour mixture over graham crackers as evenly as possible Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes or until mixture is bubbly.
As soon as graham crackers come out of the oven, sprinkle with the chocolate chips. The chocolate will melt from the heat of the toffee. Allow to rest for 5 minutes. With a knife, spread the chocolate as evenly as possible.
Chill until the chocolate and caramel are set (preferably overnight in the refrigerator). Break into uneven chunks.
(*This handwritten recipe was originally given to me by a friend using matzo crackers. I was attending Passover dinner with some family friends and was in charge of dessert. Afterwards, I thought I would try it on graham crackers for other events and it’s always been a huge hit!)
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Pauline is giving away a digital copy (winner’s choice of vendor) of THE GIRL AND THE GARGOYLE to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** blog. Don’t miss the chance to read this book! Thanks, Pauline, for sharing your story with us!
July 15, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Once Upon A Cowboy by Maggie McGinnis
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!
~~
ONCE UPON A COWBOY
Whisper Creek #1
BY MAGGIE McGINNIS
Blurb
In this sexy Whisper Creek romance for readers of Kristan Higgins, Susan Mallery, and Molly O’Keefe, a red-hot cowboy uses some Montana magic to give a reclusive beauty her happily ever after.
Yoga instructor Jessalyn Alcott radiates peace, calm, and serenity—on the outside. Inside, she still feels like the broken, desperate girl from the trailer park. She’s got dark secrets she can’t share, which is why she never lets her relationships go beyond the third date. But when she travels to the Whisper Creek dude ranch for a friend’s wedding, Jess is enchanted by a cowboy whose deep blue eyes, dimpled smile, and rock-hard body make it tough to remember why she keeps running scared.
Cole Driscoll has struggled to find his place on a family ranch where he’s always played second fiddle. His future might be uncertain, but he’s sure of one thing: He wants Jess by his side. Easier said than done. When it comes to getting close, she’s full of excuses, and he longs to fix the hurt he sees in her eyes. Now that she’s at Whisper Creek, there’s nothing he wants more than to break down the walls around her heart and heal her pain with the power of love.
ONCE UPON A COWBOY
Whisper Creek #1
BY MAGGIE McGINNIS
Excerpt
“Oh, lordy. I forgot my shoes!” Jess handed her carry-on bag to her landlady and scrambled back through the door of her yoga studio. Forgetting a jacket was one thing, but showing up for bridesmaid duty at Montana’s Whisper Creek Ranch in flip-flops would send her friend Hayley into serious bridezilla mode.
She flew back down the stairs, but as she reached for the door, the studio phone rang. She debated letting it go to voice mail, but since Hayley had called six times already this morning to add items to her packing list, she figured she’d better answer. She put the phone to her ear, but before she could say hello, a voice rasped over the line, and Jess’s eyes widened in fright.
“Knock-knock,” growled a cigarette-fried throat that could belong to only one person. Jess’s hand shook as her knees buckled. Then there was a cackle. “What’s the matter? You forget how to play this game? You’re supposed to say who’s there?”
Jess spun around, eyes taking in the gleaming hardwood floors of her yoga studio, the mats piled neatly in one corner, the sunny little shop area in the other corner, the brand-new door with its brand-new locks. The busy Boston street outside her door was a far cry from the dumpy Charleston suburb she’d left in the rearview mirror thirteen long years ago, but South Carolina suddenly felt very, very close.
They couldn’t possibly know where she was. They just—couldn’t.
But they apparently had her number. She hadn’t heard this voice for thirteen years, except in her nightmares, but here it was on the other end of the phone.
She took a deep breath in through her nose, exhaling carefully as she gripped the receiver with white knuckles. At least it wasn’t Billy. God help her—it wasn’t Billy.
“I’m sorry. I think you have the wrong number.” She cringed as her voice shook.
The cackling laughter at the other end of the line dissolved into a coughing spasm and a series of expletives. Then, “Bullshit, princess. I have exactly the right number. Yours.”
Jess slammed the phone back into its cradle, but missed and had to do it again. She tried to take a series of calming breaths, but instead ended up walking in circles, her heart thumping so fast that she started to feel faint.
The phone rang again, and she almost tripped. After four rings, the call went to the ancient answering machine on the desk. The same voice was still cackling as she left her message. “Not gonna answer now? Your auntie calls for the first time in thirteen years, and now you’re gonna play possum?”
There was a long pause, another cough. “All right, then. I’ve waited this long. Guess a few more days won’t hurt.” She coughed again, and Jess winced. Two packs a day hadn’t killed her yet, but it couldn’t be too much longer before they did. “We got a lot to talk about, princess. Maybe you’ve gone and forgot about Billy, but he ain’t forgot about you. Mack, neither. I think you know what I mean. You call me. Same number.” Cough. Cackle. “We ain’t gone nowhere since you left.”
The answering machine clicked as Luanne hung up. If history held, she’d light up another Salem Light, creak back in her crusty recliner, and use her remaining teeth to chaw on a beef jerky she’d dipped in her Old Milwaukee beer. Breakfast.
Jess wrung her hands as she started pacing again. How had they found her number?
How had they found her name, for God’s sake?
Someone rapped on the door, and she grabbed her throat as her heart rate spiked again. They couldn’t be here. Not possible.
“Yo, Jess. Cabbie’s getting impatient.”
Oh, thank God. Just Gianna. She’d left the poor landlady standing on the sidewalk surrounded by suitcases. Jess tried to calm her heart rate before she went back outside, but it was useless. Finally, she headed through the door, pulling it closed behind her and locking the three deadbolts.
Gianna raised her eyebrows as Jess double-checked the last lock. “You expecting zombies while you’re gone?”
Jess swallowed hard. Worse. “No.”
Gianna’s eyes made a quick dart from the door to her. “You look like you’re expecting zombies. You all right?”
“Yes. Fine. Just fine.” Jess opened the cab door and tossed in her carry-on bag. “I’m late, that’s all.”
“You got everything?”
Jess pointed to her shoes, shaking her head. “I do now.”
