The Rylands of Silver Creek are back and hungry for justice in USA TODAY bestselling author Delores Fossen's latest heart-stopping suspense!
After returning home to investigate a brutal murder, Detective Landon Ryland is shocked to learn the body was discovered in the home of Tessa Sinclair, a woman he once knew intimately. Seeing Tessa again is like a jolt to his heart. Too bad the beautiful brunette has no idea who she is—or why she's cradling a newborn. With evidence pointing toward Tessa and the baby being next on the killer's hit list, Landon refuses to leave their safety in anyone else's hands. Or admit that losing them would permanently destroy the future he secretly envisioned.
With explosive action, intense suspense, and ardent attraction this story deliver a breathtaking thrill ride with constant threat and danger, one life or death situation after another, demanding attention and delivering all-out menace.
When a story takes a hold of you and your thoughts so that it comes to your dreams, and causes nightmares, that's some seriously fierce and powerful writing. This story delivers it on all fronts. The suspense is perilous and deadly with new unexpected twists on every corner. The action is crimson and gory, and not even the members of the family are saved from it. From the beginning, the tension is high and danger imminent. There are multiple culprits, some more obvious than others, yet the main questions of who and why are holding the jitters and mistrust till the end. The air around Landon and Tessa is crackling, there's so much sexual tension between them, it is palpable. The past misunderstandings, the hurt, and disappointments are quickly cleared out, but the threat to Tessa's life is real and serious, and there's no time to wonder about the feelings when the bullets are flying and explosions hammering the town. Never the less, when the time comes to face the truth about each other, and how much they care, both of them has to step on the plate and to accept the emotions and passion burning in between them. I love it when finishing a story I feel the adrenaline rush, all breathless, and excited because of the wild ride the tale gave. And that's exactly what this story delivers, with a great flood of energy and surge of vitality the roll-a-coaster ride of deadly encounters and swoon-worthy lovers made me want to roar with delight ~ Five Spoons!
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Making the Play
Hidden Falls #1 By: T.J. Kline Releasing September 27, 2016 Avon Impulse
Grant McQuaid has dedicated his entire life to his football career. Now an injury threatens his place on the team and he’s forced to return home to rehabilitate. But when he meets his “biggest fan,” a precocious, blue-eyed, hearing impaired boy named James—and his beautiful mother, Bethany—Grant begins to question whether football is the future he still wants.
Bethany Mills has been doing just fine since her husband walked out on them… and she definitely doesn’t need another man to disappoint her—or her son. But when James runs into his hero at the park, Bethany admits there is a void in her son’s life that she just can’t fill. Her attraction to the handsome football star is undeniable, but a man in the limelight is the last thing she wants for herself, or James. Grant doesn’t want to subject Bethany to the chaos of dating a professional athlete. But the more time he spends with her and James, the harder it is to resist making a play for her heart…
A delightful and engaging story about new beginnings in life, new chances, about football, family, and love in a small town USA.
Young hearing impaired James gave such a rich nuance to the tale with his braveness, and ability to face the adversity in life. He is sweet, adorable, and smart, and stole the show completely. The love, respect, and caring that is developing between James and Grant was mutual, with a little hero worship mixed in. I loved watching those two find their way to each other's hearts and become the unit they were. And Grant was as easy to love as James. They were so much alike, even though they weren't biological father and son. He was charming, caring, protective, and fun. He showed his tender and vulnerable side with no shame, and when he asked Bethany to be careful with his heart if she wasn't in it for good because he was falling hard - I did as well, fall hard for him. Bethany, her I struggled with. I felt like she was hindering her son to be himself, by the overflowing protectiveness. And I understood her issues with trust, to the point, but her ability to think that it was all about her, when Grant wanted to spent time with James, that went too far for me, since it happens again and again. It just got awkward when she kept thinking Grant was using James to get to her. The story wasn't glorifying the professional football players lifestyle but painted a realistic and believable picture of it. I really liked that Grant wasn't made into a millionaire ballplayer, but one with realistic concerns when career might come to the end. I am not a fan in general of a third person drama, or the main characters dating others after the initial attraction. So that aspect of the storyline got me to wince. It wasn't anything major, but I got the impression that the games Grant and Bethany were playing hurt a third person in the process. The feelings between Grant and Bethany were developing fast and furious. I didn't even realize how little time had passed until it was mentioned in the story that they met only seven days ago. But the storyline is built in such way that at the end I was happily swooning and completely thrilled for the characters, believing in them and in their love for each other, and cheering them on. I truly enjoy the author's voice, the way the stories flow, move, and develop. The love and passion are always fierce, and your emotions get involved as the stories progress. This story was a great setup for the new series, that I will look forward to following. ~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Grant waited at his car for Bethany and James to finish up inside the classroom. He’d spent the rest of lunch recess entertaining nearly forty kids who’d come running over when they realized James knew a professional football player. The smile that lit James’ face when he introduced Grant had been well worth the discomfort he’d faced trying to explain why he was at the school to Bethany.
He couldn’t blame her for being standoffish with him when she first saw him there. What kind of weirdo showed up at your job the day after you told him to take a hike? But something had shifted in her today. He’d seen it in her eyes when he tried to explain why he’d come. Enough that he was willing to push his luck and see if she wasn’t up for having ice cream today. Grant saw her heading toward her older model sedan in the school parking lot, juggling an armload of books, papers and teaching supplies. James wore a small backpack with a cartoon character he didn’t recognize on his little shoulders but Bethany carried an overfilled tote bag that had to weigh more than she did. “Hey! Here, let me get that for you.” He hurried to her side, sliding the bag from her shoulder. Apprehension colored her hazel eyes and, for a moment, he wondered if she wasn’t going to tell him to leave again. Instead, she unlocked her car. Grant wasn’t sure if he should ask but knew it would look far more suspicious if he didn’t now. “What are you guys up to? I thought maybe I could convince you to get that ice cream today.” James’ face brightened and he looked up at his mother. “Can we?” Bethany bit her lower lip. “We can’t.” Grant tried not to take the second rejection to heart and nodded in understanding. “Our downstairs toilet broke this morning and I had to turn it off. Now I’ve got to run to the store for the part and figure out how to fix it,” she explained. Relief he hadn’t expected coursed through him. Maybe she wasn’t shooting him down after all. He let the corner of his mouth tip up playfully. “Ms. Mills, that sort of sounds like a load of C-R-A-P,” he spelled, laughing at his bad pun. Her eyes widened but she smiled at his audacity. “Mr. McQuaid,” she scolded. James giggled beside her and Grant immediately realized his mistake. “Mom, he spelled a bad word.” “How did he . . . never mind. I should have known this genius could spell that,” Grant said, trying not to laugh. “How about if I help you fix your toilet?” She popped open the truck, indicating that he should set her bag inside. “You want to fix my toilet?” Bethany crossed her arms and leaned a hip against the side of the car as she closed the trunk. “Really? That’s the line you want to go with?” Grant shrugged but the smile never left his lips. What was it about this woman and her kid that made him feel so comfortably at ease? He hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long time. She made it easy for him to forget about his injury, the pressure of his upcoming training camp and his possible job loss. “What do you say, little man? You think between the two of us men, we can fix the toilet for your mom?” “Yes!” he yelled cheerfully. James climbed into the back seat of the car and buckled himself into his booster seat. “I’ll meet you at the hardware store.” Grant turned to walk back to his car. “I’m not going to get rid of you, am I?” Grant paused and looked back over his shoulder at her. “Why would you want to?” he asked with a wink and jogged the rest of the way back to his car.
