When a rebellious rancher meets the pastor's daughter, it's a match made in…Copper Ridge!
Sheltered from her own desires for so long, Hayley Thompson wants to experience life. A new job at Gray Bear Construction is a start. The work she can handle. It's her boss—reclusive, sexy Jonathan Bear—who's scrambling her mind and her hormones… No matter how successful he becomes, Jonathan's reputation will always precede him. And his type of woman is usually nothing like prim, innocent Hayley. Yet he can't resist unleashing the fire beneath her pent-up facade—even if seduction means losing his heart…
Even though Seduce Me, Cowboy is filled with desire and passion there's more to this story than cravings, lust, and awakening romantic feelings. I found myself utterly fascinated by the storyline and Hayley's need for independence, to see and experience the world, not to be observed and critiqued by every motion you make, her need to live fully, embrace life, and learn to be yourself regardless of everyone being aware of your every move.
Hayley Thompson resonated with me like no other character for a long time. Her life as a sheltered preacher's kid might have echoes to my own story. Her need to leave her home and see what is outside the fishbowl she felt living in under the observation of the town rang my bell. She is one of those characters that made me want to sit down with her and have a cup of coffee, compare notes, and get to know her better. Her innocence enhanced her thirst for more, her need to please her parents still holding her back. Jonathan Bear is a noble person who hadn't seen his own value, his sacrifices and dedication to taking care of his sister, or the hard work he had put in, to built his life into the frame it was now. He was experienced and worldly man, yet his knowledge of love and relationships made him as innocent and inexperienced as Hayley was when it came to building something lasting and enduring from affection and love. The smoldering, panty melting hot passion between Jonathan and Hayley took the second place in my eyes as the author took the pen and beautifully, in a relatively short space, showed how the characters grew and matured, learned about life and love, acceptance, pride, and humbleness. I absolutely love when a story gives you a surprise, when it takes you to a road you were not expecting, or a deep plunge to thoughts that are an eye-opener to your own experiences with life. The Copper Ridge series has delighted me with each addition, and Seduce Me, Cowboy did that as well. It was on the one hand lusciously entertaining and on another hand deeply touching and poignant tale about finding your place, your destiny, and love in the crazy world. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
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A FAMILY HOUSEWARMING
Visitors are rare at widower Michael Moreno's Rodeo, Montana, ranch. When Samantha Read and her two sons turn up, seeking shelter in a snowstorm, his kids are ecstatic. Michael is less enthusiastic. Sammy's sophisticated city vibe seems out of place in his country home. But even he can't deny that the bubbly beauty lights up the whole house. Though Sammy doesn't know much about ranching, she recognizes an aching heart when she sees one. Michael and his kids could use some cheer, and she's determined to make the most of their time together. But as the heat between Sammy and Michael threatens to melt the snow, Sammy wonders if Michael's heart could be thawing, as well.
A heartwarming, sweet, cheerful tale that made me smile from ear to ear and wish we all could have a Christmas several times in a year. The story is filled with the kind of joy and magic we normally only attach to the December holiday time, yet the snow storm created the perfect surrounding for these two families to celebrate life, love, friends, and family.
Michael Moreno might come off as a bit grouchy and unwelcoming, but as the story unfolds his kind, caring heart is evident. His desire to do anything for his kids is clear, he is fair, loyal, hard working man with a humble mind and loving heart. I absolutely adored him with the children, all and any child got his attention, his guidance, and his protection. Samantha Read has learned the hard way that life isn't fair. But she is determined to make a better foundation in life for her own children than she and her brother had. She loves to sing disco, she is always smiling, comes up with the coolest ideas for the kids to entertain themselves with, and is always ready to play and laugh with them. Just the perfect mom figure you can imagine. I enjoyed the positive vibe the story had, despite the broken hearts of both Michael and Sammy. An accident brought these two families together, and eventually, the survival instinct turned into caring, before even deeper feelings took root. Michael and Sammy truly were a match made in heaven. They were a great team when it came to taking care of the extended family, their opposite characters complemented each other just right, like two pieces of a puzzle fitting together so perfectly. It was a pleasure to witness their attraction for each other growing and their souls finding a second chance of getting stroked by the lightning of love. The story is filled with whimsical, enchanted moments and miraculous plot twists. There's nothing conventional about Sammy or her antics, yet there are only good intentions and everyone's best at her heart. For me, a big Christmas lover, this story read like a cheerful, marvelous winter fairytale filled with family values, adorable, gentle characters, and good tidings for all ~ Four Spoons
Can’t Fight This Feeling
Spikonos Brothers #2 By: Miranda Liasson Releasing March 7, 2017 Self-Published
SHE WANTS TO MOVE ON…WITH SOMEONE BLAND AND BORING…
Widowed psychologist Maggie McShae is ready to find someone who won’t make her heart beat fast, her knees grow weak, or make her feel hot and cold at the same time. No one she can really love, because love brings too much pain. Drew Poulos, son of a billionaire, is hiding out in Mirror Lake, working at his brothers’ brandy company. He inspires those very feelings Maggie’s determined to avoid. The hunky businessman, who left his high society bride at the altar, is the last person she’d ever seriously date…but he might just be perfect for a fling… HE NEEDS A DATE FOR HIS BROTHER’S WEDDING…WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN CALM HIS QUIRKY FAMILY… Drew’s too heartbroken to ever trust any woman again, but the sexy psychologist is the perfect person to deflect his family’s attention as his brother marries the woman Drew once thought was his. As sparks fly, two injured hearts might just find that true love can be even better the second time around…. He got in her face. And oh, those big brown intelligent eyes up close, those chiseled cheekbones, so much more defined than her own, which really were such a waste on a man. That thick, pitch-black hair, so thick a woman’s fingers could get lost in there. She tried to back up a step, but he moved forward. “Maybe. Let’s start by being honest with each other. Do you want me, Maggie?” “We’re not talking about—that. Back off already.” She pushed on his chest a little. A mistake. Because it was hard as boulders and made her knees go weak. “Besides, you just—flinched when I touched you.” “I think we need to do what you said, talk about it. I flinched because I felt what I think you feel too. That there’s something going on between us. What are we going to do about it?” She flipped her hand dismissively. “It’s all that touchy-feely stuff we’re doing in front of your family. That has to stop.” “This has nothing to do with playacting,” he said quietly. “And I think you know that. “That kiss on the court… It was real.” “That kiss was…impulsive. Heat of the moment, fueled by our hard-won victory.” Joking now was not stopping the shivers that were running up and down her arms. Or the hot and cold coursing through her veins. Somehow, she sensed how it would be between them. Wild. No holds barred. And God help her, she wanted that. She tried to pull some common sense out of her sex-addled brain. It would be a very bad idea on both their parts to forget their troubles with a sweaty round of sex, wouldn’t it? Yet wasn’t that what she’d wanted? To get her life going again? To have an opportunity to meet someone she could maybe share her life with and make a family for Griffin, even if she wasn’t anywhere near expecting the soul-binding love she’d experienced with Corey. “I—I’m not in the right place for a relationship,” she said. “And yet you were ready to have a fling with Greg the Fireman.” “That was different.” She sensed danger with Drew. The ability to drill down to a place deep inside her that she’d buried for a very long time. And she was terrified to let anyone in that far. “I don’t even really know you,” she said. For some reason, her voice came out in a whisper. “You know enough.” His gaze was piercing right through her, hot and quick, and all her willpower started circling the drain like Griffin’s bathwater in their ancient claw-foot tub. There were so many things about him she didn’t know. She had no idea what he’d ever seen in Sondra. Or many details about what had happened between him and Anika. But maybe she didn’t care. “We could keep it casual.” He shrugged his elegant shoulders. “A little fling could be good for both of us. Release all that tension.” “Absolutely not.” But his words were velvet, conjuring images of his body and hers, his lips roaming over her, his hands… He was very close now, staring at her lips, moving in for the kill. And her head was humming and her knees were wobbly and her heart was fluttering crazily. He was so close, she could reach out and touch those big shoulders of his. Run her hands down his powerful arms. Circle his sweet neck with her arms. She didn’t even care that he was a little sweaty. And dear God, she was so, so sex crazed, she wasn’t sure she could control herself. But, like a magnet drawn to the fridge door, she could not turn away. Finally, he snuffed out the space between them and lowered his mouth to hers. Oh, his wonderful mouth. His lips were soft and seeking, tentative at first as he took his time learning the feel of hers. He tasted like cookies and tea and his own uniquely intoxicating taste. From the start, these kisses were completely different from the ones they’d done for show in front of his family. Needy, more aggressive, unleashed.
