When I create my characters, I imagine their backgrounds, their likes and dislikes, and the experiences that shaped their personalities. This is how FBI Supervisory Special Agent Finn Callaghan met his partner, Special Agent Kennedy Morris. These two couldn’t have a normal meeting—a hearty handshake over a cup of coffee wouldn’t work for them. They have to deal with a category one hurricane, a missing bride, and Kennedy’s dysfunctional family. Supervisory Special Agent Finn Callaghan is impressed. While teaching a course at Quantico, he witnessed trainee agent Kennedy Morris take down a bully twice her size. Before leaving Washington DC, he stops by her apartment to offer her a job as his partner in Granite City, Montana and is surprised to see a wedding reception in her building during the worst storm of the year.
Kennedy is having a bad day. Her FBI training isn’t going well, her dysfunctional family is visiting, there’s a category one hurricane bearing down on them, and now she has to deal with her attraction to her superior Finn Callaghan. When the bride from the reception, Vanessa Stevens, disappears, Finn offers to help. With Kennedy’s aid, they delve into the world of the rich and powerful. But their investigation reveals that no one really knows Vanessa. When the storm cuts the power and phone lines, they must ascertain if kidnappers have taken advantage of the weather or if the bride is a clever con woman. An addiction counselor & a security guard struggle to free two, lost spirits trapped inside an abandoned mental asylum Available at Amazon Laura Horton returns from college to move in with an old friend & start her career. But her homecoming is jarring. Her friend has moved out unexpectedly, leaving Laura alone with the gorgeous but intimidating ex-boyfriend—in a house that snugs up to an ancient graveyard. Officer Miller Stanford is a man with a shattered past. His alcoholic dad destroyed their family, a weakness Miller is terrified will consume him too. The last thing he needs is a sexy, blonde addiction counselor watching his every move. When he begins to see specters in the dark, he starts questioning his own stability. But Laura sees her too—a pathetic child-spirit searching for her father. Can they unravel the mysteries of Talcott Hall without jeopardizing their love—and lives—in the process? Here's an excerpt showing one of Miller's first encounters with the child-spirit: “Hey. Little girl. Let me help you,” Miller tried again, and the child finally lowered her hands. She was younger than he’d first thought—ten, maybe. Tears streaked her reddened cheeks, glistening in the beam of his headlights. Her pale, golden hair was baby fine and wispy, but tousled and disheveled. As though it hadn’t seen a brush in good long time. She met his gaze with eyes like the man’s, clear and blue and strangely luminescent. The sadness Miller saw behind them made his chest ache. “Where did your friend go, sweetheart? The man who came out with you. Where did he go?” She stared at him with lips quivering before her face crumpled again. “I don’t know. I don’t know where Daddy is. I’ve been looking and looking for him. Every time I think I’ve found him, he goes away.” Miller swallowed. Yeah, that’s one way to describe the mysterious vanishing act. He drew in a breath and tried again. “What’s your name, sweetie? Was that your daddy with you?” Head bobbing, the tears flowed freely now, and she wouldn’t take her eyes off Miller’s face. He felt a lump growing in his own throat, as though she was somehow transferring her pain to him. His hands, clasped in front of him, began to shake. When she spoke again, her voice took on an echoed quality, as though she were receding into an empty culvert. “I’m Greta. And I’m looking for my daddy. He used to live here. But I keep coming back to find him, and nobody knows where he is.” She dropped her chin to her chest and ground her knuckles against her eyes. “Greta,” he repeated, a stab of pity piercing his gut. So freaking pathetic. A forlorn little girl . . .his own memories rose up like foul-smelling steam. Swallowing hard, he pressed on. “Greta, honey, what’s your last name?” When she looked up, Miller gasped. Behind her, against the fence, a bright red McDonald’s French fry box clung to the base of the chain link. Directly behind her, yet he could see it clearly. That’s when he realized he could see . . .right . . .through her. View the book trailer here: https://youtu.be/YUa2RALSEm Author Bio & Media Links: Claire is a multi-published, award winning author of five titles in the genres of contemporary romance, supernatural suspense, and women’s fiction. She also writes Author Resource guide books, and presents seminars on writing craft and marketing. Her supernatural suspense, Hearts Unloched, won the 2016 New York Book Festival and is a finalist in the 2017 RONE Awards. Her contemporary romance, A Taming Season, is a HOLT Medallion Award finalist, and her women’s fiction, The Phoenix Syndrome, is a finalist in the National Reader’s Choice Awards. A New York native, Claire has lived in five of the United States and held a variety of jobs, from waitress to bridal designer to research technician—but loves being an author best. She and her happily-ever-after hero, her husband of 38 years, now live in central Massachusetts. Media Links Website: http://www.clairegem.com Blogs: http://www.clairegem.wordpress.com, http://www.hauntedpathways.wordpress.