Spotlight – You’ve Got Plaid

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This Highlander is determined to help his enemy’s daughter get safely home, even if it means his own defeat…

*****

You’ve Got Plaid

by Eliza Knight

Publication Date: 5/25/2021

Blurb:

Brogan Grant, a Jacobite soldier and bastard son of the Chief, fought savagely on the battlefield and barely escaped capture. On the run for his life, Brogan comes across what he thinks is a spyβ€”a very bonny lass disguised as a lad, who happens to be the daughter of his clan’s enemy. He admires her bravery, but he knows what can happen to a woman alone in a war-ravaged land.Β 

Lady Fiona MacBean is determined to do her part to ensure there is a Scottish king. Disguised as a healer, she delivers coded messages to rebels throughout the Highlands. There’s only one thing impeding her missionβ€”a striking Highlander who’s determined to send her home.Β 

Unfortunately, Fiona will not be deterred, no matter what the sexy Scot says. Left with little choice, Brogan agrees to join her mission if she agrees to return home when it’s over. Now the two must work together and risk everything to save the life of Bonnie Prince Charlie himself. If only their hearts weren’t at risk as well…

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2K9yKQoΒ 

B&N: https://bit.ly/2O3Dl97Β 

Apple: https://apple.co/3sAH0JHΒ 

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3tDV1HZΒ 

Bookshop: https://bit.ly/2PtVUnaΒ 

BAM: https://bit.ly/3dB50IwΒ 

Books2Read: https://bit.ly/3dBBDWhΒ Β 

*****

Excerpt:

MacBeanΒ LandsΒ 

Highlands, ScotlandΒ 

Summer 1725Β 

β€œWhat are ye doing?” 

FionaΒ MacBean, second of four children born to ChiefΒ MacBeanΒ and his stronghearted bride, turned around to see her three siblings standing obstinately in a line, hands on hips, feet tapping.Β 

Her elder brother had a knowing smirk on his face, as though he’d caught her red-handed. Her younger brother, Ian, was emulating Gus to a T, and sweet Leanna, the youngest of the brood, waggled her brows at Fiona in a way that meant she had a secret and was having a hard time keeping it in.Β 

Fiona pulled her hands away from the gap in the tree and tried to clear her expression of anything other than annoyance.Β 

β€œI’m just looking for eggs in a quail’s nest.” 

β€œNay, ye were no’. Just tell us what ye found.” Gus narrowed his eyes, the same way their father often did.Β 

β€œI told ye, the squirrel ran up the tree. He was running in a circle just here.” Fiona zigzagged in front of the tree, and then hurried behind it before coming around the front and pretending to scurry up the bark.Β 

β€œWe know what ye do when ye come out to the woods,” Ian said, looking up at Gus for approval.Β 

β€œAye, we know,” Leanna added, not wanting to be left out.Β 

Fiona crossed her arms and scowled. β€œThe lot of ye are a bunch of storytellers.” 

β€œOch, who’s telling stories now?” Gus said, taking a step forward.Β 

Fiona clenched her hands, forgetting she held the slip of paper that had been folded neatly and shoved into the nook in the tree.Β 

β€œWho’s it from?” Ian asked.Β 

β€œRead it to us,” Leanna added.Β 

β€œHand it over. If yeΒ dinna, we’ll only be forced to take it from ye.” Gus held out his hand.Β 

At twelve years old herself, Fiona didn’t often take orders from her brother, born just shy of eleven months before her. But if he were threatening to tackle her to the ground, that was something entirely different. Gus was bigger than her, having just shot up another four inches in the past summer. But she was faster… 

Fiona took off at a run.Β 

As a little girl, she’d spent a great deal of time running through the forest, her feet slipping on leaves, boots catching on roots. She’d hidden in the hollows of trees, leapt over fallen oaks, slid down embankments. There was no nook or cranny in the forest she’d not claimed as her own. And as much as her siblings tried to find her in every single one, they were not always successful.Β 

Her father didn’t like her traipsing off alone in the forest, especially not with the uprising. The damned loyalists, who she assumed were the English when he said it, had been a nuisance to all their hides for as long as she could remember.Β 

Fiona had been born just a couple of years before the first Jacobite rising in 1715, and in fact, on her second birthday, her da had been away meeting with a war council along with other prominentΒ Scots and titled men from England. Had fought beside old King James, and proudly showed his battle scars whenever he was a bit too deep in his cups. He’d been a sprite man of about twenty-five back then. There’d been a few more battles since, but none won, as yet. That didn’t mean they were going to give up.Β 

Every year, Fiona went with her father to a secret meeting of the lairds and earls and other warriors to discuss their latest plans. They thought she was off gallivanting with her friends and siblings, not paying attention. Which she mostly was, but she was also very good at spying, and so the children often had her listen in on the talks, then bring back the news of what she’d learned.Β 

There was one particular lad who seemed keen on her skills. His name was Aeneas but he asked her to call himΒ Aes, and he had a smile that could melt the heart of even a lass who spent more time than not irritated with lads, namely her brothers.Β 

He’d caught her one of the days listening in on an important conversation.Β 

She didn’t see him in the hall with any of the other children, nor did she see him accompany any of the lairds.Β AesΒ was just as much a mystery to her as anyone else.Β 

When she talked with her friends Jenny and Annie about him, they couldn’t figure out whoΒ AesΒ was, either, so they spent their days and evenings searching out the boy with the soot-colored hair and a mischievous grin. But he only seemed to show up when Fiona least expected it, and when her friends weren’t around, to prove he wasn’t a ghost.Β 

Every year she sawΒ Aes, and their fondness for each other grew. Just this past spring, he’d told her he didn’t want to wait until next year to see her again. Fiona suggested he write to her instead, to which he wrinkled his nose. If he was writing her letters, her father would want to know who he was, and he’d want to read them.Β 

Fiona had asked what was wrong with her da knowing whoΒ AesΒ was, but he said it was best no one knew, so they’d sketched a map of the wood surrounding her family’s small lands, and she’d drawn an X on the spot where there was a tree with a secret nook that she often hid pretty rocks in. IfΒ AesΒ could find it and leave her letters there, their friendship was meant to be.Β 

She’d been checking that tree for months, and today was the first time she’d found anythingβ€”a piece of folded paper, and she’d be damned if she was going to let one of her sticky-fingered siblings get their hands on it.Β 

Excerpted from You’ve Got Plaid by Eliza Knight.
Β© 2021 by Eliza Knight. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

*****

Author Info:

ELIZA KNIGHT is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty sizzling historical romances. While not reading, writing, or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping, and visiting with family and friends.

*****

Giveaway:

2 sets of May releases
(Wreckless, Undercover Wolf, You’ve Got Plaid, Cowboy Fire, High Country Justice)

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af71080/

~

 

 

Spotlight – Then I Saw You

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Firefighter Marshall Knight wasn’t expecting to become a father but here he is kicking butt and taking names, until a trip to the ER lands him in the path of Kaitlynn Bennett, the sweet nurse, who’s made their visit more bearable. Their relationship shouldn’t grow into more, but when fire strikes, they have to decide if their love is worth the risk. Readers will devour this off-limits romance featuring one sexy unsuspecting dad. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Then I Saw You by Kate Stacy, the next book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.

*****

Then I Saw You

an Off Limits Romance

a Single Dads Romance

by Kate Stacy

Blurb:

Firefighter Marshall Knight is more than happy living the single life and working toward his next promotion with the fire department until his world is flipped upside down when he finds out that he has a child. Abandoned by his own mother as a small boy, he’s determined to do the right thing and take care of his son, stepping right into the role of a single father and leaving no time for things like a relationship and romance.Β 

One trip to the ER with his baby boy changes all that and he finds himself instantly enamored with Kaitlynn – the compassionate nurse who’s been assigned to them.Β 

Kaitlynn Bennett made herself a vow a long time ago to never date a firefighter. Between her father’s job as Fire Captain and losing her own mother in a fire when she was twelve, she knows all too well the heartache that comes along with all of it.Β 

Which is exactly why she had no clue that the sexy single dad in the ER was actually a firefighter. Their attraction is undeniable and with a little nudge from a friend the two find themselves in an inferno of their own. That is, until Kaitlynn discovers he’s a firefighter and Marshall realizes that Kaitlynn is his Captain’s daughter. It’s the perfect excuse for both of them to give in to their own insecurities and put plenty of distance in their already complex relationship.Β 

But when a fire strikes and they both end up in harm’s way, will they finally realize that building a life together is far better than a lifetime apart?

Goodreads β†’ https://bit.ly/3vYVSo1

Amazon β†’ https://amzn.to/3atn4SZ

*****

Excerpt:

β€œOh my god.”

Her knees buckle, but Captain is close enough to keep her from hitting the floor.

β€œPlease let me hold you. I can’t stand seeing you like this.”

She shakes her head and presses herself closer to her father.

β€œI can’t. I… I need…” She’s damn near hyperventilating. Ignoring my pain, I sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed, ready to go to her, but she stops me. β€œI need to sit down for a minute. Please.”

My eyes meet Captain’s, and he nods again, silently telling me to stay put. I fucking hate it, but I listen. He leads Kaitlynn to the nearest chair while I settle back onto the uncomfortable hospital bed.

I watch as Captain squats down next to her. He wraps an arm around her back and murmurs quietly in her ear. I don’t know what he’s saying to her, but I can see it’s working. She’s starting to calm down, but it pisses me off that I’m not the one comforting her.

