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Home on Anna Maria Island

1/31/2018

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: January 31, 2018

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Pittsburgh Privateers third baseman Gavin Sullivan is home on Anna Maria Island with a lot on his mind: his mother’s recent battle with breast cancer and, now, the surprising news his oldest brother, Colby, is a twin. Gavin has a sister he’s never met, and worse, he’s sworn to secrecy while his parents try to find her. Is it any wonder he shows up to Spring Training thirty pounds heavier than last season? Armed with a complicated diet and a warning from Coach Zee, Gavin feels wrecked, until he finds a half-naked goddess on his parent’s stretch of beach. Funny how the body that has been making him feel so miserable lately suddenly has him flying high.

Curve model Emerson Raye wants to prove the naysayers back home in West Virginia wrong. Big is beautiful, too. All she has to do is land a spot in the Sports Unlimited Swimsuit Edition by convincing America to vote for her. When pro athlete Gavin Sullivan stumbles onto her oceanfront photo shoot and asks her out for drinks, Emerson and her assistant concoct a plan to leak photos of the date to the media and create the vote-getting buzz Emerson needs. Soon, Emerson realizes there’s more to Gavin than meets the eye, and their temporary, no-strings relationship heats up. But can something lasting survive under harsh media scrutiny when secrets threaten to sabotage everything?

Excerpt

Emerson had been kissed before. She had a modelling career full of air kisses, double-cheek kisses, and the occasional, friendly smooch on the mouth. She also had a personal life spattered with overeager, often rushed kisses that were nothing more than prerequisites for the main event.

Gavin Sullivan’s kisses weren’t like anything she’d ever encountered.

He took his time, eliciting pleasure with more than his mouth. His hands grazed her neck, his thumbs stroked her jaw. His fingers threaded through the fine hairs at her nape. And all along, his mouth explored her mouth. Lips to lips. Tongue to tongue.

He tasted like butter and sweet champagne. He smelled like citrus fruit and sandalwood.

She leaned into him and whimpered. Her hands gripping the collar of his linen shirt. Her body burned. Her brain urged her to crawl into his lap and settle in for a long, slow, mind-blowing ride. And she was seconds away from obeying when above them, someone cleared his throat.

“Sorry for the interruption.”

Emerson jerked back.

“Dessert?” the man asked as he set shell-shaped bowls of sorbet in front of them.

Gavin didn’t move. He didn’t take his hungry eyes off Emerson. “Thank you,” he said to the man. “That’ll be all for tonight.”

Looking into Gavin’s eyes, Emerson’s heartrate tripled. She wanted him. Even if it made her vulnerable. She wanted this. Even if it was a fantasy.

When the man left, Gavin grinned and reached for the silver spoon beside her bowl. “Dessert?” He dipped the spoon into the single scoop of light-colored sorbet and lifted it like he might feed her, but then, with an even brighter grin, he brought the spoon to his own beautiful mouth and licked it clean. “Lemon,” he said, his voice warm and deep.

She opened her mouth, and, for a split second, was afraid her throat was too dry to speak. “I like lemon,” she said, watching him help himself to another bite.

This time, he set the spoon down, and inched closer, so close, she could feel the cold on his tongue and smell the lemon on his lips.

“Want a taste?” he whispered.

She wrapped her arms around his powerful shoulders and pulled him in. Their lips locked. Their tongues tangled. He shoved his hands beneath her thighs and guided her onto his lap. Skirt riding high. Heart beating fast. She settled over his erection, biting back a moan as he nipped at her jaw and rubbed erotic patterns up and down her back. And then, he was licking her ear, tugging her lobe, sliding his hands along the silk of her dress to her stomach and the underside of her breasts.

Emerson tipped back her head, and her eyes fluttered open to the starry sky. Was it awful to pray during something like this? Because she wanted to. She wanted to pray for this to be real.

