In a land far away...many years in the future... A princess must face her toughest challenge... Not world peace but a sexy bodyguard. Check out this upcoming release by Mara Gan!

Duty and prophecy get in the way of everything.

All I ever wanted to do was read my books, play my sports, and help people. Life and prophecy had other things in mind.

Helping people is what I do; as an empath and semi-frequent telepath, I can easily sense and understand people's needs and emotions. Sometimes even before they do. Being able to read everyone’s thoughts and feelings all the time can drive me crazy with anxiety, but that moment when I can finally make someone’s life better makes everything worth it.

Unfortunately, I’m also the next in line to rule the galaxy, I’m the only diplomat most planets will listen to, assassins try to kill me on an annoyingly regular basis, and a much-vaunted Prophecy has decreed that I’m going to die. Oh, and someone blew up my home planet.

Kind of a lot to deal with, right?

Too bad I just got another problem: a big, irritating, overbearing bodyguard with serious anger management issues.
​
And I think I’m falling for him.
​

About the Author:
A Pacific Northwesterner by birth and disposition, Mara has lived in Washington DC, Oregon, Japan, and most recently the beautiful Pacific Grove, California, before returning to her roots in Seattle. By day she teaches history to unsuspecting teenagers, and by night she writes books and travels to far-flung places. She loves to be with animals, read, play sports, and drink more London Fogs than is likely good for her.
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Connect with Mara on Facebook: www.facebook.com/maraganbooks
 

​Memories of a TV-watching Childhood
 
I’ve always loved stories based on families, especially when there is a strong parent. I grew up watching shows like Bonanza, The Rifleman, and The Big Valley, and I remember being drawn to Ben Cartwright, Lucas McCain, and Victoria Barkley, even though I was young when those shows first aired. When the authors at Eskape Press agreed to do a multi-author series about a widower with several children, I immediately signed on to write the patriarch’s story.
 
As a group, the series authors decided that the family business was an alpaca ranch in Indiana (as a nod to our publisher, who lives there). Since the alpaca business is not as lucrative as it once was, I had to be sure my character had another profession to fall back on. I thought of careers that could continue on a part-time basis and decided the Tom Cooper would be a successful attorney who became an alpaca rancher when he inherited the ranch from his grandfather. Tom had a loving marriage, and has mourned his wife for ten years. To get him to take a chance on love again, I needed a compassionate woman who understands loss all too well, and former nurse Laurie Matthews came to be.
 
In creating a mental image of my main characters, I again went to my favorite TV shows. The hero is modeled after my favorite silver fox – Mark Harmon. He’s about the age of Tom Cooper, my alpaca rancher. He’s handsome, but not necessarily what I’d call pretty. On NCIS, his Agent Gibbs is intelligent, but not flashy. Actress Jean Smart was my inspiration for the heroine. I loved her as office manager Charlene Frazier on the show Designing Women. She’s sassy, but there’s an underlying layer of pain.
 
I’m not sure how well these two actors would mesh in a TV production, but they worked well enough in my mind to create a story I hope readers will love. 

Blurb:
Tom Cooper left his high-pressure law practice in Indianapolis for life on an alpaca farm in the tiny northwest Indiana town of Escape. Though he continued to practice law, the farm provided a good life for him, his wife, and their four children. But when his wife died, grief consumed him and the children all left. He’s resigned to doing things alone, but a disturbing medical diagnosis could change things.
 
Laurie Matthews left her nursing job in shame. The town of Escape has welcomed her, and she now owns the local diner. She’s attracted to the handsome widower who comes in for coffee and a hot meal, but keeps her distance, because everyone she’s ever loved has died – her grandparents, her parents, her husband, and one other.
 
A romantic relationship isn’t on the agenda for either of them, but when the diner falls on hard times, Tom steps in to help, paving the way for them both to escape the loneliness in their lives.
 
