Today I'm turning my blog over to S. R. Howen, with a review of her novel "The Wizard's Heart," which is the 1st book in the Tales of the Zingari Series!!
ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAYs (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from August 19 - 23, 2013]
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 508 KB | Release Date: May 29, 2013 | Publisher: Wild Child Publishing | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions
"The Wizard's Heart" [Tales of the Zingari Series, Book 1] by S. R. Howen
Author's Book Description :"The old one will come. When he comes, his one true wife must carry within her a child of the old one who would be king. Only then can the heart be found and the evil of the world kept in its bounds." –The Prophecy of the Land
Sorann is the queen's daughter and training to be an empathic healer. Javert is a member of the wandering tribe called the Zingari and their future king. When Sorann's failed healer's magic test brings them together, they discover the prophecy governing the land is false. In order to prevent magic, and the Zingari, from being wiped from the land, Sorann must become Javert's wife and leave everything behind that she once held dear.
Tricked by demons, and followed by the queen's soldiers, they must find the fabled Wizard's Heart in the frozen Winter Valley.
What sacrifices will they have to make along the way, and will Javert ever discover the true meaning of the Wizard's Heart before his people and the love of his life are lost?
My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, this unique tale follows the story of Sorann, a powerful empathic healer, who quickly finds out that her upbringing was based on a bunch of lies, and now has to deal with a new (and at times unwanted) husband while finding out who she is and who she wants to be. This novel will fascinate your imagination, with its intense dialogue to its unusual twists that keep you guessing the whole way through. It'll be interesting to see where this series will take it's main characters and to see if they have the power, love, and heart to lead a new kingdom whilst being able to grow their relationship into something better.
I liked Sorann and Javert as a couple, but I don't know how I liked the way this novel wrapped up everything between them. I guess I just hoped for more. Hopefully, as the series progresses it'll turn out the way I'd like it too. =0/
Nevertheless, I do recommend this novel and series to anyone who likes fantasy thriller romances!
Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here :
“Binsee, what am I to do?”
“Javert is a handsome one. He’ll be a fine husband. You will be his queen, and he will one day be king.”
Sorann let out a breath of disgust. “And if I don’t want a husband?”
“Ah, Lizza’beth, every woman wants a husband.”
Sorann made a sound of disgust. “What for?”
“You want to change a wagon wheel? You want to kill a stag in the woods?”
“And I can trade my healing for all those things without having a man tell me what to do,” Sorann told her.
Binsee sat on a thin branch and used a leaf as a shade. “And at night in the deep of winter? You be buying a man with your healing to keep you warm?”
“I be buying wood for my stove to keep me warm,” Sorann said.
“A wagon, and all that goes with it, costs a lot of coin, Javert he be having a nice wagon.”
The lack of her own wagon did bother her. How did a person get a wagon? She’d seen traveling wagons for sale in the city, but they looked nothing like the ones the Zingari used--rather bare and designed for travel from one permanent home to another.
“There is so much more to sharing your life with a man, with others. Elizabeth, Lady Sorann, did you feel nothing when you kissed him?”
Heat rose from her toes to her cheeks. Binsee dropped off the branch and fluttered right in front of her face. One minuscule hand touched her. The tiny fairy laughed. ~ within Chapter 15
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by S. R., then please check out her website.
About the Author :
S. R. Howen grew up on a farm for the most part, spending part of her childhood as a military brat. The one constant in her life is story telling. She's always been a story teller--not a popular thing to be when you are five.
She's been with Wild Child Publishing, since 2000 as either an author or an editor. Currently, she lives in Texas with her family and assorted animals.
She follows a Native American life style--believing that each thing does indeed have its own spirit, and avoiding processed foods. If she couldn't kill it, catch it, or pick it in the wild, she doesn't eat it. Other than that she loves fast cars, good writing, and good editors. They are a writer's best friend.
Book Excerpt :
Standing in the makeshift shower, peace descended in a comfortable blanket. Nighttime birds sang and whistled to each other, a frog croaked bass, and the crickets formed the string section. Conceivably, Cryant lived far enough away from the city for the emotions of those in the city not to carry into his compound, to reduce the overflow from battering at her shell.
Sorann let down her guard, expecting a deluge of energies to cause her to feel dirty again. A dog barked and went silent. The pig grunted in its pen, perhaps upset at having its mud rearranged. But no feelings invaded her. In her palace rooms, a shield stayed in place to protect her from the invasion. Could the same be true of Cryant’s canvas?
Dim moonlight spilled in when she pushed the flap aside. She stepped outside marveling at the emotional vacuum she found herself in. Silly to think Cryant could afford the spell needed to empower a canvas to keep out the extended aura of others.
The sky above her wore a sprinkling of bright stars on an inky background. The cool night air caressed her skin. Goose flesh rose over her entire body. The hard ground under her feet felt warm with leftover heat from the day. The stones she stood on glowed in the faint luminosity of the yard light, wet here and there, the water from the shower ran in twin streams on each side of the stone path.
The clarity of her mind extended beyond her in the absence of others emotions and feelings. The world came to her in clear brightness--a veil of gauze lifted. She ran her hands over her stomach, her own skin felt different. The bumps caused by the cold felt alien and as she ran her hands over them, she could feel the tiny hairs on her skin, a chill shook her. She hadn’t even realized a barrier existed between her own hands and her flesh before.
Animal smells came to her, the scent of the soap was even stronger. Why did everything feel magnified? Perhaps subdued?
A result of the shell she kept in place? She’d lowered the shell before, and it wasn’t like this--not even in her rooms with their encasing spell. She spun around holding her arms out in the moonlight. She caressed her own arms, enjoying the feel of the gooseflesh on them. She laughed at the feel of the mud between her toes. She stepped off the path and took slow steps with her toes spread, so the mud curled as it squished between her toes. More laughter escaped her. Her hands traveled to her breasts, her nipples went hard in the cool breeze--had that ever happened to her before? Perhaps she hadn’t felt it?
“Sorann, you dressed?”
With a gasp, Sorann scrambled into Cryant’s robe. It stuck to her wet shoulders; luckily, it was over large for her. With quick movements, she wrapped her hair in the towel.
“Yes,” she called back. “I just need to re-rinse my feet. I . . . I accidently stepped off the path.”
“I’ve got soup on.” Cryant stood holding up the door flap. “Stay on the path.”
She quickly rinsed her feet in a clear puddle that remained on the platform under the barrel--the water mixed with mud creating patterns as it ran off her feet. Still puzzled, but prepared for the onslaught of Cryant’s life, she moved to the slice of light coming from Cryant’s doorway.
Cryant moved back so she could enter without touching him. Sorann almost tripped over the threshold. Nothing came from Cryant, no feelings, no buzz singing along her nerves in a stinging assault.
The upper wall revealed how the home stayed warm. Inside, plaster coated it, and, going through the door, she saw the wall consisted of two parts with what looked like straw stuffed in between.
The inside of his home held the aroma of potato soup and fresh bread. A slightly musty smell road on the tail of the soup. She rubbed her nose. Things in the room, a small wooden table with two chairs, a handmade broom leaning in the corner, two glow lamps, and a braided rug jumped into clarity. Things in her life were always fuzzy, smells, sizes, shapes, colors--all made so, she assumed, because of her constant battle to keep out the everyday life of others.
Perhaps the hog knocked her unconscious and this was the result? A dream? She pulled Cryant’s robe up around her neck, aware of how low the neckline rested over her breasts. The fabric carried a slight scent--a slight male scent. Cryant’s robe hadn’t been laundered since the last time he wore it.
“Here, sit by the fire,” Cryant told her. He stood near a makeshift clothesline stretched across the room. Using wooden clothes pins he hung her now clean clothes so they would dry.
Sorann carefully sat on the chair nearest the fire. Cryant finished hanging the clothes before he retrieved two wooden bowls from a homemade shelf hanging over a tin washtub. He spooned soup into both of them and set them on the table.
“Thank you,” Sorann managed. Questions tumbled through her mind. Why could she let her guard down in Cryant’s house? Why had she been so overwhelmed at first, but now--now since Cryant touched her in the pig pen--skin to skin, she didn’t need to be on her guard? Was it possible Cryant’s left over aura on his clothes allowed her a measure of control? Maybe Cryant himself?
Cryant picked up a small crate from near the fireplace and brought it to the table. He set the box on the floor in front of Sorann and set the thin towel covering the top aside. Small bird voices started up in a demand for food. Sorann pushed the chair back ready to spring away from the birds. She stopped.
“You saved the birds?”
“Some of them,” Cryant answered.
She peered back into the box. Birds. Young birds. The way they looked--one with a bandaged wing, another laying with its neck outstretched and its sides heaving as it tried to breathe.
“I can’t heal them,” Cryant said. His voice carried a note of sadness.
Slowly, Sorann reached into the box. She touched the gasping bird and almost shrieked when she felt its young body hit the pavement. Instantly, she knew about the bird’s broken bones, its injured ribs--the bird struggled in her grasp. She set him back in the box where he strutted around the other injured birds squawking and chattering at her.
“You healed him,” Cryant blurted. “But . . .”
Sorann reached into the box and one at a time she picked up the hurt birds. When she set them down they strutted about whole and healed. Cryant leapt to his feet and brought out a small cat from behind a curtain hanging around his bed.
He held the tiny black cat out to her. Sorann took the kitten in her hands and saw from the cat’s point of view the cart coming towards it and felt a flash of pain as the cart ran over the kitten’s leg and hip--her body didn’t feel as though she’d been run over. The cat’s feelings didn’t overcome her. She used her hands to completely surround the cat and in moments it struggled to be free. She let him go, and he ran to the box of birds and began batting at them. Cryant picked the kitten up.
“Out you go, but not in the street this time,” he said. He shut the crooked door over the curtain after he scooted the cat outside. “What they say about you, it isn’t true.”
Sorann looked up into his blue eyes. Lines creased his forehead, his thin face betrayed his puzzlement. She’d never noticed the shadow of stubble on his face before, or the tiny scratches, perhaps inflicted by an injured animal, like the kitten.