β€œNow,” Captain says sternly, β€œwhich one of you wants to tell me how long you’ve been together?”

I look to Kaitlynn, not wanting to break my promise to her, even though there’s no longer a secret to keep.

β€œSince a few days after we had that late-night conversation on the phone,” she admits.

I expected him to be angry when he learned the truth, when he found out we were both lying to him. He’s not angry. He’s disappointed, and honestly, I think that’s worse. I’d rather deal with his anger.

β€œDid you have any plans to tell me?” he asks, but the question is directed at me.

β€œYes, sir. When Kaitlynn was comfortable with me sharing our relationship.”

β€œWhen Kaitlynn was comfortable?”

β€œYes, Dad. I asked Marshall not to tell you.”

He pins me with a cold stare. β€œI thought you had more respect for me than that.”

My mouth opens and closes repeatedly, but no sound comes out.

β€œDon’t get mad at him. It’s my fault.”

β€œHe still should have told me.”

It’s Kaitlynn’s turn to be offended. She cocks her eyebrow and pins her father with the same glare he just gave me. β€œYou’re saying if you made a promise to me, you would turn right around and break it?”

β€œOf course not!” he sputters.

β€œThen why would Marshall?”

Properly chastised, Captain drops into the other chair and leans forward on his elbows. β€œI wish one of you would have been honest with me. I don’t like being kept in the dark.”

β€œI love you, Dad, but you and I are only recently mending the cracks in our relationship. I wasn’t ready for you to know.”

He hangs his head and sighs before lifting it to look at his daughter.

β€œYou’re right, Kaitlynn. I have to earn back the privilege of knowing everything about your life. I’m sorry for the way I reacted.”

She leans in and hugs him, and almost instantly, the air in the room feels less stifling. Captain doesn’t offer me an apology, nor do I expect him to. Despite the promise I made Kaitlynn, I was never comfortable with keeping our relationship from him. He has the right to be angry with me. He deserves better from me.

A nurse pops in my room to check my vitals and leaves almost as quickly as she appeared. Captain excuses himself to get something to drink, disappearing when we both decline his offer to get us one as well.

β€œCan I hold you now?”

It’s all I’ve wanted from the moment she rushed into the room, but the expression on her face tells me I’m not going to get what I want.

She stands, wrapping her arms around herself. She looks at me again, but whatever I saw in her expression before is gone, replaced with steely resolve.

β€œI think I’m going to head home. It’s been an emotional day… I… I think I need some time.”

I can’t say I’m not disappointed, but I understand. This has to be hard on her.

β€œOkay, beautiful. Will I see you in the morning before I’m discharged? They’re only keeping me for observation, so I’ll be sprung first thing tomorrow.”

She chews her bottom lip, then shakes her head.

β€œI don’t think so, Marshall.”

Her tone makes my blood run cold.

Copyright 2021 Kate Stacy

*****

Author Info:

Kate Stacy lives in North Carolina with her husband, three children, and her extremely sassy cat. After nearly a decade of being a stay-at-home mama, Kate decided to use her love of books to bring readers steamy romances full of emotion and angst. She stays up too late, swears too much, and loves hard. When she’s not nose-deep in her next manuscript, or spending time with her family, you can usually find her with her Kindle in hand.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub | Website | Newsletter | Amazon | Pinterest | Ticktok

*****

Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love.Β 

From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight…to the silver fox who’s out to prove it’s never too late to have a family of your own – this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after.Β 

Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!

Follow the @IndiePenPR FB Page for all the Single Dad’s news: https://www.facebook.com/IndiePenPR

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

Spotlight – Savannah’s Salvation

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For Savannah Fraiser, her one-night stand with billionaire Michael Asara changed her life forever. But becoming a family will be harder than expected when fighting for those you love are threatened by power and greed. Readers will devour this billionaire blackmail romance featuring one sexy reluctant dad. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Savannah’s Salvation by Louise Lennox, the first book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.

*****

Savannah’s Salvation

A Billionaire Blackmail Romance

Single Dad’s Romance series

by Louise Lennox

Blurb:

For one night, I had the one man that millions of women worldwide fantasize about.

My time with the French billionaire Michael Asara shouldn’t matter, but it does. Because one night left me with so much more than a good time.Β 

Except, he has no idea that he left me with more than a smile on my face, because I fled without a good-bye. And planned to never look back.

Until I’m forced to tell Michael about the product of our one-night stand while on assignment a year later in Paris.Β 

Already a devoted dad to a little girl who was abandoned by her gold-digging mother, Michael isn’t looking to get burned twice.Β 

Unless that fire is between the sheets, where our chemistry is off the charts. Reconnecting and proving to him that I’m not like everyone else quickly has Michael staking his claim on me and our son.Β 

For a moment, we’re almost like a real family.Β 

But when a blackmailer comes along and threatens to take what belongs to him, he vows to do anything to protect us…even if that means letting us go

Goodreads β†’ https://bit.ly/3w08NWY

Amazon β†’ https://amzn.to/3dAH6gp

*****

Excerpt:

My daughter is my entire world, but my father views her birth as a blemish on my record. He loves Gabrielle and treats her like spun silk. But whenever I talk of taking over the family business, he mentions the circumstances of her birth and accuses me of poor judgement. And because I still wet my wick more often than my father likes, he thinks I haven’t changed.Β 

I need to prove to him I am more than a pretty face for the cameras and women to love. I can run the business. Closing this deal in America will show him that.Β 

However, coming to SAX Lounge before I head home and being loudly called an asshole by one of the most beautifully ballsy women I’ve ever seen will not.Β 

She is breathtaking… whoever she is.Β 

She’s taller than most women, but still at least a full foot shorter than me. Her legs went on forever in that dress and her skin is the color of browned butter. It looked smooth and touchable. She wore little make-up and when she spoke to me, her full lips begged me for a kiss.Β Β 

I almost obliged them. But I can’t take chances like that. I’m in America, but that kiss could end up all over the French tabloids before I landed back home. Plus, I don’t know her angle. She could be just as predatory and traitorous as Gabrielle’s mother, Eve.

I need to feel her out; to get her close and away from the crowd… on the dance floor.

I didn’t notice her at first, which is probably a good thing. If I had, I would have charmed her until I talked her right out of what I imagine being very sexy panties. Instead, I was accosted by one of the many groupies I tried to shake off when I entered the bar. I can’t believe women over here even know who I am, but I should have known better.Β 

Gold diggers do their research.

But the feisty woman at the bar doesn’t strike me as a groupie. Everything about her screamed refinement and respect.

She looked moved like she commands any room she enters.Β 

Her eyes were an intense chocolate brown with specks of gold that demanded my attention.Β 

Her ebony hair swung confidently down her back as she walked away. And that ass… C’est manifique!Β 

Meeting her made my decision to get my own drinks for the night a worthy one.

When our drinks got mixed up, I wanted to play with her. I knew she was there first; I should have given her the drinks, but I wanted a reason to talk to her. Plus, I didn’t like her answer when I asked a favor.Β 

I really needed to go. Leaving my cousin Kwame alone too long in a place like this is not a good idea. He’s a magnet for mischief and trouble. Her defiance made my dick throb, but it also made me want to discipline her. I can’t be told what to do and when she begs me to fuck her, because she will, she will learn she can’t boss me around.Β 

Which is what I’m sure she does to everyone else in her life.Β 

So instead of getting on my plane, I am planning how to get her into my bed.Β 

Another night in D.C. won’t be bad at all if I have her shapely legs wrapped around my waist. Gabrielle is at Disneyland Paris with her maternal grandmother for the week, so I can spend an extra day here to have some fun with the mystery woman.Β Β 

When she called me a fucking asshole, I wanted to take her pretty mouth and cleanse it of those filthy words. But I held myself, which is a feat. I usually take what I want. No one speaks to me with such disrespectful words. But if I have my way, she will apologize through multiple orgasms.

When I reach the booth Kwame secured for us, I slide his drink to him, but he barely registers my presence. He’s wrangled three women, and they are all practically naked and chomping at his rich bit. I do not have time for this. One woman licks her lips and gives me a look that says I can do anything I want to her… for the right price. But that’s not what I’m looking for.Β 

Tonight, I want the woman who I’m pretty sure won’t do whatever I want without being perfectly persuaded. I want the woman who had the gall to call me an asshole.

β€œYou all look cozy.” I shoot Kwame a look, and he squirms. My plan was to keep a low profile, and this is the exact opposite. β€œIf I knew we were having company, I would have ordered more drinks.”

The women smile, and Kwame laughs nervously.Β 

β€œNo worries, cousin, this is VIP. Bottle service will start soon. Why don’t you sit down and join us? The ladies were just telling me about their favorite places to visit in D.C.”

β€œYes.” The lip-licker purrs while patting a space beside her. β€œWhy don’t you come and take a seat next to me.”

I conjure up the best smile I can. β€œNo, I don’t think so. I’m actually looking for a friend.” Her face drops, and I can see the flash of annoyance in her eyes. She’s used to men just falling face-first into her fake cleavage. But I am not most men.

β€œKwame, I will check on you later.”

He doesn’t protest, but I know he’s annoyed. I doubt he will keep those ladies interested without the major cash cow in the booth. But that’s his problem. And so is drinking.

Kwame drinks and gambles way too much. He boasts about power and money that he does not have. And he’s always dragging me into foolishness. I’m practically his babysitter, but tonight I have other plans. I have a woman to find.