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T. J. Kline was raised competing in rodeos and Rodeo Queen competitions since the age of 14 and has thorough knowledge of the sport as well as the culture involved. She writes contemporary western romance for Avon Romance, including the Rodeo series and the Healing Harts series. She has published a nonfiction health book and two inspirational fiction titles under the name Tina Klinesmith. In her very limited spare time, T.J. can be found laughing hysterically with her husband, children, and their menagerie of pets in Northern California.
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When a Marquess Loves a Woman
Season's Original #3 By: Vivienne Lorret Released Oct 4th, 2016 Avon Impulse
As a young, penniless gentleman, Maxwell Harwick knew he had little to offer Juliet White—the most beautiful debutante of the season—except his love, and one thoroughly scandalous kiss. But when they were discovered in a compromising position, a nearly ruined Juliet fled into the arms of a rich, older lord... taking Max’s heart with her.
Now a widow, Lady Juliet Granworth intends to use the fortune she inherited from her odious husband to build a new life in London. Five years have passed, but she’s never forgotten Max… or his soul-searing kiss. Yet it’s clear the newly-minted Marquess of Thayne has not forgiven her—after all, the infuriating man can barely stand the sight of her. But Juliet has endured far too much to give up without a fight and if it’s a battle of wills he wants, it’s a battle he’ll get. He hates her for breaking his heart. She detests him for destroying her future. But beneath all the loathing, simmers an intoxicating passion that neither can ignore… and the harder they resist, the harder they will inevitably fall.
He spread his arms out in a shrug, cakes in one hand, walking stick in the other. “Now, as you can see, I am utterly helpless”—he paused at the sound of her scoff—“and unable to taste the cake that you offered to feed me.”
“I made no such offer.” “Then I cannot think of what I heard moments ago unless . . .”—he lowered his voice—“you were flirting with me. But you, the ever-composed Lady Granworth, would never do such a thing.” He wanted to see her color rise, her ire flash, anything. Damn it all, he needed to ruffle her feathers and crawl under her skin. It was the least she owed him. “I would not even know how to flirt,” she boldly lied and without batting an eye. Wasn’t every nuance of flirtation woven into her being? Every downward sweep of her lashes. Every subtle curl of her lips. Every slash of her tongue. Every single breath! “Oh, I’m certain that is a false statement,” he said, keeping his tone smooth and even. “All you have to do is admit to flirting with me, and I’ll be on my way.” “I. Admit. Nothing.” He held out his hand. “Then feed me a cake.” She stepped forward so suddenly she nearly startled him in the process. “Fine.” The crisply enunciated word tolled a warning bell within him, advising caution. He had anticipated their continued banter and even her eventual retreat, but not her acquiescence. Instinct told him to be wary. And yet curiosity fixed him to the spot. Lifting her hand, she slipped the serviette into her delicate palm, the edges draping over fingers. He stared, paying close attention to every movement, noting how her lace mitts left the entire length of her slender fingers exposed. No doubt, like her dress, they were designed for a purpose, bringing to mind thoughts of bared limbs. Then, with a delicate pinch of her thumb and forefinger, she picked up the first cake. Anticipation thundered in his chest, neck, and ears simultaneously. She could still balk. Still storm off in a flurry. He was prepared for such a response but no longer assured of it. Perhaps challenging her wasn’t the best idea after all. His gaze shifted from the cake to her eyes, over and again. Her gaze, on the other hand, remained fixed to his as she slowly lifted the cake-- And popped it into her mouth. Then she closed her eyes, a smile curving her lips, while emitting a low murmur of sensual delight. Max couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t move if someone were to set him on fire. The pulse that had pounded so hard an instant ago abruptly dropped to his trousers, banging like a drum as blood engorged his flesh. The tip of her pert tongue slipped out to tease him further. The taunt transformed into torture when she licked the pink icing from her fingertip and then her thumb. When she finished, her eyes opened, the blue a brighter, deeper hue than the sky overhead. He found himself unable to look away. “Delicious,” she purred. “So good in fact that I think I’ll have another.” She pinched the second cake, her lips parted. But before she could lift it to her mouth—before he knew what he was doing—he seized her wrist. He was half-tempted, half-wild with the need to kiss her, to lose himself in the silken texture of her lips once more. To haul her into his arms and feel the curves of her body with his hands. It took every shred of control he possessed not to give in. At least, not completely. Watching her all the while, he lowered his head and took the cake into his mouth. He swallowed it without fanfare or appreciation. The dessert he really wanted was still waiting. He slipped her finger into his mouth next, the dainty pad at the tip more silken and sweet than marzipan. In slow, searching swipes, he laved her flesh, mapping the route of every fine impression, wicking away every last bit of icing. He would have stopped if he was frightening her. Hell, he was startled by his own actions. But when he saw her pupils dilate, her gaze drifting down to his mouth, and then heard the quickening of her breath, he knew she was not afraid of him. She was one of two things—either wholly, explosively angry or . . . wholly, explosively aroused. And since he’d been the recipient of her temper before, he wagered it was the latter. A surge of triumph merged with the unleashed desire coursing through him. She could pretend she was cool-headed and aloof all she wanted, but he knew better. Five years ago, that same passion had slipped through the cracks in her composure. He wanted more. Greedy, he curled his tongue around her, drawing her flesh deeper, and gently grazing the delicate furrows of her knuckle with his teeth. “Max.” His name shuddered out of her lungs and past her lips, sending a tremor through him. Yet the tinge of vulnerability in her passion-laden plea swiftly brought him to his senses. With a quick tug, he pulled her closer. Still holding his walking stick, he touched the handle beneath her chin and tilted it up. “Perhaps you should reconsider flirting with your enemy in the future.”
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USA Today bestselling author, VIVIENNE LORRET loves romance novels, her pink laptop, her husband, and her two sons (not necessarily in that order … but there are days). Transforming copious amounts of tea into words, she is an Avon Impulse author of works including: Tempting Mr. Weatherstone, The Wallflower Wedding Series, The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series, The Duke’s Christmas Wish, and the Season’s Original Series.
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Dog Tags for Christmas
By: Lindsay McKenna, J.M. Madden and KaLyn Cooper Releasing October 6, 2016 Blue Turtle Publishing
Men and women in the armed forces are often away from home, family and their beloved pets for the holidays.
But this year, three service members will be home for Christmas in heartwarming military homecoming stories by New York Times Bestselling Authors Lindsay McKenna, KaLyn Cooper and J.M. Madden.
Snowflake’s Gift by Lindsay McKenna
Two veterans—one human, one canine—have returned to Montana to recover from the traumas of war. Former Army Ranger Nick Conway depended on his WMD dog Snowflake to help him navigate IEDs on the battlefield. Now he needs his best friend to help him cope with his PTSD and acclimate to civilian life. When he meets Holly McGuire and agrees to help her deliver meals to the elderly, her inner light calls to him, but his demons hold him back from giving in to his attraction. But Snowflake takes an immediate shine to the kindhearted Holly—and he has never led Nick down the wrong path.
SEAL's Christmas Dream by J.M. Madden
When Veterinarian Willow James' office is broken into, it's natural that she turn to her soul mate, former Navy SEAL K9 handler Joe Flynn, to track down the culprits. The trail leads to a notorious Pit-Bull fighting ring. It may take a Christmas miracle and a helpful nudge from an old partner to get everyone home safely.
Noel's Puppy Power by KaLyn Cooper
Tanner Hill is better at communicating with animals than women. That might be why he hasn’t had a second date in over two years. He’s also been extremely busy with his kennel that has become the premier training facility, specializing in supplying dogs to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Then again, there is this psychologist he can’t get out of his head, or his heart. Dr. Bailey Conrad would never allow the loss of half her right leg to an IED in Iraq to stop her. Every day at the VA hospital, she sees patients who have lost so much more to the war effort. It’s her goal in life to help as many vets as possible to find a 'new normal', because she knows firsthand, it’s the internal scars that can be the most difficult to heal.
Excerpt from SEAL’s Christmas Dream by J.M. Madden
Willow sighed when she heard Sue’s voice call out that Flynn had just pulled in. They had just gotten caught up on their schedule and now whatever animal he’d brought in would probably throw them off again. Well, shoot. Running her hand over her belly she smoothed her shirt. It didn’t matter what she looked like right now—considering he was probably bringing in an emergency—but she always wanted to be pretty for him, and six months after having the baby it was a little harder. Between running around like a chicken with her head cut off keeping her business running, taking care of little Raven and trying to be a present wife, she was run ragged. Automatically, she smiled when Flynn walked in the door. Her big, handsome husband still had his shades on, but when he looked at her his hard, bearded face softened into a smile. That small connection had only gotten stronger in the time they’d been together, and she truly cherished it. Maya, the mixed breed German Shepherd mutt paced around him, prancing anxiously. Willow’s gaze fell to the towel wrapped bundle in his arms. A black nose peeked out of the folds. “You brought me a raccoon?” she asked incredulously. Flynn flashed her an even broader grin and leaned over for a quick kiss. Willow wanted to linger but forced herself to pull away. She looked down at the animal. Flynn turned the bundle until he could show her the back end. “Looks like he’s been hit by a car, maybe. I chased him across three lanes of traffic before I could catch him.” She scowled at the knowledge. “You be careful doing that. Denver drivers can be crazy.” Reaching out she probed at the hanging back leg. “Yes. I would say you’re right. I'll dose him up with pain medication and splint this leg, then we can call the wildlife rehab center to come pick him up. They have their own vet that specializes in exotic animals. He doesn’t look very old so he should recover fairly well as long as he gets this fixed soon.” Flynn nodded, manipulating the animal as she needed him moved. When she glanced up she realized he’d been staring at her for several long moments. “What?” she asked defensively. He’d shoved his shades to the top of his head. His dark gray eyes were lit with wonderful softness. “Nothing. I’m just peeking down your shirt. I can’t believe how beautiful you are.” Willow grinned up at the love of her life. A year ago she never would have imagined she could be in this position, but things had seriously changed. Flynn had gone from a frequent client in her veterinarian’s office bringing her strays to her hero then her soulmate. He was everything she could imagine having. And he’d already become the amazing father she had imagined him to be. The raccoon fought a little, trying to get free, but Flynn restrained him like a professional, biceps pumped. Willow worked quickly, giving the animal a light sedation before lightly splinting the back leg. Then she let Flynn carry the animal to one of the portable carriers in back.
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Lindsay McKenna lives her life as a risk taker, and it shines through the books she loves to write: romance, adventure and suspense. She started writing at age thirteen and continues to hone her writing skills to this day. She sold her first romance novel in 1981. The rest is history.
Because she went into the military, this experience became the backbone of her writing—she is credited with writing the first military romance novel (Captive of Fate, 1983, Silhouette Special Edition) and has created a thriving sub-genre within the romance field! As a New York Times Best Selling author, she has sold 23 million books and in 32 foreign languages in her career thus far. Her many experiences in the U.S. Navy are backdrop for her understanding of the military in general, and also her very successful Morgan’s Mercenaries, which is an ongoing series in Silhouette to this day! Forty-five books strong! Lindsay has gone Indie in 2015 and has created a new family saga on par with Morgan’s Mercenaries It is known as the DELOS SERIES. There will be paperback and eBooks created under Blue Turtle Publishing, her company for her fans. Readers who love Morgan and his family are bound to fall in love with the Culver family. Delos is romantic suspense, which Lindsay is well known for. It took her five years to create and bring DELOS to her readers. It was worth the wait, but we’ll let you decide that. Lindsay loves to hear from her readers and loves to know what they’d like to see her write next. Stay up with the latest on the Delos Series here. Please visit her Website at www.lindsaymckenna.com. And be sure to sign up for her free quarterly newsletter. It contains exclusive content found nowhere else on the Net. Plus, giveaways and other surprises, to her loyal and faithful subscribers! Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. J.M. (the J stands for Jennifer, not Jim as she’s been asked MANY times!) loves any and all good love stories, most particularly her own. She has two beautiful children and a husband who always keeps her on her toes.
J.M. was a Deputy Sheriff in Ohio for nine years, until hubby moved the clan to Kentucky. When not chasing the family around, she’s at the computer, reading and writing, perfecting her craft. She occasionally takes breaks to feed her animal horde and is trying to control her office-supply addiction, but both tasks are uphill battles. Happily, she is writing full-time and always has several projects in the works. She also dearly loves to hear from readers! Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
KaLyn Cooper’s romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense.
Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination. She, her husband, and bird dog live in Eastern Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she’s not writing, she’s at the shooting range or paddling on the river. Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
If she has her way ...
Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her ... He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking. Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him ... Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice ... Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work ...
Luscious, good-humored, and seductive story of friends, lovers, furry nightmares, one Christmas, and events that contribute to several lives changed.
This was a fun story, light and easy to read. It was a very basic romance, with lots of humorous banter, pop-culture references, and popular topics from today's world putting a time-stamp on it. I don't know if there was a too much of a try to be hip, with hashtags, Instagram references, a favorite baker Tina who used to be Tim, a heroine who has tried a lesbian relationship etc. It didn't all feel completely natural, and that made me think there's too much trying. Keane and Willa were both characters that were not open to, and able to, fall in love- I know, my big pet peeve. Those back and forth games and mixed signals that they were both sending through the tale started to be frustrating. They both had a package they carried, rather heavy in fact and reasons for their behavior, but I grew tired of it, and the excuses Willa was giving. There was the set up for a much more in-depth story, richer content, and hints of possibilities with side roads the story could have taken, but those detours were cruised by with high speed. And don't get me wrong, it is a good, steamy, humorous tale. If I didn't get emotionally involved, I was engaged enough to read it through, and it did make me smile several times. I am sure I'm in a minority when I say it didn't light up my Christmas lights, and I accept that. Pita completely stole the show, and I know the cat loving romance readers are going to fall for the adorable, nightmare of a cat, or a queen, as well. A fun story, with tons of Christmas decorations, loyal friends who always have your back and are ready to banter with you, a homeless person selling pot as mistletoe, and two people learning about love, life, and forever under the Christmas lights ~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side “You want to come upstairs, Willa?” What she wanted was to put her hands back on his chest now that she knew it was as hard as it looked. Instead she gripped either side of her seat with white knuckles. “Of course not.” “I think you do. I think you want something else too.” “What I want,” she said as coolly as she could, “is dinner as promised.” “Liar,” he chided softly. “Well that’s just rude, calling your date a liar.” “So it is a date.” His tone was very male and very smug. It should’ve pissed her off but instead it did something hot and erotic to her insides. Clearly knowing it, he smiled at her and then dragged his teeth over his lower lip as he contemplated her. Gah. She wanted to do that. And she wanted to do more too. She wanted him shockingly badly and suddenly she couldn’t remember why she shouldn’t. She tried to access her thought processes on the subject but her brain hiccupped and froze. Which surely was the only reason she let go of the death grip on her seat, slid her fingers into his hair, and . . . brushed her mouth over his. He didn’t move, not a single muscle, but when she pulled back, his eyes had gone dark as night, piercing her with their intensity. “Don’t read that the wrong way,” she whispered. “Is there a wrong way to take it when a beautiful woman kisses you?”
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New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Jill Shalvis' Social Links: Website Facebook Twitter
Since You've Been Gone
By Lisa Dyer Genre: Contemporary Romance
Together Forever...
until the day Abigail dumped Hal, after he left for university, back in 1983. Hal was so devastated that he went home less and less until, in the end, he didn't go home at all. And he never got over her, even after he married the wealthy Julienne. Their marriage was doomed from the start; it was just a case of who caved in first. Abigail had a secret; one she had kept from Hal, and it had defined her life for fifteen years. She was glad he never came back to learn it. That was all about to change. Hal was on his way home. Nothing would ever be the same again...
In the beginning...
…there was Hal and Abigail and they should have lived happily ever after… everything in their story shouted that to the world. Hal’s mother knew it. Their friends had no doubt about it. Hal and Abigail were the perfect pair. Having grown up together from infancy, there were no secrets, no hidden agendas; just love. All that was missing were the church bells and the first flat with the second-hand furniture and the gas fire that didn’t work, and even that would be okay because they’d cuddle up in bed to keep warm until summer. Then Hal blew it all wide open by getting a conditional offer to study at Cambridge – in the Department of Veterinarian Medicine. To be honest, it was a total shock to everyone, but most of all to Abigail. She had supported his idea to apply, but had secretly thought that he would be out of his depth and have second thoughts. He didn’t. It was all he thought about and planned for. He locked himself away in his bedroom to study, and suddenly two people, who had been inseparable from the first moment they had met, were wrenched apart. Hal’s mother, Diana clucked about nothing else; anybody would think he was marrying into royalty. Anyone foolish enough to ask, ‘How’s the family, Di?’ soon found themselves wishing they’d kept their mouths shut. Hal and Abigail limped through the spring, and dragged themselves into the summer. His hard work paid off and he attained the required grades then received positive confirmation that, come the autumn, he would be going up to Cambridge. There was one last night, camped down at the Bay, Hal on his guitar and the old crowd avoiding talking about what was happening, as if by doing so it may go away. And that was it. The beginning of the end of Hal Bartlett and Abigail Markham. Except, for Abigail it was the start of something new, something so big, so life changing – and its outcome would resonate down the years…
Born and raised in the town of Dover in Kent, Lisa chose to make the protagonist of her debut novel a fictional contemporary and set Dover as Hal's home town. She weaves into the story of Hal's homecoming her own memories of the town she left in 2000. Since You've Been Gone was adapted from a feature script of the same name which was nominated to go into competition in the 2011 BAFTA/Rocliffe New Writers Forum.
Aside from writing, Lisa enjoys history, museums, historic houses and punk music. Amazon Facebook Twitter Goodreads
WILD RIDE
By Julie Ann Walker Book Nine in the Black Knights Inc. series
The hero we've all been waiting for...
Ethan "Ozzie" Sykes Former Navy SEAL Underground operator for Black Knights Inc., the covert government defense firm disguised as a custom motorcycle shop. In a black-on-black international mission that went seriously sideways, Ozzie was badly injured—now he's stuck at BKI headquarters in Chicago, champing at the bit to get out into the field again. To his disgust, he's tasked with distracting Chicago Tribune ace reporter Samantha Tate, who's been trying to dig up the dirt on BKI for years. Turns out Samantha's beauty, intelligence and sense of humor are a seriously big distraction, and Ozzie's losing his desire to keep her at bay. Ozzie's tired of hiding, and Samantha may be the best-and worst—person to share his secrets with...
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Julie grew up in a house full of women – she has three older sisters. As you can imagine, there was no lack of drama… or romance. Her mother enrolled her in a book club as soon as she began to read and it was the small spark that ignited her voracious appetite for the written word. Because of Julie’s early immersion in literature, she found writing came quite naturally. In high school, she won multiple writing contests and was the proud senior editor of The Tiger’s Tale – her school newspaper. During her college years, however, she longed for a challenge. “Reading and writing felt like second nature to me, so I looked for a way to flex my mental muscles,” she recalls. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, Julie began teaching advanced high school mathematics. “I loved working with the students and facing the challenges of the classroom, but I longed for the occasional snow day when I could race to the local book store, buy two or three new novels, and curl up in front of the fire to read.” It wasn’t until a fortuitous move to Chicago that Julie once more returned to her first passion. “Thankfully, my husband – my own personal hero – encouraged my decision to write full time.” Now Julie lives on beautiful Lake Shore Drive with a view that sometimes competes with her deadlines. When she’s not writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, cycling, cooking, travel, and…reading, of course!
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A Story of Noelle
Devil’s Bliss #1 By: Mika Lane Releasing October 11th, 2016 Self-Published
A story of Noelle. The first novella in the Devi’s Bliss series by Mika Lane, writer of hot, sexy romance.
Noelle Berry is going places. She’s an in-demand sensual massage therapist at the famed Devi’s Bliss spa just outside San Francisco, nestled among the breath-taking redwoods of Marin County. She’s got a long-term plan to open her own business, which will set her up for life and give her the security she never knew growing up. But there’s one problem. Mikey. Her kid brother. Charming. Clever. Cute. But always in trouble. To get him out of the home they grew up in, Noelle became Mikey’s guardian. But so far her good example has failed to teach him anything. Not responsibility, not ambition, not good judgment. But when Mr. R comes to Devi’s Bliss for a massage, things seem like they might be turning a corner. Not only is he devastatingly handsome, he also wants to help her realize her dream. Right away. He even has a plan for Mikey. But can Noelle leave her past behind and trust him? Can she let him prove he’s different from the man in her life who hurt her the most? Join Noelle in the Zen sexuality of Devi’s Bliss and fall down a rabbit hole of your own exquisite passion. Note: this novella is appropriate for ages 18+ due to language and sexual content. "Resistance was futile. This man was gorgeous, sexy, and he wanted her. But more importantly, she found herself craving his attentions, if only for an afternoon. There had been no lover like that in her life for far too long, and she hadn’t realized until now how empty that void had grown."
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Mika Lane has been writing since, well, before she could write. When she was six she dictated her first poem to her father and still has the poster board he wrote it on. In third grade she wrote her first book, The Day I Ate the Milkyway, which still sits on her bookshelves today in its faded construction paper cover. In fourth grade she won the essay contest sponsored by the local newspaper so many times they barred her from entering again. In college, the only time she got A’s was when she could write a paper.
In all its forms, writing has been a passion of hers since a young age, but erotic romance is what gives purpose to her days and nights. Mika lives in the magical and funky San Francisco Bay Area. A devotee of the intelligent, and beautiful, and lover of shiny things, she’s a yogi, hiker, traveler, thinker, observer, urbanite, and she has been known to drink cheap champagne. Author Links: Website | Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads
Sometimes getting lost is the best way home . . .
After a painful youth spent in foster homes, Special Forces soldier Edward Giordano has all but given up on love. Returning to New York from a dangerous mission in Costa Rica with no one to welcome him home, he knows he must find a way through his bitterness and embrace faith, or he’s destined for misery and loneliness. But he never expects that saving someone else’s life might help him save his own… Audra Lorenzo is a first-year school teacher with a bright future. All she’s missing is a man to share her happiness. Her father wants her to rekindle her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, but she can’t stop thinking about the handsome, kind, and courageous soldier who rescued her from a near-deadly car accident… Edward too, has not stopped not thinking of Audra. After making peace with God and with his difficult past, he’s ready to re-connect with her and reveal his feelings. Edward knows that opening his heart will mean risking pain, but he’s prepared for whatever comes—from a perilous deployment to Audra’s meddling father…
A gracious and affable story that lays heavily on Edward overcoming his hurtful abandonment and abuse as a child, accepting that he is worthy to be loved, and finding his way to God's grace.
The meet-cute for Edward and Audra was unique, filled with danger and harrowing events. From there, their relationship takes a very realistic tone and the timespan of the developing friendship and attraction to something more is well paced and sensible. It had just the right amount of conflict, a matter that came from outside, not something either of them was necessarily responsible for. Edward's personality isn't very admirable at the beginning. From the conversations with his friends, a clear picture is drawn of his shortcomings, his abrupt temper, and his agitation with people. I felt like his image was drawn with sharp edges to get the full turnaround of his nature, that is the main focus of the tale. I liked Edward and Audra, their personalities was well described, both of them complex and charismatic characters. There were some other characters that I wasn't very fond of, like Audra's father. He wasn't my favorite even before he made some poor choices. The military life Edward was living was given ample amount of attention. The camaraderie with his team was admirable, even though not without conflict and clash. Edward's struggle with his faith, belief in God, and ableness to accept and believe in love, overcome the past hurt, open up, trust, and have faith, hope for the future was agonizing. Before he finds peace in his mind, he manages to put everything he has worked for and gained in life in danger, by his misgivings and unease. The journey he takes has angst and setbacks like we have in real life, more dread and uneasiness than the budding romance between him and Audra. A compelling and engaging story about faith, love, and hope, with deeply felt Christian beliefs and values, military life, and meddling Italian family. A curious start to a new series ~ Four Spoons
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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. Website
Charge
Electric Series #1 By: E.L. Todd Releasing October 11, 2016 Self Published
White-hot, blinding, and dangerous.
That's exactly what Volt is. He's electric. The first time I met him, my body reacted. It coiled, sizzled, and sparked. I knew I wanted him because he was the first man to make me feel dead and alive at the exact same time. But within a short conversation, I knew he was unattainable. Unavailable. Now we're just friends. But will we stay friends?
Somehow, without even realizing it, Taylor became my friend.
When I first met her, I thought she was some awkward woman, and then I got to know her better and I wanted to have a one-night stand. But then she told me off and demanded the respect I didn’t give her. And boom! We were friends. I’d never had a friend that was a girl. There was always sex involved, and if sex couldn’t be had, there were some decent hand jobs. Natalie and I were friends, in a way. But I viewed her as Derek’s sister most of the time. After I got off work, I was walking to my apartment when Taylor texted me. The Muffin Girl. She usually sent me these cryptic text messages, and it was my job to figure out what she was trying to say. Now? She sent an emoji of a blueberry muffin. That wasn’t too complicated to decipher. On the way. She sent me a picture she took of herself. She was shoving the entire muffin into her mouth like a snake that was swallowing a mouse whole. I chuckled and typed a reply. Damn, that’s sexy. Then she sent me an emoji of a hand flipping me off. I laughed then shoved my phone into my pocket. I walked to the bakery and spotted her sitting outside at one of the picnic tables. She wore a long pink dress with a purple cardigan over it, her usual classroom attire. She looked like a stereotypical schoolteacher, classy but also a little nerdy. Her long brown hair was in curls and she wore a large sun hat to keep the sun out of her eyes. She looked like she belonged at the beach—minus the cardigan. “When you start a dating profile, you should make that picture as your profile picture.” “So no one will be interested in me?” “No one is going to be interested in you anyway.” She gave me a playful kick under the table. “What’s this?” I spotted the coffee and muffin on my side of the table. “I figured you didn’t want to wait in line.” “But how did you know I would come?” She shrugged. “You don’t have any friends besides me so what else would you be doing?” She made me smile bigger when I didn’t think it was possible. “Touché.”