About the Author

Elley Arden is the author of the groundbreaking and critically acclaimed Cleveland Clash series. She previously worked for The Walt Disney Company and spent over a decade as a non-fiction writer and editor. When she’s not writing, Elley can be found reading, watching sports, redecorating her house, or kicking her husband’s butt in Words With Friends. She lives in Pennsylvania with her high school sweetheart and their three crazy (in a good way) kids.

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Shadow of the Swan

1/31/2018

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Shadow of the Swan
Judith Sterling
(The Novels of Ravenwood #3)
Publication date: January 31st 2018
Genres: Historical, Romance

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present. Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden. Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm! But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it. From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them. When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one. She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing. Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Robert turned to Constance but said nothing.

After a moment, she met his gaze. “Why do you stare at me?”

He grinned. “On the morrow, I want to show you something.”

“What?”

“You’ll see.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why won’t you tell me?”

“’Tis a surprise.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

“Neither do I, on the whole. But you’ll like this one.” He reached toward his belt.

She stepped back. “What are you doing?”

“Undressing.” He set his belt on the table.

Her stomach dropped. “Why?”

“Aren’t you the suspicious one?” He pulled off his boots. “’Tis customary to doff one’s clothes at bedtime.”

She whirled around, turning her back on him. “I slept fully clothed at the nunnery.” She stared hard at the stone wall.

“I hate to state the obvious, but this isn’t a nunnery.”

“Well, how do you sleep?”

“Naked, of course.”

Heat flooded her cheeks and forehead. “Is that necessary?”

“I could wear my breeches.”

She sighed. Whew!

“On one condition.” His tone was loaded with meaning beyond her grasp.

What condition? What does he want from me?

She turned to face him. Apart from his calf-length breeches, he was nude. Her gaze locked onto his chest.

Sculpted by combat. Scarred by war. Covered with black hair.

“Any objection?” His voice was soft, deep.

She forced her gaze to his eyes. They looked darker now. Was it a trick of the light?

He’s waiting for an answer. Say something! “No.”

“Good.”

“How did you undress so fast?”

“The battlefield teaches one to do everything fast.” His eyes sparkled. “Well, not everything.”

Did her heart still beat? She couldn’t tell. His tone was so suggestive.

“You blush, my lady.”

Her hands flew to her cheeks. “And whose fault is that?”

He gave her a rueful smile. “Mine. But if we’re to be friends, I have to speak honestly.”

“About sexual matters?”

“About all matters. Can you live with that?”

She hesitated, then gave him a nod. “I can. And in that vein, what is the condition you proposed?”

“Right. If I’m to smother myself with added linen—”

“Breeches, Sir Robert. They’re just breeches.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “So say you. But if I do that, you must sleep in your chemise only.”

Her jaw dropped. Then she frowned. “Why?”

“For the sake of comfort.”

“I’m comfortable clad.”

He looked down, and his fingers seized the tie to his breeches. “Fine. If you’d rather I drop my—”

“Stop!” She grumbled. “Very well. I’ll sleep in my chemise.”

He smiled. “I’ll go lie in bed and shut my eyes, if you’d like.”

“I would like.”

“Do you prefer one side of the bed to the other?”

She shrugged. “It matters not.”

“Then I lay claim to the left.”

As soon as the bed creaked beneath his weight, she removed her headdress. Then she disrobed as quickly as she could and scurried to the bed.

“Why such haste?” he asked as she slid beneath the covers.

“My feet are cold.”

“Mine are warm. You’re welcome to—”

“No, Sir Robert. I’ll warm up soon enough.”

Author Bio:

Judith Sterling's love of history and passion for the paranormal infuse everything she writes. Flight of the Raven, Soul of the Wolf, and Shadow of the Swan are part of her medieval romance series, The Novels of Ravenwood. The Cauldron Stirred is the first book in her YA paranormal fantasy series, Guardians of Erin. Written under Judith Marshall, her nonfiction books--My Conversations with Angels and Past Lives, Present Stories--have been translated into multiple languages. She has an MA in linguistics and a BA in history, with a minor in British Studies. Born in that sauna called Florida, she craved cooler climes, and once the travel bug bit, she lived in England, Scotland, Sweden, Wisconsin, Virginia, and on the island of Nantucket. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and their identical twin sons.

