A Princess In Theory by Alyssa Cole
Series Reluctant Royals Genre Adult Contemporary Romance Publisher Avon Books Publication Date February 27, 2018
From acclaimed author Alyssa Cole comes the tale of a city Cinderella and her Prince Charming in disguise . . .
Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise. Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown. The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?
“I need to tell you,” Prince Thabiso said between kisses, “who I am.”
Who I really am, he added silently. “I know who you are,” Ledi said. She pulled off her t- shirt, revealing a soft, worn-looking gray bra cupping her silky brown breasts. “You’re the guy who learned to cook for me. The guy who’s made me laugh harder than I have in a long time. The guy who— ” She whispered the rest in his ear. He chuckled and ran a fingertip over the lace that edged her bra. “I love that you speak so freely.” “Only with you. I feel like my entire life has been me trying to keep everything to-gether, but right now I want to fall apart.” He could see the want in her eyes. “I must tell you something, Ledi.” But how could he?
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New beginnings. New job. New love? Amish Bachelors are full of surprises…
After a broken engagement, Helen Zook is embracing her independence—starting with a new job working for carpenter Mark Bowman. Sparks fly as Helen immediately butts heads with her handsome yet gruff boss, whose complicated past makes him hesitant to plant roots in Bowmans Crossing. But Helen’s eccentric aunt and a matchmaking basset hound have their own plans for Helen and Mark’s future…
An inspiring story filled with humor, love, and passion for life. I had a few good laughs with incidents Helen Zook and Mark Bowman got into, accidentally and by being in the wrong place at the wrong time...
Both Helen and Mark are very driven people. They know what they want and they are not afraid to go after it. Even though they are good Amish people, they are not perfect. They have weaknesses, they have need and room for improvement with their personalities, and they recognize this and work on the issues. Helen and Mark were perfect for each other, even with their imperfections they make a perfect team, a unit, partners, and friends. It was easy to like them, and it was entertaining to watch them fall head over heels in love with each other. Family and the community always plays an important role in the Love Inspired stories and Helen's quirky aunt with her pets bring lots of smiles to the tale. Mark's extended family is loving and caring, they are not afraid to say when there is room for correction and development. Their honesty and straight-forwardness are always wrapped in love, inspiring to improve. An uplifting and heartening story about faith, family, growing to be the best version of yourself, falling in love, and finding your true soulmate. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Twisted End by Tara Thomas
#0,7 Novella 75 pages Expected publication: February 20th 2018 St. Martin's Paperbacks From New York Times bestselling author Tara Sue Me, writing as Tara Thomas, comes an explosive new romantic suspense series.
Welcome to the sultry streets of Charleston, where simmering desire and dark danger rule...
First comes desire. Then comes love. But Janie and Brent need to stop the man out to ruin them, Before they can live happily ever after…
The final installment, the Twisted End, for the serial prologue of the new Sons of Board series is an intense, savage, and chilling story with the revelations about the culprit mastermind called The Gentleman, and the hints of the drama and tragedy to come in the future stories in the series.
The kidnapper and killer of the young ladies have to reveal himself to Janie, Brent, and Alyssa to follow the new orders by The Gentleman. He is whom I thought he would be, and the fight for survival is brutal and frantic. The relationship between Janie and Brent has been developing throughout the novellas as it does in this installment. Their connection is true and tight, the chemistry and passion, as well as tender caring and fierce protection, witness their deep feelings for each other. There is nothing they wouldn't do to keep the other safe. One of the things I like the most about Janie and Brent is the way they are equal in their relationship, they are a team, partners, lovers, and friends, and I loved that. I really wish these three prologue novellas would have been one tightly built title, where the intensity of the crime and action as well as the depth and strength from the romance and friendships would have had a chance to go deep and spread wide and be as explosive as it could have been. But despite my personal lack of interest when it comes to serial stories, these three prologue novellas managed to bring up the curiosity and interest towards the future full-length books in the series. I want to know more about the man Bea was meeting at her office, I want her and Alyssa find their future partners in love and life as well. A sharp, vicious, and fierce Twisted End properly set my anticipation high for the book one in the Sons of Board series. ~ Four Spoons
Tara Thomas’s love of books and writing started as a child and though she wanted to be an author, she decided a degree in science was more practical. After fifteen years in the pharmaceutical industry, she returned to her first love and hasn’t looked back since.
She writes erotic romance as Tara Sue Me. Her Submissive Series novels have been on both the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. Her novel THE MASTER earned a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, was awarded Best Romance of 2016 from Best Book Awards, and is a 2017 RITA Finalist for Best Erotic Romance. Release Blitz for Finding Mr. Happily Ever After: Nathan by Melissa Storm & Melissa McClone16/2/2018
Finding Mr. Happily Ever After: Nathan by Melissa Storm & Melissa McClone
Series Finding Mr. Happily Ever After Genre Sweet/Clean Contemporary Romance Publisher Partridge & Pear Press Publication Date January 31, 2018
Love is complicated.
Jazz Michaels isn't sure she wants it. That is until she sees the boy next door in a whole new light. Problem is, revealing her feelings could mean losing the best friend she's ever had-and growing up as the only child of a single mother is lonely enough, thank you. Nathan Reed wants to live a life of passion, love, and freedom. A serious relationship is the last thing on his list, but picturing a future without Jazz by his side just isn't possible. As their paths diverge, will Jazz and Nathan find a way to remain together? Or does growing up also mean growing apart? One bride, four possible grooms, unlimited potential for disaster to strike. Is the man waiting at the end of the aisle the one that's meant to be Jazz's forever love? Find out in this addictive series of one woman's journey to her happily ever after. Order your copy, and start your book binge today! CELEBRATION GIVEAWAY!Win a Chocolate Tower, a signed book from each author and a copy of the collection signed by both authors.
TAKE A QUIZ!Find YOUR Mr. Happily Ever After! CLICK HERE!
ABOUT MELISSA STORMMelissa Storm is a mother first, and everything else second. She used to write under a pseudonym, but finally had the confidence to come out as herself to the world. Her fiction is highly personal and often based on true stories. Writing is Melissa’s way of showing her daughter just how beautiful life can be, when you pay attention to the everyday wonders that surround us. Melissa loves books so much, she married fellow author Falcon Storm. Between the two of them, there are always plenty of imaginative, awe-inspiring stories to share. Melissa and Falcon also run the business Novel Publicity together, where she works as publisher, marketer, web designer, and all-around business mogul. When she’s not reading, writing, or child-rearing, Melissa spends time relaxing at home in the company of her four dogs, four parrots, and rescue cat. She never misses an episode of The Bachelor, because priorities. MELISSA STORM’S LINKS
ABOUT MELISSA MCCLONEUSA Today bestselling author, Melissa McClone has published over forty novels with Harlequin and Tule Publishing Group and been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award. With a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, Melissa worked for a major airline where she traveled the globe and met her husband. But analyzing jet engine performance couldn’t compete with her love of writing happily ever afters. Her first full-time writing endeavor was her first sale when she was pregnant with her first child! When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her driving her minivan to/from her children’s swim practices and other activities. Melissa lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds, and cats who think they rule the house. They do! MELISSA MCCLONE’S LINKS
Expected publication: March 1st 2018 by MIRA
A killer stole her voice. Now she's ready to take it back. Don't miss the chilling Shades of Death series from USA TODAYbestselling author Debra Webb.