Gianna took her by the shoulders and kissed both cheeks. “You have fun out there, missy. You haven’t had a vacation in way too long. You just stay in Montana as long as you want to. I got everything covered here.” She motioned Jess into the cab. “Go. Have fun. Enjoy the wedding. Maybe find a cowboy so I can live vicariously through you, okay?”
Jess’s stomach jumped at the thought of one particular cowboy at Whisper Creek. She hadn’t seen Cole since Christmastime, but she’d checked in on him via the ranch’s website once or twice a month, or maybe—ahem—daily.
“I’ll do my best, Gianna. I will definitely do my best.” She blew her a kiss and closed the door, but Gianna put a hand up to stop her.
“Almost forgot. Mail came while you were inside. I was going to just hold it till you got back, but this one looks important.” She handed a manila envelope through the window, then waved and thumped the roof, kicking the cabbie into gear.
As the taxi reached the end of the street and careened onto the next one, Jess held on to the door handle, cursing herself for not finding a friend to drive her to Logan Airport. Even on a Sunday morning, she’d rather navigate Boston traffic on a unicycle than put her life into the hands of one of the city’s cabbies.
When they entered the tunnel that dumped them out near the airport, Jess tried not to think about how much an ocean weighed, or whether the people who’d designed this underwater Slinky had gotten Ds in Structural Engineering. She needed distraction as the cab inched forward, and even the phone call of twenty minutes ago wasn’t enough of one.
She was debating whether it was legal to jump out of the taxi and just wait for it at the far end of the tunnel when her gaze landed on the envelope Gianna had slid through the window. She pulled it out of the carry-on pocket where she’d stuffed it, then flipped it over to look at it.
When she saw the return address, she felt icy prickles slide up her scalp.
Then her voice made a strangled, pitiful sound she hardly recognized, and she dropped the envelope on the floor.
About the Author, Maggie McGinnis…
Maggie McGinnis, USA Today Bestselling Author of Accidental Cowgirl and Driving Without a License, which was a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award is a former high school English teacher, an accomplished musician, and a certified black belt, who lives in New England with her family.
~~~~
Links to Maggie’s website, blog, books, etc.
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/03/once-upon-cowboywhisper-creek-3-by.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23395415-once-upon-a-cowboy?ac=1
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/145426-whisper-creek
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo | Publisher
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
July 14, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Shades of Desire Box Set by Kristina Knight ETAL
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!
~~
SHADES OF DESIRE BOX SET
(10 Sweet & Spicy Romances)
BY KRISTINA KNIGHT
&
J.A. COFFEY, WENDY ELY, DOROTHY CALLAHAN, DIANE ESCALERA, LENA HART, CHANTA RAND, EMMA LEIGH REED, CINDY STARK, & VALERIE TWOMBLY
Blurb
Now available! Ten titillating tales from USA Today, bestselling and award-winning authors. Step into the world of some of the freshest voices in romance. From spicy secrets to sweet second chances. Come find your perfect shade of desire.
HIS BEDPOST QUEEN ~ Lena Hart – Bestselling Author
Athena Lewis has a sharp mind and an even sharper attitude. Except when it comes to “Davie,” the only man who’s ever truly made her feel safe. Yet to protect the only family she has left, she must embark on a mission that goes against everything she believes in—and that includes using the last trick she has left. Her body.
RESISTING DESTINY ~ Chanta Rand – Bestselling Author and Debut Author of the Year
Thrown together for ninety days by a spiteful judge, womanizing attorney, Cayson Sullivan and street-smart hustler, Destiny Jackson find the only thing they can agree on is their red-hot attraction for each other.
TRUSTING LOVE ~ Emma Leigh Reed
Pregnant and running from her abusive boyfriend, Chloe Wilder takes refuge in the sleepy coastal town of Arden. Police chief, Jayden Peterson, thinks the worst crime that could happen in Arden is jaywalking. Could the real danger be the two of them falling for each other?
WOUNDED ~ Cindy Stark – Bestselling Author
Battle-worn soldier, Jerry returns home intending to avoid his ex-fiancée. The shrapnel that wounded him pales in comparison to the gash she left in his heart. Kimber lost everything when she broke off her engagement, and she’ll fight to win him back.
SPANISH NIGHTS ~ Valerie Twombly – Bestselling Author
Armand has lost everything. His magic and his freedom are taken when an evil curse is placed on the Jinn, but a newcomer to town may be his savior. When evil emerges from the shadows, Makayla learns she must choose between her mortality and Armand’s freedom.
MR. RIGHT NOW ~ Kristina Knight – Bestselling Author
Dumped by her celebrity boyfriend, unlucky-in-love author Casey Cash needs a break. But, between the male escort trying to get into her bed and the tabloid reporter intent on getting her story, Casey might have been smarter to stay in New York…
SHADES OF DESIRE BOX SET
(10 Sweet & Spicy Romances)
BY KRISTINA KNIGHT
&
J.A. COFFEY, WENDY ELY, DOROTHY CALLAHAN, DIANE ESCALERA, LENA HART, CHANTA RAND, EMMA LEIGH REED, CINDY STARK, & VALERIE TWOMBLY
REVIEWS
LIAR, LIAR
“One of the most descriptive, steamiest foreplay scenes that I have ever encountered!”
—Brittany, book blogger & Goodreads reviewer
DANGEROUS FLAMES
“It began quickly and almost immediately, the story had me in suspense. Whether I was hoping for Gabrielle’s safe escape to her father’s cabin, and for her and Mikolas to get together, I was on the edge of my seat.”
—Isabella from Chick Lit Goddess Reviews
A DECADE FOR DARIUS
“I’ve never read a romance where the two main characters were more perfect for each other.”
—Print and Film Fan
STILL HOT FOR YOU
“Diane Escalera cranks up the heat and gives a story sizzling with seduction and chemistry between her characters.”
—Book Lovers, Inc.
HIS BEDPOST QUEEN
“The passion between the main characters is FIYAH, and they are relatable!”
—Amazon Reviewer
RESISTING DESTINY
“The sexual tension in this book is incredible. These are real people, and it is as if they could walk right off the pages and into the real world!”
—Rose, Amazon Reviewer
TRUSTING LOVE
“The book had me sharing emotions with the characters and had my heart racing the whole time. I called it “criminal minds in a book”.