I stop by the bar to grab another drink. Hennessey neat. I scan the lounge, and it doesn’t take me long to find her. She is sitting in a booth on the opposite side of the bar, holding court with two women.

She looks even more beautiful, relaxed and with her girls. The two women with her are also beautiful but can’t hold a candle next to her. She reminds me of a young Diahann Carroll. Her deep golden skin shimmers under the lights, making her beauty stand front and center. They are celebrating something. I hear her table scream congratulations as they toast their glasses.Β 

Now is as good a time as any to introduce myself.

Copyright 2021 Louise Lennox

*****

Author Info:

Contemporary romance Author Louise Lennox is a hopeful romantic writing steamy romances full of heart and healing.

A Spelman College and Georgetown University graduate, Louise provides women with diverse and meaningful representation in romance novel pages. Not seeing enough women like herself headlining positive love stories, she launched #HappyBlackRomance; a community of readers and writers committed to the creation and sharing of positive romance stories featuring Black heroines.

Louise Lennox plots highlight the joys of Black relationships across the diaspora; pushing readers from all cultural backgrounds to admire them for their strength and downright sexiness.Β In her novels sparks alwaysΒ  fly; the sex amazes; and the characters always leave the world better than they found it through their love.

When she’s not writing, Louise is enjoying her work as a school leader, wife, and mother of the two cutest dragons to ever walk the earth!

To learn more about #HappyBlackRomance and to score a free book or two, check out her website www.lovelouiselennox.com .

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
BookBub | Website | Newsletter | Amazon

*****

About the Single Dad’s Romance Series

Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love.Β 

From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight…to the silver fox who’s out to prove it’s never too late to have a family of your own – this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after.Β 

Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!

Follow the @IndiePenPR FB Page for all the Single Dad’s news: https://www.facebook.com/IndiePenPR

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

 

Spotlight – Come Midnight

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I’m always thrilled to host Kat Martin when she has a new book to share.

*****

MAKING YOUR STORY BELIEVABLE

Over the years, I’ve found one of the best ways to make your story believable is to use real places to locate the action and real names of restaurants and streets.Β  Actually going there, of course, is the best way to make that happen.Β Β 

In my new novella, COME MIDNIGHT, Breanna Winters, seated on an airliner next to a good-looking man in an expensive suit, finds herself kidnapped by Honduran terrorists.Β  She doesn’t expect Derek Stiles, a corporate executive, to put his life at risk by volunteering to go along when Bree is dragged from the plane and marched into the jungle.

Unfortunately, I have never been to the jungle in Honduras or any jungle for that matter, aside from a brief visit to a tropical rain forest in Brazil and a stop in Belize.Β Β 

So for this story, I didn’t go to Honduras, but I did do extensive research, and it wasn’t the first time.Β  Beginning with with an old historical, SAVANNAH HEAT, set in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and more recently, THE CONSPIRACY, which travels from the Caribbean to Columbia, I’ve learned a lot about life in the jungle–and it is far from easy.

In the novella, the good news is Derek Stiles is a former Navy fighter pilot with extensive survival training who has spent time in the jungle before.Β  Still, it’s soon clear they’ll need to depend on each other if they’re going to survive.Β 

I hope you will give COME MIDNIGHT a try and that you will look for Derek again in my full-length novel, THE PERFECT MURDER, out June 22nd, the last book in my Maximum Security Series

Till next time, all best wishes and happy reading, Kat

*****

Come MidnightΒ 

Maximum Security series

by Kat Martin

Blurb:

A routine flight turns into a suspenseful race through the remote jungles of Honduras
Β 
When strangers Breanna Winters and Derek Stiles met on a flight to Colombia, they never imagined they would need to rely on each other for survival. Taken hostage by a group of radical environmental vigilantes, Bree worries her secret identity has been discoveredβ€”and her fears are confirmed when she learns a ransom request has been sent to her father. Though she’s the daughter of a prominent tech mogul, Bree’s wealth can’t guarantee her safety, so former Navy fighter pilot Derek pretends to be her fiancΓ© in order to accompany her on a dangerous jungle trek led by the radicals. With chemistry building between the pair, a romance isn’t hard to fake, though they can’t let their attraction distract them. If Bree and Derek ever want to see civilization again, they’ll have to work together and rely on their wits to escape their captors.

Amazon –Β https://www.amazon.com/Come-Midnight-Maximum-Security-Martin-ebook/dp/B08HJGPVLJ

B&N –Β https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/come-midnight-kat-martin/1137593663?ean=9780369705419

Indiebound –Β https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=Come+Midnight

Kobo –Β https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/come-midnight

Google –Β https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kat_Martin_Come_Midnight?id=tl_7DwAAQBAJ

Itunes – https://books.apple.com/us/book/come-midnight/id1530555890

*****

Excerpt:

The sound of a baby’s high-pitched, incessant crying put his teeth on edge.Β  Derek Stiles forced himself to relax as he settled back in his wide business class seat.Β  The airplane engines hummed outside the window, dulling the noise a little, but the crying only grew louder.Β 

Derek silently cursed.Β  His trip to Colombia had already gotten off to a rocky start when a meeting in the Houston office of Garrett Resources, where he worked as VP of Mergers and Acquisitions, ran overtime and he’d missed his non-stop flight.Β  Now he’d be landing in El Salvador, laying over a couple of hours before changing planes and continuing on to Bogota, not getting to his hotel until well after dark.

He pulled out his laptop and set it on the fold-down table in front of him.Β  He usually worked on a flight.Β  He always had plenty to do, but he’d been staying up late every night so he also needed some sleep.Β  It was important to be at the top of his game first thing in the morning.Β 

The baby’s cries grew louder and his nerves revved up.Β  He hadn’t really noticed the woman sitting in the seat beside him until she stood up and turned toward mother and child in the row behind him.Β Β 

She jangled her car keys over the back of the seat and smiled.Β  β€œLook, baby.Β  Look at these.Β  I bet you’d like to play with these, wouldn’t you?”  The baby’s crying slowed, turned to whimpers, then sniffles, then stopped altogether.Β  Glancing over his shoulder, Derek watched a little girl bundled in pink, maybe a year old, reach up for the car keys.

β€œI never thought of that,” the mother said, sounding desperate and making him feel guilty.Β  He didn’t have kids but he could imagine how tough it would be to take a child on an international flight.

The mom, a black-haired woman in her mid-twenties, took out her own set of keys and held them up, but the baby ignored them, fascinated by the glittering heart on the end of the other keychain dangling in front of her.

β€œI hate to ask you this,” the mother said, β€œbut is it all right if Sophie plays with your keys for a while?”

β€œAbsolutely,” his seatmate said.Β  She was pretty, he realized, with long blond hair and big blue eyes.Β  A little above average height, slender but curvy in all the right places.Β  β€œOnce we’re in the air,” she continued, β€œif you want me to hold her, give you a little break, I’d be happy to.” 

The mother’s smile held relief mixed with gratitude.Β  β€œI might just take you up on that.Β  My name is Carmen, by the way.”

β€œBreanna.”  Her smile went even brighter and Derek felt an unexpected kick.Β  He was usually able to leave his libido behind when he was away on business.Β Β 

β€œYou have a darling baby,” Breanna said.

Carmen smiled.Β  β€œThank you.”

The flight attendant urged Breanna to sit back down so the flight could get underway, and the engines roared, preparing for take-off.

β€œSo I guess you’re a mom,” Derek heard himself saying, though he made it a habit not to talk on a flight.Β  He always had too much to do.Β 

Breanna shifted toward him.Β  β€œI’d love to have children someday, but I’m not a mother yet.Β  I work with kids so I know a few tricks.”

β€œWhat kind of work do you do?” 

β€œI’m with a non-profit called Shelter the Children.Β  Abrego Los Ninos in Spanish.Β  We support an orphanage in a little village outside San Salvador.Β  That’s where I’m headed.”   

He smiled and held out a hand.Β  β€œDerek Stiles.Β  I know your name is Breanna.”

β€œYes.Β  Everyone just calls me Bree.”

They were an hour out of San Salvador International Airport when Derek noticed a commotion at the rear of the cabin.Β Β 

Then the curtain behind the business class section jerked open and a lean, black-haired man stood in the aisle.Β  Derek’s blood ran cold when he noticed the assault rifle strapped across the intruder’s chest.Β Β 

*****

Author Info:

New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. Currently residing in Missoula, Montana with her Western-author husband, L. J. Martin, Kat has written sixty-five Historical and Contemporary Romantic Suspense novels. More than sixteen million copies of her books are in print and she has been published in twenty foreign countries. Kat is currently at work on her next Romantic Suspense.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatMartinAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katmartinauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55231252-come-midnight?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KatMartinAuthor

Website:Β https://www.katmartin.com/

*****

Giveaway:

Be sure to enter Kat’s monthly contest!

https://www.katmartin.com/monthly-contest/

~

 

 

Spotlight – Wreckless

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Readers are finding Golding’s newest very, very hard to put down!

*****

Wreckless

Moto Grand Prix #2

by Katie Golding

Publication Date: 5/25/2021

Blurb:

She is my rival. My Tigrotta. My dearest enemy…and the greatest love of my life. But this, I can never let her know.