Excerpt:
The familiar scents of good home cooking greeted Tom as he and John entered the diner. Laurie worked with local farmers to include their fresh produce, eggs, and meat on her menu rather than the canned and frozen fare Hal had preferred. Since most of the booths were full, the pair made their way to the counter.

Tom’s gaze zeroed in on Laurie, bent down and taking something out of the oven. She made a mighty fine sight, and Tom took a moment to appreciate it. Whatever she pulled out made him forget about eating something healthy. It smelled decadent. Along with her nutritious meals, Laurie had made a name for herself with her breakfast breads and desserts.

His appreciation was immediately cut short by a stab of guilt. The pain always hit whenever he thought about another woman. He’d been a widower for ten years, but not a day went by when he didn’t think of his Amy. The girl who stole his heart at age twenty and never let go. There would never be another woman like her.

As he did whenever he noticed an attractive woman, he pushed away his feelings. No use acting on his interest if he wasn’t able to let go of his feelings for Amy. Besides, after the news John gave him that morning, what woman would want to have anything to do with him?
 
The Road to Escape can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo.

Author Bio:
Patricia Kiyono was born in Japan and raised in southwest Michigan, where she lives with her very tolerant husband, near their five children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Her first career was teaching, which she still does part-time at a local university. In addition to writing, she likes to sew and scrapbook. She also loves to travel, always on the lookout for special locations and historical details for her books.
​
Patricia Kiyono can be found on Amazon and at her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest. 
 

I owe Country music always, for every story I write and think, but for All Those Miles I Walked I owe Mr. Eric Church a little bit more. You know, the country singer? Yep, him.

Because Scott and DJ’s story started with an older song of him, Two Pink Lines.
I was listening to it and the last line of the song–when the girl grabs her coat and just leaves him –struck me and had my brain go.

Usually, when a pregnancy test is involved the boy runs. Not in this song. I mean, he wasn’t all that thrilled, but she was the one doing the leaving. That girl sparkled something. Who is she? What happened to her after that moment? And did she and the boy ever seen each other again?

Those were the seeds, and what came out of it it’s a story not only about the strength of love, but about staying true to yourself no matter how difficult. DJ can’t compromise with herself when she leaves. Years later, Scott can’t compromise on what to ask of her. And that’s the perfect ground for trouble. The results? Well, you can’t expect me to tell you that now, can you? You’ll have to read the story!
 
BLURB
         At eighteen, DJ made a choice–her heart or her dreams. Neither was wrong, yet either would break her heart. She chose the world. Over a decade later, she returns to Crescent Creek and to the one regret she's ever had–Scott.
​
Scott’s always been steady as a rocky reef. He’d loved once and when she’d left, his strong heart had crumbled like a sandcastle. Now DJ is back, and Scott wants nothing to do with her. If only Eva, his and DJ’s old friend, didn’t need their help. Because of her, he’s stuck with DJ and he’d be damned, she still gets under his skin.

DJ is a free spirit who needs the road under her feet. Scott is a family man who wants to groom his roots. With danger on their doorstep and a baby to keep safe, how much are they willing to compromise for love?

EXCERPT:
​It was just a kiss, and didn’t mean any more than that. To give him closure, to confirm she wasn’t a big deal anymore.
​
He brushed her lips once. Then once more.

He’d feared he would be pulled up into a spiral and land somewhere in the past where textures, scents, sounds would hold him prisoner again, but nothing came out to hunt him. What he felt was very much new.

So, he grew bolder, exploring the mouth she offered with steady thoroughness, as if it was the first time in his life, as if he’d never kissed her before.

Scott felt her under his hands, heard her little moan and god, he wanted that woman.

Firmly, he backed her up to the kitchen counter, grabbed her by the waist and sat her on it. Her legs wrapped around his hips as she tried to get closer and closer, feeding his heat with her own. His hands roamed on her back, got lost in her hair. Nothing, no one, had ever tasted like she did right now. Not even his memory of her compared.

