 Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense After a lifetime of living in the shadows, can Secret Agent Raven O'Connell step into the light with the Navy SEAL who holds her heart? Raven O'Connell is a woman with secrets. One of the top STAR agents, she's a force to be reckoned with. When she meets Navy SEAL Zach Richter at her best friend's wedding the sparks fly. Zach is a man used to danger. A seasoned soldier, he's grown accustomed to living on the edge. Getting involved on a permanent basis wasn't something he'd ever considered…until he met Raven. What started out as a no-strings affair quickly blossomed into more. But can they have a future when dark secrets and a dangerous mission pushes them into a life-threatening situation that will cost one of them more than they ever imagined? Content Warning: contains violence and graphic sex 
"Excuse me, won't you have a seat? We're about to begin." The smartly dressed man hovering in the doorway wiped his forehead, a worried look in his eyes. His fingers plucked at his collar, adjusting it nervously. "Thank you." Jocylin smiled. She rested a hand on Raven's arm. "You staying?" "I don't sit with the family." Raven met her stare head-on. "I don't think it's right to sit next to someone whose daughter I couldn't save." "Then why attend the funeral?" "Because I have to." Stepping by Jocylin, Raven settled next to a tall, ornate plant, her hands tucked into the pockets of her black slacks. She hated attending these things. Not because of the death, but because of the sense of failure. But facing the ones who grieved a lost loved one was a small penance to pay for her sins. * * * * The clink of ice cubes against glass seemed to mock Raven as she shifted, lifting her drink to her lips and sipping the virgin concoction. It hardly seemed appropriate to be sitting amid the revelry when she'd spent the better part of her morning mired in the grief and rage of a family burying a child. A band occupied the stage, their lively beat filling the hot room. Men and women in formal wear circulated, the mingled odors of their perfume and cologne enough to give her a migraine. In the corner a drunken couple were too busy making out to notice the rest of the crowd, who seemed oblivious to their antics. Raven sighed. There wasn't a lot to be said for sitting at a table in a low lit room while her best friend danced around with her new husband, not when she had important work to do. Raven stared at the pair, a hint of envy tickling her nerves. Alex wore a delicate lace gown, her curves highlighted by the clinging material. The lust in her husband's gaze hot enough to burn through the fancy dress. Slade looked ready to throw her on the nearest table, his face taut, filled with hunger as he pulled her against him. Raven swallowed past the nausea and glanced over the crowd. A slight smile curled her lips as she appraised those at the wedding. There was more danger in this room than any where she could pinpoint at the moment. SEALs, STARs, as well as several other military and law enforcement agencies, all laughed and joked. The combined firepower in the room enough to take down a small country. She snorted under her breath. It wasn't like there was anyone interested in such a feat. At least at the moment. "Damn." Raven straightened, her gaze falling on a tall, broad-shouldered man lounging against the wall. Her fingers clenched around the glass, the faint throb of adrenaline flaring to life, and she shrugged off the silky shawl she'd wrapped around her shoulders. She stood, her body humming as she appraised him. The neat lines of his uniform hugged his massive frame, the trousers clinging to his butt. His eyes scanned the room, taking in every detail, every nuance, but revealed nothing. Legs braced, his arms crossed over his chest, a glass resting on his bicep, whoever he was, he wasn't the accountant. Arousal hit, hard, fast, burning through her reserves as she licked her lips. Ignoring the tiny voice of reason screaming at her, she pasted a smile on her face and sashayed toward him, drink in hand. Her heart throbbed with each step, and her blood heated at the quick glance he ran over her before looking away. "You look bored, handsome." Raven curled her fingers over his arm, brushing against him with her breasts. Tiny tremors of heat danced along her skin. He turned his head, his eyes meeting hers, the rough material of his jacket rustling against the silk of her gown. "I hate formal events." Low, rich, the baritone rolled over her like a wave. She pressed closer and shivered at the bulge behind the zipper of his pants, a wave of moisture pooling between her legs. "Ooh, yes." She moved a bit closer, her fingers brushing against him. Her pulse skipped at the twitch of interest behind the placket of his pants. "These things do leave one with a vague disgust. I'd hoped they'd elope and we wouldn't be tortured with this public display of affection." "Disgust isn't the word I'd use." He reached out to take her drink. She watched him take a sip, catching the flare of surprise in his eyes, and Raven laughed. "Hmm, so why are you here drinking juice?" "I don't like alcohol." Raven shrugged. "It clouds the mind, slows reflexes." "True, but I don't think you're likely to have any difficulty at Alex and Slade's wedding. And if you did, there's enough combined training in here to…" "Yeah, I know. Overthrow a small country." With a quick grin she leaned closer. "But I don't see any, uh, problem which would need the sort of training we have in abundance. There are problems…" She brushed her breasts against him as she took her drink back and set it aside. "Then there are problems. Perhaps I can help you with one of yours." "Oh?" He smiled, a slow curl of his lips as he eyed her, heat flaring with each blatant sweep of his gaze. Raven tugged on his tie. "Yes, sir. Why, it has to be hard on a person to have such a rigid package. Let's see if I can help out. After all, it's the neighborly thing to do." Buy Links: Beachwalk Press Amazon Barnes & Noble 
Currently I have over 20 books under contract under my own name and under my pen name Elise Whyles in multiple genres. My goals this year are simple to continue putting out stories my readers love, books they can relate to and characters they can identify with. For the full list of my books please check out my books page.
Author Links: Site Twitter Facebook   Hello and welcome to Greta for visiting today. :) Hi and thanks for having me. My new novella, A Matter of Trust, is a simple space opera love story. But when I say 'love story' the last thing I think of is Romeo and Juliet. Let's face it, folks, Romeo, in his early teens, became infatuated with a girl even younger than he was. No dating, no making out. Just love-lorn sheep's eyes gazing up at her from the garden while she stands on the balcony. I mean, he's not even allowed to meet her. And you know, romance stories are supposed to have a happy ever after, not both of them killing themselves. Sheesh. A Matter of Trust does have one similarity to Romeo and Juliet, though. Alien Admiral Ul-Mellor and Princess Amira come from totally different backgrounds where any notion of a relationship would be absolutely impossible. For a sort of comparison, think of Pocahontas and her British lover, John Smith. The gulf between them was huge. But they made it in the end. Here's the blurb: Princess Amira is ready to start a new life after the death of her husband, but that doesn't include marrying the man her father picks out for her. Pursued by his agents, she races across the galaxy in a desperate search for a safe haven. Amid simmering tensions at the edge of the Empire, Amira renews her acquaintance with Imperial Admiral Ul-Mellor. Although his detractors call him the Demon Admiral, Amira finds him intelligent, articulate, and very attractive. But Ul-Mellor is not human and Amira is a princess – far above Ul-Mellor's status on his home world. He and Amira will have to overcome a gulf of cultural and class differences if they're to turn their mutual attraction into a relationship. And what will Ul-Mellor do when faced with a choice – Amira or his hard-won commission? What's your favourite SF Romance, book, TV series, or movie? You'll find A Matter of Trust at all the usual outlets. Amazon http://myBook.to/AMoT_GvdR Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-trust-greta-van-der-rol/1119191050?ean=2940149518135&itm=1&usri=2940149518135 iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id861044048 Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-matter-of-trust-23 Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/428266 Omnilit http://www.omnilit.com/product-amatteroftrust-1477914-153.html  Will the Demon Admiral protect her from her family? Princess Amira is ready to start a new life after the death of her husband, but that doesn’t include marrying the man her father picks out for her. Pursued by his agents, she races across the galaxy in a desperate search for a safe haven. Amid simmering tensions at the edge of the Empire, Amira renews her acquaintance with Imperial Admiral Ul-Mellor. Although his detractors call him the Demon Admiral, Amira finds him intelligent, articulate, and very attractive. But Ul-Mellor is not human and Amira is a princess – far above Ul-Mellor’s status on his home world. He and Amira will have to overcome a gulf of cultural and class differences if they’re to turn their mutual attraction into a relationship. And what will Ul-Mellor do when faced with a choice – Amira or his hard-won commission?