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clairegem.author Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gemwriter Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8284235.Claire_Gem Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2nabvbm The finale of Erika and Darien's epic rollercoaster romance. How can Erika prove to herself and Darien that she loves and trusts him? Simple. All she has to do is jump out of a plane. Concerned for his fiancée, Erika Bailey’s safety, rock star Darien Scott races to Bangkok to protect her, only to discover his brother is missing. Fearing the worse, he contacts his nemesis, Gan, and makes a repulsive deal that will free his brother and protect Erika’s club, The Pink Flamingo. Or so he thought. When a python and Gan are involved, things go sour, and Darien sinks into a deep depression. Erika is disheartened by the betrayal of her parents. Her father's destruction of her club, and the humiliation of her mother’s drunken behavior have her feeling down, but those are the least of her worries. She has a wedding to plan, but won’t. Having been betrayed too often, she’s scared to trust Darien. How can Erika prove to herself and Darien that she loves and trusts him? Simple. All she has to do is jump out of a plane. Excerpt: Sweat streamed off Darien’s brow. Some dripped into his eyes. It stung. His heart throbbed against his ribs. Fire inched down his throat. Every muscle in his body ached. His head pounded from the pandemonium. The explosions. The screams. The pain threatening to split his skull. Dropping his head back, he closed his eyes. His chest heaved as he gulped air. He needed a moment. Get some strength back. The screams grew louder. Damn. He inhaled and released a long breath. They wanted him. He had to continue. To perform. Like a trained monkey. Do people even do that anymore? Train monkeys? He peeled his eyes open. The glare of the overhead lights blazed down at him. He lifted his head. The screams grew louder. “Oh. So, you want more?” But what if I don’t have any more? What if I just can’t continue? Twelve weeks. Four shows a week. I’m beat. The roar from eighty thousand Parisians was tumultuous. Fans yelled at the top of their lungs. They pounded their feet on the floor, raising their hands in the air, clapping. Glow sticks, cell phones, and lighters swayed like flowers in a breeze. He grinned. Eighty thousand Parisians and one fiancée. He glanced to his left. Seated on the top stage step was Erika. She’d arrived just minutes before the show started. Just enough time for a passionate, but quick, hello kiss. He needed more. He needed her, and he knew it. She smiled at him. He loved that smile. He could stare at it all day. The way her soft lips curved up. A hint of sassiness in her expression. Just finish the show. Grab Erika and run. Dodge the fans. Just get out of here. He looked out over the crowd. “But what if I’m too tired to continue?” “No,” the crowd wailed. He grinned. “Well, maybe I could go on if you told me you loved me.” The cacophony of sounds was deafening. “Je t’aime. Love you.” He lifted his hands. “Do you love me?” “Oui. Yes.” He ripped his black t-shirt over his head and threw it into the fans. “Do. You. Love. Me?” He yelled out as he glanced at Erika. She jumped up and down, screaming with the crowd. “I can’t hear you.” The building shook with the fans’ frenzy. “Five. Six. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.” Fireworks exploded. Lasers shot around the stadium. Cass, the drummer, crashed the symbols as Darien spun, posed then inhaled a deep breath and opened his mouth to sing. About the Author
Daryl Devoré lives in an old farmhouse in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, a black cat named Licorice and some house ghosts. Daryl loves to take long walks up her quiet country road or snowshoe across the back acres, and in the summer, kayak along the St. Lawrence River. She's touched a moon rock, a mammoth and a meteorite. She's been deep in the ocean in a submarine, flown high over Niagara Falls in a helicopter and used the ladies room in a royal palace. Life's an adventure and Daryl's having fun living it. Where to find Daryl Devoré Blog - Romance Sweet to Heat Google+ An Inspirational Thought Friendships are important. How do they start? CS Lewis knows Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself…" Inspiration – Write like only you will read it, if you cry, laugh or enjoy it, it’ll be your secret passion until you introduce it to the world. (Just love what you do no matter what it is) In the spirit-haunted Winston estate in Ohio, rooted in time and occupied by the lingering ghosts of a great family, the torch is about to pass... Mattie Winston, sober, sensible, and steady, has served as Keeper to the family for decades. Amber Harrison, hovering on the edge of flunking out of college, unsure what she wants out of life, has barely even heard of the Winston estate. The family, however, has decided that it's time for the changing of the guard. These two exceptional women soon find themselves dealing with violence, murder attempts, and old family mysteries while each finding the love of her life. Two romances and a growing friendship, all twined around a brooding family tragedy, make for an outstanding paranormal mystery offering depth and charm beyond the commonplace. The growing love of Amber and Carter and of Mattie and Quincy offer readers a tender and engaging first novel in a winning new paranormal series. Excerpt: Stifling humidity greeted her when she opened the door to the main section of the basement. She eyed the man seated behind a long oak table. The air conditioner hummed. The soothing whine didn’t calm her fears or cool the subterranean room. Dressed in an eighteenth century colonial suit and stuck at the perpetual age of thirty, Jonathan resembled George Washington ready to command his