I’ve spent years as a professional motorcycle racer vying to prove myself to the world, even as I fought to save my family from the clutches of a man who would like nothing more than to see me fail. He’s not the only one. My Lorinaβ€”America’s Sweetheart Lorelai Hargroveβ€”would also like me to eat her dust.

But this is the game we play. She pretends she hates me, and I wind her up as I pretend she’s not all I think about. And yet after a deadly wreck, her confidence is so shaken, my Lorina needs me to stop being her favorite enemy and remind her there is a tiger within who will do anything to win. That I want to spend the rest of my life chasing her to that finish line again and again and again.

If only the battle to make it to the podium didn’t cost us everything our hearts desire.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/37MOBwqΒ 

B&N: https://bit.ly/3c97qKzΒ 

Apple: https://apple.co/2M0y1ieΒ 

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3nc0cwfΒ 

Bookshop: https://bit.ly/2X5u2r0Β 

BAM: https://bit.ly/3d89qnDΒ 

Books2Read: https://bit.ly/2QdLRDK

*****

Excerpt:

β€œMore! Harder!” 

Massimo pants out a raspy groan that brings me endless satisfaction, his sharply defined arm muscles glistening with sweat. My back arches at the next hit, my hips bowing to pure power, and I cry out with all the air in my lungs, harnessing my stamina and endurance and focusing only on the sweet release of victory.Β 

β€œMore!” 

β€œBasta! Enough, Lorina!” 

Frank chuckles from where he’s standing guard over us in my home gym, placing another sandbag on each of our lower backsβ€”the fifth since we’ve started doing weighted planks. Massimo’s roar on the gym floor next to me grows louder, fire burning through my abs and singeing its way through my arms and legs.Β 

β€œCome on, Peanut!” my dad cheers me on. β€œYou almost got him. He’s shaking! He’s about to drop!” 

β€œGet those hips up, Lori,” Frank counters. β€œGood job, Massimo. Nice form.” 

I grit my teeth through the growl tearing its way up my throat, glancing at Massimo next to me. His hands are fisted so tight, his knuckles are white, the bump of his bicep and triceps and deltoids trembling above his elbows. The scythe on his ribs bleeds a fresh drop of sweat as he strains to keep his hips up from the floor, a stack of sandbags covering the Madonna on his back.Β 

I look away from temptation incarnate, focusing on the row of my promo posters hung on the gym wall. Massive images of me in all my different leathers over the years, flags and banners strung from the ceiling. I duck my head under another groan, determined to remember I’m home to heal and get better.Β 

Me first. Career first. Just like Mama taught me.Β 

Even if she no longer agrees.Β 

β€œMore!” I shout.Β 

Massimo barks out something in Italian as my father puts another bag on his back, looking a littleΒ tooΒ happy about the painful noise Massimo is making. My mother, however, totally tried to set him up to stay in my room, which he super awkwardly had to decline because no, we’re not sleeping together.Β 

Yet.Β 

The weighted bag I called for hits my back, my core screaming as my hips sink, and I am an idiot for pushing us this far. But he’s been acting like a child all day: exercise after exercise, circuit after circuit, he won’t stop daring me into seeing who is stronger. And even though I’ve kicked his ass the whole way through, he still won’t give up.Β 

β€œMore,” Massimo growls, sneering at me while Frank places another bag on my spine.Β 

A strained yell pours from my lungs. β€œDick!” 

β€œLorelai,” my father rumbles, placing another bag on Massimo’s back.Β 

β€œNo more,” Frank announces. β€œY’all areΒ gonnaΒ end up hurting each other before—” 

Massimo collapses almost the moment I do, but he gave out first. Sucker.Β 

β€œGood job, Lori,” Frank says, already sweeping the bags off my back. A pocket of air rushes into my lungs, andΒ holy hell, those were heavy. I am so going to regret this tomorrow. β€œWay to tough it out.” 

β€œThat was ridiculous,” Massimo pants out, rolling over to catch his breath. My father extends his hand, helping him to his feet.Β 

β€œYou’re just saying that ’causeΒ you lost.” I push myself to standing, sweat trickling down my back and flooding the bottom of my sports bra and the waist of my leggings. I take a towel from Frank, wiping off my face and the back of my neck. I finish in time to see Massimo squirting a stream of water into his mouth, his whole upper body swelling and sinking with every breath, and it only exaggerates how freaking cut his hips are.Β 

God, I’m totally going to end up sleeping with him. If I don’t, it’ll be a miracle.Β 

β€œI did not lose.” He shakes out his hair before running his hand through it. β€œI made the decision that it was not worth it to keep going. I putΒ meΒ first.” 

I scoff, taking a drink from my own water bottle. β€œSays the loser.” 

My dad chuckles from where he’s finished helping Frank clean up the sandbags, bumping his shoulder. β€œIs it weird that I want to put them in a boxing ring and let them go at each other?” 

Frank stares down my father. β€œYes.” Then he looks to me and Massimo, clapping his hands in the signal for more torture to come. β€œOkay, tough guys. Since you’re still more concerned with outdoing each other than focusing on your workouts, time for jump ropes.” 

β€œUgh,” Massimo complains, toweling off his chest. β€œI am not the one distracted. Lorina can hop. She is the one who cannot—” 

β€œTell you what,” Frank interrupts in his I-am-so-over-this-shitΒ voice he uses on Mason. I take another sip of water, waiting for the smackdown. β€œConsidering I am under specific instructions from Vinicio to run your ass into the ground and keep you focused on Brno while you’re here? Five miles, now, or it becomes ten.” 

Massimo glares at my manager, then points at me. β€œSee what you have done?” 

I shrug innocently with a grinΒ so big,Β my face feels cracked in half. β€œNope.” 

Excerpted from Wreckless by Katie Golding.
Β© 2021 by Katie Golding. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

*****

Author Info:

Katie Golding is a sports fan with a writing problem. Based in Austin, TX, she publishes contemporary romance novels with the support of her loving husband and son. She is currently at work on her next romance novel, unless she’s tweeting about it.

*****

Giveaway:

2 sets of May releases
(Wreckless, Undercover Wolf, You’ve Got Plaid, Cowboy Fire, High Country Justice)

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af71080/

~

 

 

 

Spotlight – Talk Bookish to Me

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TALK BOOKISH TO ME (On-sale: May 25, 2021; Graydon House; Trade Paperback Original; $15.99) is a laugh-out-loud stunner of a story, perfect for fans of Beach Read and The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, that will delight book nerds everywhere!Β 

*****

Talk Bookish to Me

by Kate Bromley

ISBN: 9781525806438

Publication Date: May 25, 2021

Publisher: Graydon House Books

Blurb:

Kara Sullivan is definitely not avoiding her deadline. After all, it’s the week of her best friend’s wedding and she’s the maid of honor, so she’s got lots of responsibilities. As a bestselling romance novelist with seven novels under her belt, she’s a pro and looming deadlines and writer’s block (which she definitely doesn’t have) don’t scare her. She’s just eager to support Cristina as she ties the knot with Jason.

But who should show up at Cristina and Jason’s rehearsal dinner but Kara’s college ex-boyfriend, (the gorgeous and infuriating) Ryan? Apparently, he’s one of Jason’s childhood friends, and he’s in the wedding party, too. Considering neither Kara nor Ryan were prepared to see each other again, it’s decidedly a meet-NOT-cute. There is nothing cute about this situation, and a bit of notice to mentally prepare would’ve been nice, Cristina! However, when Kara sits down to write again the next day, her writers’ block is suddenly gone. She has to wonder what’s changed. Are muses real…? And is Kara’s muse…Ryan?

BookShop.org |Β HarlequinΒ |Β Barnes & Noble |Β Amazon |Β Books-A-Million |Β Powell’s

*****

Excerpt:

One

β€œWait, was I supposed to bring a gift?”

I turn my gaze from the floor to the well-dressed man standing beside me. There are only two of us in the elevator, so he must be talking to me.

β€œI think it’s a matter of personal preference,” I answer. β€œI’m the maid of honor so I had to be excessive.”

His eyebrows bob up as I adjust my grip on the Great-Dane-sized gift basket I’m carrying. The cellophane wrapping paper crinkles each time I move, echoing through the confined space just loudly enough to keep things weird. Because if everyone isn’t uncomfortable for the entire ride, are you even really in an elevator?

I’m low-key ecstatic when the doors glide open ten seconds later. With my basket now on the cusp of breaking both my arms and my spirit, I beeline it out of there and stride into the rooftop lounge where my best friend is hosting her pre-wedding party, drinking in the scent of heat and champagne as I maneuver through the sea of guests.

Like most maids-of-honor, I flung myself down the Etsy rabbit hole headfirst and ordered an obscene amount of decorations for tonight’s event. Burlap β€œMr. & Mrs.” banners dangle from floating shelves behind the bar as twinkle lights weave around the balcony railings like ivy. Lace-trimmed mason jars filled with pink roses sit on every candlelit cocktail table. Cristina and I worked with the tenacity of two matrimonial Spartans to get everything ready this morning, and it’s clear that our blood, sweat and tears were very much worth it.

It’s then that I spot Cristina mingling near the end of the bar. Beautiful, petite and come-hither curvy, I’d hate her if she weren’t one of my favorite people ever. Her caramel hair spills down her back and her white high-low dress sets her apart from the crowd in just the right wayβ€”she’s a princess in the forest and we’re her adoring woodland animals. I’m her feisty chipmunk sidekick to my core.

