Dog Eared Publicity Presents SWEET REALITY by Laura Heffernan Cover Reveal on February 14, 2017
Inside the Book:
Title: Sweet Reality
Author: Laura Heffernan
Publisher: Lyrical Shine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ecopy
SUGAR, SEA SALT, AND SHOW BIZ
Jen Reid’s life after walking off a reality show has been great—she’s gone from being a broke twenty-four-year-old Seattleite with no love life and no job to the twenty-five-year-old who got the guy, moved to Miami, and is starting a bakery with her best friend. She thinks her showmance boyfriend might be about to propose. And with mouthwatering goodies based on everyone’s favorite shows, her business, Sweet Reality, is destined for success. That is, until a killer competitor opens right across the street. If she’s going to save Sweet Reality, Jen has to come up with a secret ingredient—like the recipe that won Totally 80s Bake-Off. Jen can get it—if she steps back into the spotlight. Soon she and her boyfriend are out to sea on a cruise ship full of reality stars, including her nemesis, Ariana; her lying, cheating ex; and some wicked producers looking to bring the drama. Separate cabins, “surprises” from her past, and scenarios tailor-made to spark fights are just the beginning. But with her self-respect, her business, and her future on the line, the fallout from this made-for-TV plotline will be all too real . . . PURCHASE HERE: AMAZON|APPLE|GOOGLE PLAY|KOBO|B&N MEET THE AUTHOR
Laura Heffernan is living proof that watching too much TV can pay off. When not watching total strangers participate in arranged marriages, drag racing queens, or cooking competitions, Laura enjoys travel, baking, board games, helping with writing contests, and seeking new experiences. She lives in the Northeast with her amazing husband and two furry little beasts.
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Silence is golden until it hides a murderer’s step ~ and endangers the woman he loves
Lord Christopher Sterry is deaf in a day and age when the world regards his ‘kind’ as less than human. That doesn’t stop him from running the business of an earl in his twin brother’s name until his twin is murdered and Christopher becomes the Earl of Longford. As the person who found the body, Christopher becomes prime suspect to those who consider him no more than a well-trained animal. They threaten his title, his life, and his one true love. Helen Grove waits at the altar while her groom, the Earl of Longford, lies murdered in the folly, but there is no time to mourn, especially since love never entered into the arrangement. His brother, Christopher, her closest friend and confident, is in danger and so, it appears, is she. Ignoring her own risks, Helen crosses into the line of fire to protect the new earl. Lady Eleanor solves crimes more thoroughly than any male magistrate so when her godson, Christopher, is condemned without evidence, she sets out to prove both his innocence and competence as earl, by uncovering the real culprit. Book 2 ~ Lady Eleanor Mysteries ~ Regency romantic mystery with a touch of Gothic.
Chapter 1 - Death
He couldn’t breath, fought to tamp fury. Anger, controlled and tamed since youth, had turned into a red, billowing rage, transforming him into the madman the world had always expected him to be. Christopher trembled as he looked down at his twin, Thomas Anderson Sterry, the eighth earl of Longford, lying lifeless in a pool of blood on the silk Aubusson carpet. The carpet, meant for the great dining room, had been moved to the long narrow folly for the event. A Grecian temple with Doric columns, built by their grandfather, honoring classical history. Bright, open to the sultry breeze. Never intended to be a venue for death. Especially not today. The carpet, the damask-covered table set with utmost precision—de Lamerie flatware, crystal champagne flutes and blue and gold Worcester porcelain only brought out for the most esteemed guests. All in place for a wedding breakfast of lobster bisques, salmon eggs and champagne, accompanied by laughter and thinly veiled teasing. Thomas’s wedding breakfast. Christopher had prepared a surprise. Though mute since he lost his hearing at age seven, he’d practiced, prepared to embarrass himself with a mangled attempt to offer a toast to the bride and groom. Moot now, for his brother, his twin, who should be standing at the altar in the chapel, getting married in front of their family and friends, was now dead. Murdered. He swallowed the chaos, conjured fierce discipline to fight the howling beast within. Others would be coming soon to see what caused the delay. They could be there now. Christopher spun around to a stream of people rushing toward the folly. Had he screamed, cried out? His throat was raw with suppressed emotion, so overwhelming something could have escaped. It did when he slept, nightmare prompted wails that drew servants from all quarters of the manor. Keening, Thomas had called it, like a trapped and wounded beast. He felt trapped now, stunned and primitive as that beast, fury over the violence, the loss; fear of what could come his way, of being caged. He had found the body, stood over it, could easily have perpetrated the act. No question what Edmund, his youngest brother, thought, charging toward him, lunging up the steps of the folly. Whatever he saw in Christopher’s eyes stopped him, one step shy of the folly floor. He braced his hands against a column, as if to thrust it out of the way. Livid, accusing eyes on Christopher, blaming him. As everyone would do, because he couldn’t speak, couldn’t explain in a manner acceptable to them. As if he would ever harm Thomas.
Living in Florida, Becca divides her time between dreaming up stories, diving deep into history, kayaking, and swimming.
Her husband gives her the space she needs by fishing in the mangroves and waterways, or watching football (the English sort) with his British buddies. Becca and her hubby break the routine with adventure travel; though, at heart, Becca is a homebody believing there is no greater playground than inside the mind Website Facebook Twitter Google Plus Pinterest
Love Story
Love Unexpectedly #3 By: Lauren Layne Releasing February 14, 2017 Loveswept
Over the course of one wild road trip, feuding childhood sweethearts get a second chance at love in this charming rom-com—a standalone novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Blurred Lines and Good Girl.
When Lucy Hawkins receives a job offer in San Francisco, she can’t wait to spread her wings and leave her small Virginia hometown behind. Her close-knit family supports her as best they can, by handing over the keys to a station wagon that’s seen better days. The catch? The cross-country trip comes with a traveling companion: her older brother’s best friend, aka the guy who took Lucy’s virginity hours before breaking her heart. After spending the past four years and every last dime caring for his sick father, Reece Sullivan will do just about anything to break free of the painful memories—even if it means a two-week road trip with the one girl who’s ever made it past his carefully guarded exterior. But after long days of bickering in the car turn into steamy nights in secluded motel rooms, Reece learns that, when it comes to Lucy, their story is far from over. And this time, they just might have a shot at a happy ending.