WOUNDED
“Powerfully sweet story of love, hurt and forgiveness.”
—Vo Pov, Amazon Reviewer
SPANISH NIGHTS
“This book was steamy, sexy, raw with a side of chocolate dipped cherries on top! I finished reading this book in record time it was so damn juicy!”
–Paranormaly Yours
RIGHT NOW
“Mr. Right Now packs a lot of story into 50,000 words—it demands attention. Steaming sex scenes, humor and memorable characters.”
—Reader review on Amazon & Goodreads
About the Author, Kristina Knight…
Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police–no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. Her career took her all over the United States, writing about everything from a serial killer’s capture to the National Finals Rodeo. Along the way she found her very own Knight in Shining Cowboy Boots and an abiding love for romance novels. And just like the characters from her favorite books, she’s living her own happily ever after.
Kristina writes sassy contemporary romance novels; her books have appeared on Kindle Best Seller Lists. She loves hearing from readers, so drop her a line!
Other Books by Kristina Knight:
The Daughter He Wanted
First Love Again
What a Texas Girl Wants
What a Texas Girl Needs
What a Texas Girl Dreams
Texas Wishes: The Complete Texas Girl Series
The Saint’s Devilish Deal
Mr. Right Now
Shades Of Desire: 10 Sweet & Spicy Romances (featuring Mr. Right Now)
Light My Fire
Start Me Up
Call Me
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Links to Kristina’s website, blog, books, etc.
Thanks, Karen, for having me here today! You can sign up for my new release newsletter at http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com. My newsletters include exclusive scenes, upcoming releases and sales as well as some freebies. You could also follow me on twitter at @AuthorKristina or check out my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kristinaknightromanceauthor.
Shades of Desire Authors:
J.A. Coffey, Wendy Ely, Dorothy Callahan, Diane Escalera, Lena Hart, Chanta Rand, Emma Leigh Reed, Cindy Stark, Valerie Twombly, Kristina Knight
Buy Shades Of Desire:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00VQYVU1M
iBooks: http://apple.co/1QrGLJR
B&N: http://bit.ly/1QrGGpz
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1QrGK8U
ARe: http://bit.ly/1QrGJlb
Google: http://bit.ly/1QrGDKy
SOCIAL MEDIA
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25330787-shades-of-desire
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/shadesofdesirebook
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shadesbundle
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/bjdlP1
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Kristina is giving away a back-list copy of one of her books (winner’s choice) to two lucky readers who comment on her **Author Special** Interview or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs. Don’t miss the chance to read this book! Thanks, Kristina, for sharing your stories with us!
July 13, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Caught by Rhonda Shaw
KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
~~
CAUGHT
Men of the Show, Book Three
BY RHONDA SHAW
Blurb
Shannon Morrison’s dreams of becoming a lawyer are finally coming true. After landing a job at a prestigious law firm in Chicago, she’s willing to sacrifice everything, including putting her personal life on hold, as nothing will stand in her way of making partner. Nothing except perhaps the gorgeous Detroit Rockets’ All-Star catcher, Matt Buck.
Just when he didn’t think his luck would turn around, life finally throws Matt a fastball right down the middle, reconnecting him with the one girl who has always intrigued him. As before, the timing isn’t right, but Matt refuses to let this opportunity pass him by again. He knows Shannon’s career leaves little room for anything else in her life, but he’s unwilling to give in and will do whatever he can to make them work.
Together, Matt and Shannon struggle through one hurdle after another, determined to find a way to have everything they want. Just when they’ve finally figured it out, someone from Matt’s past shatters everything, and leaves them both grappling to pick up the pieces…
CAUGHT
Men of the Show, Book Three
BY RHONDA SHAW
Excerpt
Matt let his eyes travel down her lean figure showcased in the black scoop-neck cocktail dress ending mid-thigh and displaying miles of legs capped by sling-back shoes with a silver toe and heel. Shannon was tall to begin with, but her height didn’t stop her from adding a few additional inches with heels. He liked that. He hadn’t dated any tall girls in his past and now he wondered why. He didn’t miss having to slouch down all the time.
Shannon glanced up and her gaze caught his, giving him a shy smile in return. She excused herself from the group and headed his way with a flirty look on her face.
“What are you doing tucked in the corner all by yourself?” she asked as she approached him.
Matt shrugged. “Just chillin’. Taking in the scene.”
“And? See anything interesting?” she teased.
He smiled back. “You could say that, yeah.”
Her face flushed a pretty pink, making his mouth go dry as he imagined her skin holding the same blush in the heat of passion, before she cleared her throat. “It was too bad the season ended the way it did. I thought for sure you guys were going to go all the way.”
Great. He didn’t want to talk about one of the biggest failures of his career, but he put on his game face.
“We all did, but we just couldn’t pull it out at the end. It sucks, but now there’s next year,” he said, striving for nonchalance even though his stomach tightened with disappointment as the final catch replayed in his mind—again.
Shannon tilted her head as she studied him, concern in her eyes. “It still bothers you.”
It wasn’t a question, but he nodded, being honest. “Somewhat. Did you see it?”
She shook her head. “No, but Jerry told me everything. You did what you could,” she insisted. “It wasn’t just you.”
He let out a huff of frustrated laughter. “I got out. It was pretty much all me, but there’s next year,” he repeated again, wanting to move on.
“You like your chances?”
“Of course I do. With the likes of Smutty and Chase, plus we’re adding my buddy Kirby at short. He’s got a good bat and speed, not to mention a hell of an arm.”
“And your…bat,” Shannon added, keeping her expression neutral.
Matt studied her before a slow grin grew. “And what do you know about my bat?”
Her lips twitched. “You swing a big one.”
He laughed and shook his head as his face heated. “Now you’re embarrassing me because I’m not sure what we’re talking about.”
Shannon raised a brow as she reached for a glass of wine from the tray of a passing waiter. “Of course I’m talking about your almost three hundred batting average including your forty home runs last year. What are you talking about?”
“Of course that,” he replied dryly. She managed to stay serious for a couple of seconds before starting to laugh and he joined in.