I place my gift on a nearby receiving table and give a little wave when I catch her eye. She’s waiting for me with a huge grin when I arrive at her side.

β€œHey, lady!” she says, pulling me in for a hug. β€œLook at you, rolling in here looking all gorgeous.”

We step apart and I stand up a bit taller. β€œWhy, thank you. I feel pretty good.”

It’s also very possible that Cristina is just so used to me dazzling the world with yoga pants and sweaters every day that my transformation seems more dramatic than it is.

β€œWere you able to get any writing done this afternoon?” she asks, handing me a glass of champagne from off the mahogany bar top.

I get a twisting knot in my gut at the mention of my writing, or lack thereof. Having been dying a slow literary death for almost a year, I’m never without some stomach-turning sensation for long. The final deadline for my next romance

novel is officially a month away and if I don’t deliver a bestseller by thenβ€”

β€œOkay, you’re making your freak-out face,” Cristina interjects. β€œI’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

I inhale a shallow breath and force a smile. β€œIt’s fine. I’m good.”

β€œLet’s switch gearsβ€”are you sure it’s not weird that I’m having a pre-wedding party? Was booking the salsa band too much since I’m having one at the wedding, too?”

Beyond grateful for the booming trumpet and bongos that are drowning out my own thoughts, I turn to the corner and find the ten-piece group playing with addictive abandon. Cristina’s relatives, who are essentially non-trained professional salsa dancers, dominate the dance floor, and rightfully so. Cristina’s brother, Edgar, once tried to teach me the basics but I’m fairly confident I looked like a plank of wood that was given the gift of limbs. Cristina recommended dance lessons. Edgar suggested a bottle of aguardiente and prayer.

β€œThe band is amazing,” I say as I swing back around, β€œand of course people have pre-wedding parties.” I’ve actually never heard of a pre-wedding party. An engagement party, yes. A bachelorette party, absolutely. But what’s going down tonight is basically a casual reception days before the mega-reception.

β€œJason and I just have so many people coming in from out of town, plus we wanted the bridal party to get acquainted. We figured a little get-together would be fun.”

β€œI’m all for it. Who doesn’t want to pre-game for a wedding a week in advance?”

β€œI know I do,” Cristina says, lifting her own champagne and taking a sip. β€œEveryone is here except Jason and some groomsmen. Can you believe that creep is late to his own party?”

β€œShould you really be calling your fiancΓ© a creep?”

β€œHe’s my creep so it’s okay.”

β€œValid point.”

β€œPicture please! Will you girls get together?”

I look to my right and find a teenage boy with wildly curly hair pointing a camera at us. He’s dressed in all black and looks so eager to take our photo that I can’t help but to find him endearing.

β€œAbsolutely! Big smile, Kara.” Cristina throws her arm around my waist and after we withstand an intense flash, the young man is gone before my eyes can readjust. β€œThat was Jason’s cousin, Rob. He wants to be a photographer, so I hired him for the night.”

β€œThat was thoughtful of you,” I say, still recovering from my momentary blindness. β€œBy the way, where is Jason?”

β€œHe’s still at home. Two of his groomsmen are driving up and he wanted to wait for them since, apparently, grown men can’t find their way to a party by themselves.”

β€œDriving in Manhattan is intimidating. He probably didn’t want them to get lost.”

β€œRight, because neither of them has GPS? Jason should be here.”

I’m honestly shocked that Jason isn’t here. I love Cristina and Jason both to death but they’re one of those couples that rarely go out socially without each other. Even when I invite Cristina over to my apartment for a wine night, she asks to bring Jason. I’ve always thought it was a bit much, but I guess it works for them.

β€œOkay, forget everyone else, let’s toast.” I clear my throat and hold up my champagne. β€œWhen we were both waitressing at McMahon’s Pub in grad school, I had no idea it would lead to nine amazing years of friendship. Now I’d be lost without you. Here’s to you having a magical night. I’m so glad I’m here to celebrate with you.”

We smile and tap our glasses together, the ding of the crystal echoing my words.

I take a sip and the bubbly drink slips easily down my throat. Still savoring the sweetness, I ask, β€œSo, who are these mystery groomsmen Jason’s waiting for?”

β€œOne is named Beau and I can’t remember the other one. They’re two guys he grew up with when his family lived in North Carolina.”

β€œNorth Carolina? I thought Jason was from Texas?”

β€œHe spent most of his life in Texas, but he lived in North Carolina until he was ten. He somehow kept in contact with these two through the years.”

β€œThat’s nice, him staying friends with them for so long.”

β€œYeah, it’s adorable, but they still should have gotten their asses here on their own.” Cristina is poised to elaborate when her gaze locks on something across the room. She tries and fails to look annoyed instead of excited.

β€œI’m guessing the groom has arrived,” I say, glancing over my shoulder. My suspicions are confirmed as I see Jason making his way toward us, smiling at Cristina like a fifth grader saying β€œcheese” on picture day. He’s tilting his head and everything.

β€œThere she is! There’s my incredibly forgiving future wife.” Jason leans down and kisses Cristina before she can verbally obliterate him. He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek next and then shifts back to his fiancΓ©e’s side, sneaking an arm around her waist and pulling her to his hip.

β€œSo, I’m going to go ahead and disregard all the semi-violent text messages you’ve sent me over the past hour. Bearing that in mind, how’s everything going?”

Cristina looks up at him, feigning disinterest. β€œIt’s going great. Since you weren’t here, I talked to several nice men. Turns out, pre-wedding parties are a great place to meet guys.”

β€œI’m so happy for you.”

β€œI appreciate that. Four contenders, specifically, really piqued my interest.”

β€œAre they taller than me?” Jason asks. β€œDo they make a lot of money?”

β€œObviously. They’re way taller and all of them are independently wealthy.”

β€œNice. Kara, did you meet these freakishly tall and rich men?”

β€œI did and spoiler alert, I’m engaged now, too! Double wedding here we come!”

Jason smiles and pulls Cristina in even closer, his gaze holding hers. β€œI guess this is where being late gets you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here. Do you forgive me?”

β€œDon’t I always?”

He leans down and gives her another picture-perfect kiss.

It’s official. I’m dying alone. Just putting that out there.

β€œNow, where are these friends of yours? Oh! Let’s set one of them up with Kara!” Cristina looks at me with a dangerous matchmaker gleam in her eyes.

β€œActually, I already mentioned Kara, and one of my buddies said he went to college with her.”

Went to college with me?

Jason looks towards the entrance and waves. β€œHey, Ryan! Come over here!”

And then I go catatonic. I can’t move. I stand stock still, looking at Cristina like she sprouted a third arm out of her forehead and it’s giving me the middle finger.

Someone walks past me and a soft breeze ghosts across my overheating skin. I stare in a state of utter disbelief as Ryan Thompson steps into view beside Jason.

β€œIt’s been a while, Sullivan,” he says, his voice as steady and tempting as ever.

My champagne glass falls from my fingers and shatters against the floor.

β€œKara?” Cristina’s voice rings with concern as she nudges us away from the broken glass that’s now littered around our feet. She grasps my elbow, but I don’t feel it. She could backhand me across the face with a polo mallet and I wouldn’t feel it. My mind is spiraling, plummeting inwards as I come to grips with the realization that Ryan is standing two feet away from me.

Dressed in a navy suit, a crisp white button-down and brown dress shoes, he’s come a long way from the sweatshirts and jeans that were his unofficial uniform in college. His dirty-blond hair is on the shorter side, but a few wayward strands still fall across his forehead. Ten years ago, I would have reached up and brushed them aside without a thought. Now, my hand curls into a tight, unforgiving fist at my side.

If we were another former couple, seeing each other for the first time in a decade might be a dreamy, serendipitous meet-cuteβ€”a Nancy Meyers movie in pre-production. We’d have a few drinks and spend hours reminiscing about old times before picking up right where we left off. It would be comfortable and familiar as anything, like a sip of hot chocolate at Christmas with Nat King Cole crooning on vinyl in the background.

But we are not that kind of former couple, and I’m convinced that if Nat King Cole were here and knew my side of the story, he would grab Ryan by the scruff of his shirt and hold him steady as I roundhouse-kicked him in the throat.

It’s a tough pill to swallow but Ryan looks good. Like, really good. His face is harder than it was when he was twenty-one and the stubble on his chin tells me he hasn’t shaved in a few days, making him seem like he just rolled out of bed. And not rolled out of bed in a dirty way, but in a β€œI just rolled out of bed and yet I still look ruggedly handsome and you fully want to make out with me” kind of way.

The bastard.

β€œRyan,” Cristina says, always the first to jump in, β€œJason mentioned that you and Kara went to college together.”

β€œWe did.” His eyes don’t move from mine for even a second. β€œIt’s got to be what, ten years now?”

β€œYeah, it’s been a long, long time,” I say quickly, turning to face Cristina. β€œI think I may have mentioned him before. Remember my friend from North Carolina?”

If someone were to look up β€œmy friend from North Carolina” in the Dictionary of Kara, they would find the following:

My friend from North Carolina (noun): 1. Ryan Thompson. 2. My college boyfriend. 3. My first real boyfriend ever. 4. My first love. 5. Taker of my virginity. 6. Guy who massacred my heart with a rusty sledgehammer and fed the remains to rabid, ravenous dogs.

Cristina is well versed in the dictionary of Kara and recognition washes over her. β€œNo way,” she says, her voice dropping.

β€œYes way,” I answer happily, overcompensating.