Exclusive Excerpt
“Spock, we’re giving you Horny!” my mom blurts out, apparently fed up with my denseness. Her utterance is too much for my siblings to handle and they both burst out laughing, retreating into the kitchen to rejoin the party where there’s wine. Oh what I wouldn’t give for wine right now. “I, um . . . you’re giving me the car?” I ask. “Because yours broke down,” my dad explains, walking forward to thump Horny’s dented hood. “And this one’s . . . not broken down?” I ask skeptically. Look, it’s not that I’m not grateful. My parents are trying to give me a car, I appreciate the sweetness of the gesture, it’s just . . . Here’s the thing about Horny: he barely got us three kids through high school. I mean, Horny is the car that sputtered and shook making it the 3.2 miles to Jefferson High, no matter who was behind the wheel. I’m even going to come all the way clean here and say that early on in my freshmen year, I was embarrassed showing up in Horny. Then I realized I was lucky to have a car at all, and well . . . I dunno, I guess Horny became a part of us Hawkins kids’ charm, because the station wagon was practically an institution from Craig’s high school reign all the way through Brandi’s. But poor Horny quit working years ago. Much to Brandi’s chagrin, he gave up the ghost a mere two months before her high school graduation, and I spent the last bit of her senior year being picked up by my parents. “He’s going to take you to California,” Dad says, giving the car another thump. “Really?” I step forward and run a tentative finger along the familiar panel. He’s had a bath, so at least that’s something. “Because last I knew, he wouldn’t even make it out of the garage.” “Yeah, well, we neglected him for a while, but he’s right as rain now,” Dad says, puffing out his chest as though Horny’s a fourth child. “Like, as in he actually starts?” “Purrs like a kitten,” my mom says with an emphatic nod, even though I know she doesn’t even like cats. “We didn’t believe it, but we took him to church on Sunday and there were no issues.” I literally bite my tongue to keep from pointing out that this is hardly a feat. Sacred Presbyterian is 0.8 miles away from the house. “You took Horny into a shop?” I ask, starting to warm to the idea of having a car again. I’m a little touched, actually. Money is tight for my parents. Dad’s a PE teacher, and Mom gives a mean winery tour, but the gig’s never paid much. “Not exactly, it was more of a bartering situation,” Mom says. “Yeah?” I say, going around to the driver’s seat, already giddy with the prospect of telling Oscar I’ll be able to come see him in Miami after all, even if I won’t exactly be riding in style. “Reece agreed to fix him up.” I’m lowering myself into the car as my dad says this, but I reverse so quickly I hit my head. My skull doesn’t even register the pain, because I’m too busy registering the hurt in my heart at the familiar name. “I’m sorry, what?” “Reece,” my mom says, giving me a bemused look. “He’s always been handy with cars.” “He fixed up the car in exchange for what?” And then I feel—I actually feel—the air change around me as the side door to the garage opens, and a new presence sucks all the air out of the space. I don’t turn around. I don’t move. But I feel his eyes on me. Over me. “Reece is headed out to California too,” my oblivious mother chatters on. “It worked out perfectly actually. Now you two can ride together, and your dad and I don’t have to worry about you alone in the middle of nowhere with a twenty-something-year-old car. They think the car is going to be the problem here? It’s not the car that’s toxic to me. It’s him. Reece Sullivan. My brother’s best friend. My parents’ “other son.” Slowly I force myself to turn, and even though I’m prepped, the force of that ice-blue gaze still does something dangerous to me. He winks, quick and cocky, and I suck in a breath, and I have to wonder . . . I wonder if my parents would feel differently about their little plan if they knew that their makeshift mechanic is the same guy that popped my cherry six years earlier under their very roof. And then broke my heart twenty-four hours later.
Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen romantic comedies.
A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career. She lives in midtown Manhattan with her high-school sweetheart, where she writes smart romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush. In LL's ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books. Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
In the heart of Ransom Canyon, sometimes the right match for a lonely soul is the one you least expect
Dan Brigman may not lead the most exciting life, but he's proud of what he's achieved: he's a respected lawman, and he's raised a bright, talented daughter on his own. But finding a lone, sparkly blue boot in the middle of a deserted highway gets him thinking maybe the cowgirl who lost it is exactly the shake-up he needs. After losing her baby girl, Brandi Malone felt like her soul died along with her daughter. Now singing in small-town bars to make ends meet, she's fine being a drifter until a handsome sheriff makes her believe that parking her boots under his bed is a better option. College grad Lauren Brigman has just struck out on her own in downtown Dallas when a troubling phone call leads her back home to Crossroads. Her hometown represents her family, friends and deepest hopes, but also her first love, Lucas Reyes. Will Lauren's homecoming be another heartbreak, or a second chance for her and Lucas?
From the opening sentence of the book, you walk into the small town life, the slower pace, the caring, and nosy neighbors, the community that will always back you up. And it is so easy to get lost on the pages, the drama, trouble, and life of the characters as they are trying to find their way forward. It is like visiting old friends for those who are following series, as things pick up from where it was left off in the last installment. I'm sure you could read this story as a stand-alone, but to get the nuances and the past that has molded their lives to come to this point they are now in, I would recommend reading the series from the start. There are several main characters in the book, they all get their chance to tell the events from their point of view, giving vivid and rich images of the fall and winter in the Crossroads, Texas.
Dan Brigman, the lovable sheriff of the town has been in the previous stories of the series and has always been one of my favorite characters. With his smart, caring, solid character he has kept the town safe, and in my opinion, no one deserves a chance of love as much as he does. And Brandi Malone was the perfect match for him. I enjoyed their story and the attraction and adoration they have for each other. The thought of the sheriff having a wild affair made me smile, and root for them to make it work. His daughter, Lauren Brigman, with the love triangle that has been developing since high school between her, Tim, and Lucas gets more fire again. Young Thatcher is in a middle of all the drama and trouble developing in town, one of the characters that always brought a smile to my face with the witty dialog and observations. One of my favorite storylines in the book was the two rangers, park ranger Tess and Texas ranger Cody. The humorous undertones, the sparks flying as they bicker and quarrel, yet the obvious connection bringing them to each other's arms again and again. I truly felt I had had a lovely and lively visit with good friends as I finished the book. The action, turmoil, crimes giving more spice to the story and bringing the characters together, while the romance and attractions building the relationships moving the plot forward. The stories always leave me wanting more and looking forward to visiting the Ransom Canyon again, finding out how life is treating the good folks of Crossroads, Texas. An epic saga of life, loving and living. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
I'm a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author, wife, mother, in-law, grandmother, sister, friend, and owner of one fat cat.
Connect with JodiWebsite | Facebook | Twitter
Tapped
The Brewing Passion Series #1 By: Liz Crowe Releasing February 14, 2017 Totally Bound: Entwined
When wealthy brewery owner Austin Fitzgerald meets sexy saleswoman Evelyn Benedict, angry sparks fly. They seem destined to clash, until a hot hookup in a cold beer cooler changes everything.
For Austin, it's a life-altering moment that sets him on a path away from his birthright, while Evelyn must face her fears about committing to a man considered the playboy of the micro-brewing world. The power of preconceived notions nearly tears them apart—until they meet up with brew master Ross, who opens their eyes to a deeper, even more erotic connection. But three strong personalities don’t always make for the best emotional mix and when a simple misunderstanding causes chaos, it’s up to Ross to somehow repair the tattered shreds of their relationship.
Sensing the heat of Evelyn’s fury as he finalized another large order, he excused himself and made his way toward the restroom. The tuning-fork sensation had morphed into a dull ache centered in his gut, which steadily made its way down to his balls.
When he emerged—after splashing water on his face enough times to calm the hardening in his jeans—he almost plowed straight into her. He gripped her arms to keep her from falling and the impulses that had bounced around in his brain since the morning nearly brought him to his knees. He dropped his hands and looked away, swallowing back the urge to say something, anything, to convince her he wasn’t such a bad guy. “Sorry.” Her voice was flat. He took a step back, stopped only when his butt hit the wall. The space between them filled with near-visible silence, but he didn’t move. “I don’t know how I’m doing it, but the longer we work together, the more sales I make, and the more you hate me. Clue me in here, Benedict. I thought sales were the goal of the day.” He crossed his arms, holding them close to his chest so she couldn’t gauge how shaky his hands had gotten. She swallowed, and he watched the exquisite warm peach hue of her skin redden. Admiring the line of her neck, her jaw, the plump fullness of her lower lip as she bit it, a nervous tic he’d love to come to love, if she’d let him, Austin sensed himself falling deeper into a very scary hole. Her ongoing silence took on a life of its own. “Well? I left my secret-sales-goal decoder ring at home. You obviously have a different agenda for today. I get it. ‘Prove to the rich boy he doesn’t have what it takes’ is fine, but we could have saved some time if you’d just told me first.” She opened her lips, then pressed them together and shouldered past him. He watched, fascinated, as his hand reached out of its own accord and snagged her arm. She stopped, stared at it, then up at him. When he realized the blue of her eyes was brighter because of tears, he hesitated. Female tears always unnerved him, but his chest tightened in a thoroughly alarming way at the thought of having caused her unhappiness. He let go. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to…” In a split second, her beautiful face was within inches of his. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just pissed off. You’ve had that effect on me since I first laid eyes on you, so yeah, I guess I set you up. But apparently, all your country-club, private-school time has been worth it. Bullshitting comes naturally to you. And that’s all this job is. A whole barrel of bullshit.” She stomped away before he could speak or, even better, grab her and kiss her. The space she vacated quivered with anger. But her crisp perfume stayed in his nose and he had to clench his hands into fists to keep from shoving her up against the wall and kissing her until she saw it his way.