“Do you play any sports?” he asked.
Her eyes traveled down the length of herself and back up again, making him take another sip of his beer when his throat suddenly parched. “Are you seriously asking that?”
“Well, I didn’t want to make any assumptions,” he said with a chuckle. “Besides, it could be volleyball.”
“Basketball would be the correct assumption. Played until college.”
“You didn’t want to play there?”
Shannon shrugged. “I didn’t love it enough to put the dedication into it. You play basketball or only baseball?”
“Yep, and football until I settled on baseball later in high school.” He eyed her shoes. “Too bad we can’t have a pickup game now. I’d like to see your game.”
She gave him a smirk. “I bet you would.”
About the Author, Rhonda Shaw…
Rhonda owes her love of reading to her mother who would read to her each night before bed and sometimes give into her pleads for more than one chapter. These days, if Rhonda doesn’t have a book in her hands, it feels like something is missing. While romance is her true passion, Rhonda enjoys reading multiple genres.
Born in California, but transplanted to the Midwest, Rhonda is warm weather girl to the bone (even years later, winter and her are not on speaking terms) and loves nothing more than a balmy, summer evening. She and her husband are diehard fans of pretty much all sports, but especially for their hometown Detroit teams. Rhonda received a bachelor’s in Human Resources Development and continued onto a master’s in Marriage and Family Counseling before making a drastic career switch into computer technology. She started out as a website developer and made her way up into management where she now spends most of her days in meetings. Rhonda was a life-long dancer before her body told her she needed to come down off her toes and wrap it up. She also loves all animals–especially moose. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America.
Rhonda loves to hear from readers, so please visit her website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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Links to Rhonda’s website, blog, books, etc.
Website: http://www.rhondashaw.com
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1dwyr4j
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1cy5jLh
~~~
Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1JJRqNm
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1dqD3RW
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1IVe0lx
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1cTecFr
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1LvT6sQ
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1Alz6YT
iBooks: http://apple.co/1FOsORO
~~~~
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
Thanks, Rhonda, for sharing your story with us!
July 12, 2015
**Author Special** Interview with Kristina Knight
**AUTHOR PEEK** Interview with
KRISTINA KNIGHT
~~
INTRODUCING…Kristina!
Hey, everyone! I’m Kristina Knight and I’m so glad you’re here today! I’m a full-time writer, although I do divide my time between non-fiction (business articles) and fiction, along with a very busy 7 year old, my own Knight in Shining Armor I stay pretty busy!
1. What genre(s) do you write in and why?
I write contemporary romance. I love romantic suspense, paranormal and historical, but contemporary is my absolute favorite, so it made sense to stick with what I love best when I started to write.
2. What’s your favorite beverage?
Pepsi, ice cold, please.
3. If you had to listen to one song over and over again for a whole day, what would it be?
Gosh, that would change every few weeks…but for right now, I’m really loving Taylor Swift’s Style.
4. What is your least favorite part of writing?
I don’t have a least favorite part, and I know that sounds like a cop-out, but I truly don’t. When I’m brainstorming ideas and plotting I have the best time, and when I’m drafting and revising I can see the book growing in dimensions I never thought of … but my favorite-favorite part is the brainstorming.
5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why ?
Right where I am! I complain about the long – and COLD – winters, but in truth I love living on the North Coast. We get to experience every season and the beach is just down the road.
6. Are you an avid reader? When you do read someone else’s writing, what is your favorite genre?
Yes, unless deadlines force me out of my reading habit! Romance is my favorite genre, but I read across the spectrum. Biographies are some of my favorites, actually.
7. Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
Oh, gosh, everywhere? An overheard conversation might spark an idea. Television commercials, articles in the newspaper or magazines…ideas are everywhere, we just have to look for them!
8. Tell me about your ideal reader .
My ideal reader…hmm, has a sense of humor, loves to find new book boyfriends and doesn’t feel an outfit is complete without a good book! lol
9. If you were to choose one superpower, what would it be?
I’d love to be able to fly. Those TSA security lines are a killer!
10. Tell us about your next book & when is it being published?
Later this summer, I’ll be re-releasing my Anthem series – Light My Fire, Start Me Up and Call Me. They are 3 rock star novellas that I absolutely love. And in November my next Harlequin Superromance comes out. It’s called First Love Again and is (as you may have guessed!) a reunion romance. I can’t wait!!
~~~~~~~
BE SURE TO COME BACK to read more about Kristina and the SHADES OF DESIRE BOX SET on Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench. Happy Reading!
~~~~
Links to Kristina’s website, blog, books, etc.
Thanks, Karen, for having me here today! You can sign up for my new release newsletter at http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com. My newsletters include exclusive scenes, upcoming releases and sales as well as some freebies. You could also follow me on twitter at @AuthorKristina or check out my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kristinaknightromanceauthor.
Shades of Desire Authors:
J.A. Coffey, Wendy Ely, Dorothy Callahan, Diane Escalera, Lena Hart, Chanta Rand, Emma Leigh Reed, Cindy Stark, Valerie Twombly, Kristina Knight
Buy Shades Of Desire:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00VQYVU1M
iBooks: http://apple.co/1QrGLJR
B&N: http://bit.ly/1QrGGpz
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1QrGK8U
ARe: http://bit.ly/1QrGJlb
Google: http://bit.ly/1QrGDKy
SOCIAL MEDIA
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25330787-shades-of-desire
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/shadesofdesirebook
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shadesbundle
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/bjdlP1
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Kristina is giving away a back-list copy of one of her books (winner’s choice) to two lucky readers who comment on her **Author Special** Interview or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs. Don’t miss the chance to read this book! Thanks, Kristina, for sharing your stories with us!
Congratulations Week 06-22-15 & 06-29-15 Giveaway #Winners!!
CONGRATULATIONS WEEK
06-22-15 & 06-29-15
GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with Cynthia Woolf!!
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Cynthia is giving away a print copy (US Only) of MAIL ORDER OUTLAW to one lucky reader who comments on her **Author Special** Interview or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs. Thanks again, Cynthia, for sharing your book with us!
WINNER ~ E. AYERS!