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USA Today Bestselling Author, E. L. Todd is one of the most prolific authors of her genre, having published over a hundred novels. With over one million copies sold, she writes romance stories ranging from contemporary romance, new adult romance, and fantasy romance. She’s best known for her Forever and Always Series as well as her Timeless Series.
She loves coffee, ice cream, and anything with sugar. Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
It's a Fugly Life
Fugly #2 By: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff Releasing October 11, 2016 Self-Published
HE’S PERFECT FOR HER IN EVERY WAY, EXCEPT FOR ONE SMALL ISSUE. HE’S TOO LATE.
My name is Lily Snow. And I was once the kind of ugly that turned heads and made people stare. The worst part was how I let it ruin my life and destroy my relationship with the love of my life—Maxwell Cole, one of the sexiest, wealthiest, enigmatic men on the planet. All because I felt ugly and certainly not good enough for a man’s love. But not anymore. One car wreck, three reconstructive surgeries, and some unexpected money have changed my life. I’ve started my own company, I’ve finally learned to like myself—not love, but like (hey, it’s a journey)—and I’ve met a wonderful new man who’s helped me put Max in the past where he belongs. There’s only one problem: After six long months, Maxwell Cole is back, asking for the one thing I can’t give him. And he’s not taking no for an answer. NOTE: This is a continuation of the story FUGLY, but is a standalone.
Six Weeks Earlier
Today was huge. Huger than huge. Okay, it wasn’t really, but I needed to remind myself that the little milestones in life were as important as the champagne-worthy events. For example, just three months ago, I’d opened my very own boutique in downtown Santa Barbara. Think eclectic, handmade clothing and accessories, sort of like that one aisle at Whole Foods with the mishmash of tie-dyed scarves and hemp bracelets. Not my lifelong dream, but my products were made by women, for women, and I loved the idea of making money while helping people. After three months, I’d gotten the helping part down, but not the making-money part. Sales were the pits, and I’d already received notice of a rent increase at the end of the year. You’ll figure it out, Lily. You always do. I drew a happy face on the puppies and kittens calendar stuck to the wall behind the register. It was important to stay positive and focused. My smile faded as it dawned on me that today also marked another event. Six months. Six months since I’d seen Maxwell Cole—cocky, SOB billionaire and quite possibly the most hypnotically sexy and complex man in the world—and asked him to forgive me for some pretty awful things I had done. He hadn’t. And it had been the roughest time of my life. Rougher than working for the man. Rougher than falling in love with him—my boss—a man so far out of my league that I hadn’t been able to believe he wanted me back. And certainly rougher than the day I effectively tanked his multibillion-dollar company. An edgy, cosmetics juggernaut he’d built with his own two hands. And I fucked it up. Yep. With my own two lips, aka my big fat mouth. All because I believed—erroneously—that he didn’t have feelings for me. Crap, Lily. I blew out a breath and ran a hand over the top of my hair, smoothing back the loose strands of my ponytail. “Stop it. Just stop it.” I’d already decided months ago to be done with the self-flagellation. I couldn’t go back. I couldn’t undo the past. And either way, I’d moved on. “Every journey starts with one step,” I muttered to myself and put another smiley face on my calendar. And as of today, I’d made it six months. I’d put my life back together and was even dati-- The cluster of silver bells above the front door to my tiny shop jingled to welcome the first customer of the day. “Welcome to Lily’s Pad. Let me know if I can help y…” I glanced up from behind the register and lost my grip on the pen in my hand. “Max?” “Hello, Lily.” His deep, exquisitely masculine voice washed over me like a tsunami of emotional shock. “Max, what are you doing here?” My eyes stuck on his face, drinking in every virile detail. Maxwell Cole wasn’t what people would call a handsome man. Handsome implied someone who might be nice looking or pleasing to look at. This infamous, thirty-four-year-old billionaire was so much more. Women saw him and couldn’t look away from his six-three frame, underwear model physique, hazel eyes and chiseled jawline that gave him a godlike appearance. It was the same stunning good looks he’d used to build his multibillion-dollar cosmetics company. He used to model in his ads. Semi-nude. Yes, total eye candy for women of every age. “I heard you’re hiring a part-time assistant.” He pointed to the sign in the window with one of those muscular arms I used to enjoy wrapped around my midriff when he took me from behind with his substantial co-- Don’t torture yourself. He dumped you hard. Obviously, the man was here for a reason, although I couldn’t fathom what that reason might be. He continued, “I also heard you might be looking for a husband. But I don’t have any experience. Think you might consider me anyway?” He shoved a hand in his jeans pocket and looked at me with a wickedly sexy grin. Huh? My mind couldn’t quite absorb his words or their meaning. I was far too busy realizing how much I’d missed him and how fucking delicious he looked. He wore these expensive sexy jeans that hung just right on his hips and a dark gray button-down shirt that said, “Yeah, I’ve got money. Yeah, my body is a temple of male perfection. No, you can’t have me—I’m for looking only, ladies.” In other words, everything about the man screamed unattainable. His dark messy hair, his overgrown stubble—not quite a beard—his full kissable lips and jaw and chin and everything about him was…perfect. I swear, that man could wear a neon yellow jockstrap and orange traffic cone on his head and still look like he’d strolled off a runway. Wait. He just asked me to marry him? Nope. Nope. I’m dreaming. I have fallen and hit my head, and any moment I’m going to wake up with a splitting headache. I suddenly realized that Max’s mouth kept moving, but I hadn’t heard a word. “Sorry? Could you repeat that?” I blinked some more. He stepped forward, putting himself on the other side of the counter, opposite me. “I know I should’ve called. I wanted to a million times. But I needed time to sort out a few things.” His smile faded, and the look in his hazel eyes hardened. Did he mean he needed time to forgive me? I didn’t know, but clearly he had, and I felt a huge weight lift from my soul. I hadn’t even realized I’d been carrying it around. I nodded my head. “I understand. I did ruin your company.” “Fuck the company. I was going to let it all go anyway. You and I both know my mother needed to be gone from my life.” His mother, the cruelest piece of sadistic human-shit on the planet, had owned fifty-one percent of his company, making it difficult for him to keep a distance. Still, I had to believe that if not for me, things would’ve gone down differently. Maybe he could’ve found an investor to buy her out or something. But because of me, he’d been forced to sell Cole Cosmetics to a Canadian competitor for half its original value. I hated thinking about all that. It made my stomach knot with guilt. “You’re only saying that to make me feel less crappy,” I said softly. “That company was everything to you.” “No. You were everything to me and you still are. I realized it when I watched them pry your bloody body from your car with a crowbar. Do you have any idea what that did to me?” Oh. That. It wasn’t that I’d forgotten, but I rarely thought of that day anymore. Mostly because losing