Twinkle (Sugandha) Varshney's Blog, page 143

Holiday Wishes by Jill Shalvis

It’s Christmastime again in Heartbreaker Bay!
When Sean O’Riley shows up at the Hartford Bed & Breakfast for his older brother’s bachelor weekend, he’s just hoping to make it through the weekend. What he’s not expecting is to come face to face with the woman he lost his virginity to a decade ago—a woman he’s never really forgotten.The last time Lotti Hartford saw Sean, she told him she loved him while he said nothing. Now, ten years later, she’s just looking for a good time. For once, she wants to be the wild and free one, and Sean – the good time guy – is the perfect candidate.But as the weekend continues, Sean realizes that after a lifetime of being the hook-up king, he’s ready to find happily-ever-after, and he wants it with Lotti. But will she open her heart to him again? As Christmas sweeps through the little B&B, he can only hope love and magic are in the air.About the Book
Holiday Wishesby Jill Shalvis

SeriesHeartbreaker Bay

GenreAdultContemporary Romance

PublisherAvon Impulse

Publication DateNovember 7, 2017
About Jill ShalvisNew York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
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Abuse of Discretion By Pamela Samuels Young

Mystery, ThrillerDate Published: September 2017Publisher: Goldman House Publishing

A Kid’s Curiosity … A Parent’s NightmareThe award-winning author of "Anybody’s Daughter" is back with an addictive courtroom drama that gives readers a shocking look inside the juvenile criminal justice system.
Graylin Alexander is a model fourteen-year-old. When his adolescent curiosity gets the best of him, Graylin finds himself embroiled in a sexting scandal that threatens to ruin his life. Jenny Ungerman, the attorney hired to defend Graylin, is smart, confident and committed. She isn’t thrilled, however, when ex-prosecutor Angela Evans joins Graylin’s defense team. The two women instantly butt heads. Can they put aside their differences long enough to ensure Graylin gets justice?
Unbeknownst to Angela, her boyfriend Dre is wrestling with his own drama. Someone from his past wants him dead. For Dre, his response is simple—kill or be killed.

Other Books in the Dre Thomas Series:
Buying TimeDre Thomas Series, Book 1Publisher: Goldman House Publishing
Waverly Sloan is a down-on-his-luck lawyer. But just when he's about to hit rock bottom, he stumbles upon a business with the potential to solve all of his problems.
In Waverly's new line of work, he comes to the aid of people in desperate need of cash. But there's a catch. His clients must be terminally ill and willing to sign over rights to their life insurance policies before they can collect a dime. Waverly then finds investors eager to advance them thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker's fee for himself—in exchange for a significant return on their investment once the clients take their last breath.
The stakes get higher when Waverly brokers the policy of the cancer-stricken wife of Lawrence Erickson, a high-powered lawyer who's bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General. When Waverly's clients start dying sooner than they should, both Waverly and Erickson—who has some skeletons of his own to hide—are unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail and murder.
AmazonB&NIndie Bound

Anybody's DaughterDre Thomas Series, Book 2Publisher: Goldman House Publishing
Is Anybody's Daughter Ever Safe?
Based on the real-life horrors faced by thousands of girls, award-winning author Pamela Samuels Young takes readers deep inside the disturbing world of child sex trafficking in a fast-paced thriller that educates as much as it entertains.
Thirteen-year-old Brianna Walker is ecstatic. She's about to sneak off to meet her first real boyfriend—a boyfriend she met on Facebook. But Brianna is in for a horrifying surprise because her boyfriend doesn't exist. Instead, Brianna unwittingly becomes the captive of a ring of drug dealers- turned-human traffickers who prey on lonely girls from dysfunctional homes. But they’ve made a big mistake in targeting Brianna because she doesn’t meet either of those criteria.
Brianna’s Uncle Dre, a man with his own criminal past, is determined to find the niece who is more like a daughter to him. Rather than sit back and rely on police to bring Brianna home, Dre scours the dark corners of Los Angeles looking for her. He is stunned to learn that the trafficking of children isn’t just happening in other countries. It’s occurring at epidemic levels right in his own backyard.
Dre is not alone in his desperate search. Loretha Johnson knows this world well. A social worker who previously lived “the life,” Loretha now dedicates her time to saving as many young girls as she can find. She turns out to be an invaluable resource for Dre, who ultimately gets a lead on The Shepherd, a mastermind in the trafficking world whose every move is fueled by ego and greed. Dre vows to bring his reign of terror to an end.
While Brianna makes a futile effort to thwart her captors, Dre is getting closer and closer to finding her. The woman he loves, attorney Angela Evans, knows the dangers faced by sexually exploited children because she represents them in juvenile court. Angela lends her moral support and, eventually, an important clue to Brianna’s whereabouts.
As he races against the clock, Dre ultimately comes up with a daring plan—one that puts many lives in danger, including his own. But will he find Brianna before it's too late?
AmazonB&NIndie Bound