 Amira strode across the ornate polished stone floor of her father’s private sitting room and into his study. “You wanted to see me, Father?” Prince Fedor Hezkurin looked up from the paperwork on his desk and scowled, his gaze flicking over her. “Amira, my dear, I wish you wouldn’t wear those peasant clothes. They don’t become you.” “They’re very practical for my work with the Tuchaska.” She pulled off the clasp that tied back her ponytail and shook her head, sending her hair dancing around her shoulders. Hezkurin sighed. “That doesn’t become you either. You should not be wasting your time with aliens.” Amira pulled over a chair and sat facing him. Yes, she probably did need a shower, and a change of clothes, too. Her boots had probably left a trail over her father’s floor. But she wasn’t going to apologize. “It was their planet before we took it over.” “Yes, my dear and we’ve been the rulers for two hundred years.” “They provide the labor for your estates. If somebody doesn’t help them you won’t have a labor force at all.” They’d had this discussion before. He didn’t care about mysterious illnesses that only affected the Tuchaska. As far as he was concerned there were enough of them to get the work done. Without her intervention their physician wouldn’t have been able to obtain sufficient drugs to treat the sick. Today she’d helped the doctor move two patients from their home to his clinic. He nodded absently. Her fingers beat a staccato tattoo on the arm of the chair. He was up to something. She could always tell. His eyes became shifty, darting around, and he fiddled with the objects on his desk. “Well?” Prince Fedor shifted the picture of his wife one more time and took a deep breath. “I’ve been talking to Baron Ghaurondo.” Ghaurondo? Big fat, ugly, loathsome Ghaurondo. She cocked an eyebrow. “How nice for you.” “He’s a very powerful man, Amira.” “Only in the Arondean Hegemony.” Her father frowned. “Which is ten systems and where we live.” “Yes, fine.” Amira crossed her legs and folded her arms. Her heart beat a little faster. This wasn’t sounding good. “So what?” The Prince scratched absently at his neck above the ornate collar of his uniform. Goodness, that was a very bad sign. This wasn’t going to be good at all. “As you know, we’ve not had the best of seasons. And we’re very dependent on the Arondean Hegemony… to buy our harvest, anyway. They’ve found other places to supply their agricultural products.” Fedor paused and licked his lips. “What has that to do with me, father?” “Baron Ghaurondo has always admired you.” “Him and a few others.” Her pulse galloped. She had an idea she knew where this was going. “He’s asked for your hand.” “Sorry, I need both of mine.” She wished this was some sort of ridiculous joke. Or maybe she’d wake up in her own bed. “Father, you can’t be serious. He’s a bag of fat on legs. He’s got body odor.” “Amira, darling, don’t make this difficult. It’s time you married again. He’s rich and powerful—” “He’s twice my age and disgusting. No.” Anger boiled in her belly. So he thought he could order her about like a teenager, did he? She should never have come back here. “And why do I have to marry again anyway?” “Christoph’s been dead for a year now and you’re not getting any younger.” “Don’t give me the grandchildren story. I don’t want to hear it.” She stared at him, a horrible thought insinuating itself into her mind. He couldn’t mean…? Surely not. But his face was composed, the sort of look her father gave his estate manager when he’d made up his mind. “Oh, how obscene. With that… that…” “Look at it from the family’s point of view, darling. It’s a strategic alliance. In the short term, Baron Ghaurondo can guarantee sale of our harvest. Without that, we’re in for a very hard time.” “So you’re selling me to keep your economy going.” “No. In the longer term, we become part of a powerful family that will secure our future here. You would be mother of the future Baron.” Amira’s lip curled in disgust. “Oh, please, father. Ghaurondo already has a gaggle of sons.” “He has promised your son will become—” “So you’re selling me to gain political advantage. You disgust me.” At least he had the decency to squirm. “No.” He scratched his neck again. “Look at the positives. Ghaurondo can give you anything you want. Jewels, clothes, finery, antiques.” He made an expansive gesture with his arm. “Anything at all.” “He has nothing I want.” The prince cleared his throat. “I’ve agreed, Amira. Baron Ghaurondo will be here tomorrow to collect his betrothed.” Her heart lurched. Tomorrow. The bastard. “You didn’t think it might have been nice to discuss your plans for my life with me?” She jabbed her finger at her chest. He leaned back in his chair, his fists on the desk, his gaze fixed on her face. “I knew what you’d say. But sometimes I have to think about more than just my immediate family’s interests.” This was beyond acceptable. He might have sired her but contempt for him rose like bile in her throat. She rose to her feet and leaned over the desk at him. “You can’t do this. I’m thirty-six years old, not some naïve teenager to force into a strategic union.” He flinched, but his jaw set. “I’ve given my word. It will be done.” Amira shook her head slowly. “I’ve not given mine.” You contemptible bastard. She spun on her heel and strode toward the door, her boots ringing on the stone. Her father’s sigh followed her. “I had hoped it would not come to this but you leave me no choice.” The door opened. Six of the palace security guard waited outside. Amira turned to her father, who stood behind his desk in his general’s pose: back straight and in command. He didn’t look at her, directing his attention at the armed men. “Escort Princess Amira to her apartments. She is not to leave without my express permission.” Amira glowered at her father. Right now contempt wasn’t a good enough word. She despised him. “Do you think my mother would have approved of this?” He looked at her then, a swift glance filled with sorrow before he said to the squad commander, “Take her away.” “I despise you.” She marched off, flanked by the guards.   Greta van der Rol loves writing action-packed adventures with a side salad of romance. Most of her work is space opera, but she has written paranormal and historical fiction. She lives not far from the coast in Queensland, Australia and enjoys photography and cooking when she isn’t bent over the computer. She has a degree in history and a background in building information systems, both of which go a long way toward helping her in her writing endeavours.  First I would like to introduce you to Sherry Ewing who roped...erm...asked me into this game. *wink* Sherry's a wonderful author and friend. You can check out her blog on her character here: http://www.sherryewing.com/apps/blog/show/42564152-meet-my-character-blog-hop- Here's more information on Sherry including where you can get ahold of her and her books!  Sherry Ewing is a self-published author who writes historical and paranormal romance novels to awaken the soul one heart at a time. Her debut historical romance, If My Heart Could See You, hit Amazon’s top ten bestseller list only two days after the paperback release. Always wanting to write a novel but busy raising her children, she finally took the plunge in 2008 and wrote her first Regency. She is a national and local member of Romance Writers of America since 2012 and is currently editing her to be released soon second novel, For All of Ever. When Sherry is not busy writing, she can be found in the San Francisco area at her day job as an Information Technology Specialist. Website: http://www.sherryewing.com Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Ewing/e/B00LP3CVXK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sherryewingauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sherry_ewing  MEET MY CHARACTER BLOG TOUR This tour highlights a main character from one of your WIP (Work in Progress), recently published or soon to be published work. Sherry posted last week. I will post this week and the people I tag, will post next Monday. *gleeful laughter* Yes! I get to tag more authors to play along! Here are the questions to answer about your main character: 1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person? My main character’s name is Angela French. She is a fictional character. 2) When and where is the story set? The story The Heartsong Cowboy takes place in modern day North Dakota. 3) What should we know about him/her? Angela is a single parent. Her husband died of cancer when her daughter was three. She loves being a mom to her daughter, Taylor and running her small restaurant- Café French. 4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life? After a traumatic incident, Angela’s daughter stopped speaking. Angela is dealing with guilt that is normal of a single parent but with the accident, she feels more responsible. She seeks out anyway to get her daughter to speak again. 5) What is the personal goal of the character? Angela would love to hear her daughter speak again, even just a sound. She feels responsible and can’t let go of the guilt. 6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it? The story is called The Heartsong Cowboy. Blurb: Can two people, one horse and the power of love cure a little girl? Angela French blames herself for her daughter’s lack of voice. Determined to do anything to correct the situation, she seeks out Jake Kyncade, the owner of The Heartsong Ranch. Jake Kyncade hides his own sorrows behind his no-nonsense demeanor. Helping children becomes one way to correct his past. Using equine therapy, he sets out to make a difference. Can Jake help Angela’s dreams come true or will Jake’s past bring more heartache? Will love save them all? 7) When can we expect the book to be published? The short novella will be a part of a book bundle and will be out in Mid-September. Now onto the fun part... I nominate..... Kurt Springs  Kurt D. Springs is presently an adjunct professor of anthropology and archaeology in New Hampshire. He holds a PhD. in anthropology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, as well as a Master of Literature in archaeology from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and a Master of Liberal Arts in anthropology and archaeology from the Harvard University Extension School. His main area of interest is megalithic landscapes in prehistoric Ireland. Kurt also writes reviews on Kurt's Frontier for Invincible Love of Reading. Professor Springs currently lives in Manchester, New Hampshire. Connect with Kurt: http://kurtsprings.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/kurt.springs.3 A.J. Vale  Wife and mom by day, romance writer by night, A.J. Vale stays sane by penning stories that won’t let her go. The former ballroom dance teacher and Real Estate Agent now dances with words. When she’s not writing or spending time with her children, she can be found reading, dancing and singing and not just in the shower. Her current story Compromising Positions can be found in the Love is… Anthology. Follow AJ Vale online at: http://ajvale.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAJVale https://twitter.com/AJValeWrites Heather M. Gardner  Heather M. Gardner's love of books began on the hand-woven rugs of her small town library where her mother worked. There she had a never-ending supply of stories to read at her fingertips.
As a teen, her favorite genres to curl up with were romance and mysteries. When she started to create her own stories, they were the perfect fit. Heather resides in New York with her best friend, who is also her husband, plus her talented and handsome son. She is currently owned by four stray cats. Heather's a full-time mom, works part-time from home, a chocolate enthusiast, coffee junkie, cat addict, book hoarder and fluent in sarcasm. Heather M. Gardner Facebook Author Page: Heather Writes Romance Blog: The Waiting is the Hardest Part Twitter: @hmgardner Goodreads: Heather M. Gardner  Sneak Peek Sunday showcases six paragraphs of your work...no more and no less. Here's six from my upcoming release The Heartsong Cowboy. Taylor is visiting the horses of Heartsong Ranch for the first time. She's not spoken since a trauma which silenced her voice. Equine therapy was her mother's last ditch effort to save her daughter.  Slowly, she reached out and clasped his fingers. He shut the gate behind them and walked into the corral. Four horses looked up but continued to nibble on the hay. Jake walked her over to each animal. They stopped at the first one, a pretty palomino. “This is Cherokee. She likes to stomp her feet when she’s hungry.” The girl reached out to touch the animal, but pulled her fingers back before making contact. “It’s okay. Just gently rub her nose.” He showed her how to do it. Cherokee continued to eat. “We have three more to meet.” He led her to a sleek black mare. “This is Crimson. She’s a sweetheart.” This time she reached out to pet the mare on her own. However, Crimson appeared more interested in him. She used her nose to push at him. “Play nice, Crimson.” He laughed. “Let’s go see the other two.” Jake and Taylor approached them. “The spotted one is Cougar, and the brown one is Cheyenne.” Even before the child could take a step, Cheyenne came over and stuck her nose down toward Taylor and blew a whinny in her face.  