E.G. Manetti's Blog, page 23

Shieldbearer: Sneak Peek 1

Lucius opens his eyes and stares at the red mountains. In his frantic transit across the galaxy to rescue Lilian he gave no thought to what would come after. Even if she did not return his love, he could not lose her. Her value to Serengeti and Bright Star is incalculable. That she loves him fills him with joy but also fear.

Shifting his gaze to the woman slumbering by his side, his heart shudders. She lives, but not without damage. Her feet are confined by healing structures. There is a six-inch curl of white along her left side at the waist from a dagger strike. Does the author of that wound live, Lucius will ensure it is not for long. None will threaten her, not even his kinsman.

Read more . . .

Indie Spotlight on Romance: Mystery and Suspense

Corruption, murder, and mayhem in a small town. Throw in a strong-willed and resourceful heroine, a determined and sexy hero, and settle in for the ride. Eve Kincaid and Lily Danes co-author the Lost Coast Harbor series, which is not as confusing as it sounds. Although the books share a setting and refer to common characters, each can be read as a stand alone.

Kiss of a Stranger

A woman who's sworn off bad boys…
Maddie Palmer lost everything when her ex-husband betrayed her. She was strong enough to rebuild her life from scratch, but she learned the hard way that some men cannot be trusted. Her life is safe and stable, just what she wanted—until she lays eyes on a dangerously sexy ex-con.

An ex-con out for revenge…
Gabriel Reyes lost six years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. He's out of prison, but he won't be free until he ruins the man who set him up. To clear his name, he'll seduce the straight-laced woman who works for the enemy. The plan will work…unless he falls for the woman whose icy shell conceals hidden fires.

While they fight their growing passion, Gabe and Maddie discover that Lost Coast Harbor is a town full of secrets and lies…but none are more dangerous than the lies they've told themselves. Can they overcome their pasts and risks their hearts one more time?
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A Kiss in the Shadows

A man tempted by desire…
Will Patton is desperate to leave the small town of Lost Coast Harbor and rebuild his struggling legal career. To do that, he's going to expose the dirty police chief—but he never expected to be so drawn to the man's irresistible daughter.

A woman afraid to trust…
Erin Grady will do anything to bring a mental health clinic to Lost Coast Harbor, even if it means accepting money from the local police chief—the father who abandoned her. She's willing to overlook where the money came from, until a determined and very sexy prosecutor literally crashes into her life…

A town full of corruption…
The darkness in Lost Coast Harbor runs deep and wide—and exposing the truth will require Erin and Will to reveal their hearts…no matter the risk.
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Indie Spotlight on Romance: Favorite Freebies

In all the craziness of the past month, I failed to create a 3/19 post. To make up for the lapse, here are a few of my favorite 'freebies'. Each is a stand alone but may be part of a larger series.

Releasing Rage

Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.

Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals — kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.

Until he meets Joan.

Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal — survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.

When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?

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The Devil in Disguise

Don’t make the devil angry…

Luke Thorne loves having one hell of a good time. As the ruler of every dark creature to walk the earth, he certainly has more than a bit of a bad side. He lives for danger and isn’t the type to lose his heart—mostly because he doesn’t have one. Then she walks into his life.

Mina James is seduction in the flesh, a perfect temptation that the devil himself couldn’t pass up. Too late, Luke realizes he’s let a real siren into his life, a woman who is bent on using his dark powers to free herself from hidden enemies. Since Luke isn’t the type of man to be used, he should walk away from her, but…something about Mina draws him close.

Soon he’s realizing that she isn’t who she appears to be. Not dark and cold, but burning red hot. Mina is a woman fighting for her life—and the Lord of the Dark suddenly finds himself in an unlikely role…hero. Luke isn’t going to let her enemies destroy Mina. He will fight heaven and hell to keep her. But in the end, the secrets they both carry may just rip apart a love that should never have been…

There are Bad Things in the world…very, very bad. Are you ready for them?
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Unmasking Miss Appleby

She’s not who she seems…

On her 25th birthday, Charlotte Appleby receives a most unusual gift from the Faerie godmother she never knew she had: the ability to change shape.

Penniless and orphaned, she sets off for London to make her fortune as a man. But a position as secretary to Lord Cosgrove proves unexpectedly challenging. Someone is trying to destroy Cosgrove and his life is increasingly in jeopardy.

As Charlotte plunges into London’s backstreets and brothels at Cosgrove’s side, hunting his persecutor, she finds herself fighting for her life—and falling in love…
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Gray Card

Winner of "Funniest Nerdgirl Love Affair" in the 4th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards!
Is he after her heart or her planet?

Evelyn Chambers is a nerdgirl and proud of it. When she finds out that her drop-dead gorgeous best friend is an alien general with only three days left on Earth, she has to wrap her head around too much at once. Aliens are real, and if she wants to keep hanging out with one, she'll have to marry him!

Adam Smith has never seen a planet as beautiful as Earth or a woman as enticing as Evelyn. His government wants him to re-enlist, but when Evelyn suggests marriage to help him stay, Adam realizes that what he really wants is her—and he'll sacrifice everything to be with her.

