R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 111

B@@K REVEAL: Murder at the Met by E.W. Cooper

Murder at the Met
E.W. Cooper
(Penelope Harris Mysteries #2)
Publication date: April 8th 2021
Genres: Adult, Historical, Mystery

November 1928, New York City. No one can keep a secret like high society – especially when that secret is murder.

There are two things Penelope Harris would rather do than get involved with another murder—sing opera and flirt with Thom Lund. When two tickets ensure Penelope and Thom get some precious time together at the Metropolitan opera, neither believes another murder will interrupt their romantic evening.

Fate has a different plan. Before the night is over a failed manufacturing tycoon is found dead at the bottom of a staircase, his poisoned and dying daughter nearby. Is it an accident? Suicide? Or murder? When a fellow soprano pleads for help, Penelope just can’t help her inquisitive nature.

As Penelope pulls back the cover on a diabolical crime, Lund rushes to complete the investigation of a suicide on the Gold Coast of Long Island. What they find will uncover the sordid underbelly of high society and put Penelope on the wrong side of her own gun.

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Author Bio:

Author of the Penelope Harris Mysteries, E.W. Cooper was ecstatic to learn her debut in the series, The Jade Tiger, was the 2020 Booklife Prize Finalist in Mystery/Thriller. A lifelong fan of classic mysteries and Grand Opera, Ms. Cooper is hard at work on the second book in the Penelope Harris Mystery series, Murder at the Met (April 2021). She lives quietly with her partner, children, three dogs, and one cat in a very noisy house in South Texas.

To learn more about Penelope Harris Mysteries (and the author) go to www.ewcooper.com and snoop around.

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BOOK BLITZ: The Virgin Hunt Games, Vol. 2 by Mel Teshco #GIVEAWAY

The Virgin Hunt Games, Volume 2
Mel Teshco
Published by: Entangled One Handed Reads
Publication date: February 15th 2021
Genres: Adult, Erotica, Romance

EARTH, YEAR 2328

The Virgin Hunt Games continues.

One innocent virgin. One jaded lothario. One dazzling fortune to the winner. But first one must survive…

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

She stood her ground as Cyodal bounded from one piece of garbage to the next. Crack. Snap. Thud. At least losing her innocence to a hunter who wasn’t her drawn mate translated to credits in her account. Maybe even as much as what keeping her virginity for as long as possible would give her.

But she’d promised her parents she’d do everything in her power to keep her innocence, and she wouldn’t go back on her word. Her parents had sacrificed so much to give her a good life, now she’d return the favor.

Cyodal landed on one end of the wire grate where she stood, his eyes glittering and his face flushed. He took a step toward her, and she automatically took a step back.

Pop.

With a gasp, she lifted her foot off the bubbling remains of grub beneath her remaining boot. The acid was already eating into the leather. Shit. Ignoring the steaming goo, she pushed the toe of her boot beneath the mass, and as Cyodal took another step toward her, she kicked the squished, oozing grub straight at the hunter.

He roared and swiped the burning splatters from his cheek, jaw, and throat…just as some kind of liquid bubbled up through his skin.

She gaped. Seriously?

His species appeared to have a self-defense mechanism against the wnagla grub, probably a sweat gland that released enough perspiration to rid itself of the acid. Not fair.

Cyodal glowered at her, then his focus dropped to her half-covered breasts in the lacy black bra. His eyes glinted as he did a slow, deliberate rub of his crotch, emphasizing the bulge that didn’t appear to have deflated one bit from his pain. “You’re going to regret that, bitch.”

She bit back a whimper as acid began burning into her flesh. Hopping on one foot, she tore off her remaining boot and sock. The hunter chuckled, clearly enjoying her pain.

She dredged up all her willpower to ignore the burn and sneer back, “You’ll have to catch me first, dickwad.”

She didn’t give him time to react. She spun, and in three strides she was free of the rotting trash. She put on a burst of speed, and in five more strides she was at the base of the stairs leading to the next level.

Too bad the shirt she’d wrapped around one foot chose that moment to unravel. She tripped and fell, jarring her shoulder and her knee against the steps. Her breath hitched then jerked out of her lungs as she was grabbed from behind and hauled against a hard chest.

Cyodal’s clawlike fingernails pushed into her shoulders to twist her around. Blood pounded like a drum in her ears when he gave a feral smile and said, “Going somewhere?”

“Not with you, she’s not.”

Cyodal’s grip tightened brutally as he spun around, putting her between him and the alien hunter he faced.

“Landry Marx,” Cyodal bit out.

Author Bio:

If you would like to be alerted to Mel's latest releases, sign up to her mailing listhttp://mad.ly/signups/121695/join

Mel Teshco is an award winning, Amazon best selling author with a love for the written word, along with a short attention span that sees her juggling a variety of genres and heat levels in her stories. From contemporary to paranormal, sweet to erotic, she hopes there's a little bit of something for every reader out there to enjoy.

Her gypsy-like upbringing saw her living in many places along Australia's east coast. Each new home stimulated an already over-active imagination, where she spent as much time dreaming about fantasy worlds as the real world - the fantasy sometimes being much better.

Now living on a beautiful rural property surrounded by mountains - her fat black horse, three cats and two dogs couldn't be happier. A proud mother of three gorgeous girls and two cheeky grandchildren, and married to Mr Patience (mostly), life is pretty damn good.

You can find Mel's website at: http://www.melteshco.com/

and will often find her on her blog: http://melteshco.blogspot.com.au/

She also loves to hear from her readers, you can email her at: melteshco@yahoo.com.au

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BOOK BLITZ: The Sweetest Valentine by Lacey Baker #GIVEAWAY

The Sweetest Valentine
Lacey Baker
(Sweetland Valley, #1)
Publication date: February 16th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

When the idea for a new script brings Hollywood actor Kelan Hunter to the Wine & Chocolate Festival in the small town of Sweetland Valley, MD, sparks fly with the charming candy shop owner who has a list of reasons for why their love isn’t meant to be.

Ruthlessly organized Sydni Murray’s life goal checklist was derailed after her broken engagement last Valentine’s Day. Now, with the holiday fast approaching again and the town’s biggest chocolate festival on the horizon, she must put her biases about love on the backburner. Until Kelan walks into her shop with his model good looks and a box of his grandparents’ love letters that melt her heart.

But happy ever after may not be in the cards for the couple as Sydni’s in danger of losing her shop and Kelan’s plan to stay in Sweetland is threatened by an unbelievable career opportunity.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

There was a movie star standing in her shop, posing for pictures with two of her dearest friends and all Syd could think about was how many more milk and dark chocolate truffles she needed to make to complete Savannah Cantrell’s order. She’d intended to spend the morning in the kitchen working on the order but Sharay, her part-time clerk, was down with the flu. That left her the only one here to run the store today. Not that she minded, Sinfully Sweet was her dream come true. Owning and running her own specialty chocolate shop after the detour she’d taken on her career path was an accomplishment Syd was thankful for every day.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been in here way too long. We’ve got to get going before Aunt Louisa becomes hysterical with worry.” Julia’s hand on her shoulder had Syd turning at the sound of her voice.

“Huh? Oh, yes, you’re right. You were supposed to be over at the community center putting up decorations today.” Luckily for Syd, Marabelle Stanley was an early bird and any events that she oversaw she liked to get a head start on. With Syd having to work today she wasn’t available to help Marabelle.

It was Saturday, the week before the Wine & Chocolate Festival and tomorrow after church was the pre-festival kick-off with Marabelle’s Valentine’s Day luncheon. Louisa Kirk, Julia’s aunt, was Marabelle’s shadow and the sugar to Marabelle’s often bitter attitude.

Julia rolled her eyes. “Yes, we’ll have to hustle to get there without being too late, but I couldn’t resist getting that cupcake. I’m ordering a dozen from Gina since you only have a limited supply here.”

“Great news! Kelan’s going to be in town for a few weeks and he’s agreed to stop by the luncheon tomorrow.” Nessa’s exuberance as she bounced over to them was infectious and Syd found herself smiling.

“That’s very nice of him,” she replied and looked behind Nessa to where Kelan Hunter was staring down at his phone. No doubt checking his availability for the off-the-cuff commitment he’d just made. Surely a man like him would be too busy for a small-town luncheon.

“Let’s go tell Aunt Louisa,” Julia said nodding toward the door. “You gonna be alright here alone with him?”

Syd shrugged. “He’s an actor not a serial killer, right?”

Julia waved a hand as she headed toward the door. “You know what I mean. And regardless of his good looks and official career, he’s a stranger in Sweetland so you call me if you need me.”

“Get outta here,” she told them while moving toward the door. “I’ll call you later.”

“Don’t forget. I want to hear about everything you two talk about after I’m gone,” Nessa told her before walking out.

“Girl, bye,” she replied laughing as she stepped back pulling the door closed. The bell overhead jingled again and she turned back to see that Kelan had moved from where he’d been standing across the store.

Now, just a couple feet away from her, he stood with one hand in his jacket pocket. A casual stance that made her feel more relaxed than she probably should be with a guy she’d just met.

“Look, I don’t mean to take up your time. I just have a few questions.”

“Right.” She nodded. “About the post office and a letter that wasn’t written to you.” It all sounded extremely vague and admittedly more than a little confusing. The bigger issue was that she just didn’t have time for any of this today.

“It was here a long time ago but in the late seventies there was a big fire and the majority of this block was destroyed. The post office was relocated two blocks over to Liberty Street and when the reconstruction here was finished, the Town Council decided to keep the post office there because the space was bigger.”

“I see,” he said with a shake of his head. Then he looked around the store again. “How long have you been here? What was this place before you moved in?”

“You ask questions like a reporter.” And with that observation she figured the best way to get rid of him was to answer the questions and send him on his way. “I’ve been here for five years. Took a mortgage out on the building after I returned from Germany.”

His brows were raised when he returned his attention to her and she couldn’t tell if it was because of her reporter comment or her mention of Germany. Oftentimes people mistakenly assumed that small town folk never left their small town to see any of the world. Syd had made a point not to be that person and if everything went according to her updated five-year plan, she’d continue to shatter that myth.

Author Bio:

Lacey Baker, a Maryland native, lives with her husband, three children, two grandchildren and English Bulldog in what most would call Suburban America--a townhouse development where everybody knows each other and each other's kids. Family cook-outs, reunion vacations, and growing up in church have all inspired Lacey to work towards her dreams and to write about the endurance of family and the quest to find everlasting love. To date she has written in several genres including small town romance, YA paranormal (as Artist Arthur), a cozy mystery series titled Rumors and adult paranormal (as A.C. Arthur).

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BOOK BLITZ: The Life and Times of Angie Bardot by Angela Bardot #GIVEAWAY

The Life and Times of Angie Bardot
Angela Bardot
Publication date: February 14th 2021
Genres: Comedy, Women’s Fiction

IS THERE LIFE AFTER?

Setting out on her adventures, Angie is best described as endearingly tragic as she gives a truly laugh-out-loud account of what could possibly go wrong when her long-term marriage comes to an end. Extolling the many pitfalls of being single is no laughing matter and being thrown into the dating arena is even worse.

When curiosity to view a certain piece of the male anatomy takes priority, bedlam unfolds. Angie’s journey will leave you in fits of laughter while raising your eyebrows in absolute disdain.

Taking you from “Hell No” to “Hell Yes,” this two-part true story taps into a range of emotions as you travel along with Angie on her voyage of self-discovery. A captivating exposé of courage and raw honesty in finding a new beginning when life takes a nosedive, this compelling portrayal of compassion gives insight into the weakest and strongest moments of what it is to be human.

You will fall in love with Angie and won’t be able to stop turning the pages to see what she will do next. To err on the side of caution is not Angies strong suit. Heart wrenching, yet hilariously funny in the unique style of telling her tale, it’s never a surprise when she ends up on several occasions with her tail between her legs!

Does she ever learn?

This book is one of a kind, and better still, so is Angie Bardot.

“What an inspiring, self-reflecting, self-effacing, honest, eye-opening sex goddess she is – I loved it!” MARY – WHO WANTED TO KNOW MORE

“Uplifting and HILARIOUS, I’ve never, ever laughed so hard. I literally couldn’t stop reading.” VANESSA – WHO ISN’T A READER

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Author Bio:

There is more to Angela Bardot than meets the eye. Abducted at the age of five and as a teenager running away from her abusive childhood, Angela traveled overseas to an idyllic peace-loving commune which later becomes an army base and war zone. With no hope of escape, Angela's endurance from the events of this early part of her life have given her strength. After leaving the commune Angela traveled behind the Iron Curtain where very few westerners dared to go before a year spent in Canada living with her friends loving family which gave Angela an insight into what a family should be. She felt loved for the first time and was ready to return home.Angela settled down to a somewhat normal life and obtained a Diploma of Copywriting and Advertising and a Certificate in Business, becoming a successful business partner. Angela is proudest of her role as a wife, mother, and grandmother. The importance of her family remains her greatest achievement. Angela traveled to many more countries over the years, but the one she holds dearest was her time spent in Canada, as part of a loving family environment.Angela Bardot published her first book, Hell No in 2017 which is now incorporated as part one in her new book, The Life and Times of Angie Bardot.

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BOOK BLITZ: Demon's Little Lamb by Marteeka Karland #GIVEAWAY

Demon’s Little Lamb
Marteeka Karland
(Shadow Demons, #2)
Publication date: February 11th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

A Demon infatuated with the enemy:Azriel Ivanovich knows the new intern he’s hired at Argent Tech comes with a price tag. It’s possible the young, sexy college grad is in bed with the people trying to stage a takeover of the company he and his brothers built as a cover for their underground activities. With the help of a former member of one of the most dangerous and influential shady organizations in the world, Azriel and the Shadow Demons are about to stage a hostile takeover of their own. Of the permanent kind.

A little lamb lost among the wolves:All Lamb Newsome wants to do is start an exciting, promising life after graduation. The little break she takes in the Florida Keys before starting her new internship started things off smashingly. There she meets a wealthy man who is familiar with Argent Tech and they hit it off from the start. Both in bed and out of it. When she finds out he’s married, things unravel quickly. The mess that follows isn’t what she expected, however. Instead of a jealous wife, she has one of the owners of the company after her. In retrospect, she realizes she really shouldn’t have fallen for the guy, but the sex is just that good.

Betrayals and secret wars:Had she known the stakes, Lamb wouldn’t have bet her heart. Now all she can do is believe in her Demon. Even if she doesn’t know how he lives in the shadows. Now, she has to survive. But how is she supposed to do it on her own? And how can she ever trust her heart again when all it wants is the Shadow Demon she can never have?

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

The last person in the world Lamb expected to see tonight was James. She was so surprised and genuinely glad to see him, she forgot where she was or that there were people around them. She hugged him fiercely.

“I’m so glad to see you!” Letting him go and pulling back to smile up at him, Lamb continued in a rush. “I thought I’d never see you again! When I left, I forgot to get your number or even an email address!” Then she noticed the woman standing next to him who’d sidled closer, slipping her hand around his upper arm.

And her stomach dropped.

She looked from one of them to the other, realizing she’d fucked up royally. Stupid mistake. She should have gotten a feel for the atmosphere before she threw herself at James. Hell, this was a formal party. Throwing oneself at anyone wasn’t the proper way to behave in this setting.

“I’m so sorry,” Lamb said, backing off and looking down at the floor in embarrassment. “I hope neither of you will be offended. I was just happy to see James and didn’t consider he’d be with someone else.” She looked at the woman next to him when she spoke. “Please forgive my forwardness.”

“You must be an old friend of Robert’s,” the woman answered. She didn’t sound unkind or even angry. Just… cold. Stiff. Almost resigned. As if she’d been through all this before and didn’t like it any more now than she had in the past.

“Uh, yes.” Lamb shook her head, flustered. “No. Not exactly. We met a few months ago in Key West.” She met the woman’s gaze, hoping to convey her acceptance that Robert was with another woman. “I apologize for intruding.”

“Key West?” She turned sharply to Robert. “You met her in Key West?”

“Miss Newsome was on a holiday she’d rescheduled from spring break. We talked in a bar for a brief period, my love.”

The “my love” part made Lamb inhale sharply, something the woman didn’t miss. Lamb also was acutely aware he’d reduced their week together to a mere few minutes in a bar.

“Well, Miss Newsome. It’s lovely to have met you. I’m Mrs. Rachel Luxemberry. James’s wife of ten years.”

Lamb wished the floor could open up and swallow her whole. She’d slept with a married man. Not once, but many times over those days in paradise. No wonder he hadn’t contacted her. Or why he’d not given her a way to contact him. At the time, she’d kicked herself for not asking for a way to call him, to keep in touch. Looking back, he’d distracted her every time she’d intended to. As if he’d known what she’d want and had long experience avoiding it.

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Luxemberry.” Finally, Lamb pulled herself together. “I wish I could say I’d heard so much about you, but was unaware James… that is, Mr. Luxemberry, was married. Please accept my sincerest apologies.” Without another word, Lamb ducked her head again and retreated. Unsure where exactly she was going, she made it her goal to get out of the ballroom and someplace private where she could regain her composure. Once she was sure she could keep it together, she’d touch base with a few more of her coworkers and her boss, then get the hell out of Dodge.

Author Bio:

Romance author by night, emergency room tech/clerk by day, Marteeka Karland works really hard to drive everyone in her life completely and totally nuts. She has been creating stories from her warped imagination since she was in the third grade. Her love of writing blossomed throughout her teenage years until it developed into the totally unorthodox and irreverent style her English teachers tried so hard to rid her of. Now, she breathes life into faeries, space hunters, werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, and a few just plane ole ordinary people. She loves to see the awkward, self-conscious band geek get the captain of the football team and make him beg for it.

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BOOK BLITZ: Cutter's Mission by Rosie Jarvis #GIVEAWAY

Cutter’s Mission
Rosie Jarvis
(Valhalla Warriors, #1)
Publication date: February 9th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

An Immortal Biker Daddy walks into a bar…

Abbott McClain is on the run.

An infamous human trafficker and murderer is hot on his heels, and he has nowhere to go. When his car breaks down in a small Texas town, he has no choice but to seek help from a biker bar in the middle of nowhere. After a lifetime of rejection, he doesn’t want to trust anyone ever again. But when he meets a blue-eyed bear at the bar who promises him kindness and protection, he desperately wants to believe that this time things will be different.

James Alan Cutter is on a mission.

As a member of an immortal motorcycle club entrusted with protecting humanity, he shouldn’t be taking time off for romance. But something about Abbott stirs his Daddy nature.

When evil stalks the boy Cutter has fallen for, his brothers in arms come together to protect their love.

Cutter’s Mission is a 48K motorcycle club romance with an age gap, size difference, and hurt/comfort.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

He really had no choice. The sun would be down soon, and that would make this entire situation a million times worse. Being broken down in a strange place in the dark? That was a horror movie plot. Rom-coms were more of Abbott’s style anyway. Okay, cute twink meets big sexy biker, they fall in love and live happily ever after. Abbott snorted. Yeah, right.

Abbott nearly tripped over the step leading from the gravel lot to the small, covered porch. It seemed almost funny that a backwoods biker club would have a porch. Abbott let his imagination run wild, just to get his mind off the impending danger of the unknown.

Maybe they held wine tastings on Wednesdays and talked about planting flowers around the building to soften the harsh lines. Did they serve Brie with crackers and a nice Chardonnay? Did they discuss the newest designs on leather jackets and where to find the best tailor for the perfect fit? Was that even a thing? The humorous thoughts helped calm Abbott’s nerves. His hand was barely shaking when he reached for the door handle.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darker interior. The music was lively and loud, and the unmistakable sounds of a pool game was overlaid with raucous laughter. Not too different than some of the gay bars he had gone to before.

This place would be a leather-Daddy-loving boy’s dream! Abbott loved men, all men, but big, furry bears were his weakness. Now, to be honest, Leather Daddies had just become a new deposit in his spank bank. And they were everywhere. Don’t get a boner now! They’ll kill you and you’ll never be found.

Abbott glanced up, spotting a gorgeous man sitting at the end of the bar. He was drinking beer from a mug the size of a pitcher. Dark, close-cropped hair and five o’clock shadow brought out his deep blue eyes which were staring directly at him. Abbott licked his lips, trying to get the courage to move but his body was completely frozen to the spot. He took in the dark tattoos that covered the sexy bear’s arms and shivered.

“You lost, boy?” A stern voice grabbed Abbott’s attention and the ring of authority shook him from his stupor. He quickly moved toward the bar, switching his focus from the blue-eyed biker to the speaker. Not dressed like the patrons, Abbott assumed he was the owner. No denim or leather vest on this guy, but an ill-fitting blue t-shirt, stained half-apron, and a face that was currently sporting a frown. Perhaps this was Clancy?

“Yes, well, no. I mean, I, I’m not sure?” Abbott swallowed with an audible click. He realized the music had stopped, and the place was completely silent.

“Is that a question?” The gruff server placed his hands on the bar as he studied Abbott. He was clean-shaven, had steel gray hair long enough to touch his collar, a sun-worn face covered in wrinkles, and hazel eyes that traveled over Abbott’s body. If Abbott squinted, the bartender could look like Sam Elliott. Only not as cute, and without the bushy mustache.

“Well, to be honest, I’m not really lost. I’m just not sure where I am.” He shook his head to stop his nervous rambling. “Sorry, I was on the main road when my car just died. It’s a junker anyway, but it’s my only transportation. I walked by here once already looking for a place to let me use the phone. To call for a tow. Or something.”

No one in the building said a word. The pool games had stopped. Abbott gulped as he looked around. Men and women were standing stock still, even the band were holding their instruments, watching the scene. Every person in the bar had on jeans, a leather jacket, or a vest, including the hottie drinking a pitcher of beer at the bar.

“S-so, is there a phone I can use to call a tow truck? My cell doesn’t get service around h-here and it’s, uh, dead anyway.” He held up the offending cheap burner phone before sliding it into his pocket. He had just informed a bunch of strangers, who could be homophobic, that he was alone and without communication. He could really use that guardian angel right now.

The bartender shook his head, his eyes never leaving Abbott’s face. “No phone here. Cutter? You able to help this kid out?”

“Cuh – Cutter?” Well, things just shifted from the Rom-Com Abbott had imagined into the horror movie he feared. The name was intimidating. But then again, so was every single large, leather-clad person in the bar. Any one of them could squash Abbott like a bug.

Author Bio:

As an author, I'm looking to bring my readers joy. The Valhalla Universe is full of Amazonian Warriors, Valkyrie, gods, goddesses, war heroes who ride motorcycles, and the humans who love them. The Valhalla Warriors is an LGBTQ Series that is insta-love, low angst, light kink romp of fun and steam.

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BOOK BLITZ: Suffer Little Children by Freda Hansburg

Suffer Little Children
Freda Hansburg
Published by: Red Adept Publishing
Publication date: January 26th 2021
Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller

Robin Perry’s life is finally on track with her dream job and a promising relationship with Ben Martin, even if his two spoiled children, Amber and Jaden, hate her. But things take a downhill turn when Gloria Reyes, an acquaintance of Ben’s, asks her to admit her young son to a cancer study meant for adults and Robin, heartbroken, must turn her down. But Gloria won’t take no for an answer and begins an insidious crusade to force the issue.

Amber Martin hates living with her crazy mother since her parents’ divorce, but she can hardly live with her dad, who’s too busy with “Miss Perfect” these days. When Amber runs into her mother’s friend Gloria, she’s glad to finally meet an adult who seems to be on her side. But as Amber becomes friends with Gloria’s sickly son, Alex, she begins to think Gloria is not as nice as she first thought, and Alex may be in trouble.

As Gloria’s threatening behavior escalates, Robin must protect the children while finding a way to save her career and her relationship with Ben. But Gloria always manages to stay one step ahead. When a secret comes to light, Robin discovers the stakes are even higher than she imagined.

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—

EXCERPT:

“Morning.” Robin settled into the chair opposite Gloria’s as a waitress approached. “Just coffee, please.”

Gloria set down her cup. “So?”

Getting right down to business then. Robin braced herself. So much the better.

“I’ve kept my part of our bargain,” Gloria announced.

“Bargain?” Robin’s eyebrows shot up.

“I spoke to Vanessa about the therapy. I managed to be quite convincing. You see, she posted a rant on Facebook yesterday after Amber defaced a library book.” Gloria shrugged. “I seized the opportunity.”

A bitter taste filled Robin’s mouth. Trashed library books, trashed kids on social media. She should be happy Gloria took advantage of the situation, but she wished Ben had persuaded Vanessa.

The woman’s dark eyes fixed on her. “Now, what about your part?”

Robin bristled. She’d made no promises. The waitress appeared with her coffee. Robin didn’t intend to stay long enough to drink it.

“I made a few inquiries yesterday,” she told Gloria. “Formally and informally. I found no new information about Pediatric MATCH. It’s still slated to launch sometime next year.” Robin took a breath. There, I said it. “I’m sorry.”

Gloria shook her head. “Not good enough.”

Robin sat upright. “What?”

“That’s not soon enough. My son’s life is at stake.” Gloria’s eyes bored into Robin’s. “You have kids?”

“A son in college.” Robin didn’t like bringing Sean into the conversation.

“Suppose it were him?” Gloria kept her voice low, and Robin had to lean forward to hear. “What would you do to save him?”

The same question Robin had asked herself yesterday. Anything.

“Or one of Ben’s kids,” Gloria continued without waiting for Robin’s reply. “But that would be different, wouldn’t it?” Her lips twisted in a mocking smile. “Convenient, even.”

Robin sat up and pushed aside her coffee. “I have to go. I’m due at the wrap-up session.” Reminding herself that the unnerving woman had a dying child, she added, “Gloria, if I were in your shoes, I’d be as desperate as you are. Medical research doesn’t always follow the timetable we want, but MATCH will move ahead, and when it expands to include children, it will be safer, on more solid ground.” She hoped she sounded as clear as Will had last night, but either way, she would end the discussion. “I promise I’ll keep my ears open and let you know of any developments.” She pushed her chair back from the table.

“You’ll do more than that, Robin. You’re a very responsible person. I’m counting on you.”

Robin stood, her chair rattling. “Goodbye, Gloria.”

“I’ll be eager to hear what you come up with.” Gloria’s smile widened, revealing her white teeth. “I’ll be in touch.”

Author Bio:

Freda Hansburg is a psychologist and author of Tell on You, winner of the 2020 Independent Press Award for Psychological Thriller, the 2019 New York City Big Book Award for Suspense, and Thriller Finalist in the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Her mystery thriller, Shrink Rapt, is now available from Micro Publishing Media and her new psychological suspense novel, Suffer Little Children, will be released by Red Adept Publishing on January 26th, 2021. She is currently working on her fourth psychological thriller, Trick or Treat.

Freda is also co-author with Mel Silberman of the self-help books, PeopleSmart: Developing Your Interpersonal Intelligence - a bestseller translated into a dozen languages - and Working PeopleSmart. She has the good fortune to live on beautiful Hilton Head Island. There, she takes refuge from her fevered imagination by sitting on her dock and watching pelicans and dolphins fishing on the intracoastal. Freda is an avid Pickleball player who has spent her entire adult life being mistaken for Carol Burnett.

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BOOK BLITZ: Tough Love by Melanie A. Smith #GIVEAWAY

Tough Love
Melanie A. Smith
Publication date: February 8th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

From award-winning and international best-selling author Melanie A. Smith comes a standalone steamy contemporary romance about life choices, love, and finding yourself in between.

Sometimes you need a bit of tough love to get where you’re supposed to be …

Mia Anderson has been living a life that was chosen for her. But her impending thirtieth birthday is the wake-up call she needed to stop wasting time on all the wrong pursuits. Just as she’s figuring out what she wants to do about it, her beloved grandmother falls ill and Mia drops everything to be with her. What she didn’t expect to find in her grandmother’s tiny mountain town is the courage to quit working for her father, supplied by a little tough love from her Gran. Now faced with an uncertain future, the last thing on her mind is finding love.

Nate Edwards is living a solitary life deep in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. He’s content, or at least he thinks he is — until the granddaughter of a good friend shows up and he starts having feelings he thought he’d never have again. But Mia’s future isn’t in Alpine Ridge, so acting on it would lead to nothing but heartbreak. Still, their connection is undeniable and circumstances continue to push them together, despite their resistance. Will Mia stick to her decision to carve her own path? And if she does, will it be with Nate? Or is he doomed to an isolated life?

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“I need to know what it’s like to kiss you,” she whispers.

My chest tightens with longing, but I press her away far enough to look into her eyes. “Mia, you’ve had a lot to drink, and —”

“No, I think I’ve had just enough,” she interrupts, and then she breaks free of my hold and kisses me.

I’m so startled I don’t react until her arms are around the back of my neck and she slides into my lap.

Her lips are hot and supple, and she definitely tastes like the wine. But I can only fight it so much when she’s warm and willing and sitting on top of me, and I wrap my arms around her. I open my mouth and slide my tongue over her bottom lip to allow myself a real taste.

It nearly undoes me as she accepts it, as our tongues tangle while her hands wind into my hair. I slide my hands to her face, tilting her head to give me better access to her delicious mouth.

It’s heaven and hell at the same time, as all the fantasies I didn’t even let myself have come to life. Fantasies I knew I shouldn’t want. Couldn’t want. But right now, I don’t care.

I’ve kissed a lot of women in my day, but it’s never been so good. I’m burning with desire on every possible level. The fire I’ve seen in her eyes has become a raging passion between us that continues to build to an inferno as she grinds into me, as I slip a hand under her shirt, the soft skin under my fingertips causing me to moan into her mouth.

She inhales sharply and tilts her head up, and my lips finds the soft skin of her neck, licking, sucking, and biting as she makes the most erotic noises. It makes me want to strip her bare, slip inside of her, and see what other noises I can get her to make. My cock swells at the thought and she clearly feels it, grinding harder toward the spot where it meets her thigh.

It’s been too long since I’ve let myself go, and as she tugs at my shirt, my good sense rallies a cry from underneath the mind-numbing need Mia just drew out of me.

“Stop,” I breathe out, gathering myself and pressing her back. “We can’t do this.”

She looks at me, clearly bewildered. “I think your erection disagrees with you,” she sasses me.

Author Bio:

Melanie A. Smith is an award-winning and international best-selling author of steamy contemporary romance fiction. Originally from upstate New York, she spent most of her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Los Angeles for college. After that, she spent almost fifteen years in the Seattle Area, and now lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas with her family.

​A voracious reader and lifelong writer, Melanie’s writing began at a young age with short stories and poetry. Having completed a bachelor of science in electrical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s in business administration at the University of Washington, her writing abilities were mainly utilized for technical documents as a lead engineer for the Boeing Company, where she worked for ten years.

After shifting careers to domestic engineering and property management in 2015, she eventually found a balance where she was able to return to writing fiction.

​Melanie is also a Mensan and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and driving with the windows down and the stereo cranked up loud.

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BOOK BLITZ: Uncrossed by J.A. Huss, K.C. Cross #GIVEAWAY

Uncrossed
J.A. Huss, K.C. Cross
(Harem Station, #7)
Publication date: January 26th 2021
Genres: Adult, Romance, Science Fiction

Princess Corla was supposed to be my soulmate.But we were star crossed.Two ships passing in the dark. Meant to be together, but never able to be together.At least that’s what I thought.

But it turns out—my life is a lie, evil forces are out to get us, Harem Station is spinning chaos, and the soulmate bond won’t protect us.Sounds pretty bad, right?

But here’s the best part.I can change it.I can change all of it.If I can just find a way to get myself uncrossed.

Uncrossed is the last book in the Harem Station Series and features a man chasing his star-crossed soulmate through time, a bazillion enemies at the gate, an entire station in chaos, and an explosive ending that proves, once and for all, that love WINS in the end.

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EXCERPT:

We continue the kiss and she bites my lip. Hard enough to draw blood. I don’t care though. I am being a dick to her. I feel like twenty-one fucking years of frustration have finally caught up with me. I don’t know where I am or who she is, so I’m sorry she’s being forced to bear the brunt of my disappointment. If she wants to make a point with that bite, she can make her fucking point.

And when she realizes I’m not going to punish her for that little act of defiance, she relaxes underneath me. Becomes soft and compliant.

That’s the part I like best about sex. The way I can bully them into compliance.

And then her legs wrap around my hips and she begins to move with me.

That’s the signal I always wait for. That moment when they give in. Not give up. I don’t mistake her lust for defeat.

She’s just into it.

I lean down on top of her, acutely aware of how small she is compared to me. How little, and slight, and thin, and yeah… weak.

But I want her to come. She has to get something out of this, right?

I slip a hand underneath her and start playing with her ass. She’s so wet that her juices are practically spilling out of her pussy. And she must be into the ass play because the moment my finger enters her, she goes still and moans.

“You’re a sun-fucked asshole,” she pants. But it’s done. And she says nothing else after that. Because she’s too busy wailing in her climax.

Her body lights up. And it’s not just some random glow, either. It’s fucking spectacular. White light leaks through the pores of her skin and I know that if her eyes were open right now, she’d be aiming beams of light at me.

I come. I come hard. Grunting and pushing myself deeper and deeper inside her.

But in that moment I can see her clearly. Her glow illuminates her face and…

I let out a long breath. “Corla?”

Her eyes open. And I was right. She’s aiming her light at me. I have to close my eyes to avoid the sting of brightness.

She closes them again and the room darkens enough for me to look at her.

“Corla,” I pant, unable to believe my eyes.

“Fuck you,” she says, pushing me off her.

And I’m so stunned, I don’t resist. Just topple off to the side. She turns her back to me and I… I’m suddenly at a loss for words.

Where am I? On Harem?

“ALCOR?” I whisper out loud, hopeful. Please. Please, for the love of the sun, be here!

But there’s no answer.

I look at Corla’s back. She’s still glowing a little. The light she emits makes her whole body glisten in the returning hazy darkness.

“Fuck you. I’m going to sleep for a minute because I’m tired. Don’t wake me up.”

“Listen—”

“I said,” she growls, “I’m going to sleep for a minute. I’m fucking exhausted after that light show. I just told you I didn’t like it.”

“Oh.” I’m… a little bit speechless. And now I feel bad. Guilty, actually. Because if I had known it was Corla I’d have been… gentle.

Maybe. Or maybe not. Maybe I’d have been even more of a brute?

Maybe I’d have wanted to punish her for leaving me alone to fight this war by myself twenty-one years ago.

Maybe I’d have fucked her unconscious. Or unleashed a real light show.

I know I’m not supposed to be here. I get it. I’m inside the fucking spin node. And maybe this isn’t real, but this moment feels real enough for me. It feels like a fucking gift.

She is sleeping in a bed next to me. And if I get a choice of staying here or going back… well, I’m fucking staying.

Twenty-one years ago I met my soulmate. We took each other’s virginity. And then we went our separate ways.

Star-crossed. For all eternity.

I didn’t like the idea back then but let me tell you, I like it a whole lot less now.

I’m not giving her up.

I’m not leaving.

I’m not going back.

Author Bio:

JA Huss is a New York Times Bestselling author and has been on the USA Today Bestseller's list 21 times. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings.

Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world. Her book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017. Her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Her book, Total Exposure, was nominated for a RITA Award in 2019.

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BOOK BLITZ: My Sweet Enemy by Jenny Hartwell #GIVEAWAY

My Sweet Enemy
Jenny Hartwell
Published by: Entangled Embrace
Publication date: February 8th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

The only thing tempering their insta-hate is delicious attraction.

Sunny chocolatier Charlotte Beecher is unemployed, in student debt, and on the verge of hawking her beloved copper pots just to make ends meet. So when a gourmet chocolate factory chooses her as one of five candidates to help re-launch the company in their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired competition, Charlotte begins to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Fellow contestant Luke Wells complicates her plans to win by a landslide with his flow charts and marketing projections. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Haughty is all about the bottom line and is as bitter as she is sweet. And when he snubs Charlotte in the first challenge, misunderstanding or not, she transforms from cream puff to jawbreaker. Bring. It. On.

But when these two rivals find themselves distracted by delicious attraction, will they let their passion get in the way of winning the competition?

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EXCERPT:

She opened the door and stepped inside.

“Oh!” She started at the sight of another person inside the fridge, and her foot rammed into something on the floor. “What are you—” she began to ask.

The other person turned. “The door!” Luke shouted. Charlotte gasped and pivoted, pushing out with her empty hand to stop the door from closing, but she was too late. It closed with a heavy clank.

She glanced down, and in the dim light inside the cooler, she saw a brick near the door. It must have been propping it open while he was in here, and she’d accidentally kicked it out of the way.

She set her chocolate molds on a shelf and pushed on the door handle. It didn’t budge.

“Damn it,” Luke growled, striding across the small space. He rattled the handle, but the door didn’t open for him either.

Crap. “We’re locked in,” she said.

He nodded.

“Inside an industrial refrigerator.”

He nodded again.

“The two of us.”

Luke slowly pivoted to face her. “Did you do this on purpose?” he asked, his voice hard.

“What?” Charlotte stared at him. “Are you freaking kidding me?” She shivered. It was damn cold in here, and about to get colder.

“No, are you freaking kidding me?” he retorted, leaning toward her. In the dim light, his eyes glittered with barely suppressed fury.

Charlotte shivered again. “Of course I didn’t do it on purpose,” she shouted. “If I wanted to trap you in an icebox of death, don’t you think I’d make sure I was on the other side of the door?”

She glared, and their eyes dueled for what seemed like an eternity. Charlotte’s neck began to protest her sustained glare with someone a foot taller, so she dropped her eyes and stepped back. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself. She’d left her light jacket in the interns’ office and didn’t even have the extra protection of her apron, since that was sitting at her workstation in the main part of the kitchen.

Damn, it was wickedly cold in there.

Luke banged on the door with his fist and hollered. They both waited in silence to see if anyone would come. Aside from the whir of the fridge’s motor, there was no sound.

“They’re all downstairs, eating lunch,” Charlotte murmured. It was unlikely anyone would be back in the kitchen for an hour since Simone had told them to take their time after working so hard during the morning session.

“Damn,” Luke said, still facing the door. His breath puffed out in a cloud. It had grown even colder once the temperature stabilized with the door shut.

Charlotte’s teeth began to chatter. “I’m s-sorry.”

He turned around.

“I d-didn’t realize about the b-brick,” she added. Damn, it was painfully cold. Her fingertips were growing numb.

His eyes scanned her body. “We could freeze to death.” He sounded almost clinical, but she shivered in response to the heated look in his eyes anyway. A shiver on top of a shiver. God, she was pathetic.

“W-what do we do?” she asked. “Jog in p-place?”

They both trotted where they stood. Luke rubbed his hands together. Charlotte tucked hers under her arms. Their breaths came out in white puffs.

“It’s not enough,” he said grimly after a moment. “I think there’s only one option.”

“You’ll s-sacrifice yourself so I c-can pull a Luke Skywalker and climb inside your steaming abdominal cavity?”

He narrowed his eyes.

She shrugged with a whatcha-gonna-do expression. If you couldn’t make Star Wars jokes as you were literally freezing to death, when could you?

He took a step closer, his arms opening.

Charlotte’s eyes widened, and she took a step back. “W-what are you d-doing?”

“We h-have to share body heat.” Now Luke’s teeth were chattering too.

Charlotte swallowed. Could she do it? Could she wrap herself in the embrace of her sworn nemesis, the evilest man on the planet? Well, there were convicted murderers locked away for life, so the evilest man in the building perhaps?

She shuddered with cold. A sharp ache worked its way through her skin and muscle into her sinew, her veins, her very bones.

Even her brain began to feel frozen.

It seemed her options were to either allow this sexy man to wrap her up in his strong arms or to perish from turning into a human icicle. So…she supposed she would take the sexy, evil man.

Author Bio:

Jenny Hartwell has a confession-she loves People magazine as much as Pride and Prejudice. Her fun, pop culture adoring side shines in her contemporary rom-com novels set in a gourmet chocolate factory while Jenny's Regency romances feature strong damsels and swoony lords. Her writing has won or finaled in numerous contests including the Golden Heart, The Emily, Four Seasons, Fool for Love, and The Catherine. Jenny lives with her family in the verdant Pacific Northwest. She loves movies, travel, and staying up late with a good book. And, of course, chocolate. Jenny is represented by Lesley Sabga of The Seymour Agency.

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