Miranda Liasson loves to write stories about everyday people who find love despite themselves, because there’s nothing like a great love story. And if there are a few laughs along the way, even better! She’s a former Golden Heart winner who writes contemporary romance for Montlake Romance, Entangled, and soon for Grand Central. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, three kids, and Posey, a rescue cat with attitude.
Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Walk of Shame
Love Unexpectedly #4 By: Lauren Layne Releasing April 18, 2017 Loveswept
Sparks fly between a misunderstood New York socialite and a cynical divorce lawyer in this lively standalone rom-com from the USA Today bestselling author of Blurred Lines and Love Story.
Pampered heiress Georgianna Watkins has a party-girl image to maintain, but all the shopping and clubbing is starting to feel a little bit hollow—and a whole lot lonely. Though Georgie would never admit it, the highlights of her week are the mornings when she comes home at the same time as her uptight, workaholic neighbor is leaving to hit the gym and put in a long day at the office. Teasing him is the most fun Georgie’s had in years—and the fuel for all her naughtiest daydreams. Celebrity divorce attorney Andrew Mulroney doesn’t have much time for women, especially spoiled tabloid princesses who spend more time on Page Six than at an actual job. Although Georgie’s drop-dead gorgeous, she’s also everything Andrew resents: the type of girl who inherited her penthouse instead of earning it. But after Andrew caps one of their predawn sparring sessions with a surprise kiss—a kiss that’s caught on camera—all of Manhattan is gossiping about whether they’re a real couple. And nobody’s more surprised than Andrew to find that the answer just might be yes.
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
SHE’S RUNNING FOR HER LIFE
Framed for espionage, reformed hacker Valerie Sanchez has no choice but to run. Worse, when the proof of her innocence is destroyed, things turn deadly. Can she trust the sexy terrorist hunter who mysteriously turns up to protect her, or is he the real threat? HE’S HOT ON HER TRAIL Former Marine sniper Scott Kramer’s job was supposed to be easy. Follow the hot computer geek who stole plans for classified weapons until she meets her buyer, then let law enforcement take over. But when Valerie becomes an assassin's target, Scott's gut says she’s innocent. Now, he must risk his life—and his heart—to keep her safe.
With multiple intriguing elements, this story pulled me into the world of dark web, espionage, and betrayals, holding me in there with the captivating, lovable characters and the developing romance in between them.
The crimes committed circle around the computer world, the internet, and its dark web with all the dangers and the possibilities. The work done on the computers to find the evidence of the true criminals are well explained. It challenges the reader's knowledge yet doesn't underestimate their mind. I loved how I was pulled into this world I had no knowledge of before, yet I could navigate there and follow what was going on. And there was a lot going on, the action is deadly and constant. The possibilities to escape from the false charges seemed impossible. The flow of the tale is seamless and natural, the continues plot twists kept me on my toes and the intensity elevated. Valerie Sanchez and Scott Kramer both were fantastic characters, it was easy to like them and relate to them with the imperfections they had. The more I got to know them the more I admired them and it seemed they had a lot in common. Their childhood wounds both in their bodies and minds, the scars life had left in them, the healing that was ongoing effort to be able to move on, it all gave a great perspective to the development of the characters and their bonding with each other. The connection they have was precious and admirable. They worked well as a team, they complimented each other's talents and gifts. Adding to that the palpable, growing romantic feelings they had for each other and they seemed like two parts of a whole. The passion they had for each other was tangible, yet their insecurities and old wounds made it so real and true, giving a tender and delicate touch to their relationship. Blindsided turned out to be a story impossible to put down until 'the end'. The action is fatal and treacherous, not knowing who to trust, questioning every move they make while on the run for their lives, the ferocity of the actions against the characters gave the tale special kind of vigor and energy. The severity of their past experiences mirroring the present events gave a rare, enticing depth to the characters, witnessing their development and growth was gratifying. I'm loving this author's voice and the wounded characters she has created that has completely charmed me over. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Gwen writes romantic suspense and books on Scrivener and other tools for writers. Formerly a manufacturing engineer, programmer, and business school instructor, she lives in an empty nest in northern California with her retired Air Force hero and a lazy golden retriever.
Find her online at gwenhernandez.com ScrivenerClasses.com TWITTER FACEBOOKS
One and Only
Hale Street #7 By: Amy Knupp Releasing March 7, 2017 Self-Published
Drummer Micah Sullivan lost his music and his dreams when his wife died unexpectedly. In the emotional aftermath, he quit his successful country band and pushed away his family and friends. Three years later, he’s opened a music shop on Hale Street in Nashville and tells himself he’s content trying to make it a hit. What he failed to consider is that success requires connections—including the very ones he turned his back on.