Can he convince his government—and Evelyn—that he's looking for more than a Gray card?

Author's Note: Have you ever wanted a quick read with super-hot love scenes, wacky hijinks, and whimsical puns? Presenting The Department of Homeworld Security! Short, sexy, scifi, packed with fish-out-of-water moments, aliens being baffled by finding their first love, and lots of...probing.
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Rescuing Rayne

As a flight attendant, Rayne Jackson is used to cancellations, but she never dreamed her latest would lead to a whirlwind tour of London with a handsome stranger…or a life-altering night in his bed. One evening is all the enigmatic man can give her, and Rayne greedily takes it, despite suspecting it will never be enough.

Heading home after another extreme mission, Keane "Ghost" Bryson hadn't planned to seduce someone during his layover, but Rayne is too sweet to resist. Being a Delta Force member means lying to protect his identity, which is unfortunate, considering Rayne seems made for Ghost, right down to the tattoo on her back. For the first time in his life, regret fills him as he slips away the following morning.

Both are shocked when, months later, they meet again—under the worst possible circumstances. Seems fate has given them a second chance…if they can survive the terrorist situation they're in. If Rayne can forgive Ghost his lies. And if Ghost can trust Rayne to be strong enough to endure the secrets and uncertainty that come with loving a Delta Force soldier.
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The Passion Season

"Barakiel is a fantastic hero – weird, complex, enigmatic but also compassionate and sensitive. . . . Zan is an amazingly strong heroine and so easily relatable that readers will just love her too.” – InD’tale Magazine

For centuries, Lucifer’s son paid for the sins of his father. Now, he’s had enough.

Barakiel came to accept his solitude after the rulers of his homeworld banished him to Earth. He takes solace in his duty and enjoys slaughtering the demons his father sends against him at every change of seasons. When someone murders a helpless man and leaves his spleen in the bushes of a Philadelphia park, Barakiel suspects his father is behind it. He offers to consult for the FBI, selling them on his knowledge of the daggers found at the crime scene. Then, Special Agent Zan O’Gara shows up at his door and everything changes.

Although Zan has put her painful experiences with men behind her, she’s perfectly content to be alone. Until she meets Barakiel. She knows something’s not quite right with him, but the stronger part of her thinks he’s worth the gamble.

As Zan’s investigation brings her closer to the truth about Barakiel, his duty compels him to protect the innocent. He’ll risk his life to stop Lucifer from claiming another victim, even as Zan gives him more reasons to live than he’s ever had before.
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Indie Spotlight on Romance: Kinky Lords and Ladies

Historical romance often features nobility, whether ancient roman senators, medieval highland lairds, or regency lords. Alyson Chase's Lords of Discipline is set in Regency England among the powerful nobility. In an enjoyable twist, it tends toward the darker side with the the lords in question engaged in counter espionage and becoming involved with women from the gentry (well off but not noble) who have fallen a foul of a misogynistic and often corrupt legal system. The involvement includes both passion and a taste for kink with both the heroes and heroines having distinct personalities and quirks that prevent the stories from falling into cookie-cutter tropes.

The day her sister murdered their abusive father, Elizabeth Wilcox stopped being a gentleman’s daughter. Willing to do anything to save her sister from the hangman’s noose, now she is a spy... A servant. A liar. A thief. A submissive.

Masquerading as a parlor maid and entrenched in the Duke of Montague’s estate, Liz is willing to risk all to uncover the secrets that would save her sister. But submitting to the duke’s peculiar brand of discipline surprises her with a heady mixture of pleasure and pain. Eager to relinquish control of her messy life, Liz soon craves the rough hands of Montague and his powerful, passionate attentions. Can she succumb to the hot sting of his hand and the gentleness of his kisses without revealing her true identity and darkest secrets? And what punishment will she face when he realizes her betrayal?



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Twelve Systems Bundle: 99c Celebration Sale

To celebrate The Twelve Systems Bundle's recent award from the Paranormal Romance Guild, it is on sale for the month of March at 99c!

Five Stars The world building in this series is absolutely phenomenal. . . Lillian is brilliant. She is fierce and smart and vulnerable and endearing. ~ Melissa Brus, Paranormal Romance Guild, April 2019


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With characters that jump off the page, love that is forbidden yet unstoppable mixed with top-notch worlds and technology, sci-fi has never looked so good or become so addictive!


~ IND’TALE MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2018

The first two volumes in the in the epic science fiction romance series that blends elements of space opera with the intrigue and suspense of a political thriller.

THE CARTEL: The Apprentice, Volume 1

Raised to wealth and power, Lilian is left destitute and in peril of her life when her father was executed for foul crimes. Determined to survive and protect what remains of her family, Lilian becomes the apprentice of a powerful warrior. For three years, he will train her for a position in the Cartels. In return, Lilian will yield him absolute control of her mind and body.

Lucius Mercio is the preeminent warrior of his cartouche, and the cartel it dominates; the Serengeti Group. Ruthless, clever and ambitious, Lucius’ wealth, influence, and power are exceeded by few within the Twelve Systems. It is not sufficient. Lucius intends to take his Cartel to unimaginable heights with the aid of Lilian’s brilliance. He faces only one obstacle. Lucius must keep Lilian alive.

BRIGHT STAR:The Apprentice, Volume 2

Despite the odds, Lilian has survived her first two seasons as Lucius Mercio’s apprentice, proving her loyalty to her new master. When his motivations and ambitions are revealed, they are far more extraordinary than Lilian imagined. Before Lilian can begin to meet this newest challenge, a ghost from her past will threaten to destroy Lucius’ slowly developing trust.

To survive the next set of challenges Lilian will need to find new reserves of courage, wit and determination. To advance his ambitions, Lucius must be more ruthless and devious than ever before. To succeed, Lucius requires Lilian’s brilliance. To make use of it, he must keep her alive. It is going to prove more difficult than he anticipated.

Indie Spotlight on Romance: Ice Age Shifters

As a fan of Carol Van Natta's science fiction romance, I was thrilled to discover she also delves into paranormal romance. Her Ice Age Shifters series has all the creativity, charm, action, and romance of her science fiction. The series title refers to the type of shifter -- not the time period. Mixed in with the fated-mates trope is a unique vision of the fae, magic, and dark forces that is a page-turning delight. All the books in the series are good, my personal favorites are the Dire Wolf volumes.

A lonely bear shifter meets his mate. She’s running for her life and doesn’t have time for romance.

Pregnant Jackie Breton just escaped from a corrupt feline pack intent on selling her half-shifter baby to the highest bidder. She’s smart, independent, and has a desperate plan to keep her baby safe: Get away from the pride as fast and far as possible.

Trevor Hammond, prehistoric bear shifter, has been rejected by everyone in his life for… being born, basically. Well, except for the beloved aunt who raised him. He’s built a career as an independent trucker, but life would be much better with someone he can hold in his arms and claim as his own.

When Jackie meets Trevor at a truck stop, his bear demands he help her. His aunt even calls with a dire warning: Get Jackie to the magical sanctuary town in Wyoming before she’s killed.
Jackie thinks he’s sexy as hell, but too good to be true. She doesn’t trust shifters. With the feline pride hot on her trail, however, Trevor and the quirky town of Kotoyeesinay might be her only chance for survival. Even Trevor’s indomitable bear may be no match for the dangerous enemy seeking retribution.

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Indie Spotlight on Romance: Steampunk: Mystery and Magic

Steampunk is defined as a genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology. In a variation on the theme, it can also include romance, magic, or both as is the case with A.R. DeClerck's Alchemist's Kiss

London 1869

A dark wizard has arrived in London, at exactly the time unrest among the non-magical community is coming to a head. London is under the protection of wizard and alchemist Icarus Kane and his loyal friends Cora Mae Jenkins and Archimedes Merriweather, and together they must chase down the threat while dodging the riots and the angry poor along the way. Icarus has no use for science, but there will be no escaping it as the aether, the very heart of magic, is threatened. All of London may perish if the dark wizard gets his way, and Icarus could lose his best friend and his lover in the battle. All the world could be destroyed under the tide of the oncoming storm unless Icarus can face his own power and embrace his inner darkness.

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2019 PRG Reviewer's Choice Award for the Twelve Systems

I am thrilled that The Twelve Systems Bundle scored a bronze! And such great company. Congratulations to all the other award recipients. Thank you to everyone who voted.

5-Stars from the Paranormal Romance Guild
The world building in this series is absolutely phenomenal. Manetti has created a society that is both technologically advanced and firmly entrenched in an iron-clad caste system. Read more . . .

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Indie Spotlight on Romance: Cyborg Cowboys

A significant attraction of science fiction romance is the ability to blend genres. Something Honey Phillips ably demonstrates in her Cyborgs on Mars series.

Cyborg cowboys are the latest series from Ms. Phillips who also offers three series featuring alien alphas: Alien Abduction, Treasured by the Alien, and Alien Invasion.

One big cyborg cowboy. One tiny human female. One impossible attraction.

When Jo's partner abandons her as soon as they arrive on Mars, it's yet another reminder of what she has always known: the only person she can count on is herself. But she is determined not to let his absence prevent her from claiming the one thing she has always wanted - a permanent home. Earth Government is offering land to anyone who can work a claim for five years and she isn't going to let loneliness, global dust storms, or a mysterious, attractive cyborg stop her.

C-487 no longer feels human emotions. They have been left behind in the pain of his transformation and the long, lonely years working to make Mars suitable for human settlement. The majority of that work completed, there is little left for him now except making sure that these foolish humans don't kill themselves or each other. Until he sees her - a tiny, determined female who makes his long-forgotten heart beat faster.

Can a woman who is afraid to trust and a cyborg who has forgotten how to love find their dreams together?
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Chalice Bearer Available Now!

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