DARK STRONGHOLD #1 ERIN M. LEAF  Greyson Dark doesn’t like strangers in his territory. Eva Waverley doesn’t like being told to keep out. After her father's suicide, hiking is the only thing that makes the bullying in Eva's new school bearable. When Greyson rescues her from a tumble, she falls for him despite his autocratic demeanor. She's leaving for college soon—what does it matter if she crushes on a man everyone else fears? Greyson suspects Eva is his true mate, but duty demands he remain aloof. She doesn’t know he's a long-lived Sentry, sworn to protect Earth from an ancient alien menace. When she leaves for college, he's relieved, but four years later she comes back, all grown up and more gorgeous than ever. Greyson can't afford to care for a mortal woman, no matter how compelling. Hackers are attacking Stronghold, the Sentries' net, and Spiders are swarming beyond the moon, but when Eva is attacked, he discovers he can't just let her die… Buy Links: Evernight – Amazon - BookStrand - ARe – Smashwords Excerpt: “Eva, don’t,” Greyson said gently. His fingers touched her temple. She refused to take his comfort. “I’ll do it,” she said, turning her face away from his hand. Anger rushed through her. Damn John. And damn Greyson, for being a Sentry. “I already told my brothers no.” He pulled her close. Eva didn’t have the strength to fight him off again. Her lips hit his damp shirt and she let her head fall into his shoulder. He tasted like rain and dust. “I would never use you as bait,” he murmured. She bit her lip, hard. If she let herself think about it too much, she’d lose it. “You have to. It’s the only way.” At least he believed she was innocent. Small favors, she told herself grimly. “I’ll find another way,” he murmured, kissing her hair. He was being so gentle. The strangeness of it undermined her best intentions. Dammit. I can’t do this alone anymore. Eva blinked back tears, and hurriedly wiped them away. Screw it. I’ll do what I have to, but I want to live a little first. She grabbed onto him, twining her fingers in his shirt. “I don’t want to die, Greyson.” “God,” he muttered harshly. The next thing she knew, he’d lifted her up in his arms. “Greyson, stop,” she cried, hanging on for dear life. “Shh,” he admonished her, heading for the stairs. She shoved her face in his chest. “I don’t know how to do this.” “I do,” he said, kicking open the door to his room with his foot. The bed was lit with red and gold light as the sun set over the valley. Eva trembled as he lowered her down. “I thought you couldn’t get close to anyone. You said you had to remain aloof, as a Sentry.” He growled as he took off his shirt, tossing the wet fabric to the floor. “I changed my mind.” She stared at his chest. Muscles played over his torso as he popped the buttons on his jeans. She knew he was strong. He’d picked her up like she weighed nothing at all, but she hadn’t realized until right now just how much his clothing hid. He unlatched the metal clasps of his boots and kicked them off, padding barefoot to the bed. Her eyes went to a rip in his jeans as her whole body went hot. Whoa, she thought, overwhelmed. Is this really happening? She’d been dreaming about this moment for years and had all but given up on being with Greyson intimately. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, tugging at the arms she’d self-consciously wrapped around her chest. “I’m sorry,” she said, voice cracking. “I’m not perfect and thin and strong—” “Shh.” He cut her off. “You don’t see yourself the way I do.” She frowned at him, but he picked up her hands and put them on his shoulders. His skin is so hot. She kneaded the warm muscles beneath her palms, trying to convince herself she wasn’t dreaming. When he closed his eyes and shuddered, she bit her lip. “I’m sorry,” she said again, unable to help herself, but then he moved in and kissed her. The shock of his lips moving against hers destroyed her ability to think. All she could do was hang on and trust him. **** Greyson released the control he held over his empathic power and let himself sink into her emotions. He didn’t understand why she thought she was so unattractive—Eva was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever known, not just in body, but in strength of character. She’d been through so much and come out the other side a survivor. She eroded his self-control until he couldn’t fight himself any more. He hadn’t let a woman get close to him in two hundred years, but this slip of a girl destroyed all his good intentions. He nibbled on her delectable lower lip. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured, hands on her hips. No way was he going to stop now. He’d committed to this, Bruno and his suspicions be damned. She gasped, opening to him perfectly. He kissed her again, savoring her taste. Her hands clutched at his arms and he kissed down her jaw, reveling in the softness of her skin. “You’re strong,” he said, unbuttoning her blouse and pushing it over her shoulders. His breath caught when he saw his ring nestled between her breasts. “I’m not,” she argued, but he kissed her a third time, cutting off her protests. “Gorgeous,” he whispered when he let her up for air. He peeled the fabric from her body. Her generous breasts strained against the black satin of her bra and he wasted no time in nuzzling against them. She slid her hands into his hair as he tugged at the cup, popping a nipple out over the top. He sucked it in, playing at it with his tongue until it pebbled. “Oh God, Greyson,” she gasped, fisting his hair. He grinned against her skin and undid the clasps, sliding the bra away. He licked at her other nipple, plying the first one with his thumb. His senses were wide open and he could feel just how much she liked this. When he bit down, she arched her back. The tiny bit of pain shot her arousal higher. Greyson groaned as the echo of it funneled through him. His dick hurt where it was trapped in his jeans. He bit down again, then undid her pants. He paused and looked up her body. Her fair skin flushed under his gaze. “There’s no going back from this,” he said, wanting her to be certain. He reached up and snagged a lock of her gorgeous hair between his fingers. “Be sure.” Author Details: Erin M. Leaf is a romance novel devotee, the steamier the better, with a specialty in edgy erotic tension. She also writes romance as Marie E. Blossom. website: http://erinmleaf.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/erinmleaf Twitter: @erinmleaf Giveaway : $25 Amazon Gift Card! Today I'm taking a moment away from my regular book posts to share a few thoughts on age and birthdays. Yes, today is my birthday. I was born a long time ago in a small hospital where the dad's paced in the hallways, awaiting the news. A nice size (8 pounds), I never remembered much of those early days. Thank goodness my parents saw fit to take a million photos and home movies. But once I grew up, my thoughts about birthdays evolved. See for yourself!  A Passage of Time… Birthdays.. the word conjures up memories of balloons, cake and pin the tail on the donkey (weren’t those games always lame?). As a child, birthdays were second in importance of holidays. Only Christmas was more important. You would agonize over which friends to invite and what to put on your wish list.  Parents plan for these parties like a general planning for war. Each party needs to be different and better than last years (or the little girl’s down the street). I remember the year my daughter wanted a pool party. Her birthday is in May- not exactly pool weather in Michigan! So we rented two rooms at a local hotel and had our party there to my daughter’s delight and her friend’s envy!  As you get older, birthdays change. You dream of breakfast in bed, your favorite dinner (in a restaurant- not cooking it yourself!), and the PERFECT gift. Quickly this fantasy fades. Reality sets in and birthday just becomes another day. You still have laundry to do and bills to pay. It only takes one or two years to understand that birthdays are very different now that you are an adult and certainly as a mom. My first birthday after getting married was a shocker. Not only my husband forgot but my family did too! Only after listening to my crying for hours, did my husband pull a frozen pie out of the freezer, put candles on it, and sing happy birthday. Some adults fear and dread their coming birthdays because they mark another year closer to old age and death. They fight getting older. Just go to the make-up isle of any store to see that. The cosmetics industry makes tons of money off that fear. I remember that my mom never would admit her true age. She would tell everyone (each and every year) that this was her 25th birthday. We weren’t quite that gullible. We would tease her about WHICH 25th birthday this one was.  What do we really celebrate with birthdays? The name says it all! We should celebrate the day we came into the world rather than a number! Just ask any mom and they can recall in detail, the day their child was born (much to the horror of women who haven’t given birth). I do recommend not asking a brand new mom- she may have a painful perception! I believe that parents set out with good intentions to celebrate the birth of their child each year. But somewhere down the line, it becomes a competition or a death march.
Happy Birthday to me and I'm happy to have had the years with my mom. Birthdays were a special time. Now I get to celebrate them with some of these amazing people! Now I've heard that cake calories don't count today... so have some with me! 
*only the photos in the slide show are real photos of me and my loved ones.COVER REVEAL AND SWAG CONTEST Eruption: Yellowblown Series Book One Author: J. Hughey Today is cover reveal day for J.Hughey’s New Adult romance, Eruption, first in the Yellowblown™ Series that follows a college sophomore from her perfect semester through the life-changing disruptions caused when the Yellowstone volcano erupts. Contest! All new subscribers to the J. Hughey’s newsletter between August 12 and August 19 will be entered to win some Eruption cover swag. You’ll have your choice of a necklace, bracelet, or bookmark decorated with the Eruption cover and the Yellowblown Series charms. Subscribe here http://www.jillhughey.com/contact. A winner or winners will be chosen using the number generator at random.org, and contacted via the email address given in the subscription. 
 Here’s the blurb to go with this eye-catching cover: The perfect semester for Violet Perch starts with an awesome roomie and a freshman crush intent on becoming a sophomore reality. Yay! With everything going right, it only makes sense for the Yellowstone caldera to erupt for the first time in 630,000 years. Violet struggles to maintain her new perfect normal as devastation in the west combines with the volcano’s ash to muck up the works all over North America. Her deny-deny-deny strategy does the trick…until college closes. Hitching a ride home to Indiana with her hopeful boyfriend softens the blow of saying good bye to her roomie, Mia, even if it does mean Boone will be exposed to her family in apocalyptic prepper mode. When his parents warn him to stay away from their ash-pelted Nebraska ranch, Violet buys more precious time with the all-American guy she’s admired from afar for a year. Having Hotness within arm’s reach definitely makes a global disaster more palatable. But a man with Boone’s sense of responsibility won’t stay away from his family for long, which will leave Violet where? Exiled at home with her parents, separated from Boone and Mia, lonely and single forever. Though forever might not be a long time if the eruption continues. Eruption is book one in a series. While no major characters are left hanging from their fingernails on the last page, there’s definitely more to come. In a unique bite J.Hughey pulled from the book, just for this blog, here’s Violet after Boone asks for a drink of her water: I handed him my pink Western Case College bottle. We’d kissed a bunch in the last few weeks, yet there was something nice about sharing a drink, like my germs were already his germs.  WHO IS J. HUGHEY
J. Hughey knows what a girl wants. Independence. One or two no-matter-what-happens friends. A smokin’ hot romance. A basic understanding of geological concepts. Huh? Okay, maybe not every girl is into geology, but J. Hughey is, and in the Yellowblown series she combines her passion for a timeless love story with her interest in geeky stuff to help Violet Perch get a life, despite an ongoing global catastrophe. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Jill Hughey Romance newsletter at http://www.jillhughey.com/contact for your chance to win some swag! And tell us what you think of the cover in our comments.   Outback Hearts Sam never thought she’d actually be chosen for a reality show--but next thing she knew, she was whisked away to Australia. Dealing with a producer willing to do whatever he had to do make the show a hit, other women ready to cheat and lie to gain the attention of the bachelor, and a camera operator ready to catch her at her worst every time she turned around, absolutely nothing was as simple as it seemed on TV. Not to mention the pigs, killer snakes and shoveling manure. Sam wasn’t sure she was going to make it through filming most days--never mind find true love. Alex never thought he’d be on a reality show, but how hard could being surrounded by beautiful women be? A lot harder than he’d thought. The producer changed the rules of the show behind his back, the women were nearly clawing at each other for this attention--and that one contestant he couldn’t get off his mind… Can two people who are meant to be together manage to fight the catty contestants, crazy producer and find true love on a reality show in the Australian Outback?  “And what is it you really want?” Sam asked, turning her head around to look at him. “I want someone I can laugh with. I want a woman who I can sit on a park bench and not speak, but still be comfortable with. I want a woman who wants me for who I am, not for what I can give her. I want a woman who can be my friend as well as my lover. I want a woman who will stand in the rain with me just because it’s there and not worry about her makeup or her hair. I want a woman who’s strong, but who can still lean on me. I want to look forward to going home because I know that she’s there. I want a woman I can take care of. Who will let me pamper her just because I want to.” Alex took a deep breath and looked down at Sammi. “I want a companion. I want someone to call my own and a woman who can call me hers.” Alex saw a tear fall from Sammi’s eye. He reached up with his finger to brush it away. “I want this,” he said softly and dipped his head to her lips. Alex’s hand went to the back of Sam’s neck and tightened, drawing her to him. His lips moved on hers. Sam let out a short moan. Buy Link: Amazon  Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She is quite the romantic and even met the love of her life on "Hotmail classified" before online dating and sites like match.com even existed! Susan has been reading romance novels since middle school and once crossed out the names of the main characters in a book and changed them to her own and to the name of her crush. She's been writing scenes for years, developing her unique writing style. Susan loves writing but her true passion is adopting dogs from rescue groups and shelters. Susan and her husband have had a total of nine "rescued" dogs since 2000 including a variety of basset hounds and bloodhounds. She has recently branched out and adopted a basset/terrier mix who acts more like a terrier than a basset (i.e. digging, eating a couch and being hyper). If you love romance and want to help her support adopting great dogs, be sure to check out her work listed below. The first series, Beyond Reality, is a trilogy, with all three books in the series having Happily Ever After endings with no cliffhangers. Site Facebook Connect with her at or www.facebook.com/authorsusanstoker  Second Summer: Book One in the MacLarens of Fire Mountain The Chairman of both the MacLaren Cattle Co. and MacLaren Land Development, he is a success professionally, but his personal life is another matter. Following a divorce after a long, loveless marriage Heath spends his time with women who are beautiful and passionate, yet unable to provide what he longs for . . . . . . Heath has never experienced love even though he witnesses it every day between his younger brother, Jace, and wife, Caroline. He wants what they have yet spends his time with women too young to understand what drives him and too focused on themselves to be true companions. It’s been two years since Annie’s husband died, leaving her to build a new life. He was her soul-mate and confidante, she has no desire to find a replacement, yet longs for male friendship . . . . . . Annie’s closest friend in Fire Mountain, Caroline MacLaren, is determined to see Annie come out of her shell after almost two years of mourning. A chance meeting with Heath turns into an offer to be a part of the MacLaren Foundation Board and an opportunity for a life outside her home sanctuary which has also become her prison. The platonic friendship that builds between Annie and Heath points to a future where each may rely on the other without the bonds a romance would entail. However, without consciously seeking it, each yearns for more . . . . . . The MacLaren Development Company is booming with Heath at the helm. His meetings at a partner company with the young, beautiful marketing director, who makes no secret of her desire for him, are a temptation. But is she the type of woman he truly wants? . . . Annie’s acceptance of the deep, yet passionless, friendship with Heath sustains her, lulling her to believe it is all she needs. At least until Heath drops a bombshell, forcing Annie to realize that what she took for friendship is actually a deep, lasting love. One she doesn’t want to lose. Each must decide to settle, or fight for it all. Second Summer is the first book in the MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary novella series.  “Well, not really. It doesn’t matter anyway.” The room felt hot. She’d have to check to see if Eric had changed the setting. “Why’s that?” “I called it off with him tonight. That’s why I drove out to see you, to let you know.” Annie moved into the family room, trying to create some distance. “So, it’s just you and me now, Annie. No doctor and no one else, right?” “No, no one else.” She’d backed up against a wall. Heath now stood not a foot away. “I don’t understand what you want from me,” she whispered. He took another step forward, placing his hands against the wall on either side of her. “Oh, I think you do.” Buy Link: Amazon  I have been writing most of my life, but only recently began the transition into fiction. Historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and short stories are what keep me reading, so that is the focus of my writing. I was born in California, grew up between a growing beach town and a small town at the base of the San Bernardino mountains. My mother originally planned to name me Katherine, but she read an article in the paper about a woman named Shirleen shortly before my birth, so instead of having a cool nickname, like Kate, I am simply Shirleen. My mainstays growing up were all the Nancy Drew mystery books; I loved them. Eventually I moved on to mysteries, suspense stories, crime novels, and romance. Pride and Prejudice will always be one of my favorites. Besides California, life changes have allowed me to live in Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona. Everywhere I have lived has been inspirational in one way or another, giving me the opportunity to meet remarkable people with their own stories to tell. I've sailed, skied, owned horses plus lots of other animals, and ridden various off-road vehicles. I enjoy dancing, fishing, hunting, being the back-seater on my husband's Harley, traveling and, of course, reading and writing. Prior to transitioning to writing fiction, I worked for Fortune 500 and many smaller, start-up companies. Fortunately, I regained my sanity long enough to start my own consulting firm, which I still maintain today. My husband and I spend most of our time at our main home in the mountains of Arizona and our second home in Southern California. Between us we have five boys with growing careers and families of their own. So, from my perspective, my life is a success and always an adventure. I wouldn't change a thing; well, except finding more time to write. I love hearing from readers, so please feel email me at [email protected]. Author Links: Site Blog Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn  Susan is giving away a $5.00 Amazon gift card and an eCopy of Outback Hearts and Flaming Hearts.
For a chance to win please fill out the rafflecopter below. .Summer Book Event- Savannah's Journey and Just Another Maniac Monday #shadesofrose #giveaway8/11/2014
 Summer Book Event Savannah's Journey Savannah Mason is a career minded journalist who spends long hours at work, hoping to take the spot as anchor. She continues to fight for independence and refuses to allow her demanding father to take control of her life, despite his wish for her to take over his surgical practice. On her darkest day twelve years ago, she agreed to give her baby up for adoption. On her daughter’s birthday a chance encounter gives Savannah an opportunity to explore a corner of her heart she thought was lost forever. Rob Sinclair a renowned surgeon and NY Times best-selling author has a new release and needs a promo spot on the television show, The News Stop. When he meets the assertive newswoman, desire and passion awaken his broken spirit. The last thing Savannah wants is a relationship, especially one with a divorced, doctor who happens to have two small children When Savannah gets to conduct the interview over the senior reporter, a door opens to her future. However, first she must face the unsettled issues in her life, before she is free to accept love. A man, who seems all wrong for her, slowly weaves himself into her heart. Can he accept her when he learns about her past? Rob’s commitment to climb the ladder of success, keeps him on the road for days at a time. How will he ever be able to trust another woman? Savannah and Rob’s strong attraction is undeniable as they journey to a place where honesty and the power of forgiveness, can help heal the scars of the past. Will it be enough to allow them another chance for love?  She got up and slowly moved toward him. Her chest tightened with each step. As she approached him and admired his broad shoulders, it dawned on her he could be a candidate for People’s sexiest man alive. Control yourself. “I’m happy here,” she admitted. “I love it when the morning light shines on the water and it mimics fine pieces of crystal.” Rob slowly approached her. His gaze fixed on her, sent shivers from head to toe. Afraid of what might happen next, she turned away. They were too close for comfort. An electric energy surged between them. Before she could stop him, Rob reached for her and pulled her up against his chest. “You’re an amazing woman, Savannah.” His lips met hers and he cradled her head in his hands as if she was a precious jewel. It all happened so quickly, she didn’t have time to react. The warmth of his touch sent waves of heat down her stomach and in between her legs as the world stood still. When Rob’s hands moved slowly across her back, it took her to a level of arousal she never expected. She found herself spellbound by the feel of his rock hard body pressed up against her chest. All of the emotions she’d kept inside emerged when Rob held her tight. When they finally parted, she stood frozen in shock with her heart pounding and her ears ringing. His expression made him look as if he broke the law with his eyes practically popping out of his head. He quickly took a step back. “I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry for my rude behavior.” “You weren’t rude. I didn’t stop you.” Buy Link: Amazon  Kathleen lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two dogs. She’s a registered nurse who works in an emergency room. Writing has been her passion since she was a young girl. Contemporary and paranormal romance are her favorites. She has three adult children and three lovable grandsons. Her favorite romantic getaway is Cape May, New Jersey. You might find Kathleen on a beach down the Jersey Shore, wearing a straw hat, sipping on an iced tea, dreaming up her next romance novel. Blog Website Twitter Facebook Google +  Just Another Maniac Monday Is finding your long-lost love worth losing your life? Edna Allen’s Monday goes from mundane to murderous when she opens the front door to find the love of her life standing there. A man she thought had died years ago… after being accused of murder. John Collins is back, bringing with him a charming smile, a dog named Havoc, a second chance at love…and a threat of death. Danger surrounds this former bad-boy, and even after a lifetime apart, he still ignites a spark in Edna. A spark she thought she’d buried decades earlier. As Edna relives their summer romance, where more than the weather was hot and steamy, she falls in love all over again and evokes memories filled with drama, passion, action, and murder. Now these soul-mates must face the truth about what happened in the past and find the killer hunting them in the present. And Edna, with her sarcastic wit, a pocket stun-gun, and a few hare-brained schemes, is ready to fight for the man who still makes her pulse race. But does she dare risk her heart again to now protect the man whom she couldn’t save back then?  Edna Allen grumbled as she pushed her ancient bones off the sofa and crossed the living room, her slippered feet slapping the floor with each step. Mondays were her lazy days, and even though it was close to noon, she was still in her pajamas and quite engrossed in her morning shows. Whoever was ringing her doorbell was interrupting the spinning of the prize wheel. Her mind was busy calculating the difference between the current value of a vacuum cleaner versus a washing machine when she absently opened the front door. The remote control slipped from her hand and hit the floor as she took in the sight on her front stoop. Holding a red rose in one hand and a small dog tucked into the crook of his arm stood a ghost. He looked like a man, but the man he resembled was dead. He had died a long time ago. Or maybe she was dead. Maybe she had stroked out between the bonus round and the Showcase Showdown and this was heaven. Maybe heaven was really just watching game shows in your pajamas all day and having the love of your life appear suddenly on your doorstep. Except she didn’t feel dead. As a matter of fact, she could feel her heart beating strong and quick, threatening to pound free of her sunken chest. And he sure didn’t look dead. In fact, he looked pretty good in a gray three-piece suit, his skin tanned and his once blond hair now pure white. Beyond his shoulder, Edna could see old Mr. Ferguson mowing his lawn and she knew there was no way that old coot would ever make it into heaven, so either she was still alive or there was a worse alternative. If she was still alive, then Johnny Collins was really standing on her doorstep. A hundred memories flooded her mind. She had dreamt of this moment a thousand times. She’d planned a hundred scenarios of what she would do. What she would say. But none of those clever thoughts came to mind as she opened her mouth to speak. “What in the Sam-Hill are you doing here?” The ghost chuckled softly, the familiar twinkle in his crystal blue eyes. “You haven’t changed a bit, Eddy.” Edna’s knees threatened to buckle at the familiar nickname that only one man had ever called her. “Of course I’ve changed. And more than a bit. The last time you saw me, I was a young girl. Now I’m an old woman. It’s been almost sixty years since you’ve seen me.” “It feels like yesterday,” he said. “You look as beautiful as the first day I met you.” Heat warmed her cheeks as she took in the sight of the first man she had ever loved. He stood around six feet tall and was well dressed. A satin square of royal-blue handkerchief poked from his breast pocket and the color matched his eyes. The eyes that had looked into hers and pledged to love her until the day he died. And she thought he had. She blinked, tears filling her eyes. “Johnny? Is it really you?” He nodded, a slow bob of his head, never taking his eyes off of hers. “Yes, it’s me. I’m really here.” Choking back the emotion welling in her throat, she shook her head in wonder. “I thought you were dead.” “I know. That’s what I wanted everyone to think.” His expression turned deeply sad for just a moment, then the charming smile returned as he tipped his head. “Are you going to invite me in?” Edna wiped at the stray tear on her face and narrowed her eyes. “I haven’t decided yet.” Buy Links: Amazon  Jennie Marts loves to make readers laugh as she weaves stories filled with love, friendship and intrigue. She writes for Entangled Publishing and is the Kindle Bestselling author of the Page Turners series, which includes the romantic comedies: Another Saturday Night & I Ain’t Got No Body, Easy Like Sunday Mourning, and Just Another Maniac Monday. Reviewers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and full of great characters that are “endearing and relatable.” She writes from the mountains of Colorado where she lives with her husband, two sons, a golden retriever named Cooper and a Sheltie puppy named Maggie. Jennie enjoys being a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Colorado Indie Authors, and Pikes Peak Writers. Jennie is addicted to Diet Coke and adores Cheetos. She loves playing volleyball and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes or friends. Jennie loves to hear from readers. Author Links: Site Facebook Twitter Goodreads  Kathleen is giving away a copy of Savannah's Journey.