Sloan McGuire is up for a new challenge…never realizing it might lead to heartbreak. When she takes a job as entertainment manager at a bar not known for its music, she doesn’t bargain for running into Micah, whose late wife was her best friend. She can tell within minutes that he’s still grieving. Out of love for her friend, she attempts to reconnect with the reclusive drummer. Falling for him isn’t in the plans, though—not only because he was married to her friend but because she’s been second-best before, and she never wants to play that role again. As Micah starts finding his rhythm, life throws him a different beat. But with a little improvisation and a lot of courage, he just might tap into the one and only connection he needs. “It’s not every night a girl gets an offer to spend time with the world-famous Micah Sullivan and his family.” “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” His heart hammered in his chest and lust pounded through his veins as he breathed in her scent, a light, floral something that made him feel more alive than he’d felt in forever. “Oh, sorry,” she said, her lids lowering halfway and her voice going quieter, more private as he slid his hands to each side of her tiny waist. “I forgot you prefer Just Micah.” He couldn’t answer, wasn’t even sure what she’d said, because his gaze had homed in on her plump bottom lip, where there was still the hint of a sheen from her lip gloss, and he suddenly wanted more than anything to taste her. He dipped his head down and touched his lips to hers, only intending a quick taste, but when he felt her arms go around his neck and sampled the sweetness — chocolate and a faint hint of strawberries — he couldn’t have backed off if someone held him at gunpoint. He swept his tongue over her lower lip, teased the seam, and when she pressed the tip of her tongue to his and they swirled together, he couldn’t hold back the rumble that came up from his throat. “You’re too tall,” Sloan said, pulling away only enough to get that out before she pressed her lips to his again. “You’re too short,” he managed, not recognizing his own voice. He braced his hands on the backs of her upper thighs and lifted her so that their mouths lined up perfectly, then took a couple steps so her back was to the wall as he sealed his mouth to hers again, angling his head for better access. Sloan’s legs wrapped around him, and he was suddenly so hot it felt like the house was on fire. How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story? Micah Sullivan, the hero, showed up in my first book in the series (Sweet Spot) wanting to rent space for a music store on Hale Street. Whenever a new character is mentioned in a scene, I go to Pinterest and find inspiration for the character so I can better describe him or her. The photo I found of Micah is (of course) hot, but in it, he’s not happy, and that got my imagination going. Why isn’t he happy? (Turns out his wife died unexpectedly three years ago.) He’s also wearing a hood in it, and that led me to think about why he might be “hiding.” (In a nutshell, grief, sadness, and a little bit of guilt.) His journey drives the story, so in this case, the picture was sort of worth 75,000 words. ☺ What did you enjoy most about writing this book? The Hale Street series is a multi-author series I’m writing with two of my best friends, Emily Leigh and Natasha Lake. While each story is stand-alone, we collaborate constantly on the setting and character crossover, and the collaboration is the very best part. The synergy the three of us have makes writing kind of magical, even on the hard days. If I’m struggling with a plot point, my girls are all over it with me because they know my characters almost as well as I do. Plus we do girls’ writing retreat weekends a few times a year and a weeklong private writing retreat in a lake cottage each summer. Not only is it great for the writing but it’s soul time. What gave you the most trouble with this story? It was a challenge to take Micah from a grieving, hiding-from-life man to a happy, in-love one. You can’t rush grief. Further complicating things was that his heroine, Sloan, was his wife’s best friend. That’s not the main conflict between them, but I couldn’t gloss over it either. What 5 things should readers know about you? 1. ONE AND ONLY is my 18th published book and my favorite one (at least today!) 2. I have four cats and have told my husband he can never leave me or I’ll be a cat lady. 3. Making decisions is often excruciating for me. I can weigh pros and cons until my eyes cross. 4. I have an obsession with office products—pens, Post-its, pretty notebooks, gel pens, colored binder clips, penguin-shaped paper clips… 5. I live in Wisconsin, the cheese state, but I can’t eat dairy. Before that, I lived in Kansas, the wheat state, but I can’t eat gluten. What do you like best about being a writer? What is the most challenging part? This might be revealing my inner geekiness, but I love the psychology aspect of writing two people who fall in love. When two people come together with an assortment of baggage, you’ve got a lot of stuff to work through, and I love the puzzle of it all and figuring out how the pieces go together. I love it especially after the hard part’s all done! What do you do when you are not writing? Work-wise, I’m a full-time freelance copyeditor, so I read all day every day (and correct grammar, etc. to my OCD heart’s content). I get to read/edit just about every genre/sub-genre imaginable, though more than half my projects are romance. Tough job but somebody has to do it! I feel blessed that I can say honestly I love what I do. Between freelancing, which can mean working weekends and holidays, and raising two teenage boys with my husband, I manage to maintain a fairly high level of crazy. Can you tell us about your upcoming book? I don’t know a lot yet because I’m in the early stages of writing it, but my next book, out this summer, is a novella about two characters from ONE AND ONLY. Lena Kessler is the oldest of four sisters and the only one still single. She longs for love and babies like the rest of her family has. Former NHL player Ash McGuire is the last person who could give her what she dreams of but the only one she wants.
Amy Knupp is the author of contemporary romance, a freelance copy editor for Blue Otter Editing, and a freelance technical writer. While the collection of professional hats she wears sounds a bit scattered and broad, the common thread among all of them (perhaps the little ball on top of each hat) is the written word. She loves words and grammar and meaty, engrossing stories with complex characters.
Amy lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two teenage sons, four cats, and two box turtles. She graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in French and journalism. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, breaking up cat fights, watching college hoops, and annoying her family by correcting their grammar. Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
The Magnate’s Mail-Order Bride
The McNeill Magnates #1 By: Joanne Rock Releasing April 4, 2017 Harlequin Desire
A mix-and-match mock engagement?
Ballerina Sofia Koslov's career is on the line when she's accosted at the airport by a rich, reckless playboy who thinks she's his mail-order bride! But the playboy's levelheaded brother, Quinn McNeill, solves the media snafu with a switcheroo. He'll pretend to be her legitimate fiancé to protect her reputation—and to protect his family's business deals from her father's wrath. Sofia's one condition: they'll share the spotlight as a loving couple but won't share a bed. But soon Quinn's gentlemanly ways strike a chord, and Sofia's dying to renege on that condition and have a real fling…
“I never would have guessed your brother would spend a small fortune on a ring for a woman he never met.” She edged out of his grip. “I thought he was a romantic, not completely certifiable.”
Quinn’s smile faded. “I assure you, Cameron is neither.” He set the ring on the steamer trunk beside her. “I’ll let you decide whether or not to wear it in the morning. And in the meantime, I’d better let you get some rest.” He rose to his feet, leaving a priceless piece of jewelry balanced on last month’s Vogue. “Quinn.” She stood to follow him to the door then reached back to grab the ring so she could return it. “Please. I don’t feel right keeping this here.” He turned to face her as he reached the door, but made no move to take the glittering ring. “If you were my bride-to-be, I would spare no expense to show the world you were mine.” His blue eyes glowed with a warmth that had her remembering his kiss. Her breath caught in her chest and she wondered what it might be like for him to call her that for real. Mine. “I’m—” At a total loss for words. “That is—” She folded the diamond into her hand, squeezing it tightly so the stones pressed into her soft skin, distracting her from her hypnotic awareness of this man. “If you insist.” “It’s a matter of believability, Sofia.” “It’s only for one month.” She wasn’t sure if she said it to remind him or herself. “We’ll work out the details tomorrow.” He reached to smooth a strand of hair from her forehead, barely touching her and still sending shimmers of pleasure along her temple and all the way down the back of her neck. “Sleep well.” She didn’t even manage to get her voice working before he was out the door again, leaving her alone in a suddenly too empty apartment. Squeezing the ring tighter in her fist, she waited for the pinch of pain from the sharp edges of the stones. She needed to remember that this wasn’t real. Quinn McNeill had only agreed to this mad scheme to clean up his brother’s mess. Any hint of attraction she felt needed to be squashed immediately, especially since Quinn was cut from the same mold as her father—focused on business and the accumulation of wealth. Her world was about art, emotions and human connections. Her mother had taught her that people did not fall into both camps. In Sofia’s experience it was true. And since she wanted her own relationships to be meaningful bonds rooted in shared creativity and ideals, she was willing to wait until she had more time in her life to find the right partner. Romance could not be rushed. “It’s only for a month,” she said aloud again, forcing herself to set the engagement ring on the hallway table. Surely she could keep up her end of a fake engagement for the sake of appearances? She’d made countless sacrifices for her career, from dancing on broken toes to living away from her family on the other side of the globe to train with Russian ballet masters. Ignoring the sensual draw of Quinn McNeill couldn’t possibly be more difficult than those challenges. Yet, even as she marched herself off to bed, she feared she was lying to herself that she could keep her hands off the man anywhere near as easily as she’d set down the ring.
Four-time RITA nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn't like. The author of over seventy books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her life outlook perfectly--love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann. When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded sons.
Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Her Secret Ranger
The Men of At Ease Ranch #2 By: Donna Michaels Releasing March 6, 2017 Entangled Lovestruck
Kissing the sexy soldier was a dare she couldn’t resist…
By-the-book event planner Beth Brannigan’s best friend dared her to kiss a cowboy. She should have said no. Instead, she said please…again and again. If her brother finds out she’s dating—okay, kissing—okay, sleeping with—one of his military buddies, he’ll kill her. Assuming he doesn’t kill his friend first. Former Army Ranger Brick Mitchum isn’t a relationship kind of guy. But then he meets Beth and starts to wonder if maybe it’s time he settled down. She’s mysterious. Unpredictable. Curvy in every way he needs… And hiding something. He’s just got to figure out what.
I am so pleased I have found Donna Michaels' books into my life because they are just like little rays of sunshine. The stories are riddled with delightful humor that makes me smile, there's adorable tender sweetness that makes me sigh, love stories that are easy to believe, passion that scorches the pages bringing heat and spice to the tales, and there are friends, brothers, families with tight bonds, loyalty, and protectiveness that you can't help but admire.
Brick Mitchum is one delicious hero! His sexiness is off the charts, yet his adoration of Beth is filled with gentle, romantic thoughts and actions. This playboy Romeo is all hearts when it comes to Beth, and that was just precious. He is charming yet not over the top, he is kind yet he takes charge when it is called for, his loyalty is beyond approach but he can humble himself and apologize when he has stepped over the line. Beth Brannigan has finally gotten the chance with her career, taking charge of the event planning to her best friend's wedding. Yet she is distracted by the handsome, sexy man who charmed her couple weeks before. The chemistry between them is smoldering, they can hardly keep hands off each other, yet they find a connection outside the bedroom as well. Beth is swooning, surely this is the one she has been waiting for. Until 'the one' turns out to be his brother's best friend. Already half in love with Brick, she tries to steal few more moments of pure happiness before the discovery will explode on her face, and rip apart her heart. I enjoyed watching Beth and Brick fumble with their feelings, fight against the inevitable, but most of all, find the tune, that link, that tie that connects their hearts and minds with each other. The humor, the banter, the wisecracks, the whimsy, the sass - however you call it, it was there and it hit home with me. The playfulness and adoration are balanced with just enough drama and turmoil. I admit, there was even a moment for tears, as I lived through every emotion with the engaging characters. Lovable, luscious, and potent romance that is enticing and entertaining ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side All afternoon Beth found it hard to concentrate. A first. Normally, she lived and breathed work, and took great joy in the planning and execution of events. And this one was personal. It was her best friend’s wedding. Still, she found herself reliving those incredible kisses she’s shared with Brick at the fair. In front of Rachel. Heat rushed into her cheeks at the thought of what they must’ve looked like devouring each other in public. At least, she’d felt devoured. And wanted. Oh man, she certainly wanted more, but she kind of always had the impression he was a bit of a Casanova. So when he’d actually asked her out to dinner, her mind completely blanked. “Earth to Beth.” Fingers snapped in front of her face, bringing her mind to the present and the fact it was late afternoon and they were sitting in Rachel’s kitchen, drinking iced tea. “There you are. Although, I’m pretty sure I know where you were. Back in that cowboy’s arms. You two were hot.” Rachel pulled out her phone. “See?” She gasped. “You took a photo?” She swiped the cell from her friend’s outstretched hand then sucked in another breath at the picture of her and Brick melting into each other. “Damn.” “I know, right? You two sure heated up that fairway. It’s a good thing Cord hadn’t shown up.” “Oh my God.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Can you imagine?” Beth knew the reason Cord had always given her dates the third degree was because he’d taken it upon himself to fill in for their father, who’d died when she was ten. But it hadn’t lessened her frustration. Even during Skype chats while on deployment he’d always inquired about her social life. Eventually Beth refrained from dating, because she didn’t want him worrying about her while he was out there putting his life in danger. Her focus changed. She’d started working and saving money to take some online courses. Money was too tight for her to go to college, although she’d never admit it to Cord. The guy was sacrificing enough for the family, sending his checks home, never spending money or going on vacations when he was back on leave. “The fists would’ve flown, for sure.” Rachel grinned, stirring her iced tea. “Although I don’t think it would’ve been as easy to pull this kisser off you. He was full of hard muscle, wasn’t he?” She nodded. Brick lived up to his name. He was ripped, and she suspected, former military. The way he carried himself reminded her of her brother. Confident. Sure. And the way the sexy cowboy walked with a lethal agility made her hot and bothered. Then there was the tattoo on his arm. An eagle with other symbols she refused to look at closely and deliberately didn’t acknowledge. Last thing she needed was verbal confirmation Brick was in the military. With her luck, her brother probably knew the guy. God…was it really wise to go out on another date? Her gaze dropped to the photo on the phone in her hand, and her heart literally skipped a beat. Yes…yes, it was wise. And wonderful, new, and addicting. And if she didn’t get a move on, she was going to be late. “I’ve got to go.” She slid the phone across the table to her friend then rose to her feet to take her empty glass to the sink. “Call me first thing tomorrow morning and let me know how it went,” Rachel said, joining her by the sink. “Or better yet, tonight if he leaves. But I hope he stays. He kind of looked like a guy with mega stamina. You could use an all-nighter.” “Rachel!” She turned to stare at her grinning friend who had no clue how right she was about Brick’s stamina. Although he hadn’t stayed the whole night. Yet. “What?” Rachel quirked a brow. “I know you agree. I can see it in your eyes.” Lordy, she didn’t need her friend to see anything else. She walked to the table to grab her purse and forced memories of a naked, ripped, Brick and his mega stamina from her mind. “Talk to your fiancé about the new menu choices the caterer gave us today. And don’t forget to find out about guests with food allergies.” “I will.” Rachel pointed to the clock on the wall. “You are officially done today. No more work. Go have fun with your sexy cowboy.” Beth saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.” Eight minutes later, she parked behind the hotel in front of her room, and some common sense returned with her. Seeing this guy was foolish. She wasn’t a fling kind of girl, and her life wasn’t in Braxton. She lived over two hours away. With a sigh, she pulled her cell from her purse and brought up his number. Secret Cowboy. A smile tugged her lips. She really liked his sense of humor. Among other things. All the more reason to hit call and cancel the date. Get out now before her heart got as involved as her body—which refused to tap the dang screen. She was still waging the inner battle when a truck pulled in next to her and her secret cowboy unfolded from the cab. Shoot. Too late. Shoving the phone back in her purse, she took a deep breath and then opened the door. She’d just have to cancel in person. “Hey, angel.” His sexy drawl sent shivers of awareness down her body, with extra emphasis on her good parts. Parts he knew how to make feel real good. “Just get back?” She nodded, trying to find the right words and the courage to say them as he rounded his truck and drew near, looking sexier than he had a right to in a charcoal gray button-down shirt, black pants, Stetson, and boots. He’d changed. Holy crow, he looked absolutely delicious. Didn’t matter. It was best if she said her piece. By the time she got her mouth to open, he was in front of her, cupping her face with his big hands and bringing her lips to his in a kiss that curled her toes. How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story? Right from the birth of The Men of At-Ease Ranch series concept, I knew from discussing with my editor that the heroine in the second book, Her Secret Ranger, was going to be the sister to one of the other heroes. The mistaken identity trope went into play, because the hero would never “knowingly” mess with another Ranger’s sister. It made for a little bit of fun trying to keep the two men from meeting. What did you enjoy most about writing this book? I enjoyed writing all of it. I really did. The characters practically wrote the book themselves. It was every author’s dream type book. They were funny and sweet, hot and hardheaded, and then I got to revisit the characters from the first book, including Lula Belle. Yep, this was one of my all-time favorite books to write. I wish they were all this fun and easy. Name three things on your desk right now. Three things on my desk, besides my laptop and mouse, are: 1. Halo, my cat. She’s half on my lap, half on my laptop desk. Bless her. She’s been diagnosed with inoperable cancer, so if she wants to lay on my work, I let her, I just have to try to type around her, like I am doing now. ☺ 2. Coffee mug with the phrase: Writer’s Block: When your imaginary friends stop talking to you. 3. My phone so I can keep up with the messages from authors about parties I’ve agreed to do, and of course, texts from my kids. What are some books that you enjoyed recently? Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis. I’m so freaking excited it’s going to be made into a movie!! I love all her books. Can’t get enough of Jill! What do you like to do when you aren't writing? When I’m not writing, if I have some me-time, I’ll either read or watch TV. I have a lot of shows I usually have to catch up on once I meet my deadline. Halo likes this too, because she gets to have my lap unobstructed by the computer. Can you tell us about your upcoming book? I just finished writing book 3, tentatively titled: The Right Ranger. In it, I got to have fun causing a little chaos to Cord Brannigan who is Beth’s brother and Brick’s best friend. He’s been kind of quiet, unsmiling, and a little controlling in the first two books, so it was fun to dig into why and give him a heroine who is a bit independent.
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.
Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Cards From Khloe's Flower Shop
By: Isabella Louise Anderson Released January 17, 2017 Chick Lit Goddess, LLC
As the owner of a successful florist shop, Khloe Harper trusts her instincts. She has a strong bond with her family and friends, but after being betrayed by her last love, she's kept herself at arms’ length from romance. When dashing entertainment attorney Derek Thomas walks into her store, Khloe’s interest is piqued. What at first seems like a business relationship quickly turns into romance, and Derek slowly plucks away the petals she’s been hiding behind. Just as Khloe lets down her guard, she discovers that Derek may not be worthy of her love after all.
Frumpy Connie Albright has a faux fascination with an imaginary man named Walt, thinking that by sending herself flowers from him she’ll feel less out-of-place with the “mean girls” she works with. When she comes face to face with her possible prince charming and thinking she might have a happy ending, when a truth is revealed, she wonders if she’ll ever have a Cinderella story. A recently widowed senior, Gabby Lewis, isn't ready to give up on love—which means releasing herself from survivor's guilt and taking a chance on finding happiness and companionship again. After signing up for an online dating site for senior citizens, much to her surprise, she’s matched with Harry, an energetic and loving man, who quickly eases himself into her heart. Will Gabby take the leap of falling in love again, knowing it’s possible to have two loves of her life? As each woman’s story develops through flowers and cards sent from Khloe's shop during the fall months, they begin to learn that love can only truly blossom when you trust your heart. Connie typed anxiously on her keyboard, looking up from her cubicle every few seconds, waiting for Sharon from Khloe’s Flower Shop to come through the glass entryway doors. She had checked her email first thing that morning, and like always, once a week, there was a confirmation about her order. Dear Connie Albright, Your order to CONNIE ALBRIGHT has been created by one of our team members and is on its way to the recipient. If you have any questions, comments, or complaints, please call Khloe Harper at 1-800-555-1212. As always, I wish you a bouquet of happiness! Khloe Harper Owner of Khloe’s Flower Shop With a sigh, Connie looked back down at her keyboard and continued entering patients’ data into the Excel spreadsheet. Six years ago, to pay for her college education, she had started the medical data entry job, where she found mundane tasks enjoyable, and had been looking forward to making new friends. However, these days, she was now a college graduate with a degree in marketing who hated her job, finding it boring and repetitive, nor had she made friends with any of her co-workers. In fact, they barely noticed her. Compared to the thin, sexy bombshells she worked with, Connie wasn’t anyone to be desired. She was tall, frumpy, wore glasses, and, thanks to a conversation she overheard, was known in the office as “the ugly girl who wore tacky sweaters.” With the exception of a few that her grandmother had sent her for her birthday, having crocheted each one, Connie didn’t think the sweaters were tacky. So, after hearing enough of what was being said behind her back, and after complaining to her best friend—her diary—she came up with an idea to change things, and, so far, it seemed to have worked like magic. “Connie!” Mia, the office receptionist, squealed. “They’re here!” With a slight pause to get ready for the weekly act she performed, Connie popped up from her chair and watched Sharon approach. After signing her name to the page on the clipboard, she gave Sharon, the only other person besides Khloe who knew her secret, a quick nod. Suddenly, Connie found herself in the center of a circle of women hovering over her desk, eagerly waiting for her to read the card that came with the bouquet. “Well, what does it say?” asked a co-worker. “Yeah, come on. Tell us,” begged another. She took in the moment, wishing she had a real man who would say the things she had written to herself. “Your beauty captures me more each day, and my love for you grows each time I touch you. I’m looking forward to this weekend...in bed! Walt.” Holding the card close to her chest, Connie forced tears from her eyes, forcing herself to blush in front of her co-workers. “Oh, I love that man so very much.” “Seriously, that has to be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” Mia said, dramatizing her voice and placing her hands on her chest. “Oh, Connie, you’re so lucky to have a man like him.” “Yeah, Con, that’s cute,” began Nicola, the bitchiest of them all. “But the last time I got flowers, just yesterday as a matter of fact, they certainly weren’t carnations,” she joked, motioning her hand like she was shooing the flowers away from her. All the co-workers joined in her laughter, and then shuffled back to their desks. Connie looked at her flowers and smiled, her feathers not ruffled by Nicola’s comment. She felt accomplished and desired. For a few moments, she’d been the center of attention of a group of women who she knew despised her. Even back in high school, she had been a female nerd, which crossed her out from being friends with the beautiful and popular girls, and in college it was pretty much the same story. It’s not that she didn’t try to make an effort, because she did, but after failing time and time again, whether it be at orientation, working together in groups for school projects, or the few times Connie went to a pub near the university in hopes of meeting up with a few girls who she thought she could be friends with, it never worked. They either laughed in her face, said that the empty seat next to them was already taken (when it really wasn’t), or simply ignored her. Though it was beginning to get expensive and difficult to keep the lies about Walt straight, Connie had no other choice but to continue the weekly charade. It’s just the right thing to do!, she told herself, taking a seat in her chair before continuing to enter the endless data, while thinking of what Walt’s card would say the following week.
Describe yourself in five words or less:
Stubborn, messy, creative, passionate, and strong. If you had a theme song, what would it be? Great question! I’d have to say I have several, but if I had to pick just one, it would be “You Look So Good In Love” by George Strait. What do you like to do when you aren't writing? Spend time with family and friends, read, watch baseball (Go Rangers), and jot down notes for my current WIP What types of scenes are your most favorite to write? The emotional ones! I love when I get so into a scene, and I start to cry. There’s something about it that makes it seem so real…and with “Cards From Khloe’s Flower Shop,” I cried most with Gabby’s character. What 2 things should readers know about you? 1) I’m very shy, 2) I’m OCD and if my handwriting doesn’t look pretty, I have to erase it and redo it (I know, it’s crazy and a waste of time, but it’s the only way I can outline—something I can’t do on a computer—it has to be pencil and paper). Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination? All of the stories I’ve written are a spin from my real life. For example, in “The Right Design,” Palm Beach was the main setting because my family has a family home there (though, I’m not a beach person like the main character). As for “Cards From Khloe’s Flower Shop,” I’ve always loved receiving and sending flowers. I’ve also wanted own a flower shop, so this book specifically is based on what my life would like if I did. Can you tell us about your upcoming book? I’m currently writing a country contemporary romance, and I love it. This book is the most real book I’ve written since it’s based on a combination of reality and fiction.
Isabella grew up with a book in her hand, and to this day nothing has changed. She focuses her time on featuring other writers on her blog, Chick Lit Goddess, along with organizing Goddess Book Tours, and is a member of the Romance Writers of America
She lives in Dallas with her husband, enjoys spicy Mexican food, margaritas, gin on the rocks (with a splash of lime). She loves spending time with family and friends and cheering on the Texas Rangers. Not only is Isabella an author, she’s also a Scentsy consultant and hoarder. Isabella is the author of The Right Design and Cards From Khloe’s Flower Shop. Her short story, “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe,” was featured in Simon & Fig’s Christmas anthology, Merry & Bright. She’s currently working on another book. Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Romancing Dr. Love
Sterling University #1 By: Rebecca Heflin Releasing March 7, 2017 Self-Published
Dr. Samantha Love says it’s all about the chemistry. A brainy psychology professor and researcher, Sam has based her entire academic career on the theory that what we call love is simply a chemical reaction. She is currently running a study to prove that her compatibility blood test reveals perfect matches—sort of like an organ donor, but for relationships. No romance required.
Along comes sexy literature professor, Dr. Ethan Quinn, who says it’s all about the romance. He thinks the pretty psychology professor has taken love and all its mysteries and reduced it to something as romantic as a cholesterol test, and he sets out to prove her theory wrong. When Ethan signs up for her study, Sam discovers to her horror, that according to her compatibility test, they are a perfect match. Sam faces an existential crisis over her career and her research. If she believes in her science, shouldn’t it follow that she believes Ethan is her perfect mate? And if she doesn’t believe he’s her perfect mate, doesn’t that bring into question her research? Her compatibility test? Her reputation? And her very career? As Sam struggles with her dilemma, Ethan pursues her with all the romantic tactics in his arsenal. Will Sam’s theories succumb to his challenge? Or will Ethan lose the battle for Sam’s heart? “No, no, no. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening,” Samantha Love muttered as she gently banged her head against the steering wheel. She turned the key again. Nothing. Not even a wheeze. This was the icing on the cake of her otherwise craptastic day. A bead of sweat trickled down her back. And another one between her girls. God, she hated boob sweat. When she’d taken the research and teaching position at Sterling University in North Georgia last fall, she’d never have guessed the summer would be so hot. Throwing open the door of her car to let in even more stifling heat, she searched for the lever to pop the hood. Finally locating it, she pulled it, then walked around to the front of the car. As if she knew what to do. Just as she leaned under the hood to jiggle some wire thingies, she heard, “Dr. Love? Do you need some help?” She let out a startled squeak hitting her head on the underside of the hood. “Ow!” Rubbing the offended spot, she turned and saw Ethan Quinn standing there looking all adorable. Not to mention manly. Dammit. Why did it have to be him? “No. I’m fine.” Yeah, right. For all her parents’ preaching on women and self-sufficiency, she didn’t know a dipstick from a spark plug when it came to cars. She turned back to the mystery parts under the hood. “You need a jump.” “I beg your pardon?” She spun, hand on her hip. “Your battery.” He pointed in the direction of her open hood. “It probably needs a jump.” “Oh. Right.” Of course he meant her battery. What else would he be talking about? “I have jumper cables in my car. I’ll have you going in a few minutes.” “He’ll have me going in a few minutes,” she mumbled under her breath as she watched him walk to the far corner of the parking lot. Tall, athletic build, dark-wash jeans, white button-down shirt. And that hair. Tousled espresso-brown waves just brushing the top of his collar. “He’s already got me going,” she said to herself. He tossed his messenger bag in the car and climbed in. And, of course, his car started. Because that’s what cars did. They started when you turned the key. Then they blew cold air, so you didn’t have to stand in the mid-July Georgia heat. Unless they dated back to the Stone Age like hers. Another bead of sweat trickled between her breasts. She released a wistful sigh. Bet the AC felt good. He pulled his recent model American-made car around to face hers and then got out to pop the hood. Walking around to the trunk, he opened it and grabbed a set of jumper cables, looking like he knew what he was doing. Good thing somebody around here did. “It’s a hot one today,” Ethan commented, as he connected one of the clamp doohickeys to what she assumed was the car battery. His sleeves were rolled up over his forearms, displaying muscles with a light dusting of hair. Clamping the other end of the cables to his own battery, he then returned to her car. When he walked past her, his cologne wafted to her nose, temporarily erasing her angst at being in his presence. Then he touched his hand to her back. And the anxiety returned tenfold. “Stand clear.” He leaned into the gaping mouth of the car and attached the remaining clamp, throwing a spark. “All right. Let’s see if we can get this baby going.” He climbed into the driver’s seat of his car and turned it on. “Give her a try,” he hollered over the din of his car’s running motor. Sam dropped into the front seat and turned the key. The older-than-dirt engine tried but couldn’t work up enough energy to turn over. “Hold on,” Ethan called, then revved his car. “Okay, try her again.” Her car wheezed then reluctantly cranked a couple of times before coming to life. Ethan was at her door, leaning over, hands braced on the roof. “Great. Let her run a bit, then I’ll disconnect the cables.” A bead of sweat trickled down his temple. “My AC’s on full blast. Why don’t you sit in my car until yours is ready to go.” He stepped aside to give her room to get out. Sam felt as wilted as week-old lettuce, so against her better judgment she took him up on the offer. He opened the front passenger door of his shiny black Lincoln MKS—such a gentleman—and she sank into the leather seats and stuck her face in front of the vent. God, it felt good. The door closed with a solid thunk. Resisting the urge to wipe away the boob sweat, she settled for drying the perspiration on her face and neck. The car dipped as Ethan took a seat on the driver’s side before shutting the door and closing out the rest of the world. Music played softly in the background—something popular. The intimacy of being alone in the car with Ethan washed over her. “I’d offer you something cool to drink, but I don’t have anything.” She realized she hadn’t said a word in the last five minutes. “Thank you.” “No thanks necessary. You’d do the same for me.” “No, I wouldn’t.” She smiled. “I don’t know a thing about cars.” He nodded as a grin split his face. “Well, from the looks of your battery, you’re going to need a new one. I can follow you to Burt’s Automotive. He can have a replacement installed in fifteen minutes.” She shook her head. “Thanks, but I don’t want to put you out in any further.” “It’s no trouble. Besides, if you go straight home, I don’t think she’s going to start for you in the morning.” “Oh.” That would not be good. “She should be juiced up enough to get you to Burt’s. Stay here until I unhook the cables.” Ethan got out of the car and set to work. She’d steered clear of Ethan Quinn since the day she was introduced to the rest of the college faculty. The moment they shook hands she’d felt a connection. And from the look on his face, he’d felt it too. That flood of adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin one feels when there is a strong physical attraction. Relationships were complicated, but getting situated at a new university was already complicated enough. No. Being in close proximity to Ethan Quinn was a bad idea. So as much as she hated to leave the cool comfort of his car, she jumped out and got in her rolling oven before he could say otherwise.
Rebecca Heflin is an award-winning author who has dreamed of writing romantic fiction since she was fifteen and her older sister snuck a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss' Shanna to her and told her to read it. Rebecca writes women's fiction and contemporary romance. When not passionately pursuing her dream, Rebecca is busy with her day-job as a practicing attorney.
Rebecca is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Florida Romance Writers, RWA Contemporary Romance, and Florida Writers Association. She and her mountain-climbing husband live at sea level in sunny Florida. Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
When Tilly Hargreaves and her three nieces are stranded at his small stagecoach station in an abandoned town and threatened by outlaws, Nolan West must protect them. And the only way he can do that is by pretending he's married to Tilly.
But can the former solider, whose only wish is for solitude, stop himself from growing attached to his temporary family? Tilly knows the charade is necessary to keep her and the girls safe, but now her heart is in danger. The longer she pretends the stoic station agent is her husband, the more genuine their union feels. Nolan believes he's better off alone, but Tilly's certain that if he'd only open his heart to his make-believe family, he'd want to claim them as his for real.
With deep, intriguing characters and story full of action and suspense, A Temporary Family was a fast and fun read. The setting was challenging with the ghost town as with the limited resources the suspense and danger intensified. The characters were not only fighting against the outlaws but also the elements around them, the unpredictable weather, and their own inner demons, their own defectiveness.
Both main characters, Tilly Hargreaves and Nolan West, considered themselves as flawed, imperfect. Tilly had grown in the shadow of her older sister. She felt nothing she did or didn't do was satisfying to her family. She had a short attention span, but she had a joyful heart, kind spirit, and generous mind. Nolan looked for solitude to heal the inner wounds the civil war had left in him. His OCD made him feel like an abnormal person, his ways seen as odd to those around him. The nightmares, the pain, the claustrophobia from being a prisoner of the war for over two years had molded him to be the person he was today, and keeping others at the arm's length suited him perfectly until he met Tilly. I loved the suspense, how it was built into the story and escalated as the story went on. The plot was well crafted, the struggle to stay alive, to keep the girls safe, the action, the budding romantic feelings building between Nolan and Tilly, the uncertainty of the elements around them, it was all well put together, it was original, and the story had a natural flow in it. There were many historical references in the story, both real and made up, giving the tale, even more, depth. As the Love Inspired series are the Christian faith based books with Harlequin, I missed that element in this story. I think with the increased drama and trouble the characters were in, the inner growth they faced, the struggles they endured, there were many ample opportunities to show their faith and trust in God and His guidance, but that was omitted from the story, and even though the tale as it was was satisfying and entertaining, I think a great opportunity was missed here. Battles of mind and body, sweet romance, healing from deep inner wounds, accepting imperfections and learning to celebrate them, the story touched the emotions and delivered a poignant tale ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Under Her Authority
By: L.T. Shade Released February 14, 2017 Totally Bound
Sleeping with the enemy is never a good idea, especially when she’s your boss.
No one tells Shane Williams what to do. His world. His rules. Which is why he ran away from home at eighteen to pursue his dream of making a name for himself outside of small-town Georgia. Ten years later, he is one of the hottest creative directors on the east coast and the majority shareholder in a digital media firm in Charlotte. Handing over the business portion of his company to his trusted friend and business partner, and keeping his true identity as the founder a secret, has its perks. But Shane is about to find out one of its flaws. At the expense of her relationships, Rosemary Berkowitz has always done what it takes to succeed. As a female leader in an all-boys tech field, she’s tougher than nails. She may be a sweet country girl, but underneath her innocent exterior, Rose is a boss with an iron fist. She never backs down from a challenge, and when she wants something, she goes after it full force. No matter how sexy his smile is, the attention of a tattooed bad boy is the last thing Rose wants. After a club outing with her best friend turns into steamy night with a mysterious stranger, Rose wants nothing more than to move past her one-night stand—however amazing it was—and continue to mend her broken career. Little does Rose know that fate has other things in store for her. Reader Advisory: This book contains some scenes of public sex. Rose brought out his anger and fervor, and they intermixed so often sometimes that Shane had difficulties distinguishing between the two—like now. The little thong slipped from his pocket as he pulled it out then hung the lingerie so it dangled on her office doorknob. A smirk on his face and only a small care that anyone other than her would find the panties—unless someone had a meeting with an executive, no one came down to these offices, and Malcolm was out for the day on back-to-back meetings— Shane went through the door beside hers. With a sigh of contentedness, he set his feet on the top of his desk. He waited. Shane heard her shout before a gust of air shifted his hair. She blew through his office door, her panties almost vanishing in her fist. “Shane!” There was hell-fire in her eyes and it was fixed right at him. “Coming in without knocking? That’s not very professional of you, sugar.” Resting back in his chair, he smiled. She closed her eyes momentarily, as if to get a grip on the situation. “Listen, asshole. If you do something like this again, I’m going to—” Lowering his feet off the desk, he lifted to his full height that was much taller than her and she seemed to notice. Rose froze as he stalked around his desk. Leaning onto its edge, he crossed his arms. “What exactly are you going to do?” They studied each other, unspeaking and unmoving, sparks flying like electric bullets between the two. Stressed by the reminiscent scent of her shampoo and the sound of her quick breaths, Shane toyed with the idea of striding across the room and possessing the very lips that scowled at him with rage, tempted to see her dangerous expression shatter to something sweeter. One of the most admirable traits about Rose’s work was that when running into an obstacle, she never backed down, so he wasn’t surprised that she stepped toward him with her chest heaving and her fists strong at her sides. “You think I’m scared of you, Shane?” “Yes.” His answer was immediate, and because Shane wasn’t one to lie, it was his honest opinion. Denial was the game she’d been playing ever since she’d stomped those stiletto-clad feet through his office. “You’re scared of your feelings for me.” She narrowed her eyes to resemble fine cuts of emerald. “What the hell are you talking about?” “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” He stepped closer. Her hair waved around her shoulders as she laughed. “He’s delusional,” she said to the room then turned back to him with a straight face. “You’re delusional. I’m your boss.” His patience threatened to crack as his annoyance built brick by brick. “You’re my boss, are you?” It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her how wrong she was. Before he could speak, she countered, “Yeah, I am.” Raising her chin, she was the most tempting woman Shane had ever met. “And you’ll do well to remember who is in charge here.” Shane laughed and it was as harsh as hers had sounded. That was it. He was going crazy. Hell, maybe he was already locked up in a loony bin somewhere having hallucinations of Miss Karma coming off her high throne and down to Earth to make his life a living nightmare. “God”—his voice was sharper than a knife—“is your sole purpose of working here to drive me insane? Because, if so, I’d say you’ve earned employee of the month.” “You can go to hell, Shane.” “I’m already there, sugar.” She held her head in a condescending fashion. “You’re intimidated because your boss is a woman. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve dealt with—” “I’m not intimidated by you, Rose.” It came from between his teeth. “I’m...” attracted to you and your feisty fucking mouth that’d look so much better opening around my cock than opening to yell at me. It was probably best to keep that part to himself. “You just piss me off.” “As long as I’m doing my job and you’re doing yours”—she hit Shane with her pointer finger, digging it right into his chest bone—“I don’t give a crap how much I piss you off.” He lowered his eyes to her hand, noticing how close they’d gotten. When had that happened? Wetting his lips, Shane glanced down at hers. Her mouth was calling to him, those thick pink lips begging to be sucked. Lowering his gaze even farther, Shane was burdened with the image of him on his knees, his mouth working between another step of lips. She cleared her throat, making him transition his eyes back to her face. “We’ve things we need to do. I’ve got to get in touch with a couple of New York organizers to see if Moreno—” “Sugar.” How could she not feel this? “We have to come up with a dialogue—” He placed one of his hands on her torso, the other he raised, allowing the side of his index finger to catch her right under the chin, so he could bring her face to his. What am I thinking? Well, he wasn’t. That was the point. He wanted to stop thinking. He wanted her to stop thinking. “I need to set up a meeting for us with—” Shivering, her voice copied her body. Working with Rose was burdensome for him and not because of the way she worked— the woman was a champion in the office—but because he didn’t want to be under her, he wanted her under him--a flower spread above his sheets. She was the sexiest woman, made more alluring by watching her work. He loved the way she got that concentrated look on her face and how she’d chew on the end of her pen, all cute, when she was thinking about a challenging task. When she found the solution, her eyes lit brighter than the North Star. Shane laid his parted lips on the edge of her jaw, hearing Rose suck in air like it was water she’d wither without. How was he expected to behave when she responded to him like that?
Lauren goes by the pen name L.T. Shade and lives in Miami, FL. She loves black coffee and sexy heroes. Not exactly in that order. Nothing makes Lauren happier than writing, or reading, about strong and capable heroines and their happily ever after’s.
When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading, overdosing on Cuban coffee, interning as a book publicist and hanging out with her amazing family and her American Cocker Spaniel, Princess Albie. Author Links: WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Let the Atlantic Hustlers heat up your night!
ICED
An Atlantic City Hustlers Boxset
Veronica Forand & Susan Scott Shelley
Releasing March 6th, 2017
Entangled Lovestruck
FLIRTING ON ICE
When a sexy, forbidden spark blazes to life between professional hockey player Zac Elliott and the team owner's daughter, he's willing to risk being benched to have her. Their relationship is deeply passionate and intensely private...until the press catches them in the act. The only way out of the penalty box is for Zac to play hockey like life--and love--depends on it... SIMMERING ICE Physical therapist Annie Davidson is great at her job but unlucky when it comes to love. All she can do is focus on work...that is until she runs into professional hockey player Alec O'Meara. Alec likes to keep things loose on and off the ice, but the red-headed Annie challenges his beliefs and makes him think about taking their relationship to the net...
Veronica Forand is an attorney and an award-winning writer of romantic suspense. She's lived in Boston, London, Paris, Geneva, and Washington, DC and currently resides near Philadelphia. An avid traveler, she loves to roam across continents with her husband and kids in pursuit of skiing, scuba diving, and finding the perfect piece of chocolate.
Susan Scott Shelley is an award-winning author of contemporary romance. For as long as she can remember, she has been in love with Love and all the sweeping grand gestures, heart-sighing moments, and quiet comforts it entails. In addition to writing romances, she is also professional voiceover artist and enjoys lending her voice to a wide range of projects. Her favorite things include running, sports, hard rock and old Hollywood movies. An unapologetic optimist, she believes life should be lived with laughter and a sense of wonder. She currently resides outside Philadelphia with her very own Superhero and spends her days writing about tough heroes, smart heroines, and love being the strongest magic there is. Susan is represented by Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency.
A BABY ON THE WAY
A secret, no-strings relationship with Aaron Travers has suited Melody Hartman just fine for the past eight months. The lives of the Mustang Valley veterinarian and the deputy sheriff have always been complicated--and are about to become more so, because Mel is pregnant! Raising his toddler daughter and protecting his Arizona town are Aaron's priorities. But this unexpected pregnancy is a life changer. The widowed single dad is ready to do the right thing and marry Mel. Can he say the three words she is waiting to hear? Will she think he wants to marry her only because of the baby? Or will she acknowledge that their feelings for each other run deeper than either of them realized?
This is a different kind of romance story, more realistic and modern type, with a secret affair and a baby on the way. There's also added family drama on both sides and horse thefts to be solved, giving definitely enough trouble and apprehension to built a great plot around.
Both of the main characters had depth and maturity, they were likable and easy to relate to. I saw and understood the thought process both of them had with their decisions. Of course, with all their smarts and talents, communication with each other wasn't one, giving frustrated moments while reading the tale. Aaron Travers was a grieving widow, and a father of a little girl, whose former mother in law lived in his household. Aaron is a straightforward character, you get what you see: a smart, caring, confident, hard-working, loyal, family man with traditional values. He is protective of those he love, he stands up to his responsibility and wants to do the right thing if it is a possibility. Who wouldn't love a man like that?! Melody Hartman is the town vet. She lost her mother at the young age, but her father stepped up and did his best to his girls. To find out they had a sister no one knew about was a shock, and suddenly Melody's life was mirroring too much of her father's past. Melody is a stubborn, caring, tough woman who can hold her own, yet she has a sensitive and romantic side she is now discovering herself at the age of 30. The connection between Melody (Mel) and Aaron was obvious, the chemistry tangible, impossible not to notice if around them. And this story was a good step from the norm, as they already knew each other, they already had a relationship of a sort, now everything was just about to change drastically and abundantly. The story has a lot of scenes and events from the town and happenings around the characters. the supporting cast is large in numbers, and they were helpful to move the plot forward and added a great deal to events of the novel. Overall this was an entertaining tale, a realistic look at a love story at the most anxious time in the relationship when everything is twisting and turning and changing at the same time, when it is a risk to open up your heart as you don't know where you stand with the other, and getting hurt is the option you really don't want to live with. ~ Four Spoons
THE WRONG TARGET
When Trinity Miller's attacked by a man who mistakenly believes she's Mason Gains's girlfriend, the reclusive prosthetic maker is forced from seclusion to rescue her. And he soon learns someone's determined to get information on one of his clients--information they're willing to kill for. Now the former army pilot has to find a way to take down the men on their trail...and make sure Trinity survives. When Trinity arrived at Mason's isolated home to convince him to help her friend's son, her plans didn't include going on the run with him. But Trinity must work with Mason to outwit their pursuers...or risk losing both their lives.
From the very start of the story, the author paints a picture from the horror movies and worst nightmares, bringing up the tension high, and the fear factor aloft. The eerie, dark forest road, with no one around, late at night, raining, and a woman driving alone to an unsure destination... The creepy and morbid scene just escalates, the danger imminent, the events just adding to the peril Trinity Miller is in making the story addictive.
The suspense and action in the story are straightforward, constant, and deadly. Even though the main culprit isn't known, the characters themselves are pretty much clued into the reasons and motivations behind the attacks. Trinity Miller is a fun character, I really liked her. She is at a crossroads with her life. The future she had planned and hoped for didn't work out, her disappointing former relationship gave her a restless mind and made her evaluate her life goals, seeking God's guidance with her future. She has a great sense of humor, she is resilient, kind, caring, with a deep sense of loyalty. Even though she kept acting without thinking, getting her into trouble, she also was able to think under duress and get herself out of the hurdles as well. Mason Gains has chosen to live in the secluded house, on the outskirts of the small town. The pain from the past, the losses he had faced, and the betrayals he had encountered had guided his desire to keep at the distance of the most in the society, teaching him to only trust in God at the moment of uncertainty. But he wasn't an unpleasant character, quite the opposite. Deep down he was very much like Trinity, with the loyalty, kindness, caring, and toughness, and a great sense of humor. His nearly instant attraction to Trinity was endearing, he wasn't about to hide it, and he was willing to do anything to keep her safe and out of harm's way. The riveting action with the danger and fear created a spellbinding vacuum that clued me into my kindle. Adding to that the budding sweet and tender feelings between the hero and heroine, the loyalty of friends and family, and the unexpected humorous moments that had me cracking up at the dodgiest times made this book unputdownable for me, reading till the dawn. I really do enjoy this author's writing, she gets me every single time! ~ Five Spoons
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