Category Archives: Author Guest Post

Blog Tour, Interview, Guest Post & Giveaway: Tangling with the London Tycoon by Suzi Jennings

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Tangling with the London Tycoon (Brick Square #1) by Suzi Jennings

Publication Date: February 13, 2017

Synopsis

img_6596London publishing tycoon Rosco Redmond closely guards his family, his business, and his privacy. When his sister’s wedding brings the paparazzi baying at his door, wedding photographer Kitty Mayfair unwittingly becomes his decoy girlfriend. But the mysterious Kitty has secrets of her own.

Despite the sexy hint of an appealing Irish brogue, Kitty’s new boss is bent on micromanaging his sister’s wedding and the crazy fake relationship she’s been dragged into. The only thing they seem to have in common, is that neither of them believes in happy-ever-afters. But the more time Kitty spends with the tycoon, the more she begins to suspect there’s a lot of fire beneath his cool facade.

With the past complicating their present, and the zoom lenses of photographers everywhere they go, the commitment phobic control freak and the globe-trotting free spirit clash and ignite.

Link to Follow Tour

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Excerpt

Rosco Redmond was an opportunity Kitty couldn’t afford to mess up.

The door to his Georgian town house lacked any attempt at welcome. It faced the world with immaculate London style—glossy black paint against warm cream stone—handsome but unadorned.

The peaceful, exclusive inner city cobblestone street oozed understated elegance. Its sweep of heritage buildings an oasis of secluded tranquility, just a few blocks away from London’s hectic commercial center.

But it had Kitty’s heartbeat thundering in her ears as unwanted memories flooded her in a cold tide of rejection. Memories of the miserable childhood she’d purged from her adult life.

It was the worst coincidence that the Redmond house looked an awful lot like her childhood home and represented the kind of world Kitty never wanted to be part of again.

The unexpected shock had all her buried insecurities nibbling at her confidence.

But she’d never walked away from a challenge since she was sixteen, when her mother died and left her alone. A time of shame, of dark and painful memories usually left undisturbed and firmly in the past where they belonged.

Shaking them off now, she faced the house squarely, rocking discreetly from foot to foot to ease the ache of her highest heeled boots. She’d chosen them for courage, so she didn’t mind the pain.

Straightening her back, she commanded her nerves to focus and smiled as her fingers caressed the worn strap of the camera hung around her neck.

She could do this job.

Plucked at short notice from the lowest ranks of LJ Redmond Publishing’s contracted photographers for this urgent assignment, she couldn’t believe her luck. It was a matter of timing, the human resources department had informed her, because all of Mr. Redmond’s senior photographers were unavailable at this time.

She would do whatever was required, as her financial security depended on nailing this project—whatever it turned out to be—and taking her best photos ever.

Kitty took one last look at the imposing three-story building, sucked in a deep breath, and bounded up the four steps to the porch. She found the discreetly recessed doorbell and pressed it for a long, determined ring.

Hoisting her camera bag onto her hip, she took another steadying breath as the sound of security locks opening reminded her this was serious business.

Then Rosco Redmond, CEO of his family’s Investment and Publishing Groups, stood in the doorway. She’d expected a butler in coattails or a housekeeper to answer the door.

The man himself was tall, lean, and gorgeous. Tailored for business in an impeccable dark suit and blood-red tie.

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Can you tell us a little about your book?

Tangling with the London Tycoon is a contemporary romance between Rosco Redmond and Kitty Mayfair, two characters who think they have nothing in common. In fact their perceived differences are the very reasons they should be together.

It takes them a while to see this for themselves!

In the meantime they endure a complicated sort of fake relationship, are hounded by the paparazzi, feel harassed by memories of childhood traumas, and try to resist being seduced by the promise of their own happily ever after.

Throw in an international pop star, some meddling, match-making Irish relatives, and a lucrative private palace photography contract. And, phew–it’s hectic!

How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

Rosco and Kitty popped into my head as fully formed characters. I loved them instantly. Kitty made me laugh and Rosco made me smile–he was doomed from the moment he opened his smart London door!

Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

My diary. I need to write things down to ensure they happen!

Name three things on your desk right now.

• A ‘6 Minute Morning Yoga’ book
• A pot plant half eaten by my cat—she thinks it’s a salad bar
• My diary

What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

Read, Pinterest, garden, and dream of travelling on a castle tour.

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?

I love writing witty dialogue scenes with lots of underlying emotion and sensual attraction. My current favorite is under a table at a wedding—you’ll have to buy Tangling with the London Tycoon to read it.

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My Top Six Storyboard Images for TWTLT

• Rosco’s smart London townhouse – heritage Georgian in a quiet cobble-stoned street
• The iconic Thames river-side walk
• Kitty’s trendy little vintage Citroen Dolly car
• Rosco’s stylish city helicopter
• Brick Square – Kitty’s family’s restored warehouse complex in riverside London
• Gerberas – Kitty’s favorite flower

Visit Pinterest,

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Buy Links

AMAZON | B & N | ITUNES | KOBO

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Giveaway

(a $25 Amazon Gift Card)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

Suzi Jennings lives in New Zealand and writes international stories of love and laughter. It all started in childhood when she discovered reading, scribbled stories about princesses in castles, and grew up to spend way too much money on books.

She writes contemporary romance where family secrets, powerful friendships and enduring loves heal hearts and forge happily-ever-afters. Her characters are feisty, flirty, fun – and talkative! It’s a match made in keyboard heaven as Suzi is more than happy to listen.

When not writing she can be found on Pinterest, sipping creamy lattes, still dreaming of castles she’d love to visit

Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Spotlight, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway: BLAZING HOT COWBOY by Kim Redford

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BLAZING HOT COWBOY (Smokin’’ Hot Cowboys Book 2) by Kim Redford

Publication Date: January 3, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Synopsis

img_6184He’s all the heat she’ll ever need.

Lauren Sheridan’s return to Wildcat Bluff after the death of her husband is bittersweet. Thirteen years have passed since she set foot in the place that’s always held her heart…and the sizzling memories of her high school sweetheart.

Kent Duval has it all. A proud rancher and volunteer firefighter in the small town of Wildcat Bluff, he’s missing only one thing from his life: passion. Kent last saw Lauren Sheridan when she was sweet sixteen and they were head-over-heels in love. Now she’s back, spunky daughter in tow, and he no longer knows which way is up. As the heat between them builds, Kent can’t help but wonder if past flames can be rekindled and second chances really do exist.