Amazon best-selling author, mom of three, Realtor, beer blogger, brewery marketing expert, and soccer fan, Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville currently living in Ann Arbor. She has decades of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as a three-continent, ex-pat trailing spouse.
Her early forays into the publishing world led to a groundbreaking fiction subgenre, “Romance: Worth the Risk,” which has gained thousands of fans and followers interested less in the “HEA” and more in the “WHA” (“What Happens After?”). With stories set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch, in successful real estate offices and at times in exotic locales like Istanbul, Turkey, her books are unique and told with a fresh voice. The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight, frustrate and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished. Don’t ever ask her for anything “like a Budweiser” or risk bodily injury. Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
In a Ranger’s Arms
Donna Michaels The Men of At Ease Ranch (Book #1) Lovestruck
No amount of training could’ve prepared him for her.
Former Army Ranger Stone Mitchum doesn’t have time for relationships, let alone a one-night stand. He’s too busy running a ranch that helps transition veterans back into society. But when his curvy new tenant falls into his arms, his libido snaps to attention. Jovy Larson has four weeks to prove she’s worthy of taking over the family business. She’s up for whatever ridiculous task they throw at her, but selling vegan food to a bunch of cowboys in cattle country, Texas? Not half as tough as fighting her attraction to her sexy, surly landlord. Good thing she’s stubborn. Then again, so is he
Could the day get any worse?
Shutting down his computer, Stone Mitchum silently cursed his stupidity. After a decade as an Army Ranger, he knew better than to tempt fate with such a blatant thought. Too many times he’d witnessed others throw caution to the wind and invariably pay for the mistake in the end. Not him. Caution was his middle name. Until lately. Jackass seemed more fitting. Like now, thanks to that wayward thought, he just invited more shit to rain down on his sorry ass today. Way to go, Stone Jackass Mitchum. With a grunt, he closed his laptop and stood, unsure if the creaking sound came from his knees or the old oak desk barely noticeable under a mound of papers and receipts. He glanced around the small office, just big enough to house the desk, chair, filing cabinet, and worn sofa…covered in more paperwork and receipts. At least the holes in the green plaid cushions were no longer visible. Organizing the ranch office was on Stone’s to-do list, but not a top priority at the moment. Today was rent day, and for a change, he was the collector, not the payee. And after the last two emails he’d just read, he had some serious scrambling to do. The first was from the bank reminding him the loan payment on the ranch was overdue. Again. The second was from a new tenant, insisting she’d already paid her first payment. His bank account said otherwise. Was this what he had to look forward to with her for the next few weeks? If he hadn’t been so damn desperate for money to keep the ranch and business afloat, he never would’ve signed a tenant who wanted to rent one of his storefronts in town for only one month. Good thing he insisted she start her lease early. Too bad the woman was tough to pin down for payment. He was right tired of dealing with the northerner through emails. It was time to have a face-to-face with this Jovy person. He came around his desk and grimaced. What kind of a name was Jovy, anyway? The pain was probably one of those eternally happy people who constantly smiled, chewed gum, and drew hearts in her signature. A few more curses rumbled in his throat as the door to the office swung open and his older brother Brick strode in, smudges of grease clinging to his jeans and chiseled face, while a troubled gaze mirrored Stone’s discontent. Great. Looked like he wasn’t the only one having a bad day. The two of them, along with their buddies Vince and Cord, had been working nonstop for weeks on end to get their construction business off the ground. Requests for estimates from word of mouth started to trickle in. If they kept up the pace—provided nothing broke down—they’d be operating in the black by the end of next week. That meant they could hire more veterans. The very goal of Foxtrot Construction—to give returning veterans a purpose, a reason to exist, and a place to stay on their ranch, if needed. “Damn backhoe’s broken again.” The scowling giant tossed his large frame on the sofa, sending papers and receipts cascading onto the worn wooden floor. One more thing to add to Stone’s never ending to-do list. Stripping and staining the oak planks. The chore fell right below organizing the office. Damn list was getting bigger every day. “Yo! Did you hear me, little brother?” A brow quirked over a set of dark eyes and tired expression Stone knew too well. It mirrored his, except Stone had gray eyes and a slimmer face. “The backhoe’s broken, again.” He sighed. So much for avoiding broken equipment. But considering nothing they owned was brand-new, breakdowns were expected. Good thing Cord was an ace mechanic. “I heard you.” Twelve months younger and shorter by one inch, although the way his brother teased you’d swear it was a whole damn foot, Stone leaned his six-foot-two-inch frame against the front of the desk. It creaked in protest again. He sympathized. The ranch he purchased from his dad eight months ago with his brother and their two former Army Ranger buddies seemed like a great deal at the time. The large homestead, built by his grandfather, had been the perfect size and location to give returning veterans a safe place to stay while readjusting to civilian life. Or so they thought. Thousands of dollars and man-hours later, he wasn’t so sure. The repairs seemed endless, and he had the added burden of knowing his brother wanted to leave but wouldn’t until the ranch was fixed and the business was making a profit. Stone felt old and worn out like his desk. And their bank account. He blew out a breath. “What’s wrong with it now?” “Starter’s gone.” He stiffened. “Gone? Or broken?” “Does it matter?” “Hell yeah, it matters. Is someone stealing stuff or is the damn thing broken?” Frowning, Brick slowly rose to his feet, never breaking eye contact. “Relax. No one is stealing anything. It’s broken. Like your patience. Jeez, bro, you need to get laid.” He resisted flipping the jerk the bird. Barely. “Forget about my fucking sex life and worry about the damn backhoe.” Amusement sparkled in his brother’s eyes. “But your sex life is more interesting. Or lack thereof.” Stone snorted. “Then you need a new hobby.” “No.” Brick stepped forward and gripped Stone’s shoulders. “You need a new sex life. You haven’t been out on a date in nearly nine months.” A fierce, sudden urge to smash something ripped through Stone, but he remained rigid and still. Nine months ago, their friend Leo attempted suicide and almost died. A fact that never failed to crush Stone’s chest with an invisible force. Would the anger and self-loathing ever go away? Probably not. Still, Brick didn’t deserve his wrath. As if sensing the inner battle, his astute brother tightened his hold. “We all blame ourselves. But you need to snap out of it.” If it weren’t for the concern darkening the guy’s already-weary gaze, Stone could’ve been persuaded to release a little of that anger. But his brother’s anxiety neutralized the aggression surging through Stone’s veins. Damn. He hadn’t meant to worry anyone. Hell, he hadn’t even realized others had been keeping track of his lack of liaisons. “I’m fine.” Brick released him and grinned. “Then prove it. Come with us to the Beer and Steer later. You haven’t gone out with me and the guys in months.” “Because I’ve been too busy trying to run things,” he countered. “And there’s always something that needs fixing on the ranch.” Besides, he didn’t deserve to have fun. “Try again, shorty.” His brother smirked. “We’ve done a damn good job of turning the stables into quarters, fixing the barn for the horses, and tackling some repairs on this old ranch house.” True. “And with the exception of the dead starter, Cord has brought all the other equipment back to life,” his brother added. Also true. Their buddy was very useful with any kind of tool you shoved in his hands. Brick folded his arms over his broad chest and stared him down. “I’m aware you take care of the business side of things, for which I’m eternally grateful, but you know what they say: all business and no play makes Stone a very dull rock.” A grin twitched his lips. He punched his brother’s shoulder as he straightened from the desk. “You’re a goof, and I need to go collect the rent, unless you happen to be heading into town for that starter?” “No. Sorry, bro.” Brick shook his head. “I already called old Skeeter. He doesn’t have one in stock. I came in here to use the laptop to order one online. You’re going to have to go collect the rent yourself.” A mischievous gleam entered his brother’s eyes. “You know, I heard the new tenant is pretty. Curvy, too. She could be just what you need to get back into the game. Help you clean the lead out of your pipes.” Ah hell, not that again. “Give it a rest, Brick.” He scoffed. “I don’t care what she looks like. I’m not interested.” “Ha!” His brother’s bark of laughter bounced off the walls. “You say that now, but one day, some pretty girl is going to come along and your deprived body is going to overrule your stubborn-ass mind.” Not bothering to reply, Stone headed for the door. He wasn’t stubborn. His brother was stubborn. Trying to change that mule-head’s mind once it was made was like talking to a brick wall. Smiling at his poor joke, he grabbed his Stetson off the hook by the door and shoved it on his head. “Don’t forget to meet us at the Beer and Steer later.” Yep, damn brick wall.