Jennie is giving away two ebook copies of Just Another Maniac Monday and 3 copies of Another Saturday Night, and I Ain't Got a Body For a chance to win please fill out the rafflecopter below. 
 A Gift of Darkest Magic Would you be willing to betray the person you love in order to save their life? Clarissa's husband Matt is dying of cancer. They've tried everything that medicine has to offer, both traditional and experimental, and nothing's worked. Clarissa spends her days in the hospital, watching the man she loves slip closer and closer to certain death. When her sister tells her she knows a way to save Matt, but it involves visiting a local club run by vampires, Clarissa is outraged that her sister would believe something so insane. But then she learns the truth. Braden, the sexy and mysterious vampire who runs the club, does indeed have the means to save Matt, but he demands a high payment in return. He doesn't want money, her blood, or even her life…he wants something she never expected. Clarissa has a choice—spend twenty-four hours in Braden's bed or let her husband die. But what she never foresaw was how much more the vampire would truly want after he'd given her the gift of the darkest magic. Content Warning: infidelity, light bondage, anal sex, and rough sex 
The quiet drip of the IV and the occasional bleep of the monitor were the only sounds in the dim hospital room. Clarissa Blair held the cold hand of her husband, Matthew. Matt's diagnosis of cancer, just after Christmas, had been a horrible surprise. His condition rapidly deteriorated. The vibrant forty-year-old lay reduced to a thin husk, wasting away in the small room on the fourth floor of Mercy General Hospital. Clarissa could only wait and mourn quietly. She'd tried to hide her pain and stay positive for Matt, but it was getting harder to pretend as he slipped closer to the end of his life. Their twin seven-year-old daughters spent a lot of time with her mother. She didn't want them to remember their father as the corpse she saw each day when she came to the hospital after work. Her life was a cycle of working and grieving. She knew the girls missed her, but she just didn't have the strength to be there for them and keep up with the day-to-day battle of holding herself together. Matt was leaving them. The sound of the door opening roused her from the dark, sad thoughts. She stood up and hugged the visitor. "Hi, sis." Caren, her younger sister, breezed into the room smelling of sunshine and fresh air, in contrast to the stale stench of death she'd come to associate with her husband's hospital room. "How is he today?" Her sister's sadness only added to the weight in Clarissa's heart. "About the same. The nurse said last night was tough, but he pulled through. He's a strong fighter." She knew the last words sounded bitter. He was the strongest man she'd ever known; she couldn't understand why he couldn't beat the disease ravaging him. His once handsome face was pale and sunken. Her Matt had left long ago, leaving the dying man in his place. Her Matt would never have abandoned her and their daughters as this man was doing. For a long moment, Caren looked into her face. She knew Caren wanted to say something, but was holding back. "Go ahead and say what's on your mind. You're always so afraid of saying something that'll make me cry. I'm past that stage now. Just talk, you're irritating me." She knew her shrill statement bordered on cruel, but she didn't care. What was the use of pleasantries when her whole life was over and she'd never be happy again? "Sorry, sweetie," Caren whispered, laying a gentle hand on Clarissa's shoulder. The simple act of kindness tore at her soul, making her want to lash out again. She shrugged off her sister's caring touch. The unwavering love in the deep turquoise eyes, the same shade as her own, sent a little stab of guilt through Clarissa. "I'm the one who should be sorry, but seriously just tell me what's on your mind." Caren gave her a weak smile. "You know I love Matt too." Clarissa nodded. Matt had no siblings. She'd married him when Caren was still in high school and he'd taken to her sister as if she were his own. "I know." She sighed. "I think I know a way to save him, but I need your help," Caren whispered. Clarissa's eyes narrowed. Her whole body began shaking. "How dare you!" She hissed at her beloved younger sister. "Really. I mean it, Clarissa. I think I know a way that we can save Matt's life." She said the words with genuine hope. "We've tried faith healers, herbs, expensive specialists, what more can there be? I can't believe you'd spout such bullshit. Especially when he's so close to…" She couldn't say "the end", but it was true. Her husband only had a few more weeks to live, maybe less. The doctors had made it perfectly clear. It was time to give up hope. She'd already picked out his casket and bought the plot. Matt was gone. "I'm not pulling your leg, or giving you false hope. I saw it work!" Buy Links: Amazon Beachwalk Press 
Ashlynn Monroe is a busy wife and mom. She enjoys writing about anything and everything paranormal or fantasy related. She spends most of her time daydreaming up her next tale of romance. Author Links: Site Facebook Author Page  Find Me A love that transcends time… As her 25th birthday approaches, Riley Sparrow begins to dream of a handsome, intriguing stranger. Each night the dreams get more intense and the stranger starts leaving her clues to his whereabouts. The dreams always end in a whisper… Find Me. Riley has denied her birthright her entire life. She descends from a strong line of witches and warlocks, but she's refused her powers up until now. With the help of her estranged grandfather she learns that her mystery man is from the past and his life is in danger. Will her grandfather help her travel back to 1963 to save the man she believes she's meant to be with? A man she knows nothing about but feels a strong connection to. If she finds him, can she save him from the evil that haunts them both? By securing his past, she knows there can never be a future for them in her time. Content Warning: contains sensual sex scenes 
Riley closed her eyes and let the heat of the water engulf her tired muscles. Resting her head against the bath pillow, she cleared her mind. The steam seeped out from the bubbles and swirled around the room. Soon the mirror and windows were fogged and a scented mist surrounded the bathroom, creating a relaxing atmosphere. A week's worth of sleepless nights had taken their toll and Riley drifted off. The squeak of the faucet and the silence that followed distracted her tranquil thoughts. She opened her eyes to find him sitting on the edge of the tub looking at her. For a moment, she felt self-conscious. She glanced down and discovered her body covered in thick, white bubbles. He couldn't see anything but the tops of her shoulders, neck, and face. "Sorry," he said. "I was afraid the water would overflow." "Am I awake?" He shook his head. She noted his green eyes sparkled even in the dim lighting of the bathroom. "Well, then how—" "It's complicated." His thin, pink lips formed a small smile. "I can't explain now." "Why not?" "There isn't enough time to make you understand while you're in your current state. We need much more time. You can get that for us." "Are you real or am I crazy?" "I'm very real, just stuck between realms. I've been waiting for you for a long time." He slid off the side of the tub and knelt down on the floor. "I'm afraid I can't stay very long. I keep trying to figure out how to increase the length of my visits but nothing seems to work." "I don't know you." "You will." He reached for the clip in her hair. "May I?" She nodded. Once he'd freed her hair from its confines, he smoothed the damp locks out with his hand. "I like when you wear it down. It's so pretty." He continued to stroke her hair. "You're just as beautiful as I remember." "How do you know me?" She shifted her position to face him. She breathed in his crisp scent. He smelled of spice, maybe a hint of cinnamon. "I…" He trailed off when his gaze caught her exposed breasts. He looked lost in a distant memory. When she'd turned to face him she'd upset the bubbles shielding her. Her nipples hardened as she watched him take in her flesh. She no longer felt embarrassed. "I have to go." "You keep leaving me. I don't like it." Each time he left, he took a small piece of her with him. "That's why you need to find me." He leaned forward. "I know you can. You're very powerful." He brushed his lips against her mouth. A rush of warmth coursed through her and settled between her legs. "Find me, Riley." He kissed the corner of her mouth, lingering a second longer than usual. She took the opportunity to run her tongue along his soft lips. "Find me now." "How?" She wanted more than anything to find this man. "What do I need to do?" "Tucker…" he whispered. "What?" Riley slipped off the bath pillow and under the cold water. She quickly sat up and looked around. The bubbles had evaporated into the freezing water. Did she turn the faucet off, or did… I must be crazy. She thought for a moment. Her mystery man had left her a big clue tonight. Now she needed to figure out what Tucker Sparrow had to do with any of this. It looked as if she would be paying a visit to a man she hadn't seen in a decade. Buy Links: Amazon Beachwalk Press 
Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can’t be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she’s not chasing after her kids, she’s busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you’ll get lost in her words. Author Links: Site Facebook Author Page Twitter  Hard to Kill A Hard Targets Novel Wendy Byrne Gemma Halliday Publishing Romantic Suspense ,@72k words  Trained as children to become assassins by the infamous Goren Petrovich, Sabrina Shaw and her two brothers have had a less-than-normal upbringing. After escaping his clutches, Sabrina and her brothers have tried to make a normal life for themselves. Now Sabrina works for an organization called The Alliance, specializing in the kind of jobs that no one else can or wants to do. Her current assignment: find the daughter of a prominent politician who has disappeared, categorized as a runaway by the authorities. It seems simple enough, until Sabrina uncovers the girl may have been the victim of a kidnapping that goes far beyond ransom requests. Now Sabrina must put her training to the test as she infiltrates a sex trafficking ring operating in Europe in order to find the girl...all while dodging a mysterious FBI agent and the demons from her own past. Buy Links: coming soon Excerpt: “Get the hell out of there. Now.” Jenning’s voice crackled to life in Sabrina’s earpiece. She ignored his command even while her skin itched, foretelling her sixth sense was kicking in. Yep, she was close. “Now, Shaw. His friends are heading your way. You—" She clicked off the receiver to stop the tirade that no doubt would follow. A few minutes. That’s all she needed. Tip-toeing up the metal staircase in her black combat-style boots, she inched her way to apartment 203. Eddie Ramer might be able to fool the cops but not her. The bottom feeder had been enticing Caitlyn for weeks with his promise of high paying modeling gigs. And then she’d disappeared. Coincidence? Yeah, right. A heavy smell of weed permeated the air, despite the open balconies outside the apartment doors. The metal railing and no-tell-motel-appearance of the building didn’t shock her. In fact it worked in her favor. The thin walls made her privy to the conversations along the journey to her prize. 201. 