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Excerpt

img_6185In Wildcat Bluff County, Texas . . .
Kent Duval joined other firefighters in front of a burning barn. He wasn’t wearing much firefighter gear, so he’d pump water and roll hose from the booster while another volunteer used the nozzle to wet a perimeter around the structure.
Streams of water hit the building and steam rose along with smoke as Kent and the other first responders fought to bring the blaze under control. Even so, the fire quickly expanded in size as it ate up oxygen. Soon the wooden barn was fully engaged and pumping smoke. Flames surged higher into the sky. They kept up the water barrage, beating back the blaze despite the orange-and-yellow flames spitting and licking and clawing to take back what was lost. Every fire had its own personality. This one reminded Kent of a dangerous wild bull.
And just when he thought they had the blaze contained, a piece of shake-shingle roof was ripped off by the wind and whipped across firefighter heads to land in the adjacent pasture. Flames immediately set the dry grass ablaze, and a line of fire headed straight for the nearby house at Twin Oaks.
“Watch my pump!” When Kent got a nod of understanding from another firefighter, he took off running, hoping he could stomp out the fire with his cowboy boots before it took hold and swept away from them.
He got ahead of the blaze, but the flames were quickly consuming the grass. He stomped hard, making a little headway, but he quickly realized he wasn’t able to do enough fast enough. And the other firefighters couldn’t leave the barn. He’d have to call for backup, but he feared the engine couldn’t get there in time.
Just as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, he heard Lauren calling to him. He glanced up. She’d crossed the road, dragging a heavy fire extinguisher in each hand, up to the barbwire fence. He could’ve cheered because she might just have saved the day.
He pocketed his cell, ran over to her, grabbed the canisters, and set them down on his side of the fence.
“Hold up the barbwire and I’ll crawl under,” she said as she went down on her knees.
“Lauren, I don’t want you in danger.”
“I’m not letting that fire get anywhere near my daughter at Twin Oaks.” She lay down and started to crawl on her stomach under the fence.
He quickly raised the bottom strand of wire so she wouldn’t tear her clothes or scratch her back.
Once she was on the other side, she grabbed a can and dragged it toward the leading edge of the blaze.
He used the black strap to hang the other fire extinguisher over his shoulder and caught up. He tried to take the canister from her, but she gave him a no nonsense look.
“Two of us are faster than one,” she said. “I remember how to use these cans, so let’s get to it.”
He grinned, loving her sassiness even as he wanted to keep her safe. He knew better. This was his Lauren, and she didn’t back down for nothing or nobody. “Let’s do it.”
Together, they got out in front of the fire and started spraying the potent chemical on the blaze, leaving a trail of yellow. They continued to relentlessly douse the flames till nothing was left except charred grass. When their fire extinguishers were empty, they tossed them aside, and then stomped on the crisp grass to make sure there were no hot embers left that might reignite.
Finally, Kent picked up one empty canister and hung it from his shoulder by the strap before he put the other strap over his free shoulder. He couldn’t resist leaning down and giving Lauren a quick kiss.
“Don’t you know I’m too hot to handle?” she teased, chuckling with a sound caught somewhere between delight and relief.
“Guess I’m looking to get burned.”
“I think we’re both a little on the scorched side.” She pointed toward the barn. “But that building took the brunt of it.”
He looked in that direction. He felt a vast sense of comfort when he saw the old barn was nothing more than a pile of black rubble with a red-orange glow of banked embers here and there. He glanced back at the blackened patch of pasture. He’d been cocky tonight—maybe because being with Lauren had made him feel like Superman. He knew better. You could never count on a fire doing what it was supposed to do, and particularly not when it was a raging bull of a blaze.
He clasped Lauren’s hand and threaded their fingers together. “Guess you’re a Wildcat Bluff volunteer firefighter all over again.”
She squeezed his hand. “I feel like I’ve never been gone.”
“Let’s get you home.”
“Twin Oaks will look mighty good.”
But Kent hadn’t been thinking about that place. He’d been thinking about his own farmhouse on Cougar Ranch.

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Buy Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jAWY6Q
B&N: http://bit.ly/2gyApPl
iBooks: http://apple.co/2ghhvdf

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Author Guest Post

Kim Redford: I’m excited to share one of my favorite firefighter characters!

Fire: Trapped on the 37th Floor (1991) recreates as a TV movie the true event that occurred during May 1988 in Los Angeles. In the film, over three hundred LAFD firefighters are deployed to fight the largest structure fire in the city’s history and rescue two people trapped on the 37th floor. Deputy Chief Sterling (Lee Majors) takes command of the situation while Susan Lowell (Lisa Hartman) and Paul DeWitt (Peter Scolari) struggle to stay alive long enough for rescue. Chief Sterling represents the depth of dedication and support that first responders bring to extinguishing fires and caring for sick or injured in emergency medical situations.

He’s one hero who inspired my Smokin’ Hot Cowboys series of contemporary cowboy firefighter novels.

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Giveaway

Enter to win one of ten copies of Blazing Hot Cowboy by Kim Redford.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the author

Kim Redford is an acclaimed author of Western romance novels. She grew up in Texas with cowboys, cowgirls, horses, cattle, and rodeos for inspiration. She divides her time between homes in Texas and Oklahoma, where she’s a rescue cat wrangler and horseback rider—when she takes a break from her keyboard. Visit her at kimredford.com.

Website | Goodreads

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Spotlight, Guest Post, Quiz & Giveaway: BREATH OF FIRE by Amanda Bouchet

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BREATH OF FIRE (The Kingmaker Chronicles Book 2) by Amanda Bouchet 

Publication Date: January 3, 2017

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Author Guest Post

A Note to Readers of The Kingmaker Chronicles

Breath of Fire comes out on January 3rd and I couldn’t be more excited about it! I hope that readers who met Cat and Griffin and followed their exploits in A Promise of Fire will be looking forward to this second installment in The Kingmaker Chronicles, and I hope that new readers will be interested in giving this fantasy romance trilogy a try. The story picks up right where A Promise of Fire left off and with a shocking moment of truth: Cat’s secrets are finally revealed to all. But with the cat out of the bag (pun definitely intended!), important plans can now form to move Thalyria toward unification under Cat and Griffin’s joint rule—plans that will certainly keep Beta Team on their toes. But while Cat’s violent past and lingering self-doubt still haunt her on a deep level, Griffin won’t let her back down from the fate she’d love to avoid. As Griffin propels her toward her inevitable destiny and Cat tries to come to terms with the prophecy that’s haunted her for eight years, readers can expect plenty of adventure and danger, more of Cat’s smart-mouthed humor, exciting Beta Team moments, and a romance that heats up to positively scorching levels. Friendships solidify into unshakable bonds, and perilous quests lead the members of Beta Team into uncharted territory where monsters, magic, and mayhem abound. With Breath of Fire, I hope that readers get swept away and caught up in the emotion and adventure as Cat and Griffin try to navigate their developing and intensely passionate relationship while also taking on the daunting and dangerous task of conquering the world. But most of all, I hope you simply enjoy the book!

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Synopsis

img_6080SHE’S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD…
BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT

“Cat” Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat’s tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what’s a warrior queen to do when she knows it’s her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.

Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world—for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin risk sacrificing everything they’ve fought for. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom…or die trying.

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Excerpt

Waking up from a deep, healing sleep reminds me of rushing toward the surface of a lake, brightness beckoning from above and bubbles fizzing all around me.
Consciousness threads through me in a delicate weave. It’s afternoon. The air smells of bright sun, hot stone, and endless days of summer drought. Insects chirp, their droning song a parched melody, the heat so thick I could cut it with a knife. I don’t question the time of day, just which day, and I’m guessing it’s not the same day I fell asleep. And almost died. Again.
Under the sheet, I brush my fingers over the tender skin on my stomach, finding the raised bump of a fresh scar there. Just one more mark to join the others, inside and out.
I look toward Griffin’s side of the bed, not surprised to find it empty and the sheets cold. He has things to do, a realm to run.
I sigh, which is absurd. I never sighed until I met Griffin.
The indent of his head still creases the pillow, and I slide my hand into the hollow, thinking about how far we’ve come since he abducted me for my Kingmaker Magic and I fought him at every turn.
But Griffin got more than he bargained for with me, and I still can’t bring myself to tell him the worst.
Harbinger of the end. Destroyer of realms.
I squeeze my eyes shut, craving the blissful avoidance of heavy sleep again. But I’m not tired anymore, and half-truths and glaring omissions fester in my belly, cold blocks of dread sitting right there under the heat of my new scar. Who I am. The dreadful prophecy. I wasn’t even truthful about Daphne’s lurking and threats, and hiding things from Griffin is exactly what landed me in this bed, injured and aching. Griffin’s former lover knew what she was doing when she hid in the shadows and threw a knife into my gut. What she didn’t know was that I would pull it out and throw it back.
The door opens, and I turn my head, my heart thudding at the sight of Griffin. Tall, broad, muscular but sleek, he stalks into the room like a predator, his gait balanced and sure, his glittering, gray eyes focused entirely on me. Inky hair, a hawkish nose, that stubborn jaw, and thick, black stubble make him look hard and intimidating. With his sword strapped on and his dark brows lowered, he’s a warlord on the prowl.
I shiver. I couldn’t want him more.
A lightning storm sizzles to life in my magic-charged veins. I look at Griffin, feel him near, and I can ignore all the terrifying things that make me want to crawl inside of myself and disappear. He stops next to the bed, and my blood simmers with heat and need. I wonder what he’ll do to me. What I’ll do to him.
I reach for him, but Griffin crosses his arms and stares down at me from above.
My hand hangs awkwardly in the air, and my heart hovers along with it. An awful tightness clamps around my throat, turning my voice to gravel. “I can still feel you inside me.”
His stony expression doesn’t change, but his iron gaze dips to my bare breasts. When his eyes flick back up, they’re like frosted granite. “Have you enjoyed making a fool out of me?”
The bottom of my stomach drops out with sickening force. I pull the sheet up to cover myself, clutching it hard to keep my hands from trembling. It doesn’t work. Adrenaline roars through me, making me shake.
“What do you mean?” My eyes are wide, my words reedy. Guilty. It’s a good thing I’m not a gambler if this is my game face. But I’ve never had so much to lose.
Griffin reaches out and rips the sheet from my hands and right off the bed. He holds on to it. “I think you know. Or are there too many lies to choose from?”
I sit up, shame and anxiety splashing red-hot color all over my naked skin. At the realm dinner, Griffin vowed to uncover my secrets. I didn’t think he’d do it this fast.