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Living In Your Hell

1/30/2018

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Living In Your Hell

Shattered Lives Series; Book 5

Publish Date: January 30, 2018

Genre: Suspense/Thriller

Cover Design by: MadHat Books

Photography: Lindee Robinson Photography

Models: Garrett Pentecost & Daria Rottenburke

I'll give my last breath to keep her safe.

Blurb:

Shelby

Having faith in human beings isn't something I grant easily.

My childhood was filled with yelling, anger, and beatings so bad I feared I would die. My Papa was my savior. He saved me from the beatings and hate, filling my life with love and happiness. He made sure I got the best education possible, and I was able to follow in his footsteps.

Now, being back home - with a past like mine - my nightmares are coming back. The flesh and blood kind.

Charlie

As a Sheriff's deputy, I've seen many things. I've had to handle some stuff that would make a saint roll over in his grave. Yet, I never give up. I wear my badge as a statement. I fight for those who can't fight for themselves. When the woman I love is put in danger, and my world starts falling into disarray, there is only one thing to do. Take a stand and fight for her - with her even.

No one from her past is going to take her from me. She's my forever and I plan to do everything I can to keep her that way.

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Excerpt:

I can't help but grin while walking up the stairs to the back of Doc’s house . I took a deep breath, moved my hand behind me and rang the doorbell. The moment the door came open I felt my heart start to race. Standing before me was an angel, right down to her white strappy sandals. I leaned in and kissed her blushing cheeks and pulled the flowers from behind my back and presented them to her with a small bow.

“My lady,” I said with a wink before straightening back up. The giggle that escaped her made me grin so big. Was I cheesy? As a fucking heart attack, but only for my girl. I'd do anything to make her smile like she is now.

“Good Sir,” she said, her eyes sparkling as she gave a little bow.

“Shall we depart, my fair maiden?” I asked as I held my arm out for her. I heard chuckling from inside and Shelby cut her eyes at Doc when he came up and took the flowers from her.

“I'll put these in water for you. Now, go on and have fun with your beau.” Her grin grew as she hugged his neck.

“Night, Papa,” she said, wrapping her arm around mine.

“Night, Doc.”

“Goodnight, sweet pea. Night, Charles,” he said, giving me that look. I chuckled a little nervously as we walked down the stairs. I leaned in and kissed her cheek, inhaling the sweet scent that was Shelby Grant.

“Ready for our night out?” I asked, my brow raised as we made it to my car. Her eyes lit up when she saw my 1965 Pontiac GTO. I was a bike man, nothing beat my Harley, but my car, this was my baby. Dad and I had rebuilt her from frame on up. Piece by piece. Our blood, sweat and even some tears went into this beauty. She was painted black, black leather inside and a lot of attitude came from her powerful engine. She was almost as sassy as Shelby.

“Hmm… I love this car,” she nodded and turned to give me a sultry look.

I moved closer to her and pressed her back against the door. “I know you do, baby,” I said before leaning down to capture her mouth with mine.

My kiss was demanding and I only pulled back when she moaned. If she kept that up I wasn't going to be responsible for what happened. Her hands moved to my chest and I couldn't hold back my grin as she shifted on her feet.

“We should go…” she whispered.

“Back to my place or to dinner?” I asked, smirking.

“Why, Mr. McKenna, are you trying to get into my unmentionables?” Her lips curved at the corners and I leaned in, my lips brushing hers slightly. My body pushed against hers and I know she felt my answer before I could speak it.

“Always,” I said before I once again captured her mouth in a searing kiss. I pulled back when we needed air and kissed her nose. “But, I'd like to wine you and dine you before I feast on you.”