Now’s it’s Cristina’s turn to panic. β€œWow. Okay, wow, what a small world, huh?” She grabs Jason’s hand in an iron grip, making him wince as she blasts an over-the-top smile. β€œWell, we should give you guys a chance to catch up. My abuelita just got here so Jason and I are going to say hello.”

β€œYour abuelita died two years ago,” I hiss.

β€œI know, it’s a miracle. See you two later!” She drags her soon-to-be husband away before he can get a word out.

I watch them go, sailing away like the last lifeboat as I stand on deck with the string quartet, the cheerful Bach melody only further confirming that this ship is going down.

Excerpted from Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley,
Copyright Β© 2021 by Kate Bromley
Published by Graydon House Books.

*****

Author Info:

KATE BROMLEY lives in New York City with her husband, son, and her somewhat excessive collection of romance novels (It’s not hoarding if it’s books, right?). She was a preschool teacher for seven years and is now focusing full-time on combining her two great passions – writing swoon-worthy love stories and making people laugh.

Talk Bookish to Me is her first novel.

Social Media Links –

Author Website

Twitter: @kbromleywrites

Instagram: @katebromleywrites

Facebook: @katebromleywrites

Goodreads

*****

Spotlight – Undercover Wolf

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Paige Tyler is a name to know in paranormal military/law enforcement romances.

*****

Undercover Wolf

STAT: Special Threat Assessment Team #2

by Paige Tyler

Publication Date: 5/25/2021

Blurb:

When these two agents are under fire, they’ll have to reconsider everything they know…

Werewolf Harley Grant isn’t exactly comfortable with her inner wolf. Even though she’s on a STAT team where she can use her abilities openly, she refuses to do so, putting herselfβ€”and sometimes her teammatesβ€”at risk.

Alpha werewolf Sawyer Bishop would give anything for his MI6 team to know about his inner wolf, but his teammates are mistrustful of anyone or anything with inhuman abilities. When he meets Harley on an overlapping case and realizes she’s a fellow wolf, he’s more than a little intrigued.

Now that STAT and MI6 have to team up to stop a crew of supernatural bad guys intent on causing a nuclear meltdown, Harley can no longer deny her wolf and Sawyer can no longer hide his. As they grow closer to resolving the case and grow closer to each other, they discover things aren’t what they seem and revenge could cost them their lives.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RUSCdZΒ 

B&N: https://bit.ly/3dHT3ktΒ 

Apple: https://apple.co/2QNP3FGΒ 

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3gpptBXΒ 

Bookshop: https://bit.ly/2RHWkaDΒ 

BAM: https://bit.ly/2QGXpz2Β 

Books2Read: https://bit.ly/3ehKL1K

*****

Excerpt:

Harley caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of her eye that made her snap her head around, but she didn’t see anyone.Β SureΒ she’d seen something, she skirted the outside of the dance floor in that direction. She was starting to question herself again when she spotted a tall, attractive guy with broad shoulders, casually disheveled brown hair, and scruff on his square jaw. He was circling the dancers on the floor in much the same way Harley was but in the opposite direction, keeping pace with her so they stayed exactly opposite each other.Β 

Yeah, like that’s a coincidence.Β 

A little voice in the back of her head told her to get on the radio and call Caleb and the rest of her teammates, but she ignored it, too mesmerized by the handsome man across the room from her. Every few seconds, piercing blue eyes locked with hers, making something inside herβ€”maybe her inner wolfβ€”feel a sensation she didn’t recognize.Β 

Even if she hadn’t picked up on the scent, Harley would have known he was a werewolf from the graceful, animalistic way he moved.Β 

He was a predator, no doubt about it.Β 

Was he a kidnapper as well?Β 

She wanted to say he’d never do anything like that, which was an asinine thing to consider about a man she’d never met.Β 

Tired of stalking in circles, Harley stopped, turning carefully to keep her eyes on the big werewolf as he moved closer. She wasn’t sure, but for a brief moment, she thought she caught sight of what might have been a smile tugging at his sensuous mouth. The other werewolfβ€”anΒ 
alpha most definitelyβ€”strode past the last few people separating them and came to a halt a few feet away. Harley couldn’t ignore that the man in front of her was possibly the most gorgeous guy she’d ever seen.Β 

Which pretty much guaranteed he was one of the bad guys.Β 

Because that was how her luck worked out when it came toΒ theβ€― oppositeΒ sex.Β 

Harley took a single step forward and felt a tingle in her stomachΒ 
when he did the same, that dangerous smile showing up again. She took another fewΒ stepsΒ toward him when his head whipped to the side. She looked that way, too, trying to see what had attracted his attention, and caught sight of two men slipping behind a black velvet curtain covering a section of the far wall. The second guy cast a furtive glance over his shoulder before disappearing.Β 

That isn’t suspicious at all.Β 

She turned back to the alpha werewolf, but he was already stridingΒ 
in that direction. She quickly followed, knowing she should call the rest of the team, but once again, her instincts insisted she hold off. By the time she slipped behind the curtain, all she saw was another set of stairs. The mysterious werewolf was nowhere to be found.Β 

She paused long enough to slide a hand under her dress and pull the small frame Glock 9mm from the tiny holster strapped to her upper thigh, chambering a round as she startedΒ down the steps, rather proud of how comfortably she handled a loaded weapon. Considering that before joining STAT she’d never even held a gun, she thought she was doing rather well.Β 

From down below, she heard the rhythmic sound of rapid footstepsΒ along with the soft murmur of voices but no music or partying people or anything else to make her think this was a part of the dance club open to the public. Whatever the hell those two guys had come down here for, it probably wasn’t on the up-and-up.Β 

Lit only by three low-watt bulbs mounted in cobweb-covered fixtures hanging from the rough stone ceiling, the room at the bottom of the steps was filled with crates, racks of empty bottles, and bags of trash. The dim glow was barely enough to throw shadows, but Harley didn’t need a lot of light to see the werewolf standing a few feet away, his broad back to her, a pistol down at his side.Β 

β€œYou always bring a gun when you go to a nightclub?” he asked without looking at her.Β 

His voice was as deep as she’d imagined it would be, a little rough with a hint of a British accent, like he’d traveled extensively for much of his life and lost a bit of the distinctive sound over time.Β 

β€œA girl has to be careful these days,” Harley said, smiling even though she was standing in the middle of a filthy storage room twenty feet underground with an alpha werewolf who’d probably lured her down here with kidnapping in mindβ€”or worse. β€œI’ve heard big cities can be dangerous.” 

The man turned to look at her, blue eyes piercing even in the dimness as they slid up and down her body. β€œIf you think it might be dangerous, why come to Paris? And all the way fromΒ America, ifΒ I’m not mistaking the accent.” 

The Brit’s perfectly sculpted nose lifted a little, his nostrils flaringΒ 
the slightest bit, like he was trying to take in a scent he found tantalizing. Harley knew he was picking up her pheromones and couldn’t help wondering what she smelled like to him.Β 

Did he like her scent?Β 

Did she care if he did?Β 

β€œYou know the song β€˜Girls Just Want to Have Fun,’ right?” She approached him slowly, glancing around and trying to figure out where the other two men had gone. β€œMaybe visiting potentially dangerous places is how I have fun.” 

β€œStrange hobby,” he said, his voice dropping down an octave to practically make her tummy vibrate…as well as regions a bit farther south. β€œI prefer reading, but whatever. You do you.” 

Harley lifted a brow, lowering her gun to a safe position. β€œIs that what you’re doing down in this dank, dark room?” She stepped to the side a little, making him circle to the right as they resumed the little dance they’d done upstairs. β€œLooking for a good book?” 

He snorted, coming to a stop again a few feet away. β€œWe both know that’s not what I’m doing down hereΒ any moreΒ than you’re here looking for some fun. So, as entertaining as this banter is, I think it’s time we get on with what really brought us here.” 

Harley was almost disappointed but knew the man was right. While she’d enjoyed their verbal jousting, she was here for more important things.Β 

Excerpted from Undercover Wolf by Paige Tyler.
Β© 2021 by Paige Tyler. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

*****

Author Info:

Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast.

*****

Giveaway:

2 sets of May releases (Wreckless, Undercover Wolf, You’ve Got Plaid, Cowboy Fire, High Country Justice)

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af71080/

~

 

 

Review – Each & Every Summer

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If given an opportunity to connect with your first love again, would you do it?

*****

Each and Every Summer

by L A Tavares

General Release Date: 25th May 2021

Word Count: 76,038

Book Length: SUPER NOVEL

Pages: 297

GENRES: CHICK LIT,Β CONTEMPORARY,Β ROMANCE,Β SWEET ROMANCE

Blurb:

Time heals some wounds.

The first time Lyla Savoie Kenney found loveβ€”boundless, passionate loveβ€”it wasn’t with a person but a place. She found deep-rooted endearment there, and in keeping with tradition, it caused her first real heartbreak too.

Lyla grew up on the beaches at Begoa’s Point, a campground she and her father visited each summer for seventeen years. She spent each non-summer month counting down the days until she could return, until going back was no longer an option. Begoa’s Point closed with no explanation.

Fifteen years later, now a widowed mother with a child of her own, Begoa’s Point is reopening its doors. Lyla is surprised when she is abruptly moved off the waiting list and given a reservation at the camp, but even more surprising is what she finds when she arrives.