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Buy Links

Kindle http://amzn.to/2iPR2nl | Amazon PBK http://amzn.to/2iPGX9W

Additional Store Links

Amazon Series Link http://amzn.to/2iPHiJK

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Giveaway

Win one of ten copies of A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet, the first book in her The Kingmaker Chronicles series, plus a signed bookplate!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

img_6082Award-winning author Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England and studied French at the undergraduate and graduate levels, first at Bowdoin College and then at Bowling Green State University. She moved to Paris, France in 2001 and has been there ever since. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children, who will soon be correcting her French.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

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Spotlight, Review, Guest Post & Giveaway: SWEET SOUTHERN BAD BOY (Harmony Homecomings) by Michele Summers

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SWEET SOUTHERN BAD BOY (Harmony Homecomings) by Michele Summers

Publication Date: December 6, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

img_5519Katie McKnight loves her job. Not really. But Katie loves her dad and this job means everything to him. Which is why she finds herself scouting for the perfect house to film a mini-series…and that house happens to be in Harmony, NC. Now if Katie can convince the grouchy, disheveled, but totally hunky guy who owns it that this is the perfect setting for the next teen craze, then she’ll be in business.

Bestselling author, Vance Kerner has lost his mind along with his favorite loafers and the notes to his next novel…somewhere under all the dirty dishes in his kitchen. Since babysitting his brother’s three kids, one dog and a cat, Vance hasn’t found a moments peace. So when California Katie knocks on his door, Vance doesn’t stop to ask questions. He simply yanks her inside and puts her in charge.

Katie agrees to babysit if Vance will allow her film crew access to his property. Vance agrees to listen to Katie’s terms with an open mind. He’ll agree to anything for the time and peace he needs to write. Almost.

But having Katie underfoot is anything but peaceful. And Vance is finding less and less time to write and more and more time to watch Katie weave a lovely spell on all the Kerners, especially him. Can these two opposites find a common ground and the love they both deserve?

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Donna 5 Stars

I completely enjoyed this contemporary romance about a big city girl finding herself in a small southern town. I connected with Katie right away and completely understood her falling for sexy Vance. The eclectic town-folk added a fun touch to the story and made it seem so real. At one point, Vance did something that I didn’t really like. I settled in, thinking that Katie would react like in other books. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. She reacted like I would and I loved it. This book made me smile, cringe, swoon and tear-up. It hit all my buttons.

*Review copy provide by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | B&N | iBooks

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Author Guest Post

Sweet Southern Bad Boy is now casting actors for the main couple

Looking for dynamic couple with off the charts chemistry and sizzling sex appeal and ability to banter, laugh and cry with each other. Need to believe in the elusive love at first sight and living happily ever after.

Sweet Southern Bad Boy Casting Call

Casting call for one strong, hunky, athletic, alpha-male with a bit of an attitude and a little bit of crank on the side, but beneath the gruff exterior, a really good guy. All actors apply between 29 and 34 years of age, 6’ to 6’-3’’ tall, dark longish hair, dark eyes, cool facial scuff, and totally handsome. No scrawny pip-squeaks need apply. No shaved heads, dreadlocks or Mohawks and no Duck Dynasty look-a-likes. Authentic southern drawl a real plus along with a sexy smoldering look and a piratical smile.

Calling all pretty, fresh-faced gals with long dark hair and dark eyes, approximately 5’-4” to 5-6” in height with a sunny smile and disposition to match. Between the ages of 26 and 30; size 10 with womanly curves. Nice but no push-over, strong enough to wrangle three wild children under the age of 6. No shrinking violets, or high-maintenance, spoiled princesses need apply. Executing piercing wolf whistle could seal the deal.

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Giveaway

5 Copies of Find My Way Home

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

MICHELE SUMMERS writes about small-town life with a Southern flair, and has her own interior design business in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Miami, Florida. Both professions feed her creative appetite and provide a daily dose of humor.

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Spotlight, Review, Guest Post & Giveaway: WOLF UNLEASHED (SWAT, #5) by Paige Tyler

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WOLF UNLEASHED (SWAT, #5) by Paige Tyler

Publication Date: December 6, 2016

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis
img_5459SHE BRINGS OUT THE WOLF IN HIM

Lacey Barton can’t deny her crazy attraction to Alex Trevino, but that doesn’t mean she has time for the gorgeous SWAT officer. She’s hell-bent on discovering who’s behind the brutal dogfights sending countless mauled animals to her veterinarian office. The trail leads Lacey to a ring of vicious drug dealers and suddenly she’s in way over her head—right smack in the middle of a SWAT stakeout.

With Lacey in danger, Alex’s wolf side is unleashed. But when she witnesses Alex shift, she’s even more terrified… Now it’s up to Alex to crack the case—and earn back Lacey’s trust and, ultimately, her heart.

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Author Guest Post

In Wolf Unleashed, the fifth installment in Paige Tyler’s sexy and suspenseful SWAT series, Lacey, the heroine, is determined to uncover the perpetrator behind the brutal dogfights that are sending countless dogs into her vet practice. She fearlessly dives into the case even though it’s extremely dangerous!

We asked Paige Tyler about her favorite fearless female protagonists from pop culture. So, who are her favorites.

Wonder Woman. Back when Wonder Woman debuted, all the super heroes were men. It was a “Man’s World” and we women were just living in it. But Diana Prince changed all that. She had the strength, heart, and courage to stand her ground with any supervillain—or superhero—out there. And when it came to Batman, Superman, and all the other testosterone-laden superhero egos, more often than not it fell to Wonder Woman to hold the Justice League together. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t say that another reason I love Wonder Woman is for those cool accessories! I’d love to have those bullet deflecting bracelets and golden lasso.

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Donna 5 Stars

I loved this installment of the SWAT series. The group’s dynamics are fun and their camaraderie makes me wish I were a part of it all. Alex was sexy, smooth and alpha; but still so real that you feel that connection. Lacey was the perfect match for him, even though I groaned at a few things she did. I was a bit nervous about the serial killer aspect, afraid it would overpower the storyline, thankfully the team member’s banter and the sizzling Alex/Lacey romance balanced it out well. This was one of those exciting stories that I had to read straight through just to see what happens.