troops. His eagle-eye glare nailed her. A drop of sweat trickled down her back. Apprehension raised goose bumps. She shivered. “I press earnestly for you to take a seat, Mattie, so we can start.” In a regal colonial voice, Jonathan’s words thundered off the walls. Mattie walked to the end of the table and sat across from him. Dread threatened like a storm on the horizon. She surveyed both sides of the table. None of the other council members were in attendance. Mattie wiped her sweaty palms along the length of her thighs. What did he want? Jonathan didn’t usually hold a one-on-one meeting in this setting. Normally, they met in her office upstairs. The muscles in her stomach jerked. “In a concise statement of the facts as I see them,” Jonathan spoke without preamble. “We have found your replacement, and we need to address the issue of your future.” Her fears were relieved as to the topic of today’s meeting. She decided to address a number of other issues that should be discussed before her future. “Shouldn’t we wait until Amber Harrison accepts the job?” “No.” Startled, Mattie blinked. “Why?” “Because no matter the outcome, you will still be replaced,” Jonathan declared. “Yes, but what if Amber doesn’t work out?” For days, she’d speculated on how to approach this subject. “My nephew, Josh Clarkston is a lawyer. He’d make an excellent keeper.” “No,” Jonathan’s rough voice commanded. “The wisest council will not be misled into offering such an important post to such an unworthy candidate. His character lacks the necessary virtues to accomplish the tasks we require of our keeper. “As for your sister, Cynthia Clarkston, she never speaks of us without evidence of malice. We find no cause to reward her for her gum and insolence.” The rigid set of Jonathan’s jaw indicated he refused to budge on the matter. “Like a Redcoat, she only wants what she can get from us. Her son has grown into a bad egg.” “But...” Her stomach grumbled, mirroring her distress. “Mattie.” His tone lower, he shook his head. “Many hours have been spent debating the matter. You’ve been a loyal subject since the age of fifteen, and you’ve paid your dues to your family. We hornswoggled you out of your youth. It’s time for you to relinquish control.” An indulging note bled through his words. “No one will ever be good enough to replace you.” Read the 1st Chapter of Summer’s Growth at www.tinagayle.net/sgchapter.html Bio:
Tina Gayle grew up a dreamer and loved to escape into the world of books. After a number of different jobs, she decided to try her hand at writing. Her romantic novels touch the heart and explore the heartaches of falling in love and being a woman. Married thirty years, she and her husband love to travel and play golf. If you’d like to read the 1st chapter of her books visit her website. Find Tina Gayle everywhere Home - www.tinagayle.net Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle Google + - https://plus.google.com Linkin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759 How hard would you fight for the one you love? Josh Collins has the perfect life—a beautiful girlfriend and a baby on the way, until an accident takes his life. Avery Rhodes’ world imploded the moment she lost Josh. Her life and future unravelled in an instant. Alone and pregnant, she finds herself facing an unimaginable, turbulent and painful new reality. With his newfound guide Gabriel, Josh is witness to the unintended consequences of his death, until he can't take it anymore. He has to fight for everything and everyone he loves. Together, Josh and Avery are forced to learn what happens IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES. Excerpt: Josh had the sketchbook Gabriel had given him propped on his legs as he sketched absently as he sat on the beach, the sun rising behind him, not concentrating on what he was doing, the pencil moving quickly across the paper. His thoughts were where they always tended to drift to lately, Avery and the baby. He’d been afraid to sneak down and see her since the day he’d actually held her. It tore him up inside to be away from her for so long, but he didn’t understand what that meant, that he could suddenly touch her and she’d feel it. He didn’t want to scare her somehow. He smudged one of the lines he’d drawn and studied his work. Her face stared back at him. He darkened a few lines before he set the book beside him on the warm sand and closed his eyes, thinking back. He’d decided to go with her to that very first doctor’s appointment, the one to confirm whether or not her suspicions were correct. It was uncomfortable being the only male in the doctor’s waiting room, being smiled at by every woman who walked in. He could still see the surprise on the nurse’s face when she walked out and found him there by himself for the first time. He’d tried to keep from squirming around anxiously in the chair every time he heard a door open and close in the distance. He wondered just how long it took to come back with test results anyway. They’d called and said they were in, so it didn’t take all that long to tell her yes or no, did it? He kept stretching his legs out ahead of him then bringing them back, not wanting to trip anyone as they were called for their appointment. He’d been there at least an hour waiting, jumping at every noise. He’d been sure the nurse was about to give him something for his nerves when he felt someone nudge his foot. He scooted his feet back, letting whoever it was pass by on their way to their appointment. “Good quiz in Cosmo?” Avery’s voice came from behind the glossy pages. He lifted his gaze in record time. “Who cares?” He tossed the magazine on the empty chair beside