~~
DON’T MISS OUT!!
The following guest bloggers are still taking entries in their Rafflecopter Giveaway!
#RomCon2015 #Readers 4th of July #SALE
ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT!!!
~ Kindle Paperwhite & $50 Visa Giftcard ~
http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-romcon2015-readers-4th-of-july-sale.html
[All winners chosen by random.org from reader comments. Thank you.]
July 9, 2015
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Mary Anne Edwards
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00005]](http://www.karendocter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Criminal-Kind-Front-Cover-1.jpg)
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with MARY ANNE EDWARDS!
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, Mary Anne Edwards, and her favorite recipe for TUSCAN LEMON MUFFINS!
CRIMINAL KIND
A Charlie McClung Mystery
B
Y MARY ANNE EDWARDS
Blurb
It’s the perfect setting for a romantic getaway at sea: Caribbean breezes, clear blue skies, passionate nights, and murder? Not exactly what Detective Charlie McClung and Marian had in mind for their honeymoon. When one of their fellow passengers is murdered on her 35th wedding anniversary, Charlie and Marian get pulled into the investigation. Who would want to kill poor Tammy Ferguson in such a brutal way? As Charlie uncovers more sordid details about Tammy and her husband, Peter, it becomes clear that someone else has found the same skeletons in the Ferguson’s closet and Tammy has paid the price. Is Peter next?
Trapped on the ship with an insidious killer, shadows seem more ominous and even the most innocent faces seem sinister. Has Charlie inadvertently put Marian in harm’s way? How long does Charlie have before the hunter becomes the hunted?
What people are saying about “Criminal Kind.”
“Marian and Charlie McClung are the best crime fighting couple since Jennifer and Jonathan Hart. CRIMINAL KIND, the third in this wonderful series, is like taking a vacation. A vacation with murder. The setting is gorgeous, the mystery masterful, and if you think you know whodunit, you’ll never guess how. I’m a huge fan.” ~ Gretchen Archer ~ Author of the USA Today Bestselling Davis Way Crime Caper Series
“Oh, the shenanigans! Charlie and Marian’s honeymoon with a touch of murder kept me entertained to the very last page. Kick back, pour an umbrella drink, and tag along with the delightful McClungs as they track down an ingenious cruise ship killer.” ~ Alice Loweecey ~ Author of the Giulia Driscoll mysteries
“The story leads you through a maze not of who done it, but of who would have. Marian and Charlie do it again … balancing their love for each other while hunting down a truly creative and diabolical killer.” ~ Marlene Patterson ~ A Cozy Girl Reads
The Criminal Kind sets the stage wonderfully for a cruise, a crime, and showing how love cannot only bring hearts together, but tear them apart. I loved how Mary Anne created an environment of relaxation combined with tension as Charlie and Marian celebrate their love while trying to ensure a woman’s murder doesn’t go unsolved. ~Christina Freeburn ~Author of the Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery Series.
CRIMINAL KIND
A Charlie McClung Mystery
B
Y MARY ANNE EDWARDS
EXCERPT
Marian felt Charlie get out of the bed. She watched him move like a cat on the hunt, soundlessly sprinting toward the cabin door. The bright moon bathed their suite with soft light, filtering through the double-wide sliding glass doors. She sat up, studying him as he stared out of the tiny peephole. Glancing at the clock, she saw the time, 2:14, glow on its face, she wondered what could be going on this early in the morning to awaken her husband, and she decided to join him.
The low rumble of the ship’s engines was the only sound in their cabin as Marian tip-toed silently behind him and whispered, “Charlie, what’s the matter?”
“Something strange is happening in the suite next to us,” breathed Charlie.
Marian put her ear on the door, cold like a meat locker. Their noses almost touching, Charlie kissed the tip of hers as she strained to hear whatever he was listening to. Shuffling feet, muted voices, and a man’s sorrowful moan.
“Let me see.” Marian’s hand slid across Charlie’s bare back as she jockeyed for the peephole.
He put his finger to his lips then motioned toward the door handle. Marian slipped behind Charlie as he opened the door just a sliver. She ducked her head under his arm and stared at the people congregating in the hall. Two men pulled a gurney out of the suite, a sheet-covered body laid on it.
Charlie stepped out into the hallway, ignoring the fact he was shirtless, and in a hushed voice asked, “What’s going on?”
Marian quickly retrieved two plush robes, perks from the cruise line for booking the owner’s suite. Throwing on one of them, she hurried into the hallway after grabbing her husband’s detective ID. Charlie carried it with him at all times, keeping it bedside while he slept. She thrust the other robe and the badge into Charlie’s hands.
He flashed the small gold shield then tugged on the robe. One of the men pulling the gurney tilted his head toward the plush cabin and mouthed the words, Go in.
Marian shadowed Charlie into the suite. The ship’s medical officer was standing with his back toward the bathroom as a man knelt over the toilet. The doctor recognized them from yesterday’s VIP ship’s tour; Marian having entertained him with dozens of questions.
“Doctor Nelson, what’s happened?” Charlie asked as he glanced around the cabin, scrutinizing it for any clues for the cause of the sheet covered body. He noticed the bed had been turned down for the night and a green foil-covered rectangle of complimentary chocolate was in the center of the one of the two pillows at the head of bed. Looking in the silver trashcan next to the bed, he saw the wadded wrapper from the missing second piece. Spots of white, tinged with a hint of blue, dotted the carpet, trailing from the bathroom to the foot of the bed. Charlie looked in the bathroom again, the basin and vanity were covered with the same stains, the water was running, and things were knocked over on the vanity. The mirror was decorated with dried spots of the same color.
The ship’s doctor had dressed hastily in his white uniform, buttons and buttonholes missed-matched. He shook his head with gray tuffs of hair sticking up, and glanced over his shoulder at the man, now sitting on the tiled floor, staring at nothing. Lightly touching the man’s shoulder, he asked, “Mr. Ferguson, why don’t you come and sit with us? I’ll get you a drink.”
The man, haggard from anguish, flinched from the single tap but followed the doctor to the small sitting room. He stood staring at a loveseat as if he didn’t know what it was used for. Doctor Nelson prompted the mournful man to sit down.
