WS's Blog: Chaps & Bustles , page 4

Cover Reveal for Dancing To An Irish Reel by Claire Fullerton

We are so excited to reveal the cover for Dancing to an Irish Reel by Claire Fullerton.
Are you ready for this!?! **********  We love this beautiful cover!Let's look into this book a little.

Synopsis:


Twenty five year old Hailey Crossan takes a trip to Ireland during a sabbatical from her job in the LA record business. While there, she’s offered a job too good to turn down, so she stays.
Although Hailey works in Galway, she lives in the countryside of Connemara, a rural area famous for its Irish traditional music.  When Hailey meets local musician, Liam Hennessey, a confusing relationship begins, which Hailey thinks is the result of differing cultures, for Liam is married to the music, and so unbalanced at the prospect of love, he won't come closer nor completely go away.
And so begins the dance of attraction that Hailey struggles to decipher. Thankfully, a handful of vibrant local friends come to her aid, and Hailey learns to love a land and its people, both with more charm than she ever imagined.




Author Bio
Claire Fullerton is an award winning essayist, a magazine contributor, a former newspaper columnist, and a four time contributor to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series. She hails from Memphis, Tn. and now lives in Malibu California. “Dancing to an Irish Reel” is her second novel.
Make sure to check out her pages.www.clairefullerton.comhttps://www.facebook.com/clairefullertonauthorhttp://about.me/claire.fullerton
You can pre-order a copy of this beautiful book here.http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Irish-Reel-Claire-Fullerton-ebook/dp/B00UCOZJXM

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Fearless Anthology Release

 

FEARLESS ANTHOLOGY

by Kahlen Aymes , Chelle Bliss , Stacy Borel , Lexi Buchanan , Tillie Cole , Kaylea Cross , Jennifer Foor , KL Grayson , Missy Johnson , Harper Sloan , Nacole Stayton , Hillary Storm , and BT Urruela (Foreword)

Cover Photo by Eric Battershell

Cover Design by Wicked by Design

 

Title: Fearless Anthology

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 1, 2015

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From some of today’s New York Times, & USA Today Bestselling Authors comes the FEARLESS ANTHOLOGY with all royalties being donated to VETSports.org. VETSports in a non-profit organization, who help combat veterans to better their physical, emotional, & mental health through sports, physical activity, & community involvement.

Anthology Sizzling Stories Include....

~ Foreword ~by BT Urruela

~ Before Ryan Was Mine (The Remembrance Trilogy - Prequel) ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Kahlen Aymes

~ Throttle Me (Men of Inked Book 1) ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreadsby Chelle Bliss

~ Touching Scars ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Stacy Borel

~ Sizzle (Bad Boy Rockers Book 1) ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Lexi Buchanan

~ Sweet Home (Sweet Home Series Book 1) ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Tillie Cole

~ Out of Her League (Suspense Series Book 1) ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Kaylea Cross

~ Noah Mitchell (Mitchell - Healy Series Book 1) ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Jennifer Foor

~ Where We Belong (A Touch of Fate Book 1) ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by K.L. Grayson

~ Wicked Innocence ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Missy Johnson

~ Cage (Corps Security Book 2) ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Harper Sloan

~ A Graceful Mess ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Nacole Stayton

~ Hold Me Closer: Rebel Walking #4 ~This Book on Amazon | Goodreads by Hilary Storm

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~ Kahlen Aymes ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Chelle Bliss ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Stacy Borel ~ WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Lexi Buchanan ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Tillie Cole ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Kaylea Cross ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Jennifer Foor ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ K.L. Grayson ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Missy Johnson ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Harper Sloan ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Nacole Stayton ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

~ Hilary Storm ~WEB | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON-US

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Cover Reveal for Win by Submission by Melynda Price

We are so excited to be featuring Melynda Price here today for her brand new cover reveal!  Before we take a look at this amazing cover let's get to know Melynda a little better. 


Melynda Price is the author of several contemporary and paranormal romance titles, including Until Darkness Comes, Shades of Darkness, Courting Darkness, and Braving the Darkness, all in the Redemption Series. Price writes for ardent readers who want to fall in love over and over again. Her goal is to make the unbelievable believable while taking her characters to the limit with stories full of passion, heart, and unexpected twists. Salting stories with undertones of history whenever possible, Price adds immeasurable depth to her well-crafted books. Win by Submission is the first book of her upcoming mixed martial arts–themed Against the Cage series. She lives with her husband and two children in Northern Minnesota, where there are plenty of snow-filled days to curl up in front of the fireplace with a hot cup of coffee and write.
www.melyndaprice.com(website)
https://www.facebook.com/MelyndaPrice1


Let's look at the book now before we get to see this cover.
Contemporary  Romance  Age 18+
Synopsis:To win her heart, he’ll be in for the fight of his life.After an illegal kick during a CFA title fight fractures Cole Easton’s spine, doctors say there’s nothing more they can do for the bitter Vegas fighter. They say it’s a miracle he can walk, if that’s what you call his crutch-dragging limp. Unwilling to give up on him, Cole’s manager sends the injured fighter to the best physical therapist he knows: his niece, Katie Miller. When Cole arrives in the small town of Somerset, Wisconsin, he quickly discovers his sly manager may have had reasons other than rehab for sending him to this frozen tundra.After a year of running from an abusive ex-boyfriend, Katie has returned to her hometown to care for her father, who’s recovering from a stroke. When Uncle Marcus calls in a favor, she reluctantly finds herself taking on a rancorous MMA fighter, broken at the height of his career. He’s insanely sex-on-a-stick hot—and everything she loathes in a man.If Cole thinks his fighting days are over, he’s dead wrong. To save Katie from her past and to win her heart, he’ll be in for the fight of his life.
With our any further waiting here is the cover you have been waiting for!
 
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GIVEAWAY! My Second Book in the Way of Hearts Saga

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway to win an ebook copy of Love Finds Its Way. Read reviews on my website www.wilhelminastolen.com or on AMAZON
Here's an excerpt from Chapter Two: Trust No One
"Callie let her fingers slide down the window. The atmosphere of the mansion made the glass cool beneath her fingertips. She loved the translucence and simplicity of the glass surface. It concealed nothing. Through the glass, everything could be seen. Though fragile and delicate, it stood solid against the elements, illuminating the darkest places of the mansion. The tiny nicks and circular inconsistencies in its surface were open before the viewer. The glass had no pride, no vanity and no heart to be shattered by the truth of its imperfections. This magnificent marvel beneath her hand was created from extreme heat and sand from the earth. Weren't we all created from the earth? Formed by the fire of our trials, and one day meant to be translucent, unafraid of judgment and frailty.
Her hand fell from the glass and a deep sigh escaped her throat. She would never be strong enough to let her imperfections show.Sunrises at the Way were always a spectacular event, but at this time of year, on a clear day, sunsets could only be described as magical. The grandfather clock in the hallway counted away the seconds. Callie took a step back and gazed upwards, towards the golden flecks of glass that adorned the upper portion of the window. As the clock struck seven, sunlight poured through the golden glass and bathed Callie in light. Callie loved the light.
She spun around and lifted her arms outward, catching the rays. The light caught in the emerald on the chain around her neck, sending shards of green outward. As the heavenly rays of sunshine danced across her body, she twirled around the great room to the music in her head, keeping her steps within the threshold of light. The tune played over and over in her mind. She hummed the melody and laughed with happiness at the flashes of light.
The moment lasted for only a few minutes, but she was breathless from the experience. Finally, the light dimmed and faded into darkness as the sun set behind the mountain in front of her. With her hand on her chest, she walked back to the window and looked down at the town below.
A twinge of sadness overtook her jovial feeling. Honesty had been hidden from the magnificent display of light. The foreshadowing made a cold shiver run up her spine. The town would always be in the shadow of Sullivan’s Way, the tragedy of her mother's death and its secrets."

Day 12: My Sweet Danish Rose by Tina Peterson Scott

Day 12   14 Days of Romance Valentine's Day Book Blitz Event  Check out the event on Facebook Let's take a look inside!
Alone in the world, and counting on love to triumph ...Berta Erichsen is an energetic fifteen-year-old with a mind of her own. Last seen in Farewell, My Denmark (2013), and with visions of happily ever after, she impulsively stays behind when her family joins the 1863 Mormon pilgrimage to America. When Berta finds herself homeless and alone in her Mormon faith, three men add to the confusion and danger of her life; the prominent man who deceives and defrauds both her and her family, but is the only one who offers her shelter; the childhood sweetheart who romances but hasn’t proposed; the handsome stableman that stole her Book of Mormon. Berta must uncover their hidden motives and make decisions to save her faith, her heart, and her future. 




Snippet #1
“Ha!” Papa scoffed. “A gentleman wouldn’t wait until the eve of our departure to say he can only come up with half the remaining payment. If you’d even told us a week ago, I could have sold farm tools and furniture to help make up the difference.”“We can’t cry over spilt milk. Do you want my money, or don’t you?”I looked at Catherine. If we didn’t have enough money to immigrate, what would become of us? She put a finger to her lips before I could ask. “You know very well that we’re leaving tomorrow,” said Papa. “We’ve already paid our passage to America. I need that money to make a new life for my family.”“Then I’ll require your signature, here.”“My oldest daughter, Catherine, is staying in Denmark. She won’t be leaving for her aunt’s until noon tomorrow.” Papa still sounded angry. “Don’t take possession of the property until the following morn.”
Author Bio Tina Peterson Scott was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona. Books played an important part in her childhood, and for much of it, she could be found nestled against a branch high in their pecan tree, reading. Her favorites were fantasy, and mystery. It delighted Tina when her mother read to her from Grimm’s Fairy-tales and the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. Tina and her husband have seven children and a growing number of grandchildren. Other than large family get-togethers involving lots of food and fun, she enjoys writing, watercolor painting, long walks, ice cream, and traveling to Europe—especially to her father’s ancestral home of Denmark.

http://tina-scott.com
@authortinascott
https://www.facebook.com/tina.scott.16121471
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapetersonscott 

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Release Day for Love Finds Its Way!

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.comGenre: Fiction, Family Saga, Historical, Romance, WesternRelease Date: December 4, 2014Digital ISBN 13 978-1-63112-089-3 ISBN 10: 1631120891Print ISBN 13: 978-1-63112-090-9 ISBN 10: 1631120905Purchase link : http://www.5princebooks.com/buy-links.html
 Love Finds Its Way
Lucas arrived at the Sullivan mansion as an orphan with a vicious burn on his side. The mark is a clue to his past, and the accident that took his family. The Sullivans gave him a home, raised him as their son, and made him heir to their fortune. He has everything a man could want, but he’s tortured by the secrets from his past. He’s a man without a name.
For seventeen years, Lucas has called the Sullivan girls his sisters, but his feelings for Callie have changed from brotherly to those of a man for a woman. As the passion between them ignites, Lucas is forced to make a choice between claiming Callie, or finding out who he is.  
On a cold January night, Lucas leaves to follow a clue to Texas, but not before he has Callie promise, “I will wait for you.”
Secrets unfold, and Lucas discovers the answers he seeks. Is it too late for Lucas and Callie, or will their love find its way?

About Wilhelmina Stolen
Wilhelmina Stolen is the pseudonym for romance writer, Shannon Hayes. Shannon is a native of Kentucky and makes her home in a small southern town close to the Tennessee line. During her adolescence, her mother’s free spirited nature became restless causing the family to embark on a slew of adventurous moves across the country. The moves provoked a hunger for adventure and romance and introduced her to a wonderful world of history and beauty.As with most writers, her stories began at an early age with long sessions of seclusion and secrecy. While her classmates and friends were outside playing, Shannon was locked away in her room hammering out ideas on an old 1940’s Royal typewriter.
After finding Mr. Right, Shannon found herself wanting the comfort and security of the small Kentucky town she longed to escape as a child. Fortune smiled upon her and she became the family historian; gathering pictures, wills, marriage certificates and everything else that somehow managed to fall into her lap. Stories flooded her mind and writing quickly became an obsession that turned into the Way of Hearts Saga. The saga spans six generations and three families.
Shannon holds an Associates in Applied Science in Technology, a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Management as well as a Masters in Educational Leadership. Visit her author page at www.wilhelminastolen.com to learn more about the saga.

How to Contact Wilhelmina:Twitter: @WStolenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wilhel... www.wilhelminastolen.com