*Review copy provided NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Excerpt

Dr. Barton was bent over rummaging through a bottom drawer of the built-ins on the far wall. Even though Alex did his best not to stare, it was impossible not to notice that she had an incredibly spectacular ass. He’d always been a leg man, but one look at her derrière and he suddenly decided he’d been missing out.
Then she stood up, turned around, and flipped her long, wavy blond hair over her shoulder, and he realized that the rest of her was equally stunning. While her baggy white lab coat hid a lot, he could still tell that she had an athletic build and some really nice curves. It was her face that made his heart beat faster, though. She had the most captivating pair of blue eyes he’d ever seen and full red lips just begging to be kissed. From this moment forward, whenever he pictured an angel, he would think of the beautiful Dr. Barton.
Alex smiled, and when she smiled back, he heard her heart thudding a little quicker. But then she looked down at Tuffie, and her entire expression changed. Hurrying over, she dropped down to one knee beside Tuffie, gently examining her ears and face.
She gave Alex an angry glare. “Please tell me you arrested the people who put this beautiful girl in a dogfighting ring. Even better—tell me you shot them.”
If Alex had thought her heart was beating fast before, it was nothing compared to the way it was thumping now. Clearly, Dr. Barton was very passionate about protecting dogs. In his book, that made her even more beautiful than she already was.
“I wish I could, but unfortunately, we never found the people who did it,” Alex said. “We rescued Tuffie when her owner was killed. He died trying to protect her from a psychopath armed with a rifle.”
Dr. Barton’s gaze went back to Tuffie, her expression turning from anger to sadness as she ran her fingers down the fresh scars along the dog’s chest and side. “Looks like she got shot anyway.”
“Yeah. It’s a miracle she lived long enough for my teammate and me to get her here in time for Doc Jones to save her. Thank God for sirens. I think we ran every red light in town.”
The veterinarian straightened, gracing him with another dazzling grin, and Alex felt his knees go a little loose. Damn, what a smile.
“I knew there was something I liked about you the second you walked in.”
Alex felt his face flush. “It wasn’t a big deal. I’m a cop. Saving people—and dogs—comes with the job description.” He cringed the moment the words left his mouth. Had he really just said something that lame?
Thankfully, the beautiful Dr. Barton didn’t seem to notice the cheesy line. Or if she had, she was too polite to laugh at him.
“And is bringing Tuffie to her appointments also in your job description?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.
Was her heart beating even faster than before? Unless it was his own heart pounding in his ears. That was a definite possibility. Because it seemed like he had a real thing for Dr. Barton.
He smiled. “It is if the rest of the SWAT team and I adopted her and gave her a new home.”
Alex knew it was a shameless grab to get further into the doctor’s good graces, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
“Not only did you save her life, but you adopted her too? I think Tuffie hit the lottery with you, Officer…?”
“Trevino,” he said, filling in the blank and offering his hand. “But please, call me Alex.”
She took his hand and gave it a shake. “Nice to meet you, Alex. I’m Lacey Barton.”
Her hand was small in comparison to his, her skin soft and warm, and Alex found himself holding on a bit longer than was customary. Lacey didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she appeared just as reluctant to let go as he did.
She pushed her hair behind her ear and cleared her throat. “I guess we ought to get on with Tuffie’s checkup. So you can get back to saving the world and everything.”
“Yeah, of course.”
Reaching down, Alex gently picked up Tuffie and set her on the stainless steel exam table.
“Nice muscle tone,” Lacey murmured.
Alex felt the compliment go right to his head. “Thanks.”
“Actually, I was talking about Tuffie,” Lacey said as she tenderly ran her hands over the dog’s shoulders.
“Oh.”
She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. “But yours is pretty good too.”
Alex chuckled. Damn, this woman was good. He had her by a foot in height and more than a hundred pounds in weight, yet she was playing him like a fiddle, and he didn’t mind one bit. He couldn’t remember ever having such an immediate and intense reaction to any woman he’d ever met. Suddenly, he wanted to know everything there was to know about her—and then some.
Lacey was more than accommodating, telling him about how she’d recently gotten a job here after working several years at a place on the west side of Dallas closer to Arlington.
“I loved it there, but this place is closer to my apartment,” she told him as she continued to examine Tuffie. “I’ve cut my commute time by about an hour and a half each way, so it’s like getting a whole extra day off to do stuff I want to do instead of sitting in traffic.”
“And what do you like to do with all this extra time?” he asked.
Lacey leaned over to read something in Tuffie’s medical records. Alex tensed, worried she’d found something wrong, but after a moment, she merely nodded to herself, then went back to checking Tuffie. “I do a lot of volunteer work at one of the nearby animal shelters,” she said. “I’m also on call to help out both Animal Services and the DPD Animal Cruelty Squad when they run into injured dogs.”
Whoa. A woman who spent her days taking care of dogs for a living, then did it during her spare time for free? That was definitely a woman Alex could appreciate.
“It’s pretty amazing that you give so much of your time to animal causes,” he said. “Getting called out at all hours of the day and night must be tough on your boyfriend, though.”
Lacey urged Tuffie over on her back, pressing carefully along one of the long scars that ran all the way from the base of her rib cage to the middle of her cute pink tummy.
“I don’t have a boyfriend right now,” she said, the corners of her mouth turning up. “My life is a little too busy for that at the moment.”
Bingo! Alex had already noticed she wasn’t wearing a ring. Now he knew she wasn’t seeing anyone. Could this get any better?

~*~*~*~

Buy LinksAmazon: http://amzn.to/2dBvWvC
B&N: http://bit.ly/2f6Yj3j
iBooks: http://apple.co/2dZy66Z

Amazon Series Link: http://amzn.to/1tf4Ls4

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Giveaway

Enter to win one of five copies of Hungry Like the Wolf, the first book in Paige Tyler’s SWAT series!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the author image

Paige is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She graduated from The University of West Florida with a degree in education in 2000, but decided to pursue a full-time career as a writer in 2004. Since then, she’s written over fifty books in several genres, including paranormal, contemporary, western, sci-fi and erotica. She loves writing about strong, sexy, alpha males and the feisty, independent women who fall for them. From verbal foreplay to sexual heat, her stories of romance, adventure, suspense, passion and true love will leave you breathlessly panting for more.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Spotlight, Guest Post & Giveaway: THIS IS OUR SONG (The Shaughnessy Brothers) by Samantha Chase

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THIS IS OUR SONG (The Shaughnessy Brothers) by Samantha Chase

Publication Date: December 6, 2016

Synopsis

img_5420New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Samantha Chase crafts a tender, hopeful family-centered romance

She knows him by reputation

Riley Shaughnessy knew that to stand out in his large family, he’d have to go big. Making a name for himself as a musician wasn’t easy, but he followed his dreams to rock-star success. But the relentless expectations of fans is not helping the slump he’s in now. So of course the person who attracts him is the woman who is not impressed by fame.

Which gives Riley Shaughnessy a lot to prove

Entertainment reporter Savannah Daly is completely unfazed by pretty-boy rock stars. She’s just here to get her interview and write her story. But spending an entire month with the Shaughnessys is going to show Savannah a side of Riley she never could have guessed.

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Buy Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2gLMU9M
B&N: http://bit.ly/2fWMMlP
iBooks: http://apple.co/2fWKRNZ

Amazon Series Link: http://amzn.to/2gLGCa9

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Author Guest Post

I’m one of those people who can multi-task. To a point. I do like almost complete silence while I write with the exception of my Sounds of the Ocean soundtrack playing. I can have twenty tabs open online and be on social media while I’m writing, but please don’t make me listen to anything! But amazingly enough, on most of my books I do end up with a playlist that helps me get the job done.

I just don’t listen to it while I’m writing.

I turn to it when I’m blocked – when I’m stuck in a scene and need to get hyper-focused on my characters. This is Our Song was kind of easy to have a playlist to because Riley is a musician. There were songs that I felt like I could imagine him singing or that the lyrics really applied to him.

So what was on my list and why? Here’s just one of the songs that was on my This is Our Song playlist!

Help! By The Beatles:
I am a fan of the earlier Beatles songs and this one is a favorite. In the book, Riley is dealing a lot with insecurity after having been successful for so long. His life is changing and he’s having a hard time coming to grips with it and making people understand how he feels. So for this song, I almost feel like he’s singing it.

Favorite line: “When I was younger so much younger than today
I never needed anybody’s help in any way
(But) But now these days are gone (These days are gone), I’m not so self assured
(I know I’ve found) Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors.”

I was lucky with This is Our Song because of Riley’s career. Some books it will just be a single (as in one) song that is on my playlist to help me over the humps. And sometimes I’ll have to listen to that song like five times in a row to get me in the proper mindset to write what I need to write.

Happy listening and I hope you enjoy This is Our Song!!