Excerpt
Chapter 1
Graylin“What’s the matter, Mrs. Singletary? Why do I have to go to the principal’s office?”I’m walking side-by-side down the hallway with my second-period teacher. Students are huddled together staring and pointing at us like we’re zoo animals. When a teacher at Marcus Preparatory Academy escorts you to the principal’s office, it’s a big deal. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I’m a good student. I never get in trouble.Mrs. Singletary won’t answer my questions or even look at me. I hope she knows she’s only making me more nervous.“Mrs. Singletary, please tell me what’s wrong?”“Just follow me. You’ll find out in a minute.”I’m about to ask her another question when it hits me. Something happened to my mama!My mama has been on and off drugs for as long as I can remember. I haven’t seen her in months and I don’t even know where she lives. No one does. I act like it doesn’t bother me, but it does. I’ve prayed to God a million times to get her off drugs. Even though my granny says God answers prayers, He hasn’t answered mine, so I stopped asking.I jump in front of my teacher, forcing her to stop. “Was there a death in my family, Mrs. Singletary? Did something happen to my mama?”“No, there wasn’t a death.”She swerves around me and keeps going. I have to take giant steps to keep up with her.Once we’re inside the main office, Mrs. Singletary points at a wooden chair outside Principal Keller’s office. “Have a seat and don’t move.”She goes into the principal’s office and closes the door. My head begins to throb like somebody’s banging on it from the inside. I close my eyes and try to calm down. I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s probably just—Oh snap! The picture!I slide down in the chair and pull my iPhone from my right pocket. My hands are trembling so bad I have to concentrate to keep from dropping it. I open the photos app and delete the last picture on my camera roll. If anyone saw that picture, I’d be screwed.Loud voices seep through the closed door. I lean forward, straining to hear. It almost sounds like Mrs. Singletary and Principal Keller are arguing.“It’s only an allegation. We don’t even know if it’s true.”“I don’t care. We have to follow protocol.”“Can’t you at least check his phone first?”“I’m not putting myself in the middle of this mess. I've already made the call.”The call? I can’t believe Principal Keller called my dad without even giving me a chance to defend myself. How’d she even find out about the picture?The door swings open and I almost jump out of my skin. The principal crooks her finger at me. “Come in here, son.”Trudging into her office, I sit down on a red cloth chair that’s way more comfortable than the hard one outside. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it might jump out of my chest.The only time I’ve ever been in Principal Keller’s office was the day my dad enrolled me in school. Mrs. Singletary is standing in front of the principal’s desk with her arms folded. I hope she’s going to stay here with me, but a second later, she walks out and closes the door.Principal Keller sits on the edge of her desk, looking down at me. “Graylin, do you have any inappropriate pictures on your cell phone?”“Huh?” I try to keep a straight face. “No, ma’am.”“It’s been brought to my attention that you have an inappropriate picture—a naked picture—of Kennedy Carlyle on your phone. Is that true?”“No…uh…No, ma’am.” Thank God I deleted it!“This is a very serious matter, young man. So, I need you to tell me the truth.”“No, ma’am.” I shake my head so hard my cheeks vibrate. “I don’t have anything like that on my phone.”“I pray to God you’re telling me the truth.”I don’t want to ask this next question, but I have to know. “Um, so you called my dad?”“Yes, I did. He’s on his way down here now.”I hug myself and start rocking back and forth. Even though I deleted the picture, my dad is still going to kill me for having to leave work in the middle of the day.“I also made another call.”At first I’m confused. Then I realize Mrs. Keller must’ve called my granny too. At least she’ll keep my dad from going ballistic.“So you called my granny?”“No.” The principal’s cheeks puff up like she’s about to blow something away. “I called the police.”


About the Author

Pamela Samuels Young is an attorney and award-winning author of eight legal thrillers. Her most recent courtroom drama, Abuse of Discretion, tackles a troubling sexting case that gives readers a shocking look inside the juvenile justice system. Pamela is also the recipient of an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Fiction for her thriller Anybody’s Daughter. The former journalist received a bachelor’s degree from USC and also earned graduate degrees from Northwestern University and UC Berkeley School of Law. She is a frequent speaker on the topics of child sex trafficking, online safety, fiction writing, and pursuing your passion. To invite Pamela to a book club meeting or speaking engagement, visit her website
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MoB’s 3rd Birthday Bash Historical Promo Tour

Magic of Books Promotions hosted its first tour during the month of November three years ago.

The company was created from the passion and desire of its owner, Tami Adams, because of her experiences as an author. From her struggles to have her books viewed and appreciated she knew there had to be another way.

Three years later Tami no longer writes but is determined to show the world the magic that lies within the pages of all books.

The following authors are helping Magic of Books to celebrate its birthday. Enjoy.

Message from Tami:The last three years have been an incredible journey. I've made so many friends who began as bloggers, readers, and authors. I have been privileged to present and showcase new and old books from seasoned and new authors. I've learned so much I didn't even realize I should know prior to getting into this business. And after three years I can honestly say I'm still learning, I'm still growing, and I'm still making friends. I love and appreciate all of you who have supported my little slice of heaven. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

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HISTORICAL

Historical in traditional literary terms is when the plot takes place in a setting located in the past. Historical fiction can be an umbrella term; though commonly used as a synonym for describing the historical novel; the term can be applied to works in other narrative formats, such as those in the performing and visual arts like theatre, opera, cinema and television, as well as video games and graphic novels.

Please enjoy these books that focus on historical and all the sub-genres. The list is available in alphabetically order by title.

Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter.

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15 W. Gibson by Aubree Lane
Historical Romance

1954 - Stockton, California

Knowing Uncle Sam is about to come knocking, twenty-one year old Jimmy Franks saves the government the cost of a stamp and preemptively enlists in the Navy. He loads up on stationery and pens, and with a heavy heart, kisses his lovely bride goodbye. Leaving his precious Suzy is the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.

Pregnant and left alone to deal with their feuding families, Suzy Franks is heartbroken when Jimmy ships out for the Mariana Islands. Knowing Guam is considered safe and that she will eventually be able to join him offers her little solace. Suzy's mettle is put to the test. Her husband's letters of love brings comfort, but 15 W. Gibson is a lonely place without him.


Magic in Her Eyes by Donna Dalton
Historical Romance

Meredith Talbot has a secret. In fact, she has nine secrets – her own and those of the eight orphans at Seaton House, a home for children. Each of them has a special talent that if exposed would get them labeled as witches. It is her responsibility to protect the children and their secrets and keep them safe from persecution. Marauding Indians force them into a nearby fort where their safety is threatened by fanatical townspeople and a captivating army officer who try to unmask the children's extraordinary abilities.

Lieutenant Preston Booth has one goal – to serve and protect his country. The military is the only life he has ever known. It’s the only life he wants. When a child is abducted and Preston goes after the culprit, Meredith has a vision of what will happen to him.

Does she risk everything by exposing her gift? Or keep her secret and risk losing him forever?

An Heiress by Midnight by Clair Brett
Regency Historical

Lady Louissa Adair was raised by her uncle to be anything but a lady, spending hours scrubbing the decks of his ill begotten ships. Now, he has tasked her with a more deadly task. If she refuses, any hope of finding her long-lost and possibly dead brother will be lost while her uncle moves up his timeline to marry her off to a most dastardly man. While doing her uncle’s bidding, a blasted Englishman running around Scotland sets upon being her champion – not that Louissa has ever needed one. If he doesn’t get them both killed, and she might just kill the fool herself, she faces an even bigger danger – losing her heart.

Lord Clive Colcord, Earl of Breakerton, had escaped to Scotland in an attempt to avoid scrutiny by his late father’s solicitors. It had been a quiet, if not boring rustication until he finds himself tasked by the local magistrate with apprehending the highwayman menacing the North Road. He doesn’t expect to discover a beguiling dark-haired beauty with more dangerous men in her life than Clive has sisters. Yet he finds himself offering aid in an attempt to protect this damsel in distress. He must help Louissa find the proof of her uncle’s crimes and find her brother before she is forced into marriage all the while not losing his own heart in the process.

Dealing with the Viscount by Clair Brett
Regency Historical

After making a wager of marriage to settle her father's gambling debts, Ella Bowen-Thorn Renwick escaped the husband she foolishly began to fall for and disappeared into the Scottish countryside carrying a secret. Four years later, and the owner of her own bakery, she is still not free of the demands of men when a violent and anonymous blackmailer threatens her, her livelihood...and her daughter. And then, there is him...

Viscount Renwick still mourns the wife he began to love before her untimely death--that is until he discovers her alive and well living in Scotland. Now, Devon's face to face with the wife he thought he'd buried and the daughter he never knew existed. He'd like nothing more than to welcome Ella back into his arms, but mysterious and troubling incidents and a history with an unloving father have Ella trusting no one.

But, if Renwick convinces his wife he's the husband she always dreamed of and the father their daughter deserves, will the scandalous secret the blackmailer is holding threaten their future together once more?

On Wings of Time by Linda Boulanger
Historical Romance with Time Travel elements

Just because they weren't looking for love doesn’t mean it won’t find them, even if time itself has to bend to bring them together.

One man with a dragon’s soul.

A self-proclaimed bachelor for life, modern-day Luke Tavish has no idea he’s more than a mere man. One thing’s for certain, though… he’s not looking for love. He doesn't want a relationship, but he needs the fair maiden from the past... in more ways than he knows.

One woman with the key to unlock his powers.

Amileigh McCollum isn’t your typical Medieval Lady. She's always known there's something special about her. She just isn't sure what. The day she rides beyond her father's gates alongside a man who isn't her husband, she’ll learn that destiny is about to find her.

Six hundred years separating them.

Forward to go back, time spirals out of control in an attempt to bring together a couple that is six hundred years apart. When Luke finds himself back in Ami’s world, he has to come to terms with his newfound identity and prepare for a battle he didn’t know he would have to fight, all while falling head-over-heels in love.

When the future calls him back, will he ask her to go? Would she say yes if he did?

Watch out, because Fate’s carefully woven web is about to be tested by human will, a kiss, and the flip of a coin.

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River Road By R.C. Matthews

Title: River Road (Tortured Souls #3) Author: R.C. Matthews Genre: Gothic Romance Release Date: November 6, 2017 Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.


When a pirate and voodoo priestess must lift a deadly curse on those they love, do they dare let a relationship blossom amid danger? River Road is the gothically satisfying end to this fan-favorite series!Charles Moore relishes his dangerous life as the pirate Hatchet, since manning a clipper ship keeps his mind off the role he played in the brutal Civil War. But now an ancient curse has killed two of his loves, and he can’t ignore the whispers that New Orleans’s Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau herself, has hexed his family.Creole widow Hope Leblonc bristles under the city’s Black Codes that have stripped her of so many freedoms and forced her practice of voodoo underground. When Hatchet treats her like the respectable woman she is, she offers him a deal: she’ll lift the curse if he’ll steal back a family relic she needs to become a mambo in her religion.But they’re both holding secrets that endanger their lives. When ghosts from the past exact revenge for the skeletons in the Moore family closet, they reveal a connection between Hope and Hatchet that makes the curse more powerful than ever. Will they discover that love is worth the risk in time to survive the coming darkness?NOTE: This can be read as a standalone book.


“Twenty dollars,” he mused, picking up the rag doll from the chair where he deposited it earlier. “What can you tell me about this?”She snatched the doll from his grasp. “Where did you find this?”“I’m paying you,” he said, folding his arms over his chest. “I’ll share information on a need-to-know basis.”Worry lines gathered at the crook of her nose. “You angered someone else as well. Kalfu is the petro spirit of the crossroads. With the proper ritual and offerings, he’ll unlock the doors to the underworld and allow the crossing of bad fortune to an enemy.”Dammit. His sister’s instincts were dead-on, but he would deal with that later. Right now, he planned to earn his money’s worth from the Widow Leblonc. She didn’t offer him sex but something even better.He pointed to the table. “Can you tell me if I’m cursed, using one of those bone readings?”“Why do you think you’re cursed?”Yanking at one sleeve, he fastened the buttons at his wrist. “Need-to-know basis. If true, can you break the curse? With a ritual? Drums, candles, and the like.”Her hand shot out, and she grabbed his other wrist, twisting it to expose the inside of his forearm, where the wings of two swallows were interlaced in an intricate tattoo.“You’re a pirate. Of course, you answer to Hatchet,” she said, dropping her hold as though he were a leper. “I should’ve realized it earlier.”He lifted one eyebrow. “Why do you care? I thought your issue was with white men.”She stalked closer and pressed her forefinger into his chest. “Yesterday morning, an ancient voodoo relic belonging to my family was stolen by a band of pirates. Today, a pirate shows up asking if I can rid him of a curse.”“Pure coincidence.”“Get out of my house and don’t come back unless you bring my asson!” she shouted, stomping to the door. “Or I’ll put a hex on you myself.”“I don’t have your bloody relic,” he said, grabbing his jacket. “Your biggest mistake was trusting your precious cargo to the captain of The Angelica.”She gasped, her face a mask of horror. “How do you know that?”“Because I saw you speaking with Captain Corbin on the forecastle deck. Rule number one: never trust a pirate.”“Well, you’re a pirate,” she spat. “If I discover you lied to me, I’m coming after you. There are ways to find out!”He snorted with laughter. “Good luck finding me.”
 
R.C. Matthews is the author of contemporary and historical romances featuring bold, sassy heroines and magnetic alpha heroes. Warning! The chemistry between her characters is off the charts hot, so read at your own risk. She resides in the Midwest and is surrounded by men: her husband and three sons. During her free time you'll find her watching The Walking Dead, reading a fabulous book or hanging out with her family.