202. Finally, 203. Peeking inside was made impossible by the closed drapes. Instead, she crawled under the window, then slid along the wall stopping outside the apartment door. A cacophony of motorcycle engines in the distance signaled Eddie’s friends were getting closer. Her heart beat heavily while her fingers tingled. Everything inside her longed to grab the gun strapped to her thigh, but she resisted the urge. Only if necessary. She held her breath, keying into the conversation on the other side of the door. “Let me see what you’ve got, baby.” The voice came from inside. Sabrina closed her eyes, dispelling the vile thoughts racing around her head. Focus remained the key to her success. “I thought—" The girl’s shaky voice signaled her fear. “You have a smokin’ bod, but I gotta know you can sell the goods. That’s the way this works. Only then can I open doors for you.” Enough. With one strategically placed kick, her boot separated the lock from the flimsy door. Seconds later, she charged inside, tackling Eddie to the ground. He tried to reverse her dominant position, but she was one step ahead of him, bringing the tip of her blade to his throat, a mere flick away from his carotid artery. She slid off his chest and eased them both to a standing position, never wavering on the location of the blade. “Now Caitlyn and I are going to leave without any trouble from you or your ragtag group of merry men. Got that?” His eyebrows furrowed while his lips curled into a smirk. “Caitlyn? She’s ancient history.” A sinking sensation settled in her gut as Sabrina turned toward the girl. Hovering close to the bed, a young Hispanic girl with striking looks and long dark hair stood, her blouse partially unbuttoned. Definitely not Caitlyn Collins. Not good. That half second of non-focus on her part was all Eddie needed to grab her forearm, dislodging the knife and sending it flying across the room into the wall. Despite his bulk, the alcohol reeking from his pores slowed his reflexes. She easily ducked the clumsy punch he sent her way. When he grasped her bicep and pulled up, that left him open for her counter strike to the round part of his shoulder, followed by a punch to his liver through the intercostal nerve, robbing him of breath, then a chop to the side of his neck, hitting his vagus nerve with enough force to stun. Sabrina grabbed the girl and ran. Dread chilled her bones as she bounded down the steps, yanking the frightened girl along with her. For the first time in her life she’d failed her mission. She’d given the Collins family hope when she’d promised to rescue their daughter. Now she was coming back empty handed. There had to be another way.  Author bio: Wendy has a Masters in Social Work and worked in the child welfare field for twelve years before she decided to pursue her dream of writing. Her first two books, Fractured and Mama Said were published in 2011 and 2012. Mama Said was a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Contest. She self published The Christmas Curse in 2012. Between teaching college classes, trying to get her morbidly obese cat to slim down, and tempering the will of her five-year-old granddaughter, who's determined to become a witch when she turns six so she can fly on her broom to see the Eiffel Tower and put hexes on people --not necessarily in that order--somehow Wendy still manages to fit in writing. She spends the remainder of her days inflicting mayhem on her hero and heroine until they beg for mercy. contact link: http://www.wendybyrne.net/contact/ Giveaway: $30 Amazon Gift Card a Rafflecopter giveaway Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00MLAKVFG
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-to-kill-wendy-byrne/1119887454?ean=2940046046335&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-kRKIOhaaRAc-_-10:1&r=1 iBook: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hard-to-kill/id894806616?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hard-to-kill-2 Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/453534  I've been very fortunate to have read all these stories. Brynna is an amazing author and today she's sharing her thoughts on who'd play her characters... Take it away Brynna. If your book were being cast as a movie, who would you want to play the main characters? At some point I think every author dreams of having their book turned into a movie. And as such, they pick out who they think would fit the role. Here are my picks for Earth Enchanted. (Hear that Lifetime Movie Network?) Jackson Roarke - (Channing Tatum because he fits the description and he is from Cullman, AL) An ex-cop, he’s the average alpha male with buckets of family money but completely down to earth. When his partner and wife is murdered, he turns his back on the badge and retreats into his writing full-time. Olivia Corrigan - (Jenna Dewan-Tatum also playing Arianne Farrell aka Briella Farrell) Liv is an Irish born writer, a twin, with telepathic abilities. Liv falls into a dangerous situation when she comes to Alabama to visit her brother Ryan. Ryan Corrigan - (Ryan Reynolds) Ryan left Ireland to study in America after an extremely painful break up with his long time girlfriend Kate McConnell. He stumbled into a deadly smuggling operation and now works as an informant for the FBI. Skye Corrigan - (Matt Bomer) Liv’s twin is an artist. He has the ability to read not only thoughts but emotions too. Devin McLoch aka Christophe LeFluer - (Chris Hemsworth) Devin is his own mystery. To say anymore would be spoiling the story.  Earth Enchanted Elemental Magic #1 Blurb: Writer Liv Corrigan has the worst luck with men -- her telepathy tends to make them run for the hills. When she meets widower and ex-cop Jack Roarke, she decides to keep her talent hidden. Things are looking up until their third date crashes and burns as the man who murdered Jack’s wife turns out to be after him too. Injured, Jack retreats with Liv to his house under armed guard. But with Liv’s mysteries rapidly coming unraveled, a diamond-thief killer to stop and passion in the air, the safe house is anything but safe for their hearts!  To Take Up The Sword Elemental Magic #2 Blurb: Missing diamonds and a killer on the loose…will a schoolteacher and FBI agent escape with their lives and hearts intact? After the acquittal of Gueraldi's right hand and favored killer for hire, Ashton Smythe, Special Agent Gabriel Spiller takes time away from his work with the FBI. Having failed in his mission to avenge his lost would be lover, Serena Roarke, Gabe returns to Alabama in search of the missing diamonds needed to reopen the investigation and to lay low from the death threats he's received since Smythe went free. Almost two years after her sister's death, Leannan O'Neal feels the loss of Serena more now than ever. A secret meeting between them before she died left Lea with an ugly figurine and nothing but questions. Hang-up calls at work and a trashed house reminds her of the card Serena gave her. "If you find yourself in trouble, go to him and only him" were the last words her sister spoke to her. With Smthye out for revenge and hot on her heels, Lea goes on the run in search of Serena's 'Angel', but how long can Gabe keep her alive, and is the cost worth more than her life?  Wait for the Wind Elemental Magic #3 Blurb: Kate O'Connell grew up loved by the Corrigan family, all the while suffering from the inescapable reality of her own alcoholic father. At a young age she gave her heart and innocence to Ryan Corrigan. For once happiness seemed within her reach, until in one horror-filled night, the monster she called 'Daddy' changed everything. Too many misunderstandings forced Kate and Ryan apart, but now Kate's come home to open her clinic and raise her daughter, Allaina, closer to his family. Will she be able to open Ryan's heart to his magic? Ryan is glad to be back on Irish soil, but the reason he left still haunts him. As he tries to build a new life and redeem his past, can he forgive Kate and reclaim his healing gift in time to save his sister and her twins?  Sea’s Sorceress Elemental Magic #4 Blurb: Love can come along at the most inconvenient times... Skye Corrigan treasures family above all else. Standing by his best friend Rhia while she suffers the heartache of losing her father to cancer has strengthened their childhood bond. Lately Rhia affects him in ways she never has before. Rhiannon O'Malley shares Skye's past and hopes for a future with him, but love must come with a willing heart. Her father's terminal illness has left her in charge of the family pub. Skye has always been there for her, but when their relationship changes, will she find the courage to claim the future? Or will a thousand-year-old curse keep its grip on two hostage hearts?  Fire’s Ice Elemental Magic #5 (series end) Blurb: Ultimate power, or endless love? Born the son of a Scottish laird a thousand years ago, but now trapped by his cousin's spell, Devin McLoch has seen countless battles and death. The erstwhile thief has turned away from darker pursuits to lead a life of peace, protecting those he loves and considers part of his clan. However, there is one woman he can never forget, who must be given a chance to change, to accept her heart and his. Arianne Farrell is just as dangerous and intoxicating as her power. Imprisoned in an ancient stone dance more than a thousand years ago, her only chance at freedom from the spell is through love—a love she denied. When Devin asks for her aid to save another from imminent death, she realizes there is more at stake than just her freedom or her heart. Series Buy Links Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│Kensington  © 2012 Brynna Curry - All Rights Reserved Excerpt 3 from Fire’s Ice: Elemental Magic Book Five Dark, rich chocolate colored bedding echoed the tile framing the fireplace. Dainty furniture, curved legs and soft cushions, yet the poster bed was large and sturdy. She’d seen it before while she visited his dreams. Definitely Devin’s room. And remembering didn’t help the ache snaking through her body. Walking into the en suite, the first thing to catch her eyes was the floor-to-ceiling mirror covering one wall. Arianne studied her reflection. Her long, dark curls were mussed and tangled around a pale face. Her lips were pink and just a bit swollen from Devin’s kiss. The only thing she wore was a long white shirt. Sniffing the collar, she smelled the crisp, clean fragrance clinging to the material. His shirt, not conjured. Devin didn’t wear cologne, but the scent of his soap always stayed with her. He must have changed her clothes. What else had she missed? Because I love you. Men were ever a puzzle. Still, hadn’t she known? The dreams they shared had changed over time, slow and sweet instead of hot and fierce. A softness came over his face each night she visited his sleep, the same one she had seen this morning. Just that look was enough to have her quaking inside. She found a bottle of bubble bath on the side of the tub. Thanks to Devin's dreams and Allie's influence, she had knowledge of modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing. Turning the faucet on hot, Arianne poured two capfuls under the stream and let the water run until the big round tub filled. Reluctantly, she unfastened the shirt buttons and let the material fall away to the floor. Slipping into the frothy bubbles, she sighed and let the reality of her situation sink in. I am finally out of that wretched circle. True enough, but she was still in a prison of sorts. One with running water, walls, food that didn’t taste like air, and a sexy male witch bent on driving her to frustration. Not so bad, all things considered. Being trapped in the stone dance didn’t mean she hadn’t noticed changes in the world around her for a thousand years. She tipped her feet out of the water, waved toward them, and turned her toenails a bright fiery red. Allie brought her little things from the modern world. Mostly books filled with sweet love stories; more than a few of them brought a blush to her cheeks. What would Ryan think of his daughter’s taste in novels? Better not to head down that road. Allie had dreams of being a writer like her aunt and uncle. If what she liked to read was any indication, she’d write hot. Very hot. Speaking of hot, a soft tapping sounded at the door. Her maddening laird had returned. “Okay in there?” His voice sounded hesitant. “Breakfast is ready.” Time to ruffle the phoenix’s feathers a bit. “There is no need to be shy, Devin. You can come in.” ***** The sound of splashing water rippled past his ears. Temptress. Knowing Ari was just on the other side of the door, naked and wet, willing to succumb to every fantasy he could imagine, was a torment in itself. All he had to do was accept her sultry invitation and toss aside his plan. But she deserved a sweet slide into love, not the wild, mad rush of pleasure he craved. One palm rested on the door of its own volition, ready to comply. Not yet. Now, if only his traitorous body would listen to his heart. “That depends, sweetheart.” “Oh?” she called out from the other side. “On what?” Devin chuckled at the line, but he just couldn’t resist teasing her. “What are you wearing?” She laughed. “Bubbles. Lots of bubbles. Share them with me.” He saw it so clearly. Ari’s creamy skin peeking through the frothy bubbles. Open, welcoming. Need clawed under the skin, screamed at him. Why the hell not? Feeling a quiver of desire vibrate through his body, he called her bluff. “And what would you have me do with those bubbles? Hmm, Ari?” “Oh, I am sure you could think of something. Something deliciously wicked. I have shared your dreams. I know your fantasies, Devin.” Oh, you have no idea. His mind made up, Devin opened the door. She lay in his huge garden tub, feet propped up on the rim, eyes closed, waterfall of black hair piled on top of her head. A soft smile graced her face. So she was enjoying their teasing banter. “Have you changed your mind and decided to join me?” “Maybe.” No reason he couldn’t push them both to the edge. Pulling the t-shirt over his head, Devin tossed it into the corner. He laid his cellphone on the sink--out of danger--kneeled by the edge of the tub and dipped one hand into cooling water, using his magic to heat it. “Mmm. Nice.” He let his voice drop to a whisper as he leaned close to her ear. “I want to slick my hands over every inch of your skin until you shiver from the heat.” His fingers found the back of her knee in the water and trailed higher along the inside of her thigh. “And then…” A soft “Devin” slipped from her lips as Arianne’s eyes flew open. “And then…”  About the Author: Brynna Curry was born south of the Mason-Dixon Line. After living all over the southern states, she finally landed in North Alabama where she lives with her husband and their three children. Growing up, books fueled her dreams and imagination, ultimately becoming her salvation during the hardest times in her life. Writing is her passion, but she enjoys the fun of sharing those stories with others by reviewing books and working in publicity. When she isn’t writing or promoting, she’s often found haunting the library for new books to read or just spending an quiet evening at home with Jackie watching old westerns on TV. Although her wizards, shifters and vampires are as real to her as anyone, she insists love is the truest magic and with it every day is another wonderful adventure. Brynna’s Links: Website│Twitter│Facebook│Street Team│Goodreads  
 Do you have a happy marriage? Look across the table at the man or woman there. Can you see yourself still together in 20 or 50 years? Are they the "old ball and chain" or more colorful adjectives? Today is my anniversary. A day to celebrate marriage. The tying together of two people, two families. Eight years ago, Mark and I were in Vegas for a combined wedding and honeymoon. In Nevada, you don't need to wait for a marriage license so many people marry in the neon-mecca. As a second wedding, we didn't want the hoopla. After eight years, you'd think being married would be easy. We'd have it all down pact. Even more so for us, we'd been married before. Mark and I had both been married before for 15 and 20 years respectively. We don't give up and know how to make a marriage work. Yet, we still find that it is work at times. On some days, Mark gives 80% and I'm giving 20% and other days it's a different percentage. We have moments of unhappiness, although it's usually centered around communication issues. I hear one thing and think it means something else. Remarkably, I haven't learned how to mind read yet. :) But I'm very lucky. I CAN say that I have my best friend for my husband. It's our friendship that helps us with those troubled times. In fact, he knows me better than I know myself. For example, he knew that my tattoos symbolize deep painful times. And just the other day, we are thinking the same thing at the same time. We "get" each other, our quirks, our scars, and our goofy ways...non-judgmentally. Yet I do know he always has my back.  Today was my anniversary and Mark is camping with a group of Boy Scouts for the weekend in a remote location. I miss him but we already have our own celebration planned when he gets back. So since, he's in radio silence for the weekend and I love to write, I'm sharing my feelings and thoughts here with all of you (and to him when he gets home). Mark, you are the first person I tell a secret to and the only man who thinks I'm cute with red eyes from bawling like a girl after watching PS. I Love You. You sit next to me in all the Marvel movies where I celebrate my "geekdom" and have even found a passion for reading that matches mine. I wouldn't want to be with anyone else on this crazy ride called life. Happy Anniversary and may there be a billion more years and memories made together. I love you, Mr. Keir!   The Scale Blurb: Twenty-seven year old, African-American, Minka Greene has to endure watching her twin sister marry the man she loves. Her weight is up, and her confidence is down. Not exactly the ideal time to meet the real man of her dreams. The Scale opens in Martha’s Vineyard with Minka attending Keely and Blake’s engagement party at Martha’s Way, the beautiful inn owned and operated by the tall, blond, tattooed man with the piercing blue eyes. It just so happens Jason Montgomery is also Blake’s childhood friend and the best man. Dealing with a whirl of emotions, Minka faints in Jason’s arms. When she wakes up naked in Jason’s bed after a night of passion, the Vineyard confirmed bachelor struggling with his own demons and the woman filled with self-doubt and pining for another man are joined in an experience that will change their lives. The Scale is the first book of the Martha’s Way series. The Scale - Excerpt “Why aren’t you comfortable with my nudity?” It’s not just your nudity that I’m not comfortable with. As a distraction to hide the unsettling feeling inside, she sucked in a deep breath and walked across the room to retrieve what appeared to be her bra. “I like your name. Minka,” he said from the bed. “It’s different.” “I’ll be sure to pass the compliment on to my parents. Please put some clothes on.” Jason laughed off her obvious discomfort. “Come back to bed, darling. I can call Blake and let him know you’ll be late.” She stood there watching him. Her lips drawn, her eyes narrowed. “And Minka, did you like the sex?” He waved a long finger in the air. “Ah, don’t lie.” “I was drunk. You took advantage. Please put some clothes on.” “I never take advantage of a woman. And you weren’t drunk.” He patted the empty space on the bed next to him. “So how did we compare to your college make-out session?” The man was impossibly conceited. Did he really need to hear that was the best sex she’s ever had? Walking past the bed, she murmured, “I have to go.” But damn it, he was coming to his feet, off the bed, in all his glory. Don’t look! Once again, she failed. She looked at his wide shoulders, his tattoos, his flat abdomen, and… Seriously, she needed to stop gawking as if she had never seen a beautiful naked body before. Well, she hadn’t but she didn’t have to make it so obvious. Minka caught her breath as he came to stand very close to her, leaving only inches between them. Out of desperation, she tried to increase the space between them by taking a step back. To her surprise, he turned on his heels and walked toward the dresser, giving Minka a full view of his flawless ass. He pulled out a pair of black boxer briefs and lazily slid long, toned, tanned legs into them as if he was very aware she was examining his every move. She hated to give him that satisfaction, but her eyes were glued to him, even when he turned to face her, in the sexiest pair of boxer briefs she had ever seen on a man. He took two long strides to close the space between them. Minka automatically took several steps back until her back was pressed against the wall. Toned arms came to rest on the wall, his eyes locked into hers, holding her prisoner. “Don’t go yet, Minka.” Really, did her name have to sound like silk coming out of his mouth? “I must go,” she heard herself say in a whisper. Minka wondered who she was trying to convince. At this point, she wasn’t so sure. “I want to see you again.” Were her ears deceiving her? A gorgeous hunk of a man wanted to see her again after a night of sex. This couldn’t be. She wouldn’t allow herself to entertain the idea. He was too beautiful. He belonged with someone just as beautiful, someone like Keely. At that thought, her heart sank. But it was better she protected herself from any more humiliation. “I have a boyfriend,” she said out of desperation. A soft laugh escaped his throat. “You just told me you were single.” As he spoke the words, he drew his face closer to hers, his lips inches away from hers. He was about to kiss her again; only this time she was one hundred percent sober. Minka toyed with the idea of begging him to have a little mercy on her. But she didn’t, instead her long lashes fluttered when he paused for a mere second. Then he was kissing her, another mind-blowing kiss. His lips felt just as great as they had last night, if not better. Minka heard a soft noise from her throat as he deepened his hold on her. Against her lips, he whispered, “God, you feel good.” His voice was raspy as he spoke the words, the heat of his mouth caressing her lips. “Let’s go back to bed.” She wanted to, oh how she really wanted to go back to bed with him one last time. “I really have to go. I promised Keely I’d go to her fitting with her.” Where she found the voice to speak, Minka wasn’t sure. “Otherwise you would have stayed,” he challenged, still standing way too close to her, his lips too close. “Yes, probably.” He raised an eyebrow. “Yes,” she admitted. At least for one last time, she would have stayed. He nodded and took a few steps back away from her, seeming to understand her dilemma. The space unexpectedly left her feeling empty. He walked over to the bedroom door and opened it. She quietly followed him as he led her down the spiral mahogany stairs. The house, she realized, was quite large with a certain charm. A Victorian style house that was clearly a work in progress, with what appeared to be freshly stained and finished floors, newly paintedwalls and sparse furniture. With the exception of his bedroom and the big leather sofa in the living room accompanied by a big screen television, it didn’t look like any other furniture had been purchased. She wondered who was actually behind the man and why he lived in this big old house alone. Was he coming fresh off a relationship, perhaps a divorce? And if so, had he gotten his heart broken or had he been the heartbreaker? Minka decided it was probably the latter. “So, should we try this again?” Lost in her thoughts, the question caught her off guard and she bumped into him. Her hands landed on his bare chest and stayed there for a second too long. She really should have insisted he put a shirt on as well. Not that the sexy, thigh-hugging boxers were helping much. “We should try this again,” he repeated, but not as a question this time. “I want to see you again, Minka.” “I can’t.” “Because…” Okay, so he was persistent. Because next time, there won’t be any alcohol. Because next time you will see I’m not built like a model. Because next time, I won’t be good enough. “Because whatever kinky sex we had was induced by alcohol, and that wasn’t me,” she said instead. Her voice sounded almost remorseful. Purchase Links for The Scale by Mika Jolie: Secret Cravings Publisher: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&products_id=913 All Romance ebooks (ARE) https://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?sortBy=bestSelling&searchBy=title&qString=The+scale  Author Bio: Author of contemporary sensual, empowered romance, with fun relatable characters. I’m also a wife, and mommy to 2 energizer bunnies. Member of Secret Cravings Publishing. When I do have time to breathe, I like to run, hike with my camera at hand, and work on my gardening and knitting skills. I promised my husband I’d knit him a scarf…that was 5 years ago. For latest news on my current WIP, interviews with fellow authors, or just to see what I’m up to, check out my blog: http://mikajolie.com/ While there, sign up for my monthly newsletter. I’m also on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8294433 Mika_Jolie Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikaJolie1 Email: [email protected] Join me in my journey.   Blurb: Studious Lavinia Vega is tired of proving to Zeke Abberley that she has no ulterior motives. When Zeke brings her a damaged painting to restore and authenticate, she is eager to help but not get involved. When she uncovers a hidden map behind the painting that leads to valuable buried coins, the game plan changes. Or so Zeke thinks. EXCERPT ONE Zeke Abberley stared at the damaged 1859 painting with a scowl on his face. Why me? He had bid on the Illinois estate sale as a whole specifically because of this piece and now it had arrived damaged, with a crunched frame and punctured canvas. He had been assured the painting was in perfect condition. He bit his lip, continuing to stare at the entrancing image of the unrecognizable couple from the Middle Ages embraced in a kiss with shadowy forms lurking in the background. Although one of Francesco Hayez’s best known works, this was not the most famous rendition of the pose or lighting—but still the mastery of Hayez. From Zeke’s research, it seemed this particular rendition had never been seen on the market. That is, if it is an original Hayez. Zeke tapped his index finger on his lips. It still needed to be authenticated by an expert. The family selling the contents of their attic had no desire or time to search for appraisals and had posted the estate sale as a whole. Imagine finding a Hayez. Although it appeared there were other prized antiques in the collection, Zeke hadn’t understood why he had wanted to purchase an out-of-state collection, especially with their antique shop overflowing as it is and sales down due to the economy. Something had possessed him, though, and this painting had something to do with it. Aunt Adele walked into the room and set a box of pastries on the conference room table. “You’re looking down in the mouth. What’s happened?” “Can you believe it? Can you just believe it?” he said, shaking his fist at the painting. Life was definitely not going smoothly for Zeke. He and his younger brother, Zach, had that confrontation with Pop which had ended up with Pop walking out on them and the business. Then Zach and Holly had married and left on a very long honeymoon. And he couldn’t forget Aunt Adele suddenly marrying Kipp Waterbury at their annual street BearBQ where they barbequed a bear. Aunt Adele hadn’t been around to help with the business, either. His disastrous relationship with Lavinia Vega, the break-ins on the street, and now the damaged painting did not bode well for Zeke either. He sighed. Yeah, most of them were happy events for those involved, but he had taken the blunt of everyone’s absence and had been working double duty for weeks on end. Sure everyone was back and the long winter blues were over, but all the lovebirds kept wandering off. Trying to manage Abberley Antiques, Zach’s thrift shop, and Kipp’s clock shop had run him ragged. No wonder he was a basket case and his and Lavinia’s relationship had ended. It would have never worked out anyway, not with the way her father felt about his family and not with how reclusive Lavinia kept herself. After all their secret dates, she still hadn’t opened up to him. She was a closed book, albeit a beautiful, gorgeous closed book. The memory of her attractive, vanilla blonde bob, soft, full lips, delicate curves, and hint of lilac perfume sent his senses tottering and his libido hopping. However, no one, and he meant no one, would ever penetrate that armored fortress guarding her frozen heart. Futile. Utterly futile. “Did you hear me?” Aunt Adele asked. “Oh, sorry. What did you say?” He laid the painting down on the table and pinched his chin. “Do you think the shipping company damaged it?” “Most likely. I viewed the painting on Skype and didn’t see the damage. Of course, it could have been masked. Just my luck.” “It’s The Kiss by Francesco Hayez, isn’t it?” Aunt Adele said, moving to the small fridge for a quart of milk to go with the pastries. “Yes, well, no. This is one of the five renditions Hayez did with different lighting, but not the most known. I don’t think this one has surfaced before. That is, if it really is a Hayez.” “So I guess you know what you have to do.” “What’s that?” He wrapped the painting back in brown paper and bubble wrap. “Take it to Lavinia.” He fumbled the painting as he tried to slide it into the box. It landed on the floor, and he accidentally kicked the painting across the carpet as he reached to pick it up. “Are you joking?” “I can’t even mention her name without you turning into a spaz.” She smiled and shook her head. “Holly’s right. You have that—what did she call it?—pistanthrophobia.” EXCERPT TWO Lavinia Vega spread out a sheet of bubble wrap and placed the early 1900s painting of the Great Salt Lake, by Alfred Lambourne, carefully within its confines. She expertly wrapped it for shipping, hoping to get it mailed before noon. No more clumsy moves on her part…or Zeke’s. They had stopped secretly dating two or three months ago—Oh, who was she kidding?—exactly seventy-one days ago, and her life had certainly gotten calmer and less physically painful. At least as calm as her life ever got. She heaved a sigh and taped the bubble wrap. Father hadn’t figured out she had been dating Zeke for that would have been disastrous. Instead, he thought she had been cursed by some voodoo spell Holly Waterbury had brought with her from Idaho when she had come here to take care of her injured uncle Kipp, who was Hungarian, spoke in fragmented sentences, and hoarded all kinds of things. As ludicrous as that sounded, Lavinia would rather Father thought her cursed than him knowing she had been dating Zeke. The Abberleys had been a taboo subject for as long as she could remember. It had all started with Father’s friendship with Zeke’s dad, Zymon. Father had gotten to be a close friend of the family and had fallen in love with Zeke’s aunt Adele some fifteen to twenty years ago. She, in turn, had fallen in love with Kipp Waterbury, but everything went south when Zeke’s mother was killed in a plane crash. Lavinia pulled a packing box from the shelf and began folding it. Last year, when Adele announced at a block meeting that Father was jealous of Kipp and had had it in for him for years, he had retreated into one of his dark moods. Little could be said to him still. Unfortunately, he had always tried to live in a world of perfection. Everyone must think the Vegas are perfect—no mistakes, no deficiencies, no flaws, no failings. She tried to relax her clenched jaw. Somewhere out there, there had to be a road marked with happiness for her. She didn’t know what, where, or with whom, but somehow she would find the harmonious lifestyle of which she had always dreamed. Finished with packaging the painting and addressing it, she looked up to see Daniela Estrada checking out the unique Utah spring flower paintings displayed in the large front window. Even unconventional Daniela had managed to find love and happiness with Duston Cooper and her own canine grooming business on the street. Why did relationships happen so much easier for everyone else? “Haven’t you finished that yet?” Father asked as he came in through the back. “Yes, actually. Is Donny around to take it to the post office?” “His name is Donatello. I did not name him Donny. And frankly, I can’t stand that people on the block call him Picasso.” “Fine,” she said with an inward groan. “I sent your brother on a delivery. He’ll be back soon.” Vivete sauntered sleepily into the gallery from the back, stretched her back, and curled up next to Lavinia’s feet. Father grumbled. “What have I told you about your poodle in the gallery?” “The customers don’t seem to mind Vivete. Almost everyone has a dog in their shop on Merchant Street. That’s one of the things that contribute to our uniqueness compared to the cold, sterile, commercialized shops in the mall.” She reached down and patted Vivete’s fluffy, white head of hair. Father muttered under his breath again, unwrapped a piece of gum, and popped it into his mouth. He had hated the day she had brought home the small, but clearly identifiable, white Standard Poodle she had adopted. She still couldn’t believe she had found a purebred at the shelter, but she preferred to rescue a dog than to pay thousands to someone who was clearly only out for the profit. Besides, Vivete didn’t shed, handled the customers good-naturedly, brought smiles to their faces, and provided wonderful company. Lavinia gave Vivete’s ears a scratch. So she could get a little rambunctious at times, mostly at home. She had a habit of playing with her food and tearing up paper and plastic and scattering the pieces. Oh, and mouthing people’s hands like they were chew toys. Lavinia declared again she would work on Vivete’s social skills. “Keep her in the back.” Father reached down and grabbed Vivete’s collar and tugged. Despite being pulled to her feet, Vivete dug in her paws and stayed by Lavinia’s side, letting out a low growl. She had never liked Father, but then he wasn’t exactly a dog person, and not the best people person either. Buy Links for Fortune for Fools Sweet Cravings: http://bit.ly/1nW5RhZ Amazon: http://amzn.to/1m3Fozp  Bio: Cindy A. Christiansen writes sweet romance with humor, suspense...and dogs! She's the mother of two awesome boys who just happen to be autistic. Dogs have helped her through multiple health issues so she honors them in her books and donates both time and money to help them. She lives with her wonderful family and delightful dogs in West Jordan, UT. Fly into a good book! Contact Links: Website: http://www.dragonflyromance.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DragonflyRomance Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorDragonfly Twitter: https://twitter.com/CindyDragonfly Google+: http://bit.ly/14TuIh6 Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cindydragonfly/ Email: [email protected] |
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