“Damn, I love when you say things like that,” she said, a grin playing at her lips. “Let's go have dinner then.” She stepped into me and I opened her door.

Once she was settled I got in myself and we headed up the road. I had everything planned out for us tonight. A picnic dinner was waiting for us down at the park. I'd had help with the prep work, and by now the boys and Lana should be cleaning up and leaving the food in the heated bags for us.

When we pulled in I caught sight of Derek’s Jeep leaving out the other entrance. I parked under the trees and walked around to help Shelby out. The water trickled from the fountain and the nightlife was making itself known. I took her hand and led her over to the beautiful quilt on the soft grass.

“My lady, please kick off your sandals and join me,” I said as I kicked my shoes off. He grin was so big. I knew she would love a picnic, even at night.

I sat down facing her after she picked a spot. I gave her a wink before I opened the bag closest to us. I pulled out the small tray of cheese and crackers, and then the tray with the fruit. I grabbed the other bag and smirked as I pulled the still warm tray of mini smokies and meatballs. They each had toothpicks in them to make eating easy.

“Your feast awaits, my lady,” I said with the slightest of bows. She giggled and I looked up as she shifted. Her lips met mine and then she was popping a meatball into her mouth. A minute later she sighed.

“You, kind sir, are truly too sweet,” she said with a flourish of her southern accent. I groaned internally as she bat her lashes, her hand going to her chest.

“I do aim to please,” I said.

Shattered Lives Series

Genre: Dark Suspense/Thriller ~ Romantic Suspense

Add to your Goodreads TBR

~ My Own Nightmare ~

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~ Somewhere I Belong ~

Amazon US : AU : CA : UK

~ Shatter Me Whole ~

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~ Sparks of Deception ~

Amazon US : AU : CA : UK

The Cowboy Way Series

Genre: Cowboy Contemporary Romance

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~ Wrangled By Love ~

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A Rescue Series Novella

Genre: Romantic Suspense

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~ A Marshall’s Courage ~

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~ Primal Darkness ~

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romantic Thriller

Add to your Goodreads TBR

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Each book in these series’s can be read as a stand alone

All of the above books are available in KU

~ Dirty Fairy Tales Anthology ~

Genre: Erotic - PNR - Fantasy

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*All ebook sales go to help the Autism Society of SW Florida.

~Meet Barb Shuler~

I’m a Carolina Girl by right and a Texan by birth. Best of both worlds. I have the brass sass to keep up with my Texas sized temper. Living and working in both states i’ve learned a lot about hard work, adapting to your surroundings and making the best of the path that you have been led down. My grandma Dollie once told me I would know what I was meant to do when it happened. She was right, as always.

As with most book lovers, I am an avid reader. Reading has always been a hobby - a passion, really and a way to get lost in other people’s lives, their drama and other worlds. It’s a private movie in your imagination that you get to cast and navigate through, at your own pace. Reading helps to expand the perimeters of one's mind. That is what got me into writing. Writing has been something that I have done since I was a kid. If I had paper, I was writing. Nine out of ten times it made no sense but what are words if they are not to be used to your advantage? Words are a part of us all. Why not use them, right?

During the day I work as a ‘desk jockey’ and help the residents of my county navigate themselves around our little, but not too little country town. By night I am either blogging with my best friends, doing PA work for some of my favorite authors or fighting with the voices in my head. They can be stubborn at times. It’s a blessing and I am cherishing every moment. Tomorrow is never guaranteed so I want to make sure I live the day as fully as possible. For what is my creation, can become someone else's treasure.

~ Connect with Barb here ~

Email : Newsletter : Website : Author Blog : Facebook : Twitter : Instagram : Goodreads : Amazon Author Page

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Forbidden Royal

1/30/2018

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Contemporary Romance

Date Published: 02/27/2018

Political consultant Amy Fields only experienced jealousy once in her life, and that’s the way she’d like to keep it. Watching her older sister carry-on with the boy she absolutely adored in high school enough to make her never want to feel second-best again.