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Excerpt

He didn’t just beat her in the best of three.
Oh, no. That would have been too easy.
No, Savannah—who realized too late that she was a very sore loser—kept egging him on until he finally put the paddle down after beating her in twelve games. Twelve! Why did she have to keep taunting him? Even while they were playing she couldn’t make herself ask him anything important. They talked about useless stuff—favorite bands, favorite foods—hell, at one point she’d even asked him his favorite color.
She hung her head low in defeat and put her paddle on the table. Riley had excused himself and went to get them each a drink. She prayed it was vodka. Something to make her forget this humiliation.
His prize at the end of the first three games was that she’d stay and have dinner with him.
After the next three she’d stay for a movie.
She really thought she was going to beat him in the third round. Unfortunately, it had been her biggest loss, and he’d simply chuckled and said he’d have to think about his reward. And he’d repeated that after the fourth and final win.
Riley cleared his throat when he walked back into the room and handed her a glass of ice water. They drank in silence for a few minutes. “That was fun,” he finally said, and Savannah realized he wasn’t being obnoxious and he wasn’t gloating. He genuinely looked like he’d had a good time.
And despite all the losing, Savannah would have to agree. It was fun.
“How do you feel about salmon for dinner?”
“It’s one of my favorites,” she said and was relieved he wasn’t gloating.
“It’s kind of early yet. Maybe we can watch a movie first?”
That was a reasonable request, and she agreed. Together they picked out a classic Neil Simon movie from 1967, Barefoot in the Park. “Ooo…Robert Redford.” She sighed. “Another favorite.”
Tucked away in a corner was one of the biggest flat-screen TVs Savannah had ever seen. Riley noticed her stunned look. “It’s one hundred ten inches. They don’t come any bigger than this right now. The picture’s great too.”
Two oversized recliners were centered in front of the screen and they each sat down. Riley started the movie and within minutes Savannah was more relaxed and they were both laughing along with the story.
She kicked her sandals off and tucked her feet up on the chair beside her. Next she pulled the clip out of her hair so she could relax her head against the back of the comfortable chair. Looking to her right, she saw Riley was watching her. His expression was intense and for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what was wrong. “Is everything okay?”
He didn’t answer right away.
“Riley?”
“I still have to decide what I get for winning those last two rounds,” he said, his voice low and gravelly.
Savannah nodded, hypnotized by the way his eyes had gone so dark.
“I’m going to combine them into one request,” he said, and it sounded more like a warning than a statement.
“Okay.” Her own voice was almost a breathy whisper.
Leaning closer, Riley’s eyes zeroed in on her lips before meeting her eyes. “Savannah?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m going to kiss you. Twice.”
“Oh.”
His hand snaked out and around her nape and slowly drew her closer to him. And then his lips touched hers and Savannah’s brain simply stopped functioning.

~*~*~*~

Giveaway

Samantha Chase Prize Pack!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.

With twenty-three titles currently to her name, she has no plans to slow down. The success of the Montgomery Brothers series has her working on six new titles in that collection as well as two new exciting series set to start popping up on bookshelves in 2015. You won’t find her books with the erotica or paranormal titles, all of her works are pure contemporary romances.

When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, blogging, playing way too many games of Scrabble on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter

BLOG TOUR: Review, Guest Post & Giveaway: GOOD VAMPIRES GO TO HEAVEN: A Deadly Angels Novel by Sandra Hill

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GOOD VAMPIRES GO TO HEAVEN: A Deadly Angels Novel by Sandra Hill

Publication Date: November 29, 2016

Genre: Paranormal Romance

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img_5280New York Times bestselling author SANDRA HILL continues her sexy deadly angels series with a good demon who might finally get his vangel wings…

WHEN HE WAS BAD . . .

Two-thousand-year-old vampire demon Zeb is supposed to spend eternity turning mortal sinners into bad guy Lucipires like himself. That way, they can grow their numbers and fight the vampire angels known as Vangels. But Zeb is a bad boy in a good way—secretly working as a double agent for none other than St. Michael the Archangel in hopes of one day earning his wings. Problem is, Zeb’s betrayal is discovered.

Hello, demon dungeon.

HE WAS VERY BAD . . .

Until Regina, a foxy, flame-haired Vangel witch on a rescue mission, busts out Zeb, along with three oddball Lucipire witches. Hello, temptation!

BUT TOGETHER THEY WERE VERY GOOD . . . !

Their escape unleashes a war to defeat all Vangels forevermore. In an epic madcap battle between good and evil, a Demon just might earn his wings . . . and spend eternity with the Vangel of his wildest dreams.

~*~*~*~

Author Guest Post

CAN VAMPIRES REALLY GO TO HEAVEN?

As the title of my latest novel, GOOD VAMPIRES GO TO HEAVEN implies, you might be surprised to find a vampire or two when you hit the Pearly Gates. I’ll take it one step further. Even vampire demons get a shot at the heavenly afterlife.

How is this possible? Surely vampires are dark creatures whose misdeeds are more attuned to the other side. And demons? No way could demons get past St. Peter.

Could they?

Let’s ask Zebulan, my tortured hero with a sense of humor, a good demon, if there is such a thing.

So, Zeb, isn’t that an oxymoron, good/demon?

Not really. I had a really horrific event take place in my life almost two thousand years ago (yes, I give new meaning to the term senior citizen), which started me on a sinful path of revenge. Really sinful. Unfortunately, Jasper, king of the Lucipires (demon vampires), took note of my depravity and yanked me over to his minions of bad guys. But I never really wanted to be evil. In fact, I yearned to become a vangel (a vampire angel).

Sounds impossible. How did you go about making the transition from demon to angel?

Well, it wasn’t easy, believe me. Here are the steps I followed.

–Begged St. Michael the Archangel, the vangels’ celestial mentor, to give me wings. That didn’t work, by the way. My advice: Pray, maybe. Beg, no.

–Signed on as a double agent for the vangels. Okay, that was a good first step…for a few years. But up to fifty years, give or take? C’mon!

–Withstood demonic torture when my duplicity was discovered. Forget the rack, or water boarding. Among other perverse tactics they used on me, can anyone say barbed wire on my…well, you know what?

–Accepted that I wasn’t going to be rescued by some legion of fierce vangel warriors, but instead a coven of witches in a hot air balloon. (I kid you not!)

–Resisted (okay, I didn’t really resist) the temptation of that red-haired, sizzling hot vangel, Regina, who led the Motley Crue Coven. And isn’t it odd that she looks like Satan’s sister?

So, in other words, it’s a long journey. But what you’re saying is that even the worst sinner can be saved?

Well, duh, isn’t that the basis of all religious beliefs? Redemption. And listen, don’t we all wish for a second chance at life? A do-over? Whether we’ve committed small sins, or big whoppers, we hope to be forgiven.

It all sounds so serious.

It is, but then, my journey (and your lives, as well) are filled with laughter, aren’t they? I contend that God himself has a great sense of humor. Man and his foibles are perfect fodder for laughter. (Picture cave man times, for example. “Hey, Ugga, is my forehead too sloping?” followed by, “Forget your forehead, Oog. Go get me a dinosaur steak.” Or how about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. “Are you sure you don’t want a bite of my apple, Adam?” countered by a “Bite me!” said under the breath.)

Check out my website, www.sandrahill.net, or my Facebook page, for information about GOOD VAMPIRES GO TO HEAVEN, and my other forty-some books.

As always, I wish you smiles in your reading. And may there be lots of second chances in your lives, too.

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I loved Zeb’s story! I had hoped he would get a good one and I was not disappointed. Regina was perfect for him as they were both strong and had that snarky humor going on. The Vangels were fun as ever while they faced the Lucipers and the evil unleashed. I couldn’t put the book down and once done – I was depressed. It’s over, one of my favorite series…but I can honestly say that it went out with a bang. A hot sexy and action packed bang.

*Review copy provided by Avon Books in exchange for an honest review.

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Excerpt

A blue mist seemed to swirl above, then settle around them like a cloudy cocoon. The rain aroma intensified, and for the first time she smelled her own cinnamon fragrance that Zeb had alluded to. Cinnamon rain, for sure. They ought to make a scented candle with that name.

Zeb’s drinking from her was slow and rhythmic and only tiny sips at a time. But, oh, the bliss! It was both primal and sexual. No wonder vangels who mated sometimes fanged each other while making love.

Regina arched her head back to give Zeb better access, an ageless gesture of female submission. How odd! That she would surrender anything to a man!

Only her breasts pressed against his battered body, the rest of her half on, half off the bed, her legs dangling over the side. Still, she adjusted herself so as not to hurt him, and in the process she twined the fingers of one of her hands with his, and she placed her other hand against his head, to hold him in place.

His hand still cupped her nape, but his other hand was making sweeping caresses over her back, from shoulder to rump and back again. Over and over. Even though she wore one of his old T-shirts and jogging shorts, she felt naked under his touch.

Regina was more aroused than she’d ever been in all her life. Not that she’d been inclined to lust very often. Once every century or so.

She wanted to climb atop his body and rub herself against him. Skin to skin. Breast to chest. Pubic bone to pubic bone. Thigh against thigh.

She couldn’t. Even if she could, she wouldn’t.

She wanted to kiss his lips and draw his tongue into her mouth. She would suck on him with childlike hunger. No, not childlike. Nothing childlike about the hunger she was feeling.

In any case, it was a moot point. It was hard to kiss a fanging man when only one set of fangs was involved. Two sets? Impossible! Wasn’t it? They might even get locked together. Imagine Vikar’s consternation if she arrived back at the castle fang-locked with a demon vampire, wanting him to unlock them. They would be the laughingstock of all vangeldom. Angeldom, too, she supposed.

She could imagine the jokes.

“How do two vampires kiss?”

“Carefully.”

Better she concentrate on something else.

She had to stop Zeb’s drinking from her, for now, or she would be drained. Slowly, carefully, she pushed herself up and away, until his fangs withdrew from her with a small pop. He licked the skin, reflexively, to seal the wound.

“That’s all for now,” she said and rose off the bed. Her shaky knees almost gave out. How was she going to do this again and again until Zeb was healed? She would be a basket case. The most satisfied woman in the universe! Or the most stirred up and antsy for release! Yikes!

Zeb’s eyes opened for a moment, and he said, “Thank you.” Almost immediately, he fell back asleep, or unconscious. His body still threw off heat like an inferno; so the danger was not over. Still, she sensed that he was a little better.

She covered his body with a thin sheet, dabbed at the blood on his lips with a tissue (the fangs having retracted already), and finally replied to his comment, “No. Thank you!”

~*~*~*~

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Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Amazon Series Link

✦Deadly Angels Series by Sandra Hill✦
1. Kiss of Pride
2. Kiss of Surrender
3. Kiss of Temptation
4. Kiss of Wrath – Review http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-1id
Novella: Christmas in Transylvania – Review http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-1Hz
5. Vampire in Paradise – Review http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-1M9
6. Even Vampires Get the Blues – Review http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-2UE
7. The Angel Wore Fangs – Review http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-4C7

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Giveaway

(2 Print copies of GOOD VAMPIRES GO TO HEAVEN (U.S. Only))

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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My life and my books are a celebration of new beginnings. Although I am a livelong writer–I’m the oddball who liked writing essays in school–it wasn’t until the early 1990s that my writing interest turned to novels. It was a new beginning for me…a totally different career path from the journalism I had been practicing. More than twenty novels later, I am still in love with writing…and with new beginnings.

No wonder all of my books deals with new beginnings in some way or another. In fact, my first novel, The Reluctant Viking, first published in 1994, was about a woman on the brink of divorce looking for a chance to start all over. A new beginning for poor Ruby Jordan. Fast forward more than ten years and you will find there is a theme of new beginnings in all my books. Doesn’t matter if it’s divorce, death, despair, time travel, loneliness, boredom or plain old dissatisfaction, readers want to know that there is a chance for…yep, new beginnings.

One of the greatest gifts we have in this world is to find work we love, which is appreciated by others. I have been especially blessed in that regard.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Spotlight, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway: Last Chance Cowboys: The Lawman by Anna Schmidt

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Last Chance Cowboys: The Lawman (Where the Trail Ends, #2) by Anna Schmidt

Publication Date: December 6, 2016

Genre: Historical Western Romance

Synopsis

img_5264From acclaimed author Anna Schmidt comes a sweeping historical Western romance about the unbreakable bonds of family, second chances, and a whole lot of heart in the Wild West.

“This is me, Addie,” Jess murmured. “You and me, the way we always were.”
But it wasn’t, no matter how much she wished it were true. They were different now. She would always love him…
But can she trust him not to break her heart?

Jess Porterfield fled to the big city after his father’s sudden death, leaving behind his family ranch-and his childhood sweetheart. Now Jess has returned as the local lawman, determined to prove his worth…and win back the one woman he could never live without.

Young frontier doctor Addie Wilcox was devastated when Jess left her behind. Now he’s back and it’s difficult to remember why she should keep her distance. But with the town’s richest man set to see her hang for a crime she didn’t commit, Addie must put her faith in the lawman who broke her heart-and trust that together they’ll find their second chance at love.

~*~*~*~

Author Guest Post

When authors aren’t hard at work crafting books readers can fall in love with, like readers, they enjoy unwinding with a good book, movie or television program. Maybe the writing is inspiring, or maybe it’s just nice to escape the real world for a little bit. I asked Anna about her favorite stories, ones from popular books, movies, and television shows that many of us probably know too. Read on to see what she had to say!

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE
Anna: Give me a WWII setting in Europe any day of the week; add in love interests who cannot be separated by world events, and I’m hooked.

Interestingly enough, Anna takes inspiration, not just from other books, but from film and television most of all. She says:

That’s the way I write. My characters are actors on a stage or in a movie, and they walk around doing whatever they please while I try to get it all down!

~*~*~*~

Excerpt

FROM THE AUTHOR…

Sometimes characters I think are minor speak up. (Sometimes they pretty much grab me by the shoulders and shout, “I want to tell my story!”) That was the case with Dr. Addie Wilcox. So when her childhood sweetheart and love-of-her-life Jess Porterfield returns at the end of The Drifter, I knew what the second book in the series would be. In The Lawman, Addie has to fight her lifelong attraction to Jess, determined that he won’t break her heart again. Trouble is, once he gets appointed to serve as the town marshal and is pretty much living down the street from Addie and her family, avoiding his good looks, charming smile and determination to win her heart becomes pretty much impossible.

The story of Addie and Jess is all about first love and second chances. Here’s an excerpt that I hope sends you running to the store or your computer to read more…

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Addie could not for the life of her figure out why she continued to allow that man to get to her. Why couldn’t she be more like Jess’s younger sister and her good friend, Amanda—calm and sophisticated? She searched the gathering for Amanda, but hesitated when she saw her friend surrounded by the usual trio of admirers. Amanda had been planning this party for weeks now. She certainly deserved to enjoy herself and not have to sympathize with Addie. Besides, Jess was Amanda’s brother, newly returned to the fold from his travels following his father’s death—a death everyone now knew had not been the accident they’d first thought.
Addie stopped dead in her tracks. Her hand flew to her mouth. What was she thinking?
Poor Jess. Did he know? Had anyone told him? Of course not. Jess had a temper, and if he knew what everyone now knew—that his father’s death was not the accident they’d first thought–he’d likely be off trying to track down the killer.
Maybe Jess had overheard some of the talk. Maybe that was why he was talking about applying for the marshal’s position. After all, Jasper Tipton had built that big house in town to please his bride, Pearl, and his brother, Buck, lived there as well. While the local marshal had no jurisdiction outside the town limits, Jess might just think the fact the Tiptons resided in town opened the door for him to go after them. More than likely he would get himself killed in the bargain. Her head was spinning as she tried to think the issue through from every side.
“This is not one of your medical cases,” she muttered to herself. “This is Jess.” And when it came to figuring out what Jess Porterfield might be thinking, she fully appreciated that logic was not part of the process. She was still mad at him for leaving all those months ago but that didn’t mean she didn’t care about him and, knowing his temper, he was bound to get into trouble. With a sigh, she headed off to find her father. Maybe he could talk some sense into the man—the man she had fallen in love with, planned a future, with and then rejected. But as she moved through the throng of party guests pausing now and then to exchange a greeting, it wasn’t her father she saw—it was Jess.
He wasn’t spoiling for a fight at all. No, he was laughing and flirting with Sybil Sinclair. Sybil with her blonde curls and her bright blue eyes and a cupid’s bow of a mouth that made her look like a porcelain doll. Sybil with her tiny waist and her flawless skin and giddy laugh that actually came out as Tee-hee-hee.
“My brother is trying to make you jealous,” Amanda murmured, coming to stand next to her. “Do not let him know that it’s working.”
“It’s not,” Addie insisted, pushing her glasses more firmly onto the bridge of her nose. She straightened to her full height, which was still a good three inches shorter than Sybil’s willowy five foot four. She brushed back a lock of hair that had come loose from the practical bun she preferred and tried not to think about how her stick-straight locks would look worn down like Sybil’s long curls. “I really couldn’t care less if your brother wants to make an utter fool of himself with that…”
“Good to know you aren’t affected,” Amanda said wryly.

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Buy Links

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2ghzGBq
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2gHlePZ
B&N: http://bit.ly/2f1LKFQ
iBooks: http://apple.co/2eXO11s

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Giveaway

Win one of five copies of Last Chance Cowboys: The Drifter, the first book in Anna Schmidt’s Where The Trail Ends series

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*~*~*~

About the Author

Award-winning author Anna Schmidt delights in creating stories where her characters must wrestle with the challenges of their times. Critics have consistently praised Schmidt for her ability to seamlessly integrate actual events with her fictional characters to produce strong tales of hope and love in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. She resides in Wisconsin.

 

Spotlight, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway: THE UNTOUCHABLE EARL by Amy Sandas

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The Untouchable Earl (Fallen Ladies, #2) by Amy Sandas

Publication Date: November 1, 2016

Genre: Historical Romance

Synopsis

img_5070“Are you afraid?”
“Yes,” she replied in a soft voice. “But I love the way you frighten me.”

Lily Chadwick has spent her life playing by society’s rules. But when an unscrupulous moneylender snatches her off the street and puts her up for auction at a pleasure house, she finds herself in the possession of a man who makes her breathless with terror and impossible yearning…

Though the reclusive Earl of Harte claimed Lily with the highest bid, he hides a painful secret—one that has kept him from knowing the pleasure of a lover’s touch. Even the barest brush of skin brings him physical pain, and he’s spent his life keeping the world at arms’ length. But there’s something about Lily that maddens him, bewitches him, compels him…and drives him toward the one woman brave and kind enough to seek to heal his troubled heart.

~*~*~*~

Author Guest Post

Amy Sandas/ The Untouchable Earl – Guest Post

Brooding heroes. I’ve always been drawn to them over all other hero types. They stay in my mind long after they attain their happy ending, perhaps because that HEA tends to be so hard-won. They tend to carry around scars that won’t heal and painful memories that won’t fade, closing themselves off from others, fearing judgement or further hurt. I love their complexity, their secrets, the deep inner darkness they don’t bother to hide, and the tenderness they don’t want you to find.

Who are my favorite brooding heroes?

Derek Craven from Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas – Derek Craven is one of my favorite romance novel heroes of all time. It is not just his ruthless determination to distance himself from the gutters from which he had been born that makes him so alluring, or even his rough, almost brutish masculinity, though it certainly helps! Craven is a man of power and wealth of his own making, he is “a figure of mystery; arrogant, self-mocking, sociable and yet intensely private.” Ultimately, it is the unexpected sentimentality buried in depths of Craven’s soul that gives him his greatest mystique and urges a worthy woman to bring light to his darkness.
Avenell Slade, the hero in my latest title, The Untouchable Earl, is also a wonderful brooder. Keeping people beyond arms reach is vital to his survival in a society that would scorn him for the physical affliction he acquired from a childhood illness. No one can know his secret, and that means no one can get too close. It is a wretched existence made only more devastating when he meets Lily Chadwick, a woman whose closeness he desires beyond all else.

~*~*~*~

Excerpt

“Are you going to try the champagne?” she asked.
He looked at the elegant glass in his hand. The act had become such an ingrained habit that he never even thought about it anymore. But then, no one else seemed to notice when he did not actually raise his glass to drink.
“I prefer not to have my judgment clouded.”
In truth, he never consumed anything that might promote a loss of control while among society. He had to be ever diligent if he was to successfully maintain his composure.
Perhaps tonight more than ever.
“Then why pour yourself a glass?”
“It has become habit, I suppose. A way to blend with my peers and avoid drawing attention.
She tilted her head. A smile played about the corners of her mouth. “You do what you can to blend in, whereas I’ve always secretly wished I possessed some quality that might help me to stand out. We make an odd pair, my lord.”
Avenell’s lips curved upward involuntarily. “We do indeed, Miss Chadwick.”
He hadn’t intended the intimate tone that had crept into his words, but in seeing her eyes widen with that barely perceptible reaction she had to him, he was glad for it. Knowing he could cause the involuntary response made him feel as though they were on a bit more equal ground.
“Will you call me Lily?” she asked with a modest dip of her chin. “It feels odd to be so formal, considering our…association,” she added hesitantly.
It took him a moment to gather himself enough to respond. “Would you like me to call you Lily?”
“Yes. I think so.”
He nodded.
“Shall I call you Avenell?”
Hearing his name on her lips created a fine point of pressure in his chest. He instinctively squared his shoulders in defense. Although he was pleased she would allow him the intimacy of using her given name—in fact, he intended for her to share far more intimacies with him—he could not do the same in return.
“I prefer you address me as Lord Harte.” He knew his words sounded cold, but there was no help for it. “Or my lord.”
A shadow slid across her expression at this response. Her mouth curved softly downward in a way he found intensely alluring. A tiny line formed above her brow, then quickly disappeared. He could see his refusal bothered her. For a moment it appeared she might dispute him, but she held her tongue.
While she remained silent, Avenell felt an unusual desire to provide some sort of explanation. Not all of the truth, perhaps, but something to help her understand that the denial was not a personal rejection.
“I have never kept a mistress,” he began, carefully easing into what he needed to say.
“I recall you telling me as much,” she replied. “And of course, you know I have never been one before.”
Her tone was gentle, and her features were set in a perfect expression of serenity, but he could have sworn he detected a note of dry humor in her tone. Her composure despite the subject matter astounded him. She was so unlike the typical modest young lady.
Something in the steadiness of her gaze urged him to glance away, to look anywhere but at her. He resisted the temptation and began again. “I never entered into such an arrangement because I knew there would be an expectation of certain liberties that I cannot allow.”
There was a long pause, during which the point of pressure in his chest spread outward. Then she tilted her head in a subtle gesture.
“What sort of liberties?” she asked softly.
Her voice had changed. It was difficult to identify exactly what it was, but it warmed him. Made him feel a burst of impatience, a wave of deeper desire. He took a moment before he replied.
“You will understand more fully soon enough. But I promise, I will not allow my limitations to lessen the pleasure you experience during our association.”
A blush pinked her cheeks. But she did not look away.
“And what of your pleasure, my lord?” Her voice was soft and low. Smoky, like her eyes.
It weaved through Avenell’s senses and hit him hard in the gut. Heat scored through his insides on a direct path to his loins. He had suspected from the start that her gentle manner had lured him so strongly. But the unexpected boldness in her query had an intense effect on him.
His arousal roughened his tone as he answered, “My pleasure is assured. Do not doubt that.”
The pink in her cheeks spread down across her chest and the upper swells of her breasts, but still she held his gaze. He wondered what she might be thinking. Her stillness was disconcerting when he sensed so much going on inside her.
After a few moments, her lashes swept low as she looked down at the glass of champagne held lightly in her hands.
Avenell set his own glass on the mantel over the fireplace and turned to face her more fully. It was time to begin.
“Come here, Lily.”

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Buy Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2f6j1jf
B&N: http://bit.ly/2e2j3Hz
iBooks: http://apple.co/2dPh2gc

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Giveaway

10 Copies of Luck is No Lady

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

Amy Sandas’ love of romance began one summer when she stumbled across one of her mother’s Barbara Cartland books. Her affinity for writing began with sappy pre-teen poems and led to a Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She lives with her husband and children in Wisconsin.

Social Networking Links: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Spotlight, Guest Post & Giveaway: Picture Perfect Wedding by Lynnette Austin

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Picture Perfect Wedding (Magnolia Brides, #3) by Lynnette Austin

Publication Date: November 1, 2016

Synopsis

img_5045Third in the heartfelt and charming Magnolia Brides series from Lynnette Austin

One mistake can change everything…forever

Beck Elliot and Tansy Calhoun were inseparable—until Tansy left Misty Bottoms, Georgia, promising to come back after she finished school. Beck stayed behind to save the family business, dreaming of the day when Tansy would return. Instead, his trust and his heart were broken when she inexplicably married another man and bore his child.

Five years later, Tansy comes home, a sadder and wiser woman. Despite his anger, Beck finds it hard to avoid her and her adorable little daughter—especially with all the busybodies of Misty Bottoms going out of their way to throw him and Tansy together, hoping a lingering spark will reignite their enduring flame…

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Buy Links

Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | iBooks

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Author Guest Post

Love—the Second Time Around!

I love second-chance romances—both to read and to write! Our couple’s first chance has generally happened before the book begins, and, then, they meet again—with all the ensuing angst. This is no slow-build relationship but rather a raging inferno from the get-go with the chemistry and connection full-blown on page one.

The once-lovers often face-off as enemies; the conflict is built in. Something caused their relationship to implode the first time around. When they meet again, that problem remains unresolved. If they couldn’t solve it before, how can they hope to now?

On top of that, neither the hero nor the heroine has remained in a vacuum during their “away” time. They’ve both had lives for these two or five or ten years. Both have changed, and those old emotions, resentments, and frustrations have had a chance to fester.

Picture Perfect Wedding, the third book in my Magnolia Brides series, is a second-chance-at-love story. When Tansy Calhoun left for college, she promised to return to Beck Elliot, who stayed behind in Misty Bottoms, Georgia, to save the family business. She reneged on that promise and married someone else, had his baby.

Five years later, divorced and broke, she and her daughter return to Tansy’s small hometown to create wedding cakes for Magnolia Brides. The question isn’t whether or not she and Beck will fall in love but rather will either take a chance on risking his heart again.

One mistake can change everything…forever.

If you love this trope as much as I do, I’m sure you have favorites! Here is one of mine:
Ain’t She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Sugar Beth Carey ruled Parrish,

Mississippi, fifteen years ago. When she left town, she left behind a lot of hatred and resentment, all well-earned. Collin Byrne’s animosity is almost a living entity.

At the story’s start, this golden girl crawls back to Parrish with her deceased third husband’s dysfunctional dog and barely enough money to feed herself and put gas in her car. One of the feistiest heroines ever, it’s a veneer. She’s the girl you love to hate, the one who made high school a living hell. Yet, under Phillips’ expert hand, I found myself rooting for Sugar Beth, and, once the reason for her behavior was exposed, I wanted her to rise like the phoenix. Sugar is fighting for a second chance both at love and redemption.

My guilty confession—I’ve read Ain’t She Sweet at least six times, and, every single time, I cringe at the fork-under-the-table incident. I’m not telling. You’ll have to read it for yourself.

What’s your favorite second-chance romance? Why?

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Excerpt

In a perfect world or, heck, even in a movie, music would play softly in the background. The SUV’s windows would be down, her auburn hair blowing softly in the breeze. Her hero would wait at the road’s end, arms open and welcoming.
They’d kiss…
Tansy Calhoun Forbes’s cell rang, and, startled, she glanced in the rearview mirror. Gracie, her four-year-old daughter, slept soundly, a welcome respite from today’s endless are-we-there-yets.
“Hello?” she practically whispered.
“You unpacked yet?” Jenni Beth Beaumont, her best friend forever, sounded stressed.
“Still a few miles from town, but almost there.”
“Good. Great. Listen, I know this has been a stressful day, heck, a stressful year, and you’re tired…”
Tansy smiled. She could practically see her friend squirming. “What do you need, Jenni Beth?”
“Oh, Tanz, I have two weddings and a sixteenth birthday party coming up this week. Magnolia Brides is booked solid for the next nine months—my dream come true—but I’m dying here! I need cakes. Phenomenal cakes. Your cakes!”
“I don’t have—”
“Kitty said you can use the bakery’s kitchen.”
Tansy sighed and ran her fingers through already-mussed hair.
“I know, I know.” Jenni Beth’s tension vibrated over the airwaves. “I’m putting you on the spot. Big-time. I’m a horrible person. An even worse friend.”
“No, you’re not.” Determined, Tansy sat up a little straighter. “This is exactly what I’ve insisted I want. Part of the reason I’m on my way home. Color me stupid, but I’m in.”
As the city-limits sign loomed, she hung up and removed her dark glasses. Misty Bottoms, Georgia. The Low Country. Even slowing to a crawl didn’t stop the inevitable.
Home, sweet home.
Right back at the starting gate.
Waiting for her? No music, no hero, and no kiss.
And no one but herself to blame.
Tansy pushed her sunglasses back in place and glared at the brilliant sunshine that bathed the beyond-gorgeous autumn day. The humidity had dropped, and a few white clouds drifted high in the bluebird sky. Shouldn’t it be raining, the sky dark with ominous thunderheads?
Divorced for fifty-three days, five hours, and—she checked the dashboard clock—six minutes, and here she was, hell-bent on creating the cake for a bride’s special day.
She’d had her own shot at the dream and lost—because the wrong groom stood beside her at the altar.
Walking out of her supersized house that morning had been confusing. She’d expected a huge weight to lift, and it had. Still, that was the house she’d brought Gracie home to after she’d been born. Where her first four birthdays had been celebrated. Christmases and Thanksgivings.
And so much unhappiness and deceit.
A building off to Tansy’s right caught her attention and caused a hitch in her heart. Elliot Construction and Lumberyard.
Beck Elliot, the groom behind door number one, the door she hadn’t chosen.
Oh boy. Was she making another mistake? Should she have started over somewhere else?
Ding, ding, ding. The low-fuel indicator chimed, and the little red light blinked on. Shoot!
Tommy’s Texaco loomed.
Relieved, she flipped on her turn signal, veered into the lot, and pulled up to the gas pump.
And there it sat.
A big red truck with Elliot Construction on the side.
The door to the gas station opened, and Beck Elliot, looking hotter than any man had a right in dusty jeans, a faded T-shirt, and old work boots, stepped outside.
He tore the wrapper off a candy bar and took a bite.
Then his intense, midnight-blue eyes met hers. The chill had her rubbing her arms even though the temperature read seventy-five in the shade.
As she got out, her gaze collided with Beck’s again.
His eyes radiated resentment and betrayed hopes.
Hers? She figured they held remorse, hurt, and impossible-to-deny desire.
Beck nearly choked on the bite of chocolate. What the hell?
He tossed the bar into the trash barrel outside the door.
Months ago, he’d heard rumblings that Tansy’d enrolled her daughter in the local preschool, but since no one had said anything else about it, he’d figured she’d changed her mind. That fancy SUV of hers was loaded to the roof, though, way more than she’d need for a quick visit.
His chest constricted, and he swore under his breath. Why would she return to Misty Bottoms? She looked like one of those emaciated French models in the magazines his mom read. A good strong wind off the coast would blow her from here to Atlanta.
The strong, carefree Tansy he’d known had disappeared. She’d become… He didn’t know. Ethereal came to mind.
Not his business—and she’d be the first to tell him that.
“Hey, Beck,” Tommy said. “Got your truck filled for ya.”
“Thanks. I left the money on the counter. Later, pal.”
Without another word, without another glance toward the woman he’d once expected to marry, Beck hopped in his truck, turned the key, and pulled out of the gas station, reminding himself that Tansy Calhoun—no, make that Tansy Forbes—was history. Ancient history.

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Giveaway

10 Copies of The Best Laid Wedding Plans

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

LYNNETTE AUSTIN gave up the classroom to write full time. An author of eight novels, she has been a finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest, PASIC’s Book of Your Heart Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Contest. She and her husband divide their time between Southwest Florida’s beaches and Blairsville, GA.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter