Twinkle (Sugandha) Varshney's Blog, page 209

Incognito By Khaled

ThrillerDate Published: 15, May 2017Publisher: World Castle Publishing

The Pope is missing. Three specialists – a British, a French and an American – are dispatched by a covert division of Anonymous to find him.





ExcerptChapter Three

Ayden blinked languidly in the pitch-blackness. His breathing began to feel tight. The feeling of compression slowly paralyzed his entire system. The inside of his mind felt dark and utterly soundless. He could hear his own heartbeat. He tried to sit up, and hit his head, slowly realizing he was in a coffin. Soil slipped through the slits, assailing his eyes, nose, mouth, and body. He snorted, blowing out the dirt from his nose, and blinked repetitively to shake off the remainder. He felt his duffel bag between his legs. Air was precious right now. He could only hope help would arrive in time.
Like every other member of the League of Invisible Knights, Ayden had been trained to withstand all kinds of torture. The founders scouted him through the files of military, police, and intelligence organizations. Potential candidates were selected based on certain criteria. Above all, they must have heart. Anyone who failed the training program would have to repeat it. Traitors were dealt with severely.
Ayden agreed to participate in the League’s program because he felt betrayed by the country he loves. His resume impressed the secret echelons of Anonymous. The former Special Air Services (SAS) commando had single-handedly rescued a group of Pashtun women and children in southern Afghanistan from a human trafficking gang. The display of chivalry didn’t impress his superiors, especially since the culprits included Afghan officers. Lieutenant Ayden Tanner should have accepted the “culture” of the environment. Being a member of the League has some perks: a rent-free, three-bedroom apartment in Hampstead Village. Except for junk mail, his letterbox was always empty. The neighborhood stores and cafes knew him as John the Artist since he was always seen at the art shop buying supplies. He hung his artworks all over his apartment walls. But no one had ever seen it. He never brought guests home. He was also John the Reader at a nearby bookstore. He read fast, all kinds of genres, fiction and nonfiction.
He couldn’t recall how he ended up on the secret island. All he could remember was being kicked out of a bar one night in London after staring a drunken brawl. He found himself the next morning having coffee in the kitchen of a small cottage on the outskirts with a man who simply introduced himself as Mr. Somebody. He spent the next few days in the cottage. Then one day he woke up on a beach with a man in a Guy Fawkes mask staring down at him. No doubt, Mr. Somebody had drugged him. He learned the reason later. The island’s location must remain a secret. From the landscape, vegetation, and animals on it, he gathered he was still somewhere in the UK.
He spent the first three months in a wooden shack, isolated, disconnected from human contact. Rabbits, unusual looking butterflies and foxes kept him company. He was given basic amenities and supplies to survive alone. He soon discovered the value of isolation. It helped cleanse his thoughts and removed impurities inside the soul.
At the end of the isolation period, Ayden was taken to meet other candidates and the training began. Under the tutelage of no-nonsense instructors he learned martial arts, espionage strategies, holistic security strategy, language proficiency and shibboleth, espionage parlance and the art of disguise. Those were morning lessons. Afternoon lessons were more intensive. Lights out by ten.
Upon graduation, Ayden was given a special honor—death. An obituary in the newspaper reported his demise—a car accident during a road trip to Devon, it seems. His body was buried in an Anglican cemetery. Even though he grew up to become a non-believer, the charade was necessary. It was easily fabricated since both his parents were dead. No siblings or other relatives made it easier. The only son of an Anglican pastor and a housewife mother, their memory continued to linger in his mind. He credited them for teaching him values even though he didn’t agree with his father’s beliefs.
About the Author
Khaled is a former journalist with local and international exposure. His articles have been published and syndicated to newspapers worldwide, and his short stories have appeared in literary journals and magazines. The author is a member of the UK Crime Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers. He lives in Singapore.
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Sacrificial Lam By Gary Guinn

Mystery, Suspense, ThrillerDate Published:  March 2017

When English professor Lam Corso receives a death threat at work, he laughs it off. A liberal activist teaching at a small Southern conservative college, he's used to stirring up controversy on campus. It's just part of the give and take of life. Even when violently attacked, Lam is convinced it has to be a mistake. He can't imagine anyone who would want to kill him for his beliefs.
When his home is broken into and his wife's business vandalized, Lam is forced to face facts. The police can't find a single lead. Lam's wife—a passionate anti-gun crusader—is outraged when Lam brings a gun into the house for protection. Left to their own devices, Lam and Susan must examine their marriage, faith, and values in the face of a carefully targeted attack from an assailant spurred into action by a different set of beliefs.What will it cost to survive?


Excerpt 
In the silence immediately after Susan screamed, Simon’s high wail came from upstairs. Billy’s voice broke through, “Mom? What happened, Mom?” His voiced moved to the top of the stairs. “Mama, I’m scared. Where are you?” Simon was sobbing.
Susan grabbed the flashlight and scrambled to her feet. The darkness of the room pressed in on her, weighted with threat, the silence in the downstairs smothering her voice. She shined the flashlight toward the stairway, heading that way, and yelled, “Boys, can you see the light from the flashlight?”
She flicked the light around the room, and seeing nobody, she yelled again, with less panic this time, “Nothing to be afraid of, Billy. I’m sorry I scared you. You and Simon come on downstairs right now.” She shined the light on the stairway steps, fear crawling up her spine from the darkness behind her.


About the Author
Gary Guinn was a liberal professor at a conservative college. The idea for this book came from actual events early in his teaching career. He lives in the southern Ozark Mountains with his wife, Mary Ann, and his dogs, Seamus and Peanut. He loves to read, write, walk, sail, and brew beer (and of course drink it). His fiction has been published in literary magazines and anthologies. Sacrificial Lam is his second novel.
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Destined by Regan Ure

 Title: DestinedSeries: Forever #3By: Regan UrePublication Date: May 25, 2017Genre: YA Fantasy ParanormalCover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations #destinedforever3tour Crystal Adams had a teenage crush on Kyle Jensen. It turned to love the day she realized he was her mate. But before she could tell him, she discovered something that would change everything. She is hiding a secret that will endanger him. To protect him, she made the hard decision to leave his pack. But destiny doesn't give up that easily and events force her to face him again. This time, leaving is harder. This time, he knows she is his mate. He'll move heaven and earth to find her. And destiny is on his side.
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/2qmFBuZAmazon UK - https://goo.gl/vv4r1eAmazon CA - https://goo.gl/JMQbttKobo - https://goo.gl/ohzbb1iBooks - https://goo.gl/I3Ajpg
Forever Series #2Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1WiyOrXAmazon UK - http://goo.gl/s9xDT0Amazon CA - https://goo.gl/7BRjxnKobo - https://goo.gl/rx7WuxiBooks - https://goo.gl/qJh1il Forever Series #1Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1TFsKvCAmazon UK - http://goo.gl/dPPJCcAmazon CA - https://goo.gl/9FWjc6Kobo - https://goo.gl/c1G3ZdiBooks - https://goo.gl/ekwDVo Regan is a South African who is married to an IT specialist. She is also mom to a daughter and son. She discovered the joy of writing at the tender age of twelve. Her first two novels were teen fiction romance. She then got sidetracked into the world of computer programming and travelled extensively visiting twenty-seven countries. A few years ago after her son’s birth she stayed home and took another trip into the world of writing. After writing nine stories on a free writing website, winning an award and becoming a featured writer the next step was to publish her stories. If she isn’t writing her next novel you will find her reading soppy romance novels, shopping like an adrenaline junkie or watching too much television.
Social Media LinksFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/Regan-Ure-760780643959200/?ref=hlGoodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13718899.Regan_UreTwitter - @ReganUreWebsite - http://www.reganure.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/reganure/

Tank by Laramie Briscoe

Title: TankSeries: Moonshine Task Force #2Author: Laramie BriscoeGenre: Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: June 2, 2017


Blurb
Life isn’t promised, love isn’t easy, and relationships aren’t always clean, but everyone has their soulmate who is willing to forgive when it would be better to forget.
Trevor “Tank” Trumbolt
I never thought in the blink of an eye my life could change, but it did. Cresting a hill driving to my favorite fishing spot, I was hit head-on by a teenager with no regard for anyone’s life but his own. 

The recovery process has been hard, painful, and damn near beating me down.
The bright spot? Blaze.
Surviving the wreck has given me a second chance to make a life with her. Not knowing if I’ll ever be able to rejoin the Moonshine Task Force again has brought my world into focus. It’s made me realize what’s important.
Blaze. Stella. My brothers. My sister.
The ego that ran Blaze away before isn’t here any longer. What’s left is a man who’s holding his heart in his hands and a burning hope that once I’m healed she’ll still be around.
Daphne “Blaze” Coleman
There’s only been one person in the world who’s accepted me for who I am - from the fiery red of my hair and vibrant tattoos covering parts of my body to the smartness of my mouth and my desire to be matched in the bedroom.
That man is Trevor Trumbolt. When he asked me to give up my job as an EMT because he saw the dangers I face one scary afternoon, it spelled the end for us.
Now that he’s been injured, he needs my help and my love. I’ll give it all freely, but in the end I’m gonna need him to understand one thing about relationships. The give and take, love and sadness, pleasure and pain is a two-way street. He’s either in this with me or he’s not, but at the end of the day, I won’t let him boss me around.
If there’s anything that can handle the steel of a tank – it’s the heat of a blaze.


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Author Bio

Laramie Briscoe is the best-selling author of the Heaven Hill Series & the Rockin' Country Series.

Since self-publishing her first book in May of 2013, Laramie Briscoe has published over 10 books. She's appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling E-books Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. She's been called "a very young Maya Banks" (Amazon reviewer) and her books have been accused of being "sexy, family-oriented, romances with heart".

When she's not writing alpha males who seriously love their women, she loves spending time with friends, reading, and marathoning shows on her DVR. Married to her high school sweetheart, Laramie lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband (the Travel Coordinator) and a sometimes crazy cat named Beau.


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Alamir by Nesa Miller

  Title: AlamirSeries: Blood of Kaos SeriesBy: Nesa MillerPublication Date: July 1, 2017Genre: Urban Fantasy#alamirblitz The Alamir came about to protect the human realm from evils worse than humans.
Torn from a life of childish innocence, fourteen-year-old Etain Rhys witnesses the brutal murder of her family. Running for her life, she inadvertently lands in the mystical realm of the Alamir. Scared and alone, she’s taken in by a small clan and learns their warrior ways. Moving up the ranks in a short time, the day comes when her chieftain tells her it’s time to move on. Although her heart burns for revenge, she soon realizes it will take more than a sword and her newfound powers to track down her family’s murderer. Lord Darknight, the elusive chieftain of the LOKI clan, one of the most powerful in the Alamir, has connections that could aid her quest. A dangerous encounter with the warrior might prove advantageous - if she can survive him…and his dark secret.
AMAZON US - http://amzn.to/2sUG2cYAMAZON UK - https://goo.gl/UUJPOrAMAZON CA - https://goo.gl/rkLlBR A late bloomer from Texas, living the life in jolly ol' England with her handsome English husband. The couple loves traveling to magical places, experiencing new cultures, meeting new people, and, most of all, taking a break from everyday life.
Social Media LinksFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/theAlamir/Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6925890.Nesa_MillerWebsite - https://ladyofkaos.com/Twitter - @Ladyofkaos

Writing Mr. Right by T.K. Leigh

Title: Writing Mr. RightAuthor: T.K. Leigh
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cover Design: Tracy Kellam, Cat Head Biscuit, Inc.
Release Date: June 26, 2017


Blurb
My name is Molly Brinks, but most people know me as Vivienne Foxx, bestselling author of chance meetings, stolen glances, and the much-needed happily ever after. My addictions include coffee, home improvement television, and the occasional pint of ice cream. The love of my life is an eighty-pound labrador retriever named Pee Wee. At the age of twenty-nine-plus-one, I am at the top of my game…professionally. My personal life is a completely different story, one best left untold. Success has its sacrifices and I’ve been more than happy to put my search for Prince Charming on the back burner while I create fictitious tales of the naïve virgin, the broken girl with a torrid past, and the strong-willed student finding their own Mr. Right… Until one hell of a case of writer’s block and a tight deadline set by my publisher forces me outside my cozy downtown Boston apartment in search of inspiration.
Armed with an account on every dating website out there, I devise a plan. Meet some nice, professional men. Go on a few dates. Hope one of them has the spark I need to finish my book. Then walk away.
But plans are meant to be broken.
My name is Molly Brinks, and this is my story about Writing Mr. Right.

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Excerpt

Click here to read the first chapter of Writing Mr. Right





Author Bio
T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Beautiful Mess series, in addition to several other works. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog, and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). In late 2015, she gave birth to her first (and only) baby. When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found training for her next marathon (of which she has run over twenty fulls and far too many halfs to recall) or chasing her daughter around the house.
T.K. Leigh is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. All publishing inquiries, including audio, foreign, and film rights, should be directed to her.  

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Battle of the Sexes by Adriana Locke

Title: Battle of the SexesAn Imperfect Love Kindle World NovellaAuthor: Adriana LockeGenre: Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: June 6, 2017


Blurb
Carver Jones’ partner at Jones + Gallum had to step down for medical reasons. He’s absolutely devastated. He swears. Just ignore his cheeky grin, okay?

When word reaches his fancy corner office that Gallum is replacing himself with his daughter, Amity, Carver is ecstatic.

For real this time.

Jones squashes men in the business industry flat. A woman? Pfst. He’ll be completely in charge in no time, doing whatever he wants. He’s so ready for this.

But is he ready to fight the hardest fight of his life? No, not the one to maintain control of his company. The one to keep control of his heart.

The battle may begin in the boardroom, but the war will definitely be won in the bedroom. May the best sex win.

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Author Bio
USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather's nice and there's always a piece of candy in her pocket.



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Absolution by Missy Johnson

Title: AbsolutionAuthor: Missy JohnsonGenre: Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: June 28, 2017


Blurb
Declan James was the perfect guy. He was sweet. Charming. Caring. Until he wasn’t.
Fourteen years ago, his actions tore apart my family. He ruined my sister’s life and nothing was ever the same again. But now, a decade later, he’s back.
When he walks into my office, asking for my help, I’m shocked, but nothing prepares me for what I’m about to learn. I see how far he’s gone to redeem himself and I know that he’s changed. I also know that, as a priest, he’s more off limits than ever.
If I help him, my family will never forgive me.
If I fall in love with him, I will never forgive myself.

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Excerpt
“You’re not the first person to be shocked by my choice of calling.”
“Your family?” I guess. He nods. “I’m assuming they probably had bigger and better things in mind for you, but it’s a step up from rapist right?” His eyes widen and I cringe. Shit, I can’t believe I just said that.
“I can see why you might think that, but my father is very anti-religion, so I’m not sure he would agree,” he smirks and rubs his chiselled jawline, giving me a pointed look. “Are you done now?”
“I’m sorry that was way out of line," I mumble, admitting I went too far. "Sometimes I say things without thinking.”
“It’s okay,” He shrugs. His dark eyes penetrate mine. I'm shaking, but I hold his gaze, refusing to look away. “You get a free pass today to say whatever you like to me and then tomorrow you need to start giving me a chance. Is that fair?”
I’m not loving the part where I give him a chance, but I have so many questions burning inside of me that I’m dying to ask that I sit forward, and place my hands under my thighs.
“Okay I’ll play,” I say, staring at him. I question everything he says because it hurts too much to believe him. Why should he get to move on? “Why this?”
“Because it was the only way I could see getting my life back on track. I was at the point where I had nothing to live for, and God changed that for me. He gave me hope. I had something that was mine. I was making a difference.”
“How long have you been a Priest for?” I say the word like it’s dirty but only because he’s makes it that way. It’s like he’s taken one of the purest professions in the world and tainted it.
“Five years. After I got out of prison, I was in a bad place. Everything that happened with Cecily really messed me up and then hearing that she…. His voice trails off like he can’t complete his train of thought, so I make him, because he doesn’t get to do this. He doesn’t get to make this about him.
“You mean how she killed herself?” I say. I stare at him, my anger fuelling the strength I’m somehow finding within myself to confront him. This is what I’ve wanted for so long, to be able to face him and show him how much he hurt me. “How she ended her life after what you did to her and the way your family dragged her through the mud. Is that what you mean? You can’t even say it, Declan. Imagine how hard it was for me to live it.”
“I never wanted that all I wanted to do was plead guilty and move on—”
“Move on?” I whisper, tears spilling down my cheeks. “Like my sister got to move on? Like my dad moved on by ramming his car into a tree? You ruined our lives. Why should you get to move on?”
“I’m sorry about your father,” he says softly.
“You’re sorry?” I laugh. I throw my hands up in the air. “Well, so long as you’re sorry.”
“You have every right to be angry at me Hannah, but I’m just trying to explain it from my point of view. You asked me why I became a priest. This is why. Everything that happened is why.”
“But you don’t get to explain,” I whisper. “Because it’s not fair. All you get to do is sit there and take whatever I decide I need to say to you in order for me to get through this. That’s the only thing you need to do here. You don’t get to justify what you did, or tell me how much you’ve changed, because I don’t care. All I care about is being able to be in the same room as you without feeling like I’m going to be sick. Is that too much to ask?” 

"No. No it’s not," he mumbles. His eyes cast downward and I laugh. He can’t even look at me.



Author Bio
Missy lives in a small town in Central Victoria with her husband, and her confused pets (a dog who think she's a cat, a cat who thinks he's a dog...you get the picture).
When she's not writing, she can usually be found looking for something to read.

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Happily Ever After by Ruth A. Casie

Title: Happily Ever After Author: Ruth A.Casie Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: June 8, 2017 Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.


From a fall from literary stardom to becoming the heroine in her own romance story, Beth Holmes has turned around her career and her love life. She owes it all to one very special person.Jarred Watson has loved Beth since he read her first novel and suspected the heroine was the embodiment of the author. But the road to romance was fraught with pitfalls. He almost lost everything because of a conniving agent and a little white lie that got out of hand. At the eleventh hour, with honesty and hard work, their book sales are off the charts and a movie deal is in negotiations.Interfering families, changed plans and missed deadlines take their toll. Will they go their separate ways or will Holmes and Watson continue their literary collaboration and personal partnership in order to find their own happily ever after?


Her Hero navigated through the rack of books toward her. He carried his tall handsome body with an air of self-confidence she found attractive. As soon as their eyes met a vague sensuous pull passed between them. Her heart pounded and her pulse ran wild. She met him halfway up the aisle not realizing she had moved. “Hi, I’m Beth Alexander. My books and DVDs are on the endcap. They should be on one of the front tables, by the register, and every other place near the Watson and Boyle books especially for the book signing.” He gave her a quizzical stare, then a Bruce Willis smirk broadened into a smile. She melted. Right there on the spot. Into a pool of soft, heated butter.





RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of swashbuckling action-adventure time-travel romance about strong empowered women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. Her Druid Knight novels have both finaled in the NJRW Golden Leaf contest. Writing with the Timeless Scribes, Ruth also writes contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and international bank product and marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures. For more information, please visit www.RuthACasie.com or visit her on Facebook, @RuthACasie, Twitter, @RuthACasie, or Pinterest RuthACasie



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Beautiful Torment By Gen Ryan

Title: Beautiful TormentAuthor: Gen RyanSeries: Thin Red Lines/ Book 3Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller, CrimeRelease Date: August 12, 2017
Publisher: Hot Tree PublishingDesigner: Claire Smith


 Preorder for half price!Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qXPImfAll others: books2read.com/beautiful-torment

  Desiree Garcia always runs from her problems. But escaping memories and tragedy is impossible, no matter the distance. When her last FBI case pushes Desiree to her limits, she knows it’s time to move once more. This time, she heads back home and returns to her family and to her best friend she abandoned so long ago.

Hunter Collins was there for Desiree from the day they met at just twelve years old. He stood by her and waited for her, even when she joined the FBI, leaving him and all she loved behind. Now she’s back, he’s determined to not let her go again.

When faced with a police case that she can’t say no to, Desiree and Hunter navigate through the investigation as she faces the horrors of her past. As they struggle to solve the case, it’s up to Hunter to keep her tethered.

Will love and friendship be enough to save Desiree from herself and all that is tormenting her?


Preorder for half price!Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qXPImfAll others: books2read.com/beautiful-torment

Other books in the Thin Red Lines Series
Beautiful Masterpiece
Book 1
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Beautiful Sacrifice Book 2 All buy links HERE
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You can find Genevieve curled up reading paranormal romance and romantic thrillers, or frantically typing her stories on her laptop.

Psychology is her trade by day, teaching and molding the minds of college students. Her interest in psychology can be seen in her books, each including many psychological undertones. Although she loves teaching, her passion, her true love, lies in the stories that roam around in her head. Yes, they all come from her mind-the good, the bad, and the totally insane. 

She lives in Massachusetts-no, not Boston-with her husband, daughter, and American Eskimo dog. With each story, she shares, she hopes her love for writing and storytelling seeps through, encompassing the reader and leaving them wanting more.