him. She read the cover. “Rating your lover in twelve easy questions.” “Avery?” “What?” She’d been reaching for the magazine. “I want to know.” “I haven’t taken the quiz yet.” She giggled as he batted her hand away. “You’re absolutely crazy.” He glanced around the almost deserted waiting room before he pulled her down to sit on his lap. “I want to know if we’re going to have a baby.” His arm wrapped around her waist, his fingers sliding beneath the back of her shirt, rubbing the soft skin at the small of her back. “I need to know.” “You need to know, huh?” His eyes locked on hers. “Come on, Aves. Am I going to be a daddy?” She took one of his hands and moved it around, resting it on her abdomen. She bit her lip for a moment before breaking out into the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. “I think Daddy’s crazy, don’t you, baby?” Josh’s jaw dropped, his mind going absolutely blank as he tried to comprehend her words. She was kidding, she wasn’t kidding. She didn’t look like she was kidding. That smile on her face, the way her eyes were shining as she waited for his reaction. “Oh my…oh my God…” “So I guess I was right.” “Let’s take you home,” he said suddenly, his hand tightening over hers. “Why?” He leaned in close to her. “Because I want to talk to the baby and then I want to make love to his beautiful mommy.” He stared into her eyes. “All right with you?” She blushed as she slid off his lap. “More than all right with me.” Author Bio:
Lisa Chalmers writes wherever her muse takes her - which is usually somewhere warmer - Florida, Los Angeles or Las Vegas. She has a deep love for the paranormal. IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES is her first release. Author links: http://www.lisa-chalmers.com http://www.twitter.com/lisaink https://www.facebook.com/LisaChalmersInk/ http://www.bookbub.com/authors/lisa-chalmers Newsletter - eepurl.com/cLjCCf Release date: October 13, 2017 When a wild mustang is shot in Montana, renowned horse whisperer and telepath, Emma Horserider, is called in to calm the herd and find out what happened. Once on scene she is almost killed by a bullet-spewing drone, and calls her black ops brother for back-up. Emma's help roars into her life covered in tattoos and riding a Harley. Remote viewer Bronco Winchester takes the assignment because he is ordered to, but he wonders what type of assistance, his boss's sister needs. That is until he sees Emma, a valiant Warrior Woman proud of her Crow heritage. Posing as a married couple, Emma and Bronco go undercover to infiltrate and stop a hate group. Both are anxious enough without the now growing attachment they feel for one another. When the lives of many are on the line, they are not sure if they will live or die—let alone have a chance at love. One battle, one outcome. Who will win? Good or evil? Excerpt: Bronco now stood squinting in the late afternoon sun, knocking at a door with no bell, and waiting for a response. Dogs barked and a window curtain twitched. Good. Someone was home. He adjusted his pack, leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and said, “Any time now.” As the words slid out of his mouth, he heard the unmistakable sound of a shotgun being pumped. Uh. Oh. He raised his hands. “Don’t shoot. I’m unarmed.” Turning slowly to face his fate, his jaw fell open, and his heart rate kicked up a notch from being on thewrong end of a shotgun or from the weapon holder’s looks, he wasn’t sure. A raven haired Amazon in a tank top, jeans, and metal tipped cowboy boots held the Mossberg 500 in a perfect military stance. Long strands of hair blew across her face in the hot breeze. A large purple bruise bloomed on her left cheek. She squinted her dark brown eyes and gave him a laser-beam once over from his dusty black boots to his sweat soaked do-rag. “Who are you, and what do you want?” If he hadn’t been so intent on not getting killed, he would have spent more time staring at those full, luscious, kissable lips and thinking about how she would taste. As it was, he guessed he had less than a minute to respond before getting blasted into the next county. Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/qBbgsW_GiM About Sharon Sharon Buchbinder has been writing fiction since middle school and has the rejection slips to prove it. An RN, she provided health care delivery, became a researcher, association executive, and obtained a PhD in Public Health. When not teaching or writing, she can be found fishing, walking her dogs, or breaking bread and laughing with family and friends in Baltimore, MD and Punta Gorda, FL. Author Links Facebook: Sharon Buchbinder Romance Author https://www.facebook.com/sharon.buchbinder.romanceauthor Twitter ID @sbuchbinder https://twitter.com/sbuchbinder Instagram: https://instagram.com/sharon_buchbinder/ Blog http://sharonbuchbinder.blogspot.com/ Website http://www.sharonbuchbinder.com/index.html A Message from the Author One of the things I have learned in my life as an author, professor, wife, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-aunt, and pet lover is that we are more alike than not. For me, romance is not only about the story of people falling in love, but also about connecting with readers and their lives. We are living in challenging times and at times those challenges can feel overwhelming. I call on each of us to take a moment to reach out and connect with other people. Let someone know they matter. It only takes a few words of kindness to lift someone up. You may be the one person who helps someone get through a rough patch. Hugs, Sharon
Lyndi is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the blog post for three chances to win!
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Seek help of the Lord of Drakkenberg. Only he can aid you. You must fly with the dragon.
Tova Svensdottir, an earth mage, is on a mission to save her homeland, the Kingdom of Velosia from the evil wizard Bruno of Grimmdorn. Her grandmother tells her to seek help of the Lord of Drakkenberg, but the old lord is dead. In his castle, high on a mountaintop, she instead encounters his son, the Outlaw Kane. Kane fled Velosia after a futile attempt to rescue his father and his mate from Bruno's cruel prison, killing the head guard in the process. Now that Bruno has been banished, Kane has returned to clear his name, but his purpose changes when he meets Tova. Tova's warmth stirs his passions and her courage touches his heart, but he dreads telling her of his true nature, certain she will recoil. But Tova is made of sterner stuff. Together, Kane and Tova have the power to save Velosia. If they survive the coming battle. But can an earth mage find happiness with a dragonshifter? Available at Amazon for pre-order: Excerpt Tova awoke to find herself on a soft bed wrapped in the embrace of a very hot, very aroused man. She opened her eyes to look around the dimly lit chamber, and everything came back to her—the climb up the mountain, the lightning storm, being guided to the cave, and the fall in the tunnel. She squirmed around to stare at the man. “Where am I? And who you are?” He flashed a reassuring smile. “I am Kane and this is my cave. You fell and hit your head.” She studied the face just inches from her own. He was older than she, perhaps in his third decade. Long black hair hung down to his shoulders, and his eyes were a warm shade of amber under straight black brows. Her gaze dropped to sensual lips above a cleft chin. He was handsome as sin and naked to the waist. A shiver traveled up her spine and her heartbeat increased. Why did his name sound familiar? Around his neck he wore a heavy gold chain with a large, luminous pearl dangling from it. When she reached out to touch the pearl, she sensed power radiating from it, from him. “You guided me to the cave, did you not? I thank you.” “You are welcome, daughter of earth.” She smiled at the apt nickname. “I am called Tova Svensdottir.” He nodded in acknowledgement. “How are you feeling, Mistress Tova?” She assessed the situation. Though warmer, her head still hurt and her energy was depleted. Self-healing would take a long time in this state. “Better, but still weak.” “I am not surprised, given your ordeal. Where were you headed in such a hurry, and what on earth brought you to my mountain? Are you lost?” She hesitated, uncertain whether to trust him. Mutti Zee’s instructions echoed in her head and she plunged ahead. “I seek the Lord of Drakkenberg.” Kane raised his brows. “You have come to the right place, though the old lord is dead.” Suddenly, she realized who he was and scooted away from him. ’Twas just her luck to be rescued by the most feared outlaw in the land. “Please do not hurt me, Kane of Drakkenberg.” With a sigh, he rose from the bed, clad only in his breeches and hose. He stared down at her, an earnest look on his face. “I would never hurt you, Mistress Tova. I am not the monster legend depicts me.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Well, not entirely.”
Lyndi Lamont’s inspirational message: I believe love is a powerful force in this world. It brings lovers together, creates families and lives on after death in the hearts of those left behind. It may not make the world go 'round, but love makes the world a better place.
About the Author: Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of romance author Linda McLaughlin. Writing sexy stories gives her a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of her books! She has written several full-length novels plus numerous short stories and novellas, ranging from historical to futuristic. She believes that love is unending and universal, and enjoys transporting her readers into a different world where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward. Connect online: Website: https://lindalyndi.com Reading Room blog: http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LyndiLamont Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LyndiLamont Twitter: @LyndiLamont
To celebrate the release of Tova's Dragon, I'm doing a Rafflecopter giveaway, starting today and ending October 30. There are three ways to enter:
1. Like my Lyndi Lamont Facebook page 2. Subscribe to my mailing list and upcoming newsletter 3. Subscribe to my blog (on right sidebar or scroll to bottom of the page) A chance meeting will change their lives forever… From the moment he entered the dark taproom, Caleb Hunt found himself drawn to the handsome man who sat alone at the end of the bar, away from the crowd. His interest in the dark-haired, muscled adonis took him by surprise, not remembering when he’d felt such hunger from a simple glimpse. Unable to stay away, he quickly found an open seat next to him and slid into it. When Ronan turned his ice-blue eyes to Caleb and introduced himself, his warm hand sent shivers of desire through his body and he was enthralled. Ronan Scott’s boring Friday night had taken a turn for the better when Caleb took the seat next to him. Over the next few hours, he found Caleb easy to talk to and at the same time, he found that he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the beautiful man. Caleb captured his attention in a way that no other had for as long as he could remember. Taking a chance, he leaned forward and captured Caleb’s lips with his. And with the simple kiss, Ronan understood that Caleb would become an essential part of his life. As Ronan and Caleb explore their new relationship and integrate their lives together, they realize that not everything will be so seamless… Excerpt That’s when he spotted him and everything stopped. His breathing hitched in his chest and his heart thudded once, hard, and even the music seemed to fade as his gaze landed on a dark-haired man who sat by himself at the bar. As Caleb’s eyes slid down the man’s body of their own accord, he noted the fitted black tee that emphasized the muscles of his arms, back, and shoulders, before his gaze dropped lower to his legs encased in denim. When he lifted a beer to his mouth and swallowed, Caleb felt his own throat tighten. A shiver of desire passed over him. Never had he felt this way about a man or woman in his life. Before he could analyze his actions or talk himself out of his stupid plan, he walked toward the man. Part of him wanted to see if the man was as stunning as he believed from across the bar or if he’d been alone for so long that his mind had conjured the perfect man. Before Caleb could reach the stool next to him, a beautiful blonde glided up to him, running her hand down his chest. Her smile flirty and sensual. Although Caleb had never been propositioned in any way close to resembling what he witnessed, he knew that she offered the man a brazen invitation to get to know her better. Disappointment flooded Caleb’s chest. In the next moment, however, she frowned and backed away from him as quickly as she arrived, leaving an empty chair. Not questioning his good luck, Caleb hurried over and shed his coat, dropping it over the back. He flagged down the bartender and indicated the beer he wanted. He sensed the man’s eyes on him, but for the moment, he wasn’t brave enough to turn and catch his gaze. Not when his breath had stuck in his throat, and he didn’t know if he could speak without sounding choked. As soon as the bartender handed him his mug, the man turned his body toward him and leaned over to speak, close to his ear. “Are you here alone?” Caleb had to bite the inside of his lip in order not to moan out loud at the sexy, deep voice. Remembering the question, he shook his head and pointed toward Dylan and Garrett across the room. Dylan, of course, had a woman on his lap and was tracing a finger down her neck, before he leaned toward her and his mouth followed the same trail. Garrett was looking down at his phone. The shy woman he’d been talking to had disappeared, much to Caleb’s disappointment, and another was trying, unsuccessfully, to get his attention. She looked drunk and very loud by the way he flinched every time she spoke. “Dylan, the one on the right with a woman on his lap, is the biggest flirt in the world. He’s never serious about any woman he takes home. Garrett is his best friend, the complete opposite of Dylan, but he’s loyal.” The man laughed and Caleb couldn’t help the lift of his lips at the sound. It was deep, rich, and addictive. But when the man turned his ice-blue eyes on him, something unidentifiable swelled in his chest. He could sense that he should speak, to keep this gorgeous man talking for as long as possible. “Are you here alone?” Smart, Caleb. Just parrot the same question back. The man smiled before he nodded over to his group of friends. Some were flirting, but others were enjoying the company of their friends on a Friday night. “The ginger is Hawk; he’s a divorce lawyer who is handling Ryan’s divorce. That’s why they’re hunched over their beers. Ryan’s wife apparently hadn’t been faithful during their entire four-year marriage, and he found out when he came home early from a business trip. Jack is the one who is flirting with the group of women; he’s like Dylan in that way, never serious. He’s a CEO of a tech company and he could have any woman with his looks and the power he exudes, but he’s never been in a serious relationship. Sam is my second-in-command, the one who looks faintly sick, because Adam is a forensic scientist who loves talking about his work.” Caleb found himself smiling at the group of friends. When he glanced at the man, who had turned back to Caleb after pointing out his friends, he snagged Caleb’s gaze. “So, do you have a girlfriend at home?” “No. I can’t remember the last time I had a date, much less a successful one. You?” Caleb breathed a sigh of relief when he shook his head. “I’m Ronan Scott.” He held his hand out. Even the man’s name is sexy. He had to clear his throat before he reached out and grasped Ronan’s large, warm hand in his. “Caleb Hunt.” Something inside Caleb warmed in increments until fireworks exploded behind his skin, all from a simple touch. About Valerie
Valerie writes paranormal and contemporary romances with strong alpha males and brilliant, beautiful heroines. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her wonderfully supportive husband and their funny and wise black lab. She's addicted to coffee, crime shows, and reading and writing character driven romances. Social Media FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST ~ INSTAGRAM ~ GOODREADS ~ AMAZON #BookHugs I believe that Love is Love, no matter what race, religion, color, or gender. Love is Love. New York City, early 1990s: a young, rich, and well-educated Central American man on the run from the police and Colombian drug dealers. He is accused of crimes he didn’t commit. Ready to do what it takes to survive, Pablo ironically embraces the very drug trade that threatened his life in the first place. Who is he? What is he really capable of? The question of identity is at the heart of On The Run. More than a contemporary story of survival, it’s a journey of self-discovery. Pablo’s voice is funny, sometimes mean and merciless. He moves with nightmarish ease from recounting his adventures to recollecting his early life. Not always politically correct, On The Run gives you an insightful, twisted, humorous, and often disturbing view of conflicting worlds and beliefs: North and Latin America; black, brown, and white; rich and poor; rational and esoteric—and shows how they mix, match, and clash. Excerpt: Everything went smoothly. Yes, the whole plan was sound, and the weeks of preparations paid off. There I went, from office to office, from delivery to delivery, in and out in forty-five minutes. I could pass receptionists and secretaries without problems. No questions, no suspicions. “Larry is waiting for you....” “Mr. Silverstein will see you soon....” “Please take a seat. Mr. Roberts is on a phone call right now, could take a few minutes....” “Jim is finishing a meeting, said you should wait in his office....” The clients were all nice. No wonder. I was like Santa Claus bringing them Christmas presents. More than half bought two packages; one even bought three; a lot of unexpected extra revenue. I sold forty-five packages of cocaine that week. Adding the three packages that I had sold to Joe and Peter, the total for December was forty-eight. My income was twelve thousand dollars. It really felt like Christmas. After one of my deliveries, right after the secretary and I had made the next appointment and I was about to leave, she told me, “You must be very good at your work. Bill sounded so different on the phone right now! Before you came, he was very anxious and bitchy. Now he sounded like another guy. He hasn’t been this happy and relaxed in days. What did you do to him?” I couldn’t say that her boss had no more cocaine left when I came, and that was why he was in such a bad mood. He had done a line in front of me. When I left, he was high and happy. I winked and said, “Coaching works! Happy Christmas!” Author Bio
“Make me think, make me laugh, make my day!” That’s why Izai Amorim reads and writes books. He has great interest in the interplay of media, information, and politics in a globalized world and the quest for identity and borders in a worldwide cultural melting pot. Izai was born and raised in Brazil but spent most of his adult life abroad, briefly in the USA, mostly in Germany. He was trained as an architect and worked many years in this profession. But his real passion is story telling. At some point in his life he decided to mix storytelling with architecture, changed professions, and became a branding consultant, something that he loves and has been doing to this day. His first novel, The Games (2013), is a humorous but dark, even mean, political thriller. This mother of all conspiracies shows how information is processed to create and spread the stories needed to establish power structures not accountable to anyone. Links My personal site: http://www.izaiamorim.com/ Book site: http://www.izaiamorim.com/ontherun.html Book on NetGalley: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book/90218
Ethan Cooke Security and their bodyguard team return to action in Deceiving Bella – book eleven in Cate Beauman’s Bodyguards of L.A. County series.
With over 7700 reviews and a 4.4 rating for the entire series, see why the Bodyguards of L.A. County is a multi-award winning series.
New to the series? No problem! Each book in the “Bodyguards” series is a stand-alone title. Although reading the books in order is preferred, it is not necessary. Each title features brand new primary characters and limited overlapping secondary characters. Don’t hesitate to jump right in.
Isabella Colby has always yearned for normalcy. Now that she’s settled in LA, she finally has it. Good friends, a pretty home, and her thriving career as the Palisades’ top skincare specialist are a dream come true. Bella is content until she meets her hunky new neighbor, but her attraction to the blue-eyed cutie is the least of her worries when contacting her long-lost father threatens to destroy her happy life.
Reed McKinley is more than ready to forget the past. His seven-year stint as an NYPD detective nearly got him killed. His wounds have healed and he’s starting over as Ethan Cooke Security’s latest recruit. With sixty-hour workweeks and little time to himself, the last thing on his mind is a relationship. Then he bumps into the gorgeous woman next door. Reed and Bella become fast friends. Before long, Reed discovers that Bella is keeping dangerous secrets. Bella may have the answers to decades-old questions he’s been searching for. Reed will risk it all to uncover the truth, but he soon realizes that the deeper he digs, the direr the consequences. The Inspiration Behind Deceiving Bella: It’s no secret that I’m a crime television junky. I love watching anything that might bring about an idea for another story. Several months ago, I found a series on Netflix about La Cosa Nostra—or the five mafia families of New York. I was immediately drawn to the information I was observing. Within minutes, I knew I wanted to weave together an adventure that would bring Isabella Colby and Reed McKinley face to face with organized crime. I hope you’ll enjoy reading Deceiving Bella as much as I loved writing it. Read an excerpt from Deceiving Bella: Should we get started?” Bella gestured to the kitchen. “After you.” She walked in front of Reed, hurrying to the table to pull out a chair. “Does this work?” “Yeah, it’s fine.” He sat down. She immediately draped him with the black cover, wanting to get to his hair while it was still wet. “So, what are we doing here, exactly?” “Just a cleanup, especially on my neck.” “Sure.” She grabbed the sheers and took her place by his side, sliding her fingers though his short hair and stopped. “Oops.” His shoulders tensed. “What?” “Just kidding. A little haircutting humor.” He tilted his head up, meeting her eyes. “A comedian.” She laughed as he smiled. “I haven’t even started cutting yet.” She gave him a bump. “Try to relax. I promise you’re in good hands.” “Chop away.” “Thanks.” She combed her fingers through his hair once more, using small snips to freshen up his look. Silent seconds ticked by as she breathed in the masculine scent that was Reed. He didn’t seem to wear cologne or use any fancy shampoos, but he smelled good just the same. “So, how was your day?” “Not too shabby.” She worked her way around his head, finding his cut a breeze to clean up. He easily could have gone another week without any problems. “What did you do?” “Worked a little. Boxed.” “Fascinating.” “I could make up something about stopping a bank robbery in progress or rescuing a cat from a tree.” She smiled. “The truth is fine, thanks.” “What about you?” “It was pretty much a normal day at the office—a second-session tattoo removal, a microdermabrasion, two stretch mark reductions, the usual stuff.” “What’s the tattoo of? The one you’re taking off?” “A woman’s name. Genevieve. The relationship didn’t work out.” He winced. “Ouch.” “Triple ouch. Tattoo removal is not a pain-free procedure, nor is it cheap—and he went pretty ornate with Genevieve. Hopefully next time he’ll pick a woman with a shorter name or abstain from getting himself tatted up altogether.” He laughed. She grinned, loving that sound. Did he have any idea how gorgeous he was when he smiled like that? She picked up the clippers off the table and let her knees rest against his as she leaned in and gently lifted his chin, evening out his sideburns. She swallowed, feeling his breath on her skin and his eyes studying her face. Licking her lips, she met his gaze. “You better hope I get this part right, or you’ll have to tilt your head for the next four days.” He sent her another one of his pulse-pounding smiles. “You’ll have to help me decide if I should lean more to the left or right.” Oh, this cutie had the potential to be trouble. Her eyes darted to his mouth mere inches from hers as his five o’clock shadow tormented her sensitized fingers. She took a step back and a steadying breath. It was a good thing they were just friends—currently the only relationship status she was interested in. Did you enjoy the excerpt? You can read the first chapter on my website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book with the links below! Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBooks
The Unofficial Deceiving Bella Soundtrack
I love music! I can’t imagine a world without catchy tunes playing, especially when I’m writing. Music is inspiration. Melodies, beats, and the mood of each song help me portray emotions and feelings as I tell a story. It’s a rare day when I don’t have my headphones in place, bopping my head, while my fingers race across the keyboard. You can listen to the “soundtrack” for each book on my website www.catebeauman.com. The soundtrack, of sorts, for Deceiving Bella:
About the author:
International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers' Favorite Awards. Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on her twelfth full length romantic suspense novel. Follow Cate Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/ BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cate-beauman Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/catebeauman Social links: Twitter: @CateBeauman www.catebeauman.com www.facebook.com/CateBeauman www.instagram.com/cate_beauman_author
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Giveaway:
To celebrate the launch of Deceiving Bella, Cate is giving away an Amazon Echo to 1 lucky winner! |
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