Now, successful in her own right. She’s making strides in her career and meeting interesting people, but one client takes a keen interest in her life – so much so, he’s determined to ensure she never finds a happy ending with the boy she loved long ago.

Prince Lucio Aussa can have any woman he wants, but he’s grown tired of superficial relationships. When his brother convinces him that he can find the perfect bride online, Lucio reluctantly agrees to go along with the plan. The search dredges up old feelings about Amy’s older sister, and prompts him to want to rekindle their broken relationship. But when the internet search points to Amy as his perfect mate, that changes everything. Now, he must reconcile the feelings he had for her sister with the realization that Amy is far more interesting than she ever was. To make matters worse, as his feelings for her grow, an enemy emerges threatening to ruin any hope of love for either of them.

Can the overcome their preconceived notions about each other and find common ground together or will yet another obstacle stand in their way?

Excerpt

She stilled and the sensation disappeared once the man went into the elevator and was out of sight. Her pulse returned to normal. She waited another few seconds and headed back out into the dreary evening. The fog made the world seem darker.

Amy opened the door, head down, and walked right into a wall of muscled chest. Worried it was the man in the bowler hat, she swallowed a cry, stepped back into the foyer of the building and looked up at the man who was at least a foot taller than her. Her breath caught in her throat. Lucio Aussa still seemed larger than life.

"Amy Fields?" His rich tones were deeper and brought a chill of adult awareness.

She dropped her umbrella to the linoleum. She knelt down to pick it up, as did he. They almost bumped heads but she let him get her umbrella and he handed it back to her. "You're prettier than I remember."

"You remember me?" She straightened, her legs shaky.

"You're Evie's little sister." He stood too.

Right. Her stomach shouldn't flip. He had to get married soon, as the world knew, and her sister was the Fields girl he’d been interested in. It was too bad Evie intended to marry His Grace Michael Flynn, and be his duchess. Why was Lucio here, speaking to her right now? "That's right. My sister doesn't work with me or anything…”

"It's raining pretty heavily. Let me give you a ride." He opened the door, allowing a cool rush of air inside.

There was no reason her stomach should tense. His dark, shining hair curled over his ears and those dark brown eyes tempted her to swoon. Amy Fields never swooned. She lowered her head, her face hot with embarrassment. "I don't want to be a bother, Your Highness."

"I came to talk to you,” he said. “So it would be my pleasure, Amy."

He had? Her named rolled off his tongue with ease. Her chest warmed from his nearness, and her cheeks must be scarlet at this point. "If you’re here to order an analysis of your country, you’ll need to come back in the morning and sign a contract with my boss."

"I'm not here to hire you." A servant with a six-foot wide umbrella met them at the front door and Lucio led her toward his waiting limo on the street corner. "Not exactly anyway."

The servant opened the rear passenger door and she slid in across the leather seat. As Lucio closed the door, sitting so close to her their legs touched, she was rocketed back to high school Amy, who’d stared at him with longing as she wished he'd notice her, but then her sister would jump in front of her and throw herself at him. Evie had been relentless in her quest to one day be a princess. Amy shook off the memory as the car rolled down the street. She said, "I live out in Clapham."

"I know. You're doing pretty well for yourself." Drops of rain glistened on Lucio’s shoes. "I was hoping you'd join me for a quick dinner so we can talk."

Dinner? With him? It seemed like a dream where any second someone would yell “gotcha”, but she reigned in her imagination. He was a prince, and he’d belonged to Evie. She lifted her chin, intending to say no, but his brown eyes persuaded her to change her mind. "Okay. Dinner. I am curious, I’ll admit."

Giving in was a bad trait she needed to work on. His hand brushed against her leg but jerked back fast so she knew it had been an accident. However, the jolt she felt was unexpected. "Thanks." He turned toward the driver. "Please take us to Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester."