Maybe no one ever would. What a stupid idea. To prove to himself he could, he eased away. Harder than he’d thought, it took him a couple more tastes before he stepped back, but dry spells tended to do that to a man.

The girl that had shattered his world had no more chains on him, and their kiss was the proof he needed.

That he wanted to tear her tank top to pieces, get rid of her cut-offs jeans and push her on the couch, was merely a human reaction any man would have to any beautiful woman who’d kissed his brains out.

Lust. Nothing fanciful. Or dangerous.

He took a step back, his hands gripping firmly the edge of the table, and cleared his throat, trying to find words that wouldn’t make him look like a total moron.

Thank god, she beat him. “Nice way to congratulate me for the house.”

“Yes, well.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You should probably go.”

“Listen, I’m sorry, I–”

“No, no,” she hurried to say it, putting a hand in front of herself to stop him. “See, the thing is, if you come any closer I’ll shred your t-shirt with my teeth before I push you onto the floor and have my way with you. I don’t think either of us is ready for it, so you should go.”

He swallowed, tried to regain access to his voice after her honesty had bashed his head in hard. So, so hard. “Okay.”

Lame, but what else could he say? Something even more lame, like, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She nodded, and he stepped into the heavy air of the night. To go where? He was way too hung up for home, so he took his cell.

You home and up? he texted.

Yes, and yes.

Twenty minutes later, he parked at Rhett’s.

After the tragic drowning of her brother eighteen years ago, Aleida Fuller has lived her life communicating with the supernatural. She can see and speak to the dead, as if they were still walking the earth. Despite being welcomed in the spirit world, Aleida lives a closeted existence. Her reclusive mother refuses to accept her abilities and the local townsfolk think she’s a fraud.
​
When mysterious traveler Rafe Jenner arrives in town, Aleida’s dull life is irrevocably changed. He’s handsome, strange, and oddly alluring, with piercing eyes that turn red in the dark…

As Aleida and Rafe are teamed up to solve a crime for the Sheriff’s Office, a great evil lurks in the shadows. Bloodthirsty for Aleida’s soul, Hell-bound demon Albinus roams the earth, shedding blood and taking lives in search of her. He will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. Aleida must draw on her physic abilities and her newfound alliance with Rafe to battle Hell’s agents before her soul is lost forever.

About the Author:
Born in Sydney, author Kellie Wallace developed a love for the written word early in life, writing her first story at aged three. Her father used to read to her at bedtime, establishing a deep love and respect for books.
​
Kellie wrote her first fiction fantasy novel called Giblin the Conquer, an X Files fan fiction and a military fiction while in high school. After finishing school, Kellie moved to the sunny Northern Beaches and carved a successful career in the media/advertising industry writing for numerous Sydney based publications. But that didn’t stop Kellie’s love to write. An aspiring novelist, she fulfilled a dream in 2008 having her first book All She Ever Wanted published at the age of 22 years old.

Since 2013, Kellie has established herself as a hybrid author, writing a range of genres from historical fiction, fantasy, crime and new adult fiction. Her next release Death Knows My Name will be published late 2017 through Inkspell Publishing.

She currently resides in Sydney with her husband. In her spare time, Kellie loves to write, game, draw, exercise, and binge on her favorite TV shows.
Facebook - www.facebook.com/kelliewallacebooks
Twitter: twitter.com/kelliewallace85
Insta: kellie_wallace_books
Website: www.kelliewallacebooks.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7190543.Kellie_Wallace
 

On occasion a reader will insist that the main premise of this story is not credible (a young woman chooses to dress in men’s clothes and declare herself to be a young man). Their reasoning being that surely people would realize she was a woman.

Evidently, Victorians were not terribly observant people, for in real life, quite a few women dressed and pretended to be men. Not surprising, given how limited life was for Victorian women.
​
Here is a very fine example: Margaret Bulkley took her uncle’s name: James Barry and dressed as a man so she could attend medical school and become a doctor:

Picture of James Barry (AKA Margaret Bulkley)

She not only became a doctor, she became the highest ranked doctor in the British army. She was also the first doctor to perform a successful Cesarean in which both mother and child lived. It was not until she died, that the charwoman hired to clean Barry for burial discovered ‘she’ was not a man, but a woman. His regular doctor suggested he was a hermaphrodite. The charwoman strongly disagreed, pointing out the evidence (stretch marks) that Margaret/James had born a child. (Given Margaret’s age at the time, it was more likely from sexual assault than consensual. Historians now believe the child was raised as her younger ‘sister’ with only her older siblings and, of course, her mother knowing the truth.)

Even when the charwoman took her story to the press, all information about Margaret/James Barry was quickly sealed with plans to keep it so for a hundred years. A researcher gained access to the documents in 1950.

Margaret/James became a man when she went to medical school. Spent her entire life as a surgeon in the British Army, and reached the highest rank possible for a surgeon. It was not until she retired from the Army and died of dysentery that her gender was discovered. So clearly, women could pass themselves off as men in the Victorian era.
 
As for my character, Vic, I chose a model for my cover that visually could pass for either sex.

I attribute her with a low voice and provided her with chest compressor so she doesn’t appear to have breast.  She even pins a filled sock to her pants’ crotch.
Also, Vic is tall for a woman with a boyish lanky body. In fact, her hips refused to spread during the birth of their child, Cannon. Dr. Connors had to perform a Cesarean to save both her and her baby’s life. Fortunately, he had read up on Dr. Barry’s Cesarean and knew what to do.
​
So my premise is not only reasonable, but has been proven so Margaret/James in real life, not to mention a great many wives who chose to dress as men and go to war with their husbands.

Determining whom to trust is getting very hard, indeed. This may be the most trying cases imaginable. Director Stone has gone missing and it appears Ministers of Parliament are involved. Xavier is arrested and placed in a jail meant to kill him, while Vic, disguised as a woman, attempts to locate the Minister of External Affairs and ask for his help.

Everyone is called in to assist: Jacko, his wife Alice, their son, Pete, Samson, the Crime Lord, David and Claire, Tubs and his wife, Sara, the boys: Cannon and Ham, plus the bloodhound, Arroo.

The Wasp who escaped punishment for her attempts to murder her bigamist husband’s first wife last year is back. Vic discovers love letters between Ben, their terrible secretary, and the Wasp. Worse yet, he shared Xavier’s financial advice with the Wasp, making her and her husband very wealthy.

With Stone missing, and Barns and Meyers stretched to their limits, Vic decides it’s time to train more of the Scotland Yard officers in intuitive and deductive reasoning. While only half the class makes it through her two-day course, everyone is pleased with her results.

Finally, be warned: Vic’s sister, Claire, is becoming more difficult than ever. Gregory thinks she is going mad.

Two in the morning, Vic and Xavier were surreptitiously following a drunken spy. Not an easy task, given Xavier had not been allowed to have Davy, his carriage driver, accompany them. This meant he and Vic had to take turns following the young man while the other one drove the carriage up side roads to keep pace with the drunken fool. Even a fool, deep in his cups, would catch on that something was afoot if the same carriage either lurked behind him or constantly passed him and then pulled to the side of the road.

Finally, the boy stopped and stared at a warehouse by the docks. Before the young man could enter, a young girl stepped out of the shadows. Had Barringbarn sent him on a fool’s errand? Was the boy only looking for female company?

Then Xavier heard what sounded like a muted explosion and the young man collapsed to the ground.

Xavier pulled his gun and looked around for trouble, but the dock appeared empty. Even the young girl had run off when she heard the gun shot. Women in the docks would risk their lives for a coin, but otherwise, they looked out for themselves.

Just then Vic pulled up with the carriage and jumped down. “Why did you shoot him?”