Donna Michaels is an award winning, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of Romaginative fiction. Her hot, humorous, and heartwarming stories include cowboys, men in uniform, and some sexy, primal alphas. With a husband in the military fulltime, and a household of nine, she never runs out of material to write, and has rightfully earned the nickname Lucy…and sometimes Ethel. From short to epic, her books entertain readers across a variety of sub-genres, and one has even being hand drawn into a Japanese translation. Now, if only she could read it.
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Alex Gentry doesn’t scare easily. Working as an undercover FBI agent in the biker bar he and his brothers co-own, he hangs with deadly criminals in order to gather information. Danger is just part of the family business. But one thing has him terrified: his attraction to Madison Parker.
Madison is the cousin of Ramon Alonzo, son and second in command to a notorious drug lord Alex is trying to bust. Alex has befriended Ramon as part of his cover, and Madison has unknowingly become his informant. Falling for her could risk this case—and both their lives. All Madison wants is to get her new bookstore business off the ground, and for her creepy cousin Ramon—to whom she’s unfortunately indebted—to leave her alone. If she could only stop fantasizing about his mysterious new friend, Alex… As the Alonzo cartel investigation heats up, so does their relationship. But will the secrets they’re keeping tear them apart—or get them both killed?
This story has equal amounts of danger, threat, and suspense with passion, affection, and love. It pulled me into the dark and treacherous world of biker bars, drug deals, and undercover assignments where fights, deals, and rivalry seemed to be everyday occurrences.
I fell in love with the Gentry brothers and the palpable love they had for each other. The situation they had grown up in wasn't ideal in anyone's eyes, yet they made it and made something of themselves, something to be proud of. The brothers are tight, they always have each other's back, and they are not afraid to show that they care. Alex Gentry is the youngest of the brothers and in deep trouble because of his developing feelings for Madison Parker. The way he was open about his feelings towards her from the start and told about his intentions was endearing. There were so many times these two made me smile, and the rides on the bike just left me envious. When Alex and Madison were together there was fire and heat, the passion blazing. But Madison had her doubts, and I understood her point, her issues with trust and the complications that the secrets were causing them. Ramon Alonzo as the creepy cousin and vile culprit gave me the chills. The action was tour-curling fierce and had me holding my breath, inhaling the story, as is seamlessly flow from the pages. The images in the story are strong and vivid. I swear I could sense the heat in the air, hear the ocean roar, and feel the sand in my toes of the Miami beaches. Even though biker bars and MC clubs are not my favorite storyline, I was into the scenes the author created, the elements from fear to adoration were distinct and evident. The attractive Gentry brothers with their charm won me over immediately, the secondary characters adding to the allure and the possibilities of the coming events that were hinted at left me eagerly wanting more. Definitely keeping an eye on this series, you guys need to check this one out! ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
An award winning author, Sandra Owens lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her family and friends often question her sanity, but have ceased being surprised by what she might get up to next. She’s jumped out of a plane, flown in an aerobatic plane while the pilot performed thrilling stunts, has flown Air Combat (two fighter planes dogfighting, pretending to shoot at each other with laser guns), and rode a Harley motorcycle for years. She regrets nothing.
Sandra is a 2013 Golden Heart® Finalist for her contemporary romance, CRAZY FOR HER. CRAZY FOR HER is the first book in her bestselling series about the men of K2 Special Services. Website Twitter Facebook
A Sweetheart Deal
Wyatt Lockhart is bound to regret moving in with Adelaide Smythe. She's broken the Texas rancher's heart before, and their last spontaneous reunion resulted in a couple of surprises--twin babies! Wyatt won't shirk his fatherly duties, but being this close to Adelaide makes it hard to remember why he should stay far away. Adelaide knows she hurt Wyatt, and she's determined never to do it again. Once they figure out how to share parenting duties, she'll give him enough space to keep both their hearts safe. But life together at the Circle H is already growing on her. For the sake of their family's future, can Wyatt forgive Adelaide for the past?
The story starts off right in the middle of the drama and turmoil Adelaide Smythe and Wyatt Lockhart have created around themselves. Learning to trust, being able to forgive, the stressful life of newborn parents, a relationship that never really had a chance to grow, and the trouble in-between the families are enough to create friction and strain, that is nearly impossible to overcome.
Wyatt Lockhart is very likable and admirable character. He has a big, loving heart, he is determined to make the best out of his life, he is protective of his loved ones, and he is lost when it comes to trying to find the way back to Adelaide's heart. I loved him as a caring dad, as fumbling husband, as a loving partner, and I just wanted Adelaide to be able to trust and forgive so they could move on, hopefully together. Adelaide had her issues. She is the least romantic person, she has high walls around her, she is careful with her feelings about everything, she tries her best to keep Wyatt at arm's length from her heart. She is a loving and caring mother, but she has to forgive and forget to be able to live in peace. I really enjoyed the story, the way the characters had a chance to grow, develop, both in their lives as people, but as a couple and parents as well. The everyday struggle of just surviving with tiny babies, the emotional roll-a-coaster new parents seems to be in, was all described in such a real and authentic way. Adelaide and Wyatt had a lot of issues between them, but they get to the gritty, they do the work, sometimes with the help of the community, sometimes on their own. The passion and attraction between them are evident, nearly palpable, but it takes more than that to make it in life for the forever kind of relationship, and Adelaide and Wyatt learn the hard way that sometimes you have to take the rough roads to get where you desire to be. This is a different kind of romance, more about what can happen after the 'I do' is said, how hard it can be to start to built a life together, how many things can affect it, and how much stress and work as well as blessings little bundles of joy can really be. What it takes to honestly forgive and forget, and what if loving each other isn't enough, are they willing to do the work it requires or are they going to walk away? Really a thought provoking and honest story about loving and living to the fullest that takes you through the emotions but leaves you with a smile ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Her Inconvenient Husband
When a riding accident strands socialite Caroline Turner overnight with the new stable manager, she gets the one thing she never wanted—a husband! Marrying the infuriatingly stubborn Duncan McKenna wouldn't have been her first choice, but with her reputation damaged, it's her only option. Still, there's something about the brash, rugged Scotsman that fascinates Caroline. If Duncan wanted to wed a society girl, he would have stayed in Boston with his family and his fortune. He expects Caroline to balk at her new modest lifestyle, but instead the strong-willed beauty seems determined to prove him wrong, making her all the more irksome…and irresistible. The marriage of convenience isn't what Caroline and Duncan planned, but could they be a perfect match?
I love the marriage of convenience storylines, even though this was more of an inconvenience, actually. But it was much more than heartfelt romance with a little drama and suspense on the side, it was also a great study of the characters, their development as people, as a married couple and in their faith in God. I truly enjoyed the story and all the different nuances in it.
Caroline Turner wasn't an easy character to like at first. She is rather prickly and nearly arrogant at times until you get to know her more and realize the upbringing she has had, and how that must have affected her. She grows, develops, and turns out to be a lovely, caring, artistic, loving soul. Duncan McKenna was a complex character and not all he might seem at the first look. He has left the easy life behind him, seeking more fulfilling future and closer relationship with God. His patience, his faith, his perseverance will be tested during the first weeks of their unexpected marriage, and it takes tragic events to open the eyes of both Caroline and Duncan to see what they really want, if not only too late for them... The suspense and action add layers of enjoyment to the story even though Caroline and Duncan themselves were plenty entertaining as well. Going from socialite to a farm-wife isn't easy, and there are many humorous as well as hurtful moments as Caroline and Duncan try to find the balance and compromises in their fragile union. And when they get lost from each other, faith in God is their only guiding light, as the ask for yet another chance to make things right. A compelling story of growing to be the person we are meant to be, developing in our faith in God, as well as sweet romance building up from the oddest set of circumstances. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
For Susannah Quinn, heartbreakingly handsome detective Christian Cavanaugh O'Bannon is trouble that she doesn't need.
Still, her CSI instincts tell her a serial killer's on the loose, so she agrees to work this case with Chris through long days--and even hotter nights. But his reckless charm is allowing him perilously close to her darkest secrets. Going by the book has never been freewheeling Chris's style, so an unofficial partnership with Susannah is just what he needs to stop a vicious murderer in his tracks. While he struggles to win the beautiful blonde's trust, mutual desire puts them both in harm's way...
Third amazing thriller on a row! I loved this story, I think it is my favorite Cavanaugh story so far.
The suspense was well built. The cases detective Christian Cavanaugh O'Bannon and CSI Susannah Quinn are investigating are terrifying, menacing, and have a serious creepy factor in them that might seep into your dreams. There's just that air of hopelessness and frightening threat with little clues and terrifying possibilities that gave the cases the eerie effect. Christian and Susannah were lively, energetic, and enthusiastic characters. They both have the passion for justice and doing the right thing. The sizzle between them was rather entertaining, and attraction they felt for each other was intense. The way they communicated was through constant banter and bickering that was just on the border of not tipping over to the side of being mean and hurtful. Especially Suzie Q danced on the edge of being a 'mean girl', her words holding her defenses and keeping her at safe distance, so her family's past wouldn't be revealed. Intriguing murder cases to be investigated gets Chris and Suzie a chance to spend time together and get to know each other while catching a vile criminal. The action and suspense are fast-paced and captivating, the drizzle of clues to solve the case exciting. The alluring passion that awakens between Chris and Suzie takes them both by surprise, as they find to be equal partners both while investigating the murders and developing a relationship. A riveting and enticing story all around! ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
At Close Range
Tracers #11 By: Laura Griffin Releasing January 31, 2017 Pocket Books
When a lakeside tryst ends in a double murder, police detective Daniele Harper arrives on the scene determined to get answers. Clues are everywhere, but nothing adds up. Dani turns to the Delphi Center crime lab for help, but soon regrets it when her secret attraction to their chief firearms examiner threatens to distract her from the most important case of her career.
As a ballistics expert and former Navy SEAL, Scott Black knows firearms, and he knows he can help Dani unravel her case. Scott has managed to hide his interest in his best friend’s younger sister for years, but when her investigation brings them together, the sparks between them quickly get out of control. Scott resolves to keep his hands off Dani and his eyes on the goal—identifying a killer. But when that killer zeroes in on Dani, all bets are off. There isn’t a line Scott won’t cross to convince Dani to trust him so that he can help her take down a ruthless murderer who has her in his sights.
Oh my words, people, I am not sure if I have eloquent enough way to express how much I loved absolutely everything about this story, and admire the way it is written.
The pictures the author paints for us are so clear and vivid, so real, that it was easy to get lost in the pages of the book. The tale itself has a rhythm and flow that are natural and engaging. There's no short cuts, no easy solutions, or rushing to the end, but beautifully written story that I wanted to hang on to every word. I loved how the technical details were delivered. The balance of the information was perfect, not underestimating the reader, but not overflowing so that it would be tedious. The case is complex, and there's no way to figure out who truly is the mastermind behind the attacks that just keeps coming and soon turns personal towards the investigators. And the characters! Detective Daniele Harper was a true heroine. She is tough, reasonable, smart, and capable, she feels she is over her head, challenged to the core by her first case as a leader, but she doesn't give up, she doesn't complain, or look for a way out, but goes forward and is determined to find the criminals and stop the insanity. The ballistics expert and former Navy SEAL, Scott Black isn't just sexy as one can be, but he has honor, loyalty, need for justice to be done, and mostly a need to protect Daniele. He doesn't use a pet name to her, but while everyone else calls her some version of Dani, at the perfect moments he says 'Daniele' and I swear I swooned every single time. Daniele and Scott have a sizzling, energetic connection from the start. The turbulence of their desire boiling inside of them for each other is as explosive as the action in the book and twined into the story seamlessly. The 'best friend's baby sister' angel has just enough drama to my liking and the way they navigate the fragile beginning of their relationship, how the feelings develop and grow, was delightful and charming. This story is filled with unpredictable action that had me holding my breath, moments of danger and fear that felt so real I had to check my locks and windows. The romance is not only beautiful and adorable but sensual and swoon worthy. The characters are charismatic, and the secondary characters benefit the story and help to develop the plot into the absorbing puzzle that it turns out to be. This story is everything I want in a romantic suspense and I highly recommend it to all fans of the genre! ~ Five Spoons!
Dani watched him. Scott stood beside the car, his back to the victim as he skimmed his flashlight over the ground. The firearms expert was tall and broad-shouldered, with the super-ripped body of a former Navy SEAL. Instead of his usual tactical pants and combat boots, he wore jeans and a leather jacket tonight, so maybe he’d been out when he’d gotten the call. Dani knew from experience that his jacket had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the Sig Sauer he carried concealed at his hip.
Something glinted in the grass, and Scott crouched down to tag it with a numbered marker. Two minutes on the scene and already he’d discovered a piece of evidence. He stood and squared his shoulders, and Dani felt a pang deep inside her as he approached. He stopped and towered over her, and for a moment they just stared at each other. “Was the passenger door closed when you got here?” he asked. “That’s right.” “Where’s the girl?” “No sign of her.” She nodded at the woods. “One of our officers is searching near the lake with Travis.” He watched her for a moment with those cool blue eyes. His gaze shifted to the woods. “You need a K-9 team.” She bristled. “I know.” He strode over to his truck and opened the toolbox again. He took out a metal detector, which would help him locate shell casings or bullets, and maybe even the second victim if she was wearing jewelry or a belt. Then again, the killer might have taken her somewhere else. Dani glanced back at the road and got a queasy feeling in her stomach. Where was she? She turned her attention to the lake, visible just beyond the trees. It was a scenic spot, usually--a tranquil little oasis for couples. But not tonight. She glanced at Scott again, and he was watching her closely--so closely it made her wonder what he was thinking. “You coming?” he asked. She nodded at the body. “I’ll stay with him until the ME shows.” Scott walked off, and Dani let her gaze follow him until he disappeared into the woods. The medical examiner’s van rolled up, followed closely by Ric, and Dani’s stomach tightened as she thought of everything she didn’t like about this case. And it wasn’t even an hour old yet. Ric walked over, his expression grim as he took in the scene. “The media has it.” “That didn’t take long.” “It was all over the scanner,” he told her. “I give us ten minutes, tops, before they roll in here with their cameras. We need to barricade the road.” “Daniele.” She turned toward the sound of Scott’s deep voice calling her from the woods. He was a tall silhouette at the edge of the trees, and from his tone Dani knew it was bad. “What is it?” she yelled back. “I found her.” ## Copyright 2017 by Laura Griffin
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author LAURA GRIFFIN started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. She is a two-time RITA Award winner (for the books Scorched and Whisper of Warning) as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award (for Untraceable). Laura currently lives in Austin, where she is working on her next book.
Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Hooked
Viking Bastards MC #1 By: Christina Phillips Releasing Feb 6th, 2017 Entangled Scorched
Zach…
I like my sex dirty and disposable. I'm not into commitment or chicks who want more than one night. My brothers and club come first, second and last. Until she walks into my life. Classy, rich and so out of my league it's crazy. A week together should get her out of my system, but this good girl is so bad when we're all alone and I can't get enough of her. I don't do forever, but she's hooked me so bad I don't ever want to let her go. Except there's no way a princess can live in my world and I sure as hell won't live in hers...
I pull her close, and she winds her arms around me, which makes me almost forget what I was about to say. “What you see is what you get with me.”
“Hmm,” she says as though she doesn’t believe a word. “Big, bad, tough guy on the outside. That’s okay, your secret’s safe with me.” I snort with laughter. “No secret, Grace.” I like saying her name. “That’s me, inside and out.” “If you say so.” “When I get you home, I’ll prove it to you.” “Do you live far from here?” With my arm still wrapped around her, I once again make for the door. “Nah. Just a couple of blocks. Won’t take long.” “Can we pick my luggage up first?” I pause, hand on doorknob. “Luggage?” “Yes. From my car. You know, toothbrush and…stuff.” Her cheeks are pink and she gives a little shrug. “If I’m staying the night I need my things.” “Sure.” My mind fills with the happy vision of Grace in my shower. I pull open the door, keen to get home and put that particular fantasy into action. Tension vibrates from her as we walk back into the bar. I swagger across the room, ignoring the glances from my brothers and friends, and they soon get the message. Instead of catcalls and jeers, they go back to their business, and Grace gives a relieved sigh as the door swings shut behind us. “At least it’s stopped raining.” She lowers her umbrella. “That’s my car, over there.” I glance across the street and there’s no mistaking which car she’s talking about. It’s a silver Mercedes coupe, and if I don’t warn my brothers the car’s off-limits, it’ll be picked clean by morning. She opens the trunk and takes out an overnight case, then looks at me expectantly, as though she’s waiting for me to haul out the massive case that takes up the entire space. Is she leaving home or going on vacation? It’s none of my business, and I don’t know why the question even enters my head. “You need all this shit for one night?” “No, but I need a change of clothes.” She frowns as though something’s just occurred to her. “Oh, you mean we’re walking to your house? I thought you’d have your car here. It doesn’t matter, I can make do.” She goes to shut the trunk, and I hold it open. “I don’t have a car.” Seriously, is she really that clueless? Her surprised glance tells me that yeah, she really is. I haul her case out and slam the trunk. “There’s really no need.” She waves a finger at her case. “I don’t expect you to carry it along the street. It’s too heavy.” “The hell it is.” Even if the damn thing were full of bricks I wouldn’t back down now. “You better have some killer underwear in here as payback.”
Christina is addicted to good coffee, expensive chocolate and bad boy heroes. She writes on the sizzling side of naughty, and loves bringing her tough biker heroes to their knees (her heroines enjoy this, too ☺).
Christina is also owned by three gorgeous cats who are convinced the universe revolves around their needs. They are not wrong. Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Not in My Wildest Dreams
McKenna Series #2 By: Jamie Hollins Releasing February 7, 2017 Self-Published
It really sucks to be in love with someone who sees you as nothing more than a friend. Darcy Owens knows this from personal experience. From the moment she met Sean McKenna as a wary ten-year-old, he’s owned her heart. So when he asks for her help with an important construction project, she can’t say no.
Building a boutique hotel on Boston’s waterfront is a career-making opportunity, and Sean needs Darcy’s interior design expertise. She’s incredibly talented, and there is no one he trusts more. He knows he can always count on his childhood friend, but doesn’t know why he’s thinking about her tight skirts and blue eyes instead of tight deadlines and blueprints. When Sean and Darcy’s excitement about their work turns into an entirely different kind of excitement, it’s a sexy surprise. But they soon realize that building a new relationship is more challenging than building a new hotel, especially when life-long habits and old insecurities create cracks in the foundation.
Mallory dug her hand into the mug and pulled out the next question. Her eyes scanned the paper and she laughed.
“What is your preferred shape when shaving your pubic hair?” Quinn spit her beer back into her glass, almost choking on it. “Darcy!” “You first, Quinn,” Darcy smiled. Quinn’s eyes were as big as saucers, the whites totally surrounding her light gray irises. “Pass!” “Figures,” Darcy teased. “Okay, I’ll go first again. I try to keep it mostly in a little triangle shape. But I trim it pretty short so it doesn’t get too out of control down there.” Quinn was turning three shades of purple. Mallory and Jessi both laughed hysterically, covering their faces with their hands. “You are shameless!” Quinn yelled, looking like she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Who’s shameless?” All heads turned to see Ewan and Sean McKenna walk through the front door. Darcy’s smile froze on her face as she stared at the two cousins who looked absolutely nothing alike. One was dark and one was fair. Both were tall, fit, and drop-dead gorgeous. Ewan was a usual suspect on the weekends. Sean, however, was not. Damn, I’m not drunk enough to handle this. “Darcy’s shameless,” Quinn said, now with a little grin on her face. “Of course she is,” Sean said, smiling his million-dollar smile. “She’s Darcy,” Nope. Definitely not drunk enough to deal with Sean McKenna. That smile was one of Sean’s many highly effective and deadly weapons in his arsenal against the opposite sex. It had been eighteen years, and Darcy’s breath still caught every time she laid eyes on him. Strong, sculpted shoulders and a chest that narrowed into a lean and muscled abdomen. No matter what he had on, his body looked amazing. Long, toned legs, shapely ass. His list of sexy and virile attributes could go on and on. Combine that list with his sunny blond hair and his nonstop sense of humor, and he was a one-man woman-eater. And she didn’t mean that as an innuendo, although she could guess it was fairly accurate if the rumors served him right. He had the confidence and charisma to charm Mother Teresa’s panties off. He was just that good. Not that Darcy knew what it was like for Sean to charm her panties off, even though she’d been dreaming about it ever since she’d met him on her first day of school in Ballagh, a sleepy village south of Boston. She’d seen all his tricks and moves. But only because she’d helplessly watched him work them on other girls. Sean had been the reason several lucky girls had given up their hymens. Ironically, he was and remained to be the reason she still had hers. Call it sad. Call it impossible. Call it an abomination. Darcy was a twenty-eight-year-old virgin. It was hard to have a physical relationship when all she did was compare other men to Sean. She didn’t mean to do it. She just did. And if that didn’t fucking split her heart in two, the fact that he considered her one of his best friends did the trick. No guy ever fucked his best gal pal. It was in the guy code of conduct or something. Ewan pushed by his cousin, bent down, and gave Quinn a hard kiss on the lips before whispering something in her ear that made her giggle. His smile for his girlfriend was warm and made promises that told Darcy she’d likely need to sleep with the TV on. Not that they were ever loud when the darkly handsome and brooding Ewan was getting it on with her roommate. But Darcy didn’t want to risk hearing anything. Quinn smiled up at him. “We’re almost done.” “Done with what?” Sean asked, pulling up a chair to the table. “We’re playing Dirty Dozen.” Mallory’s words were slightly slurred. Sean looked over at her and raised his brows. “Dirty Dozen? Sounds scandalous. Do tell.” Darcy noticed the way Sean’s eyes lit up. He would be the only guy she knew who would use a word like scandalous. “We have to answer twelve questions,” Jessi answered him. “The naughtier the better.” “Jesus,” Ewan muttered, shaking his head as he started toward the living room to watch TV. “Naughty questions, huh?” Sean replied. “And why haven’t I been invited to join in on the fun before?” “Because you don’t have a vagina,” Darcy deadpanned. Sean twisted his lips at her and raised a brow. “I have intimate knowledge of vaginas. That should count for something.” Darcy rolled her eyes. Before she could tell Sean that no dicks were allowed at their Girls’ Night In, Jessi chimed in. “Of course you can play with us. It‘ll be fun to get a guy’s perspective.” With the exception of Quinn, Darcy’s friends didn’t know about her feelings for Sean. Jessi and Mallory, no doubt, thought he was the hottest thing since Tabasco. Pretty much everyone did. Her friends had met him a few times over the years through parties someone or other had thrown. Sean very rarely ever came down to Providence, where Darcy had just finished her graduate degree and Quinn was still trudging through hers. He lived in Boston, where he had earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and was now partner in a general contracting firm. “Okay, hit me,” Sean invited. “What’s this shameless question of Darcy’s?” “What shape do you shave your pubic hair?” Darcy challenged. She should have known that he wouldn’t even bat an eye. “Great question,” he immediately answered. “Personally, I just trim my pubes. However, if you want to know my preference for how a woman should shave hers—” “We don’t,” Darcy quickly said. “Yes, we do!” both Mallory and Jessi yelled at the same time. Sean smiled at them both before continuing. “It’s gotta be tidy down there. Shaved is okay, but waxed is better. And it needs to have some shape. I think it’s unnatural for a woman to be completely bare. I personally prefer something I like to call the Martini Glass, right above the—” He stopped suddenly and frowned. “I should illustrate. Can I get a pen and paper?” “No!” Darcy cut in. Sean shrugged, clearly loving how uncomfortable she was. “My turn to ask a question.” He reached in to pull out a piece of paper. Sean smiled as he read it to himself before turning that blinding grin on the rest of the table. “God, this is a great game,” he laughed. “Okay, the question is: When, where, how, and to whom did you lose your virginity?” All the blood seemed to drain from Darcy’s head. She’d been surprised that this question hadn’t come up the first few times they’d played the Dirty Dozen. It wasn’t that she was trying to keep her virginity a secret. She just never talked about it. Why the hell did it have to come up now, when Sean was here, for Christ’s sake? Fuck, she was nowhere near drunk enough for this.
Jamie Hollins was born and raised in rural Northeast Ohio. After graduate school, she embarked on a perilous career in Human Resources where she met plenty of real life characters.
When she’s not writing or chasing after her toddler, she enjoys reading and golfing. Jamie lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, son, and their dog, Winston. Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Final Exit
EXIT Inc. #3 By: Lena Diaz Releasing January 31, 2017 Avon
Lena Diaz concludes her sexy, suspenseful EXIT Inc. series as an FBI agent teams up with a beautiful assassin to uncover a deadly government conspiracy...
After a tragic mistake nearly destroyed his life, Special Agent Kade Quinn will do whatever it takes to save his career. His latest mission? Track and capture the remaining EXIT operatives to determine if they’re still a threat. But his next target—a stunning female assassin—is both elusive and dangerously appealing. Bailey Stark has outsmarted the FBI so far, but she’s tired of running. Tired of watching her friends ambushed by government agents in tactical gear and never seen again. She suspects they aren’t being evaluated—they’re being exterminated—and she’s determined to convince Agent Quinn his mission is a lie before it’s too late. Bailey doesn’t want to rely on him. She definitely shouldn’t desire him. But she knows teaming up with the skilled, sexy agent may be her only hope. Kade doesn’t want to believe Bailey’s claims, but he promises to keep her safe. Trusting one another is difficult. Fighting their attraction is harder. And as they uncover the disturbing truth behind his mission . . . staying alive will be nearly impossible.
What a thrilling and exciting ending to the Exit Inc series! The tension is high and constant, the danger unstoppable and deadly, there's no possibility to know who to trust, who is on your side, and who is trying to capture you, and who is out just to terminate you.
The story and action take off from the start and I was immersed into the world of menace and peril and loved every moment of it. The ceaseless plot twists kept the intensity soaring, and me hanging on to every word to keep up with the Enforces, Equalizers, and the FBI. Bailey Stark might just be my all time favorite ass-kicking heroine. She is fearless, except for landings and fire. She can handle herself in any situation, there's no whining, no complaining, she is smart, compassionate, capable, and fierce, and I admire her guts to go forward and seek justice when she could have just taken off to the mountains and never be heard of again. Special Agent Kade Quinn won my heart at first because of his imperfections. His piercing pain, his need to seek release from it gave him human characteristics that, at least for me, were easy to relate to. He has a steady sense of honor, dignity, loyalty, and justice. He is vulnerable with his physical, and mental, disabilities caused by an accident, but he is determined to get the job done, and he believes in it, he believes in the purpose of their agenda. Together Bailey and Kade were fire and fervor that had me holding my breath with the unpredictable turns their relationship kept taking. The bickering they had had a purpose to gather more information and was never hurtful or putting the other down. I adored them together, the tenderness, the beauty of it, as these two tough as nails warriors came together and let their walls crumble down and the passion take over. Absolutely fantastic, thrilling series filled with unthinkable danger and chilling conspiracies, ferocious action, and unexpected twists all mixed with loyal friends and unforeseen allies, and romance of the forever kind, that makes the toughest soldiers of justice fall and let their defenses crumble down while the readers swoon... AH! ~ Five Spoons!
Friday, 11:55 p.m.
It was a perfect night to catch a killer. A warm breeze blew out of the south at about six miles per hour. Rain-heavy clouds covered the half-moon, plunging the cliff where Special Agent Kade Quinn stood into darkness. He was betting on the old cliché, third time’s a charm. And also betting on the numbers—that his six, shiny new special agents could take down one highly skilled, remarkably cunning, experienced assassin. Not the kind of odds to go to Vegas over. But he had to work with what he had. If things went as planned, Bailey Stark would soon be in custody like the dozens of other EXIT Inc. Enforcers that his team had managed to capture. The now-defunct company could never again fool the public into believing that all it did was offer vacation packages, so-called “EXtreme International Tours.” The clandestine organization’s true legacy as a corrupt front for government-sanctioned murder would end with the capture of the last few Enforcers. By the time his mission was over, every last one functioning members of society. And innocents like Abby would never again become the victims of killers like Bailey. Between the nightmare of his wife’s death and the near-constant ache in his ruined left leg, Kade had his own, very personal, debt with EXIT. And he planned on collecting. He scanned the tree line. Past the red oak and Ponderosa pines, the Colorado Rockies squatted like dark sentinels watching over tonight’s operation. Below him, in the middle of a wide, nearly treeless valley, was ground zero, the two-story cottage that Bailey believed would be her sanctuary. Instead, it would become her last stand. A quarter-mile-long driveway connected a two-lane highway to this remote property. At close to midnight and an hour’s drive from Boulder, the road was essentially deserted. Kade couldn’t have asked for a better place to launch an ambush. And if his intel was correct, Bailey should arrive within the next half hour. Only a few minutes later the two-way radio on his belt crackled to life. “Big Bear to Lone Wolf. Come in.” Kade rolled his eyes and pressed the transmit button. “Kade here. What’s the situation report, Nichols?” “You’re ruining my fun, boss.” He shook his head but played along. He had to pick his battles. “Lone Wolf to Big Bear. What’s the sitrep?” “Much better.” A chuckle sounded through the radio. “A beat-up, dark blue Camaro just turned off the highway. One occupant. Looks to be our target. She’s heading toward the cottage.” “Use the SUV to block the road behind her. If she gets spooked, I don’t want her doing a one-eighty and making it to the highway.” “Affirmative. Big Bear out.” Kade clicked off the mic and belatedly wished he’d downed a handful of antacids before driving out here. Being assigned these eager, raw newbies had to be his penance for his breakdown after the accident. They were also the reason he was here in person rather than monitoring the mission remotely per the usual protocol. Tonight’s target had already tricked his team and gotten away—twice. Kade was here to make sure that didn’t happen again. “Cord,” he said through the two-way. “Sitrep.” “You mean you aren’t going to call me Little Bear?” “Do you want me to?” He was half-afraid of the answer. “Hell no. I’m not in junior high.” “You guys know I can hear you, right?” Nichols chimed in. “Sitrep,” Kade growled. “She just passed my ten o’clock,” Cord announced. “Dom should have her in his sights in a few seconds.” “Already do,” Dominic confirmed. “The car is pulling up to the house. We’re all set.” “Radio silence in three, two, one.” Kade clicked off the transmitter. They couldn’t risk the sound of static or a mistimed transmission alerting their target. Or at least, that was the official reason for breaking communications. Unofficially, he needed a few moments of silence to get his impatience under control. What had happened to the bureau’s standards? Big Bear, Little Bear? Hell, two of his agents—Dom and Jack—had tattoos. Since when had the FBI allowed tats? Quantico was going soft. He looked through the binoculars. Instead of driving into the attached garage as expected, Bailey did a three-point turn and parked the Camaro pointing down the driveway. Was she suspicious? Had she purposely positioned her vehicle for a quick getaway? His hands tightened around the binoculars. The driver’s door opened. A petite woman in dark-colored shorts and a white T-shirt emerged. A pistol was holstered at her waist and her shoulder-length, curly red hair reflected like flames in the soft glow of the porch light. Even at this distance she had the kinds of curves that made men pay attention—including Kade, much to his chagrin. He had more reason than most to despise Enforcers, and yet his breath caught every time he looked at one of her photographs in the case file. He couldn’t imagine the effect she’d have on him if he ever got within a few feet of her in person. It was bad enough that his pulse quickened whenever those deep green eyes gazed back at him from her pictures. But what he hated the most was the odd feeling of kinship he felt toward her, a tug of empathy when he saw the shadows in her eyes, the same shadows he saw every time he looked in a mirror. He couldn’t help wondering what had happened to harden her and make her look so lost, so sad, so incredibly . . . alone.