Marian sat next to the silent man and held his hand. Peter Ferguson’s grief was obvious, which only meant the body under the sheet was that of his wife’s. She thought how cruel life could be; how a person’s comfortable and happy world can suddenly crumble into a miserable mess. Marian knew there was nothing she could say that could make his pain go away. If she tried, it would only trivialize his feelings. “Mr. Ferguson,” she murmured as she squeezed his hand and lightly rubbed his thick forearm. The memory of the night that Lee had died nudged her thoughts. No, that’s the past and I’m not going that way. This is not about me, it’s about Mr. Ferguson.
Peter Ferguson stared at her as tears ran down his puffy cheeks, lips trembling with unspoken words. Slowly, his head began to tilt toward Marian. She cradled his head on her shoulder as he hugged her tightly, like he did the first day of their cruise, during the reception celebrating the renewal of his wedding vows after 35 years of marriage.
Charlie squeezed the back of Marian’s neck and kissed the top of her head as he set a glass of water on the oval coffee table. Marian could see the strain in his eyes. She thought, but for the grace of God, there go I. Marian didn’t know what had happened to Peter Ferguson’s wife, Tammy, but she wondered if the roles had been reversed, would Tammy console Charlie. Not that Tammy was unkind, she was very friendly but appeared to have an edge of restraint; the stiff hugs everyone received from Tammy were so unlike the gregarious hugs Peter had doled out.
Marian watched Charlie deliberately patrolling the cabin, discreetly examining its contents, while speaking with the ship’s doctor. He looked inside the sweating ice bucket by lifting the lid with a tissue. Where does he keep those tissues? His hand was empty, then poof, a tissue is in his hand.
She read the doctor’s lips, anaphylactic shock. Marian looked around the suite and wondered what Tammy could have been allergic to. There were three beautiful flower arrangements – two, she recognized from the Ferguson’s renewal ceremony ‒ an empty bottle of champagne, a bottle of merlot, two wine glasses, an open box of Godiva chocolates, and a bowl of trail mix sitting on the coffee table; nothing that appeared to be lethal or out of the ordinary.
Peter Ferguson loosened his grip on Marian and mumbled, “Sorry. I’m sorry … I … I need a …” he wiped his swollen bloodshot eyes with the heels of his meaty hands. Peter cleared his throat and swallowed. “Uh … a drink. I need a drink.”
Marian reached for the water.
Peter stood, “No, I need something stronger.” Taking a few steps, he stumbled and fell to knees, a pair of beige satin pumps lay crushed under his legs. He sat on the floor clutching one of the shoes to his chest sobbing, “Tammy, Tammy, Tammy.”
Marian felt tears rolling down her cheeks as watched Peter cling to his wife’s shoe. Looking around the spacious cabin, she saw remnants of Tammy’s life; a pale blue silk nightgown lay across the foot of the bed, a pair of pantyhose and a bra dangled from the back of a padded side chair. A lipstick-stained champagne glass sat on the end table, next to it was a well-worn Jackie Collins’ paperback novel, Lovers and Gamblers, with a pair of black cat-eye, rhinestone-studded reading glasses lying on top of the book.
Doctor Nelson knelt beside Peter. “Mr. Ferguson, why don’t you come to the infirmary with me? I’ll give you something to steady your nerves. We’ll find you another cabin, so you can rest.”
Peter Ferguson violently shook his head. He seized the other pump, clenching the pair tightly to his chest as if he could give life to them, as if he could force Tammy back to life to reclaim her magical shoes.
“Very well,” Doctor Nelson conceded quickly. He didn’t know what he could give to the man anyway. Peter Ferguson reeked of alcohol, any drug given could be lethal. “Would you like for me to stay with you?”
Again, Peter Ferguson shook his head. He stood, dropped the shoes, sat on the edge of the bed, grabbed the nightgown, buried his face in it and then laid down holding the gown in a tender embrace. He was still, very still, as if he were dead.
With two long strides, Doctor Nelson was by the bed feeling for a pulse. The doctor’s bunched-up shoulders relaxed. The grieving man had passed out, probably from drinking too much. Just as well, he thought, just as well. “I’ll stay with him until the morning, then play it by ear.” The doctor looked at Charlie. “I’d like to speak with you tomorrow about this. Something’s…” Doctor Nelson paused and pursed his lips. Sighing, he continued, “We’ll talk in the morning. You two go back to bed and enjoy your honeymoon.”
About the author…Mary Anne Edwards.
Mary Anne Edwards is the author of The Charlie McClung Mysteries, Brilliant Disguise, A Good Girl, and Criminal Kind. The fourth book in the series, Sins of My Youth, will be released winter, 2015. These are traditional murder mysteries with a touch of romance. There are six more books planned for this series. But her imagination tends to run wild, so you never know when it may end. Mary Anne was born in Mercedes, Texas. She now lives in Georgia with her husband of 34+ years and her Tuxedo cat, Gertrude. She and her husband dream of retiring in … Well, they have not decided yet. For years, she only dabbled in writing, but with the encouragement of her husband, she left the accounting world to write full-time. When Mary Anne is not writing, she loves to read, watch crime dramas, and travel with her husband.
~~~
Links to Mary Anne’s website, blog, books, etc.
Criminal Kind: http://goo.gl/gUOVH6
Brilliant Disguise: http://goo.gl/RwXPyL
A Good Girl: http://goo.gl/0RstoD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaryanneedwards
Website: http://maryanneedwards.com/
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/maryanneedwards/
Google+:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MaryAnneEdwards/posts
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maryanneedwards
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maedwards58
Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Anne-Edwards/e/B00HZ28TIQ
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7791576.Mary_Anne_Edwards
I hope you enjoy the recipe Mary Anne is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 208 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TUSCAN LEMON MUFFINS
Ingredients
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (7.9 oz.)
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup part-skim ricotta cheese
½ cup water
¼ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Cooking Spray
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spoon or weigh flour into a dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, water, olive oil, lemon rind, lemon juice, and egg. Add ricotta cheese mixture to the flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
Place 12 muffin-cup liners into muffin pan; coat with cooking spray. Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups. Sprinkle turbinado sugar over the batter.
