"Don't you understand? I can't love you."Turning to her, tears fall from her eyes unrestrained."Of course, I understand. I see it every time she's around. When you say her name. Hear her voice. I see it in your eyes when you think of her. But I can't stop my heart from wanting what it wants. It wants you, Brannon. Always has. Always will." With her fists to her side, she walks away and I let her.
Title: Changing Lanes
Series: Highway 17 Series Book One
Author: Leaona Luxx
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 20, 2017 Photographer: Cassy Roop with Pink Ink Designs Cover Designed by: TE Black Designs
Change. It’s change and how well you handle it which defines a person.
Three times in my life, I have been faced with such changes. Once when I was fourteen. Again, at eighteen. And now again at twenty-eight.
Twice, she was there.
Ten years ago, I gave up everything, including her. At the time, it was the right thing to do, for both our sakes. Walking away from her isn’t what I wanted, it’s what had to be done.
Now, she’s here. People like me don’t always get second chances, this happens to be mine. That’s if she’ll have me. If she’ll accept why I left and the fact, she’ll always be second.
You see, I have a secret. It could change everything when she learns the truth. She may be the one walking away this time.
We’re about to find out.
Leaona, also known as Lea, lives with her husband, cat and two dogs near Myrtle Beach. She was born and raised in WV by her parents whom she adores before attending Marshall University. A small business owner and mother of three, she enjoys Carolina Panthers and Marshall University Football, reading, writing, gardening, crafts, NASCAR, TWD, hot rods, and surf fishing.
Leaona was inspired to write while she raised her family, never dreaming one day, she would be published. While loving all genres of books, Lea writes contemporary romance stories that are not your everyday love stories. Gritty and true to life, she draws from her life and loves to create her characters.
Leaona's debut novel will release June 7, 2016. Cherry Grove is the first in The Cove Series. She’s your everyday girl and lives to connect with her fans via social media. Leaona also doesn't mind dishing about her favorite authors and their books. Beach, life, and love.
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Title: Fear the Beard
Series: The Dixie Wardens Rejects MC Series #2
Author: Lani Lynn Vale
Genre: MC Romance
Tally is a twenty-year-old single mother struggling to finish nursing school. Has she made mistakes in life? Sure, but her daughter isn’t one of them. She works hard, she studies even harder, and she’s only a few weeks away from graduating. She’s living her life the best she knows how when she witnesses a near miss motorcycle accident between a car and a biker. A biker that happens to be the most talked about teacher at her college. The moment she meets those startling blue, narrowly-escaped-death eyes, she realizes quickly that life as she knows it has changed. No longer will she be content to let life pass her by, even if it puts everything she’s worked so hard for in jeopardy. *** Tommy is a highly skilled doctor. A teacher. A veteran. A fully-patched member of The Dixie Wardens MC. He’s lonely, but also set in his ways. What will it take for this man to accept that he needs to make some changes in his life? Apparently, it’ll take a guy in a truck, who’s preoccupied with his phone rather than focused on the road, nearly plowing into him on his bike at seventy miles per hour. Oh, and a twenty-something year old nursing student witnessing the entire thing from only a few feet away. It only takes a second, a single heartbeat in time, as he looks into her worry-filled eyes to realize that he’d give anything for a single night with her. He may lose his job in the process, but after that one incredible night turns into an amazing weekend, he knows it’s worth the risk for the promise of her forever.
“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, your first clinical in the ER might be somewhat overwhelming. That’s to be expected. However, over time you will learn the ropes, find your stride, and realize that it isn’t some big scary place that will swallow you alive.” Dr. Tommy—I refused to call him Dr. Bones anymore—continued.
I started doodling on my paper, drawing curls and swirls around mine and Tallulah’s names.
I’d just made a fourth star when a large tanned hand came and snatched the pen out of my hand.
“I can see now why your pen ran out of ink.” Dr. Tommy stared down at me with barely restrained impatience.
My face flushed.
If it were possible to sink into the floor in completely embarrassment, I would’ve done it. Right then and there.
Jesus Christ.
“I think you should see me after class.” He murmured.
My brows furrowed.
I hadn’t done anything wrong.
Looking over to Hadley, she returned a sympathetic smile before turning her head down to her own work.
“Okay.” I finally said. “I’ll see you after class.”
He nodded once, but kept his pen.
Irrational anger followed me throughout the rest of class, and by the time that it ended, I was beside myself.
“Do you want me to wait?” Hadley asked.
I shook my head.
“No.” I snapped. “I have to go to work after this anyway. I just hope he doesn’t make me late.”
Hadley packed her book into her bag, gave me a worried look, and then left without another word.
I stayed in my seat once my bag was packed, waiting to see what Dr. McAsshole had to say.
Once the last person escaped, he stopped erasing the board, (and yes, I was admiring his ass if you were wondering) he turned and crossed his thick, muscular arms over his chest.
“The other teachers give you glowing recommendations.” He started saying.
I licked my lips.
“Uh, thank you?”
I didn’t know what to say, nor where he was going with this.
“I wanted you to understand that I won’t tolerate this kind of behavior when I have you in my ER.”
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
“Uhhhh,” I started to say, but he interrupted me.
“You’ll be starting on your nurse internship next week. You’ll be there two days out of the week, twelve hour shifts, and always under me or Dr. Wild.”
I blinked some more.
“I…I got it?” I finally was able to get out.
He nodded his head.
“Though I expect that has more to do with who your mother is than whether you are actually qualified or skilled enough to be there.”
My mouth dropped open in affront.
“Oh, I assure you that I am skilled and qualified enough to be there.” My back straightened. “Is that all?”
I could’ve sworn I saw his lips twitch at my show of anger, but no other signs were apparent.
“Yes, that’ll be all.”
I nodded and stood, throwing my bag on my shoulder and practically stomping toward the door.
He stopped me, though, the moment I was about to exit fully.
“Thank you.”
I froze, and turned.
“For what?” I asked stiffly.
“For not running over me this morning. Thank you for paying attention.”
I didn’t bother to answer him.
Otherwise I might’ve said that I now wished that I hadn’t been paying attention.
Mother fucker.
Who did he think he was?
My mother wouldn’t stoop so low as to get her daughter a job…would she?
Title: Beard Mode
Series: The Dixie Wardens Rejects MC Series #1
Genre: MC Romance
Aaron don’t ever call me Fatbaby’ Sims is lucky to be alive. Or at least that is what everyone keeps telling him. He doesn’t feel lucky, though.
He’s scarred, has more than a little bit of a bad attitude, and there isn’t a single day that goes by that he doesn’t wish his wife would’ve just finished off the job.
After being denied his old position at the fire department, he leaves, and doesn’t look back. He heads straight to Alabama and into the semi-welcoming arms of The Dixie Wardens MC. There he becomes a part of a brotherhood that forces him to get back in the land of the living.
---
Imogen is a smart girl. A girl who doesn’t always make the best decisions.
Her heart is in the right place when she walks into that prison, but it doesn’t take long for her to realize that her heart shouldn’t have had any say so in the matter. Especially when one wrong move lands her in the arms of a scarred man that looks frightening enough to scare any sane woman away.
Immediately enthralled by the angry man, she tries to get closer to him. But the harder she tries to get to know him, the further he pushes her away.
---
The only thing Aaron wanted to do after his now ex-wife was sent to jail was escape. Escape the awful memories. The pity-filled eyes. The curious glances.
He does a damn fine job at ensuring he draws as little as attention as possible, but then that annoying woman with her startling blue eyes starts hammering away at his resolve. Makes him feel when he doesn’t want to feel.
Imogen comes into his life and carves out a place for herself, obliterating his defenses one heated kiss at a time.
It doesn’t take long, and he realizes he’s in deep. Too deep to ever want to come out.
Imogen will know what it’s like to be loved by a reject.
I’m a married mother of three. My kids are all under 5, so I can assure you that they are a handful. I’ve been with my paramedic husband now for ten years, and we’ve produced three offspring that are nothing like us. I live in the greatest state in the world, Texas.
Title: Savage Savior
Series: Savage People Book 3
Author: Charleigh Rose
Genre: Dark Erotic Romance Standalone
“Um. There are no words. None. Because holy crap was that book everything I thought it would be and more.” - Tongan Book Lover “OMFG Charleigh Rose you guys are some dirty bitches! I FLOVE Carter!!!! He is MINE I don't care what anyone says.” - Reader Review “I loved this book couldn't put it down,was so worth the wait.” - Reader Review
Love. It's a strange thing, isn't it? It can make you. Break you. Take you to places you've never been before. I know what they say about him. What he does for the Irish mafia in New York. But the thing is, love is blind. It binds. And now, we're bound for life.
Charleigh Rose is a secret duo of romance authors who teamed up for the sake of fun, sexy smut. Our philosophy: 1. Our heroes should always be so alpha, you won't be able to read them in public.
2. Heroines will always be sassy, strong and take zero sh*t from their men.
3. Taboo, dark, twisted, weird, bizarre and original. We won't give you what you've already seen a million times before.
4. The sex will be explicit, hot, smutty, and completely insane. Make sure your door is locked and you have a toy around when you read us. We're dedicated to fulfilling your fantasies and to having fun with each other. We created this pen name so we can play around with our readers and each other (naughty naughty). Buckle up and join the ride!
Series: Finder's Keepers
Titles: Shocking Finds & Southern Discoveries
Author: Tracey Clark
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
An act of rebellion, Marin doesn’t think that running into the new store in town will hurt anything. Her aunt will never know… right? One car wreck later, her aunt is hospitalized, Marin is forced to spend her twenty-first birthday fighting for her life, and magic – the very thing her aunt has always sworn to be for fools – is real. And so is the irresistible Fae dedicated to Marin’s protection.
Kyland has searched Earth-side and all the other realms, looking for a missing Fae child. A child his Queen prophesied would be able to one day save the Fae people from the Danshue, as the evil Fae threat tries to overwhelm the entire Supernatural Community. A child that would know nothing of her blocked gifts, or her Fae heritage waiting to be claimed. A child that has grown into a curvy, delicious morsel he would love to taste
Together Marin and Kyland will fight Fae assassins, overcome betrayals, and if they’re lucky … they will find the Danshue responsible for their plight. That’s if Marin doesn’t shock him to death with her erratic new gift, and her out of control emotions.
Title: Shocking Finds
Series: Finder's Keepers Novel #1
Author: Tracey Clark
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
Release Date: Available Now $0.99
Marin needed answers. Like why had they been targeted? The parking lot hadn’t exactly been lacking for vehicular violence victim contenders. There had been a group of at least four women, standing by their cars, chatting. If there was a target more deserving of vehicular rage, it had definitely been that group of women. They had finished shopping, and courtesy demanded that their parking spots were to be relinquished as soon as possible. Why not them?
The man—and Marin was only guessing that the driver was a man—had bypassed those without parking lot etiquette and zeroed in on Lindal. If she had continued her slow progress through the parking lot, would Marin be in this horrible room with its beeping monitors and bleached air instead of Lindal.
Staring down at her aunt’s unmoving form, Marin tried to find a place to rest her hand. She needed to touch her. She needed to know that the only person willing to take her in, after the death of her mother, was really here and still alive.
“They will find him, Lindal. He won't get away with this,” Marin made her vow as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb Lindal's recovery.
Glancing up to keep tears from falling from her eyes, Marin noticed something swinging off of Lindal's oxygen line. “What the...” It looked like a Barbie doll with wings, perhaps six inches tall. The odd little creature wore a loin cloth and sported some overly obvious male attributes. Was it wrong to be checking out the abs of someone no larger than a child’s toy?
His arms tugged and his muscles bunched as he attempted to make a knot in Lindal's oxygen line. His silver skin tone went beautifully with his tri-colored wings— a mix of light purple, maroon, and gold. The little man didn't seem to realize that Marin was staring at him.
“Stop,” Marin shouted. Dammit, this was a hospital. She needed to lower her voice. She also needed to go upstairs to the psych ward. Head trauma, shock, or hallucinations¼ something wasn’t right. If she told Lindal about this, her aunt would call her every kind of fool.
Hallucination or not, she grabbed the little man by the wings, pulled him from Lindal’s oxygen line, and tried to speak more calmly. “What do you think you’re doing?”
She finally had her figment’s attention. A striking, though small, pair of lavender eyes glared at her through overly long sandy brown bangs. On closer inspection, she could see that his hair was actually multicolored. It seemed to go from crystal white sand to bronzed gold.
“Well, answer me. What do you think you're doing?”
“Waiting for you, of course.”
“What are you?” She was losing it. The buzzing in her temples was increasing. And she was now speaking to a figment of her imagination. Yep, she needed to be medicated.
The creature put its tiny fists on narrow hips. “A Sprite, of course. Don't you know anything? I have my work cut out for me.” Now she was being insulted by her imagination. Great.
“Nope. Too Much,” Marin said and tossed the little man with wings out of the hospital window. She needed coffee. Either that or a large dose of Thorazine. Maybe both.
As far as Marin knew, Makayla thought of her as a waste of space, so why the invite to lunch? Curiosity killed the cat… Marin just hopes that this time curiosity doesn’t kill the Finder. Could Makayla be a Fae assassin hiding in bitchy-southern-bell clothing?
Makayla can’t believe that her life has been reduced to this… asking the flighty office girl for help. Could Marin really be capable of working the decades old Find that has plagued Makayla for most of her life? With her goal within reach, she will take a chance on Marin, avoiding all distractions. Especially the overwhelmingly delicious stranger begging for her attention.
Quaidin Lari wants to get in, finish his mission, and get out. Anything to get back to Out-realm and as far from Earth-side Kentucky as possible. His band of mercenaries – the Fianna – have one goal… to locate Marin, the highly sought after Fae Princess, and see to her protection. As the Incubus on the squad, he needs to focus on persuasion and manipulation.
The mission was a walk in the park… until her. Quaidin never saw Makayla coming. A woman with enough sexual allure to bring him to his knees…
Title: Southern Discoveries
Series: Finder's Keepers Novel #2
Author: Tracey Clark
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Release Date: Available Now
Chapter One
The portal tossed Quaidin Lari in every direction imaginable. His head was spinning, his stomach about to evict all of its contents. Colors flew by in shades of burnt green and browns so dark they might as well have been considered black.
He could have handled the depressing color scheme and the runaway rollercoaster ride, but the shots of yellow and brightest white being flashed before his eyes was a different story. Quaidin hated rogue portals. The destabilized jump from one place, or realm, to another was bad enough, but watching the out of control magic show always got to him. His body spinning out of control, the lights flashed from the darkness of an underground hideaway, to surface of the sun bright…
Squeezing his eyes shut, Quaidin prayed to the Fae Goddess - Lac Mar - that the ride would soon end. If he threw up, he wanted to avoid rolling around in his vomit.
Gritting his teeth, Quaidin refused to show such weakness.
He was one of the Fianna - the fierce Fae mercenary troops - in charge of taking over the job of policing the Fae community. After the Sentinels went missing, the Fianna reformed after centuries of being unneeded.
The past two decades had changed their quiet lives. The hidden Fianna had gone from training for the worst to fighting on the front lines. The Sentinels were all but gone and the Danshue - the evil Fae – were growing in number every day.
Quaidin threw his hand over his mouth. Hurling his guts up and praying to the Lac Mar because of an out of control ride through a rogue portal wouldn’t look very reassuring to those depending on the Fianna for safety. Besides, he was in charge of persuasion for his squad.
Sure, he had all the allure of his Incubus heritage, but no one looked at the deathly ill and thought, I want to tell this man all my secrets.
Just when he thought that Fate had decided to turn a simple portal jump into a lifetime of confusion and punishment, Quaidin stumbled across solid ground, immediately falling to his knees. He couldn’t see straight, yet, but knew that he wanted to go back home to Out-realm immediately. Every time he came Earth-side, the experience cemented how much he hated the place. “Please tell me I managed to land in a patch of soft, foul-smelling mud somewhere in Out-realm. Not Earth-side Kentucky.”
No one answered.
Still, Quaidin refused to open his eyes. His knees were firmly planted on solid ground, but his hands had managed to find something disgusting.
Sitting up, his arse propped up on his feet, he did his best not to inhale. Eyes tightly closed, Quaidin started flinging and flicking his hands to dislodge the substance clinging to his skin.
His squad mates all started screaming at once.
“Son of a-”
“Dammit, Quaidin.”
“You lousy-”
“Stop that, you-”
Grinning like a devil dog, Quaidin cracked opened his eyelids. Looking around at Casfin, Vloran, Zander, and Yolland he cut them all off. “We can all wear this muck together.”
Casfin, one of the most laid back and composed Captains the Fianna mercenaries had ever seen, looked like he was on the verge of homicide. Stripping off his clothes without a word, Casfin stalked off to a nearby pond. One by one, the others decided to follow.
Vloran was last to add his clothes to the growing pile. It wasn’t that the man was slower than the others. For a nearly eight-foot mountain of a Fae, he could move quite swiftly when he wanted to. When he wanted to, being the key phrase.
Quaidin pushed himself up from the ground as Vloran turned to leave.
“What is the big deal? A little dirt never hurt anyone.”
Vloran glared over his shoulder, and said, “I believe the people Earth-side call what you landed in a cow-patty.” Seeing the, no doubt, confused look on Quaidin’s face, Vloran turned away in disgust. “Cow shit, man. You landed in cow shit.”
More than ready to go home, Quaidin ripped off his uniform and threw them on the burnable heap of mission clothing. Moving for the water, he barked, “I hate this place.”
Quaidin eyed the large beast lazily munching on the grass growing along the bank of the small pond. Floating in the middle of the water, he felt safe in shooting hate filled stares at the cow.
Suffocating in heat and honeysuckle, he wanted to say the hell with the mission and head home. How could it be so hot? Summers on Earth-side wouldn’t begin for another week, maybe two weeks. They needed to locate the new Fae Princess and slip back through a portal to Out-realm before the heat level reached the nineties, or Lac Mar forbid, the hundreds.
“Time to move out. Our ride should be here any minute.” Casfin dropped Quaidin’s satchel on the bank and walked off.
The cow crept suspiciously toward his satchel, spurring Quaidin to swim with increasing strokes for the edge of the pond. Keeping one eye on the animal, he pulled his body out of the water and started jerking his spare uniform out.
Vloran moseyed over – the man was the definition of relaxed – and tossed him a canteen of water.
“Thanks man.” Quaidin took a long pull of the slightly warm liquid. “Is the portal shut down?”
The portal they had just used to get to Earth-side was a rogue portal. Their squad was in charge of shutting it down. And instead of taking care of the matter while they were still in Out-realm, they had used it to travel closer to the Princess and their goal. The already captured Danshue responsible for the rogue portal would be their cover until they had a feel for the situation and the people surrounding the new Fae princess.
The Danshue, or evil Fae, were growing in number and they all had it out for Princess de Platadreki. They needed to secure the Princess and eliminate all threats along the way.
“Yolland and Zander are taking care of it. The portal was hastily opened, but that just means it will be harder to close. It looks like someone just ripped open a hole in reality. Some of the spells used to open it need to be reinforced so that the entire thing does not explode as they attempt to close the link.” Vloran crouched down, his arms planted on his knees. His eyes continually quartered the area, watching the trees, the field, the nearby gravel road, and even the sky.
Pants on and shoes laced up, Quaidin checked the ground for any surprises before flopping down beside Vloran. “Casfin could close it in no time.”
Plucking a piece of grass to roll between his fingers, Vloran looked back at Yolland and Zander. “Guess the Captain thinks they need the practice. Would have done it himself otherwise.”
Quaidin took another swallow of warm water, refusing to even unpack his shirt until the last minute. He pinched a few strands of his light brown hair between his fingers and pulled the wavy mass forward. Squinting his eyes, he tried to determine if the missing blonde streaks were covered in mystery pond scum or if they were just heavy with water. He was about to ask Vloran what he thought when a large SUV came into sight, slowly driving down the one lane road at the edge of the field. “Looks like our ride has arrived. Maybe you and Casfin can stick your heads out of your windows,” Quaidin suggested.
It was no more than the truth. Vloran had to be nearing the eight-foot mark, and their dear Captain looked to be at least a head taller than that. Quaidin didn’t know a lot about Earth-side, always wishing to keep his visits short, but Humans rarely made it to seven feet. They definitely didn’t make cars to accommodate small giants.
It was a good thing that Humans and Norms – those Fae born without magic – were unable to see anything placed under a glamor. Otherwise, Vloran and Casfin would have started a riot. What with Vloran’s silver skin tone and the light blue dusting on Casfin’s otherwise pale flesh. It was hard to mistake them for normal.
“Come on funny guy. With the mood Casfin is in, he may just leave your ass if you make him wait.”
Shaking his head, Quaidin jumped to his feet, more than ready to get started. More than ready to secure the Princess and get the hell out of dodge.
Chapter Two
All joking aside, Quaidin had feared that the SUV would be too small to hold all five of his squad, plus the driver. Other than Yolland, they were all good sized men with wide muscular shoulders.
Quaidin rolled down his window and allowed his arm and shoulder to hang out. They may have fit in the vehicle, but that didn’t make the arrangement comfortable. Yolland and Zander were stuffed in the back with all of their satchels, both the larger equipment satchels and the smaller ones for potions. Vloran had to lean out of the window on his side of the middle seat, while Casfin had the front-passenger seat reclined to the point that his head rested in Quaidin’s lap, making the middle seat feel even smaller. Quaidin feared he would lose feeling in his legs if the ride took much longer.
As soon as possible, they needed to acquire a few vehicles with hidden enlargement spells placed on them. It was either that or expect Vloran and the Captain to start riding strapped to the top.
Their driver, a guy named Cedric, seemed to bounce in his seat to music that only he could hear. “So… what are you guys here for? You’re Fianna troops, right? You guys are always on a mission.”
Quaidin did his best not to laugh at the pup’s rapid-fire excitement. Cedric couldn’t be more than a few decades old. Once Cedric reached his two-hundred-fiftieth year, things would look a little differently. The hidden mercenary troops of the Fianna would lose their allure once he had that many years weighing on his shoulders.
Casfin didn’t look at the pup as he answered, “We are on the trail of a Danshue. One responsible for three kidnappings.”
That was the party line. They were under strict orders to keep the true details of their mission under wraps. The fewer people that knew, the fewer problems they would have to deal with while carrying out their mission to protect the Princess.
Cedric glanced at Casfin, turning most of his body to make eye contact, and freaking Quaidin out in the process. “You came to the right place. Anton has some of the best Finders to be found in all the realms.”
Quaidin felt his buddies stop breathing for a moment, each of them glancing away from the pup. Cedric’s shoulders started to visibly tense up, his body moving to glance in Casfin’s direction again.
Clearing his throat, Quaidin prepared to do what he did best. Persuade and distract. “That is true, but be a good sport and keep the knowledge to yourself. We need the public to see us as strong. Especially with the larger than average number of Danshue coming out of the woodwork. If we are seen as unable to Find our prey without traveling to another realm to ask for help, there could be panic. Personally, I would like your take on the information we have managed to gather so far.” Giving a self-deprecating laugh, he looked into the rearview mirror, meeting Cedric’s gaze, and gave a small shrug.
Cedric didn’t revert back to his bouncing excitement but at least the tension left his shoulders. “If the case is that difficult, you may want to ask Anton to get the Princess to take a look.”
Casfin’s seat managed to lay back even further, but Quaidin didn’t need the warning. “Is she better at Finding than you or your boss? Perhaps we should wait and see if your boss can help, before we bother the Princess.”
Cedric went back to speaking a million miles a minute, while moving around in the driver’s seat like a jumping bean. But at least, Casfin pulled his seat up an inch or two, allowing blessed circulation to return to Quaidin’s legs.
Listening to the pup chatter about anything and everything, Quaidin allowed his eyes to scan the passing streets. Now they just needed to get past Anton and they were free to go about their business in secret. Just the way they liked it.
Anton Slade watched his office fill up with mercenaries. Man did he hate dealing with the second rate police force. He could feel their power radiating from their pores, where the Sentinels would have been hiding their strength. But power alone wasn’t enough to enforce Queen’s Law.
Normally, Anton wouldn’t be able to guess a Fae’s parentage, at least not on the first meeting. But the Lower Fae tended to wear their genetics on their skin. The Fianna had little, if any, Elder Fae in their bloodlines.
One glance and Anton could see that he was dealing with Vloran, a slow moving Rock Fae; Yolland, a Dryad and Captain Casfin, an Ogre – two species best known for being pacifists; and Quaidin, a damn Incubus. Zander was the only unknown, with his midnight skin and light brown hair, leaving Anton at a loss until he noticed that the man had a tendency to fade into the background. Anton had to search for Zander more than once, which meant that he was most likely a Shadow Fae.
Anton shook his head. This was the crackpot team sent to protect the Princess? That girl obviously had some enemies in high places. No matter what the Fianna claimed, he would be stupid to believe that they weren’t interested in the new royal. “Gentlemen, please, have a seat.” Anton moved to shut his office door as his visitors got comfortable in the seating area. Though comfortable was a bit of a stretch with Vloran and Casfin making the couch look like a love seat.
He watched Cedric’s hands as he approached the seated Fianna troops. Cedric signed discreetly by his hip. Anton wanted to throw them all out as he read the message loud and clear. The Fianna were holding something back. And there was only one group he could think of that would send these men on a mission to another realm.
“Let us get straight to the point, gentlemen. What do you want with the Princess?” Anton settled in the last remaining chair.
The men froze, all but Quaidin. He sat back in a relaxed position, his hands waving through the air as he met Anton’s eyes with his earnest expression. “Oh course, we would be honored to meet the Princess. If there is time that is. But our main goal is to locate and stop the Danshue attacking our children. I am sure the Princess is very busy, Antonius.”
“Please, call me Anton. And say what you will, but there is a large number of people that would be displeased if you decided to upset the Princess on behalf of the Elders. No matter how well-meaning their intentions are, of course.”
“As you say, but we-” Quaidin’s words stopped short as the door to Anton’s office flew open.
Makayla LaPine sauntered into the room, ignoring his guests. “Hey, Sugar… since when do ya shut your office door? For any-thang? Ya wouldn’t be workin’ yourself to hard, now would ya?”
This was the Makayla Anton was used to dealing with. It was almost a relief not to be forced to watch hunched shoulders that lived to be thrown back, or shuffled feet that were more at home strutting across a room as if Makayla owned the place, and everyone in it. Hair tossing and swinging hips… this was the Makayla he knew. “Can I help you with something, Makayla?”
“Sorry, hon. I thought ya were holdin’ one o’ your private times with our little Marin.” Anton wanted to growl at the Fianna as each man gawked at him, most with raised eyebrows, but Makayla wasn’t finished. “I know ya want to personally help the girl out, but some fokes are startin’ to get the wrong impression from all dat closed door attention she’s been gettin’. I wouldn’t want people to start talkin’ about the poor thang.”
Of course not. If someone else was spreading the gossip, what would Makayla do for fun? “Then I guess it is a good thing that you have Marin’s best interest at heart. For now, be a dear, and show these men to the empty office over in the west wing. All but Quaidin, here. I think that I can get just as much information from one man as I can five.”
Quaidin smirked. “That sounds wonderful. Then we can also discuss the fact that your employees are running around on a first name basis with the-”
Anton all but shouted, cutting Quaidin off. “The best Finders to be found in all of the world.” Clearing his throat, Anton ran a hand over his perfectly placed tie. Lowering his voice, he said, “I am sure that you have many questions about Finder’s Keepers and its employees.”
Anton ground his teeth and waited. Was the man trying to break the Queen’s Law, bringing up Fae secrets in front of an unknown? Every Fae knew that unknowns were dangerous, and if you weren’t 100% sure that someone knew about the Fae already, they were an unknown. Makayla had worked for him for years, but as far as he knew she was Human with only the enhanced senses that most were born with. Better hearing or sight didn’t make her Fae.
Anton could see the lust in Quaidin’s eyes as his gaze followed Makayla’s swaying hips out of the room. She waited for the men to exit, before turning back to grab the doorknob. “I’ll get these fokes settled right quick, but then I’ll be needin’ ta speak with Marin. If ya would be so kind an’ point me in her direction.”
Anton flinched at her increased southern twang, but quickly threw Marin to the wolves. “I believe she is working from home today.”
Makayla shot him a withering glare and whipped out of the room, slamming the door on her way. Her muttered, “Daggon good fer nuthin’ pole cat,” reaching his sensitive ears as she went. Anton made a mental note to warn Marin that Makayla was looking for her, and to look up southern uses for the phrase pole cat. For the moment he turned to face a more pressing issue.
Moving smoothly to his feet, Anton walked around his desk and took his seat. Getting comfortable, he waited for Cedric and Quaidin to swallow their laughter and follow. Makayla was a disruptive pain but she was damn good at her job. Not to mention the number of men that would follow her in off the street and pay top dollar for a Find they didn’t really need, just for the chance to watch her walk across a room.
Cedric immediately moved over and took one of the guest chairs facing Anton’s desk, but Quaidin took his time. The man had a way of working his masculine frame that put all of Makayla’s sexual moves to shame. His chocolate eyes and copper tan seemed to glow in the low lighting of the office table lamps. Anton smirked, thinking that the man would be hard to look at if he continued to glow like that. He didn’t know how Norms and Humans managed to miss some of the things the Fae could do.
Anton knew what was happening. It was a part of the Incubus’s innate magic; a shine that drew and held the eyes of their prey. “Cut the light show.” The sexual energy that Quaidin could pull from simple attraction could help to make his words more persuasive.
“My apologies. It is as natural as breathing. My power is always reaching out, seeking to draw in energy that could be the difference between life and death in a fight.”
Anton didn’t know if he believed that. Oh, he knew that an Incubus’s power was always hungry, ready to light a fire to passion. Even the male appreciation that usually comes across as envy when another man sees someone with a stronger jaw, more muscles, or attention from the female that they desire. “If you are old enough to be one of the Fianna, you are old enough to control you gifts. I know that the Fianna do not abide by the two-hundred-fifty-years rule, that you could be as young as fifty and still be inducted into their numbers, but fifty years is still old enough to learn control.”
Quaidin was about to sit. He froze, hovering over the cushion before flashing a brilliant smile. “I see you know more about the Fianna than most, but crossing over to Earth-side took a lot of energy. Especially once the Captain decided that we should followed our Danshue quarry through a rogue portal, so that we could stay on his trail and shut down the portal from this side.”
“And what is so important that your innate gifts are breaching your control?” Anton watched Quaidin, waiting for any sign of misdirection, but the harder he looked the more he saw a Male-Makayla. He wanted the Fianna out of his building and on their way back to Out-realm. He wanted them out of his hair.
Quaidin delivered his words without another misstep. No more pauses, no flinches, and he never avoided eye contact. Even Quaidin’s emotions were under control. It was maddening. The more believable Quaidin’s story became, the harder it was for Anton to trust him. “We need a favor. My squad used to contain a man that moved frequently through the realms, but he is … unavailable. A fight last month turned out poorly for us, leaving us a man short. We need someone that can move through Earth-side knowledgeably, but it needs to be someone that can keep their mouth shut. In the current climate, we need the supernatural community to believe that we are infallible. One of your Human employees would be best. Blind to the Supernatural world, they would be more likely to be unaware of the Supes around them, and will have never even heard the word Fianna.”
Anton thought it over. But no. That would be wrong. Sooo wrong. The more Anton thought about what he should do, and what he wanted to do, the harder it was to keep a grin off his lips. Clearing his throat, he did his best to look forbidding. “Fine. You can catch up with your squad and tell Makayla that she has been assigned to assist in your Find. Perhaps she will even be able to help you locate the Danshue you are tracking. But be careful not to break Queen’s Law. She knows nothing of the Fae, especially not that Marin is our lost Princess.”
Anton held his breath as Quaidin nodded and moved to leave the room. He waited for the office door to shut behind his unwanted guest before throwing his head back in laughter. Holding his side, he glanced at an all too quiet Cedric, his lips firmly shut. “What?”
Cedric cracked a smile, as he fought to keep from joining Anton’s mirth. “You do know that this could back fire.”
When Anton cocked his head to the side, Cedric finally allowed an evil grin to grow on his face. “What will you do if they become mates, instead of killing each other?”
Pulling out his cell phone, Anton shuddered as he called to tell Marin about Makayla. Glancing at Cedric, he simply said, “Then they will have to move to Out-realm, otherwise I will be forced to kill them both.”
There was no way that he could put up with two of Makayla. Not even the trickster God, Coyote, would be so cruel. At least Cedric would be spending the next few weeks working with the SBI, learning from Kennith and the other Supernatural Bureau of Intelligence agents. Anton didn’t want to deal with the other man’s delight should everything blow up in his face.
Quaidin made it to the squad’s appointed office and watched as the most glorious woman he had ever seen wrapped his squad members around her little finger. It was almost funny to watch as the normally taciturn Vloran stood before Makayla’s raven haired perfection grinning like a loon.
He listened as Makayla pointed out all the different ways that Finder’s Keepers interacted with their clients, and what exactly it was to be a Finder.
“Boss man says to show y’all around, but seeins how he’s puttin’ y’all in one of our last restin’ spots, I’s assume ya know that Finders are responsible for all information pertainin’ to the cases ya work. We go after no account, good for nothin’ murders and scum when the officials come callin’. And those are details y’all need ta keep your peace about. Our clients mainly want Finds for lost items, nothing too strainin’.”
“Sure thing.” Vloran’s eyes looked a little glazed, his words coming even slower than usual. The woman was a walking, talking aphrodisiac.
Zander sat in the corner, nodding his head to every word out of Makayla’s mouth, while Yolland hummed a little every time she paused to take a breath. Not that the woman seemed to need much air.
“We take in all manner of cases. Should ya hear sump’n one of the others are workin’ on, Lord a-mercy, keep it to ya’self.”
Though truth be told, Quaidin had trouble understanding every other word out of her mouth, her accent getting thicker the longer she spoke. He assured himself that his lack of attention had nothing to do with a need to fall into her sky-blue eyes.
Cocking her hip to the side, she continued to point out all the lower level people working for Finder’s Keepers that were there to help a Finder complete their mission in a timely and thorough manner. “Seein’ how Finders are sum-times on da clock to get things done. We hafta have a comprehensive amount of information. Which reminds me. Y’all get yourselves settled in. I have a rascal office girl ta pin down.”
Makayla flipped her hair over her shoulder and turned to leave. Quaidin stood frozen, blocking the door. He found himself dumb struck as much as, or maybe even more so, than the others. How in the name of the Lower Reaches could one woman radiate so much sexual appeal and not be one of his kind? He would have known within seconds if Makayla was one of their rare Succubus. Their births were even rarer than those of the male Incubus children. So rare that their Elders demanded that the females be housed in Fae Boarding Schools, and then married off as soon as possible.
Crossing his arms, he looked to the ceiling. It was a callous decision on the part of their leaders. Quaidin had never figured out how the parents could allow it so easily, but he had to agree that it usually kept the girls safe. It was-
Quaidin’s thoughts scattered as the feel of delicate fingers danced across his chest. Having Makayla so close he realized that she stood a few inches taller than his own six-foot frame.
Glancing down, he followed the line of long, delicious, porcelain-skinned legs and noticed the four inch heels gracing her feet. Eyes flowing back up legs that he wanted to feel wrapped around his waist, he felt his heart begin to race.
“Hey, darling, ya mind scoochin’ over a bit,” she purred.
Clearing his throat, Quaidin did his best to pull his thoughts back to the matter at hand, but his mind had gone blank as he watched her pink little tongue peek out to wet her full, red lips. “Uh-huh.” He was pretty sure he needed to tell this vixen something, but nothing seemed more important that reaching up to see if her raven locks were as soft as they looked.
Makayla allowed him to tuck some of her waist length strands behind her ear. She placed her delicate hands on his hips. Quaidin could feel her maneuvering him up against the doorframe.
He should have been taking control of the situation but why bother.
Instead Quaidin closed his eyes as those lush red lips got closer to his own. His breathing accelerated to the point of heart attack territory. Her hands traveled up his sides and then slid away. Impatient to feel this mysterious woman’s lips on his, Quaidin leaned in to claim what he wanted. Only to snap erect as his squad mates burst into laughter.
Blinking his eyes open, Quaidin whipped around to watch the curvy hips of his dream woman swinging from side to side as she disappeared around the corner. He had just been bested by the Pied Piper of Horney Men. Blushing scarlet, Quaidin barked, “Oh, shut it. Like you guys were doing any better resisting her.”
Casfin held his side, doing his best to speak through his wheezing laughter. “But you are our seduction expert.”
Working with that woman was going to kill him. Quaidin ran his fingers through his hair, wanting badly to rip out a few of the brown and blonde strands. Either Earth-side had developed its own version of a Succubus or he was losing his Incubus powers. “I really do hate this place.”
Quaidin stepped into the hallway, mumbling and fisting his hands the entire way.
“Where are you going?” Casfin yelled after him.
If anyone else had tried to stop him, Quaidin would have ignored them. Falling back on decades of training, he stopped and turned to his Captain. “Anton said that we would be working with Makayla. So I plan to work with her.”
“You mean you plan to follow her.” Casfin leaned in the doorway of their temporary office space, his arms crossed and a smirk permanently affixed to his face.
Yolland sauntered up behind Casfin, grinning like a fool. “Perhaps our Lover Fae enjoys making a fool of himself. Why else chase after the one woman in all the realms that appears to be able to resist his charms?” Yolland threw his head back, roaring with laughter.
Casfin ignored the other man and walked out into the hallway. “So what is your plan? Or is Yolland right?”
Quaidin scrubbed his hands over his face and started to pace. “I admit that getting to the bottom of that woman’s power over men is high on my to-do list. But we can also use her to get closer to the Princess. Using Anton would be a mistake, but Makayla is going to meet with her. She is even on a first name basis with Princess de Platadreki. I can follow from a discreet distance, taking note of all Humans, Norms, and Fae that they interact with.”
Casfin was shaking his head, but it was a still chuckling Yolland that said, “I am pretty sure that everyone calls the Princess by her first name. I have heard a number of her co-workers talking about her, and they always call her Marin. I overheard a group of the SBI agents planning to drop by so they could spend time in the Princess’s gardens. Not sure why, but it sounded quite casual.”
“Fine. We could use one of the others.” Quaidin shook his head. “No. I have to learn more about Makayla. It has to be her.”
Zander shimmered into view, stepping out of the shadows to stand by Casfin, blocking Yolland’s smaller frame. “If her power is greater than yours, things could go poorly for you. Perhaps your powers are useless when Earth-side.”
Quaidin heard the clip of high heels and turned to watch as a blonde in a three-piece suit stamped down the hallway, her eyes glued to the paperwork in her hands. Glancing in his direction, she headed his way but refocused on her paperwork.
Without paying him any attention, Miss Prim and Proper started reading from a list of restrictions. Keep the Fae secret, watch out for hidden Danshue traps, any magic exposed to Humans or Norms was to be reported to the SBI immediately… and on, and on.
Quaidin felt like throwing something, stomping his foot, or maybe he should just run back to Out-realm and look for a new line of work.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped up to the woman. Lightly touching her on the shoulder, Quaidin whispered, “Not to worry. We are acquainted with the Queen’s Laws.” He watched as her paper-laden arms lowered and her glazed eyes came up to his.
As the buttoned down, picture of professional women everywhere smiled up at him and one of her hands moved to release her perfectly coiffed hair, Quaidin removed his hand from her shoulder and took a huge step back. It looked like his powers were working just fine. “Alright then, I need to dash.”
Quaidin ignored the barks of laughter following him down the hallway as he rushed off to track down Makayla. He may have used a little too much of his gift on the office girl, but how else was he supposed to know what to expect of the females of Earth-side.
Gritting his teeth, he vowed that he would get the upper hand with Makayla if it killed him.
I am a country-twang gal from the bluegrass state. Kentucky is a hot bed of horses, cave systems, and whiskey. And I love all three. With my pugs and bossy kitty cat, I spend my days writing and working social media. I write with the help of the voices pushing me to create worlds for them to live in. Fantasy Romance, Contemporary Romance, and eventually some cowboys (because cowboys live in a group all their own, yummmm)… These are the genres that I love best. Oil paints, crafts, dealing with Multiple Sclerosis, and writing into the dead of night… this I my life!!!
Title: The Storm and the Darkness
Series: The House of Crimson and Clover Series Prequel
Author: Sarah M. Cradit
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 2015
Ana Deschanel made a terrible mistake. The only chance of protecting the other people involved is to flee New Orleans, the only home she has ever known, for the quiet solitude of Summer Island.
Summer Island, Maine (population 202) is not the tranquil escape Ana imagined. The locals are distant and cold, especially her neighbor, the reclusive veterinarian Jonathan St. Andrews. Her only lifeline is the kind but odd caretaker, Alex Whitman. Showing up at all the right moments, he warns her she is completely unprepared for a Maine winter. As the first seasonal storm approaches to whispers of an island shutdown, Ana realizes she may soon be cut off from the rest of the world.
After a surprising encounter with Jonathan’s brother, Finn, Ana finds herself braving the storm to return something to him. Unprepared for the Maine storm, she slips and falls onto the jagged rocks along the shore. The St. Andrews brothers find her in the nick of time, but she remains unconscious. As the storm worsens, the St. Andrews brothers learn there are other, more sinister forces at work closer than they ever imagined.
With no help from the outside world, they must find a way to protect themselves from both the storm, and the growing darkness that looms across the island.
Sarah is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Paranormal Southern Gothic series, The House of Crimson & Clover, born of her combined passion for New Orleans, family sagas, and the mysterious complexity of human nature. Her work has been described as rich, emotive, and highly dimensional.
An unabashed geek, Sarah enjoys studying subjects like the Plantagenet and Ptolemaic dynasties, and settling debates on provocative Tolkien topics such as why the Great Eagles are not Gandalf's personal taxi service. Passionate about travel, Sarah has visited over twenty countries collecting sparks of inspiration (though New Orleans is where her heart rests). She's a self-professed expert at crafting original songs to sing to her very patient pets, and a seasoned professional at finding ways to humiliate herself (bonus points if it happens in public). When at home in Oregon, her husband and best friend, James, is very kind about indulging her love of fast German cars and expensive lattes.
Title: A Gypsyâs Kiss
Author: Susan Griscom
Genre: NA Sports, Supernatural Romance
Editor: Michelle Olson
Cover Designer: The Perfect Pear Cover Design
Blurb:
2016 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Silver Metal Winner
There was no denying his remarkable skill with a hockey stick,
But it was his talents off the ice that caught Breena's eye.
Breena Cassidy
Cursed with what could be one of the worst supernatural abilities imaginable, Breena has never had the luxury of falling in love. Hell, she's never even held a guy's hand. At only twenty-two years old, she's just about given up on the whole love thing. After all, when you can see twelve hours of someone's future by a simple touch, and they, in turn, can see what you see, well... relationships are sort of out of the question. Her gigs performing psychic readings at parties, and the occasional one-on-one private appointment are just about Breena's only connection with people. No matter how much she might wish otherwise.
Hawk Covington
Hawk's hard body and skill have earned him a starting position on the Pioneer's college hockey team. But it's not his talent with a hockey stick that's the most remarkable. His gorgeous two-colored eyes not only draw the attention of every female on campus, they also allow him to track people and objects. But when he suddenly finds himself stalked by a stranger, he seeks out the help of the rumored, "campus gypsy" for help.
Despite his vow to stay single and play as many college women as he can while the fun lasts, Hawk can't ignore his attraction to the lovely and spirited Breena. And she can't get the hunky star hockey player out of her mind once a single touch of his hand reveals something utterly strange. Surrounded by mystery, they realize that fate has brought them together for a reason, but can they stay alive long enough to recognize the depth of their feelings for one another?
This is Breena's story. She was a child in all three books of Whisper Cape. She is now grown up with a story of her own, but you won't find any spoilers to Whisper Cape in A Gypsy's Kiss. 18+ due to adult situations.
Susan Griscom writes paranormal and contemporary romance. She's hooked on sexy romances and is a huge fan of superheroes and bad boys confronted with extraordinary forces of nature, powers, and abilities beyond the norm mixed with steamy romance, of course.
She loves those days when she gets to sit around in her sweat pants, doing nothing but writing emotionally charged stories about love and violence.
She lives in Northern California in wine country and one of her favorite weekend excursions is wine tasting with the love of her life. Together, she and her romantic husband have five great superhero kids and eight mini-superhero grand kids, so far.
Author Links:
Website: http://susangriscom.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanGriscom
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2efYV8l
Facebook personal: https://www.facebook.com/SMGriscom
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/SusanGriscom
Newsletter: http://www.susangriscom.com/newsletter.html
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2hIyPKK
For a Friday night, the visitors to the arenaâs ice rink seemed a bit sparse. That was just fine by me. It would afford me more opportunities to take Breena around the ice without having to dodge other novice skaters.
âI donât know about this, Hawk,â she said as I laced up her skates for her. Iâd rented her a pair of the rinkâs, no doubt dull and worn out figure skates, while I wore my own hockey skates. If she decided she liked skating after this, we could see about getting her a pair of her own someday. Listen to me, talking as if weâd made plans for a long and blissful future together. Maybe I needed to have my head examined. The life of a hockey player, on the road all the time, not much time for commitments to a relationship. That was another reason why Iâd never been in one. I could see it eventually, someday in the future with someone like Breena Cassidy, but for now Iâd keep it just friends. I did like the idea of discussing abilities with Breena though.
âYouâll be fine. I promise not to let you fall. Remember, I can see where youâre going before you even get there.â She gave me a strange look, and I hoped she hadnât taken that the wrong way. Her âcreepy stalker guyâ comment from last week surfaced to the front of my mind. âI mean, if youâre going to fall, Iâll know it ahead of time.â
âRight.â
âCome on, Gypsy.â I took her hand in mine. Was this awesome sensation going to happen every time we touched? The prospect of kissing Breena exploded in my mind, as well as a dozen other things Iâd like to do with her, and I had to check those thoughts before my jeans became too tight to skate.
I put my other hand around her waist and helped her onto the ice. She was a little shaky, and her left foot slid out from under her, but I held on tight and righted her before she could fall. Ice was hard and cold, and I didnât want her first experience skating to be a bad one. We made it around the rink three times without her falling. I could have held on to her waist for hours, but if I wanted her to learn to skate, sheâd need to learn to balance on her own. âIâm going to let go of your waist now.â
âNo!â
âItâs okay. I have your hand. And Iâm quick. Iâll catch you before you fall.â She skated along beside me while I held her hand. I showed her how to move her feet, and by the fifth time around the ice, she was doing it on her own. âAre you sure youâve never skated before?â
âPositive. Thatâs something I think I would remember.â
A slow song came on over the PA, and I grabbed her right hand with my left and snuck my right arm around her waist as I skated backward. We glided in time to the music, her skates mimicking mine as we danced around the ice as if we were in an old-time movie. I didnât want the song to stop, but when it did, I reluctantly let her go. We made our way around the rink several more times until Breena complained that her feet were getting sore. I had to give her credit for lasting as long as she had in those cheap, overused skates.
I helped her get her skates off and then took my own off. We stood at the same time, facing each other. A sparkle of ice gleamed on her cheek and I smoothed it away with my finger. Her plump, red lips beckoning me to kiss them, the urge too irresistible to deny. I leaned down and skimmed my mouth over hers. She didnât move. I wanted to taste this girl like Iâd never wanted anyone else before. I gently pressed my lips to hers again. Her lips parted, accepting. When our tongues met, the sensation screamed through every cell of my body. I almost lost control of myself in the middle of the arena. What was it that she did to me? Why did she make me feel this way? Whatever it was, I wanted more, and she moaned a little as I explored her mouth, taking in every nuance, every little sensation. I could tell kissing wasnât something she did very often. In fact, I thought maybe this was her first, considering she hadnât been able to have any skin contact with anyone before me without exposing her ability. I didnât want to stop, but I managed to pull away. I stared at her face, her eyes still closed, her lips still puckered. I waited anxiously for her reaction. Finally, she opened her eyes and smiled at me.
âHey, Gypsy,â I whispered and brushed away a loose strand of her hair. âWas that the first time youâve ever been kissed?â
âNo!â she blushed. âWell ⦠yes. I mean ⦠because of my ability, Iâve never been able to get that close to anyone before.â
An overwhelming influx of grief came over me as I thought about the lonely life sheâd had to live up until now, never being able to touch or be touched. So many emotions came from touch. Then I immediately felt like a heel. I didnât want to hurt this girl. I liked her. But kissing her had been the wrong thing to do. Particularly because sheâd never had the opportunity before. I may have just stepped into something I had a feeling required a whole lot more commitment than I intended. I wasnât looking for a relationship. Not the way she would want. âIâm sorry,â I said.
âDonât.â She turned away from me, but I got right back in her face. There was no way I was letting her walk away after that beautiful kiss. I liked this girl and wanted to get to know her. She was someone I could talk to. Someone I could share things with that I couldnât mention to other women. I may have rushed things a bit with the kiss, but damn, she turned me on.
âBreena, I didnât know. I didnât know it was your first time. Really.â
âI shouldnât have told you that, and I donât need your pity,â she said and walked away from me.
âDamn it, Breena. Wait!â I grabbed her by the arm. âBelieve me, pity is the last thing I want to give you.â
âWhat do you want from me, Hawk? Why did you come to me last week for a reading? Was I just some sort of experiment to you? To see if you could get the âweirdâ girl to succumb to your charms? Well, congratulations. Now let me go.â
âNo. I wonât let you go. Not until you understand. I came to you for help. Really. I honestly believe that someone is stalking me, and I thought you could help me figure out who it is. Especially since my own ability isnât helping me. But youâre so ⦠so damn beautiful. I couldnât help myself.â
She sighed and lowered her head as if in defeat. I let go of her arm and she turned toward the door.
I hurried up beside her. âAre you really mad?â
She continued walking, not saying anything.
âWhat? Now youâre not talking to me?â
She shoved the heavy glass door open and stepped out into the chilled night air. Inhaling, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. The lightweight jacket she had on was no match for the cold front swooping in. I went to put my arm around her, but she shrugged it off and headed toward her car. I guess she hadnât liked the kiss as much as I had. But man, it sure felt as if sheâd loved it.
âOkay. So, youâre not talking to me. I can handle that. I get it. But I still need your help, and Iâm not going to apologize for kissing you.â
She gave me a stern glance as she unlocked the car. She quickly got in behind the wheel, and I slipped into the passenger seat. She stuck the key in the ignition and started the engine. The car boomed with silence. I couldnât take it.
âFor the record, that was the first time Iâve ever kissed a gypsy.â
I caught the hint of a smile on her face as she backed out of the parking space.
Title: Intended for Bristol
Series: A Second Chances Novel
Author: L.P. Dover
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Cover Design by: Mae I Design and Photography
L. P. Dover’s tantalizing Second Chances series scores once again as the Carolina Cougars’ infamous bad boy takes a shot at seducing a driven career woman who’s supposed to be out of bounds.
Trying to live down his very public indiscretions, Carolina Cougars kicker Jaxon Reed feels like the most hated man in the NFL. Fans and teammates alike treat him with the disrespect he figures he deserves. Unfortunately for them, Jaxon’s no easy target. As payback, he sets his sights on the quarterback’s sister: a sultry brunette who’s curvy, confident, and sexy as hell. But what begins as a revenge fling turns into so much more—a lesson in humanity, and in love.
Bristol Thomas doesn’t have time for games, especially those played by her brother’s Neanderthal teammates. A talented interior designer with lofty goals, she doesn’t know the first thing about football, or Jaxon—except that he’s exactly the type of man she usually avoids. But when his deep laugh and deeper kisses break through her walls, she becomes the target of a fan who’s obsessed with Jaxon. Now she needs to know that Jaxon has her back . . . because he already has her heart.
“Deft plotting and a hair-raising finale elevate this pulse-pounding tale.”—Publishers Weekly “I loved this book.”—A Crazy Vermonter’s Book Reviews “...well written, character driven and has several great storylines.” --Reader Review “...this book has A LOT of hot chemistry, sexy banter and will take you for a ride!” --Kelly’s Book Blog “Hey,” I squealed, waving my hand in the air. I was so happy my brother would finally get to meet Jack.He walked toward me with a smile, but when he caught sight of Jack, that smile turned into an all-out heated glare. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he growled, quickening his pace.Jack froze and gripped my arm, grumbling, “Shit,” before pulling me around to face him. “Bristol, listen to me. This isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”Everything was happening so fast, I didn’t know what to think. “Find out what?” I asked desperately.Before he could reply, Ryan ripped me out of Jack’s hold and pushed him away. Jaw tense, Jack was ready to fight, but I couldn’t let that happen. “Ryan, stop!” I shouted, digging my nails in his shoulder.Jerking his head around, he glared straight at me. “Do you even know who this cocksucker is? He’s playing you to get back at me.”I threw my hands in the air. “What the hell are you talking about? How do you even know him?”Jack’s eyes never left mine, the anguish on his face making me sicker by the second. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what came out of Ryan’s mouth. He scoffed incredulously and spat at Jack. “He’s Jaxon fucking Reed, the asshole on the team I’ve been telling you about. Don’t tell me you didn’t know?”Jack stepped forward, but then again, that wasn’t his name. It was Jaxon Reed.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
She loves to write, but she also loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes and white water rafting, and has a passion for singing. Her two youngest fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols. Dover has written countless novels, including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, and her standalone novel Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense, but if she got to choose a setting in which to live, it would be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.
Title: Acquired Asset
Author: Z.N. Willett
Genre: Contemporary Romance
In the business world, Christopher Colby is a force to be reckoned with—admired by many, he's an intelligent, confident, smooth-talking COO who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
To Quinn Cordell, Christopher is a demon reincarnated—a sexy, self-centered, cocky bastard who is trying his damnedest to take over her family's company.
Normally, Quinn handles men like that very well—with precision and tactics of her own.
Quinn understands Christopher's type.
But what Quinn doesn't understand is, why she allowed Christopher to grope her in a supply closet?
“A love story involving two strong personalities who clash repeatedly, both personally and professionally. If you love a story filled with passion and drama, this is the book for you.”- Melanie Moreland New York Times/USA Today Bestselling Author He leaned in farther, pinning my back to the wall, as his face hovered over mine. “You can keep telling that to yourself sweetheart, but we both know under that beautiful exterior, there is a hungry beast inside that would stop at nothing to get what she wants.”Christopher swept his nose over my face and inhaled; I almost lost it. I hated what he did to me and I fought to keep from grabbing him closer and dry humping him raw right there on the floor of the elevator. When the demon breathed out, the most intoxicating spell came over me.Christopher pulled back and looked into my eyes. “You can’t blame me for going after what I want.”He pulled away and hit the elevator button, starting it up again. We both stood there, looking at each other, but saying nothing until the door opened on Christopher’s floor.As he stepped out, and before the door closed, he turned to me. “Eventually we are going to want the same thing.”
Z.N. Willett is the girl who has seen more than she has ever wanted; yet decided to add to that world by writing Hollywood romances. A northern girl, but a southerner at heart, loving anything and everything about love and romance. So much that once upon a time she had a career as a wedding and events coordinator. When Z.N. decided to do something she was passionate about, she added her love for travel to the mix. An avid shoeaholic, deep down she's a sappy romantic who happens to believe that love can truly conquer all.
Title: Shadows of Pain
Author: Ashley Dawn
Genre: Christian Fiction--Inspirational romantic suspense
Cover Designer: Kris Wagner
Blurb: Revenge is sweetâ¦unless you are on the receiving end of it.
âDo you know of anyone who would wantâ¦you dead?â
Officer Daniel Jenkins was no stranger to the dangers his job posed but usually he knew who was trying to kill him. Being stalked was a completely different ball game, and he wasnât sure there were any rulesâ¦
ââ¦I need you.â
Terrified didnât even begin to describe how Kami felt with the stalker targeting her. As an FBI agent you were trained to handle stressful situations, but being the victim put the whole process in a different light.
As the killer gets closer, so do Kami and Daniel, but will they live long enough to see their love bloom?
Only God can save them from this unknown killerâ¦
Author Ashley Dawn was born and raised in rural Arkansas where she developed her love for writing while helping in her parent's office. She graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Central Arkansas but is currently working as a legal assistant.
Ashley has been writing professionally for the past ten years and has three published books. Her Shadows Series include Shadows from the Past, Shadows of Suspicion and Shadows of Pain. She is currently working on multiple projects including the fourth in her âShadowsâ series entitled âShadows of Deceptionâ and also a standalone suspense titled âOne of Their Ownâ. She and her family make their home in Texas.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2d5z2o5
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorADawn
Shadows of Suspicion: http://amzn.to/2daDGC3
Shadows of Pain: http://amzn.to/2daCqyR
***COVER REVEAL***
SOMETHING BLUE- A DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE FROM AUTHOR KRISTY NICOLLE COMING APRIL 2017 SYNOPSIS In the city of Monopolis, where happily ever after is just a scientific formula away, Valentine Morland has been waiting nine years for her day to come. Now it’s here, and she will marry the man of her dreams, a stranger to her, before being swept off to life of carefree luxury and bliss, courtesy of the Jigsaw Project. However, all is not as Valentine imagined as her new husband is quickly discovered as not the man of her dreams, but one who claims he isn’t capable of love at all. Harbouring an intense paranoia for the system, which upholds the very idealist fantasy that Valentine holds so dear, Clark threatens to throw her into a world, not of bliss, but of scary consequence where her every emotion is under scrutiny. Can it be that the scientific formula with a 99% success rate got it all wrong, or is everything in the world of Bliss Inc. more sinister than it seems? COVER REVEAL EVENT- HOSTED BY THE FABULOUS ‘THE MAGIC OF BOOKS’ BOOK BLOG! https://www.facebook.com/events/348491722181989/ FOLLOW THE BOOK’S JOURNEY FROM FIRST PAGE TO PRINT FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristyNicolle/?fref=ts MAILING LIST SIGNUP LINK http://kristynicolle.us13.list-manage1.com/subscribe… STREET TEAM: https://www.facebook.com/groups/915014841873185/ Want to know more? Website: www.kristynicolle.com Christmas Gift the Bestselling Blood Dragons or Indulge Yourself… http://viewbook.at/BloodDragons This Christmas discover what everyone’s talking about and escape into the spellbinding world of Blood Life… “One of the most unique & ingenious vampire books I have EVER read …reminded me very much of Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles…Pure genius.” Leather and Lace Reviews. Escape into a supernatural world of love, revenge and redemption, where vampires are both predator and prey. One vampire’s dangerous love could bring about the end of the world – unless he can play the role of hero. Light is the bad boy vampire of the Blood Lifer world. Since Victorian times he’s hidden in the shadows with Ruby - a savage Elizabethan. But he’s keeping a secret from her, which breaks every rule. Kathy is a seductive singer. But she’s also human. When the two worlds collide, it could mean the end. For both species. Now Light’s trapped in a race against time to save them all. A rebel, a red-haired devil and a Moon Girl battle to save the world – or tear it apart. Blood Dragons is the explosive first instalment of the new fantasy series Rebel Vampires from the critically acclaimed bestselling author Rosemary A Johns. Experience a thrilling new adventure with vampires, Rockers and dark romance. http://viewbook.at/BloodDragons “Johns really blew me out of the water…leaves you ready for the next book. 5*” – Rockchickcu Addiction Reviews Treat yourself – and those you love – to the gift of a little dark romance…
New Bestselling Release Blood Shackles http://viewbook.at/BloodShackles Free on KU 5* "Light is back and he's his usual charming, funny, wry, ballsy self... A story about the triumph of hope and love over evil." - Margarita Morris, The Good Author It’s a dangerous game to love your slave. When your whole species is enslaved – and it’s the humans who are acting like the monsters – how far would you go to free your family? 5* “This novel was gut twistingly intense...the suspense will drive you wild.”– SLH Reviews http://viewbook.at/BloodShackles
Title: Misled
Authors : Penelope Marshall & Tia Lewis
Genre: Mafia / Romance
Mixing business with pleasure was not my usual MO as a bounty hunter—until her.
She was scared and alone, running from the very man who'd hired me to hunt her down.
I knew what he'd do if I turned her over—she wasn't going to make it out alive.
Common sense told me to look the other way.
After all, no one f*cked with the Sabella crime family—until now.
Penelope Marshall
Penelope Marshall was born in the Philippines, and raised in Southern California. She picked up writing in early 2016 and instantly fell in love with the craft. Her writing runs the romance gamut from sweet romantic comedies, to tough alpha male military suspense thrillers, with a little young adult, and paranormal thrown into the mix. A good plot twist is what drives Penelope's writing, striving for that jaw dropping moment at the end of each book. Penelope Marshall
Twitter : @AuthorPMarshall
Tia Lewis
TIA LEWIS’ AUTHOR BIO:
Tia Lewis is a romance author from the Midwest who writes about smart, sexy, sassy women and hot, possessive alpha males. Her favorite bad boys to write about include sports players, mafia, bikers, billionaires, and the bad-ass next door. You can find her cooking, reading, or traveling when she’s not busy working on her next release.
Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text LEWIS to 31996!
Title: Vicious
Series: Sinners of Saint #1
Author: L.J. Shen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Emilia
They say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true.
The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts me in my nightmares.
He is a brilliant lawyer.
A skilled criminal.
A beautiful liar.
A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover.
Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now, he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him.
Vicious
She is a starving artist.
Pretty and evasive like cherry blossom.
Ten years ago, she barged into my life unannounced and turned everything upside down.
She paid the price.
Emilia LeBlanc is completely off-limits, my best friend’s ex-girlfriend. The woman who knows my darkest secret, and the daughter of the cheap Help we hired to take care of our estate.
That should deter me from chasing her, but it doesn’t.
So she hates me. Big fucking deal.
She better get used to me.
Her passion is to write badass stories, sushi, UFC and her awesome family and friends (not in this order, though. Obviously, sushi comes before writing. Oh, and also the family part.)
She spend the first half of her twenties traveling the world and is now paying all the fun with extra shifts in front of her MacBook. Feel free to contact her on her Facebook page. She loves to hear from her readers.
Title: Her Dark Past
Series: The Corde Noire Series IV
Author: Alexandrea Weis
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 23, 2017
Brynn Adler is a writer with a unique ability—everywhere she goes, images of the past haunt her.
After taking over the estate of her murdered ex-husband, Nathan Cole, Brynn is at the center of a mystery. A mystery the ruthless members of the Corde Noire Society want solved. Sent to discover Brynn’s secret, Declan Corinth plans to arouse her former submissive ways. There’s just one problem … he knows nothing about being a Dom. If Declan doesn’t get what the Corde Noire requires, Brynn Adler could become its next victim. Can he win her trust in time? The clock is ticking.
To uncover the past, embrace the darkness.
In the back of the Mercedes, Brynn was wiping the raindrops from her face and neck when the rear passenger door flew open and another person scooted inside.
She almost screamed for her driver when she saw the man in the sharply cut black suit slide into the seat next to her. His riveting blue eyes fixated on her, and Brynn’s mouth dropped open.
Oh, shit!
“Well, well, Brynn Alder,” he said in a voice akin to honey. “I thought that was you. Forgive the intrusion, but I have wanted to meet you. I’m Declan Corinth.” He held out his hand.
Brynn stared at his hand as if it was a nuclear missile. What in the hell is he doing here?
When her eyes rose to his face, his good looks made her mouth go dry. With black wavy hair and sharp blue eyes, he was even sexier than his portrait. Declan’s features were sharp, but his nose was a little flat and his chin somewhat small compared to his square jaw. He had thin lips that complimented his looks. Just the idea of kissing those lips made Brynn want to--
Shake his hand! “Mr. Corinth.” She took his hand. “Why are you in my car?”
While holding her hand, his eyes examined her face, sending a tingling sensation up from Brynn’s toes.
“I was coming to Ren’s, and I saw you. I’m ashamed to say I’m a fan, Ms. Adler. I’ve read all your books. I think your interpretation of the BDSM lifestyle is unique.”
“Interesting choice of words, Mr. Corinth.” The fact that the attractive man had read her books was even more unnerving than his being in her car. “Are you familiar with BDSM?”
He kept a firm grip on her hand. “I have several associates who are ardent admirers of the lifestyle.”
She yanked her hand away. “By associates, I take it you mean Ren and his little society.”
“Ren is a business associate, Ms. Adler. As for his society, I’m familiar with it.”
She sat back in her seat, studying Declan’s compelling features. “How did you end up in one of his portraits?”
He hiked up a dark eyebrow, his eyes brimming with amusement. “You’ve seen the painting? And what did you think?”
“Ren told me a local businesswoman commissioned it. She was apparently quite taken with you.”
“Mabel Bergeron was more than taken with me. She was obsessed.”
Declan’s soulful chuckle resonated in Brynn’s groin, and then she was struck by the name. “Mabel Bergeron? But she ….” Her voice trailed off, afraid to say what she was thinking.
“She owns a bondage club in the Garden District.” Declan sat back in his seat. “Your ex-husband was a frequent customer of hers. We met at Mabel’s club.”
A cold realization settled over Brynn. Declan Corinth was a player—a Dom. How else would he know about the bondage club Nathan had belonged to, or be friends with Ren Plancharde? Feeling foolish, Brynn glanced at Bob, still awaiting instructions behind the wheel.
“I should go. I’m keeping you from your meeting with Ren.”
“Nonsense.” Declan motioned for Bob to start the car. “I’ll see you back to The Shallows. You shouldn’t be alone today.”
“You know where I live?”
“I heard you took over Nathan’s old penthouse.”
Brynn’s reservations mounted as the engine roared to life. “No, Bob, wait,” she called. “Mr. Corinth was just leaving.”
The shock in Declan’s blue eyes was entertaining. She suspected that, being a Dom, he wasn’t used to having a woman tell him what to do.
With a curt nod, he reached for the car door and then glanced back at her. “Can I ask you a question?”
His voice reminded her of a dark whiskey. Smooth, soulful, and reaching down to her--
“Of course, Mr. Corinth.”
He shimmied closer to her. “It’s Declan, not Mr. Corinth.”
Her toes were tingling again. “What would you like to know?”
“How do you get ideas for your stories? They seem so real.”
Brynn shook her head, convinced that he was baiting her. If he was an associate of Ren’s and knew Nathan, then he must have known of her past.
“A writer never divulges where she gets her inspiration.” Brynn smugly sat back in her seat. “Good evening, Mr. Corinth.”
The surly grin he gave her damn near knocked her to the car floor. He was even more devastating when he was angry.
Declan shoved the card door open. As the sound of the rain hitting the sidewalk drifted into the car, he said, “We’ll see each other again, Ms. Adler.”
Brynn just smiled and waited for him to leave.
He bounded into the pouring rain and slammed the door closed. Brynn sank into her cold leather seat as he jogged through the open gate and into Ren’s pristine courtyard.
“No, we will not see each other again, Mr. Corinth.” She rocked her head back and closed her eyes. “That would be very dangerous for me.”
From New Orleans, Alexandrea Weis was raised in the motion picture industry and began writing stories at the age of eight. In college she studied nursing and went on to teach at a local university. After several years in the medical field, she decided to pick up the pen once again and began her first novel, To My Senses. Since that time she has published many novels. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her award-winning books, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story memorable. Her work has been critically acclaimed and has been continually growing in popularity.
Alexandrea Weis is also a certified/permitted wildlife rehaber with the La. Wildlife and Fisheries. When she is not writing, she rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She is married; they live in New Orleans.
Title: Ingrid (Daughter Of The Alvar #1 )
Author: Hannah Warren
On a lonely windswept island off the coast of Sweden, there is a place so desolate it feels abandoned by the fates. And yet, it possesses a strange beauty, which summons souls to awakening. This is the Alvar. Its very nature is a contradiction, and it is this ambiguity that calls to Ingrid, daughter to the vicar of Smedby.
Raised as God-fearing, she believes in charity, and when Kalle returns unexpectedly to the island community, her instinct is to help him. Considered a pariah by all due to his sordid past, one that saw him exiled for many years, he ventures into the Alvar to live, to escape the censure of the villagers. In this desolate place, how will he survive? Ingrid resolves to help him.
No one will tell Ingrid why Kalle was exiled. Her father commands her to stay away from the poacher. Their housekeeper warns her off. Her brother does not know what happened. Her French tutor, Max, is new to the island. The mystery is overwhelming and the only one who knows the truth is Kalle himself. In the spirit of charity, and also curiosity, Ingrid befriends Kalle, hoping to uncover the past, hoping also to help him survive the Alvar.
A gypsy reveals to Ingrid that she will lose everything, but the cossetted vicar’s daughter is headstrong. She enters the Alvar despite every warning … and meets her fate there.
Ingrid continued to hate her father all week. It increased due to his stubbornness to lift the ban on her imprisonment, or come to talk to her in a reasonable way. All she did in her lonely hours was think of ways to escape her bedroom, a room she had come to despise, and to flee to Kalle. Of all people she knew, he had a tenderness and a caring in him that her own family lacked. And he was fluent in speech, enjoying to converse with her despite his uneducated brain.
Knowing her father would keep a close watch on her from now on, Ingrid realised she would have no means of leaving the house without someone escorting her. That’s when her plan arose to escape in the middle of the night when no one would expect her to go out.
Outside her bedroom window stood a huge oak tree with branches that reached almost to her windowsill. As children, Johan and she had managed to climb onto one of the branches and let themselves slip down with a rope they had attached to a thicker limb. The rope was no longer in place, but if she tore her sheet in small strips and tied them together, she could take them in her pocket before she climbed outside. Would that be feasible? It seemed like the only way to get out of the house. Apart from being obstinate, she also felt deeply that she had to show her father she was serious about her God as well. He wouldn’t want to listen in any other way.
Having all the hours of the night and day, as nobody came to see her in her isolation, Ingrid plotted and planned.
At regular times, Mrs Magnusson came up with a tray laden with food and drinks, mostly her favourite dishes, but Ingrid hardly touched any of it as she was angry with the housekeeper as well. Mrs Magnusson looked at her sheepishly each time she set down the tray. She tried to seduce the girl into small talk, but Ingrid didn’t respond.
Sullenly, she kept staring out the window, over the Alvar, until she heard the housekeeper turn the key in the lock again. She hadn’t forgotten the harsh words Mrs Mags had spoken about Kalle.
The only one who wasn’t to blame and whom she was going to miss was Max. He’d never really given his opinion on the matter. And of course, she thought of Johan, what he would think of her adventure, but decided she’d explain everything to him in two weeks’ time when he came home for Easter. Perhaps her brother would understand her better than their father. He might take her side.
Anyway, by then, this storm would have blown itself out and they would all see that Kalle meant no harm. After all, she simply wanted to make a statement, for them to realise how serious she was about this charity cause.
Ingrid dressed in her darkest clothes and put on her sturdy walking boots. Fully dressed she got into bed, extinguished the gas lamp and drew the cover over her. She listened as the house became silent. Wide awake, with big eyes and a pounding heart, she tried to lie still, but her legs kept moving because she was so nervous. At some point she thought she was idiotic to go ahead with her plan, but at other moments her anger flared up again and she knew she had to teach everyone a lesson.
She waited until two in the morning before she slipped out of bed to put on her coat and wrap a dark shawl around her light hair. She listened at the door; there was no sound in the whole house. Carefully she undid the window latch and opened the window. Fresh night air swirled around her. For a moment she sat on the sill weighing her chances. If she failed to do this and fell down, she would either wake someone up because of the crash or - if she hurt herself - lie there until morning and hell would break ensue.
“So you’d better do this right the first and only time,” she told herself as she stretched out her arms to grab the nearest branch. She got hold of it and pulled it towards her. “Now,” she ordered, and for a moment felt her body dangle in mid-air before she managed to climb onto the sturdy branch by using all the force in her arms. “See I can still do this,” she whispered to herself with relief, taking a moment to catch her breath.
Stealthily she climbed further down the tree to the branch Johan used to tie a rope. Unrolling the strips of linen, she tied them tightly around the branch. She pulled to check its strength. This is the moment, she said to herself as she climbed down a little further until she would have to rely on the sheet.
The distance to the ground was more than three yards, too far to jump. Hanging onto the makeshift rope, she trusted it to hold her weight. Sliding down, the ground came nearer and nearer until she stood on solid earth. She was free. Hallelujah.
She checked the downstairs part of the house, but there were no lights. The sheet would remain hanging on to the tree so she could climb back up later that night.
Tentatively, she found her way through the dark. It was a clear night with a sickle of the new moon hanging low. A myriad of sparkling stars twinkled in the firmament. A clear night in March meant it was quite cold and the ground was covered with a thin layer of frosty white. Ingrid shivered, cursing herself for not having put on her winter coat. She walked briskly instead.
As she knew the way so well, she didn’t hesitate where to put her feet and soon found herself on the footpath that led to the stone wall. The moment she was about to climb over it, she stopped in her tracks and looked back towards Smedby village. All was dark. Nobody was following her. The white church tower was vaguely visible.
Suddenly she wasn’t so sure of her plan. What would Kalle think when she arrived in the middle of the night? Or maybe he wasn’t even there, poaching somewhere. What would she do then? She would just have to return and hope she could climb up to her room again. She had left the latch on the window open; if she returned before daylight, she might be able to get in without anyone having noticed she’d been missing. Shaking herself from her fright, she looked ahead towards her goal.
What would she say to Kalle? That they were in this together; that she owed it to him to stand firm and withstand her father’s command. She would try to persuade Kalle to come with her to the vicarage and present himself to her father. That way her father could see for himself that the man was innocent and had a right to a decent home and decent treatment by society. She would urge her father to find Kalle a job, maybe again with Martin the blacksmith. Or maybe as someone’s farm-hand. Ingrid became more and more enthusiastic about her project, confident it would work out in the end.
After she’d manage to rehabilitate Kalle Ljundberg, she would make it clear to her father that this was the kind of work she wanted to do in her life. She didn’t want to marry. She wanted to devote herself to working for the poor. Maybe set up a school for children that now had to go out and work at a tender age because their parents needed the extra income. That was another of these blatant situations the rich of Södra Öland turned a blind eye to. Papa would understand she needed a goal in life. Max’s lessons were interesting enough in themselves, but didn’t really teach her anything about real life.
While she was thinking these thoughts, Ingrid sought her way over the limestone plates and around the low bushes and muddy pools with more difficulty then she had anticipated. She made slow progress and realised the walk was going to take her twice as long as usual. When she finally arrived, she would wait until it was light and then return together with Kalle. The option to return in the dark became slimmer and slimmer. If only he was home to let her in.
Ingrid filled her lungs with the cold air and said a prayer. “Lord Jesus Son of God, Have Mercy Upon Us.” She kept praying this sentence over and over and found a kind of cadenza walking and speaking these words. They comforted her and made the cold less piercing.
In the distance she thought she saw Kalle’s demarcation wall, but when she came closer she saw it was a herd of cream-coloured cows huddled together. Farmers were free to let their cows graze on the Alvar, where nobody ever came to steal them. Ingrid wasn’t afraid of the animals dozing in the night, some lying down, snorting wheezily as the girl passed.
“Hello, cows,” she greeted.
Finally she was glad to see Kalle’s territory before her and she opened the provisional gate in the wall. All was silent.
She had no idea if he was in the house or not so she called out, “Kalle are you home?” When nothing stirred, she called a little louder, “Kalle, it’s me Ingrid. Are you there?”
Still nothing.
She walked around the house and tried to peer in, but the oilcloth was attached from the inside and she couldn’t see anything. She knocked on the door, calling his name again. She started to panic, feeling too alone in the dark, afraid, not knowing which way to turn.
Desperately, she banged on the door, begging him to let her in, crying now, deep sobs rising up from her chest, suddenly feeling weak with hunger. She hadn’t eaten properly for days. Again she listened. Close by a bird scattered and flew up in the air, its night’s rest disrupted by the noise. A cow lowed, and then the silence reigned over the Alvar again.
Shivering and miserable, Ingrid started for home. The haze in her eyes made her stumble and miss her footing several times. She sprained her left ankle and stumbled on, not sure which way she was heading. A low mist closed in around her, steely wet, impenetrable. She was losing her way, she was losing her mind. She needed to lie down and sleep, but understood she would most probably suffer from hypothermia if she did, so she kept going, trying to discern the first signs of dawn, which would have to be behind her. She had to head west, west, ever west.
“Papa,” she cried several times, ‘Papa, help me.”
The landscape was completely devoid of human activity. In the end she gave up and sat down on a huge stone that had stood fixed in the land since the last ice age.
“I just want to rest a little bit,” she told herself, “until I’ve regained my strength.”
In 2016 I joined the writer’s collective 13th Sign Publishing where – apart from publishing our books- we publish a free quarterly eZine on healthy living, healthy eating and great reading.
When I’m not writing or thinking about writing, you can find me at the paid job at my local university translating stuff and recruiting international students, experimenting with organic food in my kitchen, stretching my old bones in Yoga or glued to WhatsApp exchanging funny messages with my grown-up kids.
But writing is the real deal for me. My books focus on female characters who are faced with impossible choices in their lives but still manage to crack it whether they perish or survive. My stories are dark and gritty. After all ‘this life is not a stroll across the meadow’ as Doctor Zhivago already observed. I write both contemporary and historical fiction, sometimes with a dash of fantasy.
Title: Tattooed Hearts
Author: C.A. Harms
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 13, 2016
Permanent
An indefinite, everlasting and imperishable stamp.
Like a tattoo.
One that would forever be with you to remind you of a single moment in time, or a person that touched you in some way.
That was exactly what Jenny was to Sean.
And no matter how hard he tried, he could never forget the one girl who would forever have his heart.
A lifetime of friendship, shattered by one irreversible mistake.
A choice that Jenny would forever regret, but only because it pushed away the one person she truly loved.
A love so deep that they felt as if they were one.
Years passed, and still that love remained deep…stamped with an unfading ink.
When their paths cross after six years of longing, they are faced with a choice.
Forget the past and let go of the heartache…giving in to the temptation that was always there.
Or continue to torture themselves by avoiding what was always meant to be.
Tattooed Hearts of endless love…
Will it be enough or will the memories of their past create an unbreakable wedge between them.
“You lock the doors at the house?” She held up her key and jiggled it from side to side. Good girl. “And the monitor?”
She reached around to her back pocket and pulled out the baby monitor we had bought for the garage and turned up the volume. I’d gotten one because the last thing I wanted was for Landyn to wake up scared while we were down here, unable to hear him.
I took it from her hand and turned it up full blast before setting it down on the tire rack beside me. When I turned back to face her, she had leaned back against the hood and placed her outstretched arms behind her to support her weight.
Now call me a sucker for a woman on the hood of a car, because fuck me, the visions rolling around in my head at that moment were so far from innocent. My body was already humming with the need to make them a reality.
“You come down here to check on me?” I asked, moving in just a little closer. I wanted to pounce on her and devour her sweetness while she screamed for more. But I remained calm. How, I have no fucking idea.
She shrugged as she scooted up the hood just a little more.
“Feel like helping me burn off some of this energy I got coiling through me?” She better not say no.
“What did you have in mind?” She bit her lower lip, and I think I moaned. She smirked and looked completed happy with herself.
Yes, I’m sure I moaned.
She parted her legs, and I gripped her knees, parting them farther.
“It involves you,” I said, trailing my fingertip along her soft thigh. I leaned in and pressed my hips in closer to hers. “And me.” Her eyes lit up with excitement. Yeah, darlin’ that is all for you. “And the hood of this car,” I added and gained a slight whimper from her when I pushed my erection against her once again and shifted slightly.
“You game?” I asked with my eyebrow cocked.
He rested his forehead against mine, and we remained in that position for a few minutes before either of us spoke.
“I don’t want us to miss our second chance,” he said.
I pulled back and looked up at him as he continued to hold me close. “I’m still married, and you don’t need the mess that comes with me in your life.”
He skimmed my lower lip with his thumb, making me pause just enough for him to lean in and kiss me once again.
A kiss from Sean was honestly like the best form of temporary memory loss. It was like being drunk, even if for only a few glorious seconds.
“I think we both know what you have with him isn’t a marriage,” Sean said, and I had no grounds to argue. “I know it won’t be easy, but I’m gonna fight you on this.”
I smiled because he always had been a great negotiator, and if negotiation didn’t work, well, then he did what he wanted anyway.
“I have to leave early in the morning, and I can assure you that you and Landyn will be by my side whether you want to or not,” he said with certainty.
“You can’t—”
He pressed his lips to mine. He really wasn’t playing fair. I shook my head and pushed against his chest.
“You can’t kiss me into submission,” I told him, and I instantly saw the challenge in his eyes.
The sweet guy I’d once know had obviously developed some skills over the years. His “take what I want” attitude had only gotten stronger. Within seconds of my challenge, he had me pressed firmly against the wall behind me and caged me in with one arm on either side of my head.
“I want you with me,” he whispered, and his breath blowing along my cheek and neck sent chills over my arms and back. “Not because of guilt, or because I feel obligated to.” It was as if he could read my thoughts. “It’s because I have wanted you longer than I can remember, and until a day ago I thought I would never have the chance to feel you in my arms.”
His confession made my stomach tighten.
TO JOIN THE CHARMED GIRLS FACEBOOK GROUP
A LITTLE ABOUT ME, LET’S see where to start.
I love HEA stories, as long as they come packing a little heat. I need some excitement, some angst, and moments that make me fan my face, those are always good too. I am an Illinois girl, born and raised. Simple and true, it honestly doesn’t take much to make me happy. I love the little things, they truly mean the most. I may have a slight addiction to my new Keurig, oh my, that thing is a godsend. And so fast too. I have two children who truly are my very best friends. Their faces never fail to put a smile on my face. I have been married to my husband for sixteen years, and even though at times I want to beat him with a stick, I would never change the years we have had. We have learned and fallen, only to pick each other up, dust off the ache, and help each other make it right.
I am one of those authors that adores my readers. I love to hear from you. After all, it is because of each one of you that I continue to write. I look forward to you feedback.
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Title: Love Crazy by Ashley Lyn
Series: Welcome to Spartan
Genre: Romantic Comedy
I shot him with my paintball gun.
It was instant lust, the moment I caught sight of his tattoos, well-muscled body, and cocky grin. However, it was ass over tea kettle love the minute that sexy bastard brought me coffee and a bacon wrapped donut.
I fell hard, and I loved every minute of it.
I was lucky enough to grow up in Spartan, but I’d been contemplating a move to somewhere more populated. Lucky for me, Luke moved here and showed me how awesome it is to meet someone who’s crazy matches your own.
It’s not all unicorns and rainbows, when an unwanted blast from my past blows into town, and tries knocking me off my pedestal of awesomeness.
Luke
She didn’t shoot me. She missed by a good ten feet.
I fell in love with her the minute I caught sight of her cute little ass in a big pair of flowered granny panties. I tell her it was her pretty eyes, and gorgeous red hair, but really, it was the underwear.
Moving to Spartan was the best decision I’d ever made. I never thought I would meet the love of my life when I moved to this small town.
The people who live here take a bit of getting used to. They sometimes forget what appropriate clothing is, and will use any excuse to party.
I wish I could say that everything followed the fairy tale path, but people intrude, and bring the devil with them.
Embrace your crazy, and enjoy your time in our comical, but absurd little town. Welcome to Spartan!
I swear the pounding in my head is audible. Confusion settles in as I realize that someone is pounding on my door.
“Go the fuck away.”
“Wake up, sunshine. We have to have our proper introduction, and it’s noon.”
The events of last night flash behind my closed eyes, and it feels like fire ants are pouring out of the top of my head and sweeping down my body in a painful wave. Lifting my comforter I look down, and I’m still in my boots and panties. Maybe if I just stay still, he’ll go away.
“I’m not going away, so you might as well get that sexy little ass out of bed. I brought coffee and donuts.”
Coffee? Donuts? That’s almost incentive enough to drag my tired ass out of bed. Almost, but not quite.
“Let's go, Rambo. I’m giving you thirty seconds, then I’m coming in.”
Pounding. That’s what exists right now. My eyes crack open, and a streak of sunlight stabs me in the eye. I moan and roll over, jerking my comforter over my head.
“FUUUUCCKKKK!”
I hear him chuckle, and I flip my comforter back. I jerk my boots off and throw on my big fluffy robe before stomping out into the living room. I unlock the door and fling it open. My jaw comes unhinged, and I give a valiant effort to work up the proper amount of lust for the shirtless god standing there.
My cheeks pink up and I close the door, slamming it in his face. I can’t do this today, seriously. I glance over, into the mirror next to the door, and want to cry. My bright red hair is sticking up all over the place. I grab a beanie and slide it on, ready to try this again. Opening the door, I try to channel my inner queen, but I stumble with as much grace as my tired, hungover body can manage as I slide down the porch column to sit down on the top step.
He hands me a donut and a tear leaks out when I see the bacon on top. Bacon makes everything better, and that goes for donuts as well. He hands me the coffee and sits next to me.
I give him the side-eye, looking at him as covertly as possible. He just sits there, looking out at the ocean view as he drinks his own nectar of the gods. Taking my own sip, I moan as the caffeinated deliciousness slides down my gullet.
In the daylight, he looks nothing like my husband Jason Momoa. He has sandy blond hair that’s shaved on the sides with the top long, flopping over to one side. His right arm is decorated with a multitude of bright tattoos. He has muscles upon muscles, with a nicely haired chest. His nose is fucked—broken way too many times—but sexy nonetheless. His mirrored aviators hide his eyes from me, and I thank God for that small mercy. He seems like the type to have pools for eyes, and I really can’t afford to drown in those right now.
“My name is Ali, by the way, or Alice. Whichever one you prefer.”
He leans back against the railing and gives me his full attention, which is disconcerting.
“My name is Luke.” He holds out his hand and I take it. His warm, calloused fingers slide over mine, and I clamp my lips shut. Moaning like a cat in heat would give away a lot more than I want to, so I lock that shit down.
He grins. Apparently, I’m not fooling anyone.
Ashley Lyn lives in Colorado with her amazing hubby that she met on match.com. She has two beautiful daughters, a crazy Boxer named Bailey, a Fat Cat named Mojo, and a sweet as apple pie calico cat named Katy.
She is a passionate reader who loves to read any and all genres. A good book, a cozy blanket and piping hot cup of coffee is her idea of a good time. She loves to write quirky, funny, sexy, and eccentric characters who have zero problems flying their crazy flags.
Title: Crossroads Saga
Author: Mary Ting
Genre: YA Fantasy
Blurb:
* * * READERS FAVORITE GOLD AWARD WINNER 2012--YOUNG ADULT * * *
***Based on a dream the author had in high school-chapter 1 & 2***
Protecting her from the fallen was his duty.
Falling in love was never part of his plan.
Loving her was forbidden.
Being with her was all that mattered, even if it meant he would be exiled for all eternity.
Claudia Emerson's life is about to change when her good friend, who coincidentally shares the same first and last name, dies in a tragic accident. Distraught at the loss of her friend, Claudia's dreams become tumultuous, and through them she mysteriously travels to another world called Crossroads. There, she unexpectedly meets Michael, a nephilim--half angel, half human. Now that she's been there, fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special, and it is up to Michael and the other nephilim to protect her. Her dream becomes a nightmare as more secrets are revealed about who she really is, and the true identities of the people she loves most.
Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her childrenâs chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.
Author Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1QmDZ8z
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryTing
Buy Links: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2hrAyBz
Title: Within the Darkest Hollows
Series: Demon Hunters #2
Author: D.A. Roach
Genre: YA Paranormal
Cassidy and her mystical ring are stuck in the middle of a battle between the Demon World and the Mortal Realm…
A conflict with the demons has left Killian, head of the Demon Hunters, injured and stripped of his powerful Demon Hunter tattoo. Cassidy is tasked with caring for him in the Human Realm until he is well enough to cross back into the Demon Realm. But soon she notices he is acting strangely and begins to suspect something is wrong.
She seeks help from Serena, a retired Demon Hunter, but it’s too late…
Cassidy returns home to find Killian has gone missing. Tyler, a friend with his own set of mystical powers, shows up to tell her that Killian is at his house demanding a meeting with the Demon Queen Rya. She and Serena have to work fast to find a way to heal Killian and get Cassidy’s ring away from him before Rya is involved. Meanwhile, Tyler and his dad have their own plan to make a deal with the Queen.
The Queen has a decision to make, but not before securing her leverage…
Rya wants time to consider the offer presented by Tyler’s dad, and takes Cassidy to the Demon Realm as collateral. The Demon Queen must choose between Tyler, the mate she was promised, and the mystical ring that was forged for her years ago.
Tyler is forced to face the inner demon he has worked so hard to restrain. Will he succeed, or will he be lost to the darkness, leaving Cassidy to be sacrificed by the demons?
“It also fills you with so much excitement as you devour this epic adventure that Roach has taken you on.” - 5 Star iScream Books “For a YA paranormal, this series is superb. Personally I usually want/need that 'adult' edge - however this series really doesn't need it.” - 5 Star Hashtag Minxes Love Books “Love!! I've been waiting for book 2 for what seemed like forever and so worth the wait!” - 5 star Reader Review D.A. Roach has been telling stories since she was a young girl in the suburbs of Chicago. In college she met the man of her dreams, her happily ever after, and married him 2 weeks after graduating. They have 3 kids together and a pet cockatiel named Gimli. D.A. did not find a love for books until after college. Her parents were immigrants from Lithuania and found tv and radio easier ways to hear stories so they did not do much reading or encourage it. But once she finished college and D.A. had free time, she discovered how amazing it was to get lost in a story. D.A. is a full time mom and wife. When she is not doing domestic things (laundry, bills, etc) she is writing, reading, creating mixed media art, and helping beautify her kids' school landscape. Oh, and she is ALWAYS listening to music. Her favorite authors include Rebecca Donovan, Richelle Mead, Larissa Ione, Stephanie Meyer, E.L. James, and Sylvia Day. Reading great works from authors like these has motivated D.A. to write her own stories. She hopes to make positive changes in the world with her art and writing.
Title: Nowhere
Series: Crimson Outlaws MC #1 - Part 1 of Duology
Author: Bink Cummings
Genre: MC Romance
“Bink, definitely NAILED it!!! This book was/is phenomenal. She incorporated Biker, Stepbrother love, BDSM, Billionaire, Strong female and Alpha Males. What more can you ask for?? It was Hot, Kinky, Beautiful, Emotional and Sweet! I could not put it down!!!” ~5 Star Amazon Review by TammyA “OMG this is Bink Cummings best book yet. Every book she writes gets better and better.” ~5 Star Amazon Review by J.L. Johnston
On the outside my life seems simple. I'm an average woman with a love for motorcycles. A high school teacher who's a single mother. But what you don't know is what lingers just beneath the surface...
The desires
The needs.
This hunger that can never be fully satiated.
Part of me knows it's bad. That I shouldn't crave what I do. But the other half doesn't give a fu*k.
I'm split in two. Which is how I've spent most of my life.
Torn in half by conflicting emotions. By the man I desire, but shouldn't. By the secrets that I hide from almost everyone.
Then...
One day, everything changes...
My world is turned upside down and I'm left falling...
Falling toward something special.
Toward a sense of belonging that I find in the strangest of places. With someone I never thought I'd be with in my wildest dreams.
I'm Gwen Donovan and this is my journey to love and self acceptance.
Let's just hope, that in the end, it doesn't bite me in the ass.
Warning: Contains shameless adult sexual content, taboo situations, graphic violence, profanity that'd make your grandmother blush, a woman who has multiple orgasms, a vast array of possible triggers including past sexual assault so expect anything. And whatever the hell else that makes it unsuitable for folks under the age of 18.
This is NOT a Standalone.
Part 1 of a Duology.
ENTER THE HUGE GIVEAWAY HOSTED ON
BINK CUMMINGS FACEBOOK PAGE
Author Bink Cummings was born and raised part of a biker family. Upon the incessant coercion from her sacred sisters, she has begun her newest journey in life--writing. When she's not shacked up in her home writing at all hours of the night, Bink enjoys riding motorcycles, taking care of her family, reading, and cooking huge meals--Especially her infamous chocolate chip cookies.
Title: Finding Hope
Series: Starting Over #5
Author: Evan Grace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
AVAILABLE NOW - FREE WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED
Jonathan Brooks knows what it’s like to find the kind of love most people only dream of. He also knows what it’s like to lose it in the worst possible way.
After burying his wife and the mother of his daughter, Jonathan lost all faith in love. He struggles to cope with his grief, being a single parent to Josie, as well as taking care of his younger sister Tessa, and he’s convinced he will never be able to love anyone again.
Deaf since the age of four, Shannon O’Tool has always been a fighter and never allowed her disability to define her.
She’s a strong woman, and when the attractive Officer Brooks makes her an offer that promises nights of pleasure, but excludes any and every kind of emotional entanglement, the redhead beauty is convinced she can handle it.
When the unexpected happens, life-changing decisions must be made.
Determined not to open his heart to anyone, Jonathan does everything he can to keep himself as distant from Shannon as possible. But when their agreement to keep things strictly physical turns into something neither of them expected, Jonathan is once again forced to deal with the fact that life doesn’t always turn out the way you want it to.
Jonathan must choose--
A Midwesterner and self-proclaimed nerd, Evan has been an avid reader most of her life, but five years ago got bit by the writing bug, and it quickly became her addiction, passion and therapy. When the voices in her head give it a rest, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Shayla Black, Jaci Burton, Madeline Sheehan and Jamie Mcguire. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, so if you see her wearing her headphones you know she means business and is in the zone.
Title: Savage Truth
Series: The Grinders #1
Author: Kathleen Kelly
Genre: MC Romance
Release Date: December 14, 2016
Cover Designer: Jemina Venter #Booknerdfangirl
Truthful Hunter.
Truth to his millions of fans and those closest to him. Son of a tragic mother and talented but flawed father. Truth defies all odds, making the world his own as he emerges from the ashes of a disadvantaged childhood to become a world renowned Rock God.
Follow Truth as he overcomes adversity and falls in love with music, leading him to his true family, The Grinders. Pulled into a world of women, booze and drugs, The Grinders set their sights high and won't stop until they dominate the charts.
Famous not only for his onstage performances, Truth is quite the ladies' man. That is, until he meets his beloved Rosie. Only then is the real Truth revealed.
If you love the Savage Angels MC Series, you'll know who Truth is. Find out where it all began in this fast paced and empowering story from childhood to stardom.
Kathleen Kelly was born in Penrith, NSW, Australia. When she was four her family moved to Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Although born in NSW she considers herself a QUEENSLANDER!!
She married her childhood sweetheart and they live in Toowoomba with their two furry kids. A British Short Hair named Grace and a Burmese named Jack.
Kathleen enjoys writing contemporary, romance novels with a little bit of erotica. She draws her inspiration from family, friends and the people around her. She can often be found in cafes writing and observing the locals.
If you have any questions about her novels or would like to ask Kathleen a question she can be contacted via e-mail: [email protected] or she can be found on Facebook. She loves to be contacted by those that love her books.
Title: Trigger's Salvation
Series: Hellfire Dogs MC #1
Author: Crystal Miller
Genre: Paranormal MC Romance
Trigger
The moment I saw Eve in the dress shop helping my sister, I knew there was more to her than what meets the eye. The friendship between Bridget and Eve was never known to me and now I need to make sure that she doesn't pose a threat to the club. What I didn't count on was falling for her. What will happen when she learns my secrets? Will she run or will she be my salvation?
Eve
What a fucking douche bag! How can one person be such an asshole to someone they just met. Of course, I do have a history of being with assholes. After one night of what was an amazing apology dinner, I find myself falling for this guy. Can I put myself through this again? Can I deal with his mood changes all the time? And what secrets does he have that I see in his eyes?
Crystal Miller currently resides in Louisiana with her two children and fiance. By day, she is running her own business and keeping her authors organized and taking care of her family. By night, her characters come to life where she spends most of her nights glued to the computer getting their stories onto paper.
Title: Pas De Deux
Author: Wynter S. K.
Genre :Romance
Cillian Ronan is a U.S. Army soldier home from a disastrous second deployment that resulted in the death of one of his best friends, and is struggling to take ownership of his father’s historic gym from the money-hungry, unethical businessman he’s forced to work with. Sammi Carnevale is a closed-off young woman with a traumatic past who's trying to rebuild her life and realize her dream of opening her own dance studio. When they meet, it quickly becomes clear how much they need each other's friendship and support. Sammi relies on a dangerous habit to deal with her dark secret, and the pain of the loss of his friend haunts Cillian day and night. Their bond strengthens after all of their secrets are laid bare, and in the wasteland of pain they share, they decide to trust each other.
Just when it seems that they're ready to take their friendship to the next level, Sammi's past resurfaces in a horrifyingly public way, and the blame is placed squarely on Cillian. Will he lose everything he's worked so hard for and the woman he's fallen in love with? Will Sammi be able to fight through her pain and the trauma of her past without Cillian, whom she's come to rely on for strength and understanding, when everything crumbles to ash? Will these two broken souls be able to heal apart, or is it only the power of love that can make them whole again—together?
Wynter S.K. is her name, and razor-sharp romance is her game. She considers herself a pioneer of the notion that crème brûlée is a good source of calcium, and has the uncanny ability to explain to you, in detail, why wine is basically salad. She’s turned vocal novelizations of her favorite TV shows (Supernatural, anyone?) into a drinking game, and frequently laughs herself into asthma attacks.
She’s mom to two furry kids, the Pushy Pomeranian and the Contemptuous Cat. Oh, and you know those idealized, Alpha male, “book boyfriend” types we all love that are super tough and sweet and hot, all in one unfair and unrealistic package? Yeah, she’s married to one. He’s a cop and a U.S. Army soldier, and after over a dozen years together, he still makes her heart go ka-thump.
Title: Misled
Authors ; Penelope Marshall & Tia Lewis
Genre: Mafia / Romance
She was scared and alone, running from the very man who'd hired me to hunt her down.
I knew what he'd do if I turned her over—she wasn't going to make it out alive.
Common sense told me to look the other way.
After all, no one f*cked with the Sabella crime family—until now.
Penelope Marshall
Penelope Marshall was born in the Philippines, and raised in Southern California. She picked up writing in early 2016 and instantly fell in love with the craft. Her writing runs the romance gamut from sweet romantic comedies, to tough alpha male military suspense thrillers, with a little young adult, and paranormal thrown into the mix. A good plot twist is what drives Penelope's writing, striving for that jaw dropping moment at the end of each book.
Tia Lewis
TIA LEWIS’ AUTHOR BIO:
Tia Lewis is a romance author from the Midwest who writes about smart, sexy, sassy women and hot, possessive alpha males. Her favorite bad boys to write about include sports players, mafia, bikers, billionaires, and the bad-ass next door. You can find her cooking, reading, or traveling when she’s not busy working on her next release.
Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text LEWIS to 31996!
Penelope Marshall
Twitter : @AuthorPMarshall
Tia Lewis
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