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston before moving to the Miami sun. She’s worked in engineering, after passing many tests proving how easy Math came to her. Then hating her life at the age of twenty four, she decided to go to law school. Four years later, after passing the bar and practicing very little, she realized that she hates the practice of law. She refused to one day turn 50 and realize she had nothing but her career and hours at a desk. After realizing she needed change, she became a high school teacher. Teaching is rewarding, but writing is a passion.

During all this time, she always wrote stories to entertain herself or calm down. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, and Victoria spent too many years living other people’s dreams, but when she sat down to see what skill she had that matched what she enjoyed doing, writing became so obvious. The middle school year book when someone wrote in it that one day she’d be a writer made sense when she turned thirty.

She’s always been determined. She is amazing, adventurous and assured on a regular basis. Her website is www.victoriapinder.com.

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Taming Mia

1/30/2018

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Paranormal Romance/New Adult

Date Published: 2/2/18

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Mia is finally getting what she’s always wanted—the chance to be off on her own at college. Her own apartment, sexy college guys, and, most importantly, no more pride rules to follow. At least not until after graduation, when she’ll return home and marry the mate her father, the alpha, chooses for her. Until then, Mia is determined to enjoy her freedom to the fullest. And when Tristan comes along, she knows she’s met the perfect fling.

It’s Tristan’s last year at Mountain Ridge University. He’s ready for some smooth sailing, including no girl drama. As a jaguar shifter, he’s not interested in a relationship, and certainly not a mate. Mia is the answer to what he’s looking for—playful, sassy, and seeking a bit of no- strings-attached fun.

But is there more to their relationship than either of them is willing to admit?

Excerpt

Mia padded softly along the rocky, moonlit trail. Her cat eyes were well-adjusted to the darkness, and she carefully took in all of her surroundings. The large, craggy boulders and tall saguaro cacti loomed high above her in the canyon, and the sounds of small animals rustling in the bushes called to the hunter in her. Mmm. Yum. She’d love to do some hunting...but it would have to wait for another time. For now, she had something a little tastier in mind.

Her paws barely made a sound as she traveled down the path. She stepped delicately around a particularly spiky plant—she’d learned the hard way a few nights ago when she’d had to end her run early due to a pawful of cactus stickers. On high alert, she scanned the trail for other prickly invaders.

She nimbly jumped onto a large boulder and sat back on her haunches. She sniffed the air. Her whiskers twitched. The smells of the desert filled her nostrils—pungent and crisp, scents of earth and life. Mia was learning to love the way the desert smelled after a rain.

It also smelled of him. Mia had picked up his scent several minutes ago, and she knew he was close. But where was he? He had suggested they meet on this trail, and, now, he wanted to play hard to get. That damn sneaky cat.

It was a good thing she wanted to play, too. She didn’t even care why he had been so pissed off earlier—she just wanted to see him. To touch him. To taste him. She’d gone off to college to have fun, and she sure as hell was determined to do so. She wanted to forget about Asher, Rob, and most of all, her father’s meddling in things that didn’t concern him. Tonight, amidst the wide- open spaces of the canyon and the cool night air, she was going to do whatever the hell she pleased.

She scanned the canyon walls. A flicker of movement on a rocky ledge nearby caught her attention. A flick of a tail. The soft glint of moonlight reflecting off keen, predatory eyes. Tristan. He knew she saw him, and he inched slowly out of the shadows, his belly low to the ground. A low rumble emanated from deep within his chest.

He walked out to the edge of the outcropping. The strength of his jaguar emanated from him, his sleek spotted body accentuated with powerful shoulders and legs. He was the biggest feline shifter she’d ever seen. The rumbling purr in his chest turned into a fierce roar, vibrating across the canyon walls.