Max overshadowed all of the surrounding drama. But seven months ago, right as everything blew up with his company, a news van chased me on the highway near Chicago, hoping to get a story about my relationship with my infamous boss. I plowed my convertible Mini into the center divider and made mincemeat out of my face. Now, before you start thinking that it must’ve left me with a horrible disfigurement, I’ll have you know two things. One, I was born with an extremely ugly face. I mean nose from hell, an unusually large chin, and—well, let’s just say that small children often cried when they looked at me. “Mommy! It’s a monster.” Think Chaka from Land of the Lost but with a very petite body, nice teeth, and long wavy blonde hair. That was me. Now are you seeing why I couldn’t quite believe my international sex symbol of a boss loved me? Moving on to point number two: The accident did leave me scarred—forehead, chin, and one side of my nose—the place where the side mirror of my car broke off and impacted. But by then I had already made up my mind to fix my ugly face against Max’s wishes. Long story short, when the accident happened, Max—despite being furious with me for what I did to his company—still made sure I was put back together by the best. Now people stared but they didn’t retch, and with a little makeup, I could cover most of the scars. “I’m so sorry, Max. I can’t say it enough times.” Yes, I had apologized to him already—after my accident, after he’d made sure I was put back together, after he had to sell his company, and after I’d made a mess of our relationship. But my plea for forgiveness fell on cold ears. He could hardly look me in the eyes that day. “I’m the one who is sorry.” Max planted his arms on the counter and leaned in, his eyes filled with a sternness that meant he wasn’t messing around. “None of those events would’ve happened if I’d simply told you how much I love you and asked you to marry me. I should’ve been stronger, but I wasn’t.” He was taking the blame? Him? “But…but…I…you…you were so angry and…” I shook my head. I was the one who messed it all up. He grabbed my hand from across the counter and squeezed it. “I was hurt because you didn’t trust me, Lily. You didn’t believe in us—fuck.” He drew a breath. “I didn’t come here to rehash this crap.” “Remind me again; why are you here?” “Marry me, Lily. Because I love you. And I never want to let you go.”
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MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling romance author. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dream.
Mimi lives with her Latin Lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and the rat terrier duo, Snowflake and Mini Me, in Arizona. She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Every cowboy has a wild side—all it takes is the right woman to unleash it…
All of Logan McCord's carefully laid plans erupt the day he walks in on his would-be fiancée getting…well, not so carefully laid. Tonight, just once, Logan is acting on instinct. And that instinct is telling him to say "Happy to oblige" to the cute stranger looking for a no-strings fling with a Texas cowboy. When chef Reese Stephens made her bucket list, she mistakenly thought she had weeks to live. Not that she regrets her one-night-stand with the gorgeous rancher. But she does regret leaving an heirloom watch as a parting gift. Tracking Logan down is easy. Walking away again is another matter. Because Reese's crazy past and Logan's battered heart are no match for the kind of chemistry that could turn one night into the start of a passionate lifetime.
Finally, it was time to read Logan's story, I have been waiting for this one since I liked Logan as soon as I met him in the first book of the series. There's just something about him, under all the rules and control, that was appealing to me. And this story was worth the wait!
I have never laughed so hard while reading a book as I laughed through this tale. It is not always obvious humor, definitely not a 'pie-on-your-face' humor, but the one-liners, the set ups, the characters, the gossipy little Texas town all just was set up so that I found it hilarious. Logan and Reese both carry a considerable amount of baggage with them from their past. Reese has always coped with the problems by running away, moving on, leaving the place. But for the first time, with Logan, she feels like she might want to stay, might consider having a future, planning ahead. Logan and Reese were adorable, there was a moment that made me sigh and swoon, and moments I wanted to shake both of them to wise up. Logan's ex, she had so much room still in his life, and Reese, I wanted her to see herself like I saw her, and celebrate it, instead of hiding and running away. I loved her, and the fact that she was a pastry loving chef. There's so much gossip on the story, it nearly is a character itself in the tale. The town is filled with hearsay, scandals, and slander. And the blackmailing that follows the gossip creates a several sub-plots, that made me wish for a diagram at times like Reese said herself. I loved that Logan and his twin Lucky has found a closer relationship with each other. The family is a close team, now that most of them are back in town, and creating functioning adult relationships, that made me happy for them. This is a cowboy story that shows the importance of a family, either by blood or by heart, makes you want to stop gossiping, and never look at a clown the same way. It is a story where the characters have to take a long look in the mirror, evaluate the way they have lived, face their inner demons, grow, and build a new kind of future for themselves. It made me laugh out loud, sigh, and even tear up, the family has stolen my heart, and I hope this wasn't the last I see them without visiting the old stories. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
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I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the prestigious Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.
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by Bryan W. Alaspa Genre: Thriller, Suspense
Abe Yates is a successful true crime author. He makes a living writing about the crimes and deaths of others, but that living has allowed him to provide a great house and life for his wife and two kids. His latest novel is about a vicious hit-man and serial killer known as The Saint. It is already destined to become a runaway bestseller with a movie option at the ready. Life is good.
Until the morning he reaches for his cell phone and finds a mysterious video text. A text that shows something horrific. A video that appears to show something that hasn't happened yet. Now Abe and his family may only have days to figure out who created this video and who wants to do them harm. How far would you go to protect your family? For Abe, he may find that his own desire to protect his life and his home may take him to darker areas in his own heart than he ever thought possible. A tight-knit supernatural thriller from the author of RIG, Gone, The Man From Taured, Sapphire and the Deklan Falls detective series comes an edge-of-your-seat look into terror and suspense – TEXT.
Sure enough, there were some texts from friends and people who knew Spencer and whom Spencer had probably called about the party last night. Most of them Abe knew only tangentially and he could not recall most of their faces and most of them expressed regret at not being able to attend. He mused that they could have shown up or just not shown up and he would never have known the difference. That was the thing that happened when you were a reliable bestseller at the agency and publisher. People felt they had to bow down to you even if you had no idea who they were.
Delete. Delete. Delete. He came to a final message, near the bottom of the list, from a number that he did not recognize. In fact, it was an impossible number to start with. 0000000000 Abe remembered getting weird phone calls from a number like that years ago when he had first gotten a cell phone. They had finally come down in price and the phone companies were finally offering decent deals on them and he had bought one of those obsolete flip phones. He would find that he had a voicemail from a number that was all zeroes and when he listened to it, it was just a bunch of weird noises. He hadn't gotten a call like that in ages. Abe opened up the message and saw that there was a black box in the middle of a white field. There was a white arrow, pointing to the right, in the middle of the black box. He frowned. Who the hell would send him a video text? No one he knew was the type to do that. Abe was not a video taker himself and he rarely even texted over photos. If he had a good photo, he was told that social media was the best place to put that. It was probably just someone who was at the party last night. Perhaps someone who stayed later and maybe things got crazier after he and Shari had left. Hell, it was probably a video from Sam or Spence trying to show him the fun he missed out on. Abe hit play. At first he was not sure at all what he was a looking at. It was a weird video, shot poorly, that kept pixelating. It was dark and it was shot with some nightvision setting on the camera or cell phone, so everything had a weird greenish/white glow. The colors were all inverted, too, so the black pants looked white. He saw legs and arms and torsos, but the camera was mostly pointed at the ground. There was sound, too. Men's voices, from the sound of it, but the sound was tinny and Abe couldn't make out any words. Someone was yelling. Then there was screaming. The camera swung up and suddenly Abe was looking into a face that he knew all too well. Whoever was holding the camera was wearing a Henry the CrossEyed Lion mask. One of the cheap plastic ones that came out every year and sold at the large discount store around the corner. The eyes, hidden behind that mask, looked empty and dark. There was just the smiling lion and the areas around the eye holes had been painted to look comically crosseyed. It was surreal. Abe sat up straighter on his chair, absently licking his lips. He was distantly aware of the fact that his throat was dry. The camera swung around and now he could see that they were in someone's house. He could make out a large staircase and a hardwood floor. It was familiar. He could see at least five other men. They were wearing suits, but all of them were wearing animal masks. Plastic animal masks based on the characters in Shari's books.
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Bryan W. Alaspa is a Chicago born and bred author of both fiction and non-fiction works. He has been writing since he sat down at his mother's electric typewriter back in the third grade and pounded out his first three-page short story. He spent time studying journalism and other forms of writing. He turned to writing as his full-time career in 2006 when he began writing freelance, online and began writing novels and books.
He is the author of over 30 books of both fiction and non-fiction and numerous short stories and articles. Mr. Alaspa writes true crime, history, horror, thrillers, mysteries, detective stories and tales about the supernatural. Goodreads I Amazon I Website I Facebook I Twitter I Google + I Pinterest
Sound Effects
By: L.J. Greene Releasing October 10, 2016 Self-Published
What is YOUR passion?
When an uncharacteristically rash decision lands law school graduate Melody Grayson in San Francisco’s dicey Tenderloin District, she comes face to face with a dangerously tempting man who embodies every mistake she swore she would never repeat. Passionate, sexy, and far more insightful than she’d care to admit, he causes her to question everything she thought she knew about her future. Now she’ll have to decide where the bigger risk lies: in the prudent path she has been working tirelessly to pursue, or in the intriguing but uncertain one he’s offering. Up-and-coming, Irish-born musician Jamie Callahan is no stranger to chaos; he’s lived a lifetime of it. But in the fall of 2004, when the music industry is on the verge of massive upheaval, the life he aspires to could come at a heavier price than he’s prepared to pay. And while Melody may be the ideal person to help him navigate the gambles he must take, a relationship with her might be his biggest gamble yet. SOUND EFFECTS is a standalone dual POV adult contemporary romance that captures the gloriously unpredictable nature of life, in which the path from who you are, to who you’re meant to become may not be a straight one. It may also have a few bumps. Sexy, humor-filled, and relatable, Sound Effects is a story about living passionately, staying true to yourself, and finding that one magic person who makes the journey of self-discovery an adventure worth taking.
It wasn’t just one thing about him–his beautiful eyes fringed with thick lashes, the richness of his dark, auburn hair, the curved mouth, or the solid frame–it was how it all came together so devastatingly. This man had a magnetism that was absolutely undeniable, like a secret so big it just oozed out of him, despite any effort he may take to keep it in check. And I knew right then and there, if he ever turned it loose on me for real, I’d be finished.
“Abort! Abort!” my head shouted, but to no avail; my body was not listening. Because to top it all off, like catnip to a kitten, he was carrying a guitar. It was beautiful Gibson dreadnought, slung behind his back and positioned in such an organic way that it looked a part of him. The way he cradled it gently with his elbow told me it was a part of him. And everything I loved and hated about musicians came rushing back to me in a surfeit of hormones and horror stories. He was my siren song. “I’m Jamie Callahan.” The siren had a name. Jamie, I said in my head. I think I may have sniffed him a little, too. Subtly, of course.
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L.J. Greene is a self-professed obsessive multi-tasker who writes really boring stuff by day and lets her inner romantic fly by night. This California native is married to the most amazing man and has two beautiful children, not old enough to read her books. (They probably wouldn’t want to anyway on account of the “Ew, gross” factor.) She’s an avid reader of all genres, with an embarrassingly large eBook collection and a weird penchant for reading the acknowledgements pages of the books she buys. She's also a music lover with no apparent musical talent, a travel enthusiast, and a cheese connoisseur.
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When Sergeant Joe and his wife, Marlene, adopted Tino Gianelli as a teenager, the foster kid began to heal from his deep insecurities. Now, with a successful military career behind him and a good job as a contractor in the family construction business, Tino shouldn’t have any reason to doubt himself. He’s fallen hard for a beautiful heiress, and she seems to be crazy about him too. So why does he keep trying to hide his working-class roots?
Natalie Kennigan’s ideal guy is someone who will consider her an equal and his best friend, not merely a box to check on the road to success. Tino—with his down-to-earth personality, generous heart, and passionate embrace—might just be the one, at least until he finds out about Natalie’s family money and starts treating her like the typical rich girl who needs to be wined and dined. Natalie will have none of it. She won’t be happy until he accepts her for who she truly is—just as she wants to love the real Tino.
A sweet and mellow romance, where another one of Joe and Marlene's sons, Tino, find meaningful life and love after service.
I admire the family of heart Joe and Marlene created, and how they made the boys truly theirs. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Joe and Marlene are not their parents. And the bond between the boys is true and strong, tested by time, yet always binding. The romance story between Tino and Natalie was easy and light read. There are feelings, passion, conflict, and even briefly danger, but it wasn't taken too deep into the angst and distress. What I liked about Natalie and Tino was their willingness and desire to do good, to leave the world a better place than they reserved it. The social concern they have towards the fellow human being was admirable and commendable. I enjoy visiting the circle of love Joe and Marlene called family, this tale wasn't as deep and emotional as the story where Jack found his destiny. I'm looking forward to seeing what is in the stars for Mikhail. A gentle and tender love story, with charming characters and lovable families, where the hero has to overcome his insecurities to make the relationship work and find his calling in life to have a meaningful future with the love of his life. ~ Three Spoons and a teaspoon on the side
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Alexis Morgan grew up near St. Louis and received a B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She and her husband have made the Pacific Northwest their home for more than thirty years, where she launched her career as a writer.
She is published in paranormal romance, fantasy romance, American West historicals, and most recently, contemporary romances with her new Snowberry Creek series. Website Twitter Alexis_Morgan |