Bake for 16 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
Cool for 5 minutes in pan on a wire rack.
ENJOY!
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Mary Anne is giving away a Kindle copy of CRIMINAL KIND to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** blog. Don’t miss the chance to read this book! Thanks, Mary Anne, for sharing your stories with us!
July 8, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Forward Pass by Desiree Holt
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!
~~
FORWARD PASS
BY DESIREE HOLT
Blurb
Get Ready to Play Rough
Shay Beckham grew up idolizing her brother’s best friend, star quarterback Joe Reilly. There was no one in their Texas town who had the moves to match Joe on or off the field. Years later, he’s still a player who has what it takes to drive any hot-blooded woman wild. But Shay isn’t a kid with a bad case of hero-worship anymore. She’s grown-up and independent, with her feet on the ground and a serious head on her shoulders. If she could just say the same for Joe.
It’s been fifteen years, but Joe Reilly hasn’t forgotten the skinny little kid who used to follow him around like a shadow. What he can’t get over is that the skinny shadow has grown into one hell of an incredible woman. One any man in his right mind would kill to get his hands on. And one who seems to be completely immune to him. He knows he and Shay could have something special together. If he could only convince her he’s about more than just the game.
FORWARD PASS
BY DESIREE HOLT
EXCERPT
Traffic was still not moving. Shay bit down on her frustration, sighed again, and unzipped the front pocket of her carry-on. She’d grabbed a sports magazine in the airport, planning to check the ads her company was running, but hadn’t bothered to read it on the plane. Maybe she could use it to pass the time now.
Flipping it open, the first thing she saw was Joe Reilly’s face smiling at her in full living color. Crap. Joe Reilly. Her childhood hero, her teenage crush, and the star of her adult erotic fantasies. The same Joe Reilly who’d called her squirt and pest when she tagged after him and Hank. The football idol who had been a babe magnet since his voice changed.
The man she’d been secretly in love with all these years, a love that stilted every other relationship she’d had. When was she ever going to admit that it was an impossibility? That she needed to stomp on it, bury it, and move forward?
In Texas, where football was the number one religion, high school stars wrote their own tickets. As the star quarterback for the Granite Falls High School Coyotes, Joe had had women hanging over him like so much drapery. During his outstanding career in college and then in the NFL, it seemed every time she turned on the television or checked sports online she saw his picture with one female or another. She was sure he had a black book that rivaled an encyclopedia in size. She might as well have been chopped liver for as much attention as he ever paid to her.
About the Author, Desiree Holt…
Known the world over as The Oldest Living Erotica Author, Desiree Holt proves every day that she is more than the sum of her years and more than the grandmother who plays with Barbie and Ken dolls: She is The Hardest Working Erotica Author, producing one novel or more each month and receiving rave reviews.
She is a winner of the EPIC E-Book Award, a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio as well as twice a CAPA Award for best BDSM book of the year, winner of the Holt Medallion, multiple winner of the Whipped Cream Book of the Week Award and is published by five different houses. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The London Daily Mail and numerous other national and international publications.
“Get out the ice water and fan…Desiree Holt delivers smoking hot alpha heroes and red hot romances.” Lea Franczak, USA Today Happy Ever After blog
~~~~
Links to Desiree’s website, blog, books, etc.
www.facebook.com/desireeholtauthor
Twitter @desireeholt
Pinterest: desiree02holt
Google: www.desiree02holt
LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/desiree01holt
~~~~
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
Thanks, Desiree, for sharing your story with us!
July 7, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Every Step She Takes by Jannine Gallant
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!
~~
EVERY STEP SHE TAKES
Who’s Watching Now, Book Two
BY JANNINE GALLANT
Blurb
Tough as nails, no nonsense San Francisco reporter Grace Hanover will do anything to cover the story of the decade—and her career. Having survived a painful past, she’s learned never to let anything stand in her way. Even if it means following a key witness into the Alaskan wilderness, and partnering with Travis Barnett, a former Navy SEAL turned PI who’s working for the Feds, and who would love to bring in Grace’s witness before she can get her story. But together in the wilderness, they’ll each have to put aside their differences and trust one another if they want to survive.
Because someone from Grace’s past is watching, waiting for just the right moment. Every step Grace takes draws her deeper into the line of fire, and into the hands of a killer…
EVERY STEP SHE TAKES
Who’s Watching Now, Book Two
BY JANNINE GALLANT
EXCERPT
“Are you about finished?”
Grace glanced over her shoulder and nodded. “I’ll get dressed and be right up.”
His scowl would have scared a grizzly. Arms crossed over his chest, he backed away then paused and strode forward, not stopping until he stood a foot from where she sat.
She glanced up through her lashes. “What’s got your shorts in a knot this time?”
His chest rose and fell on an exhale. “I’m only human, and you’re pushing me to the breaking point.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“This.” He pulled her up by one arm and touched the towel tucked between her breasts. When Wylie growled, he gave the dog an I dare you glance.
“I told you I was going to take a bath.”
“Not that you’d be naked. Jesus. I started down the slope and nearly had a heart attack. Do you want to push me into making a move on you? Is that the goal?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she gave him a shove. “Get your mind out of your pants, Travis. I’m tired. My whole body aches. I’m not the least bit interested in sex with you or anyone else at the moment. I wanted to scrub off the dirt, and I didn’t give a rat’s ass who watched. Got it?”
He shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I’m on edge.”
“You should be sorry.” Turning away, she bent to reach for her clothes. Her foot came down on a sharp rock, and she jerked back arms flailing. Grabbing for support, she clutched his shoulder. The towel slipped and dropped to her feet.
Her gaze met his before his eyes lowered. Color flooded cheeks already dark with stubble. With a muttered oath, he drew her against his chest and kissed her. There was no tenderness in the kiss, just a melding of mouths, a release of tension. His hand stroked down her back and came to rest on the curve of her waist.
She held onto his shoulders with both hands and kissed him back until Wylie’s growl worked its way into her consciousness. When the dog barked sharply, she jerked away. Bending, she grabbed the towel and held it to her chest.
He turned to face the mountain, hands shaking as they fisted on his hips. “I won’t apologize for that.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.” Wrapping the towel around her again, she scooped up her clothes and headed up the incline without looking back.
Write what you know. Jannine Gallant has taken this advice to heart, creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great outdoors. She grew up in a tiny Northern California town and currently lives in beautiful Lake Tahoe with her husband and two daughters. When she isn’t busy writing or being a full time mom, Jannine hikes or snowshoes in the woods around her home. Whether she’s writing contemporary, historical or romantic suspense, Jannine brings the beauty of nature to her stories. To find out more about this author and her books, visit her website at janninegallant.com.
~~~~
Links to Jannine’s website, blog, books, etc.
Author Links:
Buy Links:
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Jannine is giving away a PDF copy of one book from her Secrets of Ravenswood series to one lucky read who comments on her **Author Special** Interview or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs. Winner chooses between We’ll Never Tell, She’ll Never Rest or He’ll Never Know. Find blurbs for each book on her Website. Don’t miss the chance to read this book! Thanks, Jannine, for sharing your stories with us!
July 6, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Deception by A.S. Fenichel
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!
~~
DECEPTION
The Demon Hunters, Book Two
BY A.S. FENICHEL
Blurb
When Demons threaten Regency London, only a Lady can stop them.
Lillian Dellacourt is beautiful, refined and absolutely lethal. She’s also the most feared and merciless demon hunter in The Company. She’s come a long way from the penniless seamstress’s daughter sold to the highest bidder, and it wasn’t by trusting a man, let alone an exiled Marquis with more on his mind than slaying the hellspawn . . .
For Dorian Lambert, Marquis de Montalembert, being sent to keep track of Lillian is no mean task. He’s wanted the fiery vixen since he first heard of her five years ago. But wooing the lady while fighting the demon uprising is no easy feat, especially when the lady’s tongue is as sharp as the Japanese sai blades she favors for eviscerating the spawn of hell.
These two will have to learn to trust each other fast, because the demon master is back, and he’s planning to turn Edinburgh into a living hell…
DECEPTION
The Demon Hunters, Book Two
BY A.S. FENICHEL
EXCERPT
Holding up her hand, she pulled the horse to a stop. Dorian slowed, watched, and waited.
Lillian touched her nose, alerting him to the scent of wood burning. The wind came out of the northeast. The almost full moon lit the night well enough. They dismounted, and tied the horses to a low bit of brush along the rocky pass.
Spending the bulk of his time with the hunters behind a desk, he willingly took a step back and allowed Lillian to take the lead. She was far more experienced in the field. The fact that she was a woman meant nothing in The Company.
He wished he was as unaffected by her feminine allure.
To his astonishment, she pulled a string at her waist, which lifted her skirts, and she tucked them into some kind of belt hidden at her hips. Above her high leather boots, he glimpsed her creamy thighs. His gaze dropped to her curvy flesh and an array of weapons cleverly stored insideher skirts instead of focusing on the danger ahead. He met her gaze.
“Try to stay alive, Dorian. Do not get distracted.”
He looked her up and down one more time. “You ask the impossible, Lilly.”
The wicked look she gave him was almost as enticing as the curve of her leg. She turned and climbed up the rock-strewn hill to the right. He followed, making an effort not to admire her bare legs or the throwing knives strapped around her right thigh. When they reached the precipice, flames blazed as high as ten feet in the center of a clearing. Two demons fed the fire, one a small trebox with scaly dark skin and the other a larger, dumber malleus covered in slime. To the far left of the fire, three children huddled together. The smallest girl wept loudly while the other two tried to comfort her.
Alive! A surge of elation followed by a wave of fear assaulted him. Could he and Lillian keep those children alive?
The malleus stood as tall as the flames and sang in a low grating tone. Firelight reflected off its slimy skin as it tore a year old tree from the ground, roots and all. As if it were a twig, the malleus tossed it on the fire. Flames roared higher and his voice grew louder. Dorian knew nothing of the demon language, but the eerie cadence churned his guts.
The trebox slunk around the fire. He used two hands on a sword, carving symbols in the hard ground. This trebox had shed his human clothes, exposing his hunched back and visible ribcage.
A recent report had crossed his desk depicting a similar scene in England. When they completed drawing the runes, the innocents would be sacrificed. “They mean to open a gate. We only have until the song ends.”
Lillian’s eyes widened. She reached into the folds of her underskirt and released a small crossbow from its holster, chocked an arrow, and took aim. “We will need to move fast.”
“Ready.”
She let the arrow fly.
It pierced the malleus demon’s left eye, silenced the song mid-word, and dropped the enormous monster to the ground before he even had time to roar.
The trebox screamed in the language only demons understood. He took up the song his comrade had been chanting and wrote faster in the dirt.
Dorian pulled one throwing knife from the belt strapped around Lillian’s smooth skin. He jumped over the hill and ran down, dagger raised in his left hand.
The trebox rushed at him with its eyes focused on the long knife.
When he was within range, he let the smaller blade fly.
It buried deep in the greenish creature’s throat. He crumpled with a whine.
Lillian ran behind him down the hill.
All three children screamed and cried.
She charged past them and kicked dirt on the fire.
“What are you doing?”
“I think he might have gotten the incantation finished. Look at the way the smoke curls in on itself. Evil will find a way in even without the sacrifice. Once opened, I don’t know how to close a gate.”
It was unnatural the way the smoke did not move with the breeze. The ground rumbled. Dorian kicked dirt on the fire and rubbed out the carved runes from the ground.
Introducing… A.S. Fenichel.
A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She’s never looked back.
A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.
Multi-published in erotic paranormal, contemporary and historical romance, A.S. is the author of the Mayan Destiny series, Christmas Bliss and many more. With several books currently contracted to multiple publishers, A.S. will be bringing you her brand of romance for many years to come.
Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in the East Texas with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden.
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Links to A.S.’s website, blog, books, etc.
Link to Follow Tour:
http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/03/deception-demon-hunters-2-by-as-fenichel.html
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23432697-deception?from_search=true
Goodreads Series Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/135692-the-demon-hunters
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