Oh, yes. A shudder went down Mia’s spine, electrifying all the nerves in her body. She wanted nothing more than to rub herself all over him. She purred, her insides turning into delightfully liquid goo as she thought about how his beautiful fur would feel against hers. His gaze penetrated her, ready to devour her. He was the predator...and she was his prey tonight.

Oh, yeah? Well, you can come and get it, then, big boy. You wanted to run tonight, so we’ll run.

Mia rose, standing strong on her lean, powerful legs. She belted out the loudest roar she could muster. Then she turned on her heels and bolted down the path.

She had no problem with the jaguar devouring every inch of her body tonight. But he’d have to catch her, first.

About the Author

Misty Malloy’s obsession with hair bands started in the 80’s. When she’s not listening to Guns N’ Roses or writing, you can find her wrangling dogs at the animal shelter, doing Zumba, or having brunch. She loves wine, cheese, happy hour with both wine AND cheese (of course!), sexy historical movies, and alpha males. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband and their dire wolf dog.

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Toddler Tootsies Take On The Day

1/30/2018

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Book Details:

Book Title: Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day! by Marsha Nowakowski
Illustrator: Joan Coleman
Category: Children's NonFiction, 34 pages
Genre: Education
Publisher: Lanier Press
Release date: January 23, 2018
Tour dates: Jan 29 to Feb 9, 2018
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Welcome to the wonderful world of Matt and Mattie, where every day is a learning adventure! Just as our ten toes help our bodies balance, Matt and Mattie’s ten daily habits help toddlers learn balanced behaviors that will guide them in leading happy, healthy childhoods.

Buy the Book:

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Meet the Author:

Marsha K. Nowakowski is a loving wife, dedicated mother to three children, and a “grammie” to her grandchildren.

This is Marsha’s debut book for toddlers. She has spent forty years in the healthcare industry, primarily as a cardiac nurse. Her inspiration for writing Matt and Mattie’s Adventures developed from her own observations that patients who recovered more quickly exhibited healthy habits and good attitudes toward life. As a mother and grammie, Marsha recognized the need for books teaching healthy habits to help young ones develop into successful people who always do their best.

Matt and Mattie’s Adventures makes everyday habits fun, balanced, and adventuresome for toddlers. Marsha’s own adventures include travel, horseback riding, and reading. She also enjoys golf, baseball games, and sailing with her husband. According to Marsha, every day is an adventure!

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook

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Ends Feb 17, 2018

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What inspired you to write Matt and Mattie as feet?
Characters in children’s books have been many things like sponges, princesses, animals, and superheroes, but there were no FEET! As a long-time nurse, spending many hours on hard floors, one of the pure pleasures in my life was having pedicures and leg/feet massages. Every time I had my nails painted I had fun designs put on my large toe. During a trip to Florida with my husband, the radio was playing, and my feet started dancing on the dashboard where I had propped my legs. I knew then that children could really like a unique and different type of character such as feet that would take them on adventures. There were ten activities of daily living in a toddler’s day that I wanted to write about. Just as our ten toes help our bodies balance, learning the ten life skills in a toddler’s day could be a fun visual that would help children create the balance in their own life. Matt and Mattie’s Adventures will always explore how to “put your best foot forward” beginning with baby steps! The publisher, illustrator, and I had more fun developing the book’s index of toe icons representing the ten activities of daily living that are hidden throughout the book.

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Ryder

1/29/2018

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Ryder
Yumoyori Wilson
(The Starlight Gods Series, #2)
Publication date: January 26th 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

I am Ryder Carter of Minato – a leader, star knight, and lover.

A leader is one who keeps their head up high, in any situation.
A knight is one who is strong, diligent and ready to lay their life on the line for those they’ve sworn to protect.
A lover is one who’d do anything to see their companion smile.
I am all of those things.

Yet, here I stand – alone in the darkness, questioning if I can fulfill any of those roles.
Some look to me for guidance; others look at me in envy.