Joanna Guthrie was free. She had been for eighteen years--or so she needed everyone to believe. What really happened during the longest fourteen days of her life, when she and two other women were held captive by a dangerous serial killer, wasn't something she could talk about. Not after what they had to do to survive. But when more women go missing in an eerily similar manner, Jo knows her prolonged silence will only seal their fates. She's finally ready to talk; she just needs someone to listen. FBI special agent Tony LeDoux can't deny he finds Jo compelling--he's just not sure he believes her story. But with the clock ticking, Jo will do anything to convince him, even if it means unearthing long-buried secrets that will land them squarely in the crosshairs of the killer... That inky blackness spread through Jo’s chest like icy water rushing over a cliff. “Where’s Ellen?” Another of those humorless chuckles. “I wish I could tell you she’s at home with Elle—that’s our three-year-old. But Elle’s with my mom. My wife isn’t here at the hospital with me and Alton either.” Jo held back her questions through another long, weary sigh. A steady beep, beep, beep echoed in the background. He’d said he and Alton were in the hospital. “Is Ellen sick?” Wait, he’d said Ellen wasn’t there. Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter. Jo repeated those two words to herself during the silence that followed. Ellen’s problems weren’t hers. Ellen made her own choices. “No,” Art finally said, his voice cracking on the single syllable. He cleared his throat. “Alton is having his second surgery, by the way. They weren’t able to finish all the skin grafts with the first one. He’ll be okay. Maybe one more surgery after this.” Silence filled the air between them once more. “The fire wasn’t her fault, you know. She didn’t mean for any of this to happen. She tried. She really did. I should have given her more credit for trying.” Fire? As hard as she tried to ignore it, worry gnawed at Jo. “In case you didn’t know, Ellen had a serious problem.” Had? More of that tension twisted in Jo’s gut. Art drew in a shaky breath. “I tried to help her but nothing ever seemed to work. Don’t worry though, Alton will be okay. The burns on his hands and arms will heal. I tried to tell her he’d be fine, but I guess I was so angry I waited too long to reassure her. At first I was too upset to think rationally. Any father would have done the same. I was so scared and so damned furious. I told her she had to leave. That I couldn’t trust her to take care of the children anymore. So, you see, it’s really my fault. I shouldn’t have said so many hurtful things. I wasn’t thinking…I was so upset by what she’d done.” Pause. “I guess I should have called you sooner, but I—” “Art,” Jo snapped, “where is Ellen?” He cleared his throat. “Ellen killed herself three weeks ago today. Last night I finally worked up the courage to go through some of her things and I thought—since you were the only friend listed in her contacts—that you might want to know. And maybe you could tell me what she meant by the note she left. Three words and I don’t have a clue what they mean. She knows everything. Do you know what she meant by that?” Jo ended the call. Ellen had tried to call her three weeks ago and Jo had ignored the incessant ringing. No voice mail was left. If a caller didn’t leave a voice mail, you weren’t actually obligated to call back, right? It had been a Saturday. Must have been the day before… Jo sank onto the floor and hugged her knees to her chest. She should have answered. She should have tried to be the friend Ellen’s husband thought she was. And Ellen was right. She did know everything—Jo had lived it with her. Now the only other person who knew what really happened eighteen years ago was dead. Jo wondered why in all this time she’d never considered taking that avenue out of this pretend life she muddled through? Maybe because she was a coward—or maybe because if she did then the bad guys won. She looked around the place she called home for now. Her entire apartment was this one ten-by-twelve room. Even the bathroom was nothing more than a small corner hidden behind a makeshift partition wall. The wood floors were worn and creaked with every step she made. The plaster on the walls was cracked, the blue paint faded. The only window was covered with a cheap, nicotine-stained paper blind, the sort made for temporary use. There was a tired sofa that served as a bed, along with a rickety metal and Formica table accompanied by two well-worn chairs. Along the shared wall between this room and the neighbor’s the kitchenette looked like something out of a 1950s Airstream. Jo blinked. None of it really mattered. There was a roof over her head and four walls to protect her from the weather and whatever other threat showed up. No leaks in the roof and the plumbing worked most of the time. She pushed to her feet and shoved her cell into the back pocket of her jeans. Uncertainty and disappointment and all the other weaknesses she rarely allowed herself to feel suddenly assaulted her. Memories from her former life poured through the emptiness inside her before she could stop them. She’d had a family. She’d had a scholarship. The future had been hers for the taking. Now, Jo turned all the way around in the middle of the room, she was thirty-six years old and this was her life—all because she’d made a terrible, terrible mistake eighteen years ago. Poor Ellen had tried as best she could to salvage some semblance of a life and look how that turned out. Bottom line, they had both allowed persons whose names they hadn’t known—whose faces they couldn’t be certain they had ever seen—to get away with destroying their lives. Determination surged in Jo’s veins. Ellen was dead. The other girl was dead. Jo suspected the bastards who had orchestrated all of this were responsible for numerous other devastated lives and deaths, as well. Was she going to do nothing and allow them to never have to face responsibility for what they’d done? Jo had been silent far too long. Besides, what did she have to lose? Not one damned thing that wasn’t already gone.
As You Wish
by Ja'Nese Dixon
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Is their simmering attraction enough to defeat their crusades?
Damian “The Shark” Hughes real estate billionaire lands in Houston, Texas to handle a “problem tenant” stalling his partnership with Rockstar Entertainment. But on first sight he doesn’t know which he wants more, to evict her or bed her.
Imani Scott is at the end of herself and her resources for keeping the doors of Harmony Dance open. What she doesn’t have time for is the sweet talking, money slinging gorgeousness from Atlanta. Her sole focus is on her students. They are depending on her and she’s not to go down without a fight.
The blurred line between friend or foe…
Imani organizes a Kwanzaa benefit recital to save her studio not knowing she’s sleeping with the enemy. And Damian is willing to do whatever it takes to close the deal andkeep this ebony beauty by his side.
At odds yet drawn to each other by their undeniable chemistry, the ticking clock and a multi-million dollar development deal erect the perfect battleground.
Will they win the battle but lose the war? Or will they let love win?
"Stop staring at the man and say something?"
Imani found working with Adrianna at the bar was worse than working at the studio. At least at the studio she could pull rank and kick her out the office. "What man?" She let out a long audible breath. "The man that has you spilling drinks and stepping on my toes." “Ouch!” She stomped on Imani’s foot and wiggled out of reach. Imani had been preoccupied with trying to see the features of his face. The booth he selected was tucked away off to the side. The overhead lights barely illuminated the table top. It was the table repeat customers chose when they wanted to partake of the live music and robust menu and have privacy. It was public yet private. So private they'd witnessed more than one heated exchange going on in that booth over the length of her employment. It wasn't called the make-out booth for nothing. Imani stole glances at him for most of the afternoon. She could see the top of his arm covered in a white dress shirt and the swirled tattoo on his forearm. That must be his girlfriend. She reasoned as the olive-skinned brunette took her seat across from him. "You think that's his girlfriend?" Imani whispered. Adrianna topped off the customer's soft drink and walked over to stand beside her. "If she's not, she wanna be." She dried her hands on her apron. Imani faced her, "What makes you say that?" "That man is a sexual magnet, paid with a Titanium Card, and his eyes," she shook her head and raised her hand in the truth, "panty droppers." "For real?" Imani hissed. The forced air behind panty made curiosity dance through her veins. "For. Real." She glanced over at the table as if validating her statement. Her face twisting in agony and she nodded. Imani glanced back over there. The last thing she needed was to stare into his panty-dropper eyes. She wanted to ask Adrianna more but a warning voice in her head warned her to leave it alone. There was no room in her life for men. Life was hectic enough without adding sexy, magnetic, panty-dropping men to the equation and her panties needed to stay in place. The last man she'd given her heart passed her up for a bigger fish and left her without so much as a blink of an eye. Her time was better spent trying to find another job. "Have you heard from your landlord?" "I got a letter about a new owner. But they didn't mention the balance and I didn't either. I sent what I could, hoping it will hold me over." $1250 a month times six months left her owing the new landlord at least $7,500. It might as well have been a cool million because she didn't have a hundred dollars to her name. She hated owing people. She was ashamed to admit what she sent barely covered the late fees but she still had to pay the utilities at the studio on top of her own household expenses. "How long you think that's going to last? You can't keep doing this to yourself. This dance studio is like a leech draining you dry." “Why would you say that? What’s wrong with giving my students culture?” Imani stiffened at her harsh analogy. "Ain't nobody got time for that!" She turned to Imani tossing a towel in the sink. "Culture won't feed you and pay your bills." Tears stung her eyes. But she didn't have time to cry or feel sorry for herself. She needed a plan. "Is he cute?" It was better to talk about the panty dropper than her landlord. It was Adrianna's turn to shrug, "He's alright for a white boy. You know I like my papi chulo sun kissed, bilingual, and Spanish in his blood. Can't have my momma passing out on me." "Indeed, your mom would pass out if you brought anything but a Hispanic man home." Imani laughed. "That's why I keep my business my business." She tossed her blonde hair and headed to the other end of the bar to check on a customer. Adrianna talked a good game but she had a man. Her traditional ways went to her core from cooking authentic Mexican food to Salsa dancing every Thursday night. Imani looked back at his exposed skin, it didn't look white but not brown either. More like a warm beige. His head turned in her direction and she felt trapped. Unable to look away, but unable to see his face either. The young lady returned to the table and Imani spun around, facing the mirrored wall behind the bar. She glanced up into the reflection and watched him lean forward. The light caught his profile with his thick wavy dark brown hair. He smiled up at his companion. Imani's stomach clinched. He had a deep dimple. She watched the young lady leave the table carrying her purse and shoulder bag. They must be done for the afternoon. She wanted to see this mystery man for herself.
Ja’Nese Dixon writes tales of romance laced with strong women and stronger men. My happily ever afters are meant to inspire. So, if you’re looking for a page turner that will leave you blushing, with your heart racing, and lying to yourself about reading “just one more chapter” then grab a book.
She is an avid reader and coffee drinker, who also loves to run, cook, and quilt (and not in that order). Her ultimate goal as a writer is to give you a little “staycation” with every story.
Ja’Nese calls Houston home with her husband, three kiddos, and a four-legged diva dog. Visit her website at http://www.janesedixon.com if you enjoy romance, suspense, and good sweet & spicy stories that inspire.
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Charter pilot Caitlyn Brevard’s sister disappeared while working undercover to expose human traffickers in the Caribbean. Four months later, Caitlyn has finally found her, but to infiltrate the captor's inner circle and rescue Rose, she must appear at the man’s gala event with a fiancé she concocted to keep his lecherous son at bay.
Can she convince Kurt Steele to forgive a past betrayal and play the doting groom-to-be? Former special operator and wounded warrior Kurt can’t say no to a friend in need, especially not Caitlyn, who he can’t forget, no matter how hard he tries. But playing ardent fiancé to the woman who broke his heart—and still attracts him like no other—might just be more than he can bear. When their mission turns deadly, he and Caitlyn must risk everything to save Rose and get a second chance at a love worth dying for.
Charter pilot Caitlyn Brevard and Former special operator and wounded warrior Kurt Steel blew me away with the emotional depth they brought to the story with their humble, caring, and capable characters. I absolutely adored them, their honesty, dignity, straightforwardness, and courage.
This well-written tale flows ever so smoothly, alluring my mind until I was completely lost in the world of Caitlyn and Kurt. The passionate, ardent romance is balanced with intense and deadly action and suspense. The fact that no one is safe and that the threats are so personal magnified the fear and danger. The old feelings between Kurt and Caitlyn, the misunderstandings, the years that have passed by, the new awakening of the passion brings another kind of tension to the scenes until the vigor of each moment is filled with jitters. Caitlyn is such a strong female lead, it was a pleasure to watch her in action. She carries her own weight on each leg of the tale, she is not afraid to face the enemy or to take action when needed. There is no question about how she feels about Kurt, but to get her to trust anyone, not to mention a man, after what she has gone through during her life might be pushing it too far. She is broken, her mind and body have suffered from experiences she has had, but she does champion on, she does fulfill her dreams, and goes after what she wants, as long as those things have nothing to do with relationships. Kurt is just amazing. Yes, he is hot, attractive, kind and did I mention hot? But he is also genuine, patient, generous, caring man. Ah, I loved him! His honesty, his sincerity, his integrity just charmed me. He has his own issues with losing his legs while serving in the military but is handling them well. He is in control, he knows what he wants and is willing and able to ask for it, go for it, risk it all, and be honest about it yet let others take the lead when its called for. There are several serious issues about military service that you rarely hear talked about that are handled in a realistic and life-like matter in the story. I admire the author's knowledge and take on the issues, like a rape of a female soldier, in a truthful and factual way. I enjoyed this story immensely. From the ardent romance to the vigorous action and intense suspense. The delightfully appealing characters who are strong and smart yet vulnerable and humble, so perfect for each other in their imperfections were easy to like and relate to, to swoon over and fall in love with. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
The Trouble With True Love by Laura Lee Guhrke
Series n/a; standalone Genre Adult Historical Romance Publisher Avon Books Publication Date January 30, 2018
Dear Lady Truelove, I am a girl of noble family, but I am painfully shy, especially in my encounters with those of the opposite sex . . .
For Clara Deverill, standing in for the real Lady Truelove means dispensing advice on problems she herself has never managed to overcome. There’s nothing for it but to retreat to a tearoom and hope inspiration strikes between scones. It doesn’t—until Clara overhears a rake waxing eloquent on the art of “honorable” jilting. The cad may look like an Adonis, but he’s about to find himself on the wrong side of Lady Truelove. Rex Galbraith is an heir with no plans to produce a spare. He flirts with the minimum number of eligible young ladies to humor his matchmaking aunt, but Clara is the first to ever catch his roving eye. When he realizes that Clara—as Lady Truelove—has used his advice as newspaper fodder, he’s infuriated. But when he’s forced into a secret alliance with her, he realizes he’s got a much bigger problem—because Clara is upending everything Rex thought he knew about women—and about himself. . .
“Well, well,” he murmured, “with every look and every word, the little lamb with the big brown eyes
proves she’s not as defenseless as she first appears.” Clara felt a spark of frustration at his description. She might be plain and possess a shy, quiet disposition, but she was not some helpless, dependent creature. “Is that what I am?” she asked as they turned in a circle, moving in the steps of the dance. “A little lamb?” She opened her eyes deliberately wide. “And I’m lost in the woods, I suppose, and you’ll come save me?” “Save you? I doubt it.” His gaze lowered, pausing at her lips. “Ravish you would be a sight more likely.” Clara’s heart gave a panicked thud, slamming into her ribs with such force that it broke her con- centration. She trod on his foot, lost her balance, and would have stumbled, but he caught her, letting go of her hand to wrap his arm around her back. “Careful,” he murmured. “Dance with me much longer and you’ll be in danger.” “You warn me, Lord Galbraith, but I cannot help wondering why.” “You’re in my arms.” He pulled her a fraction closer. “Make no mistake, my lamb. You are in very great danger.” Tour Wide GiveawayTo celebrate the release of THE TROUBLE WITH TRUE LOVE, we’re giving away two paperback copies of THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE AND DUKES by Laura Lee Guhrke! GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. Two winners will each receive a paperback copy of The Truth About Love and Dukes by Laura Lee Guhrke. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance. Giveaway ends 2/20/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
About Laura Lee GuhrkeAuthor bioLaura Lee Guhrke spent seven years in advertising, had a successful catering business, and managed a construction company before she decided writing novels was more fun. A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Laura has penned over twenty historical romances. Her books have received many award nominations, and she is the recipient of romance fiction’s highest honor: the Romance Writers of America RITA Award. She lives in the Northwest with her husband (or, as she calls him, her very own romance hero), along with two diva cats and a Golden Retriever happy to be their slave. Laura loves hearing from readers, and you can contact her via her website: www.lauraleeguhrke.com. Author Links
Dacey Happa-Hewitt had no idea that traveling to India with her fiancé would end in their break-up. Worst of all, her scumbag ex left her while she was suffering from a serious illness. Now recovered and back in Moonrise Beach, Dacey needs to muster up the courage to not only face her ex again but to also explain her newly single status to her overprotective father. Just when she thinks things couldn’t get any worse, her childhood crush, Greyson Blackbourn, comes back into her life, stirring up all kinds of emotions and desires she thought she’d long outgrown.
Tasked with rebuilding the deck at the Happa-Hewitt’s beach house, Greyson can’t seem to help his sidelong glances at Dacey. It’s obvious that he still holds a flame for her, but given their family pasts and her broken heart, he worries acting on his desires will damage their friendship forever. A quick romp in the sheets might just be what Dacey needs to get over her heartbreak. But will a hot night in the arms of her childhood best friend be a mistake? Or will everlasting love finally be within reach?
Dacey lifted her head. Or at least she tried to. A sharp pain lanced through her temples as she tried to get up. Her skin was hot and tight, and her arms felt like they were made out of Jell-O. Hell, her entire body felt like her skeleton had melted away. She was as boneless as the jellyfish she’d encountered on the beaches back home, and for a moment, Dacey just allowed herself a moment to feel sorry for herself. How did she get herself in this position?
As she lay there helplessly, she tried thinking about her home and the California sun in Moonrise Beach to lift her spirits, but her brain just wasn’t working at full speed. Her head felt like it had been submerged into water, weighed down and soggy. The door suddenly opened and a nurse stepped through. In her arms, she carried a tray filled with food. Again? she thought. She’d just eaten an hour ago. As the nurse walked over to her, Dacey stopped herself from groaning out loud. She had no appetite to eat. In fact, her mouth felt like it had been sealed shut with tacky glue. The last thing she wanted to do was to start shoveling food into her mouth. As the nurse placed the tray of food before her, Dacey looked down at the plates and felt her stomach turn over in revolt. She knew she needed the food. It would give her the strength she needed to fight this illness off, but right now she just wanted to lie in bed and not focus on this horrible feeling in her body. When she had first started feeling ill, Adam had assured her that it was probably the heat getting to her. At first, she believed it and they went on, pretending as if nothing had happened. But when the fever set in and reached a dangerous height, Dacey knew it wasn’t just the heat anymore. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Concerned for her health, Adam finally brought her to the hospital where she was asked to run some tests. From the results, the doctors were able to diagnose what the problem was. She had typhoid fever. Somehow, she had contracted the bacteria and Adam hadn’t and now she had no choice but to stay trapped in this hospital for who knew how long! All she knew was that she had to stay until the fever subsided and the antibiotics she was taking could knock out the bacteria that was inside of her. Dacey’s lips thinned into a line. Adam wouldn’t be happy about staying here any longer than he was supposed to. They had tickets to return home to Moonrise Beach in just a few days and she knew he’d already been looking forward to returning home. But there was no way she was going to be able to walk out of this hospital with this fever still burning through her let alone be able to board a plane for a seventeen-hour flight. They’d just have to stay here a little bit longer until she got better. The nurse came forward and glanced down at her untouched food. “Aren’t you going to eat?” It took so much of Dacey’s energy to shake her head but she really didn’t want it. Just thinking about eating made her stomach curl. “But you have to eat something,” the nurse argued. “You’re weak.” As if to prove the nurse’s point, a wave of fatigue hit Dacey then. She groaned even as she shook her head. “I . . . I don’t want it.” “I know you’re tired, but this food will help you gain some energy back. It will also help you fight the illness.” No. It will only make me throw up, Dacey thought. At her stubborn expression, the nurse introduced herself. “My name is Preeti and I’m a nurse, okay? I’m not in the business of making people feel worse. Trust me, you need to eat.” Dacey managed a strained smile. “I’d say it’s nice to meet you, Preeti, but I’d rather not be here at all.” “And that’s why you need to eat,” Preeti shot back. “Or you’ll never get out of here.” The nurse picked up a slice of bread from the plate and held it up to her mouth. But Dacey turned away, shaking her head. As the nurse frowned, the door opened again. “Oh, Adam,” Dacey breathed as she caught sight of her lover. Everything is going to be okay now. Adam is here. Her fiancé looked as handsome as ever in a navy-blue T-shirt and shorts. Smiling, Adam dropped down to kiss her on her sweaty forehead before sitting in the chair beside her. “How are you feeling today?” he asked her. A soft hand closed over hers, squeezing tightly. His other hand came to touch her sticky forehead. Could he feel the heat come off her in waves? When she didn’t answer, Adam shot the nurse a look. With a roll of her eyes, Preeti left, closing the door behind her. “I’m tired,” Dacey said once they were alone. “Have you eaten something?” At the look of disgust she made, Adam laughed. A part of her heart melted. She’d always loved his laugh. It was so carefree and beautiful. She would’ve been a puddle on the floor if she weren’t already so boneless. A small chime sounded and when Adam released her hand to check his phone, Dacey felt her smile disappear. Adam’s own smile waned as he read the words on the screen. “What’s wrong, Adam?” she asked. Instead of answering, Adam tucked his phone away. He schooled his expression into one of nonchalance before he asked, “How much longer do you think it’ll be until you get better?” “Uh . . . I don’t know.” If it were her choice, she wouldn’t have fallen ill in the first place. But according to the doctors, she would have to stay at least a week until she was sure her body had recovered. Adam pursed his lips together. It looked like he wanted to say something but the nurse came in again, looking more determined to get her to eat than ever. Before Dacey could tell her to leave, Adam turned to her. “What’s her condition? Is she getting better?” “Well, as you can see, she’s still very weak. If she would eat something, maybe—” “So she wouldn’t be able to travel in this condition?” “Of course not!” The nurse looked utterly mortified by the suggestion. “Look at her, she can barely hold herself up!” The sigh Adam made had her turning her head in his direction. “Adam, what’s going on? Are you okay?” Something was clearly bothering him. Adam let out a long sigh. “No, Dacey. I’m not okay.” “What’s wrong?” “I have to go.” “What? Why?” Dacey shook her head, not understanding. “Are you sick?” Was that why he was acting strange? The more she looked at him, the more she realized he was a little on the pale side. “Why don’t you go back to the hotel and come back tomorrow when you’re feeling better.” “No, Dacey. That’s not what I mean. I’m not sick but—” His fingers brushed through his hair in worry. Or was it frustration? What was going on? “What’s wrong then?” Her concern grew when he wouldn’t look at her in the eye. Someone please tell me what’s happening! “I’m leaving,” Adam finally said. Dacey blinked. Wait a minute. Was it possible for her fever to make her hear things too? “I . . . I don’t understand.” How could he want to leave? He had to know that she wasn’t well enough to travel. Adam let out a long sigh. “I can’t stay here, Dacey. I understand that you’re sick and can’t travel in your condition, but I can’t stay here any longer than I already have.” Pulling away, he rose to stand. “I’m sorry, Dacey, but I’m leaving here tomorrow.” “Tomorrow?” What the hell? How could he do that? They’d come to this foreign country together and he thought to leave her here? Alone? “Yeah, I booked a flight out of here.” The words were a blow to Dacey’s already aching body. What the hell? Was he messing with her? Was this some cruel joke? “Why?” was all Dacey could manage in her state of shock. Her cheeks flared with heat, but it wasn’t because of the fever. She suddenly remembered that they weren’t alone. Adam went on as if the nurse wasn’t there. “I hate this place. Coming here was a bad idea. I thought that maybe I could do it for you, but this isn’t me, Dacey. I’m not like you. This spiritual journey to find my”—he made air quotations with his fingers—“‘true essence’ is not me at all. I need to get back to Moonrise Beach. Back to my real life.” Okay, so maybe she had already known that about him, but Dacey never expected that Adam would leave her while she was battling a serious illness. They both worked for her father’s company and when she’d first decided to date him, she knew it would be a risk. But he’d just been so fun and caring that she felt that she could overlook their differences. Dacey looked up at him now, searching for the man she fell in love with. Just a moment ago, she’d been so happy to see him. Now, she could hardly look at him in the eye. The Adam she loved would never even contemplate doing something like this. What had changed? “If you’re afraid that you’ll get sick too—” “It’s not that,” he said over her, which pissed her off even more. “Then what is it?” Her voice grew louder despite her weakened state. She was upset now, and the fever threatening to take over her life seemed so inconsequential to her now as her world fell apart. “Being here has shown me how different our lifestyles actually are.” His voice sounded so callous and cold. “I’m not a yoga person. I hate eating organic all the time. And I don’t think I can stand another moment of this kumbaya shit.” “Kumbaya shit?” Dacey frowned further. “Sorry,” Adam said, but the smile he shot her didn’t look like he was sorry at all. “I know you can’t change who you are, but I’m starting to wonder if what all my friends say is true about us.” “What do you mean? What have your friends been saying about us?” “Never mind. Forget I said anything.” “It’s too late for that. Tell me what they said.” She wanted answers. And she wanted them now. The level of command in her voice had Adam crumbling. “That maybe I love the idea of you, but I don’t actually love—” He snapped his mouth shut before he could finish. Dacey suddenly lost the ability to breathe. She was afraid that if she did, a sob would escape. “Me,” Dacey finally finished for him, a bitter tone tingeing her words. “You don’t actually love me.” Adam stepped forward. “Dacey, I—” She couldn’t believe this! Her anger erupted in a flare. The motherfucker! “Go.” The word was a razor in the air, slicing between them. Dacey shifted in her bed, turning away from him. God, she hurt. “Go back to Moonrise, Adam.” “I’m really—” In the other corner of the room, Preeti fumbled with a clipboard and a pen clattered to the ground. Her face went red with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. Maybe I’ll just go—” That was when Adam finally noticed the nurse and the color drained from his face. “Shit. Dacey, I’m so—” “No. I want you to stay here,” Dacey demanded, her anger reaching its limit. If Adam was going to leave her, then she needed someone here to help her. As if sensing this, Adam remained silent. Good. She wasn’t sure what she’d do if he opened that mouth of his again. Dacey wanted to storm out, to scream and to fight, but she physically couldn’t. Her body wouldn’t allow it. All she could do instead was lie there and close her eyes, ignoring the sting of tears. Despite her efforts, a few tears slipped down her face and she angrily swiped them away. “Dacey, I--” “Leave, Adam. Go back home.” After repeating herself several more times, Adam finally moved to the doors, stopping to glance back at her one last time. Dacey, however, didn’t allow herself to look at him. As the door closed behind him, Dacey felt her heart shatter and she started to sob. Preeti shifted her feet awkwardly, obviously not knowing how to handle the situation. She’d never been trained to nurse a patient with a broken heart. Through her tears, their eyes met and the nurse came over to her side. “I’m so sorry,” she said quietly. But Dacey shook off her words. On a deep breath, she wiped her tears and pushed herself up into a sitting position. “Give me my food,” she ordered, her voice now stronger than ever. The nurse jumped forward with a start. She needed to eat if she ever wanted to recover and get out of this place.
Ana Jolene is the author of the Glory MC series and the Contemporary Romance series, Moonrise Beach.
Growing up as a rebellious kid didn’t allow for much reading time. It wasn’t until she was in university that she found her passion for books and has since then devoured every book placed before her. Ana holds a B.A. in Psychology and has worked in both IT and Administration. But she’s had the most fun in the bookish world, working as a reviewer, columnist and assistant to multiple sites and authors. Ana currently lives in Toronto with her family and an extremely lazy Shih Tzu whom she adores. To learn more about Ana and her books, visit www.anajolene.com and subscribe to the newsletter to be notified of the hottest new releases and giveaways!
At 27, Annabelle Cleaver finds herself sitting in a lawyer's office, listening to the last will and testament of the only relative she's ever loved being read. Stuck in the small Oklahoma town she always had every intention of leaving, she has no idea what comes next. When her sexy high school crush, Wyatt Holloway, returns to town and asks her for a job on her farm, her
simple life becomes more complicated than she ever imagined. Wyatt Holloway returned from three tours overseas in the army a broken man. He'd seen and done things that haunt his days and nights. When he discovers Annabelle Cleaver, the beautiful but quirky girl from high school, needs help on her family farm after the passing of her crazy grandma, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the woman who'd always held his interest.
Have you ever felt like the universe was hugging you via the book you have read - or does this go too far into the bookworm world...
Unlikely In Love is a warm, sweet, tender, smart and fun story that makes you smile while it breaks your heart a bit. It is such a perfect combination of the worst tragedies in life and the greatest joys you can experience. It is about love between friends and family, and it is about falling in love, finding your true north, your soulmate or however you want to express it. It is about healing, it is about growing, finding your place, and finding out what is home to you. Annabelle Cleaver has struggled most of her life. She was an outsider during the school years, she always stood for what she felt was right and not necessarily the popular choice. She is smart as a whip, yet had to drop out of college to take care of her grandmother who was ill. Granma was the only family Annabelle had left, their bond was tight, the love they had for each other undeniable. They had always been there for each other, and now she was gone. And she left a bombshell of a legacy behind her. Wyatt Holloway came home from the army broken and scarred. The things he had seen, the things he had done, and not done, the nightmares and memories and the consequences of them, were messing with his mind. Helping Annabelle at the farm, reconnecting again after a decade from high school, was the ointment that both of them needed so their wounds could heal. They bond and connect, they learn to smile, laugh, and cry again. They feel comfortable to open up, share those darkest moments and deepest secrets. They began to be friends first, until the burning attraction they feel for each other is set free. I adored Wyatt and Annabelle together, they made me smile, I could feel the happiness and joy surrounding them as they get to know each other. The connection between them is honest, raw yet tender, passionate yet sweet. Wyatt's family is delightful, and little Hattie just stole my heart. The friends they have are the kinds for a lifetime, and the small town feels and meddling of the folks is hilarious. The broken souls, the wounds, and sorrow starts to heal over time. Nothing happens instantly, it has more of life-like natural grow of emotions and relationships. There are quirky, crazy habits and obsessions, things that made me laugh, and there are heartache and mourning that takes time to mend and revive. An engaging, enjoyable, and entertaining novel that was just a lusciously delicious reading experience that wraps you in all the warm and fuzzy feels of love and life. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
75 pages
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Irene Onorato was born and raised in Bronx, New York. Her father, a first-generation American whose parents were born in Italy, was an Army veteran who had served with the 178th combat engineers during WWII. He told numerous stories of battles, hardships, tragedies and triumphs. The glimpses he gave into the hearts of many American warriors would later become the inspiration for much of Irene’s writings.
In 1972, a few months after graduating high school, Irene met James Onorato, a soldier who had just returned from Vietnam. After dating two weeks, they married, raised three children, and are still happily married today. Irene and James, both radiation protection technicians, retired from the nuclear power industry in 2014 and now reside in Louisiana. |
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Cowboy Homecoming by Cindi Myers
She stared up at him, heart hammering. “I almost kissed you the other night on my back porch,” he said. “But you pulled away.”
“I’ve regretted that ever since,” she said softly, and stood on tip-toe to press her lips to his.
He kissed her the way she imagined he did everything else, with a quiet thoroughness and skill that left no room for doubts or second thoughts. She closed her eyes and surrendered to the firm heat of his lips on hers, the taste of him on her tongue, the feel of his strong arms encircling her. It was as if she had been asleep for months, and the kiss awakened her, blood humming in her veins, every nerve buzzing with awareness of him.
When at last they broke apart, both breathless and panting a little, they stared at each other. “Maybe my other regret is that we didn’t do this sooner,” he said, smoothing one hand along the curve of her hip. “Say, ten years ago.”
“No, sooner wouldn’t have been as good,” she said. “You have to grow into a kiss like that.”
He kissed her again, letting his lips wander after a moment, from her mouth along the curve of her jaw and down the column of her neck, resting a moment over the pulse at her throat. She let out a breathy moan and dug her fingers into his biceps. If he could leave her this weak-kneed with just a kiss, imagine what he could do with the rest of his body.
Cindi Myers is the author of more than 70 published novels. She wrote her first romance in eighth grade – a manuscript widely circulated among her classmates, until confiscated by her English teacher, who told her she needed to work on her spelling and grammar. Those skills much improved, she loves writing from her home in the western Colorado mountains, where she lives with her spoiled dogs and handsome husband. When not writing, she enjoys skiing, camping, knitting, quilting, and cooking – and reading lots and lots of good books.
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Loving You From Afar by RaeAnne Hadley
All of the animals, both wild and domestic, were hunkered down to wait out the December storm.
She sat on the deck allowing the fat flakes to gather on her eye lashes. The house was quiet; her girls snug in bed and sound asleep. She felt moisture slide down her cheeks but didn’t bother to wipe them away. She looked up towards the heavens and sighed.
“I don’t know how to do this without you. We made so many plans, had so many dreams. Our girls need their daddy and I need my best friend. You kept me strong. Made me a better mother because you were an amazing father. My heart hurts. My mind aches and I don’t know that I’m strong enough to do this alone.”
She dropped her eyes and wiped away the tears. A breeze rustled the naked branches and she shivered. Gathering her empty tea cup, she let herself back into the house. She didn’t see the lone red rose petal fall from the sky and settle onto the seat of her chair
I'm an accidental author as I began writing my first story, Mechanics of Murder, after I had been fired for taking maternity leave. I took a 3rd shift job and trying to keep myself awake, I used my imagination and started creating a story of a female mechanic, which I was, finding a dead body underneath the truck she was working on. My father absolutely loved the story and encouraged me to complete it and get it published. I was almost finished with the first draft when my father had a stroke. Encouraging him to get better, I rushed the book to Lulu Publishing without it being edited. My father was able to hold my first novel but was never able to read it; he passed away 2 days later. But it began a passion for me that has not dwindled!
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My Forever Cowboy by Diane J. Reed
Photographer Avery Smart refuses to believe in “forever cowboys” after her father died in a tragic rodeo accident, until professional bull rider Grant Hollow decides to shed new light into the darkroom of her heart.
Instantly, she hooked her elbows beneath Grant’s arm pits and proceeded to drag his weight with all her might. When Grant realized what was happening, that he was still in the rodeo arena near a two-thousand-pound bull that hadn’t been driven to the exit pen yet, he stumbled to his feet and turned the tables on Avery. Scooping her into his large arms, he hugged her close and made a mad dash for the fence.
“Good thing you’re light!” he cried, his feet drumming beneath him. A cowboy swung open a nearby gate. Grant rushed through, panting for breath as the cowboy slammed it shut. He held Avery so tightly to his chest, she could feel his heart hammering through his shirt as if he didn’t quite believe they’d made it to safety.
“You’ve heard of Dances with Wolves?” said the announcer. “Looks to me like Grant Hollow was dancing with the photographer! Am I the only who’s noticed he hasn’t put her down yet? Let’s give that cowboy a hand for protecting a lady the old fashioned way.”
The crowd applauded and whistled their approval.
“I’ve never had to clear the arena before I sprinted to the fence before.” Grant smiled, his face so close to Avery’s he could kiss her. The glint in his eye revealed he’d thought about it.
“Clear the arena? What am I, an empty beer can?”Avery replied, unable to hide the warmth that suffused her cheeks. The truth was, his muscled biceps felt heavenly against her body. And from this vantage point, she got an even closer look at his to die-for eyes.
“I didn’t mean it that way.” A smile teased Grant’s lips, which where perilously close to hers. “A woman like you couldn’t be trash if you tried.” He paused, his eyes tracing the amber highlights that perfectly framed her beautiful face. “More like striking gold.” He took in the warm brown of her eyes and the curve of her mouth, which Avery found sexy to the point of excruciating. “Next time, though,” Grant scolded, “I suggest you don’t try to rescue one of your photo subjects. Bulls are non-discriminating—they’ll take out anybody.”
USA TODAY bestselling author Diane J. Reed writes happily ever afters with a touch of magic that make you believe in the power of love. Her stories feed the soul with outlaws, mavericks, and dreamers who have big hearts under big skies and dare to risk all for those they cherish. Because love is more than a feeling—it’s the magic that changes everything.
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Say Nothing by Autumn Piper
After escaping from the psycho who held her prisoner for months, Brooke often suffers panic attacks when she tries to speak. When her cousin invites her to recuperate at his friends’ ranch in Colorado and help them care for their twin toddlers, she accepts.
For years since his engagement went belly-up, lead ranch-hand Rowdy has been non-relationship material. He feels a connection with Brooke, though, and she’s able to confide things in him she doesn’t trust her therapist with.
When her successful ex rides back into the picture, Rowdy will have to decide: fight for Brooke, or give her the financially stable future she deserves.
Her phone vibrated on the nightstand. Weird. Here it was…the clock said after one a.m. She’d ignore it, but who would be texting her in the middle of the night except in an emergency? She kept the throw around her shoulders and picked up her phone.
Rowdy. Huh.
You OK?
She walked back to the window, looked down at his cabin, where a light shone. She texted back, Yes I’m fine but then erased the lie and sent, Are you OK? Why you up in the middle of the night?
He replied, Trouble sleeping. (me) It’ll pass in a couple days though. What about you? Nightmare?
How’d he guess? Well, she had told him she had nightmares. Yes. Flashback. Pretty much ruins a night.
I’m sorry, he texted. And then, If you wanted to tell me about it, I’m all eyes. The goofy-eyed emoji he included made her smile.
She considered. Her cold sweat had nearly dried. The worst of this episode had passed. By morning, details would fade, and she’d only be able to remember bare facts. Which was why Roberta pushed hypnosis, but Brooke kept resisting because she didn’t exactly want to be able to remember those things at all hours of the day. It would be a lot of texting, she told Rowdy.
Worried you’ll wear out your thumbs?
Throwing down a challenge. She hadn’t shared any more details than the police and prosecutor demanded, though she knew court was coming and she’d have to type replies to the attorneys’ questions if she didn’t have her speech back by then.
So she told him every detail she could recall about that day.
Born and raised in itty-bitty Rifle, Colorado, Autumn Piper studiously avoided trouble…but is now inclined toward it, particularly in her novels. She thinks the best things in life are funny, and the runners-up, romantic.
An admitted carb addict, Autumn writes, edits, referees her two college kids (who room together), a cat, a box turtle with a huge personality, one husband and many supersize houseplants, and does the cooking and cleaning when forced to. NEWSLETTER SIGNUP |
Peyton’s Kiss by Ann Anders
Stella shivered at his words and watched Corinne and Misty disappear over the rise up ahead. “Two sides to every coin.”
He wouldn’t say anything. He’d think her words over first.
And then Hermes sidled up beside her, pressing her leg into Pickles. Peyton’s hand grasped the back of her neck and… finally.
Her hat tumbled down her back at the same time Peyton’s mouth covered hers. At first it was just their lips, meeting, joining, but then the tip of his tongue coaxed her mouth open and she couldn’t help but drop her reins and take hold of Peyton’s wrists. A current of emotions swept through her as she twisted to meet him.
He slowed the kiss. “Easy girl.” He whispered against her lips. Stella felt Peyton set the reins back into her hands before Hermes stepped away.
Married to the same man for over 25 years, I am a mother to three children and two Miniature Wiener dogs After owning a business and experiencing considerable success, my husband and I got caught in the financial crisis and lost everything; our business, our home, even our car.
At this point, I put my B.A. in Poly Sci to use and took work as a waitress and bartender. Unwilling to give up on a professional life, I simultaneously went back to college and obtained a degree in Energy Management. And then the energy market dropped off. And then my dog died. I can only be grateful for this series of unfortunate events, for, with nothing to lose and completely demoralized, I sat down and began to write the romance novels which had until then, existed only my imagination. I am happy to have found my place in life. Finally. The Regency House Party: Annabelle’s Facebook Reader Group |
Midnight Ride by D’Ann Lindun
When Brynn Lockwood and her five-year-old daughter Brooke decide to camp in the Colorado Mountains the last thing they expect is to be taken hostage by a gunman. After suffering a devastating shooting, Sawyer Bennet moves to Black Mountain, Colorado, to recover. As a Sheriff’s Posse member, he is called out to find a dangerous criminal, but loses his heart instead.
“That can be replaced. You can’t,” Brynn said.
The warmth in her eyes and tone caused him to pause. “Thanks.”
“It’s true,” she insisted. “Now, how do we get out of here?”
He held his hands over the fire. “How’s Brooke?”
“Pretty sick for her to sleep through gunfire. I’m worried.” Fear flashed in her eyes, and without thinking, he stepped close and took her in his arms. She fit exactly right. Almost as tall as his own six feet, soft breasts crushed against his chest, long legs he could imagine tangled with his…
“Don’t,” he said, shaking off the sexy image. “She’ll be okay.”
“She has to be.” A shudder ran through her and he ached to make all this go away. For half a cent, he’d go out and put himself back in the line of fire if it would get Brynn and Brooke out of here alive.
“I think we need to make a run for it,” he said finally. “Maybe under the cover of darkness….”
“The trail between here and my camp isn’t dangerous, as long as you don’t make a wrong turn like I did,” she said slowly. “If we did that in the dark, it could be fatal.”
“The trail from here to Durango is pretty straight, but it’s across a long, open stretch. Out in the open for a good part of it.”
“It’s taking a big risk,” she said. “Taking a midnight ride.”
“Yes.” He wouldn’t sugarcoat it. “But so is staying here.”
Falling in love with romance novels the summer before sixth grade, D’Ann Lindun never thought about writing one until many years later when she took a how-to class at her local college. She was hooked! She began writing and never looked back. Forty-eight manuscripts and numerous awards later, she is an Amazon bestseller! Romance appeals to D’Ann because there's just something so satisfying about writing a book guaranteed to have a happy ending. Her particular favorites usually feature cowboys and the women who love them.
Street team--D’Ann’s Country Girls : |
Series The Academy Series
Genre Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher Avon Books
Publication Date January 30, 2018
Jack Garrett isn’t a police officer yet, but there’s already an emergency. His new firearms instructor—the one who just dropped every jaw in the academy gym—is the same sexy Irish stranger Jack locked lips with last night. The Olympic gold medalist and expert markswoman is now officially off-limits, but Jack’s never cared much for rules . . .
Katie McCoy’s been cooped up in a shooting range for too long. A wild love affair is just what she needs to let loose, though she never imagined it would be with her smokin’ hot trainee. She cannot get involved with Jack—but a quick fling? Perfect. Falling hard for a charismatic recruit with an equal amount of sex appeal and secrets? Bloody stupid.
Jack’s charmed the pants off plenty of women (literally), yet few have ever looked beyond his perfect surface. Until Katie. He’ll do anything to keep her in his life . . . except tell her about his past. But a tiny lie of omission never hurt anyone, right?
“One kiss.”
He takes a step forward, his big chest rising and falling. “I know I’m pushing it, Snaps. But I’m dying over here.”
I’m dying, too. No denying it. This attraction is very bad for my mental and physical health. He probably won’t even show up tomorrow night. His romantic comedy costar will distract him with an invitation to eat grapes on a sun- drenched rooftop somewhere and I . . . I could never get another chance to kiss this outrageously beautiful man.
This trip to New York isn’t only a career opportunity, it’s a chance to shake off my comfort zone.
Do it, Katie. Don’t regret it. Don’t be a coward. What’s the worst that could happen?
“Just one, then,” I whisper.
His green eyes go molten as he takes two big strides and swoops in. I hear my backpack hit the ground and then nothing, nothing, but Jack’s mouth has any part of my focus.
What’s the worst that could happen?
Tour Wide Giveaway
To celebrate the release of INDECENT EXPOSURE, we’re giving away two paperback copies of DISORDERLY CONDUCT series by Tessa Bailey!
GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. Two winners will each receive a paperback copy of Disorderly Conduct by Tessa Bailey. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance. Giveaway ends 2/3/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
About Tessa Bailey
Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans, and laptop, and drove cross-country to New York City in under four days. Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend, and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention. She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband and daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.
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Mae Summers has it all: a loving fiancé, Peter, a job at the flourishing company he owns and a beautiful New York City apartment. But Mae’s life shatters when she wakes up one morning to discover Peter gone—leaving only a cryptic note behind him—and the company in shambles, its investments founded on lies.
There’s only one place for Mae to go: home to Alexandria Bay, the small tourist town in upstate New York where she was raised by her grandparents in the inn they own. And not all is right in Alex Bay, either: Mae finds her grandmother struggling with dementia, separated from Mae’s grandfather thanks to a terrible secret she never meant to reveal.
She also finds Gabe, her childhood best friend who became the love of her young life—now a handsome if brooding adult, working through a private trauma that still haunts him.
A lifetime of secrets stands in the way of Mae and her family’s happiness. Home may be where the heart is, but sometimes it takes equal parts love, forgiveness and will to mend that heart.
It was impossible not get emotionally involved with this story and it surely is churning a lot of emotions from joy to sadness to despair to irritation to elation and even relief.
The story is beautifully written, resembling poetry in the way the words are twined together. It was easy to get lost in the tale, the need to know that everything would be alright at the end, that all the secrets would be gone, and the characters would finally find peace and happiness, the building of the momentum was the energy that kept me reading. The intensity of the emotions and the drama that was build surrounding all the feelings have the taste of Young Adult novels, understandably, as the story goes back and forth to the younger days of all the main characters.
In the story, each gets their chance to tell their point of view for the events that range from the time before the WWII to the present time. The point of view switches from the past to present, from person to person without indications, and it took me a bit to get into the rhythm and style of the book and writing until it started smoothly flowing.
The book tells the story of three generations of lives and loves, secrets, and betrayals. The fact that history repeats itself is proven repeatedly to be true. The frustration with the actions and withhold information, lies, and deceptions by Lilly and then by Mae, was overpowering at times. The way Gabe was treated in the tale, as a child, as a young man, and then as an adult broke my heart a bit. He seemed to be, in his pain and agony, the only one who had the courage to face his hidden truths, to go after his dreams, the one who had direction in his life, may it be to be with Mae.
An elegant tale with its beautiful writing, an alluring story with the lifespans of lies, a touching story of pain, forgiveness, and learning to love, a fascinating and frustrating family drama that goes on for generations and time.
~ Four Spoons
Marissa Stapley is the Globe and Mail bestselling author of the novel Mating for Life, and the forthcoming Things to Do When It's Raining. She writes the commercial fiction review column "Shelf Love" for the Globe and Mail, reports on books and culture for the Toronto Star, and lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.
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