EXIT Inc. – What the Heck is it?
Just what is “EXIT”? The simple answer is that it’s an acronym that stands for “EXtreme International Tours”. EXIT Inc. is a company that matches tour guides and vacation packages with people who want extreme, fun, and dangerous outdoor experiences all over the world. This can range from riding fiver rapids and ziplining across deep canyons to climbing Mount Everest or some other equally exciting but dangerous endeavor. All under the protection of an experienced and capable guide. But is that really what EXIT is about? Of course not. The tour company part of EXIT Inc. is just a front, a cover for its real mission as a clandestine government organization. Many of the tour guides at EXIT are really agents, called Enforcers, who take on the dirty jobs that other alphabet agencies can’t, or won’t, tackle—including assassinations. The Enforcers take out the bad guys before the bad guys can hurt more people. Or, at least, that’s what it’s supposed to be about. What the heroes in the EXIT books quickly discover is that there is far more to EXIT than even they knew. There’s a conspiracy, that may go all the way to the top. Enforcers are being tricked, used for someone’s personal gain. As a result, some of the people being “taken out” by Enforcers may not be bad guys after all. Each of the EXIT novels (there are three in all, with FINAL EXIT being the last) focuses on a different Enforcer, and a dilemma each of them has to resolve. Meanwhile, the series itself has an overarching thread through all of the books, showing what happens to EXIT Inc. as its Enforcers begin to realize they are being used. FINAL EXIT is the explosive conclusion when readers finally find out what happens to the company and those who are behind it. Yes, the books are most enjoyable when read in order as a series. However, each one is also stand-alone, following a specific problem that the hero and heroine have to tackle together while they fall in love. It’s always my goal to make each of my books a fully satisfying read regardless of whether you’ve read any of the others in the series. The first two books, EXIT Strategy and No EXIT, feature heroes who are Enforcers. In FINAL EXIT, it’s the heroine who’s the Enforcer. How cool is that? I loved writing a super-strong female character who was smart, fierce, and willing to fight to the death for the people she cared about. And who better to pair her with as the love interest than a by-the-book FBI agent who was her polar opposite? Bailey and Kade were a super-fun couple to write. Forced to work together against EXIT, they have to overcome their mutual distrust of each other in order to survive. And along the way, of course (after all, it is a romance), they fall in love. And they live happily ever after!
Originally from Kentucky, romantic suspense author Lena Diaz also lived in California and Louisiana before settling in Northeast Florida with her husband, two children, and a Shetland Sheepdog named Sparky. A Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finalist, she's won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense and has been a finalist for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. She loves to watch action movies, garden, and hike in the beautiful Tennessee Smoky Mountains.
Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER| GOODREADS
Rush of Insanity
By: Eden Summers Re-Releasing February 7, 2017 Self-Published
She won’t go down without a fight…and he’s looking forward to it.
Harper left the world famous solo artist, Judd Hart, over a year ago. No matter how much she cared for him, their worlds were miles apart. All they shared was great sex and the ability to drive each other crazy. So why is she at his concert, drooling over the sound of his delicious voice, when she’s spent months convincing herself they can never work? Letting Harper walk out on him was the biggest mistake of Judd’s life. And now that he’s sighted her amongst the crowd, he won’t let her run away again. Not even if it means holding her hostage on his tour bus until he can seduce some sense into her. They have a lot to work out, but this time, he will do whatever it takes to convince her they have a future. Apart, their lives are smooth sailing. Together, it’s pure craziness. But sometimes it’s okay to enjoy the rush of insanity.
“God, you’re beautiful when you’re mad.”
He wouldn’t have thought those eyes could glare with more ferocity. He was wrong. She glanced at the table beside her, then scoured the rest of the room with her gaze. “There’s nothing left to throw.” She raised a brow as if accepting a challenge and gripped the back of the wooden chair, lifting two legs off the ground. “Why am I here?” “I was going to ask the same thing.” He couldn’t contain his smile. Fuck, he enjoyed this woman. She revived him. Energized him. Even after a two hour performance. “I would’ve thought my concert was the last place you’d want to be on a Friday night.” His smile crept into a smirk as the devil sparked in her eyes. “I guess I’m still hard to resist.” She huffed as she raised the chair and launched it haphazardly in his direction. All it took was a slide to the left to miss the trajectory. The last thing any sane man would do is laugh, but this was what he loved about Harper. She didn’t take any shit. Instead, she gave it out in truckloads. She was a spark of life amongst the dreary yes-men and placating groupies he was surrounded by. “Have you got that out of your system?” Her gaze narrowed. “Are your goons going to let me go home?” “Not until I tell them to.” She crossed her arms over her chest, plumping up her breasts in the loose charcoal T-shirt. She definitely was beautiful when angry; she was also more alluring than he remembered. Her eyes were a deeper blue, vibrant and hypnotizing. And her mouth…those dark, plump lips would be the death of him. “Well, I guess I need to find a better weapon.” She turned back to the counter, gripped it with both hands and hung her head with a sigh. There were red marks on her wrist. Three specific impressions that looked like finger marks. “What the hell are they?” He bridged the distance between them in four steps, and took her elbow in his hands. She turned into him, her eyes wide. “Back off.” “Who did this?” “Who do you think?” She tugged her arm from his grip. “Your henchman thought I was a meek, vulnerable female and tried to manhandle me.” His heart crept into his throat, climbing higher with his fury. “The guy you sank your teeth into?” “Yeah.” Her smile was smug. “He tasted like chicken.”
Eden Summers is a bestselling author of contemporary romance with a side of sizzle and sarcasm.
She lives in Australia with a young family who are well aware she's circling the drain of insanity. Eden can't resist alpha dominance, dark features and sarcasm in her fictional heroes and loves a strong heroine who knows when to bite her tongue but also serves retribution with a feminine smile on her face. Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS |