Spotlight feature of Gena Showalter’s The Closer you Come

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The Closer You Come

The Original Heartbreakers #1

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March 31, 2015

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Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has a dark and twisted past.  And now, he has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. But model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beauty…

Brook Lynn Dillon has always been responsible. Not that it’s done her much good. The down-on-her-luck waitress is broke, single and fun-deprived. Until Jase comes along. He is dangerous, stunningly protective, breathtakingly sexy and as tempting as sin, and the passion sizzling between them is undeniable. But can it melt her resistance? After all, the right kind of trouble might be just what they both need.

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About AuthorGena Showalter (1)

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories”, while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.

Website: http://members.genashowalter.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/@genashowalter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/genashowalter

EXCERPT ONE:

“Pay attention, honey,” Jase said to Brook Lynn. “This isn’t a lesson you’ll want to learn twice. You throw a tantrum in my room, you get wet.” Jase tossed the little wildcat into the deep end, hoping to calm her down.

Jessie Kay beat at his arm, screeching, “Idiot! Her implants aren’t supposed to be waterlogged. She’s supposed to cover them with a special adhesive.”

Please. “Implants are always better wet.” He should know. He’d handled his fair share.

“They aren’t in her boobs, you moron. They’re in her ears!”

Well, hell. I’m on silent, she’d said, the words suddenly making sense. “Way to bury the lead,” he muttered.

Brook Lynn came up sputtering. She swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out with her sister’s help, then arranged her hair over her ears before glaring up at him, reminding him of an avenging angel.

He’d hoped the impromptu dunk would lessen her appeal.

He’d hoped in vain.

Water droplets trickled down flawless skin the color of melted honey. The plain white button-up and black slacks she wore clung to her body, revealing a breathtakingly erotic frame, legs that were somehow a mile long, breasts that were a perfect handful…and nipples that were hard.

Those traits, in themselves, would have been dangerous for any man’s peace of mind. But when you paired that miracle body with that angel face—huge baby blues and heart-shaped lips no emissary from heaven should ever be allowed to have—it was almost overkill.

Damn, I picked the wrong sister.

Well, what was done was done. Another piece of broken glass in his conscience. Another memory to leave a sticky film on his soul, like a spider determined to catch flies.

“I’m sorry about your hearing aids, or whatever they are,” he said, “but catfights aren’t allowed in my room. You should save all disputes for the next JELL-O Fight Night.”

She watched his lips. Her eyes narrowed, an indication she’d understood him.

Without looking away from him, she said, “Jessie Kay, get in the car. If I have to start counting again, you’ll regret it.”

For the first time that evening, her sister heeded her command and took off as though her feet were on fire.

West and Beck arrived a second later and scoped out the scene: a gorgeous woman who was soaking wet, probably chilled, stood as still as a statue, her hands fisted at her sides, while Jase couldn’t seem to look away from her.

“What the hell happened?” Beck demanded, running a hand through his hair.

“This is between him and me.” Brook Lynn pointed to Jase. “You guys go inside.”

“Your hand is bleeding.” West frowned and reached for her.

“I’m not your concern.” She stepped away, avoiding contact, and would have toppled back into the pool if Jase hadn’t caught her arm.

With her sex kitten curves, he was surprised by the slenderness of her bones. Even more shocked by the soft silk of her skin, the warmer than melted honey temperature. She wasn’t chilled, after all, and the longer he held on, the more electric the contact proved to be, somehow cracking through the armor he’d spent years erecting around his emotions, until he practically vibrated with the desire to touch all of her…to hold her…

To devour.

What the hell?

He released her with a jolt and widened the distance between them. His inner armor wasn’t something he maintained just for grins and giggles. It was for survival. As a boy abandoned by his parents and sometimes mistreated by fosters, he’d learned emotions were a weakness that could be used against him. To feel something for a person or object meant he’d placed value on it—whether for good or ill.

Feel nothing. Want nothing. Need nothing. For the most part, the motto had served him well. There had been times the armor vanished, the darkest of emotions consuming him…pushing him to do things he shouldn’t. Trouble had always followed.

 

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 Gena’s live chat on April 9th with RT Book Reviews – people can sign up for that here: http://harlequin.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=889e99622fad4e42528600935&id=7a8f6bbeb9

Spotlight feature of Nalini Singh’s Rock Hard + a giveaway

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Meet Gabriel (sexy rugby player turned CEO) & Charlotte in this fantastic addition to the Rock Kiss Series!

NOW AVAILABLE!

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In New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh’s newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past…

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

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EXCERPT

Charlotte arrived at work at seven thirty the next morning to find Gabriel Bishop’s office door open, but no carnivorous predator inside. A fresh suit was hanging on the back of his door, however, which meant he’d been in already.

Deciding to catch up on e-mails that had come in overnight from international suppliers as well as stores involved in a stock take, she was typing a reply when a sweaty Gabriel arrived fifteen minutes later. He was dressed in black running shorts and a faded University of Auckland T-shirt that was currently sticking to his body.

She’d known he was in shape, but now she realized none of it was an illusion created by his well-cut suits. Okay, she’d already known that, but seeing his muscled body in the flesh was a whole different ball game. He was built like a tank, hard and powerful.

Each of his thighs was thicker than both of hers put together, his biceps toned, his shoulders appearing even wider than usual. Everything about him was big. Civilized clothing didn’t make him look better, she realized—it toned down his intense masculinity. Out of his suits, with the ink on the upper part of his left arm exposed, as well as that on his opposing thigh and…

Her skin hot and lower body clenching, she just nodded in response to his “Good morning.”

Disappearing into his office, he returned with his suit pants and a fresh shirt slung over his arm, along with a sports bag. “Push the meeting with Sales to nine, will you, Ms. Baird? I need to talk to HR about something before then.”

“Yes, sir,” Charlotte said almost soundlessly, but he was already gone, heading toward the employee shower one floor down.

The thigh tattoo went all the way around, the design intricate.

Heart rate a rapid stutter, Charlotte got up after he disappeared and decided to go grab him a coffee. He’d bought her one yesterday after all. She was just being nice. “Oh, shut up, Charlotte,” she muttered once she was in the elevator, and slumped her face into an upraised hand.

The truth was she was running away. Only for a few minutes, but that’s what this was: strategic retreat. Gabriel Bishop was overwhelming. Once, before she’d ever met him and under the influence of cocktails, she’d told Molly she wanted to rip off his shirt and sink her teeth into his pecs.

That desire hadn’t waned even now that she knew he was a T-Rex. Of course, the desire was all strictly in her imagination. The idea of actually handling him in real life? So impossible as to be laughable. Charlie-mouse was not about to play with a predator who could eat her alive and not even notice the bones. The good news was that she could admire him in relative safety—there was no chance in hell he’d ever notice her as a woman.

Getting the coffee from a nearby café, she took it back upstairs. He was in his office when she entered, the striped dark gray of his tie hanging around his neck and his damp hair roughly combed. The scent of clean, fresh soap over warm skin permeated the office. Shooting her a smile that turned him from gorgeous to flat-out devastating, he flipped up the collar of his white shirt to get the tie in place. “Thank you, Ms. Baird.”

Nodding, Charlotte escaped, though she really wanted to stay. She’d never realized how erotic it was to watch a man dress until this precise moment. And she shouldn’t be having these thoughts about her boss—especially since she couldn’t keep from quivering like a rabbit in his presence. Sometimes she just annoyed herself.