“I didn’t,” Xavier snapped, “I’m not sure what happened. There was a young woman who stepped out of the darkness, blonde, I think, but I couldn’t tell you more. An odd explosion came from somewhere close to her location, then the boy collapsed. Any chance you saw where the girl went.”

Vic snorted. “Dock women know to run when trouble starts. I didn’t even see her, so there’s no way we’ll catch her. Let’s just grab the body and drop it off at the Minster’s house. The man’s so stupid, he will probably bellow at the corpse for an hour before he even realizes the fellow is dead.”
​
“No, he’ll, no doubt, demand I find the girl.” Xavier sighed heavily. This was supposed to be a simple grab and interrogate. In fact, they were not even the ones who were supposed to interrogate. The minister of Internal Affairs made it very clear they were to gag the fellow and bring him directly to his house.  

Liza O’Connor was raised badly by feral cats, left the South/Midwest and wandered off to find nicer people on the east coast. There she worked for the meanest man on Wall Street, while her psychotic husband tried to kill her three times. (So much for finding nicer people.) Then one day she declared enough, got a better job, divorced her husband, and fell in love with her new life where people behaved nicely. But all those bad behaviors has given her lots of fodder for her humorous books. Please buy these books, because otherwise, she’ll become grumpy and write troubled novels instead. They will likely traumatize you.

You have been warned.
​
The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Sleuth series: (Late Victorian/Mystery/Romance)
The Troublesome Apprentice — The greatest sleuth in Victorian England hires a young man who turns out to be a young woman.
The Missing Partner — Opps! The greatest sleuth in Victorian England goes missing, leaving Vic to rescue him, a suffragette, and about 100 servants. Not to mention an eviscerating cat. Yes, let’s not mention the cat.
A Right to Love — A romantic detour for Jacko. Want to see how amply rewarded Jacko was when he & Vic save an old woman from Bedlam?
The Mesmerist — The Mesmerist can control people from afar and make them murder for her. Worse yet, Xavier Thorn has fallen under her spell.
Well Kept Secrets — The problems with secrets is that they always come to light, no matter how you wish to silence them.
Pack of Trouble — Changes are a part of life, but these changes almost kill Vic.
The Darkest Days — Muddled cases make Vic very grumpy.
The CrimeLords’ War — Vic is almost killed twice as she tries to prevent a CrimeLords’ War, stop a female Russian spy, and locate Xavier.
Toxic Diamonds -- The Queen’s Diamonds have been stolen, Director Stone of Scotland Yard is missing, and there is a toxic gas that may kill hundreds of Londoners.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
LIZA O'CONNOR’S MANY BOOKS
Investigate these sites:
Liza's Blog and Website   Facebook   Twitter
​

​Ms. O'Connor's books are a must read! They have suspense, action and humor. While I do recommend reading them in order, it isn't necessary. I didn't and have really enjoyed going back and reading some of the earlier books.

In book 8, Vic must assume more responsibility as the government seems to be falling apart. Director Stone is missing and Xavier is put in jail. But saving the world is just what Vic has always done. This time, she enlists the help of her family and friends to solve the cases and keep everyone safe. 

Not only does she realize she needs help but also sets out to train Scotland Yard so that they can become better detectives. This is not easy as not everyone sees things as Vic does. 

Without giving too much away, this book had me on the edge of my seat. I worried and cried over what could happen. Lives are lost as the danger becomes more intense. I feared for the safety of not only Vic but also her friends. 

If you haven't picked up one of these stories, you are missing out on an adventure of a lifetime. They are a story you will read over and over as you uncover the clues and solve the mysteries. 

Just don't call Xavier--Sherlock!

When two things tempt you, how do you choose? For most of us, it's easy. We pick the thing we like better, say popcorn over potato chips. But what about when you really don't know which is better? In The Right Brother, Gwen has to decide between two men who are both wonderful people. But only one makes her toes curl. However, is that a reason to marry?

EXCERPT:
Had this just been one big competition? Was she just a prize to them both?
She glared at him. “Just because you drag me around this place as though you own me, doesn’t mean you do or that I would do anything just because you tell me to.”

Before her words had time to sink in, she pushed herself free from the bed and shot past him. She had hoped to make it to the door, but was interrupted in her second step.

Blake was on his feet, his hand gripping her arm tightly, before spinning her around. The force propelled her into his arms, her hands pressed against the hard muscle of his chest. Her face was close to his, foreheads almost touching. They both stared toward the ground as though one glance at each other, in that instant, would ignite something unstoppable.

Gwen could barely catch her breath. She was frightened and furious, but the spicy fragrance of his cologne mixed with his natural musky scent was tremendously enticing, and her body reacted accordingly. His hands held her upper arms in a vice-like grip, holding her in place against him. She bit her lip as their eyes met, their noses touching in a brief, sensual Eskimo kiss. Her whole body thrummed with anticipation, her hands desperate to wander and her hips longing to grind a little closer. Blake made his lips brush against hers and she felt her body quiver at the sensitive touch.

“Why do you always run from me?” His voice was strained.

Gwen moved her head slightly, their noses brushing once more. She closed her eyes for a second to revel in the multitude of sensations. “Because you irritate me so.”

He smiled. “Love, you’re only irritated because you care.”
​
“No,” she lied.

Invited by one brother, tempted by the other…

Former Australian playboy Blake Davenport knows his billionaire brother, David, is capable of anything to ensure he gets what he wants. But manipulating his young daughter’s beautiful teacher into marriage is unacceptable.

Gwen Deveraux is grateful for the invitation to spend Christmas and New Year’s with her beloved student’s family, especially when her handsome host is so eager for her company. After surviving a broken heart, she is finally ready to give love another chance.

But, who with?

The illustrious David Davenport whose real motives seem hidden behind charm? Or his roguish brother, Blake, who has tempted her heart and body from the very moment they met?

​About the Author:
Tammy Mannersly is an Australian author based in Brisbane, Queensland. She loves writing romance, has a fondness for animals, is crazy about movies and enjoys a great Happily Ever After. Her passion for writing started from a very young age and lead her to complete a Bachelor Degree in Creative Industries majoring in Creative Writing at Queensland University of Technology. You can find out more information about Tammy and her work on her website: www.tammymannersly.com or by visiting Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013727268166 and Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/60685325-tammy-mannersly.
 

Have you ever felt that your love was missing by a short distance? Luckily, I’m very happily married to a wonderful guy but sometimes I think about the similarities between his life and my ex-husband, I wonder if I was always meant to find him but he was 200 miles away from me.
In 1984, I married my first real boyfriend. We’d gone to high school together and lived a short distance apart. His parents were avid golfers who belonged to a local country club. Vacations were family affairs with grandparents and children, even extended family. After two children and 20 years of marriage, we divorced. And I found Mark. He also had been married in 1984 to his high school sweetheart. His parents remind me of my former in-laws, both loving golf and enjoying the country club lifestyle. After 15 years of marriage and two children, they divorced.

Once I moved to Michigan, we could have met at so many different points. He bought a bunch of furniture at the store I worked. We often frequented the same places. Eventually, it was through work that I met him but through email first. 

The big difference is their personalities. Mark is an introvert like me. He’s reliable, always understanding and accepting of my fears and quirks. In those ways, Mark is like me. Never does he tease me about who I am. Sometimes, I wonder if God had a plan in who I needed but I was in the wrong place. I’m just glad we’ve got it right now. 

Everyone loves to win a prize! Whether it's one dollar from the lottery scratch off or a jar of candy for guessing closest to the amount in the jar...we love the feeling of being selected for something special. 

This month on NN Light's blog (http://princessofthelight.wordpress.com), they are having a huge giveaway. Each day features a different book and holiday tradition. My book, A Christmas Accident, will be featured on July 18th. I'm sharing some holiday memories. After all, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. 

I hope you'll stop by and visit, share the love and enter to win!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db77506/?