Weston Accardi, the first boy Lyla ever gave her heart to, is the proud new owner of the Begoa’s property. He has changedβ€”and not just because a prosthetic leg now exists where a natural limb once did. He is no longer the carefree rebel he used to be but has grown into a responsible businessman.

Their past, however, refuses to remain such, cycling back to smother the fire they’ve tried so hard to rebuild since her arrival to the reopened campground.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57628379-each-and-every-summer

*****

Excerpt:

The campground was quiet. Not silent, but quiet. Silence on the grounds was a rarity. Birds chirped and critters snapped twigs and crunched leaves as they ran through the abundant foliage, sounding off their small, happy-to-be-out-of-hibernation squeaks. The fire Weston Accardi kept lit continuously, day and night, crackled and popped as it chewed into the pieces of wood he fed it.

Soon the soundtrack of the campground would transform from its current nature-inspired sounds to a blend of noises that belonged to the incoming camping families. Children would run and play, shrieking at decibels specific to summertime. Their laughter and yells would echo through the plush pine trees as parents unpacked the camping gear and essentials from the overloaded trucks to prepare the site that they would call home for the duration of their stay. Musicβ€”both played through Bluetooth speakers and strummed on old guitarsβ€”would travel from the dirt driveways beneath each RV and become one with cloudless blue sky above.

Each currently bare site would have a tent or RV secured on it, and every available rental trailer or cottage would have people occupying them. Every single one, Weston thought as he thumbed through countless pages of reservations. He’d requested the bookings be printed and delivered to the site he’d claimed as β€˜The Owner’s Headquarters’ during the off-season renovations. The rest of the employees had WiFi access within the offices and laptops or tablets to view the information and spreadsheets, but Weston found nostalgic peace of mind by holding the printed reservations in his hand the exact way his father before him had done while sitting in the very same chair. A half-grin slid onto Weston’s cheeks. He was pleased with the turnout of reservations for the grand reopening of Begoa’s Point Family Campground. His father would have been too, had he been alive to see it.

Weston tucked the most recent reservation listings into the worn-out openings of the accordion-style folder and tossed it inside the door of his RV, which was situated in a wooded area well away from the hustle and bustle of the main grounds. When his parents had owned the campground more than fifteen years before, they had chosen a site at the center of the grounds directly within earshot of anything and everything going on within their property’s perimeter. They’d preferred it that wayβ€”involved, hands-on. In many ways, Weston liked that too, maintaining full control, but when the sun went down, he preferred a hushed space to retreat to in order to separate himself from his work and enjoy the serene nature that surrounded him.

β€œAchilles.” Weston followed the call with a quick, wet-lipped whistle and a pat of his palm against the thigh of his cargo shorts. He grabbed a leather leash from the picnic table with a clink as the metal clasp sounded against the tabletop. The dog’s ears perked up like antennas receiving a signal. His tail picked up speed, wagging in long, swift motions that swept the sand off the patio mat that covered the land just outside the RV. β€œWant to go on a run?”

The dog leaped from the shaded dirt area he could usually be found inβ€”a spot he’d claimed to hide away in from Maine’s hot summer rays. He darted toward his owner and pushed his large head into Weston’s hips with a force that almost knocked him over.

β€œI’ll take that as a yes.” Weston used his palm to ruffle the fur between the German Shepherd’s ears. Achilles bounded around in circles with an impressive agility comparable to that of a show dog. With his energy and antics, no one would guess he was missing part of his hind leg. Then again, like pup, like owner. Most people hardly noticed that Weston was an amputee as well. He was a man who ran multiple miles per day, every day, with his dog stuck to his side. He walked all over the campground and was hardly ever seen in a golf cart unless there was an emergency that he needed to handle sooner rather than later. He maneuvered around using his left leg prosthetic as if it were his own natural limb.

Weston stretched out his back and his existing leg before clipping the dog’s leash around his waist. The dog usually ran free, but the leash stayed on Weston’s person in case the need arose for him to use it. Weston took off down the winding dirt path into a long trail of cookie-cutter cottagesβ€”empty now but soon to be filled with families ready to embark on their summer camping adventures. There would be some newcomers, but most of the reservation list was composed of returning families from his parents’ time of owning and operating the same campground prior to its untimely closure.

He and Achilles ran uphill, turning a corner to jog past the recently updated tennis and basketball courts, as well as a newly renovated shower and bath house. A custodial worker waved as Weston came around the bend of the road and jogged past.

β€œGood morning, Larry!” Weston called. Larry tipped his hat in Weston’s direction. Weston had made it a point to learn the name of every employeeβ€”a rule of his father’s that he’d inherited and valued. He continued his journey down the pathway toward the beachfront bar and restaurant, stopping where Mark Jenson was readying the place for the upcoming grand reopening. The outdoor bar itself was a new addition, built while the cabins and sites were being remodeled, but Mark was an original employee. A longtime friend of Weston’s father, Mark had run the bar and restaurant during Begoa’s Point’s first run and had agreed to come back to manage the new facility.

β€œMorning, boss.” Mark moved large boxes of glasses from the ground to the bar top as the sun beat down on the tiki-themed hut while he worked. He wiped his brow on his forearm. His sweat-soaked shirt clung to his skin at his chest and back. β€œWhat are we having today?”

β€œThe usual will be fine.” Weston slowed and came to a full stop. Achilles followed suit, coming to a halt, then lying down in the small bit of shade the bar provided.

Mark grabbed a silver bowl from a below-bar cabinet and filled it with water before stepping out from the service area and coming around the bar to serve it to Begoa’s Point’s most prominent VIP. Mark stayed on one knee for a moment, scratching below the dog’s chin. Achilles stood and started lapping water from the bowl, leaving more water on the ground in a messy puddle than he’d swallowed.

Mark returned to his position behind the counter, filled a cup with ice and water and slid it across the bar into Weston’s hand.

β€œWhere are you headed to today?” Mark leaned into the bar.

β€œAll over the grounds, I think. The usual path.” Weston paused to take a sip of the ice-cold water. β€œAt least as far as the marina. I just want to make sure everything is ready to go for the opening.”

β€œThat’s what you said yesterday.” Mark raised an eyebrow. β€œThen again, it’s what you will probably say tomorrow and the day after that too.”

β€œI like to be prepared.” Weston sent his now-empty plastic cup back across the bar.

β€œYou will be. You are your father’s son, after all. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Weston looked at Mark, analyzing the new lines that sank into his skin, but other than a few signs of aging, Mark looked almost the same as he had when Weston’s parents had owned the campground before its closure, leaving Mark and many others without a job.

β€œThank you for coming back, Mark. This place wouldn’t be the same without you, even after all these years. I’m sorry we ever put you out of a job in the first place.” Weston turned his eyes downward in sadness.

β€œIt’s not your fault, Weston—”

β€œIt is, actually,” Weston interrupted, adjusting his ballcap, with his gaze still glued to the floor. He watched the dog, if for no other reason than to avoid Mark’s eyes. β€œYou know it and so do I.”

β€œIt’s not. You knock that off right now.” Mark’s voice teetered on scolding, and he wagged one aging finger in Weston’s direction. β€œYou know that your dad used to come down to the old bar every night for last call. Every night. He sat on the same barstool each time, and you know what he told me?”

Weston shook his head. He had been only seventeen when his parent’s ownership had come to an end, so he’d not reached the legal drinking age where he could spend those waning nighttime hours with his dad, occupying Mark’s bar stools. His β€˜no’ wasn’t an entirely honest answer to Mark’s question, however. He knew what Mark was going to sayβ€”what his dad had used to sayβ€”but he wanted to hear it. If he couldn’t hear it from his own father, Mark’s affirmation was the next best thing.

β€œHe said it was his dream to see you run this place. So maybe it didn’t happen as he’d expected, but it’s happening, and you should be proud of that. You’re not a kid anymore, Weston. You’ve grown and should be so proud of who you’ve become. Your father would be.”

β€œI remember that. He used to come down here every night but never had a sip of alcohol.” Weston smiled at the seemingly small memories of his father, but they were anything but insignificant. They were everything.

β€œI remember watching you run around these grounds, from learning to walk all the way to chasing after the girls on the beach in your teenage years.” Mark continued to speak, but Weston’s mind was elsewhere, time-traveling down a winding path to his childhood.

*****

Review:

The reopening of Begoa’s Point gives Lyla and Weston more than just a chance to reconnect, but also to heal old wounds and to remember those important days of their childhoods. Those days that helped to make them into the people they are today. Those days that also broke their hearts.

I usually don’t like stories that jump back and forth between the present & the past but Tavares handles it really well. It feels organic to the moment and is short, while still being important to what is going on now. And it is satisfying to get those glimpses of youthful enthusiasm and growing up that happened all those summers ago.

With Each & Every Summer, Tavares gives us a read that just resonates with the feel good, slow moving summer vibes of our childhood. It’s the perfect backdrop to two people addressing their pasts, looking towards their future, remembering who they were and thinking about who they want to be, while capturing that love they once embraced so completely, as only teenagers can.

*****

Author Info:

When it comes to romance, L A doesn’t have a type. Sometimes it’s dark and devastating, sometimes it’s soft and simple – truly, it just depends what her imaginary friends are doing at the time she starts writing about them.

L A has moved to various parts of the country over the last ten years but her heart has never left Boston.

And no, the β€œA” does not stand for Anne.