“Get to work,” she muttered and knuckled down.

Gabriel was fine for the first hour, but then he began barking orders even a six-armed woman with a split personality would have had trouble handling.

Finally, pushed to the edge, Charlotte snapped. “I’m going as fast as I can!” she yelled when he asked her for something a minute after he’d asked her to complete another task.

He scowled and held out a file. “This is a priority.”

Grabbing it from his hand, she said, “Fine,” and slapped it down on her desk.

It was over an hour later that he disappeared for ten minutes. When he returned, it was to put a small bakery box on her desk. “I think you need something to sweeten your mood today, Ms. Baird.”

What she needed was for the T-Rex who was her boss to stop snarling and growling, she thought as he returned to his office. Not opening the box until her curiosity had almost killed her, she found it held a slice of decadent chocolate cake with a white-chocolate ganache topped with curls of both white and milk chocolate. “I cannot be bribed with cake,” she muttered, eating a bite nonetheless.

Full two-chapter excerpt available on Nalini’s Website: http://nalinisingh.com/rockhard.php

Make sure to check out Kelly & Natasha’s reviews of Rock Hard HERE

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The Rock Kiss Series

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Rock Addiction (Book One) Rock Kiss Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/WqA2rj
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1G9piir
Nook: http://bit.ly/1t5T7Zt
iTunes:  http://bit.ly/1ng9zE9
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1lPqB19


Rock Courtship (bk 1.5) A Rock Kiss Novel:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/XXjjxG
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1G9pmhZ

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1lzgNIi

Nook: http://bit.ly/1COgaC6
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1pEeCy6

 

Rock Hard (Book Two) Rock Kiss Series

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/1BXhHWB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1G9oslz

iBooks:  http://bit.ly/1utQDee

Nook: http://bit.ly/1KEyBIx

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1APyqnU

Author Information

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NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about hot and wickedly tempting rock stars (and one gorgeous ex-rugby player). If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Also, don’t forget to swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page for the Rock Kiss series, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the books.

STALK Nalini here:   Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

GIVEAWAY

$50 AMAZON Gift Card
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Spotlight feature of Stacey Kennedy’s Tamed + a giveaway

TAMED

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Series title: Club Sin

Publisher: Loveswept

(Random House Publishing Group)

ISBN: 9780553391206

Release date: 3/10/2015

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USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy returns to the tantalizing world of Club Sin in an enticing novel of control and surrender.
 
Porter Marshall has nearly achieved his goal of becoming a Club Sin Master, but his new sub poses a much bigger challenge than he anticipated. Despite their mutual attraction and red-hot dungeon sessions, Kenzie Hart plays her own games. Her bratty, you-can’t-break-me attitude masks terrible personal hurt—pain that only the exquisite touch of a skilled Dom can release. But when Porter suggests taking their connection to the outside world, Kenzie denies him . . . which only makes him want her more.

Kenzie can’t ignore the raw, fierce bond she has with Porter. But she can’t give in to his dangerous demands, either. Is the passion they share real, or is he using her to solidify his status at Club Sin? And yet, who else can she trust with the shattering secrets she holds within? As Porter expertly brings her to the point of no return, Kenzie surrenders her body—and, piece by piece, her heart.

Tamed is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

staceykennedy (1)About the Author:

STACEY KENNEDY is the USA Today bestselling author of the CLUB SIN series. Growing up, Stacey’s mind wandered the path less traveled and that path most often led to love. She has always broken rules and she continues to feed off emotion – staying true to her heart. Those traits are now the bones of her stories. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame, and their two young children. If she’s not on mom duty or plugging away at a new story, you’ll find Stacey camping in the summer, hibernating in the winter and obsessing over Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy.

WebsiteFacebook Twitter Loveswept website 

 

Advance praise for Tamed
 
Tamed is sexy, sinful, and addictive. You won’t want to put this book down!”New York Times bestselling author Jen McLaughlin

“Captivating, sensual, and downright sexy, Tamed had me glued to my seat from beginning to end.”New York Times bestselling author Missy Johnson

“Stacey Kennedy blew me away with this BDSM tale that focused more on the building of the relationship than the actual act. Refreshing, honest and raw, Tamed is on my list of favorite novels this year.”—Ashley Suzanne, bestselling author of the Destined series and Raven

Praise for the Club Sin series
 
Claimed sucked me in! Stacey Kennedy weaves together the intense BDSM lifestyle with the soft touch of a sweeter, more traditional love story in a novel with an engaging heroine at its heart.”—J. Kenner, New York Times bestselling author of Release Me

“Deliciously sexy, Claimed will captivate you at once, leading you on an erotic journey that you won’t want to end. A fabulous talent, Kennedy shines in this fast-paced and exciting novel.”New York Times bestselling author Cheyenne McCray

“Tender, emotional—and smoking hot!”—Savanna Fox, author of the Dirty Girls Book Club series, on Claimed
 
Bared is a seductively haunting tale of control and surrender that will tantalize existing fans of the series while enticing new readers into the passionate world of Club Sin.”—Eliza Gayle, New York Times bestselling author of Submissive Beauty

Bared is a hot blend of raw sensuality, and Stacey Kennedy is an author to watch!”—Eden Bradley, author of The Dark Garden and Dangerously Bound

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Spotlight feature of Lolita Lopez’s Wicked Dark Dragon + a giveaway

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WICKED DARK DRAGON

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Adopted at birth, Ivy Morales always suspected she was more than human. Still, she keeps the outlandish thought to herself-even though she can’t ignore her powerful dreams of an ancient blood feud . . . or the darkly erotic turn of those hallucinations. Kidnapped in Mexico for her visions, Ivy has only one chance to escape: find the wickedly sexy man in her dreams.

Welsh dragon shifter Ian Madoc doesn’t understand the strange dream connection he shares with an unknown, beautiful woman. Yet after the seductive images turn into pleas for help, Ian rushes off in the middle of the night, hell-bent on rescuing her. But will she turn out to be the soul mate he’s always longed for . . . or the downfall of his entire clan?

Excerpt: 

Looking up into the face of the red-haired man who had slammed into him, Mad realized he wasn’t watching the revelry from above as he had every night before this. He was in the body of the dreamer and sharing this bizarre sleep state with him. He was in her body, the nameless, faceless presence who owned this world where he now trespassed.

And she was small. Judging by the height difference between her and the man who had nearly knocked her over, the woman was barely an inch or two above five feet. Despite her tiny stature, she didn’t take any shit from the man who had whacked her with his bigger body. When he slid closer in a provocative manner, she put up both hands and shoved hard. Shaking her head, she sidestepped the taller man’s grabby hands and continued her hazardous trek across the packed dance floor.

A desperate urge to protect this tiny a woman blazed within him. It was a sensation he could no longer deny. Since the first dream they had shared, he had been unable to shake this growing need within him. He wanted to know her. He wanted to see her smile and hear her laugh. More than anything, he wanted to be the one holding her hand and guiding her through the crowd, using his bigger, stronger frame to shield her from all others.

Despite playing down his dreams to his cousin and best friend Griffin, Mad grudgingly acknowledged that this was no simple case of psychic energy siphoning. This was so much more complicated and dangerous. A word he never dared imagine he would ever claim floated in the back of his mind. While he wanted to insist that it was impossible that this unknown woman was that word, he couldn’t deny the feeling clenching his gut.

She entered a room at the rear of the club. A bathroom, he quickly realized, as women chatted and primped at the sinks. She entered an empty stall and locked it. Worried this dream was about to get awkward, he experienced a wave of relief when she leaned back against the stall door and closed her eyes. Suddenly, he could hear her thoughts.

Leave. Leave and stay far away.

A cold sensation crept along his spine. His stomach pitched, and his chest tightened. He wanted to get out of her body and out of the bathroom as quickly as possible, but he was anchored in her mind. The other women in the bathroom weren’t as tightly moored. One by one, they drifted out of the bathroom.

Confused, Mad tried to figure out if what he was experiencing was truly a dream or a memory. If it was a memory, if this was a snapshot of a real moment, had she really cleared an entire room with a single thought? Was this woman more than human?

She exited the stall and crossed to the entrance. She locked it from the inside and then marched to the closest mirror. He expected to finally catch a glimpse of her face but the mirror’s surface looked smoky and smudged. Despite being totally alone in the bathroom, he sensed a dark, evil presence lurking just out of sight. A cold, unsettling sensation crawled along his skin.

With shaking hands, she flipped the clasp on her small black purse and retrieved a tube of lipstick. She dropped the lid into the sink and twisted the base. Using the flirty pink shade like a pencil, she started to write on the mirror.

My name is Ivy Morales.

I have been missing for three weeks.

I am like you.

I need your help.

Save me.

LolitaAbout Lolita Lopez

While browsing bookstore shelves as a teenager, Lo discovered the erotic writings of Anaïs Nin and A.N. Roquelaure. Certain her mother would not approve, Lo smuggled the books home and squirreled them away in the most likely of places:  under her bed. Late at night, she delved into the sensual worlds both writers created.

As a co-ed studying biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University, Lo dabbled in creating naughty tales to entertain her friends. Study for a midterm or pen a deliciously dirty story to delight her small band of fans? Not surprisingly, Lo is now on an extended sabbatical from college.

Luckily, Lo stumbled onto the world of erotic romance publishers. She realized there were other readers and writers who loved and craved breathtaking romance with the spiciest of love scenes. She took a chance and submitted her first novella. The rest is history.

Lo lives in Texas with her husband, daughter and big blubbering Great Dane with mommy issues.

You can learn more at: Website| Twitter @lowriter | Facebook Goodreads

 

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Release Day Blitz for Kallypso Masters’ Nobody’s Lost

Kallypso Masters has a surprise new release!

The fifth book in the Rescue Me Saga released Dec. 9. While we all were expecting it to be time for Luke and Cassie, Kally’s recent battle with cancer derailed those plans. But not wanting to disappoint her fans, she wrote what was going to be a book about half this size but just kept growing so that she could give her fans a book this fall as promised.

NOBODY’S LOST is about two characters who have had minor roles to this point in the Rescue Me Saga, but who will play a large part in the future books in the series, including NOBODY’S DREAM (Luke’s book which will release by March 4, 2015 now that Kally’s cancer free and able to concentrate on it again.)

Haven’t read Kally’s books before? No problem! NOBODY’S LOST provides readers with a new entry point to the series. However, most readers enjoy and understand the depth of these stories much more so when they read in order, starting with the first book, MASTERS AT ARMS & NOBODY’S ANGEL (almost 500 pages in print!), which is FREE everywhere. That’s the ideal place to start! Here’s the reading order for all available books (including preorders):

MASTERS AT ARMS & NOBODY’S ANGEL (FREE!)

NOBODY’S HERO
NOBODY’S PERFECT
SOMEBODY’S ANGEL
NOBODY’S LOST (releases Dec. 9–available for preorder one more day)
NOBODY’S DREAM (releases March 4 at latest–available for preorder)

Nobody’s Lost

Rescue Me Saga #5

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(Coming Dec. 15 to All Romance eBooks and Google Play, as well)

A standalone novel about two characters with very minor mentions in the earlier books.

Ryder Wilson returned from serving multiple deployments but can’t leave the hell of combat behind him. Frustrated and ashamed of his inability to function in the world as well as the veterans he served with, he retreated, choosing to engage only with those he trusted. When retired Master Sergeant Adam Montague sends him on a mission to protect his sister from some unknown danger, Ryder’s days of hiding out may be over. Can he fulfill his mission without failing again?

Megan Gallagher has two big-brother Marines bent on protecting her from the evils of the world, but she’s tougher than they think. When her older brother sends Ryder, one of his recon Marines, to her doorstep in the wee hours one night following a break-in, she realizes he needs rescuing more than she does. A friendship forms quickly, but unexpected passions run hot and complicate her resolve never to have a romantic relationship, much less marriage. So why are her body and her heart betraying her every time he comes near?

Can these two wounded people lower their defenses long enough to allow love to grow?

The main characters in this book have appeared briefly in earlier Rescue Me Saga books, but this story can be read as a standalone novel and is a new entry point into this ongoing series. Megan and Ryder will appear in later books in the Rescue Me Saga.

An Excerpt from Nobody’s Lost:  Fallujah, Iraq, 15 November 2004

Ryder Wilson enjoyed talking with Lance Corporal Grant. She was young, but sure as hell knew her shit when it came to advanced satellite communications.

His recon Marine unit had been on this rooftop in Fallujah for hours, waiting for something to break and to go after the insurgents who had terrorized this part of the city for the last few days.

Too damned quiet. Sergeant Miller suggested they eat in shifts while they could. He was informing Damián Orlando of the SITREP while Ryder spent time getting to know the Marine newly attached to their unit.

Didn’t usually find women Marines assigned to combat units, although the cease-fire they were under meant they probably wouldn’t have any direct engagement. He hoped not anyway.

“So where are you from?” Grant asked.

“Born and raised in New Mexico. Albuquerque. How about you?”

“Army brat. I’ve lived all over and then some.”

“That why you enlisted?”

Silence dragged out before she responded. “I guess so. Pissed my dad off that I didn’t choose the Army, but I had something to prove to myself. I just hope I’m still in when women Marines are allowed to serve in combat.”

“Not so sure that’s a good idea.”

She sat up straighter and glared at him. “Why not? I can perform just as—”

“Grenade!”

Orlando’s voice jarred them from the conversation. He and Sergeant Miller were hurtling across the rooftop in their direction when the sound of an explosion threw Ryder against the wall he’d been leaning on. His ears rang from the blast. They were under fire.

Momentarily dazed, Ryder tried to remember what he had been doing, but his focus shifted to protecting Lance Corporal Grant. She was his responsibility and shouldn’t be in the middle of this shit.

“Get behind me,” he said picking up his rifle.

“Sergeant Miller and Orlando have been hit.” Ignoring him, she moved toward the two fallen Marines, and he followed.

“Madre de Dios! No! Sergeant, don’t you fucking die!”

Orlando was lying under the body of Sergeant Miller. Holy fuck! Ryder and Grant reached the body at about the same time and lifted their Sergeant off Orlando with reverence and speed combined.

“Corpsman up!” Ryder called. Once they had set Sergeant’s body down, they returned to check on Orlando.

Jesus, no. His foot dangled by what looked like some skin and meat alone. Where was Doc? Grant grabbed Orlando’s hand and spoke to him. Ryder had never seen so much carnage in all his years serving in the Marines.

Ryder moved so Doc could assess the situation and keep Orlando alive.

“Keep his head down!” Doc ordered, and Ryder moved to his head where he placed one hand on the young private’s forehead and another on his shoulder. Ryder filled Doc in on what had happened, but the mention of Sergeant’s name had him glancing over at the man’s head.

So much blood.

The hiss of an RPG made it clear the attack was still under way. Ryder realized he hadn’t done his damned job. He radioed their immediate need for artillery and air support with their preplanned fire coordinates.

Doc shouted, “Let’s get him off the roof!”

“Sure thing, Doc!” With Doc’s help, he and Grant lifted an unconscious Orlando onto a litter…

*     *     *

Just after midnight

Ryder rolled over in bed, drenched in sweat. His heart pounding, he gasped for breath. Fucking nightmares. He laid his arm over his eyes, but the images came back in living color. Vivid, but different than the one the other night.

Blast.

Brains.

Blood.

Sergeant Miller’s lifeless body. Damián Orlando’s foot blown off. Doc D’Alessio nearly killed.

Jesus, he’d fucked up that mission. While he was shooting the shit with Grant, all hell broke out for his unit.

His cell phone buzzed. Not now. He didn’t want to speak to anyone until he had time to regroup. Tossing the sheet aside, he sat up. A beer. That ought to take the edge off.

Before he could open the door to the fridge, his landline phone rang. Whoever it was could leave a message. He wasn’t talking to anyone tonight. Even if it was Marcia. He’d call her back in an hour or however long it took to regain control of himself.

The answering machine kicked in, and he waited for his sister’s voice.

“Wilson. Pick up the phone. Adam Montague here.”

How the fuck did Top have his phone number? He must have been the one calling on the cell, too.

Had Orlando mentioned to his former master sergeant that they had run into each other a couple of months ago on a Patriot Guard ride in southern Colorado? He had known it was a bad idea to go, but the man being buried had served with him in Kosovo. To lay low during his funeral would have been disrespectful, and he damn well wouldn’t let any asshole activist protester disrupt his buddy finally being laid to rest.

Another brave and hurting hero’s fucking suicide.

Other than the Patriot Guard Riders, Ryder had severed all ties to those who survived the past and had hoped Orlando would respect his request not to say anything to the others. He wanted to put all that behind him.

The nightmare from the mayhem on the rooftop in Fallujah told him he wasn’t doing a very good job of that, though. He reached for the phone.

“Yes, Top. Sorry. I was…in the head.”

“Glad I waited. How’re you doing?”

“Great. Got myself a nice place in the Jemez Mountains. Nice and quiet.”

Nobody bothers me, and I sure as hell don’t bother anyone else.

“Sounds good.” Top paused a moment. “Listen, Wilson, my sister is staying at our brother’s place in Albuquerque. I have no fucking clue what’s wrong, but when I called a little while ago, she said the police were there. Also said she’d call me back when they left, but I haven’t heard a thing. Patrick’s out of the country, and I’m worried about her.”

“Sorry to bother you this late, but would you mind running over to make sure she’s okay? It would mean a lot to me knowing someone I trust has taken a look around.”

Go into the city? All those people? Adrenalin kicked in, and Ryder’s heart began pounding.

A mission. His master sergeant hadn’t given him orders in nearly eight years.

Someone I trust.

The desire to live up to those words and help the man who had brought him and nearly every man home from their deployments outweighed Ryder’s penchant for drowning in his own shit.

“Sure, Top.” He reached for a pen and pad of paper. “What’s the address?” The neighborhood was more familiar than he liked. Ryder also jotted down her name—Megan Gallagher. Must be married since they didn’t have the same last names. Why wasn’t her husband looking in on her?

But Ryder would help where he could. She was Top’s sister. That’s all that mattered.

After also taking down a couple of phone numbers where he could reach Top, he said goodbye and tucked the paper inside his jeans pocket before returning to the bedroom to grab a long-sleeved flannel shirt and his leather jacket. It got colder than a witch’s tit when the sun went down here in the high desert. Riding a Harley without a windscreen didn’t help.

But he preferred to detach it when he rode alone. He couldn’t stand being cooped up in a car or truck either. Needed to be able to breathe—and have an unobstructed view of any potential threat. Usually, his treks were on mountain roads and small highways, limiting the danger.

Not like tonight. The lights of the Albuquerque valley spread out before him as he headed south on I-25. He couldn’t avoid the city this time.

Still, he wished he was alone back at Carlos’s house in the mountains. Being around people wore him down quicker than the road.

Only because you asked, Top.

A man didn’t turn his back on his Marine family ever—no matter how fucked up he was. He hadn’t been in a real city in nearly two years. If he needed anything he couldn’t acquire for himself, his friend Carlos usually took care of it. But Ryder prided himself on being self-sufficient. He might be totally useless as far as holding a job went, but he didn’t take handouts.

If he’d truly gone off the grid, Master Sergeant Montague never would have found him. But he kept a phone because of his sister Marcia in Santa Fe. Maybe he’d tracked him through phone records. But didn’t he say he’d just heard from his sister about some trouble? Had he already known Ryder’s number? No answers came as the lights of the valley grew brighter.

Fucking city. God, he hated being around that many people.

Just let me keep it together in front of Top’s sister.

The last thing he wanted was for his unit to find out how badly he was handling the aftermath of his years in service. He’d tried going to the VA, but they were too far away—in miles and philosophy—to be of much help.

Hell, why was he so screwed up? He’d come home. In one piece, even. Look at Orlando. He’d adjusted well to his amputation, from what Ryder could tell from their brief meeting during the Alamosa PGR procession. If he hadn’t seen the man’s foot blown off by that damned grenade with his own eyes, Ryder would never have guessed Orlando wore a prosthesis.

Why couldn’t Ryder put the past behind him like everyone else in his unit had done?

 

*****

If you preordered and live in the UK or elsewhere in Europe, Australia, Africa, New Zealand, and other locations “east” of the United States, please read this newsletter message about a mix-up in the file you received in case you need to know more about how to update your device to get the correct file. Kally apologizes for the mistake, but was only trying to get a better version to you when all hell broke loose. http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=c5caf1c20fc5da535929b2e1e&id=b6d5b97e6c

*****

Kally profile  from Bookie Award pic croppedKally tells us about herself and her writing and appearance plans for 2015

I write emotional, realistic Romance novels with an emphasis on healing using sometimes unconventional methods, including BDSM (bondage, sado-masochism, kink, interrogation scenes from hell, and more). My alpha males are dominant (whether active in the BDSM lifestyle or former active-duty military or not) and attracted to strong women who can bring them to their knees. I’ve brought many readers to their knees, too—having them experience the stories right along with her characters in the Rescue Me Saga. I know that Happily Ever After takes maintenance, so my couples don’t solve all their problems and disappear at “the end” of their Romance, but will continue to work on real problems in their relationships in later books in the saga. That’s why it’s difficult to read the series out of order (except for NOBODY’S LOST).

I enjoy meeting readers and have traveled extensively to try to get to every state (someday!) to hold events as big as a KallypsoCon or as small as an intimate dinner for 3. However, because I want to give my readers more books to read, I’m scaling way back on appearances in 2015 so I can hunker down in the writing chair. (I write in a glider, exactly like the one I describe in Adam’s bedroom at the Masters at Arms Club.) Coming in 2015 are NOBODY’S DREAM (Rescue Me Saga #6–the long-awaited Luke and Cassie story) and a novella (or short novel–you know I don’t write short because NOBODY’S LOST started out to be a 35-40,000-word novella and it ended at 71,000 words. The couple in that novel will be Pamela (the NICE ex-girlfriend of Marc D’Alessio’s who you met in SOMEBODY’S ANGEL) and Master Roar (Kristoffer Larson–a relative of Gunnar Larson’s, who trained Damian and Grant as dominants). Then I’m not sure which direction I’ll go. Grant and Patrick were HUGE in NOBODY’S LOST, and I planned a spin-off three-book romantic suspense (with BDSM) for them. I may have to decide if the time is right to begin Patrick’s story. Let me know what you think after you read LOST!

But I’m also wanting to start the spin-off series about Angelina Giardano’s firefighter brothers with Tony (her brother) and Carmella (Marc’s sister) as the potential first couple. Sparks sure were flying between them in that scene in SOMEBODY’S ANGEL. Definitely something I want to explore!

As far as 2015 appearances, I’ll be attending RomCon in Denver, Colorado, in September. And the weekend before I will be conducting a Rescue Me Saga private sightseeing tour of the places I write about in Denver and areas near Breckinridge. That package will include lodging for three nights, bus transportation for the tour, and at least one special meal each day.

I’m also planning my second KallypsoCon to be held in the Boston, Mass., area in late October or early November. In March, I’ll be announcing the authors who will join ne AND will open up registration for the VERY limited number of reader spots. (We want to keep this intimate and relaxing, which is what everyone at the first event loved most. We only had 85 attendees, including 7 authors, but will probably have 8 or 9 authors and up to 110 readers at this one (since so many of those who were at the first one want to be there).

What else is there to know about me? Well, I’ve been writing full-time since May 2011, having quit my “day job” the month before. I live in rural Kentucky and have been married for more than 30 years to the man who provided my Happily Ever After. We have two adult children, one adorable grandson (Erik, who my followers on FB hear about often!), and a rescued dog.

Here are some of the places where you can learn more about me and my books online:

My web site: http://kallypsomasters.com/

Facebook Author Page:https://www.facebook.com/KallypsoMastersAuthorPage

My Facebook Profile https://www.facebook.com/kallypsomasters (I’m close to max friends, so I only send friend requests to those who message me saying they want to engage by commenting or posting on my timeline, BUT anyone can follow me and see almost everything I put up there. It’s 99.9% public.)

 

Spotlight feature of Gena Showalter’s The Darkest Touch

*****

The Darkest Touch

Lord of the Underworld #11The Darkest Touch_cover

 AmazonB&N

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes the long-awaited story of Torin, the most dangerous Lord of the Underworld yet…

Fierce immortal warrior. Host to the demon of Disease. Torin’s every touch causes sickness and death—and a worldwide plague. Carnal pleasure is utterly forbidden, and though he has always overcome temptation with an iron will, his control is about to shatter.

She is Keeley Cael. The Red Queen. When the powerful beauty with shocking vulnerabilities escapes from a centuries-long imprisonment, the desire that simmers between her and Torin is scorching. His touch could mean the end for her, but resisting her is the hardest battle he’s ever fought—and the only battle he fears he can’t win.

*****

An excerpt from The Darkest Touch:

She appeared in front of him, displaying more tanned skin than she concealed, her hair falling around her face in lush, golden waves. Her eyes glittered with remnants of her anger. Her lips were slightly swollen and pinker than usual.

“Temper much?” she quipped.

His relief was palpable. She hadn’t forgotten him! But the relief was quickly replaced by concern. “Are you all right? Did someone hit you?”

She blinked with confusion. “No. Why?” “Your lips are swollen.”

She rubbed them, color heating her cheeks. “Someone didn’t hit me, but someone sure did hit on me.”

Hit on her. As in kissed her.

Already on edge, Torin. Utterly. Erupted.

He forgot everything he’d planned to do and say and got in Keeley’s face, snarling, “Who was it?”

Her eyes widened. “Hades. Why?”

“You dare ask why? You belong to me! We agreed. You do not kiss other men, Keeley. Ever. Have you for- gotten my rules?”

Her jaw dropped, and she gasped out a few unintelligible words as if she couldn’t quite figure out what to say to him.

He stood in place, breathing too quickly, too heavily, his throat and lungs burning. He reached for her, but as so many times before, fisted his hands and dropped them just before contact. This is crazy. I’m crazy. I have to leave.

“Are you…thinking about touching me?” she asked, her eyes widening again.

No, she had to leave. He could not be in public right now. “Go shopping. Buy yourself something pretty. My treat.” He basically tossed his credit card at her. He should be calm by the time she finished. “Come back in an hour. Maybe two. Actually, we’ll reconvene tomorrow.”

“You are,” she said. “You’re thinking… Even craving me. You don’t like the thought of another man’s hands on me, and you want to replace the memory with your hands.”

That. Yes. Hades would die, and Torin…Torin would touch this woman and never stop.

He gnashed his molars. “Last chance, Keeley. I suggest you take it and leave.” Soon. His control was almost completely shredded.

“No way. You’re the big bad warrior, yet I’ve had to come on to you time and time again. I’ve had to battle within myself—worth the price or not worth it. Well, it’s your turn.”

“There is no damn way you just suggested I haven’t done the same. I’ve battled.”

“When have you ever caved without prompting from me? You’ve resisted me so easily, always walking away. Sure, you’ve snarled while you’ve done the walking but still you left me behind. So, tell me. When did you ever—”

“So easily?” he roared. Had she just said so easily? She had no clue about the intensity of his need—but he would teach her better.

Torin cupped her by the nape, yanked her close and smashed his mouth against hers. The kiss was a brutal assault meant to silence her, to dominate and possess. He held her still, making her take it, take everything. But the moment she softened against him, welcomed him inside her mouth, the darkness churning inside him switched gears. From the need to punish and master to the need to seduce and please.

This was Keeley. His princess. She deserved his best. He gentled the pressure, rolling his tongue inside her mouth, learning her all over again, tasting her. Summer berries and melted honey. So sweet. And mine. All mine. He framed her cheeks, angled her head and rolled his tongue just a little deeper. This time, she met him with

a roll of her own.

That was his undoing.

*****

Check out Kelly’s review of The Darkest Touch HERE

*****

Make sure to check out Gena’s live virtual signing on 12/9 through Shindig and Katy Budget Books (let your followers and fans know that Gena is offering Signed print copies and a virtual chat!)

Showalter_Gena_colorA little about Gena: 

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author whose books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines, as well as Entertainment Weekly. Her novel Red Handed has been optioned by Sony Television. Critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories,” while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise.” Her mix of humor, danger and wickedly hot sex provides wildly sensual page-turners sure to enthrall.
Learn more about Gena and her books here:  Website | Twitter @genashowalter | Facebook | Goodreads 

Spotlight feature of Stacey Kennedy’s Witches Be Burned

9780553395136Witches Be Burned, a Magic & Mayhem novel

Author: Stacey Kennedy

Author Location: Canada

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Release Date: May, 2015

Page Count: TBA

Publisher: Loveswept by Random House

Format: Digital eBook

ISBN: 978-0-553-39513-6

Synopsis: Nexi Jones has lost her family, she’s been stripped of her guardian duties, and she’s still learning the ins and outs of white magic. At least she has Kyden, the smoldering hot elite guardian who’s been there for her every step of the way. But just as Nexi completes her training, tragedy strikes the Otherworld when a fellow guardian is murdered by a group of rogue vampires. Ready or not, she and Kyden trek into the Earthworld to hunt down a killer—and Nexi alone will be put to the ultimate test.

Although Kyden knows that Nexi must fight her own battles, his guardian instincts are raging as he struggles to keep her close. The ruthlessness of these vampires is like nothing he’s ever seen. And at their helm is the Black Witch Astoria, a demon with one burning desire: to shed Nexi’s blood in the name of vengeance. What troubles Kyden even more, though, is the warlock who covets Nexi’s heart. Let the devil do his worst . . . all Kyden can do is love and protect Nexi until his last breath.

Goodreads     Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Additional purchasing options

 

staceykennedyAuthor Bio

STACEY KENNEDY is the USA Today bestselling author of the CLUB SIN series. Growing up, Stacey’s mind wandered the path less traveled and that path most often led to love. She has always broken rules and she continues to feed off emotion – staying true to her heart. Those traits are now the bones of her stories. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame, and their two young children. If she’s not on mom duty or plugging away at a new story, you’ll find Stacey camping in the summer, hibernating in the winter and obsessing over Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy

Website   Facebook   Twitter

Spotlight & Excerpt from Marie Harte’s What to Do With a Bad Boy

What to Do with a Bad Boy

The McCauley Brothers #4

9781402287435

Pubdate: November 4th, 2014

ISBN: 9781402287435

Amazon|  Apple | B&N BAMChaptersIndiebound

 WHAT IS WITH MIKE McCAULEY?

Every time Delilah Webster runs into Mike McCauley, he practically bites her head off. The rough-and-tumble contractor clearly has baggage. Del has her own emotional scars and knows she’s better off keeping her distance, but Mike’s temptation in jeans and a T-shirt and she’s always been good with her hands…

There’s something about the strong-willed mechanic that sets Mike’s motor running—and scares the hell out of him. Mike has loved and lost and will never hurt like that again, even if that means walking away from a woman who makes him feel alive for the first time in years.

When a simple kiss turns hot and heavy, Mike discovers he can’t stay away, no matter how certain he is they’re destined to crash and burn…

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author MARIE HARTE is a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit www.marieharte.com and fall in love.

Teaser #3 Excerpt:

She circled the car to unlock his door. He closed in on her instead of moving back so she could open it. Hell. She could feel his breath on her neck and did her best not to shiver. “You want to back up and give me some space?”

“You have plenty of space. You’re little.”

“Please. I’m tall. You’re just a giant.” She turned. Big mistake. Because it put her in his arms, a hairsbreadth from his fine chest and those glorious muscles he’d used to incapacitate Jim in seconds. Jim had been drunk, yes, but he was a mean drunk and a decent fighter.

Mike had taken him down with little effort. So strong. Bad-ass. Just her type.

“You’re not that big,” Mike said in a low voice. “Just right for—”

She cut him off by dragging his neck down and plastering her mouth to his. For a moment, he remained still, and she wondered if she’d made a huge mistake. Handsome, sexy, probably rich Mike McCauley wouldn’t want some cool chick like Del. He’d be after a Suzie-homemaker like his moth—

He kissed her back, taking charge of the embrace. Mike put his hands on her head to hold her in place while he kissed the ever-living breath out of her. She’d never felt so surrounded before. Del had dated larger men, but Mike dwarfed her. So big, so hot, so damn sexy.

He tasted like chocolate chip cookies, and that sweetness made her melt. He knew how to use his lips and tongue to maximum advantage. When he leaned in to her, she thanked her stars she hadn’t zipped up her jacket. He pressed his chest against her breasts, and she sagged against the car, weak with desire.

He pulled back to look at her. His eyes had darkened to a sapphire blue. His lips were slick, his mouth taut, a furious hunger on his face. “I knew you’d be like this.”

Before she could ask what “this” meant, he dug his fingers into her hair, holding her in place while he angled her chin up and dove in for a second kiss.

 

MH3-cropped200A little about Marie: 

I’ve been writing as far back as I can remember. Interest in the written word, no doubt spawned by my English teacher father, continues to this day. I’m a voracious reader, gobbling everything from romance to horror to fantasy and more. I’m in love with the art of putting pen to paper…so to speak.

I majored in English from Penn State University, earning a B.A. in Liberal Arts, as well as a commission in the United States Marine Corps. Five years later, after serving as a communications officer, I left the service to focus more on family. After going through an assortment of jobs–the Marine Corps Reserve, an IT representative, a middle manager for a Fortune 500 transportation company–I stopped working to raise two new additions to the family–my youngest sons. During this period, I decided to stop dreaming and start seriously writing.

In December of 2004 my first story was published, and I haven’t looked back since.  I currently have over a hundred titles (yeah, shocked me too!) with Carina, Ellora’s Cave, Fated Desires, Loose Id, Samhain, Sourcebooks, and Totally Bound.

I’ve received several awards to include: the 2005 Passionate Plume for Scifi/fantasy romance, the 2006 Amber Quill Heat Wave contest winner, 1st Place in Steamy Erotic romance for the 2006 Lories, finalist in the 2007 Linda Howard Award of Excellence, finalist in the 2008 Reveal Your Inner Vixen MRWA contest, and finalist in the 2012 Reveal Your Inner Vixen MRWA contest.

Learn more about Marie and her books here: Website Facebook | Twitter @MHarte_Author | Goodreads

 

*****

Giveaway Time

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the whole tour here:

Oct 20- Teaser #1 Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance

Oct 21-Teaser #2 The Bookish Babe

Oct 22-Teaser #3 Books n Kisses

Oct 23-Teaser #4 From the TBR Pile

Oct 24-Teaser #5 Bookhounds

Oct 27-Teaser #6 Romance Junkies

Oct 28-Teaser #7 Michelle and Leslie’s Book Picks

Oct 29-Teaser #8 Love Romance Passion

Oct 30-Teaser #9 Bitten By Love Reviews

Oct 31-Teaser #10 The Reading Café

 

Spotlight feature of Suzy Knight’s Rules of Ascension + a giveaway

Rules Of Ascension
By Suzy Knight
As a child, Lady Elsabeth Durnfir dreamed of marrying a prince, but after seeing her elder sister’s personality make a complete 180 degree turn after her engagement to Crown Prince Henry of Estoria is announced, Elsabeth has traded in her childish hopes of a fairytale wedding for the equally unlikely hope of inheriting Durnfir Manor and the surrounding land.

Life at court is not something she is interested in, or good at, but in order to help prepare for her sister Alicia’s wedding, Elsabeth must live at court for an entire year. As well as trying to fit in at court while living up to her sister’s reputation, Elsabeth has a secret to keep. But, court is full of secrets that are all about to come to light.

How will Elsabeth survive court without destroying her family’s reputation—and how can she get Prince Frederick, the renowned rake, to stop teasing her?

