R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 300

LOOK at ME! Death and Destiny Trilogy by N.D. Jones

DEATH AND DESTINY TRILOGYBooks 1 & 2by N.D. JonesGenre: paranormal romance



Before trust and love can take hold, grow solid roots, and blossom into a reality larger than self, fear must be conquered and faith embraced. Yet fear of an ancient prophecy, of burning magical power, and a broken heart, Sanura Williams, psychology professor, is unprepared when Special Agent Assefa Berber enters her life, hunting a preternatural serial killer. Assefa's intelligent, chocolate eyes and intoxicating aura signature stirs her fire spirit but frightens the woman.

In a world where all is not as it seems, Sanura and Assefa must battle the gods' first creations - vile predators who threaten the safety of humans. Each confrontation, each bloody clash, will bring Sanura and Assefa closer to fulfilling the prophecy of being the Fire Witch and Cat of Legend - the ones who will save humanity from the Water Witch of Legend. Death, godly magic, and physical attraction draw Sanura and Assefa to each other, but fear and faith will determine their destiny.




Sanura rushed off the elevator and down a bright corridor with pink, blue, and yellow balloons decorating the walls of the children’s wing, bordering a mural of happy children in a park, the sun above affirming their special place in the world. An illusion, she thought, a beautiful illusion of how life should be for children. The truth, however, rested behind the closed hospital doors, where reality had long since claimed their innocence.

Her heels clicked with each long stride she took, her pace hurried, purposeful. Mike only sought her counsel on cases of a unique nature, counsel that was off the record. And she was late. She hated being late, and Mike would worry. Mike constantly worried. He’d probably already called her mother or Cynthia alerting them to her MIA status.

Sanura made a right onto another colorful corridor. At the end of the glistening hallway sat Mike, cell phone in hand and an all-too-familiar scowl gracing his aging features. As if sensing her presence, he looked up from his phone, and their eyes met. His face softened, reminding Sanura of the soft heart encased within the detective’s tortoise shell of a body.

“I’m sorry I’m late. The beltway was a beast.” She bent to give Mike a heartfelt hug, her long arms circling his taut shoulders.

“It’s all right. I was just beginning to worry about you, but you showed up before I had a chance to call Cynthia.”

“You always worry about me, and I’ll tell you the same thing I told Dad and I tell Mom, I can—”

“Take care of myself,” he finished. “I know, but that won’t stop me from worrying, so you might as well accept it.”
She kissed Mike on the cheek and sat beside him in one of the wooden chairs lining the hallway, conveniently serving as a family waiting area.

“So, tell me about this case of yours, the girl, and what you need me to do.” Sanura leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs, seeking a comfort she knew wouldn’t last once Mike began.

Sanura listened to the detailed, unabridged facts of the case, having already read reports of the slayings in the Baltimore Sun. The gruesome murders headlined every local news program from the early morning news to the eleven o’clock evening news.

She nodded, listening intently to details about Elizabeth Ferrell’s horrific night. While Sanura enjoyed using her training to help Mike, she hated when the case involved children, which didn’t make any sense since she was a child psychologist. Perhaps that was it, she reasoned, as Mike regaled her with one morbid piece of evidence followed by an even more depressing fact. Perhaps it took a person who detested even the thought of an injured child to be such a strong advocate for their rights and protection. Sanura wanted to help those lost souls. No, she needed to help them, free them from their pain, their misery.

So she sat and listened and fought the urge to cover her mouth and squirm in her chair when Mike described the crime scene photos his temporary partner had shown him earlier in the day. And just when she was about to tell him she didn’t need to know the coroner’s findings, a wave of energy slammed into her, shredding her concentration, dissolving all thoughts of the child and the case. The energy rode Sanura hard, forcing her eyes to close, mouth slightly parting, aura open and alert, searching for the source.

Deep breaths, Sanura. Deep, calming breaths.

With embarrassed concentration, she slowly opened her eyes. And a smiling stranger stood before her, a chilled bottle of water in his right hand.

Their eyes met, and another blast of energy assaulted her senses. She didn’t close her eyes this time and refused to look away. No, Sanura simply absorbed the magical energy, opening her senses and pulling the scent to her. It swirled about her, strong but gentle. And while it should have felt strange, as if her body had been invaded by a foreign substance, it simply felt—right.

The man’s eyes widened, almost as much as his nostrils when he inhaled deeply. Still he only stared, gaze unwavering, eyes sparkling with unasked questions. Yeah, she had questions of her own, like, had he experienced the odd sensation too? Sanura didn’t know. But she had felt it, as strongly as she now felt the heat of his gaze roaming her body, slow and sensual, ratcheting up the indescribable energy between them tenfold. Damn.

Mike stood and placed himself between Sanura and the fine stranger with the most tantalizing aura she had ever sensed. Mike faced the man, his head craned up to meet the taller man’s eyes, a snarl seeping through his lips when he said, “We talked about this, remember what I said.”

Frowning, the stranger gave Mike a hard you’re-not-worth-my-time look before gazing over Mike’s shoulder and at her. His smile returned and settled firmly on her still-seated form. Angling from behind her godfather, the stranger extended his right hand.

“Hi, I’m Special Agent Assefa Berber. I assume you’re Dr. Williams, the child psychologist and professor.”

Sanura stood and returned the smile. She took the offered hand and shook, trying—futilely—to ignore his unique masculine scent. The scent went straight to all the right places, subtly finding her genetic code and adding his. Impossible. “Yes, it’s nice to meet you, Special Agent Berber. Mike’s told me so much about you.” But not everything. Not nearly.



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In a world of mystery and magic, sometimes old bonds must be broken before new ones can be formed. Who knew that finding one’s soul mate would test bonds and unleash beasts?

Mami Wata and Oya are now free from their watery prison and ready to wage a battle five hundred years in the making. Special Agent Assefa Berber and Dr. Sanura Williams are the prophesized Cat and Fire Witch of Legend. To save the world from Mami Wata, a water goddess with a bloody thirst for power and an insatiable appetite for death and destruction, they must defeat her beasts and the Water Witch of Legend.

Assefa and Sanura are fully in love but possess only a partial mate bond. While Sanura has merged their auras, bonding Assefa’s cat spirit to her, she has yet to accept his claiming bite. Their incomplete mate bond and their new relationship are tested when Mami Wata sets her malevolent eyes on them, manipulating beasts, sacrificing humans, and creating heartache. Can their bond survive, or will they drown under the vicious tide of godly might?




With focused golden eyes, alert gray ears, and keen black snout, the Mngwa took in his surroundings.

The prickly grass under his large, wide paws.

The heat of the midday sun beating down on his thick black-and-gray fur.

The scent of mullah bamyah—garlic, tomato juice, minced beef, okra, salt, and pepper.

The four snarling big cats stalking him.

Scanning each strong, lithe, and ferocious cat, the Mngwa cataloged their stance, their position, and the distance between each other and from the Mngwa. They flanked him, a large cat to his front, rear, and sides. If the Mngwa could smile, he would have. Foolishly, they thought their numbers a strategic advantage that would fell the undefeated Mngwa of myth and legend. Instead of a smile, he snarled, a baring of elongated teeth.

A challenge.

The four cats attacked, their bestial response to his bait.

Four sets of paws struck the ground, claws digging into grass and dirt, brawny legs propelling them forward. Razor-sharp teeth bared, husky growls cut through the muggy June air, and feline eyes glowed with a premature win.

The leopard reached the Mngwa first, snapping and going for the bigger cat’s neck. Not wasting time with the youngest of the four attackers, the Mngwa sidestepped the snarling, snapping leopard. To only pivot, turn, and ram the side of the too-slow feline with the Mngwa’s massive head. Away from the Mngwa the leopard flew, sailing through the air and crashing to the ground several feet away.

The three other cats spared no pitying glance to the downed leopard, who lay on his side, breathing labored and ragged. A sure sign of broken ribs.

More growls and snapping, each cat trying for a different part of the Mngwa’s massive body. The Mngwa was having none of it, so he went on the offensive. Leaping over the biggest threat, the Bengal tiger, the Mngwa landed nimbly, then ran straight at the cheetah. Taking the speckled feline by surprise, the Mngwa powered over the cat, knocking him down before hauling him up by his scrawny neck and shaking. The cheetah’s fragile neck was held firm between the Mngwa’s curved saber-shaped teeth.

When the Mngwa no longer felt resistance, he opened his deadly jaws and allowed the cheetah to fall from his brutal clutch and slip, nearly unconscious, to the waiting grass.

Smack. Bite.

The lion and tiger claimed simultaneous strikes on the Mngwa. A swipe across his hindquarters and a bite to his side. The lion latched onto the Mngwa, his lethal teeth working to find purchase in the cat of legend’s winter dense fur and even thicker hide.

Like the predator he was, the Bengal tiger charged while the Mngwa grappled with the formidable lion. A mix of yellow-and-orange with wide dark-brown stripes, the 510-pound tiger landed on top of the Mngwa. His weight hefty, his claws long, sharp, and dangerous. The maw that threatened his nape even deadlier.

The lion kept up his offensive, kept clawing, kept sinking his teeth in deeper and deeper.

The Mngwa roared, reared back on his hind legs, forcing the tiger off him and to the hard ground. With a side dive, the Mngwa dropped the entirety of his 695 pounds onto the 380-pound lion. His long, dark mane shot up and out with the force of the attack.

The downed lion snapped and snarled but didn’t get up. No, with the Mngwa looming over him, golden eyes marble hard, paw raised, claws out and within striking range of the lion’s throat, the feline had only two choices.

One would see him dead, while the other …

The lion lowered his eyes, and then his head.

Submission.

Pleased, the Mngwa shifted his gaze to the tiger, his other senses having tracked the big cat the entire time.

He knew it would come down to this—the Mngwa versus the Bengal tiger. It always did.

The big cats circled, taking each other’s measure. They searched for an opening, an opportunity to attack with the least probability of an effective and bruising counterattack. The combatants knew each other well—style of combat, defensive and offensive tactics.

Speed, size, and agility were on the Mngwa’s side. Yet, the toxin from an animal no longer than an inch, the golden poison frog could kill a dozen men. Its tiny size and bright colors deceiving. Not, at a length of 120 inches and 43 inches of shoulder height, with a tail just as long, there was anything small about the Bengal tiger baring his gleaming white teeth at the Mngwa.

The Mngwa underestimated no one—no matter the outward appearance of the enemy. Even the cat of legend, if incautious, could taste the bitter tang of defeat. So he watched and waited and plotted the tiger’s downfall.

The tiger charged, all muscle and menace. His long, powerful legs ate up the distance between them, determined copper eyes all for the Mngwa.

The cat of legend braced himself, choosing to face the big cat head-on. He wanted this fight, the primal challenge that only a great beast like the Bengal tiger could give him. A glorious battle of fangs, fur, and claws that would push, force, and compel the Mngwa to prove his worth, his manhood, his undisputed dominance as the predator of predators.

Crash.

The ground shook - the Mngwa and tiger locked in a feral clench.

Biting.

Clawing.

Pulling.

Strong. The tiger was so strong. But not strong enough.

The Mngwa opened his mouth wide and clamped down on fur and flesh. The neck of his opponent was thick with rigid muscles and delicate veins. The pulse of the tiger’s life a strong, fast throbbing beat in the Mngwa’s deadly mouth.

The tiger whimpered his pain. Neither loud nor long. But enough, enough for the Mngwa’s ears to detect the effect of his attack. Yet the tiger fought on, as the Mngwa knew he would. As the Mngwa wanted him to, the tiger too stubborn, courageous, and fierce to submit so easily.

No, there was much fight left in the Bengal tiger.

He swiped at the Mngwa, vicious claws finding vulnerable underbelly and drawing blood. It hurt, but not enough for the bigger cat to release his vice grip. The Mngwa sank his teeth deeper into the side of the tiger’s neck, tasting blood and prideful were-cat magic.

Her gardenia scent slammed into his senses seconds before the Mngwa and the tiger were surrounded by a ring of raging fire. Breaking his hold on the smaller cat, the Mngwa turned to see an angry fire witch barreling toward them—green eyes cold, red-gold hair and long striped sundress blowing in a wind that came out of nowhere. Her deadly focus was all for the Bengal tiger who, unlike when he fought the Mngwa, trembled with fear.

Lightning hissed.

Thunder growled.

And fire witch magic crackled in the blistering summer air.

Dammit, he had to do something and fast. Retreating as far as he could go within the cage of fire, the Mngwa propelled himself forward, accelerating when he approached the heated barrier and jumped. With ease, he cleared the four-foot high ring of fire and landed, with an oompf, on top of a glaring Sanura.

“I can’t believe you just—”

He licked her. From the front ring bodice of her green-and-orange striped dress, up her toned shoulders and around the tie neck, and into thick hair covering an ear, the Mngwa tasted his witch.“Get off me, you big furball. I can’t breathe.”

Satisfied and comfortable, the Mngwa nuzzled his witch’s face, neck, and her heaving breasts, unfazed by Sanura’s angry protestations. The only part of him that pinned the witch down was his massive head and part of his chest. But, the Mngwa supposed, even that much weight could be heavy on a woman who, while five-feet-ten-inches tall, weighed no more than 140 pounds. With a teasing snort that had a lock of her wavy hair flying upward and out of her eye, the Mngwa decided it best to give the fire breathing witch some relief.

With a single thought from Assefa—I’ll take care of our witch, my friend, go to sleep—the cat gave way to the man. A transformative effect where fur and hide succumbed to hair and skin, paws and claws shrank to hands and legs, and golden eyes, muzzle, and fangs retreated, waning under Assefa’s command.

“Is that better?” Assefa smiled down at his hot-tempered girlfriend, right before settling the whole of him on top of the whole of her.

Very nice. Sanura made for the best mattress—plush, lush and with the right amount of firmness.

“You’re naked.” A huffed complaint that did nothing to encourage Assefa to move off her.

“Of course. My Mngwa doesn’t like clothing.” He shifted on top of her, letting Sanura feel just how naked he was. “He thinks pants are too binding. What do you think?”

She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I think you need to worry more about that big damn tiger you were fighting rather than your Mngwa in boxers.”





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N. D. Jones lives in Maryland with her husband and two children. She is the founder of Kuumba Publishing, an art, audiobook, eBook, and paperback company. Kuumba Publishing is a forum for creativity, with a special commitment to promoting and encouraging creative works of authors and artists of African descent.

A desire to see more novels with positive, sexy, and three-dimensional African American characters as soul mates, friends, and lovers, inspired the author to take on the challenge of penning such romantic reads. She is the author of two paranormal romance series: Winged Warriors and Death and Destiny. N.D. likes to read historical and paranormal romance novels, as well as comics and manga.

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RELEASE BLAST: all Jazzed up by Tracy Ellen

ALL JAZZED UPBook One: Love, Lies, & Ninja Missionsby Tracy EllenGenre: contemporary romance
A pretend marriage. A real desire. Being friends with no benefits has never been hotter! Jazy Axelrod’s in love with the hunky man-whore Max Byrd, who also happens to be her best guyfriend! Even worse, Jazy soon gets Max isn't into her that way. But Max has problems, too. A woman is trying to trap him into marriage. Max begs for Jazy's help. Jazy decides to give Max more than he ever bargained for. Can Jazy seduce the cynical player in just a few short weeks to believe in her, and happily-ever-after? Or does Jazy learn real love needs no convincing? A stand-alone HEA romance.

Gaze intent on my face, Max quirked a brow in weary amusement. “Look, I know what I’m asking you to do is underhanded and somewhat nuts, but doesn’t my continued mental health count for something?”

I laughed shortly, shaking my head. “So, let me be sure I’ve got this right. Instead of you being shanghaied by your mother into a marriage you don’t want, you want to shanghai me into marriage I don’t want to protect you?”

“Yes,” Max replied succinctly, not even having the grace to look a little bit embarrassed.

“My God, such a deal.” I rolled my eyes and tugged to release my hand from his warm grasp. “Thanks a helluva lot for putting me on the spot. As a wedding gift, can I expect to be bitch-slapped by your mother, too?”

“Ah, Jaz, you can take Angela.” Max flashed his killer grin. “Besides, your sentence will only be for a few months, not for life.” His voice lowered huskily. “I’d never ask something like this of you if it wasn’t vitally important. Will you help me?” He squeezed my hand and entreated, “Please?”

I’d known the moment it was uttered Max’s proposal was fake, but the last little flame of hope fluttering inside me had died at his explanation. Ruthlessly, I stomped out any lingering sparks that Max and I would ever go out on a real date.

Max hadn’t coerced me into falling in love or broken any promises. My hurt feelings were the direct result of taking a known womanizer seriously, something I knew all to well a woman with a speck of self-preservation should never do.

I accept Max is a dickhead. But he’s also my best friend nothing more, nothing less.

Still, pretending to be married for real to Max in the name of friendship for a few months, when I’d just vowed to get over him, would be a special kind of torture.

Am I that big of a masochist?

Or could accepting Max’s fake marriage proposal in the name of friendship be my chance to prove, once and for all, that I am willing to forgive, forget, and finally get over his ass?


Amazon ✯ B&N ✯ iTunes ✯ Kobo ✯ Goodreads Tracy Ellen was born in Indiana to middle-class parents, the third out of five hellions. She’s lived in the Midwest her whole life--in a small town, on a farm, and in the big city. Currently, she resides in the suburbs of St Paul, Minnesota with her incredibly tolerant, awesome husband and family. Always an avid reader of all genres, her writing career began in 2012 with the debut of A Date with Fate, a blend of contemporary-romance/ romantic suspense / and romantic comedy. Tracy’s goal as a writer will always be to create worlds readers can’t wait to dive into for a few hours of fun and excitement. She thrives on trying to come up with the witty banter, steamy love scenes, pulse-throbbing action, and belly-laughing humor her reader fans have come to love and expect in her novels. Please let Tracy know how she’s doing!

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RELEASE BLITZ: Little Love on The Prairie by E.M. Denning

LITTLE LOVE ON THE PRAIRIEby E.M. DenningPublisher: Paper Gold PublishingGenre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Selene Hawes is no stranger to running away. She ran away from Black Creek four years ago, and now she runs back to it.

Clint Porter spent four years trying to forget her. When she shows up out of the blue, it feels too good to be true.

Secrets, revelations, and unexpected danger can make or break their relationship. Can he believe she's back to stay? Can she trust him with her heart?

Can life on the prairie heal all open wounds and make true love blossom?




Chapter One
Selene
The prairie grass was an endless shimmering sea. I was usually not so conscious of the sun, but today it was a scalpel in my brain, and sunglasses only softened the pain a little. Thankfully, darkness wasn’t far off. I whizzed past a dozen more sun-faded billboards advertising hotels and restaurants at the next town. I wasn’t staying in the next town, though. I was going home. I’d crammed everything I could into my Honda Civic, emptied my bank account, quit my job and left no forwarding address.
Exhausted, I stopped at Tim Horton's for an extra-large double-double so I could keep my eyes open. I’d been up for eighteen hours, and had at least another four or five to go before I was home. I spent the drive cursing the monotonous ocean of boring prairie grass and swearing at my stupid self. No more guys. No, I couldn’t swear off the whole gender. I was almost positive there was still at least one nice guy left out there. Almost.
No more assholes. No more control freaks. I made a mental list of all the things I wanted to avoid in the future. No more love. Love was stupid. Love was a trap. It grabbed you by the heart, then when you weren’t looking, it punched you in the face. I glanced at myself in the mirror and frowned. My sunglasses only covered some of the brilliant purple that surrounded my eye. I looked back at the road. Two more hours until I’d be home.
My mental list continued. Relationships were bad news. I should try to stay single for a while. I’d decided that when Jay had punched me in the face. I needed some time to myself. Some time to find myself, figure out who I was and all that other cliché shit. Basically, I needed time to drink myself into oblivion, cry myself stupid and eat my weight in chocolate as I examined all the shitty choices that led me to this point in my life.
The destruction of my life was so swift and complete I half expected Jay to call my cellphone any minute. Except I’d thrown my phone out the window four hundred miles ago. I’d watched it hit the pavement, then explode into a million pieces. I could hear Jay in the back of my mind, yelling at me, screaming at me. The vein on the side of his head bulged whenever he yelled.
You can’t run away from your problems, Selene.
I touched the tender skin on my face. “I’m not running away from my problems, Jay. I’m getting rid of them.” I removed my sunglasses and dropped them onto the passenger seat. The sun was gone, and the last shimmers of daylight vanished with it.
An hour later, I rolled into Black Creek, population just over three thousand. My final destination was a farm a half an hour past the other side of town. I pulled into the gas station and thanked my lucky stars it was a self-serve. I slid my sunglasses back on and got out to pump my gas.
Forty dollars later, I jumped back in and turned the key. Nothing.
Panic. I turned the key again. Still nothing. I suddenly hated that I’d tossed my cellphone out of my car and smashed it on the highway. I’d have to brave going inside to call for help. I pulled my hair out of its ponytail and hoped my long, red locks would draw attention from the bruise I tried to hide.
If the kid at the counter noticed it, he was nice enough not to say anything. He handed me a cordless phone, then checked out my tits. Fucking horny teenagers.
“Do you have a phone book?”
If I was a better person, I wouldn’t need to look up the number. I’d remember it because I’d have called to say I was coming, which would have meant calling at all. I hadn’t in the four years I’d been gone.
The kid passed me the phone book, and I found the number fast enough. I’d swallowed my pride when I’d resolved to leave Jay and come back here. Three rings later, he answered. His voice hadn’t changed. He didn’t sound any older. I found myself wondering if he’d aged at all since I saw him last.
“Hello?” he repeated.
“Robert?”
Robert wasn’t my dad. My real one had died when I was two. Robert was the guy my mom married when I was fifteen. She’d died when I was nineteen. I’d left shortly after.
“Selene?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
I heard him breathe out as if he’d been holding his breath for four years and was just exhaling now. “How are you, kid? It’s good to hear from you.”
I hesitated, took a deep breath and screwed up the courage to speak. “I need a favor.”
“Are you in trouble?”
“Can you come get me? My car died. I’m at the Esso on Baker.”
“You’re in Black Creek? Jesus, Selene, what are you doing all the way out here?”
I didn’t want to explain on the phone in a service station with a horny teenager staring at my tits. “Can you pick me up? I’ll explain it all when I get home?”
I bit my lip to keep my emotions in check. There was a silence, not a long one, but long enough to make me worry that I’d made more huge mistakes.
“I’ll have a tow truck to you soon.”
“Thanks, Robert.”
“I’ll have the coffee on when you get here.”
“Can you make it strong?”
“How strong?”
“Can you turn it into whiskey?”
“That bad?”
I heard the concern in his voice. I’d have a lot of explaining to do later.
“That bad. See you in a bit.”
I handed the phone back to the kid, who just now noticed my black eye.
“Holy shit, lady. Somebody hit you?”
I scoffed. “No. I walked into a door.” I sneered and walked out. Amazon ✯ Amazon Int'l ✯ Goodreads



E. M. Denning is a writer from British Columbia. She loves her family and her animals and anything cute and fuzzy. She was born a hopeless romantic and when she’s not writing romance, she’s probably reading it. She loves love.

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RELEASE TOUR w/ #GIVEAWAY: A Witch's Holiday Wedding by Tena Stetler

A WITCH'S HOLIDAY WEDDINGThe Lobster Cove seriesby Tena StetlerGenre: paranormal romance



Elemental witch, Pepper McKay and former Navy SEAL, Lathen Quartz have built Lobster Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on enchanted McKay land. During a romantic interlude on Halloween night, Pepper happily agrees to become Lathen’s wife. What better day than Winter Solstice for their wedding in a town that loves celebrations and Christmas. However, planning a wedding and operating their wildlife center takes a toll on both Pepper and Lathen.

When the couple takes a much-needed break for Thanksgiving with family in Colorado, a Maine snowstorm fills the center with injured wildlife. Lathen finds himself drawn into a covert military mission, while trying to deal with issues concerning friends and family. Pepper wants to cancel the wedding. Is she having second thoughts? Will the nosy McKay ghosts, Lathen’s werewolf pack, Pepper’s parents, and her best friend help or hinder the wedding and holiday plans?



A strong arm whipped around her waist, the air whooshed out as she squealed. Pepper balled up her gloved fist as a large warm hand wrapped around her wrist. "I've seen you defend yourself. Not going to chance it." A deep voice chuckled behind her.

"Lathen -- I'm going to..."

He spun her around and covered her cold lips with his warm ones. Werewolves run several degrees warmer than most of the population, one of the many things she loved about him. She relaxed into him, their parkas making a wisping sound as the material rubbed against each other. "That's better," he murmured against her lips.

All at once the lights in the town square blinked on. Low positioned red and green laser light decorations sparkled over the snow-covered ground and onto the gazebo complementing the white lights. From the other direction, a blue laser sprinkled tiny snowflakes across the building. Evening fell quickly in December.

"This is absolutely beautiful," She breathed against his chilled cheek and whirled out of his hold taking in all the lighted decorations not visible earlier. Then she pointed toward the bulletin board. "I've been reading the town's holiday events, Lobster Cove really embraces Christmas."

"Told you." Lathen said smugly. "Even some of the boats docked in the harbor are decked out with colored lights."



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AmazonPepper McKay comes from a long line of powerful witches. Unfortunately, magic brings her nothing but trouble. She learned the love of wildlife rescue and rehab from her Aunt Ashling. After graduating from college, Pepper works for Salem Wildlife Sanctuary and lives from paycheck to paycheck until she inherits the McKay property in Lobster Cove. With the family land and resources, she dares to dream of starting her own wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.

Lathen Quartz, a former Navy SEAL turned handyman maintains the enchanted McKay property for the McKay estate. But someone is trying to steal the McKay magic. Lathen offers to help Pepper achieve her life-long dream of building a wildlife center. During the long hours spent together on the project, their mutual attraction can’t be denied. But each harbors a deep, dark secret. Will they overcome their demons and give love a chance?



Tena Stetler is a paranormal romance and cozy mystery author with an over-active imagination. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, Tena sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of paranormal creatures telling her their tales. Colorado is her home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-year-old box turtle. Any winter evening, you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn. During the summer you can find her cozied up around a campfire with a good book.

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RELEASE TOUR: Winter Spice by Vanessa Liebe #GIVEAWAY

WINTER SPICEby Vanessa LiebeGenre: Holidays, Collections, & AnthologiesContent Warning: Spankings & light BDSM



Santa’s Grotto – After a wild party, twenty-one year old Jenna wright has to try and regain her parents' trust by working two nights in Santa's grotto. Unfortunately her colleague, Santa himself provokes her into being rude and she ends up over his knee - after she discovers it’s a family friend, Trey. He has other surprises in store for her, such as it was him who suggested the job and the fact that he’s going to stay with her while her parents are away. Jenna is furious enough about this turn of events, but when Trey warns her to behave or she’ll be disciplined, she reacts badly. Will the pair resolve their differences or not?

Spank-o-gram – Madison is a kiss-o-gram working on Christmas Eve. The man waiting for her on the top floor of an office building is expecting her, but he’s expecting to spank her. She is horrified when she ends up over his knee. She urges him to stop, finally saying the name of her client and the man stops spanking her immediately.

Tyler Roberts is horrified to find he’s spanked the wrong girl and desperately wishes to make amends. Attracted to Madison he convinces her to be his kiss-o-gram instead and things heat from there, culminating in a hot Christmas encounter.


Office Party – Ava manages to gain the attention of the CEO, Mr Ethan Jackson, by putting a photocopy of her breasts and bottom on his desk at the office Christmas party. Instead of firing her, or initiating disciplinary proceedings against her, he has other things in mind. It starts by taking her out to dinner and discussing something special. Will she be willing to submit to him and can she cure his grief, enabling him to find joy in Christmas again?

Clean and Shine – Alexis Slater is a twenty-one year old student at university, who cleans part-time to fund her studies. The week before Christmas she is asked to clean a new client’s house. The owner isn’t supposed to be home and he’s certainly not supposed to spank her, thinking she’s some sort of birthday surprise for him sent by his friends.

Logan Miller feels very guilty when he discovers he has spanked the cleaner, not someone arranged for him after all. He tries to find her so that he can make amends, without luck. Then she comes to him, returning his keys and he convinces her to stay for dinner. He believes that Alexis would like what he can offer her and in return she can help him heal from past pain.

A Christmas Bride - Lord Lucas is pursuing a career in politics. However, it has been made clear to him that he should take a bride if he truly wishes to progress. Incensed by being dictated to, he tasks a friend with finding a bride for him.

Grace Fitton is horrified to discover she is to marry Lord Lucas. Then she becomes furious when he can't even propose himself, or indeed recognise her at a dinner party they attend. Unfortunately being rude to him captures his interest. While out on a ride together Grace attempts to deflect his interest by acting vacuous. But this arouses his temper and Grace ends up being disciplined and kissed by him. Will she be seduced into submission, or will she deny her husband his wedding night?



Brown eyes regarded her intently for a moment, making Ava's body prickle in awareness. Then he looked her in the eye. "I would like to see more of you, Ava. Much more."

Her heart skipped a beat. "You would? I mean… I'd like that," she said, her voice sounding breathless and husky even to her own ears. Oh god, don't make a cake of yourself. Don't ruin it.

"Good." He smiled, then paused as if not sure how to broach something. He broke eye contact, fiddled with his tie around his neck and sighed, before finally looking up. "I'm looking for someone to share my life with, Ava."

She felt excitement build. Was he suggesting…

"But I have certain needs and I would like to discuss them with you."

Oh. She knew it was too good to be true that a man wanted her for herself. He was probably about to suggest an open relationship, or worse that she wore something over her head while they had sex. Old insecurities about her looks coming to the fore were hard to ignore. But she put on a brave face. "What needs are those, Ethan?"

He took a quick glance around them to ensure they couldn't be overheard, then he leaned forward over the table. "I would need to spank you, Ava—regularly."

Her eyes widened at his admission. She was shocked. But surprisingly, not offended. She was more relieved that he didn't want other women. However, she needed to know what exactly he meant by spanking. Did he mean a few smacks on her backside, or did he mean a proper over his knee bare-assed spanking session? "Please explain fully, Ethan. Then I can make my decision as to whether I agree to it or not."

Ethan nodded. "I'm talking about a relationship with domestic discipline in it. If you did anything, or said anything I didn't like, I would put you over my knee and spank you."

There was something about the way Ethan said 'spank' that had moisture pooling between her thighs. She pressed them tightly together. "How hard and how many smacks?"

"It depends on the misdemeanor. Sometimes I would give you a few light smacks as a warning. For others I would give you a full spanking. Then it would be painful, Ava. And I may use paddles."

She gulped as he said that. Yet, she was intrigued. "Naked or clothed?" she couldn't help asking.

"Most of the time you would be naked."

She felt a thrill at his words. The thought of lying naked and vulnerable over this powerful man's lap had her head in a spin. "One final question." She looked at him. "What do you get out of it?"




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Vanessa Liebe is the author of fun, sexy erotic romance and erotica, both contemporary and historical. She mostly writes in the Fantasy and Paranormal categories as she likes a man with bite.

Vanessa is married with three children and resides in Hampshire, South East England. When not house training her children, reading or writing, she likes to sit in the garden with a glass of rose wine.

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RELEASE TOUR w/ #GIVEAWAY: Infamous by Lori Sizemore

INFAMOUS by Lori SizemoreGenre: Contemporary Romance
Justine Montgomery, daughter of a divorced beauty queen and TV magnate, is a tabloid disaster after her infamous sex tape. She’s so desperate to help save her family’s home she turns to her deal-making dad. Can she prove to him she’s cut out for a career in television or will she lose it all?

Sawyer has his own past and a successful career is his only goal. Seeing Justine fail would mean the promotion of a lifetime, but things get complicated when he develops feelings for her. Suddenly, the lines between work, life, sex, and love are blurry.

They will have to overcome the bitterness of a rejected ex, the controlling actions of her father, and the half-truths they’re telling one another to forge a lasting partnership both on the job and off the clock.

Justine put her fists on the bed and dipped her head until they were cheek to cheek. Turning to face him, she let her lips skim across the stubble on his cheek. A short sound escaped him at the touch. So like a growl, it inflamed her. She’d wanted to experience all of him, to touch and taste, a savage need to possess him took over. To take his mouth, to take him inside of her, until she drove all thought from him, the way he’d done to her. His scent flooded her senses, leaving her breathless, as she sought his kiss.

He pulled back to look at her, his eyes as unreadable as ever. He lifted his hand to her cheek and stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. “What is it?” she asked, her breath still coming in uneven bursts.

“I don’t want to give you the wrong idea.” His hand dropped and he eased himself from the mattress.

“About?”

He crossed behind her, to the door, and she twisted on the bed to look at him. Her robe gaped open with the movement, and she yanked it together with a hand, exposed now.

But he wouldn’t meet her gaze, wouldn’t look at her at all, so it didn’t much matter. He looked at the TV, the window, the floor. Everywhere but at her. “About us.” Finally, he let his gaze rest on her.

Justine flinched slightly, and she hoped he hadn’t noticed. She forced herself to maintain eye contact. “You should go now.”

Sawyer spoke her name, his voice soft and full of pity. For her.

“Don’t. Don’t say it like that. Pathetic Justine, so unwise when she chooses a lover.” Justine climbed off the bed and walked the ten steps across the room to stand in front of him. “You know, I never thought I’d meet anyone more emotionally broken than me.”

“I’m trying to do the right thing here, which is a pretty novel experience for me, so…give me a break.”

Justine whirled away, grabbed his jacket off the chair where he’d dropped it earlier, and threw it at his head. “Get. Out.”

Sawyer caught the jacket before it slapped him upside the head, which disappointed her. He opened the door and then wrenched back around to look at her. “This is twice I haven’t taken advantage of you when you threw yourself at me. Next time, I’m using you for sex. You couldn’t possibly be more pissed by that.”

“There won’t be a next time!”

The door slammed behind him, and she jumped, staring at it for the longest time. She couldn’t get back in that bed, not now. She’d been so foolish, attributing feelings to him he didn’t have, to rationalize her own desires were getting the best of her.


Tell the readers a little about you.I’m a former social worker. I worked in mental health for ten years and have a B.S. in social and behavioural science, which I think helps me be a better writer. I’ve been married for 20 years and have three daughters.

What genre you mostly write in and why?I mainly write contemporary romance with a healthy dose of rom-com. I can identify so much more with the struggles people face today than those of any other time period and I feel like I can tell really crunchy, interesting stories in this genre.

What inspired you to write your first book?Infamous is my first book. I wanted to write about someone who seemed so unreal and out of touch with reality and show that she’s just a normal person, like everyone else. Her daily struggles came to me as I tried to compare her to what my life or a friend’s life would be like thrust into a situation that made our own painful secrets public fodder.

When did you first, without hesitation, call yourself a writer?When I started writing every day, on a schedule. There’s this saying that gets thrown around a lot: writer’s write. You can call yourself one and not be one if you never put down words. Conversely, you can be scared to own the title, but if you write every day—you’re a writer. I was proud of my dedication and productivity so I decided I’d earned the title “writer.”

How much of your books are realistic?While this first book (that’s part of a coming trilogy) is set in a New York television studio with celebrities, I’d still call it a realistic look at life. There are problems, some that all of us face, like paying bills, and others that are more in-character (like how everyone has seen the main character naked and how difficult it is to go to the drug store knowing that). But it’s a real look at life.

What book are you reading now?I just finished Hold Me by Courtney Milan. I felt it was a realistic look at being different, and how that changes everything.

What are your current projects?Currently, I’m editing the second Infamous book, tentatively titled Unexpected. I’m also editing a trilogy of novellas I wrote set in 1958 Las Vegas. There will hopefully be a lot of new published stories from me in 2017 as these stories finish edits.

Do you see writing as a career?Writing is my career. It’s my passion as well as the thorn in my side on a daily basis. It’s the best job I’ve ever had and I’m so fortunate to be able to pursue it to the exclusion of other jobs.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?Everything comes back to family, for nearly everyone. They’re not perfect and sometimes their love can be constricting and hurtful, but if you bang your head on the wall enough, those walls will eventually crumble and you're left with the people who loved you all along.

What were your goals and intentions in your books, and how well do you feel you achieved them? My goal is to show real people, with real problems, sometimes serious issues who find out that they’re perfect exactly as they are. It’s to show that love isn’t supposed to change us, but help us be our best selves. I think I achieve that and if I didn’t, I’d consider my story a complete fail.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?The glamour. I researched real designer clothing, real five-star restaurant menus, real fancy homes in New York. It’s a world away from my daily life, in rural West Virginia. I wouldn’t know a designer tag in my own clothes, but I knew exactly what Justine and company would wear to any given occasion.

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Lori Sizemore grew up in the mountains of West Virginia and never quite managed to escape them. Lori lives at home with her husband of twenty-plus years and two of her three daughters. She also lives with two dogs, a cat, and five hermit crabs. Yes, five of them. This menagerie and her family keep her busy. She worked in mental health as a social worker for ten years before making the choice to write full-time.


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LOOK at ME! The Secret Santa series by Nikki Lynn Barrett

THE SECRET SANTA seriesby Nikki Lynn BarrettOfficial genre of book: Holiday Romance



Free now on AMAZONThe magic of Christmas has been lost to Jacob Winston. At the suggestion of his ill sister, Jacob takes a job as a Secret Santa at the mall, hoping to restore his Christmas spirit. Even that doesn't seem to work, until a special little boy ambles up to make a very special wish...

Cheyenne Jensen is struggling to raise her two kids without the help of her ex-husband who refuses to acknowledge his daughter's existence and doesn't provide for the son he does. This Christmas is shaping up to be as heartbreaking as the last, until her son Ben's kind actions lead a stranger to them.

Ah, but it's Christmas time and the magic has begun.

When Jacob and Cheyenne meet, neither can deny their immediate attraction to one another. As situations arise that require they spend more time together, their feelings grow stronger and stronger.

With Christmas fast approaching, the pair learn what matters most in life. Now, if only they could ditch the ghost of Christmases past.

Maybe this holiday will bring some wishes come true- for everyone after all.





"I have a question to ask you." Jacob let her go to kneel next to her son, his tone serious. "You're the man of the house, and I need to get your permission about something."
Ben looked at him, then at his mom, curious and confused.
"I'd like to know if it's okay with you if I become your mom's boyfriend. You and Desiree are an important part of her life, so if I'm to be in it, I want to make sure you're okay with it."
Cheyenne watched her son's expression, waiting. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until Ben burst into tears. "Ben, honey?"
"Will you be our Daddy, too? I love you, Mr. Jacob." Ben threw himself at Jacob, crying into his shirt. Jacob wrapped his arms around the little boy, hugging him and comforting him.
"I think being your daddy would be amazing, Ben. But to be honest, your mom and I aren't that far into our relationship to think that way. But let me tell you this. You can call me and talk to me about anything. I know you have a dad in your life, and I don't ever want to take his place. That wouldn't be fair."
Ben lifted his head, sniffling. "My daddy isn't very nice. He doesn't seem to like me, and he doesn't like Desiree."
Cheyenne wanted to cry, too. She made her way beside Ben, Jacob and Desi, who didn't understand what was going on. "Jacob and I are taking it one day at a time, Ben. I care for him very much, but it's a long way before thinking about forever. You have been a brave boy, and I know it's hard for you when your dad isn't there for you. It hurts me here." She rubbed a hand over her heart. "But we do the best we can, right?"
Ben nodded and came over to her for a hug. "I love you, Mommy. I just want my wish to come true." She stroked his hair, attempting to soothe him.
"What wish, Ben?" She already had an idea, of course. She just needed to hear what her son wanted.
"That you don't have to work so hard, and we could have a Daddy that loves us. I thought that would be Jacob." At those words, Cheyenne thought her insides would explode. This was the first time Ben admitted his wish out loud to her. He wanted so badly for a family and a dad. He wanted Jacob to be his daddy. For a little boy to have such a heartbreaking wish tore her up. She'd been wanting the same thing for so long, but Ben didn't understand that she and Jacob weren't there yet. They were a long way from that step.

AMAZONAfter being mugged, Robin Sorenson is left shaken and her spirit in humanity is broken. Worse, she's not sure how to deal with the new anxieties or who to confide in, since she's always preached to pick oneself up and move on. Yeah, she's been the go to girl when anyone's had problems. Christmas is coming, and her belief in magic and miracles has faded.

Then Jonas comes back.

Jonas Aimes made a mistake when he walked away from Robin a year earlier. A big one. He'd loved her, always had and still does, but his desire to please his aging and strict parents took precedence. Back from the overseas internship they'd struggled to get him in, he plans on winning Robin back. What he didn't count on was discovering the shell of the vivacious woman he'd loved.

Broken.

Remembering her love of Christmas, Jonas pulls the holiday heartstrings. What? All is fair and love and war, right?

Twelve days, Twelve Dates.

Robin is speechless when Jonas not only refuses to leave her alone, but dares her to accept his cheesy holiday-themed challenge. Twelve dates to give him a chance to prove that he loves her and is never leaving her again.

But in the season known for miracles, can Robin find the magic needed to open her heart and faith once more ... or will she forever wonder about the ghost of the Christmas past that could have been?



A smile lit up his face. "Give me twelve dates."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Twelve dates? What are you talking about?" Now he was just acting strange.
Kind of cute, but definitely strange.
"Twelve dates to show you just how much you mean to me. On the twelfth date, if you don't feel like we could at least try to work things out, I'll leave you alone. If I don't at least give this a shot, then I'm going to have a lot of regrets."
"Twelve dates, huh? You seriously sound like someone from one of those cheesy films they air this time of the year." Okay, this man looked and sounded like Jonas, but his twelve dates idea made her wonder what happened to the real Jonas Aimes. Robin shifted in her seat and narrowed her eyes.
He feigned hurt. "Cheesy? Ouch. That's a blow to the heart."
"Twelve dates isn't a long time to decide." He was being serious about this, wasn't he? Twelve dates? How in the world did he plan to try and show her anything with only twelve dates? The idea sounded cute, charming and sweet, it really did. But how did he plan to pull it off?
"Maybe for people who don't have our history. But we've known each other since high school. Come on, what could it hurt?"
A lot, actually. She kept the words to herself. Despite it all, she couldn't hide her curiosity.
"Of course, we can talk and spend time together outside of the twelve dates, so it's not like we're limited," Jonas continued. He circled her palm with his thumb. "Oh, and right now doesn't count as one of the dates."
Robin laughed. Butterflies danced around in her belly. Good grief, what happened to her promise just a few hours ago? To focus on her own life and not get wrapped up in a man?
Okay, just because I agree to this doesn't mean I'm changing my mind. They're just dates. Dates with a man I love, but they're still just dates.
"What about your family? What will they say?" she blurted.
A storm of anger built up in his eyes. "I don't care what they say anymore. My family shouldn't have so much sway on how I feel about you. I should have realized that a long time ago. They don't get to choose anymore.”

AMAZONEric Jensen doesn't need the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future to know he's made his fair share of mistakes. The reminders haunt him every day of his life, but a terrible loss becomes an eye opener this holiday season. A heartbreaking question from a young boy pushes Eric to do some serious soul searching, and helps him strive to be better.

Forgiving is the key...

Petra Cavannaugh spent the past two years growing as a person. She left her ex-boyfriend and struggled to make it on her own as a single mother. When Eric shows up at her doorstep one night just needing to see her, she wonders if he's finally becoming the man she always wished he'd be.

The best gift could be a second chance...

As Eric shows a side to Petra she's never seen, the two grow closer. But is forgiveness enough to take another chance on love? Eric must learn to forgive himself, and Petra has to learn to put her trust in the new Eric and not let his past dictate her future.

There are more than presents waiting to be opened. Will this Christmas finally open the two hearts sealed tightly shut?



“You're not exhausted?” he blurted.
She let out a yawn as if on cue. “A little bit. You don't have to sit, I was just letting you know it's okay if you do.”
He finally sat, glad to have made a decision one way or another. But now what? How did he ever manage to win Petra over at one point? He had no people skills. He had no talking skills. Hell, what kind of skills did he have?
“See, that wasn't so bad, was it?” Petra turned her head and laughed.
“ I'm not good at this stuff.” Eric muttered. A surge of frustration ran through him. He didn't like her mocking his awkwardness.
Or maybe she isn't. Chill, man.
Petra sat up. “What stuff?” Her face scrunched up in confusion.
“ Talking. Sitting. This.” He waved his hands around.
“You're getting better.” Petra replied softly. “Something got to you today. What was it?”
Eric sighed. “When I went to talk to Adrian's widow, her little boy asked a question that haunts me. He asked something along the lines of 'doesn't he love us enough to stay'? Got me thinking about Ben, Desiree and Kinley. Adrian went back to his angry ways one night and it changed his family's world.”
“Damn.” Petra's eyes were wide. “I'm sorry, Eric.”
“ I wonder how many nights Ben asked the same thing. He's the only one old enough to remember and understand the things I did. He looked at me today with such disappointment and even warned me. He's dealt with way more than a nine year old should.”
“That explains the stricken look on your face when you watched the kids.” Petra's eyes were full of compassion and warmth.
did he have to start this conversation? Eric wished it would end. He didn't like this exposing his feelings thing. Weird. Just weird.
Maybe it was time to go and end this strange night.

AMAZONLife is full of complications, so why not have an uncomplicated arrangement between friends?

Former figure skater Caitlin Aimes doesn't care to make life complicated. Publicly humiliated by her ex-fiancé years ago, she closes herself off to relationships and love. She never thought she'd be that girl- the one having a friends-with-benefits relationship. No complications, right?

Wrong. This holiday season, the unexpected happens, catching Caitlin and Ron off guard...

Ron Mercer lost his wife four years ago and has no plans to commit himself to another relationship. Life as a widower with two teenagers is already complicated enough. But in a world constantly changing, he finds himself in a predicament he never expected....

The arrangement they made has consequences which neither ever prepared for. Caitlin and Ron are in for a Christmas like they'd never had before.



Too bad she didn't believe him. Kate craned her neck and scanned the room. “Caitlin's here with her friends.” She whipped her head around to stare wide eyed at him. “Do you have a thing for her?” She raised her voice, causing several people to look their way.
“Why in the world would you think that?” Ron's pulse raced. Did his voice crack slightly? Damn. Kate caught on, but at least for now she didn't know the rest of the story.
“Well, that answers my question. You look so guilty. But seriously ? You and Caitlin? She's young and so not your type.” Kate rested her hands on the table.
“Are you saying I'm old?” Ron gasped, trying to pull it off as playfully as possible.
“Umm, yeah. I kinda am.” Kate rolled her eyes. “Too old for her, anyway.”
“She's thirty. I'm forty. Why is that too old?” Why was he even arguing this point with Kate,anyway?
“Because forty is … ancient. Thirty seems it too, but I don't know. I can't imagine being thirty andwanting to date a forty year old.” Kate's lips twisted in some weird expression.
“Gee thanks, Kate,” Ron muttered. “Love your vote of confidence there.”
“Sorry, but come on! Wait, does that mean you actually like  her that way? Caitlin's so out of yourleague, Dad. She's fun. You're … not.”
That hurt. A lot. “Why am I not fun?” Again, he avoided her comments and questions. It bothered him more than he cared to admit that his daughter didn't think he was fun. Okay, so maybe lately, he'd been a buzzkill. But as the only parent, he had to when it came down to it.
“Sometimes you're grouchy and mean. But stop avoiding my comments and questions. Do you seriously want to date Caitlin?”
“Would it bother you?” There it was. The ultimate question. He should have asked this agesago, but there'd never even been a hint of a dating possibility in his life, let alone he never wanted to go that route again.


No matter where she goes, USA Today Bestselling author Nikki Lynn Barrett hears voices in her head. Instead of calling her crazy and locking her up, her family realizes it's just a product of being an author and allows her to write the stories so that the voices shut up.But they don't. And probably never will. There's no need to lock her up, Nikki knows she'll never escape the voices, not until each and every last story is written. And for every story she writes, about ten or more ideas pop up.

When she isn't slaving away at her computer writing books that will probably make you cry and keep you in suspense, Nikki plots to take over the world one book at a time. What? It's a sickness. One she can't escape!

Books aren't her only addiction, though. Nikki can be found making up parodies to drive her son crazy, and bantering back and forth with her husband, who somehow manages to steal her away from the fictional world she lives in all the time.

Nikki lives in Arizona with her husband and son, where she can be found using every creativity outlet she can find through music, photography, handcrafted things, and random interests that she may pick up from time to time.

If you want to learn more about the author who makes people cry for a living, check out her website.

Amazon ✯ FaceBook ✯ Facebook: Nikki's Book Nook ✯ Facebook: Nikki's Book Stormers ✯ Twitter ✯ Goodreads ✯ Blog

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LOOK at ME! Band Geeks and Riptides by Monica Duddington

BAND GEEKS AND RIPTIDESby Monica Duddington Can a homesick band geek find happiness in Surf City, USA?High School band geek Olivia never asked to move from her hometown in Oregon with its motto Keep Portland Weird, to Surf City, USA, a.k.a. Huntington Beach, California. However, just before her senior year that’s exactly what her mother decides they will do. Olivia finds herself in a foreign land of surf, sand, and sun where she’s not even sure she speaks the language. She’s convinced she’ll never fit in.Homesick and desperate to find her place in her new school, Olivia makes some potentially serious mistakes. But has she missed noticing friendships that have snuck up on her? And then there’s the enigmatic drummer Sean, who seems to be making Olivia’s heart beat some odd rhythms. Maybe it’s not time to give up on Surf City, USA. The following excerpt takes place at a marching band practice for the percussion instruments. Olivia, who plays marimba, loves this kind of practice. After a couple of miserable weeks being homesick she’s about as happy as she’s been since moving from Portland, Oregon to Huntington Beach, California. At an earlier practice she had noticed a tall boy who played drums and was wearing a fedora.*Tall Boy With Fedora is approaching me. I don’t look away, just watch as he gets closer. I’m still smiling. And swinging my arms.“You shouldn’t squint.” He points at my eyes.“Huh?” I have to tilt my head back to see his face. It’s way up there. I’m short. Really short. Five-foot-three on an especially tall day. There’s a sneer on his face, like he can’t believe I’m so stupid to be squinting.“When you were playing. I saw you squinting into the sun. It’ll give you a headache.”Tall Boy With Fedora removes the hat and gently places it on my head, where it falls all the way to my eyebrows, it’s so large. He takes the front rim and scoots it up my forehead a little, angling the hat.“There. That will help you,” he says, as he runs a hand through his brown hair, mussing it up so it’s going every which way. The gesture allows me to catch a glance of a tattoo on his inner forearm. Not a picture of anything, more of an intricate design.He’s eyeing me and his hat sitting on my head.“Um, thanks. But don’t you—”“I’m used to practicing in the sun,” he interrupts me. “Portlandia people aren’t so used to it, I’m guessing.”He’s turning to walk away. “Wait,” I say to his retreating figure. “How do you know where I’m from?”Looking over his shoulder, he smiles at me. Smiling is a good look on him, much better than sneering. It brings light to his dark brown eyes. “Don’t know. Heard it around I guess.” He shrugs and continues on his way.I run a finger along the rim of the hat and watch him as he starts talking to a group of friends.Now I wish I knew Tall Boy Without Fedora’s real name.* * *It’s heaven.More than two hours of nothing but percussion. My mallets fly as if my hands aren’t guiding them. Everything we play is something I already know, and most are old favorites. The late-afternoon sun is warm, and the marine air caresses my skin. Marine air. Not concrete and asphalt air. Today it’s sweet and salty. I can’t stop smiling.During our first break, I chat with Grace and even Kevin. Twice my eyes wander to Tall Boy, and I catch him staring at me. Probably making sure I’m taking care of his hat.“Hey, why you wearing Sean’s hat?” Kevin asks.Sean. Tall Boy Without Fedora has a name!“You mean the tall drummer with the mussed-up brown hair?” I ask, just to make sure.“Yeah, what’re you doing with it?” Kevin’s acting like I’m standing before him with an AK-47 or something.“He thought I was squinting too much, so he lent it to me for the practice.”“Huh, he never lets anyone even touch that hat.” Kevin peers in the direction of Sean, as if to find the answer. “And, well, even though Sean’s a friend and all, during practices he’s not exactly the friendly type. More the keeps-to-himself kind. Really into his music. Not the kind of person to just give a stranger a hat.” He’s shaking his head in disbelief.“Don’t know,” I say. “But it was nice.”This time I peek at Sean, catch him looking at his hat, and smile at him. One corner of his mouth goes up, and he quickly looks away. Amazon ✯ Amazon Int'l ✯ Goodreads Despite the fact that at the age of three, Monica Duddington had two imaginary friends who were motorcycle-riding men from Santa Monica who lived part time in a utility shed at a reservoir, her parents never got her into therapy. Today, many years later, any imaginary friends who might pop up get to have their day as characters in her novels. Monica writes paranormal, historical, and contemporary young adult novels.Monica is quick to admit that she has a serious reading addiction—an addiction she likes to foster. She can’t live without her husband and family, chocolate, tea, red wine and, of course, stacks of books.Though she grew up in the beach towns of Southern California, home is Oregon, and has been all her adult life. She loves the mountains, trees, beaches, and wine country of the Pacific Northwest, and even the rain, since it encourages people to curl up with a good book.In addition to writing young adult fiction, Monica also writes mysteries and paranormal romances under the name Monica Knightley.Website ✯ Twitter ✯ Goodreads ✯ Amazon ✯ Blog MoB Promotions

PreORDER BLAST: The Biker's Brother by Victoria Danann #GIVEAWAY

THE BIKER'S BROTHERSons of Sanctuary MC series, book 2
by Victoria DanannGenre: contemporary romance
*Please note this books contains dark material that may be unwelcome by sensitive readers*


Brand takes a job nobody wants to earn the respect of club members. Being third generation SSMC doesn't go very far in biker cred.

Camden Carmichael is running from a psycho ex. Lucky for her that her father has the means to hire Sanctuary Security to protect her until the divorce is finalized.

Two strangers set out on a road trip together. At the end of it, neither will ever be the same again.



Brant shrugged a big shoulder. “Too much green to turn away even if I need to do it myself. Arnold said the dad could have taken out a contract for what he’s paying us. And he’s right. It’s a chunk of change.”

When Arnold had blurted that out in meeting, he’d gotten several awkward minutes of silent stares from around the club table. They were bikers, but they weren’t killers. Even back in the days when they operated outside the law, they hadn’t been killers. At present they were businessmen who happened to like bikes and hold a certain disdain for authority and rules of all kinds.

“What’s involved? Pick her up and fly her here?”

Brant laughed and shook his head. “If that was all there was to it, guys wouldn’t be ducking around corners avoiding me. The man has hired the club to execute the disappearance of his daughter and keep her in the wind until after the divorce is final.”

“Why does she need to disappear until after the divorce is finalized?”

“The soon-to-be ex-husband is dangerous and greedy. The girl’s father thinks he may try to have her killed before the divorce goes through. He suspects this man of devising some clever means that would give him an airtight alibi while also making him eligible to inherit her trust fund.”

“Who is it?”

“The client?”

“Yes.”

“Severn Carmichael.” Brand’s eyebrows went up and he whistled. “I suspected you’d know who he is.”

“Our enterprises have touched circuits now and then.”

“He know who you are?”

“He probably knows who I am, just like I know who he is, but we’ve never met.”

Brant seemed satisfied with that. “What do you think?”

“Let me make sure I’ve got this straight. I need to pick her up somewhere in New York, bring her to you, and make sure she’s not seen or followed on the way.”

“In a nutshell.”

“What aren’t you telling me? Why isn’t it safer to shelter in place wherever she is?”

“He’s scared. Really scared. Thinks this guy can get through any defense he can mount.”

Brandon nodded thoughtfully. “When did you tell him we’d get her?”

“Day after tomorrow.”

“Day after tomorrow? Forty eight hours to come up with a plan and make arrangements to be away from the office?”

“Security will work with you on a plan. Taking time off work? Come on. You’re the boss, aren’t you? You want the job or not? If you do, I’ll call a meeting and get a vote on patching you.”

Brandon hadn’t realized how badly he wanted that until it was offered. He’d thought it was something that would never be within his grasp, but suddenly there it was. He didn’t really have a choice. Once in a lifetime offer to get the only thing he wanted that he didn’t already have?

Hell, yes.

“Hell, yes.”

Brant smiled as they stood up. He slapped Brandon on the shoulder and it made Brand’s heart ache for the years he’d missed not having his father in his life.

“I’ll call you later with the verdict,” Brant said.

They mounted their rides and ignited the engines. The noise made all the patrons of Chuy’s turn and look. The men wished they were on those bikes. The women wished they were sitting behind the men on those bikes.

Brant turned west on Bee Caves. Brandon saluted as he turned east.



Amazon ✯ B&N ✯ iTunes ✯ Kobo


AmazonTwo brothers, unknown to each other, are on a crash trajectory with destiny and two broken hearts.

New York Times and USA Today BESTSELLING AUTHOR, Victoria Danann, dishes up the sizzle with a new biker romance series.

"A hot, sweet romance that will make you laugh and sigh." - Cafeworld

Brigid was a graduate student at the University of Texas. It wasn't hard getting her thesis approved, but finding a Hill Country motorcycle club willing to give her access to their lifestyle was starting to look impossible. Then she got a lead. A friend of a friend had a cousin with family ties to The Sons of Sanctuary. Perfect. Or so she thought.

What she wanted was information to prove a scholarly proposition. The last thing she had in mind was falling for one of the members of the club. Especially since she was a feminist academic out to prove that motorcycle clubs are organized according to the same structure as primitive tribal society.

Brash was standing in line at the H.E.B. Market when his world tipped on its axis. While waiting his turn to check out, his gaze had wandered to the magazine display and settled on the new issue of "NOW". The image on the cover, although GQ'd up in an insanely urbane way, was... him.

After reading the article, he threw some stuff in a duffle and left his only home, a room at The Sons of Sanctuary clubhouse, with a vague explanation about needing a couple of days away. He left his truck at the Austin airport and caught a plane for New York, on a mission to find a mysterious guy walking around with his face.

INCLUDES BONUS NOVELLA: Intro to the Sons of Sanctuary MC, A Season in Gemini

"She couldn't live in my world. I couldn't live in hers." - Brant Fornight

Get your copy TODAY and find out why readers call Two Princes awesome sexy, fantabulous, and sentimental in the juiciest way!



New York Times bestselling author of thirteen romances. Victoria's Knights of Black Swan series won BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES for the past THREE YEARS IN A ROW. Reviewers Choice Awards, The Paranormal Romance Guild.

Her paranormal romances come with uniquely fresh perspectives on "imaginary" creatures, characters, and themes. She adds a dash of scifi, a flourish of fantasy, enough humor to make you laugh out loud, and, occasionally, enough steam to make you squirm in your chair. Her heroines are independent femmes with flaws and minds of their own whether they are aliens, witches, demonologists, werewolves, hybrids, psychics, or past life therapists. Her heroes are hot and hunky, but they also have brains, character, and good manners... usually.

The rich characterizations come from being a lifelong student of behavior, casually, and a serious student of behavior academically. She also studied comparative religion, myths, and Dark Ages history.

Victoria lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and a very smart, mostly black German Shepherd dog.

Website ✯ Twitter ✯ Goodreads ✯ Amazon ✯ Facebook ✯ Street Team ✯ Newsletter ✯ Pinterest



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