Follow LA on Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LATavaresAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Leanne54Tavares

A. Tavares – https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=11760

*****

Giveaway:

Enter for your chance to win a fabulous gift package from romance author L A Tavares and get a FREE eBook from the author!

L.A. Tavares’ Each and Every Summer Giveaway – https://upvir.al/114965/lp114965

L.A. TAVARES IS GIVING AWAY THIS FABULOUS PRIZE TO ONE LUCKY WINNER. ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A LOVELY GIFT PACKAGE AND GET A FREE EBOOK FROM THE AUTHOR! Notice: This competition ends on 8th June 2021 at 5pm GMT. Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.

*****

Spotlight – Love in Secrets

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Have you discovered Scarlett Cole yet? She is one of my absolute favorite authors.

*****

Love in Secrets

Love Distilled #3

by Scarlett Cole

Blurb:

Master distiller, Jake Dyer, is doing everything he can to keep his family-run gin distillery in business. Working seven days a week to maintain production volumes while overseeing a complex renovation of the distillery keeps him busy. There is no room for anything else in his life, especially not Cassie Cunnigham, his childhood friend, and daughter of the owner of the construction company completing the renovation.

Cassie Cunnigham hates leaving her project management job with a New York construction firm to return to Denver after a decade away. But when Jake Dyer calls to tell her about her father’s accident, she has no choice but to go home for six weeks to run his small construction firm in his absence. With her New York boss threatening to fire her if she doesn’t return, and her father pleading with her to stay, Cassie feels as though the men in her life are taking decisions out of her hands.

All except Jake, who is no longer the gangly-teen she left behind. And it doesn’t help that Jake can’t keep his eyes, or hands, off her, either. When friendly reunions turn heated in secret, Jake and Cassie convince themselves that friends-with-benefits sounds like a whole lot of fun.

But as walls go up in the distillery and refuse to come down from around Cassie’s heart, Jake wonders if he and the woman he’s falling in love with will ever add up to anything more.

Buy Links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3tfoPdi

Amazon UK: https://buff.ly/3l4tyvL

Kobo: https://buff.ly/2Py025A

Apple:Β https://apple.co/3tS4r2w

Nook:Β https://bit.ly/3sLllic

Google Play:Β https://bit.ly/32LPq6s

*****

Author Info:

The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talentedΒ Luke Wessman at theΒ Wooster Street Social ClubΒ (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada where I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I’m getting the chance to follow that dream.

I am represented byΒ Beth PhelanΒ atΒ The Bent Agency, NY.

Connect with Scarlett Cole:

Website: http://www.scarlettcole.com/

Newsletter: http://www.scarlettcole.com/contact

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsscarlettcole/

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2QlE6f2

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3xwjykG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarlettcole/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ItsScarlettCole

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/scarlett-cole

~

 

 

Spotlight – Grumpy Cowboy

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Grumpy Cowboy, an all new steam and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe is available now!

*****

Grumpy Cowboy

by Max Monroe

Blurb:

ATTENTION: If you have been a victim of false advertising, you may be entitled to compensation. If you were ever hired to take care of a fourteen-year-old boy’s knee injury on a luxury ranch in the Middle of Nowhere, Utah, but that fourteen-year-old boy ended up being a tall, rough-and-tumble, muscular, one-hundred-percent all-man cowboy by the name of Rhett Jameson, you may have been put at risk for falling in love. Please seek counsel immediately.

Dear Counselor,

It was supposed to be simple favor for my very important boss, Frank Kaminsky of the Salt Lake Slammers professional basketball teamβ€”go to his good friend Tex Jameson’s luxury ranch and provide personal medical care for his recently injured teenage son.

I thought it’d be a working vacation of sortsβ€”a chance for my city-girl self to experience something I would never otherwise doβ€”but everything is upside down, and absolutely nothing is as I thought it would be.

For one, this patient is not a teenage boy.

He’s a real-life, blue-eyed, tough-as-nails, thirtysomething cowboy who is so darn strong he looks like he could lift a car just for the heck of it.

He’s also stubborn, rude, and we don’t get along…at all.

Add in the heart-melting vision of him as a single father to the cutest little girl on the planet, and I’ve found myself in a whole different dimension of trouble.

Lust. Feelings. A whole lot of enemies-to-lovers-style complication.

Please help me. My name is Dr. Leah Levee, I am a victim of false advertising, and if I’m not careful, this Grumpy Cowboy might just be the death of me.

Grab yours today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tia1eA

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/GrumpyCowboyMM

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3saZJva

*****

Excerpt:

Leah

Β Β  Gently, I rap my knuckles against the wood, and moments later, an adorable little blond-haired girl comes running down the hall and right toward me.

Β Β  She pushes the screen door open with one of her cowgirl boots and steps out until she can keep it open with just her hip. With pigtails and dimples and big blue eyes, she just might be the cutest kid I’ve ever see in my life.

Β Β  Is this Rhett Jameson’s little sister?

Β Β  β€œWho are you?” she asks, ignoring any sort of greeting and getting straight to the point.

Β Β  I grin. β€œMy name is Leah. What’s your name?”

Β Β  β€œJoey,” she answers, her small hands moving with her words. β€œWell, Josephine, but everyone calls me Joey.”

Β Β  β€œThat’s a very pretty name.”

Β Β  β€œAnd you’re a very pretty lady,” she says, and her eyes move up and down my body, taking in my hair and my face and my dress and my shoes. β€œMaybe the prettiest lady I’ve ever seen. Are you in movies?”

Β Β  β€œNo, I’m not in movies,” I answer on a soft laugh. β€œBut you know what’s funny?”

Β Β  β€œWhat?”

Β Β  β€œYou’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen in my whole life.”

Β Β  She giggles, and then her eyes get big. β€œWait…oh my goodness! Are you here to teach me how to braid my hair?” Her button nose crinkles up in the most adorable way. β€œMy granny told me she’d teach me how to do it, but I think she can’t remember, and is that why you’re here? Because you know how to do it?” she asks, and her short legs bounce up and down ever so slightly.

Β Β  β€œUh…” I pause, completely entranced by this sweet little human, but also utterly confused. β€œActually, sweetie, I’m not here to teach you how to braid your hair. I’m here—”

Β Β  β€œAw, shucks.” She swishes one fist from her right hip to her left hip, and her tiny mouth points down at the corners.

Β Β  Immediately, I feel like the worst human being alive, and it takes everything inside me not to step inside the house and ask her to get me a hairbrush.

Β Β  But I rein in the emotion and offer up something I hope will soften her disappointment.

Β Β  β€œHow about this? Since I’m going to be here for the summer, I’ll make sure someday very soon, I teach you how to braid your hair.”

Β Β  β€œYeah?” Her big blue eyes light up like the sun. β€œYa promise?”

Β Β  β€œI promise.”

Β Β  Truthfully, I’m just assuming this young girl lives here on this ranch, but I have no idea.

Β Β  I don’t know if she’s Tex’s daughter or someone else’s daughter. I don’t really know much of anything. Haven’t known much of anything since I told Frank Kaminsky I’d take this job.

Β Β  But so far, feeling out of the loop appears to be par for the course.

Β Β  The girl steps out of the house on her tiny cowgirl boots and wraps her arms around my waist. β€œI’m so excited, Leah!”

Β Β  I’m shocked at first by her instant affection, but it doesn’t take long before I’m putty in her teeny hands.

Β Β  β€œMe too, Joey.” A tickled laugh emerges from my lungs, and I pat her head tenderly.

Β Β  Eventually, she steps back and puts one hand to her hip. β€œSo, if you’s supposed to be here all summer but it’s not just for my hair, why are you here?”

Β Β  β€œI was just about to ask the same thing, Joey.” A deep, raspy voice fills my ears, and that’s when I realize someone else has joined our conversation at the door.

Β Β  My eyes move up, up, up past Joey and land on a pair of perfectly worn-in jeans, over a shirtless and firm set of abs and an even firmer chest, and they don’t stop until they meet aqua-blue eyes that are pointed directly at me.

Β Β  Holy shit.

Β Β  This rugged, fine-as-hell specimen standing right behind Joey isn’t just any man; he’s the manliest man I’ve ever laid eyes on. His body is stretched tight with the kinds of firm muscles that do not come from protein shakes and a gym membership to LA Fitness. No. These are real muscles, made from hard, sweaty work on a big-ass ranch like this.

Β Β  If you typed the words β€œhot cowboy” into Google, I’m pretty sure this guy would be the number one search result.

Β Β  And he looks so damn strong, so physically capable of anything, I honestly think he could lift a car just for the fun of it.

Β Β  With brownish-red hair that looks almost gold in the sunlight, a sharp jaw that’s peppered with some scruff, and full lips that are set in a firm line, I can’t help but wonder who is this guy?

Β Β  Rhett Jameson’s…older brother? His uncle?

Β Β  Some kind of familial male figure?

Β Β  He clears his throat, and that’s when I realize just how long I’ve been standing here staring at this slightly irritated, but also handsome-looking, cowboy like a moron.

Β Β  Uh…hello? Earth to Leah? Now would be a really great time to remember how to speak…

*****

Author Info:

A duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads.

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far. ​

Connect with Max Monroe

BookBub: http://bit.ly/3bJFJJh

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ReoxkK

Facebook: http://bit.ly/31XxggS

Instagram: http://bit.ly/39wuCkW

Stay up to date with Max Monroe by joining their mailing list today: http://bit.ly/2HzGmau

Website: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/

*****