Excerpt of Love Finds Its WayChapter 1  Sullivan Settlement, Virginia1869
Wait for Me
Callie Sullivan stared at her bedroom ceiling and listened attentively to the sounds of Sullivans Way. Having lived in the enormous house all her life made her accustomed to its moans and groans, creaky floors and whistling windows. This sound was not one of them. The faint tapping down the long hallway outside her room sounded like footsteps, and that sent a chill up her spine. Her entire family, including Tillie, their housekeeper and her daughter Sarah had departed for a visit to Richmond, leaving Callie alone in the mansion. She listened again. Nothing. The house was as silent as a tomb.Last night she’d drifted off to sleep without incident, but as usual, it hadn’t lasted. An hour ago, she was awakened from a nightmare with a jolt of adrenalin and a horrific feeling of capture. James Greer had once again invaded her sleep.Callie threw back the covers and sat up on the edge of her bed as the downstairs clock echoed out three long strikes. There wasn’t much hope for sleep. Nearly two years had passed since she and her sister had been kidnaped and taken to Texas by Talon Dougal, the leader of a renegade band of ex-Confederates from a nearby town. His right-hand man, Greer, still haunted her dreams with his drunken hands on her body and the smell of his rancid breath in her nose.Callie stroked the emerald necklace around her neck and concentrated on extracting James Greer from her mind. She let out an exasperated breath that made the front of her hair float upward like a feather on the breeze. The silky strands gracefully glided down over one eye, blocking her view of the smoldering chunks of the charred wood in the fireplace at the foot of her bed. Usually, the fire emitted enough light to make her comfortable, but the coldness of the January night smothered the flames into a blue burn. Fire consumed most of the wood, causing the embers to cough up a spark and snap; then all was quiet again.She felt for the matches on the nightstand beside her bed and cautiously removed the glass lamp shade. One strike lit the match. Callie held it to the wick and watched it ignite. The lamp burned low then bright as she twisted the knob that released the wick. She blew out the burning stick before the flame burnt her fingers. With the shade back in place, Callie released a long yawn that disappeared as a shadow moved along the crack at the bottom of her door.Prickly fingers of fear worked their way up her spine. Oh, God! Someone was in the house! Dragging the quilt from the bed, she took a step and kicked, trying to free her feet from the tangled mess. Instead, the uncooperative quilt tightened its hold, and she tumbled to the floor. There she lay, flat on her face, eye to eye with the crack under her door. She rolled to her side, pulled her feet up and unwrapped the quilt, all without taking her eyes from the moving shadows under the door. The boots made another trip past the door and vanished.Callie climbed to her feet and snatched her robe from the foot of her bed. As she stuffed her arms through the sleeves, she tiptoed to the door. The belt dangled at her feet as she pressed her ear to the door and listened to the soft thud of boots as they traveled down the hall to the stairs. Without panicking, she searched the room for a weapon.The fire snapped again, as if to say, ‘Look here’ and Callie did. Ah-ha! The poker! With it in hand, she eased out of the door and into the hallway. She was just in time to see the faint outline of a hat as it disappeared down the stairs.With swift, but quiet steps, she followed behind him, keeping a safe distance between them. A pale blue light from a single candle draped the massive expanse of the great room, allowing her to follow his shadow as he moved. He crossed the room and entered the hallway leading into the kitchen.Her bare feet padded lightly across the room after him. Before entering the hallway, she pressed her body against the outside wall and took a quick peek around the corner. A faint shadow moved against the kitchen ceiling and disappeared. Fine hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She sank back against the wall and adjusted her grip on the poker. If she had to, she was ready to fight.Callie tiptoed down the dark hallway, as memories of her capture flooded her mind. Keep calm. The faint light of the candle disappeared completely, returning the room to darkness. Her toes curled against the cold stone floor as she waited just outside the door. Callie hesitated at its threshold and waited for him to move. But there was nothing. No movement or sound.She eased into the room and waited. Where was he?She scanned the room and looked twice at the open pantry door. Its empty blackness made her grip the poker so tightly that her fingers ached. Was he in there? Was he hiding in the shadows like Greer?Callie swallowed her fear as she let her eyes dart around the room. Nothing seemed to be out of place. She moved to the back door. It was locked, just as she’d left it only hours before.When she started to turn, her feet brushed against something near the door. She knelt down to investigate and heard a match strike behind her.Callie froze, and the light reappeared, casting her shadow and his on the wall in front of her.He was behind her. She stood slowly and listened as he sat the candle on the table behind her.This was it! Kill or be killed! She whirled around and swung the poker. Her feet tangled in the belt dangling at her feet, accidently knocking over the candle in the process. The drop of the candle shifted the light onto the floor and away from his face. His hand clamped around her wrist and pried the poker from her hand. “Let go of that!” he demanded and tossed it onto the floor beside the candle.“No!” Callie yelled, refusing to surrender. Her free hand grabbed a metal bowl from the table and swung. The ‘ding’ was followed by a “damn it!” He spun her around and wrapped his arms around her, pinning her against him. “No! Let me go!” She twisted an arm loose and elbowed him in the ribs. He flinched but didn’t let go. With one foot on the stove and the other on the wall, she shoved them both backward against the opposite wall.“Stop it!” he said.“No! No! No!” She wouldn’t be a prisoner again! Tired and trembling she yelled out, “Get your hands off me, Greer!”The man’s other hand covered her mouth. “I’m-not-Greer.” Each of the three words was punctuated with a pause. The voice was calm. The voice was familiar. “Stop, Callie. It’s me.”Lucas? Callie let her fists fall, and her legs relax. Relief ran over her like a cool summer rain, washing away all fear. There was no intruder, only Lucas, her adopted brother. The comforting embrace of his arms and soft, tender tone of his voice steadied her racing heart. Once again, Lucas held her in his arms, rescuing her from evil and protecting her from the world. It was Lucas who had pulled her from under Greer’s dead body and Lucas who had kept her mind from slowly slipping away after the kidnapping. It was always Lucas.He removed his hand from her mouth.“Oh, God!” She covered her eyes with her hands. “I thought you’d gone to Richmond.” Her hands trembled. “I thought you were…”Lucas lifted her hair away from her face and whispered against her ear. “You’re okay, honey.”“I could have killed you!” she whispered.He let out a laugh. “I don’t think I was in any real danger.” He lifted her higher and spun her around with one arm.“Stop that!” She squirmed within the tight embrace of his arm. “Put me down!”“I told Daniel it wasn’t a good idea for you to stay here alone.” Lucas let his arm slip lower until her feet were on the floor; then he released her completely. “Thank God that poker wasn’t a gun.”“I am eighteen years old,” she crossed her arms over her chest, “and capable of taking care of myself,” she added.He picked up the candle from the floor. “So you keep reminding me,” he said and disappeared back into the pantry from where he’d come before the scuffle. “You should have gone with the rest of the family.”Callie shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t want to go.” She picked up the metal bowl from the floor and sat it on the table. “Did he tell you about renaming the settlement?”Her father, Daniel Sullivan had founded the Sullivan Settlement years ago after he’d acquired the land in a poker game.Callie had heard the stories a hundred times. With his new bride on his arm, her father headed to Virginia and soon after discovered gold. It was a fairytale, which was shattered by the death of his beautiful wife.“He did,” Lucas answered her from the pantry.“What do you think about the name?” “I think naming the town after your mother will help Dan to heal.” He paused for a moment. “I think Honesty would have loved the idea. Don’t you?”Callie considered what he’d said. “Maybe.” She frowned as her mind switched directions. “Papa and the others left three days ago. Where have you been?” she questioned.“Around.”“I haven’t seen you.” She watched his shadow move around in the pantry. “What are you doing prowling around in the dark at this time of night?”“I’m not prowling. I’m packing.” He returned with a small bag of coffee. “And it wasn’t dark until the candle went out.”“Packing? Why?” she asked curiously as she watched him grab one of the bags near the door. “Where are you going?”Lucas took an even breath and let it out through his nose. It was his way of controlling his temper, something he did around her often.“You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you?” She braced a hand against her hip and frowned. “Why are you taking a deep breath? What did I do to upset you?”“Why do you ask so many damn questions?” he said through his teeth.“Why are you so cross with me?” Her frown grew as did her temper.Lucas dropped his eyes in an uncommon display of defeat and ran a hand through his hair. “It seems we’re always fighting.”“Lately, more than ever.” Callie watched his face contort with emotion. “Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?”She didn’t have any blood brothers, but she was sure her feelings for Lucas couldn’t be considered brotherly. Brothers didn’t make your heart leap from your chest or your body burn with the slightest touch of his hand.Lucas was a mix of something magically beautiful and an enigma Callie found fascinating. The distinct features of his Indian heritage were meshed with something else, Spanish perhaps. That perfect mixture produced his uniquely stunning appearance. His wide cheekbones, sleek nose and raven black hair set him apart from the Irish ancestry of the Sullivans and most of the people in the settlement.“I’ve been avoiding you because I find it damn hard to be around you!” he barked out.His stark confession slashed through her dream state of admiration. She blinked and tried to conceal the hurt in her eyes with anger.“The feeling is mutual, you savage!” Callie shouted back.Lucas paid no attention to her insult. “Every time I turn around you’re with that damn Comstock boy.” He ground his teeth together.“Roger is a nice man.” In defense of her wannabe suitor.“Roger has a problem controlling himself.”“What’s that supposed to mean?”He hoisted one of the leather bags onto the table. “Last week he got a little rough with Preacher Mercer’s daughter,” he answered as he rearranged the contents of the bag to make more room for supplies.“Emaline?” Callie frowned.“Yeah.” He stuffed the coffee into the bag. “You stay away from that boy while I’m gone.” He latched the bag and dropped it beside the others.“You have no right to tell me that!” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I will do as I please.” Her pride and temper wouldn’t let her back down. “You’re my brother, not my father!”Lucas grabbed her by the elbow and yanked her to him. “I’m not your damn brother.”Lucas had always accepted his role as brother with great pride. Now he was refuting all kinship to her.“You remember that.” His eyes moved over her face and briefly down to her breasts before he looked away.Callie choked back her hurt and snatched her arm away from his grasp. She took a couple of steps back and rubbed her elbow. “I know exactly who you are, but I think you’ve forgotten.” Although he’d been angry at her several times, Lucas had never lost his temper with her. He was always in control of himself and his emotions. But lately, his eyes held something more, something hidden deep within. There was something raging to break free. It was something Callie didn’t understand.Lucas dragged a hand over his eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”“You didn’t,” she lied. “What’s happening, Lucas?”His eyes were softer now, like dark chocolates, sweet and indulging. Callie licked her lips, tempted by the comparison.“You have no idea what’s going on, do you honey?” his raspy voice vibrated through her.The endearment made her defenses soften. “No, I wish you would explain it to me.” She watched his lips curl upward at the corners. There it was again, the smile that made her heart flip. “And why do you keep calling me honey? What happened to ‘runt’?” She’d never liked the nickname he’d given her. It was childish, and it certainly never rolled from his lips like ‘honey’ did.The slow burn of his eyes as they inspected her body made her skin tingle as though it had been caressed. “It seems you’ve outgrown ‘runt.’”Callie hesitated. “Things are changing between us, Lucas. Why?”A brief lift of his brow and a sharp intake of breath made him shake his head. “I don’t think I should be the one to explain that to you.”“Why not? You always answer my questions.”“Not this type of question. These should be answered by a woman.”“Why?” Callie wouldn’t let him brush her aside.“Trust me, honey.”“I do trust you. That’s why I asked you.” She twisted her fingers together. “Please tell me.” Tears of frustration dampened her eyes. “These feelings and sensations are all so overwhelming.” She pressed a hand to her belly. “My body burns and aches when I’m near you.”His brown eyes smoldered with darkness. “Christ, honey. I don’t need to hear that confession, not now.” He turned away from her and bowed his head. “How much do you know about the physical relationship between a man and a woman?” He was cautious with his words.“Physical relationship?” Callie thought for a second. “You mean sex?”She saw him nod. “Yes, sex.”“Of course, I know about sex. Momma told me all about it when I was twelve.”Lucas turned around and held up his hand. “Well, there you have it.”“This is nothing like what Momma explained─”“Damn it! Do I have to draw you a picture?” He looked angry again. “It’s lust, Callie. Plain old lust.” He moved his hand between them. “That’s what’s happening between us!”“I’m sorry. It’s just very confusing. I don’t feel this way about Roger or any─”Lucas shortened the distance between them with one step and dropped his head until they were only a few tantalizing inches apart. “I don’t want to hear about your feelings for Roger Comstock,” he whispered.“Why are you so cross with me?” She tried not to get upset. “First you’re calling me ‘honey,’ then you’re practically biting my head off.”His lips hovered above hers with the promise of a kiss, a kiss she craved, but was denied when his head turned. “I am cross with you because I’m so damn frustrated.”The warmth of his body saturated hers. Callie was feeling that sweet ache again, low in the pit of her belly. She swallowed. “Frustrated?”He exhaled against her cheek. “I can’t stand the thought of another man touching you.” His breath was hot against her skin. “And the innocent way you look at me gives me the hardest ache.”Callie let out a whimper when his head dipped lower and his lips touched her neck. “Lucas?” She was sure she must be dreaming. Only in her dreams would Lucas confess these things to her and only in her dreams would she allow herself to give in to him.She dismissed her thoughts as she let herself indulge in his touch. Callie tilted her head back, allowing him to plant faint kisses along her throat and down to the hollow of her neck. One by one, he edged closer to the neckline of her gown. When the kisses stopped, Callie opened her eyes, expecting a teasing remark followed by a hasty retreat. That was the way Lucas had always handled uncomfortable situations between them.But he didn’t retreat. Instead, he watched her intently as his finger outlined the emerald necklace resting at the hollow of her neck. “You’re growing into a beautiful young woman.” His hand moved downward to the cleavage of her full breasts. “A woman I want to touch and make mine.” His finger stopped at the last button. “There’s only one remedy for this problem.”Her lips parted in a moan as she breathed out, “What─ what problem?”His hands glided down her hips and gently turned her around so that he towered behind her. What was he doing? She wanted to see him, to feel him, but when she tried to turn, his grip tightened.“This problem.” One masculine hand slid lower to the front of her thigh and forced her backwards while his other hand slid across her lower belly, holding her in place against his hard body.The sensation of his aroused body pressing intimately against her bottom sent a ripple of almost painful pleasure through Callie. There was not one ounce of willpower left in her. She wanted whatever he had to give, and she wanted it now. Her body knew no patience, but only the need for fulfillment. She arched backwards and slid her hands around his neck. The action thrust her breasts outward and allowed his hands full access. The hand on her thigh moved slowly up her ribcage to her breast. It fit perfectly against the palm of his hand. The warmth of his skillful hand penetrated the cotton gown and sent a moan from her lips.The tantalizing caress wasn’t enough and Lucas knew it. His hand found the open neckline and slid under her gown. He rolled the nipple of her breast between his finger and thumb, building the tension in her body. “Lucas!” his name was a gasp.With a ragged voice he asked, “You trust me honey?” His hand slid to her neck and then to her shoulder.“Yes.”“You shouldn’t.”Why did he speak of trust as though it mattered now? She’d given her heart and trust to him long ago. What was her body, but a small offering of her love? “Why not?”Lucas eased the gown off her shoulder so that one breast was exposed. “Because of the wicked things I want to do to you.” He massaged the nipple with his palm.Callie arched her back and gasped. “Wicked?” It was becoming clear to Callie that her mother’s explanation of procreation was different than what she was experiencing now. She was totally naïve about the intimate details between a man and a woman. “Is this not wicked?”
The low rattle of his laugh ignited a fire deep within the lower part of her belly.“You know nothing of wickedness. You’re an innocent.” His hand slid from her breast to her hip. “And I have to remember that.”The desertion of his hand made her body scream with disappointment so loudly she trembled. Callie twisted around and buried her head in his chest. “I ache.”She felt him draw in a sharp breath. “It will pass, honey.”“I don’t want it to pass.” Callie wanted to touch his bare skin and feel the parts of his body she’d never seen. With hungry hands, her palms flattened against the taut muscles in his chest. They slid down to his stomach and around to his back. Beneath her fingers, she felt the rise of a scar he’d had since childhood. “I want you to kiss me. The way you did last year. The night Jacob was born.”It was that brief moment that ignited the fire burning in Callie. In the excitement of her nephew’s birth, she’d rushed into Lucas’ room to find him half-naked on the bed, with only a blanket covering him. The kiss that followed awakened a hunger in her she wanted to satisfy.Callie lifted her head. “Remember?”The muscles in his jaw flexed. “I remember you tasted like…” his voice was at a growl again.“Like what?” she whispered.“Like honey, pure, sweet, unadulterated honey.” His hand stroked her upper arms. “That’s why I call you honey.”“Then surely you want another taste?” she proposed to him softly.“If I kiss you, there will be no stopping me.”“I wouldn’t want you to stop.”“You don’t know what you’re saying.” Lucas shook his head. “That’s your body talking.”Callie stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “What’s your body saying, Lucas?”Dare she be so bold? “Please, kiss…” His mouth stopped her soft plea. The warmth that spread through Callie was intoxicating. His lips moved against hers while his tongue gently demanded the surrender of her mouth. She yielded to him, giving him access.Lucas was in agony. Did she know what she was doing to him? She couldn’t. Callie was innocent. Or was she? The soft, sumptuous woman in his arms had to be a siren sent to tempt him into insanity. No other woman could make him tremble. No other woman could send him into a rock-hard fever the way this one could. For months, he had tried to smother his need for her, but he could no longer ignore his body or hers.Lucas felt his hands shake as they slid to her waist and down to her hips, repeating the path they’d taken earlier. Almost with a mind of their own, his hands moved lower, to cup her firm, supple bottom. She moaned against his grasp as her shy lips surrendered to his hungry assault. Slow down. This is Callie. The young woman that in recent years felt less like a sister and more like a lover.Should he tell her not to be afraid? That he would stop before things got out of hand? No. The truth was; he’d lost control when she begged to be kissed. They were alone in the house. No one would hear her cry out as he took her innocence. God no! He didn’t dare think about that!Lucas scooped her up into his arms and sat her on the worktable. Callie leaned closer to him, telling him she wanted more. His body pulsed with a need only she could fulfill. Lucas wanted all of her, to feel her naked skin against his own. He wanted Callie under him, taking in every inch of him. He had to have more of her before he left. Surely the memory of this night would keep him warm, and him in her heart until he returned.Lucas was lost in his own need. He ran his hand under the neckline of her gown, pushing the material from both of her shoulders. He had to see her, to feel her naked breasts with his hands. She gripped his hand tight with a trembling hand.“Do you want me to stop?” he whispered the question while fearing the answer.She shook her head. “No, but…” Her coffee-colored eyes fluttered, their drunken centers thick with desire.“What is it, honey? Tell me what you want.” He kissed his way down her neck.“Are you going to make love to me, Lucas?”Lucas jerked the hem of her gown up to her thighs and grabbed her bottom with both hands. “God, yes!” He hoisted her legs around his hips and lifted her from the table.Her legs tightened around him as he buried his face between her breasts and pushed her against the wall.“Will you be with me in the morning?”Her innocent question hit Lucas like a fist to the stomach.Lucas raised his head and stared into her questioning eyes. No, he wouldn’t. By dawn, he’d be gone and she’d be left with the consequences of his carelessness. He sat her on the table and braced his arms against its edge. The sight of her creamy thighs sent another sharp stab of wanting through him.Callie twisted her hips in a needful manner and caressed his face. “Lucas?”The touch of her hand and the soft plea in her voice made him ache. “Don’t,” Lucas said gruffly as he held up his hands and took a step backwards.His stern order made Callie draw back and pull the gown over her naked breasts.“We can’t do this.”“Why not?“Because I won’t take your virginity and run off to Texas!”Her eyes widened. “Texas?”“Yes! And with the way I want you…” He blew out a long breath. “I’d be leaving you and my baby.”He watched her frown then blush. “Oh,” she said with a small voice.There would definitely be a child if he made love to Callie tonight. He didn’t have the restraint to stop himself. “Damn. I should never have kissed you.”Callie’s face lit up, and she slid from the table. “Take me with you.”“No.” He shook his head. “Absolutely not.”“Why not?”“It’s too dangerous and I can’t be around you without this happening.” Lucas picked up his hat from the floor and dusted the brim.“You’re leaving because of me?” she whispered.He pushed his hat in place and picked up his coat. “I’m too hungry for you.” The lie floated off his tongue and left a bitter taste in his mouth. It wasn’t the hunger that was driving him away. Hell, he could cure that in a night! But when daylight came, he’d want Callie to have his name, a name he didn’t have. Damn! It was a bitter hell to be torn between your past and your future.“I need to know the truth.”“About what?”“About who I am and where I came from.” He’d come to the Way as an orphan, without a name, inheritance or legacy. Every record of who he was- gone. Daniel Sullivan gave him the finest education, treated him like a son and willed him a third of the family business. Everything Daniel had could one day be his. He looked at Callie, even his daughter. Ask her to marry you. Take her to Texas with you.No. It was easier to walk away. Callie would wait for him.Even with all that was promised, it wasn’t enough to satisfy the emptiness he felt. He was still an orphan. For years, he’d called the Sullivans his family, and the Way his home, but the images in his mind were calling him back. Back to the truth about his past. The dreams he had as a child were becoming more vivid and real. Lucas rammed his hand into his pocket and pulled out the letter he’d received last week. The fire that marked you awaits your return. Follow the cross to the holy road. After reading the message for the hundredth time, he crammed it back into his pocket. Someone knew who he was.Callie’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of frustration and tears. “This is your place and we are your family.”“I’ll write you,” he reassured her and slipped his arms through the sleeves of his coat.Callie laughed bitterly. “You’ll write to me? How can you just walk away after what we shared?”“A man needs to know who he is, honey. A name to give his wife and children.”“Wife? Children?”She clutched the front of his coat. “What happens when you find what you’re looking for?” Her tear-filled eyes searched his. “Will you come back to us, to me?”“I’ll come back to you. I promise.” Lucas let his eyes drift across the contours of her face, noticing all the details he’d taken for granted over the years. He’d packed a small tintype picture of Callie for the trip. It couldn’t capture the soft texture of her creamy skin, the golden flecks in the center of her eyes, or the sensual dampness of her lips.He turned away and gripped the doorknob.“‘Wait!” Callie’s voice was almost frantic. “Tell me this is more than lust. Tell me─” she pressed her palm against her heart. “What happened between us is deeper.”“It’s deeper than lust, honey.” Callie had no idea how much he would miss her or how much he loved her. Should he tell her? How could he and then walk away? He couldn’t. He was leaving and didn’t know when he’d return. He had no right to ask her to wait, but he did. “Promise me you’ll wait for me.”Her brows rose innocently with surprise. “Wait for you?”Lucas buried his fingers in the hair at the base of her neck and lifted her face. He rested his forehead against hers. “I want to be your first and your last,” he sealed the statement with a hungry kiss that left them both breathless. “Wait for me.”“I promise,” Callie whispered.Lucas opened the door, picked up his bags and walked into the darkness.

Release Day for The Paper Masque by Jessica Dall

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.com Genre: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Alternative HistoryRelease Date: December 4, 2014Digital ISBN 13 978-1-63112-087-9 ISBN: 10:1631120875Print ISBN 13: 978-1-63112-088-6 ISBN: 10: 1631120883Purchase link : http://www.5princebooks.com/buy-links...
The Broken Line- Book ThreeElsie Wembley has never suffered boredom gladly. Oldest of three—and second in line to the throne—she knows Carby like the back of her hand, always staying only one step ahead of trouble. When Elsie meets button-down Laurence Flynn, however, it seems she may finally have found someone to keep her out of it for good—at least until his secrets catch up to them.
With war on the horizon and nothing certain, Book 3 of The Broken Line Series continues in a quickly changing world.
 About Jessica DallJessica Dall finished her first novel at age 15 and been writing ever since. She is the author of such novels as Grey Areas and The Bleeding Crowd, the Broken Line Series, and a number of short stories which have appeared in both literary magazines and anthologies. When not writing, she works as a freelance editor and creative writing teacher in Washington, DC.
How to Contact Jessica:Twitter: @JessicaDallfacebook.com/jkdallWebsite: jessicadall.com
Excerpt of The Paper MasqueChapter OneElsie squeezed her eyes shut, head pounding. Her body refused to move.Oh well, she had dealt with worse hangovers than this in her life. Releasing a long breath, Elsie forced her legs over the edge of the bed, levering herself up to sitting. The springs of the mattress creaked under her. Loudly.Everett groaned before Elsie could, rubbing his forehead unhappily. “Christ, Els. What time is it?”“Later than I should be here.” Elsie took one last moment to force her body to listen to her, then stood, grabbing her bag. Pulling out the change of clothes, she shimmied into the blouse and pedal pushers. “You don’t need to get up. I can show myself out.”“It’s barely light out, Els.” Everett pushed himself up on his elbows, the quilt sliding down his bare chest to his waist.Elsie shook her head, rolling up last night’s dress to stuff it in her bag. For all of Everett Adderley’s faults, being unattractive was not one of them. She did her best to ignore it. “And if my mother finds out I’ve been gone, I’m never going to see the light of day again. I’ve already been pushing my luck lately.”“Like she’d be able to keep you in if she tried.” Everett ran a hand through his wavy blond hair, pushing it out of his face as he lay back down. “Will you at least use the stairs this time?”“And where’s the fun in that?” Elsie strapped her bag over her back.Everett turned to his side. “One of these days, you’re going to slip and break your neck, and I’m going to have a lot of explaining to do.” “Come now, darling.” Elsie pushed the window open, checking the courtyard quickly before glancing back at the bed. “I could have come crawling out of any of these windows. Nothing to tie me to this one.”Everett just grunted.Elsie pulled herself up onto the sill, taking a moment to make sure she had her balance before she swung to the outside, twisting to get a grip on the window frame. Nobody ever looked up. Elsie had figured that out not long after she had learned to walk. High enough up you were as good as invisible. And with the rough stone walls, with all their protruding window sills, it was as though the designers of the Berkshire dorms wanted people to climb them. Working her toes into the crevices, Elsie pulled herself up the last three stories to the roof, rolling her shoulders as she found her footing on the slant. Sure, it was simpler to do when it didn’t feel like she had lead-filled stockings being thrown around her skull, but at this point, she likely would have been able to make it home along the roofs blackout drunk, never mind a hangover. Moving lightly, Elsie made her way across the slate roof, angling her body to keep upright on the tilt. A hop from the dorms to the chapel, another to the science building, down three branches of the old oak on the far side, and Elsie reached the wall surrounding the old university. Elsie crouched, taking a moment to study the road running between the walls and the rows of townhouses across from the university. The sky just beginning to lighten, it made sense that the Berks’ campus was dead—no self-respecting university student would be up now unless they were only just coming home—but the rest of Carby was anybody’s guess. Having to dash across the road and then up the side of the townhouses to reach the roofs again would leave her exposed for long enough that an early riser might spot a suspicious shape climbing up the balconies. With the streets mostly empty, however, she wouldn’t be able do disappear into a crowd if anyone took an interest in her. Grabbing a tie from the front pocket of her bag, Elsie forced her blonde hair back into a messy bun. With her head swimming as it was, she was lucky she’d gotten up the side of the dorms as quickly as she had. The smooth brick townhomes would prove more of a challenge—even with their wrought iron balconies. Moving to the east corner of the wall, Elsie worked her way down to the street, pulling a skirt from her bag to slip over the pedal pushers before she continued forward. She would just have to hope she didn’t gather too much suspicion working her way back across Carby by ground.Only a twenty minute walk on the worst of days, the sky had fully lightened by the time Elsie made it to the last turn before the palace gates. Skirting the front with its guardhouse, she turned left, moving along the side of the palace grounds. Ducking behind a final tree, Elsie wiggled the old iron rod free from its place and pushed her way through the gate into the hedge. Not quite as easy a fit as it had once been, she could still manage it well enough. Slipping the rod back into place, she wriggled her way free of the branches. A quick check to make sure no stray leaves had found a place to stick, and Elsie finally made her way up to the back of the palace. Once a fair deal larger than it was now, the palace had gone through a number of renovations in the three decades Elsie’s mother had lived there. Parts of the old structure still shining through here and there, entire wings had been demolished with other parts being rebuilt, turning the palace into some mix of old monarchy and what had been the “new style” a generation and a half ago. It seemed likely Queen Mary would have turned everything into a bigger replica of the country house in Aberfirth if she had been any freer with their purses. Swinging around what was left of the old west wing, Elsie worked her way into the rose garden, taking the winding path up to the back door.“Your Highness. You’re up early this morning.”Elsie spun toward the voice, doing her best to release a breath as the rush of adrenaline passed. She pulled herself up to her full, generally impressive height, head tilted back regally. “Mr. Fletcher. I didn’t know you were in Carby.”The man smiled from his seat on a bench. “Just arrived last night.”At least seventy, Antony Fletcher did look good for his age, body still trim with a full head of white hair. Looking at the pencil he held, Elsie would imagine many men would have had to retire from his profession long before due to tremors, but no, the painter’s hands seemed as steady as ever with his hazel eyes clear and alert. A little too alert for Elsie’s liking at the moment. Elsie pulled herself straight, trying to hide any lingering surprise. “Did my mother call you in to help with repainting the east room?”Antony nodded. “That, and she was hoping for me do Princess Anne’s portrait.”Elsie furrowed her brow. Self-conscious as Anne was, Elsie couldn’t see her little sister enjoying that prospect. “Isn’t Anne a little young for all that?”“You were six the first time I painted you, Your Highness.” Antony smiled, the lines around his eyes deepening. “Princess Anne is twice that now.”“And hates people staring at her, I’m sure you know,” Elsie returned.Antony just continued to smile. “I’m sure we’ll find some way to make things work.”Elsie caught her hands in front of her, did her best to make her words sound final. “Well, I’m sure my mother will be glad to have you. She’s always in a good mood when you’re around.”“It is always good to see old friends,” Antony agreed.Elsie nodded, turning for the door once again. “If you’ll excuse me…”“I’ll assume you don’t wish for me to mention you just getting in when I see your mother later?”Elsie turned back to face him, fixing her grey eyes on him. Annoyingly, as always, they seemed to have no affect with Antony Fletcher. She pulled her shoulders back all the same. “I was just taking a walk. I couldn’t sleep.”“With that large a pack with you?” Antony nodded to the bag on her back.“Yes,” she said, tone challenging him to comment. “Is that a problem?”The corner of the old man’s mouth turned up. “Have a good morning, Your Highness.”Elsie didn’t bother to respond, turning to the palace with a punctuated finality, ignoring the feeling that Antony Fletcher was laughing at her back.
***
The sharp knock jerked Elsie awake far sooner than was kind. Forcing her eyes open, Elsie looked across the room accusingly, less than eager to move from the plush bed. “Elsie?” the small voice asked through the door. “Are you there?”Anne. Elsie released a breath, rubbing a hand over her face. “I’m here. It’s open.”The door creaked on its hinges, swinging fully open before Anne started forward with her halting gait. She frowned, looking Elsie over. “Are you all right?”“I’ll survive.” Elsie sat up, pushing bits of loose hair away from her face. “What is it?”Anne hesitated, pressed her lips together. “You said you wanted me to wake you up to go to parliament today?”Elsie blinked, the conversation slowly sliding into place in her half-functioning mind. “Right. Thanks. Why don’t you head downstairs, I’ll join you in a second.”Anne nodded, turning to head back out of the room. Elsie released a final breath, closing her eyes for a moment before pushing herself out of bed. As well as Anne managed to get around on her bad foot, Elsie still had time before her sister made it to the front door. Elsie shook her head, turning to the mirror as she listened to her sister hobble down the hall. Shame it was, too, pretty a girl as Anne would have been had she not been born with the problems. The only sibling with auburn hair, Anne likely would have been a dead ringer for their mother when Mary had been younger save for that unfortunate port-wine stain and clubfoot.Elsie tried not to think on it too long, slipping the pedal pushers off from under her skirt before critiquing the result. Slightly wrinkled from her impromptu nap, the skirt and blouse weren’t beyond salvaging for the rest of the day with any luck. Bits of her blonde hair loose around her face, it was nearly stylish. If only she were going to a Berks party rather than parliament. She glanced at the lever on the wall, debating ringing for a maid to help with her hair, but the entire ritual always felt so stuffy, old. And with Anne working her way downstairs, it seemed like a dreadful waste of time. Sitting at her vanity, Elsie managed a less bohemian bun herself, pinning it into place. She could bother someone later when she changed for dinner.Popping back up, Elsie tucked her blouse back in place and started after her sister.
***
The gavel came down. “And so it is approved, the exchequer will extend credit for the necessary improvements to Her Majesty’s Navy.”Elsie snorted. Her mother would love that. As much money as there had already been spent preparing for a war with the continent that had never come, parliament still seemed to consider itself in an arms race.Mr. Jones cleared his throat from his spot at the end of the long hall looking at the papers in front of him. “And now Mr. Warrick has asked for the floor.”The kind-looking man stood off to one side of the room, glancing at the paper between his hands before he started to speak, “My honored colleagues, I rise today to discuss an issue of grave importance to every member of this chamber: The situation in Oneác. Today we find ourselves at a crossroads. Many of you wish the present dominion over the land of Oneác to continue as it has for over a hundred years, others want our separation. With the violence and mayhem we have seen plague this issue, we must agree this arguing cannot continue. I believe Oneác should be given home rule.”The expected uproar broke from the benches, men jumping up to shout at Mr. Warrick, others jumping to his defense.“We benefit most from our relationship with Oneác through trade and economic companionship,” Mr. Warrick continued, nearly yelling to be heard over the din. “Of course we do not wish to sever those ties, but we can not continue to abuse Oneác, acting as if its own people do not know how to run it.”Eyes scanning the shouting men, Elsie took it all in. Perry, MP from Kedington, remained silent as ever, nodding to himself as he wrote something on the pad in front of him. Howard and Pemberton, both from the south, gestured wildly—shouting what, Elsie sincerely doubted anyone could really tell. Townsend, from Milford, shouted back from across the aisle, nothing really surprising there.“Home rule provides stability not severance. What I am proposing is a compromise many in this chamber will find hard to swallow. But the job of government, the job of Parliament, is not to create policy that is best for oneself but what is best for all…”The shouting only grew louder. Nothing like the Oneácy problem to turn the MPs into shrieking children—even if poor Mr. Warrick spoke quite conservatively for his party. “Can we go?” Anne whispered. “They’re giving me a headache.”Elsie nodded, not willing to spend any of her sparse hangover energy on working her way through anything less than true debate.
***
Queen Mary had never cared for parties. Growing up, Elsie had quickly come to the realization that her mother didn’t much care for anything that came with being queen. Parties, meetings, even just standing out on the balcony and waving—honestly their most basic function—seemed to exhaust her. Perhaps, then, it made perfect sense that the large dining room that had entertained court meals, back when there had been a proper court, sat empty eleven-twelfths of the year, the small antechamber outside Elsie’s parents’ room turned into a family dining room.Pushing her food around her plate, Elsie did her best to hide her unabashed boredom with the entire exercise.“Are you feeling all right, Alice?”Elsie started, taking a second to respond to her given name. She glanced across the oval table at her mother, straightening in her seat. “Yes, sorry. Just thinking.”“About what?” Mary asked.“Nothing in particular.” Elsie shook her head.Something that nearly looked like pain flashed across Mary’s face, but Mary tilted the corners of her mouth up in one of her almost-smiles. “I ran into Mr. Fletcher earlier,” Elsie changed the topic smoothly. “He said he was here to paint Anne?”Anne looked up, eyes wide. “I don’t want to be painted.”Mary managed a real smile for her youngest daughter. “Mr. Fletcher is a great painter, sweetheart. You remember the one he did of Alice a few years ago?”Anne frowned. “But Elsie’s actually pretty.” “And so are you,” Mary insisted, the pained look slipping back into her grey eyes. “It’s a painting, not a photo, Annie,” Elsie argued before Anne could respond. “He can fix anything you want him to.”Anne looked down, pushing her plate back. “May I please be excused?”“We’re still—”Anne began to limp away before Mary could finish her objection.Eddy snorted, picking up his wine glass. “Good job, Els.”“I didn’t know it would make her that upset.” Elsie shook her head, letting silence settle back over them. All of them together, it was easy to see the family resemblance that ran through the new Wembley line. Only a little more than a year apart, Eddy and Elsie would easily have passed as twins, sharing their father’s sandy-blond hair and mother’s grey eyes. Especially now that Eddy had outgrown his childhood illness and filled out from the stick he used to have been.If only Anne had some hope of outgrowing her problems as well, they would be a handsome lot—even as grey hairs and wrinkles began to work their way onto Mary and William’s faces. Worry lines, Elsie would say for her mother. Laughter lines for her father. Elsie tilted her own wine glass toward her, glancing at the dark liquid inside. Her stomach turned at the thought of more wine. Not quite recovered from last night. She set the glass right again before returning to pushing her food around the plate in silence.

Release Day for The Silver Unicorn by Wayne Orr

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.comGenre: Fiction, Fantasy, General
Release Date: December 4, 2014Digital ISBN 13 978-1-63112-085-5 ISBN: 10:1631120859Print ISBN 13: 978-1-63112-086-2 ISBN: 10: 1631120867Purchase link : http://www.5princebooks.com/buy-links...

Th Silver Unicorn by Wayne OrrJohnny is still recovering from a suspicious car accident that he knows was no accident. Glinda is still scarred from an attack in her youth and in denial about her magical gifts. When these two guarded hearts meet at a concert the magic begins but there’s little time for Romance.
These two star crossed lovers embark on a magical journey through a time space portal aboard a magical unicorn. This portal is being misused by a group of interplanetary smugglers who will stop at nothing to keep their operation going. It's up to Glinda and Johnny to shut this nefarious enterprise down.
These two mavericks face, a mob of cruel demons, a 7-foot human named Grito, a Pit of Cleansing Fire and manage to fall in love along the way.

About Wayne Orr Wayne holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from The University of Texas in Austin. He spent twenty-eight years working for the federal government writing manuals and regulations, first in San Antonio, Texas, then in Dayton, Ohio and finally in the Washington, D.C. area including the Pentagon. He is retired and lives in Alexandria, VA, just outside of Washington D.C. where he spends much of his time writing and traveling.He has written three other books which are presently listed for sale on Createspace.com, Amazon.com and numerous other online locations. They are Lonely Texas Road, Dust and Empty Dreams, and The Awakening (The Gay Preacher).Wayne has also had several poems and short fiction pieces published in the Rusty Nail Literary Magazine. Additionally, he has published work on the Flash Fiction World website.
How to Contact Wayne:Twitter: @LonelyTexasRoadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayne.orr.39Website: http://wayneorrswanderings.blogspot.com/

Excerpt of The Silver UnicornChapter I
To hear Bum Hartley tell it, the West Texas Energy Systems (WTES) Company was ready to pull out all stops. Willie Justice had decided to make it a major player in the energy business, and when Willie Justice decided to make a move in the oil patch, people listened. So when Bum asked Johnny to go to work for him, Johnny didn’t hesitate to accept Bum’s offer.Hartley and Johnny’s father used to run around together years before, so it didn’t surprise him much when Bum had given him the call. What had surprised him was that he was going to be in a startup organization owned by the legendary “Uncle Willie.” Johnny was a petroleum engineer. In the oil patch, people with his skills were in high demand and made good money. The company he was working for was in the process of being acquired by another company. The management people stressed that they would do all they could to minimize any disruption, but at the same time, everyone was encouraged to check other options to see what was available. So when Bum called him, he gave his company two-week’s notice and was now working for WTES.Practically everyone in the world knew who Willie Justice was. He was The Major Share Holder, The President and The Chief Executive Officer of “Justice Enterprises” and held several other important positions there. Oftentimes he was referred to as Mr. Justice Enterprises. Lately you would see him just about every time you turned on your computer or TV. He may be riding around in a helicopter anywhere in the world that had gas or oil or maybe in Alberta, Canada checking out the oil sands or driving around on a Texas oil lease in a Ford F-150 pickup. Johnny had seen him on TV once in the White House shaking hands with the president. He was dressed in blue jeans and cowboy boots and wearing a western style tie. Johnny was surprised that he wasn’t wearing a big, white Stetson. But a moment later he had to chuckle to himself, because when Justice walked away some man who looked like he was probably a secret service agent or White House big-shot handed him a white hat just exactly like the one Johnny had been imagining. Justice put it on as he left the room accompanied by some men who seemed to Johnny to be some pretty important government officials. Johnny figured that it was really cool that someone could be so nonchalant and casual around the president. It sure did prove the old adage about money talking. But in Uncle Willie’s case it was undoubtedly more than just the money. He had been an icon in the energy business for more than forty years. Just about anyone in the world would probably want to shake hands with him. Being a president doesn’t make you immune to that, Johnny reckoned. Anyway, Johnny figured that old Bum was right. If Willie Justice was ready to get involved with West Texas Energy Systems, the company was probably on its way. Johnny pulled into the parking lot and parked his pickup. Neither Bum nor Billy Joe had arrived yet. As far as Johnny knew the three of them were the only employees that the company had so far. But from his understanding, Willie Justice was bringing down an “implementation cadre” soon to get the company staffed and operating.Bum and Billy Joe usually arrived at around nine o’clock. Johnny looked at his watch and saw that he was about fifteen minutes early. He figured he might as well brew a pot of coffee while he waited for the others. He liked his coffee a lot more than he liked Bum’s. And there was certainly no use in waiting for Billy Joe to make any. Billy Joe picked up a cup at McDonald’s on the way in and wasn’t about to waste his time brewing any. Johnny had just finished making the coffee when Bum and Billy Joe came driving into the lot. He poured himself a cup as he waited for them to come inside. He hoped that Bum had some kind of news from Uncle Willie to share with them this morning. The two men walked up the steps together. Johnny opened the door and said, “Hi fellows.”Billy Joe was carrying a cup of McDonald’s coffee just as Johnny had expected. Both he and Bum returned Johnny’s greeting.“I hope you made some coffee,” Bum said. “Billy Joe was too doggoned stingy to get me a cup at McDonald’s.”“You’ve told me about a thousand times that you don’t like this stuff. You said if I can’t buy you a cup of Caramel Flan Latte or Cafe Mocha just to forget it.” “So you just forgot it, right?” “Yep, that’s what I did.”Johnny said, “I just brewed a pot. That’s exactly what I’m drinking right now. It’s worth seven fifty a cup, but it’s on special this morning for free. You can’t beat that.” Bum said, “Great, free’s a pretty good price. Hard to get any cheaper than that. I just hope it’s worth it” and went to the pot and poured himself a cup.They sat down at a little round table, and Bum said, “I just got off the phone with Uncle Willie, and he brought me up to speed about what’s going on. It’s pretty darned good news. He’s bringing in the “implementation cadre” in ten days or so. This place is about ready to start rocking.”Billy Joe laughed. “So exactly what does that mean?”“Well essentially that means that we’re gonna start working and doing things. The “implementation cadre” will be running the place for a while and helping us get it staffed. Uncle Willie will probably come in for a few days to make sure that everything’s moving in the right direction. We’ll get settled into our offices and learn exactly what our jobs are going to be. In ninety days or so, when we get the hang of what’s going on, the implementation guys will go somewhere else, and we’ll be on our own.”“Sounds to me like it’ll work,” Johnny said.“Oh, it’ll work all right,” Bum told him. “Everything that Uncle Willie gets involved in always works.”“So as of right now I suppose there are just the three of us,” Johnny said.“Actually there are four. We’ve just picked up a new fellow named Robert Slater. He’s going to be in charge of the landscaping and sprucing this place up. He’ll be in a little later and we can all go out to lunch.”

Release Day for The Merger The Keller Family Series Book 9 by Bernadette Marie

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.comGenre: Fiction, Romance, ContemporaryRelease Date: December 4, 2014Digital ISBN 13 978-1-63112-083-1 ISBN 10:1631120832Print ISBN 13 978-1-63112-084-8 ISBN 10:1631120840Purchase link : http://www.5princebooks.com/buy-links...
The MergerBusiness minded Spencer Benson only sees the bottom line getting bigger when he begins merger talks with another family owned company, however, headstrong lawyer, Julie Jacobson, is determined to be very thorough with the merger, which throws Spencer off his game.
Spencer makes no qualms of his dislike for Julie, but when she comes to him for help he finds that perhaps she's not quite the menace he thought she was. In fact, his feelings for her change completely. But when he finds that someone has used the merger to stab him in the back, where can he turn when Julie’s name is associated with the deceit?

About Bernadette Marie Bernadette Marie has been an avid writer since the early age of 13, when she’d fill notebook after notebook with stories that she’d share with her friends. Her journey into novel writing started the summer before eighth grade when her father gave her an old typewriter. At all times of the day and night you would find her on the back porch penning her first work, which she would continue to write for the next 22 years. In 2007—after marriage, filling her chronic entrepreneurial needs, and having five children—Bernadette began to write seriously with the goal of being published. That year she wrote 12 books. In 2009 she was contracted for her first trilogy and the published author was born. In 2011 she (being the entrepreneur that she is) opened her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, and has released her own contemporary titles. She also quickly began the process of taking on other authors in other genres. In 2012 Bernadette Marie began to find herself on the bestsellers lists of iTunes, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble to name a few. Her office wall is lined with colorful PostIt notes with the titles of books she will be releasing in the very near future, with hope that they too will grace the bestsellers lists.Bernadette spends most of her free time driving her kids to their many events—usually hockey. She is also an accomplished martial artist with a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. An avid reader, she enjoys contemporary romances with humor and happily ever afters.


www.bernadettemarie.comwww.facebook.com/authorbernadettemariewww.authorbernadettemarie.blogspot.com@writesromance on Twitterinfo@bernadettemarie.com


Excerpt of The Merger:Chapter One

      Oregon was a fine place. Perhaps, Spencer Benson thought, he’d like to come back someday and visit as a tourist. However he was into his fifth month of merger negotiations with Pacific Line Lumber, and his desire to ever fly out to the Pacific coast again was waning.      He pressed his head to the back of the boardroom chair as he listened to the eighty-year-old owner of the company reminisce, again, about the day his father had taken down the first tree to build their family house…and an empire was born.      Spencer had a great appreciation for family business. He was part of one. His great-grandfather had started Benson, Benson, and Hart. His grandfather took over. followed by his father. His cousin Ed had been holding the CEO position for years now. It was time for him to rise to the position. However, taking five months to close a deal wasn’t making him any friends back home.      A moment later the door opened and Spencer felt the twinge in his chest start as it did every time that bitch of a lawyer walked in the door. Julie Jacobson had found a million little flaws in the proposal. He’d like to not see her face again.      Okay, he thought, it wasn’t a bad face. She wore her blonde hair back in a ponytail most times. Her eyes were brown. He’d noticed that as she’d burned holes through him for the past five months with them.      Today she hurried into the boardroom dropping a stack of paper on the table. It toppled over, slid to the floor, and she scrambled to pick it all up as every man in the room watched.      Okay, he’d later admit he’d rather have watched her fume over the papers and thought it was just, but he wasn’t that kind of man. Spencer rose from his seat and walked across the room to help the frazzled lawyer with the mess she’d created.      When everything was stacked back on the table, she turned those brown eyes on him. They were bloodshot and full of sadness.      “Thank you,” she said very softly as if not to let the rest of the room hear her.      “My pleasure,” he lied and walked back to his seat.      The meeting continued with interludes from the owner as he reminisced about this or that. A brief five hours later, they finally broke and Spencer gathered his things and headed back to his hotel.      As he walked through the lobby, his phone rang. It was his father and he toyed with the idea of not answering it. However, that wasn’t like him.      “Hey, Dad.”      “Make any progress?”      Spencer blew out a breath. “You know that bitch of a lawyer is making me crazy. We’re up to replanting. How many trees and seedlings will we replant each year to replace everything we use. We’ve gone over that.”      His father laughed. “And how many will we?”      “I don’t know,” he said pushing the button to the elevator. “I have a lot of math to do tonight.”      “This is your project. You’ll do fine with it.”      “Sure, you just don’t get what a bitch this woman is,” he said just as he noticed that very bitch step into the elevator as the doors closed. He let out a grunt. “Dad, I’ll talk to you later.”      He turned off his phone and shoved it back into his pocket.      Julie Jacobson didn’t turn to look at him. She didn’t say a word to him. But there was something going on. Something was wrong. Why was she in the hotel elevator?      Was she crying?      Oh, who cared? She deserved to cry. She was costing him time and money each time she opened her damn mouth in that boardroom and he was tired of her. Let her cry.      The elevator opened again and another man walked in, looked her up and down then pushed a button. The elevator rose a mere two floors before he got off. Spencer watched as Julie literally stomped her foot in aggravation for the stop.      They rode in silence for a few more floors and then the doors opened and he began to step off, but the blood that ran through him wouldn’t let a woman suffer. He lodged his hand in the door and looked at her. She was indeed crying.      “Ms. Jacobson, are you okay?”      She lifted her head. The bitch didn’t seem to be in there. This was a broken woman with troubles. He could see that. She only nodded and he accepted her answer.      “Okay, then, have a pleasant night.” He stepped back again, but when her head lifted again and the sadness burned through him he couldn’t handle it. He tucked his foot back into the door forcing it open.      “Mr. Benson, what are you doing? I’d like to get to my room, please.”      Ah, there she was, he thought as the door closed behind him.      “You don’t look okay. I mean something’s going on and I just want to be here if you need someone.”       She let out a grunt. “You hate me. I know you hate me. I’m costing you time and money.” So, she was a mind reader. “My private life, on the other hand, isn’t any of your business.”      He nodded. He could accept that.      She lifted her hands to wipe away the tears and he noticed the tell tale sign of a wedding ring having recently been taken off. There was an indent in her finger and a white line where it must have been worn for years.       “Would you be interested in having a drink?”      She turned to him and those brown eyes bore right through him. “Are you kidding me? You want to take me out for a drink? I’m the lawyer for the company you’re trying to buy. I don’t think that would look very good, do you?”      He hadn’t thought of that. “No. You’re right. I just…”      He only had a moment to catch his breath before the woman lunged at him and pushed him up against the wall of the elevator. Spencer was ready for the knee to the groin, but her mouth coming down on his, her tongue pressing into his mouth, her hands in his hair—none of this he’d expected.      Spencer was gripping the bar on the wall, but the man in him decided that a woman throwing herself at him would be better to hold. He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her to him even tighter. Heat rose between them. The moan from her throat was enough to make him go light headed as the blood traveled away from his brain.      When the door opened, Julie stood straight and stepped away from him. As Spencer moved to her, she held up her hand and straightened her shoulders.      Her breath was coming in great big gasps. Pink colored her cheeks and those brown eyes didn’t hold fire.“Good night, Mr. Benson,” she said as she stepped out of the elevator.      Goodnight? What in the hell? His body wasn’t quick enough to chase after her before the doors closed and she was out of his sight.      The blood was rushing back to his head and he thought he might need a very cold shower when he got back to his room.      What was that all about? Bitch one moment—panting horny woman the next?      Who needed it? This was just the force and fire he needed to walk into that meeting tomorrow and say take it or leave it. He’d had enough of Pacific Line Lumber and their legal staff.      As the door opened, Spencer stepped out onto his floor and went straight to his room. He slid the keycard into the lock, and then again, and again. He hated these stupid pieces of plastic. Finally, the door beeped and he pushed it open.      The lightness in his head took over. He was going to need to sit down.      He knew this feeling. He’d had it before. Crap! That woman had kissed him senseless. That’s what it was.      Something was up with the blonde with those dark, burning eyes. Never before would he have imagined a woman like her in tears. No, something was hurting her—or someone. He’d make sure to take the time tomorrow and find out what was going on.      Spencer lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. The heat of that kiss swam in his head again. Her hips under his hands. Her body pressed to his.      Oh, hell, she’d messed with his mind.      Tomorrow, she’d finally see his fire. She wasn’t going to mess with him like this. All hell was going to break loose tomorrow.      For now, though, he was going to take a very long, very cold shower.

Join the Party!

Join me and my author friends as we celebrate the release of my second book in the Way of Hearts Saga, Love Finds Its Way on Saturday, December 6th at 12:00 PM (EST) on Facebook. It will be a fun filled day of contests and p rizes! I’m so excited to have these ladies as guests! They are amazing authors! 
Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/796322943761840/?ref_dashboard_filter=hosting to see the author schedule. 




Schedule of Authors (EST)

Kristy McCaffrey- (steamy historical western romances) 12:00-12:30 PM
http://www.kristymccaffrey.com/ 
Mishael Austin Witty- (historical fiction/sweet romance) 12:30-1:00 PM
http://bluebrownbooks.com/tag/mishael-austin-witty/

Kathleen Rice Adams- (steamy western historical romance) 1:00-1:30 PM
http://www.kathleenriceadams.com/

Wilhelmina Stolen- (steamy western historical romance) 1:30- 2:00 PM
http://www.wilhelminastolen.com/

Zina Abbott (western romance) 2:00-2:30 PM 
www.zinaabbott.homestead.com 
www.pinterest.com/ZinaAbbott

Sara Barnard- (sweet historical romance) 2:30-3:00 PM http://www.sarabarnardbooks.com/

Author Kit Morgan-(sweet historical romance) 3:00-3:30 PM http://authorkitmorgan.blogspot.com/

Angela Raines (western romance) 3:30-4:00 PM http://tinyurl.com/qdglm8s