 

Available for purchase at
   
Excerpt

 

The high table had never been so full. The king
and queen sat in the center, as always, with Georgiana on the queen’s left and
Henry on the king’s right. However, Alicia was in Frederick’s normal place at
Henry’s side, leaving Frederick no choice but to sit between Elsabeth and
Georgiana, not willing to subject one as innocent as Elsabeth to Georgiana’s
stern gaze of disapproval.
Food was served within moments of him sitting
down; the kitchen had pulled out all the stops tonight. Frederick watched as
his plate became laden with thick cuts of roast beef; golden, crispy potatoes,
and thick gravy. The servants knew his habits well, giving him only the
smallest helping of greens but loading him with still-warm rolls of bread and
the thickest of the beef slices they had.
Not long after Frederick demolished his first
roll, the king called for a toast to the happy couple. This was a precedent
that would set the theme for the evening, for every few minutes there was yet
another toast. Frederick sipped at his wine, sometimes only pretending to
drink, knowing the evening meal was going to be long the toasts were not likely
to stop, and he hadn’t quite recovered his head from the night before. However,
after the fourth or fifth toast, he noticed Elsabeth swaying a little in her
chair as a servant dashed forward to refill her wine goblet. The flush in her
cheeks confirmed his suspicions as another lord stood to toast the couple. The
prince leaned in to Elsabeth and whispered in her ear. “Pace yourself, sip the
wine or simply pretend to drink. If you get too drunk, you’ll fall out of your
chair, and then what would Lissy say?”
Elsabeth hiccupped, her big blue eyes staring
at him from under her dark, long lashes. Seeming to have to concentrate on her
motions, she nodded and put the cup down, glaring at it suspiciously. A smile
tugged at the prince’s lips as he watched her frowning at her cup as though the
cup itself were to blame for her inebriation.
Georgiana leaned past Frederick to glower at
the young woman. “Is she drunk?” she
hissed, eyebrows knitted tightly with judgment. Frederick felt that same knot
in his stomach that he had felt earlier when Elsabeth had floundered under the
queen’s questioning. It was almost a protective feeling, which didn’t make
sense, as he didn’t know her at all. Besides,
I never go after innocents—I only ever pursue women who understand that I’m not
promising anything.
Nonetheless, he turned in his chair and rested
his chin on his hand, careful to position his elbow quite obviously on the
table, blocking Georgiana’s view. His distraction worked. “Get your elbow off of the table at once! Are you a heathen?
Georgiana’s whisper could cleave wood, the tone was so sharp. With a flash, she
hit Frederick’s elbow with the bottom of her fork, causing him to curse and rub
at the offending body part.
“Jeez, Georgiana. Is there really a need to
turn to violence?”
“It’s all you men seem to understand.” She
sniffed and turned away, focusing on her own meal once more.
New to the castle, the servants played it safe
by putting a little of everything on Elsabeth’s plate. But, Frederick noticed
her request second helpings of everything except the gravy. If the way she
gazed longingly at the steaming tureen was anything to go by, he suspected her
refusal of the gravy was in accordance with her wish to lessen the chance of
spilling on herself.
Frederick sighed and sat back in his chair,
watching Elsabeth play with the food on her plate. He felt himself smiling
again as he watched her keep dropping her potatoes, her coordination suffering
greatly from the amount of alcohol she consumed. There was something endearing
about her, but it’s not like he could bed his future sister-in-law to get her
out of his system.
“Will you tell me something?” he asked, leaning
forward to take her fork from her slack grip. She pouted at him, following the
fork with her gaze.
“Sure,” she mumbled, watching as he speared a
golden potato and waved it tauntingly before her.
“Why were you so floundered by my mother’s
question? Surely there are things you enjoy doing?”
“Of course,” sighed Elsabeth, gaze still
focused on the potato he held out. “But I promised Alicia I wouldn’t tell about
the embroidery and nothing else I do is very ladylike.”
“What do you mean by ‘not very ladylike’?” He
fed her the potato and speared another.
“Well, I teach the village children to read,
and in return they teach me dancing. Alicia says I shouldn’t dance like a
commoner. I like to walk through the gardens while the dew is fresh, but it
ruins my dresses. I don’t much care for fashion, but I like sewing.” She opened
her mouth patiently, expecting a reward for her answer. He obliged, holding out
the second potato. Spearing a third, he twirled it while he contemplated his
next question.
“Why can’t you tell anyone about your
embroidery? That’s a very ladylike hobby. You must have seen how much my mother
enjoyed the piece Lady Alicia made.”
Elsabeth shook her head and wobbled slightly in
the chair. “I have a secret. Lissy made me promise.”
“I won’t tell anyone, I promise,” he whispered,
leaning closer and teasing her with the potato, touching it to her lips and
pulling it away before she could bite. A swipe of her tongue across her lips
almost made him forget why he was trying to get information.
With a moan, Elsabeth nodded. “Okay, but you
can’t tell anyone! Lissy can’t sew at all, so I can’t tell anyone that I can,
or they might notice that my work is identical to the work that Lissy claimed
as her own.” With a triumphant grin, she leaned forward and snatched the bite
of potato, chewing happily.
Frederick sat back in his chair, watching
Elsabeth as she reclaimed her fork and enthusiastically attacked her
vegetables. Why would Alicia lie about
that? It’s not as though Henry would care if she were able to sew or not. Yet
she made her sister promise to keep it a secret?
Frederick didn’t think
Elsabeth was lying, but it gave him something to think about. He knew how the
court worked, a skill with embroidery got you close to the queen—could Alicia have planned it all in order to
get herself close to Henry?
He shook his head clear of such thoughts. Henry is cautious, and Georgiana is like a
hawk. There’s no way anyone would be able to trick their way into the royal
family.
He focused on Elsabeth once more, smiling as he
watched her eating with such exuberance. She seemed completely at ease, now
that her inhibitions had melted away. It was hard not to laugh at her
disastrous attempts to feed herself, her coordination having suffered greatly,
but he didn’t think he could feed her again. Not if she was going to moan in
pleasure with every bite.
When the meal was finished, it was time to
dance. Queen Charlotte and King George followed Lady Alicia and Crown Prince
Henry out onto the floor. Georgiana had disappeared again, which left Elsabeth
with Frederick. He helped her out of her chair, trying not to let others notice
how heavily she leaned on him.
At least
she 
isn’t tripping over her dress anymore.
The music started before they
reached the floor, where the tables had been pushed aside to make a dancing
area. Other couples joined the royal family, giving Frederick the chance to
pull her in closer than was appropriate.
Only
because I need to be able to hold her upright, that’s all there is to it,
he
told himself, ignoring the curious glance Henry shot across the room.
Their fingers were entwined and his other hand
rested on her lower back, his thumb gently rubbing small patterns. He was
careful to move slowly and not to turn her too often, but he couldn’t help the
grin that spread across his face as he watched her bite her lip in
concentration. “Are you doubting me again, Ellie?” he whispered, making her
head snap up. She glared at him.
“My name is Elsabeth. And I’ve never once
doubted you, so there.” She stuck her tongue out at him, and he struggled to
quiet his laughter. He tugged her closer so her hips were pressed against his.
“I’m sorry, Elsabeth,
I’m glad to be thought of so highly by such a discerning young lady.” She
shivered and looked up, her eyelids fluttering with the effort to keep them
open.
“Are you teasing me?” she said, her head tilted
to one side like a curious puppy.
He smiled, his gaze locking with hers. “Never.”


About The AuthorSuzy Knight - Author Bio:

Suzy Knight is an average English girl, who after completing a degree in boring business management decided to travel halfway around the world to the land of kpop and kimchi to be a teacher.

Whilst in Korea, Suzy rediscovered her passion for writing and managed to write the novel Love and War in between working at her academy and volunteering with animal rescue. Two years later and she’s back in England with her rescued Korean puppy, Panda.

Now she is working on her next novels, while training Panda to be less nervous.

You can find Suzy at 

          

 

 


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Spotlight feature of Marissa Dobson’s Hope’s Toy Chest and Cover Reveal of Destiny’s Wish

Hopes-Toy-Chest2Hope’s Toy Chest, the first book in the Cedar Grove Medical series, is now out for pre-order. The pre-order price is discounted to only $0.99.

Blurb:

At thirty-one, Kingsley Mathews has been named the head of the pediatric oncology department at one of the best children’s hospitals in the country—Ceder Grove Children’s Hospital. His life is dedicated to his patients—until one Christmas when he learns there’s more than his work.

Chelsea Waters lost her daughter two years ago on Christmas Day to a rare form of childhood cancer. Her career was over, then her marriage. Now all she has left is Hope’s Toy Chest. The toy drive she started in the memory of her daughter has become her everything.

When she ends up flat on her back in a pile of snow, she begins to wonder if there’s room in her heart for anything more. Could the doctor who worked so feverishly to save her daughter bring the meaning of Christmas back into her heart?

Buy Links:

Sunshine Press ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Smashwords ~ All Romance Ebooks ~ Kobo

Print: Sunshine Press ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Ceder Grove Print Books

DestinysWishCover Reveal: Destiny’s Wish – Book Two

Single mother Nora Horton has the weight of the world on her shoulders. After her husband died while serving his country, she was left alone to raise their beautiful daughter, Destiny. She was able to pick up the pieces and move on for her daughter, but when Destiny’s cancer returns, Nora isn’t sure she can handle it any longer. She’s not certain she can be strong for her daughter when she’s falling apart inside.

Doctor Brian West is a pediatric cardiologist at Cedar Grove Children’s Hospital and has seen many sick children during his years there. He’s always been able to do his job without letting it get to him because he knows that if he’s distracted for even a minute, someone could die because of him. When he stumbles upon Nora, the recognition is instant and he can’t distance himself from her or her sick little girl, especially not when the little girl tells him her wish.

A sick child’s dying wish isn’t meant for her mother’s ears this time…because she wants her mother to have someone to love.

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Spotlight feature of Cynthia Eden’s Mine to Have

Mine To Have

Mine Series, Book #5 by Cynthia Eden
Mine To Have by Cynthia Eden - book cover
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden continues her sexy “Mine” romantic suspense series with…MINE TO HAVE.
Is he a hero…or the villain?
When Elizabeth Ward sees Saxon Black rushing into the backroom of The Blade—a low end bar in Miami—she isn’t sure if he’s there to save the day…or just to raise some hell. But she’s being held hostage, and he’s her best hope of survival. Within minutes, she’s away from the jerks with the guns and riding fast and hard on the back of Saxon’s motorcycle.
Death stalks them.
Saxon has been working undercover for far too long. When he finds sexy Elizabeth—with a gun to her head—he knows he will do anything to keep her safe. But once he gets her away from her abductors, the threat to her isn’t over. Someone has put a price on Elizabeth’s head, and if Saxon can’t keep her safe from the danger stalking her, then she’ll be dead.
Their lives are both on the line.
As their enemies close in, Elizabeth and Saxon must go on the run. And the longer they are together, the hotter their attraction for one another seems to burn. Saxon vows not to let anyone hurt her, no matter what he has to do, because he’s falling fast for Elizabeth. He’ll stop the killers on her trail, and then he’ll have her. Forever.
Find MINE TO HAVE here:
Available for purchase at
         
Excerpt

“You can let go now.”
His voice was the deepest, darkest rumble she’d ever heard, and it actually
took a few seconds for his words to sink in.
            When
they did, she was horrified. Her hands flew away from him and she shot off that
motorcycle. A bad move, really, because her thighs were still shaking from the
ride, and Elizabeth hit the ground. 
            Smooth move.
            She
pushed up fast, though, and staggered to her feet. Elizabeth tossed away her
helmet and ran.
            Unfortunately,
she didn’t get far.  A big, strong hand
caught her shoulder and spun her around. In the next breath, her back was being
pushed into the nearby brick wall, and Saxon had her hands pinned above her
head. He held her easily, her wrists trapped in one of his hands. 
            “Didn’t
we cover this?” he muttered, and his voice, if possible, had gone even deeper.
“No screaming, no running—”
            “No
fighting,” she whispered back to him. “You said no…fighting. You never said I
couldn’t run.”
            He
laughed then. A sound that was as deep as his voice and sent shivers racing
over her body. 
            A
man wasn’t supposed to laugh when a woman was terrified.  She knew nothing about the guy except for the
fact that she’d seen him shoot two men and beat the crap out of at least two
more.  And he’d said he…wanted her.
            For
an hour.
            “Please,
let me go.” Elizabeth wasn’t above begging, not then. She just wanted to
survive that night. To get back to her apartment and pretend this whole
terrible nightmare had never happened.
“I won’t go to the police, I promise. I won’t tell them anything about
you.” 
            His
head came closer to hers. She couldn’t discern much about him in that moment,
it was too dark, but she’d seen plenty in that terrible little room.
            Saxon. He’d been huge, filling that
doorway. He had to be at least six foot three, and his shoulders had been so
wide, his arms heavy with muscles.  He
wore a faded t-shirt and loose jeans. He’d fought with a cold, vicious fury,
and he hadn’t even broken a sweat when he’d taken down his enemies.
            I thought Kurt was scary. He’s nothing
compared to this guy.
            “I
don’t want to let you go.”
            Those
words terrified her.  No, he terrified her.  He leaned even closer. She could feel the light
stir of his breath against her cheek. She had a flash of being tied in that
chair and looking up—and into a pair of dark and deadly eyes.
            And I asked him for help?  A desperate woman would do anything.  And she was desperate right then.  

 

 

About the Author
 
USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.
Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings.  She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.
 
Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.
(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people).  Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.
You can find Cynthia at :
          

Presented By 

 

Spotlight Feature of Love in a Small Town box set

Who doesn’t enjoy a charming love story where the towns are small but folks’ hearts are big?  Now you can get ten of them together for just 99 cents in this Love in a Small Town book bundle courtesy of Crimson Romance…

 9781440585869

Release date: September 15, 2014

Amazon

Curl up tonight with these ten down-to-earth heroes who know just how to set the neighbors’ tongues wagging with their good looks and easygoing charm. But life in a small town isn’t always sweet and simple, and love can get more than a little complicated in these heartfelt contemporary romances.

See what previous readers and reviewers are saying about these stories on Amazon:

  • California Sunset by Casey Dawes –

“…pulls at your heart making you feel what you didn’t know you could.”

  • Slow Ride by Kat Morrisey –

“The chemistry between Kyla and Copper is so hot you will need a cool glass of water…”

  • Coming Home by Christine S. Feldman –

“…an emotional ride, beautifully written and developed.”

  • Begin Again by Christy Newton –

“…a sweet, poignant small town romance which is a pleasure to read.”

  • Lake Effect by Johannah Bryson –

“…flirty, fun, and just right to take your troubles away for awhile.”

  • All About Charming Alice by J. Arlene Culiner –

“…an emotional, heartfelt, dazzling experience.”

  • Broken Wings, Soaring Hearts by Beverly A. Rogers –

“…a sweet, deep and very inspiring and fast read with a great plot that will keep you hooked…”

  • Charmed by Inés Saint –

“…a charmingly sweet romance with warmth and humor that you will enjoy throughout the book.”

  • Angel Without Wings by Mari Manning –

A story about family, love, and redemption…

  •  Breaking the Rules by Melinda Dozier –

“…a beautiful romance about taking risks and second chances.”

 

Grab the entire collection now for just 99 cents, and see for yourself just how sweet small-town love can be…