“It is true. I can’t heal. I get caught up in the emotions and can’t even diagnose what’s wrong because I feel as if all the things are happening to me. I don’t understand this at all. With animals, you aren’t supposed to receive the clarity to diagnose and heal the way you attain it with a person, but I didn’t expect to simply hold them and poof they are back to normal.” Her stomach rumbled, and she felt as if she’d eaten her last meal weeks ago.
“Eat, eat,” Cryant said and shoved both bowls of soup toward her.
She picked up the slightly bent spoon and touched a small bite to her tongue. Flavors exploded across her mouth, rich deep flavors of spices and onions she’d never experienced before. Spoonful after spoonful, each one a new adventure in taste and satisfaction until she cleaned both bowls of soup without a thought.
“Do you think the stories, you know from the Lost Lands, the ones about The Dark Towers are true?” He spooned more soup into the bowls.
Sorann glanced up at him and continued to shove food into her mouth. Her stomach kept begging for more with rumbles and demands she couldn’t ignore.
“I mean, the orange cat, outside, the one with three legs, sometimes, it almost feels like she is trying to talk to me.”
“The stories about those dark wizards turning their enemies into animals?”
Cryant nodded.
Sorann chewed more food. She let out a small laugh. “I don’t think there is enough magic left in the world, dark or otherwise to turn people or animals into something else.”
“But isn’t that what we do with our gift?” He sat back and spread his hands on the table in front of him. He snapped his fingers shut. “Isn’t what we do magic of a sort? We take broken bones and turn them into whole bones, something other than what they were.”
Sorann stared at him a moment before she spooned more soup into her mouth. Around the food, she said, “Broken bone that was once whole bone, not something entirely different. Take the cat, where would all the difference in mass go?”
“Still, I think I would like a cat who could talk to me and could understand what I say.”
“I had a cat once, when I was small, I used to think she understood what I said. I think they do on many levels, if I can feel what they have eaten and their enjoyment, then . . .” Sorann shrugged. She looked up at Cryant after her spoon scraped the bottom of the wooden bowl.
“I’m sorry. You lied when you said you weren’t a good cook. I’ve never tasted anything, well, anything so full of flavors. I didn’t mean to eat all of it,” she added with a glance at the empty pot.
“Never mind. I have more friends in need, will you . . .?”
Sorann laughed, energy jumped along her nerves--she could heal. A miracle had happened this night--the speck of dust that sparkled with light--a wish fairy, if any still lived with the bounty on most things magic? Sorann laughed again, whatever had happened, she could heal. “Yes, yes, I will.”
Giveaways!! :
A $10 Wild Child Publishing Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour
To Enter : Please leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address included at the end of it.
Soo .... COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)
ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites! Commenting on the other stops on the tour will also increase your chance of winning!
My Book Summary : As far back as she can remember Sadie has really been the one taking care of everything at her home. Soon, however, her home is going to expand from just her mom and her to a new sibling too. So, right after the last day of her junior year of high school and the first day of summer, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a maid for one of the fancier homes in her town, since her mother decides that she just can't do it at all because of her pregnancy (and because she just doesn't want to). However, after a few days of working at this house Sadie soon realizes that the owner of the place she's working for is none other than Jax Stone, world famous (and HOT) teenage rock star! Sadie, however, knows she needs the money more then to fall all over herself for a guy, no matter how famous he is, so she makes sure to get the job done and plans to be invisible.
Being invisible is so out of the question when the family comes home for the summer and Jax notices her right away ... thinking that she made it past his security and is a crazed fan. To which Sadie proves to him otherwise by being completely opposite to the girls he's use too and that seems to intrigue Jax even more.
Over time they chat here and there, which grows into a sort of friendship/relationship between them. Nevertheless, Sadie knows whatever happens between them wouldn't last more than the summer, as Jax agrees too since outside of that house their lives are completely different. However .... after spending just about spending the whole summer together in one way or another .... when they finally part, will they be able to breathe again without each other?
My Book Review : 4.5 out of 5 stars!!! This was a great new twist to the "Cinderella" type of stories. We have Sadie, who is a great lead, that is a strong girl who knows if she didn't take on all of this responsibility the life that she and her mom have would be a lost worse then it is. However, even though she knows this, that doesn't mean she wouldn't want to be able to feel like a teenager for just once. Then she starts working at Jax's house and suddenly she has friends and people who want to look out for her more then she has ever had before, which she loves. And then Jax ..... he is sweet and an all around girls fantasy, especially when it comes to how you would want a "rock star" to act towards you. However, the two know that the world they have created together won't be the same once the summer is over so there is no way they could make it last afterwards .... right? I just could not get enough!!! And even though they had quite a few struggles to overcome, I do think they make a wonderful pair!
I recommend this book for anyone who LOVES (and wants to read) a TRUE Cinderella Story that is set in "our" world! ♥
He smiled and leaned over and asked in a soft voice, "Do you know you're beautiful?"
I swallowed, hoping my dry throat allowed the words through without making me sound all choked up. "I wouldn't say 'beautiful.' I realize I have nice hair and eyes. I got those from my mother. But I don't have a good personality. So it really takes away from the others." My words sounded stupid being said aloud, but I realized I managed to bare my soul to this boy again. The power Jax held over me disturbed me. ~ within Chapter 5
I blushed, and all four girls got sappy smiles on their faces, and one of them even sighed. "Wow, I can't believe Jax Stone's girlfriend lives in Sea Breeze."
I started to correct her. I wasn't Jax's girlfriend, and he would be gone soon.
"Well--"
"She worries about my privacy. But then, I like the fact she wants to keep me all to herself." His hand squeezed mine, and I bit back a laugh.
Amanda sighed. "Does my brother know about Jax?" ~ within Chapter 11
For more information on this book and/or any other books by Abbi, then please check out her Amazon Page.
** This site is a participant in various affiliate advertising programs through Amazon.com, Rakuten Marketing, Commission Junction, IndieBound, Smashwords, Book Depository, and more that are designed to provide a means for Jess to earn minimal advertising fees by showcasing the areas you can purchase the corresponding products that Jess discusses within her blog posts.
All of these affiliate links are obvious as to which ones they are. **
Today I'm turning my blog over to Katee Robert, with a review of her latest novel "Wrong Bed, Right Guy," which is the 1st book in her Come Undone Series!!
ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY!! [Blog Tour will run from August 24 - 29, 2012]
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 308 KB | Expected Release Date: July 2012 | Publisher: Entangled Publishing : Brazen | Obtained: Entangled Publishing
My Book Summary : Elle is a sweet and straitlaced art gallery coordinator who is thinks she's found her Mr. Right. Her boss Nathan is the one, even though he doesn't make her completely hot and bothered they are the perfect match in every other way, if only he would ask her out. Yet even with her no-so-blatant hints, he still hasn't. So, when Nathan informs her that he's going to be creating a new art piece that day Elle knows he'll be spending the night in the loft above the gallery so she plans to seduce him that night!
However, even with the best laid plans .... some things can always turn array. Especially when Elle finds that, the man she is seducing isn't Nathan at all but his bad boy brother!!!
Gabe never expected to have a night visitor while staying in his brother's loft but he isn't complaining either. However, once Elle realizes that he's not Nathan and takes off, Gabe plans on doing everything in his power to prove to her that even though he's a "bad boy" he wants to be her hero too.
Has the "country corn princess" finally met her perfect match or is this the beginning of another dating disaster?
My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars, this is a steamy story about finding that Mr. Right and being able to trust with your whole heart! I LOVED GABE!!! He is a bad boy looking for his perfect match and when he unexpectedly gets her in the middle of the night, he does everything he can to keep her and win her heart! Elle and Gabe's chemistry and budding romance leaps off the pages of this novel! They make a great pair!!
My only problem with this novel is that while I liked Elle when she was with Gabe. I really hated her when she was having problems with him. And NO, it's not because of my crush on Gabe. My issues with Elle were because of the way she handles the situations they get into together and how she always seems to blame him, or look down her nose at him, before thinking things through and making smart decisions about what is happening to her.
With that being said, if the novel were changed then it wouldn't have been as good as it was. In addition, I do understand where Elle gets all of her insecurities. Therefore, I'm not really surprised that Elle did and said the things she did. I just wish she did things differently. Additionally, I LOVED the ending and I hope to see/read more about Elle & Gabe when book 2 of this series comes out!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I would recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary romances that have a little erotica in them.
She might not be a porn star by night, or racy, or a wild child, but Elle had a lot going for her. Just because he didn’t see it didn’t mean someone else wouldn’t—someone like Nathan. Except she hadn’t seduced Nathan. She’d sneaked into bed with his brother. Maybe she should just give up on men and join a nunnery. “What is going on in that head of yours that’s putting a frown on your face?” “I’d make a terrible nun.” She hadn’t meant to say that out loud, darn it. ~ within Chapter 5
“Let me help you.” “I’m fine.” Elle shoved past him and marched toward the store. “You’re acting insane.” “And you didn’t look for cars. What if you got hit?” Christ, he sounded like a mother hen. Apparently Elle thought the same thing. “Thanks, Mom, but I’m a grown-up. I have no intention of throwing myself in front of a car.” She hurried inside, but Gabe could have sworn he heard her mutter, “But I might if you don’t stop nagging me.” ~ within Chapter 10
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Katee, then please check out her website.
About the Author :
Katee Robert learned to tell stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her favorites then were the rather epic adventures of The Three Bears, but at age twelve she discovered romance novels and never looked back. Now living in Eastern Washington, she spends her time—in between ogling men’s goodies and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse—writing speculative romance novels.
My Giveaway!! :
An e-book copy of "Wrong Bed, Right Guy"
The Fine Print -- To Enter :
This contest ends on August 29th 2012.
This contest is International!!
It's the author/publisher's responsibility to ensure that the winner gets the book, not mine.
Today I'm turning my blog over to Rachel Harris, who I interviewed about her novel "Accidentally Married on Purpose," which is the 3rd book in her Love & Games Series!!
ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY(s)!! [Blog Tour will run from July 14 - 25, 2014]
My Q&A with Rachel Harris :
Jess : Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Rachel : I’m an author/homeschool mama who gets through each day with Diet Mountain Dew and laughing at myself. Also, I spend a good portion of my day making up random songs like my Ode to a Blueberry Muffin..., which sort of goes back to the laughing at myself part of my story :)
I’m blessed to call myself an author and I have the most incredible support team behind me—my husband is my rock, my parents live next door and offer plenty of babysitting, my street team is the most incredible group of people I’ve ever met, and I’ve befriended the most talented authors I’m grateful to now call friends.
Since I like all the things, I write YA, NA, and Adult fun and flirty romance about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Reading is my addiction, chocolate is right up there, and I adore talking with readers :)
Jess : Please describe your heroine, from "Accidentally Married on Purpose," in one to two sentences.
Rachel : Sherry Robicheaux is a wild child who is addicted to love, romance novels, and fairy tales, yet she’s given up on the HEA when it comes to her own love life. Determined to have one last fling before finding the solution to her heartache—a Mr. Boring and Dependable—she sets off to land herself a roadie...only to wake up hitched to a world famous country artist (oops).
Jess : Which of your characters would you most & least like to invite to dinner, from which book and why?
Rachel : I’d most like to invite Sherry over for dinner because she’s cracked me up since the first book in the series ("Taste the Heat") and kept me giggling in book two ("Seven Day Fiance"). I knew that once she got her turn it’d be a crazy ride. And I was right. What I love most about her, though, is her huge heart, and I think we’d get along great.
Least like to invite to dinner? I’d have to go with the annoying reporter Tammy Paxton who makes life a little complicated for Tyler in "Accidentally Married on Purpose." Though, without her interference, who knows what would’ve happened. Besides, I kind of think she made have some redeeming qualities. (Yup. I’m totally considering making her a future heroine!)
Jess : Is there any differences and/or similarities between Cane from your "Seven Day Fiance" novel and Tyler from your "Accidentally Married on Purpose" novel?
Rachel : The similarities are that they are both musicians, they both come from strong southern families, and they know how to treat a woman. As for differences, I think Tyler’s humor is more self-effacing and fun-loving, whereas Cane is a bit more sarcastic, and where Cane is all tatted-up muscles, Tyler is more tall and lanky. But they both stole my heart while writing. :)
Jess : What sparked the idea for "Accidentally Married on Purpose?"
Rachel : I wrote the synopsis for this book before I’d even written book one, so it was always in the back of my mind. I knew Sherry was the adventurous, put your heart out there, type of girl, and I wanted her to have a story that celebrated that. Also, this series is set in New Orleans, and my goal was always to showcase the unique awesomeness of my hometown. Mardi Gras and the music scene was definitely something I wanted to acknowledge, so what better way to do that than to combine them? Once I had those two elements in mind, the plot pretty much wrote itself, and I was a happy, giggling participant.
Jess : Out of all of the secondary characters within "Accidentally Married on Purpose," do you have one or two favorites so far? If so, who are they and can you tell us why?
Rachel : Definitely Charlie. He’s the number one person who comes up from readers and I’m happy to say that I plan to make him the hero in the first book of the spin-off series! I also really enjoyed writing the publicist, Arianne. Funny thing is, a girl on my street team won the chance to become a walk on character in my next book, and that was Arianne Cruz. While writing the book, I had so much fun with her that I told Arianne she might just become a future heroine, too! She’s pretty excited, as am I :)
Jess : How many books have you written? Which is your favorite and why?
Rachel : I have written three adult romances and four completed YA novels—I’m about halfway finished my fifth. Whichever book I just wrote is always the one I love the most. I’m still attached to the characters, in their worlds, so it probably comes as no shock that my two favorites are the ones releasing this year: "Accidentally Married on Purpose" (Adult) and "The Fine Art of Pretending" (Young Adult). But honestly? I think that is because the main characters, Sherry and Aly, are both the most like me.
In "Accidentally Married on Purpose," I got to live out my celebrity fantasy (uh, I may or may not have written NKOTB fan fic when I was a kid...), and I threw in my love affair with romance novels. I’m not lying when I said I pretty much smiled the entire time I wrote this book. And in "The Fine Art of Pretending," it was the same thing. The premise is based on a conversation I actually had in high school with my guy friends, and while Aly definitely became her own person, she is based a lot on my own experiences. Only I let my goober side fly a little more freely with her than I did in high school, I let her make some huge mistakes that I’d have rather avoided personally, and she can sing beautifully, whereas I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. :)
Jess : Do you have any other projects in the works? If so, can you share a little of your current work with us?
Rachel : Right now, I’m working on the second book in my new YA series that begins with "The Fine Art of Pretending," which releases this September. It involves rodeo this time, and I’m having a lot of fun with it. After that is my New Adult debut and I’m so excited to jump in to this story!! Then it’s back to another adult contemporary romance :)
Jess : Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover? Any specific reason why?
Rachel : I love seeing my paperbacks on the shelf, but to read, I honestly prefer ebooks. When I travel, I can bring so many more with me, and since I do the majority of my reading at night, it is a lot easier to read on my iPad and then crash rather than having to get up and turn off the light. But that is just pure laziness talking lol
Jess : If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Rachel : "Mama Brain"
Jess : What cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy?
Rachel : I think I’m a mix of Belle from Beauty and the Beast (books and her love of family) and Winnie the Pooh (silly, loves his friends, and a bit forgetful at times *grin*)
Jess : List 3 books you just recently read and would recommend?
Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong families are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing.
A Cajun cowgirl now living in Houston, she firmly believes life's problems can be solved with a hot, sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. She homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches way too much Food Network with her amazing husband.
An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and losing herself in story. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 1143 KB | Expected Release Date: July 14, 2014 | Publisher: Entangled Publishing : Bliss | Obtained: Sizzling PR
"Accidentally Married on Purpose" [Love & Games Series, Book 3] by Rachel Harris
Author's Book Description :One ring plus one wild night equals one crazy love
Sherry Robicheaux loves men. She loves love. And she loves an adventure. So when she meets a mysterious man while working backstage at a country music concert in Vegas, she’s all about what’s happened in Vegas staying there.
Country music superstar Tyler Blue just wants a weekend of anonymity...though there’s something about the spunky waitress with the streaks of purple hair that tempts him like no other. Until the next morning, when they both wake up with fuzzy memories…and rings on their fingers.
Convincing Sherry to maintain the ruse for his public image isn’t the hardest part—it’s reminding himself that their time spent playing husband and wife in her small town of Magnolia Springs can’t last. Tyler’s first love will always be music—and the road is no place for a sweet downhome girl.
My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! Infatuation is the name of the game. Since I am infatuated with this novel, while in it you read about how much Tyler and Sherry are infatuated with each other. They like each other so much that they "help each other" during their month together, in doing so they gain mutual respect for each other and an unyielding friendship. Yet, once their month is over everything is thrown into question, will they follow their desires or stick with their original plans?
I appreciated that this novel has a heroine who yearns for her own HEA. So much so, in fact, that she asks and is willing to have Tyler play it up for her during their month so she'll get to enjoy at least one HEA in her lifetime even if it's fake. It was sweet, especially because Tyler isn't the romantic type, yet was still willing to do it for her.
They make a fun sweet pairing that I was happy to read about. In addition, it was nice that even though this novel is a part of a series, it still is stand-alone enough that you don't feel left out or slowed down by the back-story. Yet, there was some info that was a bit unnecessary to have included, as it was never fleshed out more. But oh wells.
Overall, I recommend this novel to this who enjoys comedic contemporary romances!
Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here :
Sweet Thing,
Did I mention you look HOT today?
Well, you do.
Kick some hostess ass. See you tonight.
Tyler
P.S. Charlie says you’re our good luck charm ;)
Sherry spit the foaming toothpaste into the basin and rinsed her brush. Her eyes kept straying to the row of notes stuck on the mirror. For some reason, she hadn’t removed that first one, and when she awoke the next morning to its twin, she’d decided to leave them both. Now there were three. None of his short messages overstepped any boundaries; they were simple but flirtatious. And adorable as hell. ~ within Chapter 11
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Rachel, then please check out her website.
Book Excerpt :
Waking up face-first on the bathroom floor may not be cause for alarm for everyone, but for Sherry, it ranked right up there. Especially since she knew the second her eyes cracked open that it wasn’t her bathroom.
Fuzzy-edged memories pranced around her brain, just out of reach, as she hooked a hand on the toilet seat and pushed to a sitting position.
The world tilted.
As her stomach heaved, she dove for the porcelain throne, but nothing came up. Nothing other than slightly sharper memories. Ones that told of dancing, magical fountains, way too much alcohol, and some very, very sexy time between the sheets. The images pulsed like an old movie, blanking out too much for her liking, but a flush heated her skin at what she could recall.
Hot damn. She’d been right. A night with a roadie like Tyler would definitely keep her fantasies occupied for years to come. Shame she couldn’t remember more.
Resting her head on the cool surface, she surveyed the fancy digs with half-lidded eyes. It was a hell of a room, particularly on a roadie’s budget. Further proof that either Tyler was in tight with his boss, or Blue wasn’t nearly the egotist she’d pegged him to be. Too bad she hadn’t had a chance to meet him the other night.
“Tyler?” she called out again, wincing at the roughness of her voice. She sounded like an old lady who smoked a bazillion packs a day. Lovely. Grabbing hold of either side of the toilet, she wobbled first to her knees, and then her feet. The mirror was just a few feet away. Time to inspect the damage.
Eyes half closed, she fumbled forward and latched onto the counter to steady herself. Hangovers really didn’t suit her. She turned on the faucet, and as she waited for the plastic cup to fill with water, Sherry raised her eyes to her reflection.
“What the freaking hell?!?”
She was wearing a wedding veil.
A wedding veil was on her head. It was white. It had lace. And it was on her freaking head.
She didn’t have a single stitch of clothing on her body otherwise, but she did have that. “Hubba, hubba, wubba...what?”
She blinked hard, repeatedly, thinking her reflection would change. It didn’t. Cold water ran over her hand, and it didn’t wake her from the bizarre dream. The door behind her started to creak open, and Sherry jumped, snatching a towel off the floor.
When she saw a huge honking diamond on her finger, she ditched the towel and screamed instead.
Giveaway!! :
A signed set of paperbacks of the entire Love and Games series (US only) OR a $25 Gift Card (Int'l only) to a randomly drawn participant during the tour
Today I'm turning my blog over to Roxanne Snopek, who I interviewed about her latest novel "Three River Ranch," which is the 1st book in her Three River Ranch Series!!
ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY!! [Blog Tour will run from October 31 - November 7, 2012]
My Q&A with Roxanne Snopek :
Jess : What books did you enjoy reading while growing up?
Roxanne : I have a complete collection of Agatha Christie novels, mostly salvaged from second-hand book stores. I just loved them. Also, for some reason, I found the 101 Dalmatians books very comforting. Don’t ask me why, but I read and reread them as a tween-ager.
Jess : What sparked the idea for "Three River Ranch?"
Roxanne : I always wanted to write a cowboy story, but I’m not a “western” or “historical” writer. So I needed a contemporary slant; once I learned about wild horses, the ecology slant was a natural.
Jess : Which of your characters would you most & least to invite to dinner, from which book and why?
Roxanne : Oh, I’d definitely invite Bliss and Blythe to dinner, together. Just to watch the sparks fly! Plus, they’re both good cooks – we could do potluck!
Jess : If you had to describe Aurora & Carson (from "Three River Ranch") in one word, what would it be?
Roxanne : Aurora: believer, Carson: cynic
Jess : What appeals to you when writing a romance novel?
Roxanne : I love writing emotional interactions and relationships. I “get” that stuff. Plus, with grim reality all around us, I want to write something that I KNOW will end well.
Jess : Which usually comes first for you, the character(s) story or the idea for the novel?
Roxanne : Character, definitely. I might read something in the paper that twigs an idea, but it doesn’t take root until a person emerges from the mist to embody the situation.
Jess : If "Three River Ranch" were to be made into a film, who do you see playing the main characters and why?
Roxanne : Carson is Josh Holloway, the guy who played Sawyer in LOST. Alpha, so a bit high-handed and rough-around-the-edges sometimes, sexy as all get-out, definitely damaged, but you just can’t help loving him. Did you see Sawyer and Kate kiss? Seriously. Look for it on YouTube (look below). That’s how Carson kisses.
Rory would be played by a grown-up version of Emma Roberts, who played Grace in the movie Valentine’s Day. She has the right mix of innocence, resilience and dogged idealism.
Jess : In regards to "Three River Ranch," if you could write it all over again, would you change anything about it?
Roxanne : Well, I’d probably soften Carson up a bit more. *I* know what a softie he is, and Rory knows, but readers don’t always see it as clearly.
Jess : How many books have you written? Which is your favorite and why?
Roxanne : Including non-fiction and anthologies, I’ve got ten print books out there with my name on it. The e-book "Three River Ranch" makes eleven. However, I’ve written at least another five that have never found publication. My favorite book though? The next one. Always the next one. It’s still perfect, you see.
Jess : Do you have any other projects in the works? If so, can you share a little of your current work with us?
Roxanne : You bet! I’ve always got something in the works. The one I’m finishing up right now is the second in the Three River Ranch series, called "The Reluctant Rancher." It’s the story of Des and Zach and wow, these two have a lot of trouble to overcome. Watch for it in early 2013!
Jess : Do you prefer eBooks, paperbacks or hardcover? Any specific reason why?
Roxanne : I’m loving my Kobo right now. The “buy now” button is the best thing ever! I can browse, sample, buy and start reading, all without getting out of bed!
Jess : What do you normally eat for breakfast, or do you skip it and get straight to work?
Roxanne : You’ll be sorry you asked. My favorite breakfast – toast and peanut butter – is now only a weekend treat, because I’m starting to manifest symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome and have to cut down on bread. (Dang it. I love bread.) So, instead, I make a super-healthy, high-fiber, high-protein, low-fat bowl of: ¼ cup of old-fashioned oatmeal, cooked in the microwave with a Medjool date for sweetness, then mixed with 1/3 cup of NutraCleanse, and skim milk. It keeps my blood sugar stable and easily holds me until late afternoon. Plus, it’s surprisingly delicious.
Jess : If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Roxanne : "Wait! Wait! She’s Still Thinking!" or "Oh, NO! Did I Say That Out Loud?"
Jess : List 3 books you just recently read and would recommend?
Roxanne gives mostly 5 star reviews because she only forces herself to read books she doesn't like when someone makes her. In which case there's usually a good reason, like expanding her literary comfort zone on the advice of a smart, literate friend.
Roxanne Willems-Snopek is an award-winning freelance writer of everything from corporate newsletters to personal essays. Author of the Amazing Stories series of true life animal adventures, she now focuses on fiction. Snopek grew up in Saskatchewan and now lives in British Columbia.
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 358 KB | Expected Release Date: August 24, 2012 | Publisher: Entangled Publishing : Bliss | Obtained: Entangled Publishing
"Three River Ranch" [Three River Ranch Series, Book 1] by Roxanne Snopek (aka Roxanne Willems-Snopek)
My Book Summary : Trying to start a new life for her and her unborn child, Aurora (Rory) moves into the guesthouse on Three River Ranch sight unseen and finds her life is going to get a lot harder. The same day she finds out that the guesthouse is a mess and she also learns that the son (Carson) of the now diseased ranch owner has plans of his own for the property. Not willing to give in to Carson's demands Rory suggests that that they become roommates and try to help each other out in rebuilding their lives and the ranch.
Now Carson has to deal with finding money to turn the ranch into the Three River Mustang Study Center, a feisty pregnant woman (Rory), and a pregnant wild mustang & dog as well. If only Carson's father didn't make his will, so demanding then he could have everything that he wants as well as giving enough money for Rory to be on her way out of there. Nevertheless, disappointments have a way of changing into wants/needs making Rory & Carson find that what they always wanted could be right around the corner if only they open themselves up to opportunities that await them!!
My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars! The realization that dreams come in all shapes and sizes is what this novel is all about! I loved the buildup of this story! How both Rory & Carson come from rocky pasts and they learn to love again throughout this novel, even if it takes being knocked on the head to do so. The town seems great too, but my favorite characters were Blythe (The Blight) and Bliss (The Blister)--twins who seem that they cannot stand each other--they are the voice of reason for Rory throughout this story and are good comic relief!
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes cowboy contemporary romances!
“Melissa,” said her mother calmly. “Waitresses don’t get tips until the customers have finished their meals. And only if they’re satisfied with the service, honey.”
The girl huffed loudly and turned on her heel. “Stupid job,” she muttered as she stomped back into the kitchen.
Rory eyed her coffee doubtfully.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Blythe said, lifting her own cup to her lips. “Melissa’s the devil’s own spawn but she makes a good cup of coffee.”
“I heard that!” called a faint voice from the kitchen.
“An okay cup of coffee, I meant,” Blythe hollered back, grinning at Rory. Her nose wrinkled up when she smiled. ~ within Chapter 4
She swung both feet over the edge of the couch and sat upright, again feeling the head rush that had sent her to the couch in the first place.
“So this is swooning,” she muttered to herself. “Can’t say I like it.”
“Rory?”
The voice came from the dark mass in the corner chair. Rory jumped.
“Carson?” she squeaked, then cleared her throat. “What are you doing?”
The ancient upholstery complained as Carson unfolded his long limbs from their cramped positions.
“Catching a few winks, like you.”
Rory’s eyes had adjusted to the low light, and she could see his mussed hair and hear the gravel in his voice. “You were watching over me!”
“Nah. You don’t need watching. But you kinda fell asleep on the job, so I took over watching Misty here.”
She sat up, pulling the afghan tightly around her shoulders, and leaned over the whelping box. She stroked Mistral and her dozing offspring. Her hand drifted lightly over the tiny bodies, now fluffy and dry, then stopped. She peered in more closely.
“Aha,” Carson said, a smile in his voice. “You noticed.” ~ within Chapter 10
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Roxanne, then please check out her website.
My Giveaway!! :
An ARC e-book copy of "Three River Ranch" to one randomly drawn person from Rafflecopter
The Fine Print -- To Enter :
This contest ends on November 7th 2012.
This contest is International!!
It's the author/publisher's responsibility to ensure that the winner gets "Three River Ranch," not mine.
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 262; Kindle Edition - File Size: 2131 KB | Expected Release Date: January 4, 2014 | Publisher: Summerhouse Publishing | Obtained: NetGalley
"No Ifs, Ands, or Bears About It" [Grayslake Series, Book 1] by Celia Kyle
Author's Book Description : The first day of Mia’s new life in Grayslake, Georgia is not going as planned. The house her grandfather left her looks ready to crumble, boxes cover every inch of the floor and—oh—there’s a bear cub in her pantry. It gets worse when the cub’s uncle comes by and busts out his fur and claws while on her front porch. Then it gets loads better because suddenly there’s a hot hunk of badge-wearing werebear on her lawn ready to rescue her. Yum. Of course, he has to ruin things by trying to take the cub out of her hands. Ha! The cub is hers... No ifs, ands, or bears about it.
Werebear Ty can’t seem to get the curvaceous, delectable Mia to understand that, even if she is one-quarter werebear, she isn’t keeping the cub. Ty is the Grayslake Itan, the clan’s leader, and the little werebear is going home with him... Unless it isn’t. It’s her smile. If she’d stop smiling and being gorgeous, his inner-bear would support him and Ty would get his way. But the beast wants to make their woman happy, so it’s perfectly content to let her do as she pleases. Then things change. Threats arise, danger comes close, and Ty demands she return to his den. No ifs, ands, or mates about that.
My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, one determined woman takes on the Grayslake Itan--clan's leader--and some aggressive werebears in order to protect a child she doesn't know while loosing her heart to the Itan in the process...
Ms. Kyle hit a home run with this adventurous paranormal romance! It has a wonderful buildup for being the start of this series and fun characters! As a duo, Mia and Ty are a perfect match! From their romantic intensity, to their determination to do right by the abandoned child, to the way they both seem to have a strong ability to lead (not including Mia's "freak outs") Ty's clan .... they just fit together so well!
In truth, I enjoyed this novel so much that I was sad when the few chapters after the "big battle" felt a little bit like a let down. I only say that because Ty didn't seem to act like who I thought him to be--the strong leader. In addition, even though the chapters were leading up for what might be happening within the next novel in this series it still left more questions for me then answers. =0/
Nevertheless, I'm excited to see where this series goes! Since I loved Ty's brothers, and I'm assuming they are going to be the hero's throughout this series, so I can't wait to what will happen to them (actually the whole family) and who they'll end up with.
I recommend this novel and series to those who are fans of Ms. Kyle and/or like paranormal romances!
Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here :
With thin straps and gaping armholes, Ty was able to see the cub clearly. Rage, familiar and hot, burst through him at the sight of the boy's condition.
A threatening growl tore from his chest, pushing through his heart and bursting into the room. Gigi was the first to react, kneeling and focusing on the bit of floor before her. Other nearby bears, his brother Van included, did the same. Each of them fought to soothe his temper through submission. Hell, even little Parker, who didn't understand, whined and laid his head on the table.
The only one still standing by the time he cut off the sound was Mia. No, she wasn't just standing. She was leaning against him, her injured hand flat against his chest and fingers tracing his muscles. It was then he noticed her murmuring.
"Shh... You can gut him later. With a dull knife. Won't that be fun? You can bathe in his blood and drag his body down the street. Entrails everywhere..."
A woman after his own heart. ~ within Chapter 4
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Celia, then please check out her website.
Welcome to the Ignite and Select Suspense Shooting Gallery Booth! Authors Mari Manning, Christina Elle, Avery Flynn, and Julie Castle each wrote an original scene featuring new or existing characters at the shooting gallery at a summer carnival.. We hope you enjoy them, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway and grab your copies of the books below![Blog Tour will run from August 5 – 14, 2016 & Giveaway will run until August 15, 2016]
Summer Carnival-Ignite & Select Suspense Scenes Featuring Mari Manning, Christina Elle, Avery Flynn, and Julie Castle
~ "Shooting Blue-Eyed Ducks" By: Mari Manning ~
“Go again, McCaffrey?”
Thomasina Lind turned to the man standing next to her at the Shoot ‘Em Up booth. The Zapata Texas County Fair surrounded them with sounds of laughter and tinny music, and the smells of popcorn and hot dogs. The evening air was thick and humid.
Jake McCaffrey looked down at her, and a half-smile—a friendly, but far from intimate half-smile—tugged at his mouth. “Until we have a winner,” he said. “Course, we already know who that will be.”
“You are every kind of fool if you believe that.” She tried to smile past the squeeze of her heart.
He tilted his head and frowned. “You just swallow a horsefly?”
“What?” Jeez.
“You heard me.”
“No.” She lifted her long, thick hair off her neck. “I’m just a little hot.”
For a split second his gaze dropped from her face, sweeping down her body, then it was back. “There’s hot, then there’s hot.” Was that an interested look? “What?”
“That horsefly must’ve bit your tongue.”
She opened her mouth, then shut it when she realized she was about to say ‘what?’ again.
This was not going well. Not well at all. Jake McCaffrey was her best friend. They’d been part of a group of friends in college, and when they ended up in the same town, well, it seemed natural to hang out together. Except Jake had grown on her until every time she saw him, her mouth would sort of water, and she couldn’t keep her eyes off his wide mouth and baby blues, his mile-wide shoulders, his—
“Seriously, Tommie. Are you okay?”
“No. I mean, yes. I’m okay. I just, uh, I just wanted to tell you something.”
“Shoot.” He grinned at his bad pun.
She glanced around. The old geezer in the booth stared at her, and the two girls behind Jake giggled. “Not right here.”
“What is going on? Are you sick?” He leaned into her.
The warmth of his body and woodsy scent of his aftershave filled her with a sweet-sad feeling because she wanted him and he wasn’t hers. Maybe he never would be. But there was only one way to find out. The hard way.
She wanted to holler at him, “Look at me, Jake McCaffrey. Really look at me. I’m a goddamn woman.” Just get it all out. The bottled-up feelings, the tingling desire to touch his skin, the need to be in his arms. But she lost her nerve. Instead she said, “Sometimes I feel like we’re more than friends.” Her heart was banging in her chest, and she almost gagged on the word ‘more’.
Surprise flashed in his eyes, then the light changed to recognition. He knew what she was saying. He tugged on his Stetson, and his handsome face fell into shadow. “Let’s see what you got.”
She couldn’t help herself. “What?”
He lifted his gun. “Best shot gets to ask any question he—or she—wants, and the loser has to tell the truth. Straight up. Deal?”
Confused, she sought his gaze, but in the shade of his hat, his eyes appeared dark and unfamiliar. She turned away and lifted her gun. What choice did she have? She’d gone this far. Their friendship was already damaged because he knew.
“Ladies first.”
“Thanks.” She slid the word between them, cutting the tension with sharp sarcasm. And sounding normal. Almost.
A Texas girl born and bred. She’d been shooting since she was eight. She lifted her gun. It felt familiar, and her nerves settled. The red and yellow ducks paraded across the target. A blue-eyed yellow duck emerged. Bang. Duck one. This was fun. She waited for another blue-eyed duck. Followed it in her sites. Bang. Duck two.
One more to go. Should she send a message? Just because I want you doesn’t mean you can mess with me. Yeah. Definitely. She waited. Three brown-eyed ducks, one green, then the blue was back. She felt full of life and optimism. She pulled the trigger. Bang. Duck three—gone.
She looked up at Jake and shrugged.
“Seems like you got something going for those poor blue-eyed critters.” The half-smiled tugged at his lips, and she wanted to lasso the world for him.
“Seems like I do. Your turn.”
He lifted his gun. “Maybe I should take out the brown-eyed ones.”
Well, at least he’d noticed the color of her eyes. “Shouldn’t be hard. There’s more of them.”
He chuckled, then shot a blue-eyed duck. “Dang.” But he didn’t sound sorry. He tightened his stance and shot again. Another blue-eyed duck went down.
One more. Whether he hit the next duck or the contest went on for a few more rounds, truth time was close. Sweat dampened her shirt, and dust dried in her throat. She was sorry she started this. They were friends. It was better than nothing, wasn’t it?
“If it’s a draw, let’s just leave it,” she said. “Besides the show is starting soon.”
He didn’t even look at her. “Bullshit.” Then he shot. A red duck dropped.
So did her jaw. He lost. Jake lost.
He set down his gun and turned to her. “Ask me anything.”
Stunned, she backed up a step. She’d expected to do the explaining. But now. It was yes or no, and he got to decide.
His hand slid over her arm, and he guided her around the side of the booth. Beside her, the ping, ping, ping of the shooting gallery seemed like it was a million miles away. She glanced up expecting sympathy or uncertainty. But his expression was closed.
“I don’t know if you’ve…I mean I wondered if…Have you ever considered…” Her cheeks began to burn.
He shifted. “That’s what I thought you meant.” Then he bent and cupped her face, tilting her mouth up to his. His baby blues shone softly.
One long, slow, sweet kiss later, he said, “Yes.”
~ By: Christina Elle ~
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Samantha Harper gazed at Ash Cooper with defiant blue eyes and a hand planted firmly on her hip. He’d grown accustomed to that look in the short time they’d known each other. It meant that an argument was on its way.
“When you said let’s practice, I didn’t realize you meant with guns that don’t shoot bullets.”
Well, yeah. With her aim and accuracy, the no bullets part was the biggest appeal.
They stood in the middle of St. Stanislaus Church parking lot, where a carnival had been erected to help raise money for a mission trip to Honduras. There wasn’t much wind in the middle of July in Baltimore, which added to the muggy and stifling air quality. A shocking amount of people turned out given the high temperature and humidity. It was the kind of day that when you stepped outside you walked through a wall of moisture.
A thick sheen of sweat soaked the back of Ash’s grey T-shirt, his boxer briefs were suctioned against his skin, and his flip-flops squeaked when he walked. If he was going to be this hot and sweaty, he’d much rather it be for a more physical and private reason.
But he’d promised to help her get better at shooting so she could pass the police entrance exam, and that’s what he was going to do.
Without bullets.
“You need help handling a gun,” he said, gesturing to the Shoot ‘Em Up booth. “And this is the best way to do that without all the pressure of a real weapon.”
She opened her mouth, most likely to rebut since that was one of the only things she did know how to do, but must have agreed with his logic because she snapped it closed.
“Well, yeah,” she said, “but where’s the sense of danger in shooting water into a clown’s mouth?” She pointed to the painted face with open mouth about ten feet away that had seen better days.
Again. Kinda the point. If she missed with these guns he’d only go home slightly wetter than he was right now. But with the other kind of gun? He shuddered thinking about the damage to his favorite organs.
There was enough distraction today because of her attire. No need to add anymore with the use of real ammo.
Sam was in one of her tank tops with thin straps. The kind that did wonders at warming his already heated blood. The damn woman was a nuisance and a burden on his common sense. The top of her shirt danced on the cusp of showing just enough cleavage to tease him without taunting him, but tight enough to show off her small, perky breasts. It was one of the reasons he’d suggested they get out of the house in the first place. His row home, which was next door to hers off 19th Street, was much too small with her staring at him in that thin fabric.
They’d been arguing again about her insistence to help him and his DEA teammates find a dangerous drug lord. He’d told her to stay the hell away. She’d told him to go to hell. He was ready to either strangle her or screw her senseless. Since his DEA Regional Director wouldn’t approve of either option, the only alternative was getting out and being around other people.
Still didn’t extinguish his desire. In fact, it heightened it. He kept glancing around the carnival and fantasizing about all the dark places they could sneak into for a few hot interludes together.
He shook his head and reminded himself that he’d brought her here with a purpose that didn’t include getting the two of them off.
They’d spent the first hour at the carnival enjoying the robust scenery of people, eating funnel cake and corndogs, and riding some of the more tame rides.
He could see another argument bubbling inside her right now. The tense turn of her bony shoulders. The firm set of her jaw. The challenge in her wide-set eyes. She was gearing up to dispute his logic of practicing her shooting skills at the carnival.
Stubborn woman.
“This used to be one of my favorite games as a kid,” he said, trying to distract not only her tenacious attitude but his lust too.
“Really?” she asked.
He gave a small smile in response, remembering the hours he’d spent every summer sneaking away from his paper route to shoot a couple of rounds. Then, how he’d had to slip the stuffed animals he’d won through the back door of their two-bedroom house before his dad would see them.
Ash picked up the gun next to hers and yanked upward to loosen the hose connected at the butt of the weapon. A familiar sensation coasted through him. The feel of metal in his hand. The rush of water shooting out the barrel. The pure joy he felt being stellar at something.
He rested his elbows on the counter and closed one eye to look down the imaginary sight. He aimed at one of the clown’s vacant eyes, which was a dingy white orb where the pupil should have been. Then he moved the barrel to the clown’s mouth where red paint had chipped away, revealing spatters of white plaster below. He lowered his attention. The target in the back of the clown’s throat was MIA and his green and white polka dot bowtie was cracked in half. The rest of his friends in the lineup were just as bad off. They looked more like something out of Stephen King’s IT, than a fun, family-friendly carnival game.
Setting the gun on the counter, Ash turned to her. “You made me ride on those slow-ass sissy rides. Now we’re gonna do something I wanna do.” He crossed his arms, readying for her verbal attack. “Besides, shooting is shooting. Whether it’s water or bullets, you still have to hold the gun, aim, and fire. All things we both have witnessed are issues for you.”
The intensity in her eyes died and hurt crept in, making him feel like a dick. But he didn’t apologize. It was the truth, and no one climbed great walls by sugarcoating the vast desert they had to cross to get there.
She glanced at the face across from them that wore a faded blue newsboy hat, round red nose, and a deflated yellow balloon protruding from the top of his skull, and bit her lip.
“Afraid you might lose?” he asked, knowing that would pull her out of her hesitation. If there was one thing Samantha loved, it was a healthy dose of competition.
So did Ash. He reveled the push and pull against a worthy opponent who wouldn’t give up or give in. And he knew for damn sure that Sam didn’t ever give in. On anything. Which was what made sex with her so appealing. She wasn’t one to be dominated, two things that Ash craved. He dominated everything. So to have a woman give back just as much as he was putting out. Well, let’s just say he wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to ignore their attraction.
As expected, she snapped her head in his direction, a line forming between her eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” He propped his hip against the counter, placing one foot over the other. “I’m gonna whoop your ass. Is that why you don’t want to give it a try? You afraid to lose?” Ash picked up the water gun, glancing at her, and pointed it toward his clown. “Understandable. I mean, I am an excellent shot.”
“Oh, please,” she said, her posture growing more confident with each second. Straightening her spine, her shoulders went back and her neck elongated.
Goddamn she looked amazing when she got all worked up. It took everything he had not to tug her against him and crash his lips onto hers.
“No, no, it’s fine,” he said, standing and setting the gun down. “Most people can’t compete. I don’t want you to feel bad after I pop my balloon before you even have a chance to blow yours up.”
She lifted onto her toes to make up the difference in their height, intruding on his personal space, so he dipped his chin to meet her halfway. Her blue eyes blazed and her lip snarled slightly.
It was a hot fucking sight. One he wanted to see in a much different situation. One where he could really push her limits and feel the full intensity of her wrath.
His mouth curled. Go ahead. Take it out on me. I’ll take everything you got, and then some, sweetheart.
“You think you have this in the bag?” she asked, her cheeks growing pink. “You think I can’t do it? I can’t beat you?”
“I know you can’t,” he said, loving the way her eyes widened in barely contained fury. His fists curled at his sides so he wouldn’t reach out for her. “There’s no way you’ll beat me.”
Still on her tiptoes, she narrowed her eyes. “Oh, yeah?”
He lowered even more, nearly resting his nose on hers. “Yeah.”
She swallowed hard. “Want to bet on it?”
“What do you have in mind?”
Sam dropped to her normal height and glanced past him. “Hmm,” she mused. “I don’t know yet. But I want it to be really, really good. So how about we just say that I reserve the right to pick once I win?”
“But you’re not going to win,” he said.
Hand on her hip again. “How can you be this confident?”
He returned the gesture. Just for fun. “Which one of the two of us can shoot their target perfectly with one hand behind their back and their eyes closed?” He lifted his eyebrows at her.
Instead of the embarrassed expression he expected, she gave him a self-satisfied smirk. “Guess which one of us just upped the ante.”
“The what?” he asked. “What do you mean?”
“Since you have the advantage, you’ll be shooting with one hand behind your back and your eyes closed.”
“Now, wait just a second. How the hell am I supposed to see the target?”
She shrugged. “You tell me, Dirty Harry. You’re the genius who bragged about your abilities. Figure it out.”
“This is bull,” he said. “There’s no way I’ll be able to fill my balloon in time. It takes precision. I need to be able to gauge the water’s trajectory.”
She crossed her arms and quirked one eyebrow. “Now who’s afraid to lose?”
He wasn’t going to lose. That couldn’t effing happen.
Not with his training and experience.
“Wanna back out, chicken?” she asked, still grinning. She even clucked. Clucked!
“Hell no,” he said. No way.
“Then let’s do this,” she said, slapping a dollar bill on the counter.
An older woman around fifty years old with short light blonde hair came from the dunking booth next door and greeted them. “Ready to play?” ‘
“Yes, we are,” Sam said. “Aren’t we, Ash?”
“Sure,” he grumbled, pulling out another two dollars. “Best two out of three though.” He wasn’t taking any chances on a fluke.
The older woman nodded and flicked a switch on the side of the booth.
“Have fun,” she said, smiling as she walked away.
Sam turned to him. “So how do we do this? Just count one, two, three, go?”
Not answering, Ash picked up his gun, rested his elbows on the counter as he’d done before and tried to concentrate on the target before she made him closed his eyes.
Sam didn’t change her posture. Just picked up the gun and pointed with one hand in the direction of the clowns.
“Don’t forget,” she said, staring ahead, “eyes closed when I get to three.”
“Yeah, yeah. Start counting.” He kept his absolute attention on the open mouth of the clown in front of him. That’s all that mattered right now. Eye on the prize.
“Fine,” she said. “One…Two…”
A steady stream of water shot from her gun and landed perfectly in the open mouth of her clown.
“What the fu—!” He caught sight of the older woman to their right, giggling, and stopped himself from finishing the curse. He pressed the trigger on his gun as hard as he could, not bothering to close his eyes. He watched as Sam’s balloon filled up twice as fast as his. “Cheater.”
She didn’t turn, but he knew she heard him because she let out a loud bark of laughter. “What? I needed some sort of advantage.”
Within seconds, her balloon popped first.
She turned with a triumphant grin. “That’s one. One more to go.”
“Next round you won’t get so lucky.”
“Actually, I probably will,” she said. “I’ve got a new balloon.” She nudged her chin in the direction of the older woman strapping a pink balloon on Sam’s clown. “Yours is all stretched out. It’ll hold more water before it pops. Mine has tighter resistance, so it should pop first.” She flashed him all teeth, and he actually had to remind himself to breath. Almost had to beat on his chest to get his damn ticker to restart too.
Ash blinked, bringing himself back to reality and the importance of winning this damn game. “Let’s just get this over with. I’m counting this time.”
Sam shrugged, unconcerned. “Have at it.”
He readied himself on his elbows again, focusing on nothing but that small, open hole. “One…Two…” He snuck a peek at her. She had one eye closed and her tongue half out of her mouth in concentration. “Two and a half…”
Sam let out a small chuckle. “Come on, or I’m going to shoot right now.”
“Three.”
Both of their guns fired at the same time. His stream hit his target immediately. Hers waivered. She muttered a brief, “shit,” before she righted her aim. His balloon filled up much faster this time, and she must have sensed that the trophy was drifting farther out of her reach, because she quickly raised her other hand to hold on more firmly to the gun.
His balloon kept filling.
And filling.
And fucking filling.
Hers was half the size of his when it popped.
Damn it.
Despite holding onto the trigger like it was his lifeline, the water drained and he had to set the gun down.
“I want a rematch,” he said. “That was rigged.”
She turned with a broad, triumphant smile and threw her arms around his neck. “I won!” she shouted through laughter. “I freaking won! I beat you! I can’t believe it, but I beat you!”
Before he had a chance to react or understand what was happening, she pulled his face down to hers and she planted a quick, chaste kiss on him that rendered him speechless.
“Admit it,” she said, arms still around his neck. “I won. Not quite fair and square, but I still won.”
He wasn’t concerned with the score anymore. “If I agree with you, will you kiss me again?”
A small smile played on her lips. “Why don’t you try and see what happens.”
“You wo—”
She yanked his face down again, and this time when she placed her lips on his, it wasn’t quick and it sure as hell wasn’t chaste. It scorched every piece of him, burning through his entire body until he felt nothing but the desire to carry her back to his place and show her just how much she really had won.
One…two…three kisses at a time.
~ "Bad Boy on Tap" By: Avery Flynn ~
Aurora Calvert was twenty bucks in and no closer to a fuzzy unicorn the size of Rhode Island than she’d been when she’d stepped up to the Fantasy Shoot ‘Em Up booth. The ten year old behind her was getting restless. Her trigger finger was sweaty. The hot guy manning the booth was looking at her like she’d lost it. Maybe she had.
In her defense, setting foot back in Salvation, Virginia had the tendency to make a person go nuts. Fast. But when her shithead of a cousin, Myron, had bet there was no way a girl who’d spent the last five years in the city could still do the Salvation County Fair Ride and Shoot Challenge, she wasn’t about to back down. All she had to do was hit one measly target—easier said than done after six back-to-back turns on The Hammer of Death.
“You’re not giving up are you?” Myron asked, as full of himself as he was of a six pack of Sweet Salvation Brewery’s finest.
“Just suckering you in.” Oh yeah, and buying some time for her double vision to chill the fuck out. “Care to raise the bet?”
“A thousand,” he sneered.
She gulped. “Fine.”
“Are you sure you wanna do this?” the carny asked.
Even seeing two of him thanks to the way her brain had been shaken and stirred while she’d been spun around and around in the Hammer’s metal cage before plunging almost to the ground, she had to admit that the dude was hot. Tall with broad shoulders and a tight butt, he had tattoos climbing up both thick, muscular forearms. His aviator shades didn’t give anything away, but she’d bet her agent’s share of her last TV hosting gig that his eyes were dark, brooding and more than a little bit wild. Just when her stomach had finally settled, the hot carny had the butterflies doing the tango.
She blinked hard. “I’m good.”
One dark eyebrow arched high enough to be seen over the rim of his shades as he handed her the freshly loaded BB gun. “Do you ever back down from a challenge, honey?”
She raised her chin an inch higher. “Never and I’m not your honey.”
She lined up her shot, focused on the clown’s nose in the middle and—
“DON’T MISS!” Myron shouted in her ear right as she pulled the trigger.
She jerked the BB gun in surprise. The shot went wild, ricocheted off hot carny’s very large and very ornate belt buckle and hit the middle clown square in the nose, knocking it down.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” Aurora put the gun down before she gave into the temptation to shoot Myron’s boney little ass with it as he ran away.
The carny rubbed a calloused thumb over the BB-sized dent in his belt buckle. “A few inches south and I’d be giving my answer in a higher octave.”
“I’m so sorry.” Embarrassment heat her cheeks to face-of-the-sun temperatures. “I’m usually a much better shot.”
“Don’t worry, honey, I’ll let you make it up to me with dinner.”
Aurora was in Salvation for a week to prep for the next season of her newest show for House and Garden TV, dinner with anyone—let alone a totally hot stranger who spent his life traveling from town to town—was not on the menu. She’d learned her lesson about bad boys and wanderers. It wasn’t one she ever needed to repeat.
“I don’t think so.” She softened the refusal with her best sweet smile. It was the one she used when the design swap contestant obviously hated their house makeover.
He took a step closer so that only the edge of the booth separated them. “It’s not a request.”
“Say again?” She took a defensive step back.
He slipped off the sunglasses, revealing eyes so blue the summer sky in June could take a few pointers from him. She knew those eyes. Adrenaline shot through her veins hot as rocket fuel and just as fast. Beau McCullum. See bad boys exhibits A through ZZ. He wasn’t just the lesson. He’d been her master class in poor decisions and lifetime regrets.
“What’s wrong?” Beau turned on enough sex appeal and dangerous charm to give her a sunburn. “Don’t you recognize your own first love?”
She hadn’t fainted from riding The Hammer of Death. She hadn’t lost her nerve when it came time to get on The Dragon’s Tail for the third time. But faced with the man who’d broken her heart and nearly ruined her life? Oh yeah, her knees got more than a little wobbly.
“I thought you were in prison.” It came out breathy and weak. How in the hell had she missed his release?
“Not any more, honey.” All the heat disappeared from his eyes, replaced by cold, black ice—-the kind that you never noticed until it was too late. “And you have a lot of explaining to do about how I ended up there while you got off scot-free.”
~ "Shooting Stars" By: Julie Castle ~
It was bad enough that she was roaming Chicago’s Navy Pier at midnight when she should still be partying at the Hyatt with her fellow new Delta Star Grads, but even worse Cassandra McLean didn’t exactly know what the blazes she was doing here. A cryptic note left in her evening bag had told her to come to the Shooting Gallery for her first assignment. It was highly unusual, to get a posting this way, even for an agency that flew under the covers like Delta Star did. At the same time this was too big an opportunity, and too intriguing to pass up.
Especially for someone like her who’d barely scraped by in training, almost getting drummed out of the agency when she stuck up for an instructor who’d been tarnished by false accusations. Dylan Fox might be a lot of things but dirty wasn’t one of them. Cool, untouchable, a legendary secret agent yes, but dirty no. You’d think Director Frost would be pleased when she defended Fox at the top of her lungs. He hadn’t made the drug buy he’d been accused of. She’d been in the gym at the time the buy had allegedly gone down. It had never happened. Instead of thanking her for trying to exonerate one of his agents the Director had been quietly pissed; even Fox himself had given her the cold shoulder before he left.
Shaking in her spike heels, she cursed the fact that she’d let her roommate talk her into wearing high heels to the party, as she took in the mixed crowd that jostled for position around the Shooting Gallery. The park would be closing for the evening in about ten minutes and it seemed everyone wanted to get in their last shot. Not that she could blame them, even if these games were rigged. A slick businessman in a tailored suit was mowing down tin ducks like they owed him money. Sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Station, pristine in their crackerjack uniforms that always made her smile were missing more than they were hitting, teenagers were placing bets and showing off for their girlfriends, and the girls pretending they couldn’t shoot. At least she didn’t have that problem, no romantic entanglements for her. Yikes how could she find her assignment amidst the crowd?
Blending in was impossible given that she was in evening clothes, but then whoever’d sent her the note had to know that. The sea parted as the teenagers walked away. She walked up to the concession booth and froze. Dylan... was dirty alright! From the stubble on his chisled face to the tats covering his toned arms bared in the black wife beater tank top he sported, and non-regulation longish hair she wanted to rake her hands though, he was all kinds of dissreptuable.
What on earth! Had this all been a cheap trick on his part to ruin her graduation party? He was leaning on a half wall chatting up a couple of giggling twentysomethings who ought to know better, flirting with a carnie. He winked at them as they walked away and Cassie fumed. What was he trying to pull? He said something to the older woman stocking the prize wall beside him and she smiled and walked away.
So he could be nice when he wanted to, not that he’d ever extended that courtesy to her. And now he’d ruined what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, the dirty, rotten, SOB. She stood frozen as he turned to gather the shooting gallery rifles and saw her standing there. The shock of recognition in his whiskey brown eyes made her freeze, even as it made her heart race. Then his lambent gaze swept over her from her spiked heels, to her silver party dress, the skirt billowing around her bare legs in the summer breeze off Lake Michigan, to the body hugging camisole top containing her breasts that crazily tingled and budded as he looked at them, to her dark hair upswept in a French twist.
She’d tried to look sophisticated for the party tonight and not like the wrong side of the tracks tomboy she was. She’d even let her roommate talk her into trying heels. Apparently she’d succeeded going by the smile on his face as he gazed at her. Heart slamming against her ribs she couldn’t have run even if she wanted to. Besides she suddenly didn’t want to and he had some explaining to do, didn’t he? She had to at least get that out of him.
“You’ve grown up little Cassie.”
“I’m not little,” she replied annoyed. She hated when he used that little condescending tone, like when he’d taught a class on counter terrorism, before he’d been disgraced and fired on trumped up charges.
He smiled. “Believe me, Precious, I know.”
Was that a crack about her weight. Tall, and built along somewhat Amazonian lines she’d always been a bit sensitive about that. But no his sultry gaze lingered in the vicinity of her breasts. The hussies that they were, they swelled as his gaze lingered on them longer than was polite.
He appeared to realize it too as he shook his head and looked down. “So, Precious, what are you doing here, slumming?”
~
Dylan Fox did his level best to ignore the beauty before him, trying to think. What the hell was going on? Come on think stupid this is what they pay you the combat pay for. Sexy little Cassie McLean didn’t just casually come down here by chance. Something was rotten with this set up. He’d known it from the start. Things had almost been jinxed from the beginning when the little firebrand had vocally defended him at Delta Star, almost ending his mission before it started. She had more guts than many he could name which is why he’d convinced the Director to keep her on when he’d been inclined to fire her for insubordination. No harm, no foul, and it had been a novel experience to have someone try to save him. And now she was here in the middle of this clusterflop.
He really didn’t give a shit about himself but he would not lose her to not so friendly fire. Okay, so the sailor boys were pounding beers and missing the targets. The slick in the suit was aiming like he was a sniper, and soccer mom looked like she wanted to kick a wall. Nothing looked wrong but his gut told him it was. He always listened to his gut. Hell maybe she’d tracked him down because she wanted to see him. Yeah, and pigs would fly soon. He finally met her gaze. It was the look in her emerald green eyes that got to him the most, sharp as hell, incisive, and hurt. Great now he wanted to kick a wall. Instead he put the shooting gallery guns back in their holders on the counter, buying himself some time. Cassie was glaring at him, practically vibrating with outrage. So her looking for him for a quickie was off the menu he told himself with a smirk trying to keep it light. All he had to do was move her along try to figure this out.
~
Cassie seethed as he all but ignored her. What a jerk and to think she’d stuck up for him. Obviously the Director had him bang to rights. But no, that drug buy had never happened and she always told the truth. Lies only festered and caused pain, life had taught her that lesson. So what kind of lies was he telling? Damn it all he could at least pay attention to her. And what was with that slumming crack of his? He was so not going to get away with blaming this debacle on her. It was a good thing the park was starting to empty because she was going to tell him exactly what she thought of him. “As if you didn’t know,” she hissed. “What the hell are you trying to pull, luring me down here just to make fun of me?” She saw the startled look in his eyes at her words, saw him scan the crowd behind her again, as if they just washed off his back. “You could at least be polite and look at me when I’m yelling at you.”
~
Dylan’s gut clenched at her confirmation that someone had sent her down here. He sure as hell hadn’t done it. Her class of Delta Star Grads were whooping it up at the Hyatt, which explained the gown she was wearing. He was used to seeing her in uniform or sweats at the gym, nothing like this glamorous getup. Maybe that was why he’d been a little slow on the uptake. Yeah and maybe your losing your edge after one too many missions. But all that was meaningless now. She’d had his back at the academy and he had to have hers now. He looked past her to assess the situation. He scanned the crowd, his focus mainly on the slick in the suit, the wanna be rambo. The guy finished his shots, set the toy rifle down, and reached into his jacket. Shit, Dylan automatically drew his weapon, training kicking in along with adrenalin. He kept his weapon in the shadows hidden along his thigh while Cassie glared at him clearly not picking up the source of his tension. “Five bucks lady,” he said gruffly reaching down to pull a rifle out from under the counter. No way he would keep her undefended if they took him out.
~
She actually gaped at him when he thrust the rifle into her hands her outrage tipping over into hurt feelings territory. What now, was he just trying to make a buck off her? She opened her mouth to accuse him of just that when the weight of the rifle broke through her fog of outrage. Cold, heavy, long barrel. Oh shit! She glanced down to confirm what she’d instinctively sensed and gulped when she saw the sniper rifle in her hands. She’d aced that class, graduating as a sharpshooter. That’s when she saw the Glock in Dylan’s hand. He was keeping it out of sight but it was there. Okay time to stop going on hurt feelings, start acting like an agent, and get a flipping clue. No he, and the Director, hadn’t sent her on this assignment but it had found her just the same. She looked up at Dylan and saw the resolution and worry in his eyes and nodded. He didn’t send the note. She’d been the Jonah leading his enemies to him. Distracting him and letting someone get the drop on him. Around her she saw movement. Sailors laughing, the businessman shooting, others strolling by.
“Any advice?”
~
Dylan sighed when he watched the slick in the suit drop a tip in the jar and start to walk away. He noticed Cassie following his lead and felt a little better. At least she had good instincts, it might give them a chance. He didn’t drop his guard watching the suit walk away.
“What’s going on,” she said softly.
“Can’t you feel it,” he said making sure that the suit was really moving away.
“Oh,” she shivering.
Yeah it was like a laser beam was hitting him between the shoulder blades. Okay time to get her out of sight and the line of fire. “Get your ass back here McLean,” he said opening the gate. She started to move toward him when a motion to the right caught his gaze. She froze at the same time and he knew they were in sync. “About that advice. The rifle pulls a little to the left.” he said and spun toward the sailor with the gun in his hand.
~
Cassie didn’t need any other warning. Her early warning your about to be shot instincts going red hot she feinted a little to the right a second before the back of the booth was shot to peiced right where her head had been. Spinning she caught one of the Sailors with a round house making let out an oof and jump to the side, catching him off guard. The sneaky SOB had almost got the drop on her. He retaliated by b backhanding her seeing her reeling into the booth. She saw stars and fell to the floor just as Dylan swear and saw him leap over the booth losing his cool completley. Couldn’t be she thought as darkness claimed her he never got mad, he never cared about anything.
“Come on Precious, wake up,” Dylan said.
She felt his hand brushing her hair out of her face, smelled his singular sandalwood, leather, and man scent as he held her and opened her eyes. Now she knew she was dreaming. The relief in Dylan’s whiskey brown eyes stunned her. “What happened?”
“Welcome to the war on terror, partner,” he said gravely.
“Holy cats playing canasta,” she said looking up at him.
He smirked, “Indeed.”
“Did you say partner?” she asked stunned. Vaguely aware of what looked like Delta Star EMS carting away the Sailors and working in the background.
He nodded, bending closer shutting out the world. “How about we seal it with a kiss?”
Then Dylan’s mouth claimed hers and she groaned kissing him back, knowing this was just the beginning.
"Stranger at My Door" [A Murder in Texas Series, Book 1] by Mari Manning
Author's Book Description :
The only thing standing between her and disaster is a man she can’t trust…
As far as Dinah Pittman is concerned, men can’t be trusted. Especially cops. Her own father was a former cop and a convicted felon who stole a small fortune before dying in prison. The best part? No one knows where the money is…and someone is willing to kill off everyone who knows anything about it.
And Dinah is next.
Rafe Morales left the Dallas police force to settle down to a simpler life in the small Texas town of El Royo. Instead, he finds himself protecting an infuriating, tough-as-nails, oh-so-sexy victim—and driving himself crazy with a thoroughly unprofessional desire.
But as the body count rises, Rafe and Dinah must find a way to trust each other…before they both end up dead.
"On Her Six" [Under Covers Series, Book 1] by Christina Elle
Author's Book Description :
First rule of stake-outs – don’t fall in love.
New neighbors are bad news in Samantha Harper’s experience. Especially ones as suspicious and brooding as the guy who just moved in next door. So when the dangerous but sexy stranger seems to be involved in something illegal—the aspiring cop in her takes action. If only she could stop thinking about how he looks naked...
All DEA agent Ash Cooper wants to do is lay low and survive this crap surveillance assignment. But after a run-in with his attractive neighbor, he realizes that’s going to be much harder than he planned. Keeping the woman out of trouble is hard enough, but keeping his hands off her is near impossible.
If that man calls her one more time… So what if Gabe Campos is a model-dating billionaire who gets Keisha Jacobs hotter than a Ferrari’s engine on the straightaway? He keeps pushing her to sell her family’s furniture business, but she’ll never give in—not unless she wants to give her father a second heart attack.
All Gabe should be thinking about is how he’ll finally get revenge on the man who killed his father. But when he meets the man’s daughter, Keisha, instead of focusing on destroying Jacobs Fine Furnishings, he can’t get her warm-whisky voice out of his mind.
Forced by a snow storm to spend the night together, their passion ignites. The next day, however, it’s back to business. The only way Keisha can save her family is to win a bet with the billionaire. But neither realized their hearts are part of the bargain…
"Bound to Serve" [Dangerous Liaisons Series, Book 1] by Julie Castle
Author's Book Description :
Condor earned his reputation by being Delta Star’s ultimate secret agent. He’s untouchable, unstoppable, and he always nails his targets. But no matter how many times he’s saved the world, he’s a ghost who will never take credit. He works best alone, and to continue to protect his country, he’ll stay alone.
Now they’re on a mission to infiltrate a dangerous criminal organization and capture Perez. It’s up to Condor to keep this beautiful, determined agent out of harm’s way, and to keep their explosive passion contained long enough not to risk their cover…and their lives.
"Untrue Colors" [True Lies Series, Book 1] by Veronica Forand
Author's Book Description :
She’s on the run…
Brilliant art appraiser Alex Northrop’s ex used stolen art to fund his nefarious activities. Now he wants her dead. But it isn’t just herself she’s worried about – if he discovers who she really is, he’ll kill her family.
Professor Henry Chilton is shocked to find a beautiful stranger passed out in his bed, and even more so when she reveals a priceless painting is a forgery – the painting he’d planned to use to fund a woman’s shelter. She’s mysterious and frightened, and he is determined to discover why.
Alex’s knowledge of art is undeniable—just as Henry’s attraction to her is irresistible. But in order to help him recover the real painting, Alex isn’t just risking exposure…she’s risking her life.
Mari Manning is the author of several contemporary romances and three romantic suspense novels set in the Texas Hill Country. "Stranger at My Door" is the first in her A Murder in Teas series. The second, "Stranger in My House" debuted June 13. The third book in the series is "Stranger in My Bed." Currently Mari is working on a series of cozy mysteries.
She and her husband live in Chicago.
Christina Elle believes that laughter really is the best medicine, which is why in her stories she blends a healthy dose of hilarious hijinks with gritty suspense.
When she’s not writing fun contemporary romance or quirky romantic suspense, Christina can be found devouring books in every genre, watching Chris Hemsworth on TV, playing board games with her family, working out, checking out Chris Hemsworth on Facebook, napping, stalking Chris Hemsworth on Instagram, and shopping…for Chris Hemsworth’s latest DVD.
Christina lives near Baltimore with her husband and two sons, who give her an endless supply of humorous material to write about.
She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Maryland Romance Writers.
Award-winning romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.
She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staffs knew her by name.
Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.
Julie Castle always had a love affair with the written word. As a child growing up in a small town Julie loved visiting the local library, a converted gilded age mansion, and getting lost between the pages of a book. The drafty old mansion could be a spooky place but she still loved it. Julie enjoyed poking into behind the scenes areas she wasn't supposed to venture into. She is still the same way which is why she loves writing romance with an edge, paranormal, suspenseful, super sexy, or just laugh your pants off funny which she hopes you'll find it in her books.
A Bostonian by birth, Veronica Forand regrettably lost her Boston accent while moving from state to state and country to country. Cleveland probably had the most profound effect on her ability to pronounce the “r” in the word “park.”
She does try to return now and then to visit family and eat long neck clams and lobster. Summers on Cape Cod are also high on the priority list.
Her experience in crime involves time as a court appointed attorney. Eventually, she switched fields to where bigger crimes take place, corporate tax. The allure of spending mornings in her pajamas homeschooling her children and writing fascinating fiction caused her to change careers again. Now that the kids are out of the house (in school), she writes novels and practices law by day and is the perfect wife and mother at night.
Her experience in romance is limited to one man. Luckily, he’s still finding ways to charm her by taking her on vacations to the south of France, Fiji, and the Green Mountains when time is short. Avid travelers, they love to roam with their kids across continents in pursuit of skiing, scuba diving, and the perfect piece of chocolate.
She’s lived in London, Paris, Geneva, Washington D.C., and the accent destroying city of Cleveland. She currently resides near Philadelphia.
Her books are published by Entangled Publishing, Boroughs Publishing Group, and The Wild Rose Press.
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Today I'm turning my blog over to S. R. Howen, with a review of her novel "The Wizard's Heart," which is the 1st book in the Tales of the Zingari Series!!
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 508 KB | Release Date: May 29, 2013 | Publisher: Wild Child Publishing | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions
S. R. Howen grew up on a farm for the most part, spending part of her childhood as a military brat. The one constant in her life is story telling. She's always been a story teller--not a popular thing to be when you are five.