 

 

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A Very Wicked Christmas by Shayla Black

‘Tis the season… Sometimes the holidays are so busy—work, kids, shopping, baking, partying, wrapping, decorating, planning, and Christmas music!—that you don’t have time for the one you love most. Can the spirit of the season bring the first two Wicked Lovers closer forever? Kindle US I Kindle UK I Kindle CA I Kindle AUS I Nook I iBooks I Kobo I GooglePlay

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty novels. For nearly twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages. Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eight years. Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
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BOUND BY SHADOWS by Reily Garrett

BOUND BY SHADOWSThe McAllister Justice Series, book 2by Reily Garrett The architect of fear employs many forms.Kidnapping and murder never crossed Kaylee’s mind when seeking a fresh start in Portland, a new beginning to shed the remnants of tragedy dogging her steps. After escaping from an underground cage, she fights to stay one step ahead of the killer bent on silencing his only witness. Kaylee.Two months after dodging a sociopathic murderer’s best efforts, Caden McAllister flounders within a social sink hole, unable to move forward, too stubborn to step back. Guarded and wary, the private investigator’s stagnant lifestyle detonates into chaos when a battered and bloody young waif stumbles into his care. Framed for a murdering a past lover, Caden must clear his name and overcome his charge’s doubts while keeping her out of the sex-slave trade. When betrayal ends with Kaylee’s re-capture, Caden must conquer his past and risk all or lose the one he has come to love.Murder, mystery, underground tunnels, and romance are intertwined in this standalone romantic thriller, the second installment of the McAllister Justice Series. Confusion and pain intertwined to delay Kaylee’s escape from the depths of a nightmare. Her subconscious’ attempt to alert her to some horror or another had been common the past two years, but this time the warning came with physical characteristics she couldn’t ignore.The pain was an unwelcome element for which she could not account.Cozy flannel sheets had never felt so rough under her cheek, nor had her head ached from a glass of wine. Despite the tomboy tag since adolescence, she appreciated certain creature comforts. The rough material scratching her face didn’t number among them.A quiet foreboding swelled within that fuzzy twilight between the dream state and the hazy stages of surfing to consciousness. Sleep would be welcome if not for the musty odor and an undefined menace crowding her mind. Her brow furrowed as her pulse increased, awareness mounting with each painful throb.Why is there dirt in my bed and what the hell is wrong with this mattress?With each erratic contraction of her heart, the tension in her head increased, ratcheting like the shell around a drumhead until pain reverberated along every nerve. In grim anticipation, she reached to touch her temple. A crusty line of fibrous, threadlike strands crumbled in her brow line and snaked down to her ear.Blood? What the hell?Moving back to Portland had entailed a certain degree of compromise, yet shouldn’t include a cotton-mouth morning. This was too much. A light finger-comb revealed a large tangled knot and a painful lump over her ear.Did I fall off the mattress and hit my head?“Hey, kid. Wake up, damn it. Hurry.”The harsh whisper embodied urgency and desperation that replicated and swelled within her chest.What the fuck? The voice in her head wasn’t her own. Enlightenment would come after punching through the suffocating fog and fully emerging in the suddenly hostile world. Stabbing pain accompanied the dingy light spearing her eyes after cautiously lifting one lid.A blur of flashbacks included sitting in an outdoor riverfront café enjoying the sunset with her favorite camera nestled in her lap. Snapping the riot of colors slipping into the ocean had equaled the day’s highpoint, nature’s way of assuring her she’d made the right decision in moving to Portland.Now, for reasons evading memory, her gaze soft-focused on a scene defying logic.“Kid, open your eyes before it’s too late. Grab the small rock by your head. Hide it behind you.”Okaaay, evil mini me is crazy, and I will never drink wine again.Five minutes of silence would help her collect her thoughts and allow time to search her virtual portfolio for whatever was causing the nausea-producing pests in her brain and stomach. Each vied for the position of top party host. Intuition whispered taking that time would be her undoing.Instead of the distant hustle and bustle of city life swarming her senses, Kaylee found the intense quiet more disturbing than the harsh whisper. “Wait...what rock?”Fragments of her surroundings wavered in and out of focus. Brick walls smeared with dirt were partially visible through the horizontal bars.Horizontal bars?She reached with shaking fingers to touch the rusted metal cylinders then tried to rattle them. They didn’t budge. A cramp in her thigh from resting in a semi-fetal position grew in intensity while her feet crowded against hard, cylindrical surfaces and prevented her from stretching out.More bars.She didn’t have the strength to yell.The quick, indrawn breath was also not her own. “C’mon you stupid kid. Knock that off, or we’re both dead.”A shower of dirt sprinkling her face and hair made her cough, the resultant sandy inhalation perpetuating the cycle.The collaborative dream, having taken a southern turn into hell, brought another wave of anxiety along with nausea. Each of her senses plunged deeper into a dark abyss, taking logic and rational thought through a twisted, interactive roller-coaster ride.Disorientation, chaos, and the first stirrings of panic took root like a well-fertilized seed that sent its growing tendrils sliding deep within the earth.Loose dirt and small rocks covered the hard base and abraded her shoulder as she moved to a cramped position on her back. The changed perspective brought enlightenment.That’s why the bars were horizontal.“Fuck.” Details assimilated sluggishly. Dirt-covered metal comprised a bed, but it wasn’t in her apartment. Walls of brick as seen through her cage, lack of windows, and stale, dank air, pointed to an underground zip code.Micro currents ferried a thick, putrid scent and muffled the faint, eerie groans of venting tunnels.“What’s your name?” Again, a whisper twisted with annoyance and despair saturated the air.Halting breaths and extreme concentration staved off the blind terror threatening her sanity.“Kaylee. My name is Kaylee.” Slowly, she searched for the irritating heckler.“Listen up, Kaylee. The bastard who took you is gonna be back soon, probably looking for a bit of afternoon delight. And he won’t be asking. He kidnapped you, too. I don’t know why.”Kaylee’s befuddled mind took in more of her surroundings, low ceiling, dirt floor, cramped, cave-like room, and the caged, bedraggled woman three feet away. Purple and black surrounded her right eye and busted lip. Her shirt front hung in tatters, the ripped flannel exposing a large bruise above her breast.“How long have we been here?” A torch along the wall cast flickering shadows over the adjoining cage, just short of her own.Flickering—indicates an air current.“The last thing I remember is shopping.” Tears trailed down the petite blonde’s mud-streaked alabaster cheeks which sharply contrasted the bruises marring her face.“There’s a slight breeze coming from—that way.” Kaylee strained to see where the tunnel led. Pitch black. Some apparitional entity scuttled in the darkness beyond the seedy illumination and left the impression of ghostly stalkers. Stalkers that chittered in the dark. I’d rather see the boogeyman than rats. “We seem to be in an underground room?”“Yeah. I think so. I woke up just like you, but the bastard tied my hands before my head cleared.” A sob choked further words as the victim’s wide eyes flickered around the room.A cursory exploration of the small perimeter marked the filthy, tight confines, then the small, sharp-edged rock which fit in her palm. Instinct saw her sliding it behind her. Mud covered her jeans and colored her T-shirt and jacket. Bathing was the least of her worries.“Someone slipped us a roofie.” Bruises, tattered flannel, and bound wrists conveyed the woman’s recent past.Kaylee’s continued scrutiny yielded no clues of how to escape her dilemma. Even if she could squeeze her hand and arm through the bars’ two-inch gaps, she didn’t have the strength or leverage to break the heavy-duty padlock securing her prison.“Yes. Yes. But at least you’re not tied up, yet.” The girl lifted her hands to reveal a double loop, plastic cuff. “See if you can break out.” Release Date: Nov 12Amazon ✯ Amazon Int'l ✯ Goodreads TENDER ECHOESA Dark Prequel to Digital VelocityTheft of spirit is no one’s birthright.A quirk of her X chromosome furnished Alexis with an edge few others enjoyed. After fate plunged her into orphan status and an intolerable foster home forced her to the streets, a group of prostitutes sheltered her from their vicious pimp. Seeing something special within, they nurtured and shielded her from their harsh reality until she could forge her own path in life.Destiny frequently takes us back to our roots. Lexi’s return journey begins when a serial killer attacks one of her adopted sisters. Relying on courage and wit, she must stay a step ahead and secure evidence to free her family from a psychopathic murderer.
DIGITAL VELOCITYBook 1The deadliest weapons are the ones we never see. Keyboard prodigy, Lexi Donovan has risen from teenage orphan of the streets to complete independence with little help along the way. When a pervert threatens her friend, she sends an anonymous message to police, leading to a firefight that leaves a cop wounded. Detective Ethan McAllister’s well-ordered life turned upside down the day an obscure text message led to a sexual predator’s identity and arrest. Since then, Callouston PD’s finest can’t trace the elusive hacker. The latest tip leads him to a brutal mutilation and a riddle indicating the identity of the next murder victim. The dark net houses a playground for the morally depleted and criminally insane. When Lexi discovers the killer’s digital betting arena, she finds herself centered in a cyber stalker’s crosshairs, a psychopath bearing equal talent. Street life strengthened Lexi while toughening her protective shell, but nothing could shield her from the shrewd detective forging a path to her heart. Reily’s employment as an ICU nurse, private investigator, and work in the military police has given her countless experiences in a host of different environments to add a real world feel to her fiction.Though her kids are her life, writing is Reily’s life after. The one enjoyed…after the kids are in bed or after they’re in school and the house is quiet. This is the time she kicks back with laptop and lapdog to give her imagination free rein.In life, hobbies can come and go according to our physical abilities, but you can always enjoy a good book. Life isn’t perfect, but our imaginations can be. Relax, whether it’s in front of a fire or in your own personal dungeon. Take pleasure in a mental pause as you root for your favorite hero/heroine and bask in their accomplishments, then share your opinions of them over a coffee with your best friend (even if he’s four legged). Life is short. Cherish your time.
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Zenka by Alison Brodie

 Title: ZenkaBy: Alison BrodiePublication Date: November 6, 2017Genre: Contemporary Romance#zenkarelease Ruthless, devious, and loyal, Zenka is a Hungarian pole-dancer with a dark past.When cranky London mob boss, Jack Murray, saves her life she vows to become his guardian angel – whether he likes it or not. Happily, she now has easy access to pistols, knives and shotguns.Jack discovers he has a son, Nicholas, a male nurse with a heart of gold. Problem is, Nicholas is a wimp.Zenka takes charge. Using her feminine wiles and gangland contacts, she will turn Nicholas into the son any self-respecting crime boss would be proud of. And she succeeds!Nicholas is learning fast that sometimes you have to kill, or be killed.As his life becomes more terrifying, questions have to be asked:How do you tell a mob boss you don’t want to be his son?And is Zenka really who she says she is? 
What Others Are Saying5* "To say I loved this book is a massive understatement" -Bloggers From Down Under 5* "Will warm your heart and chill your bones" -Tome Tender Book Blog. 5* “Top of my list for best fiction this year” – Lauren Sapala, WriteCity 5* “You won’t be able to put this book down” –Laura’s Reading
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/2zg00mGAmazon UK - https://goo.gl/BeoGWpAmazon CA - https://goo.gl/gwgY4F Amazon US - http://amzn.to/2hJfKph   Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/2gLNTDhAmazon CA - http://amzn.to/2gLOUef Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1RsAsnmAmazon UK - http://goo.gl/58v0r5Amazon CA - https://goo.gl/duU52G
Alison Brodie is a Scot, with French HuguSocial Media LinksFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/alison.brodie.16?fref=tsGoodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1648178.Alison_BrodieTwitter - @alisonbrodie2Website - http://www.alisonbrodiebooks.com/
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The Rules by Clare James

Title: The Rules
A Fun & Games Series PrequelAuthor: Clare JamesGenre: Steamy Rom/Com, Erotic Romance Release Date: January 16, 2016


Blurb
Rule #1: Never discuss our arrangement with anyone.

When you make a deal with a stripper, there are bound to be some rules. I get that. But this first one made me chuckle. It was like Fight Club (you know, “the first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club.”) Except in our version, there was sex…and a few other things that I’d never heard of.

Truthfully, I never intended to befriend a stripper named Tash, or agree to her crazy plan. But when you’re batting zero-for-a-million and there’s no relief in sight, the situation becomes pretty damn desperate. See, I was in a terrible dry spell—no, scratch that. I was in a freaking drought.

Tash said she could help…if I gave her seven days and followed her rules.
So what exactly did she have in mind, you ask? Read on, I’m getting to that part…


*The Rules, a stand-alone prequel, can be read as an introduction to the bestselling Fun and Games Series, or to learn more about this alpha hero at any time during the series*

Author's note: This book was previously published under the title, DIRTY.

Each book in the Fun and Games series is a self-contained story and does NOT end on a cliffhanger. The series includes:
#1 The Rules (a prequel), available now
#2 The List (Gabe and Stevie’s story begins), available now
#3 The Game (Gabe and Stevie’s story continues), available now
#4 The Deal (Gabe and Stevie’s story concludes) available now

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Author Bio

Clare James is the bestselling author of contemporary romance and new adult novels with spunky heroines and sexier-than-sin heroes. Her Entangled Brazen debut, CAUGHT, was a #1 Best-Selling Romance Series, and the touching family drama, Two-Hour Truce, also hit #1 as a category bestseller. And Clare’s Impossible Love Series has more than 500,000 downloads to date and counting!
A fan of smart, funny, and steamy romance, Clare spends most of her time lost in books. When she’s not reading, you can find her locked away writing. Clare is also a former dancer and still loves to get her groove on – mostly to work off her beloved cupcakes and red wine. She lives in Minneapolis with her two leading men – her husband and young son – and is always on social media chatting with readers
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The Royal Marine By Dahlia Donovan

Author: Dahlia DonovanTitle: The Royal MarineSeries: The Sin Bin, Book 4Genre: Gay RomanceRelease Date: October 14, 2017Publisher: Hot Tree PublishingCover Designer: Claire Smith
 Available now! 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2wsjMg0All others: books2read.com/themarine

Who keeps the Royal Marine's heart safe when he's running headlong into danger?
Akash Robinson fuses his Indian and British heritage into his baked creations. His life is all things sugar and spice, especially when a blind date leads him to the older military man of his dreams. Family, friends, and an unwanted admirer all threaten both his sanity and his budding romance.
Hamish Ross carries the names of his lost soldiers on his back. He takes his work seriously with no time for love. All it takes is one impulsive kiss to lead him into uncharted romantic waters.  
When a sarcastic baker mixes with a stoic alpha marine, who will come out on top when the flour settles?
The Royal Marine is book four in Dahlia Donovan's international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.
 Available now! 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2wsjMg0All others: books2read.com/themarine


They traded stories over their simple pasta dinner. Akash half expected the man to make a move—or to make one himself—but the evening had been too easy, too comfortable for it; they’d simply enjoyed the shared meal.A sharp contrast to what Akash imagined a first date with Scottie might entail. The former rugby player had texted him four times since the night he’d stopped by uninvited, having stolen his number out of BC’s phone. The persistence concerned him; he had no interest in having his life turned upside down by a stalker.Making a mental note to apologise to his sisters for not taking their complaints about similar behaviour from other men more seriously, Akash had sent a text of his own earlier to Tens and Caddock. He knew them the best out of the rugby players involved with the Sin Bin. They’d sort out their mate, or he’d do it for them.“Thanks for the tea.” Akash gestured toward the tin sitting on the nearby shelf. “Do you know how bloody hard it is to get that particular type of tea? It’s perfect for making biscuits.”“Right.” Hamish was staring at him. He nodded absently, but didn’t actually appear to have heard him.“Something wrong?”Standing abruptly, Hamish strode around the table to grab Akash by the shirt. He dragged him up out of his chair, causing him to stumble forward. Akash could only blink at the slightly taller man in confusion, until those wonderfully rough fingers dug into his hair and yanked him up into a kiss.Akash surrendered to it briefly before bringing his arm up to separate their lips—and bodies—when Hamish’s fingers drifted down the front of his shirt. “We’re not doing this in my kitchen. Not yet. Well, not in the bakery kitchen, ever. Health inspectors would have a fit.”Hamish brushed his knuckles across the bulge in Akash’s trousers. “Later, then?”“Later when we’re somewhere else and there aren’t two nosy brats peeking through the door.” Akash pointed toward the barely visible twins, who were once again eavesdropping on them. “Off with you both. I left you dinner on the table upstairs.”While the rest of the meal went well, the passionate moment had definitely passed them by. Hamish stayed for another hour, helping to wash up the dishes. They exchanged several heated kisses, until Akash had to quite literally shove the man out the door.He sank back against the frame of the still open door to catch his breath after seeing Hamish off. “Well, bugger me.”

~~~~~~~
Other Books in The Sin Bin Series
The Wanderer Book 1 books2read.com/wanderer
The Caretaker Book 2 books2read.com/caretaker

The Botanist
Book 3
books2read.com/botanist
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon
Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.


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Hard to Stay by S. Jones

Title: Hard to StayA Hard Series Standalone
Author: S. Jones
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 7, 2017


Blurb

Leaving the past behind should be easy.

For Lexi Manning, escaping her past shouldn't be so hard, but like objects in the rear view mirror, things end up being much closer than they appear.

Brad Morgan is no stranger to heartbreak. He gave his heart away once only to have it returned. This time around he's not taking no for an answer.

His friendship with Lexi might have started off in his romantic blind spot, but it quickly turned into something he never saw coming.

When the life that Lexi is running from starts to catch up to her, she is forced to make an impossible decision. Is protecting the man she loves worth running back to the life she barely escaped from the first time?

Leaving Brad is the last thing she wants to do, but she knows ultimately it will be too Hard To Stay.... 

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Author Bio


S. Jones lives in Upstate, N.Y. with her husband, her two teenage children, and her adorable golden retriever Marley. She is a wine lover, coffee drinker, domestic chef, housekeeper, chauffeur, dog walker and world traveler...Oh and she is also a hopeless romantic! When she's not doing laundry, mowing her lawn or taking care of her family, you can usually find her on the computer planning out her next vacation, having a drink with her friends or reading a nice juicy book. 

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