Yet, no one knows my internal struggles – the nightmares that plagued me for cycles or the emotions that clawed at my very soul.
Everyone assigns me a role in their mind, without knowing my past, ignoring the present and attempting to predetermine my future.
I’m tired of such assumptions, craving for my tale to be heard.

It’s time to share my story and how one girl changed my world.

Recommended for 18+ audience, containing mature sexual content, violence and strong language. TRIGGER WARNING- Anyone who has dealt with self-harm should NOT read this book. You have been warned.

NOTE: RYDER is written in CANADIAN ENGLISH – meaning both American and British English is used.

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EXCERPT:

“Rydey! I’m ready!” Rosalina yelled from down the hall.

I shook my head, making my way to her room. I watched as she jumped on her bed— a bedtime ritual she did to make her bed fluffier, or so she believed.

“I’m gonna be six tomorrow! I can marry Rydey!” she sang.

I blushed, trying to ignore the increase in my heart rate. “Who said you can marry me when you’re six?” I asked.

“Kadey! He said I can marry whoever I want as long as he said it was okay. So, I claimed you!” She pointed at me as she jumped up and down.

“And he’s fine with me being your husband?”

“Yup. He said as long as you treat me right and beat Xavier in arm wres-wresssss- the arm game,” she announced.

“I can’t beat Xavier in arm wrestling. He’s a pro.”

She stopped jumping looking devastated. “So…we can’t get married?” she asked, her eyes beginning to grow glossy.

I lifted my hands in defense, shaking my head. “We can! I’ll beat him! Just gonna take me some time to train my arm strength.”

“YEAH! I’m gonna marry Rydey, he’s gonna be my prince and knight!” she sang, returning to jumping on her bed.

Author Bio:

Yumoyori Wilson is from Toronto, Ontario. She loves to sleep and write her days away. She works at night as a registered nurse. She has a little addiction to bubble tea and coffee but loves to workout. She has big plans for the writing world and can't wait to share them with everyone.

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Drakon's Past

1/29/2018

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Drakon’s Past
N.J. Walters
(Blood of the Drakon #4)
Published by: Entangled: Amara
Publication date: January 29th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Constance Owens has a gift for finding unique items in the most unlikely places, which comes in handy since she buys and sells artifacts and antiques for a living. When she purchases a set of four dragon statues, she has no idea just how unique they are, or that finding them will thrust her into a world of secret societies, men who think nothing of kidnapping and murder to get what they want, and dragon shifters.

Nic hasn’t survived for four thousand years by letting his guard down, and he doesn’t trust anyone except his drakon brothers. The loneliness haunting him has been getting worse since all his brothers have found their mates. And when he finds the woman his drakon recognizes instantly as his fated mate, he doubts he’ll ever have what his brothers have, because it seems she’s involved with the secret society of hunters who have been hunting and capturing his kind for hundreds of years.

The Blood of the Drakon series is best enjoyed in order
Reading Order:
Book #1: Drakon’s Promise
Book #2: Drakon’s Prey
Book #3: Drakon’s Plunder
Book #4: Drakon’s Past

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EXCERPT:

Constance blinked. She heard Abigail scream and some of the men yell. Nic had to be about fifteen feet long, and that wasn’t including his long, powerful tail, which was tucked around him.

He rose on his back legs and released his wings. The spread had to be at least double the size of his body.

Nic was a dragon.

She shook her head. Impossible.

Nic. Was. A. Dragon.

She’d had sex with a dragon. She was in love with a bloody dragon. How was this even possible? Then she remembered what Nic had told her about Dent and how the group he belonged to wanted to capture him and drink his blood. She couldn’t let that happen.

But it was too late. Dent fired at her again, and Nic pounced, coming down over her. She feared he might crush her with his gigantic body, but instead, he crouched above her like some big watchdog, shielding her from any further bullets.

The moment he was inside the circle, something changed. He roared as though he was in pain. She scrambled out from beneath him. “Nic? Nic, what’s wrong?” Stupid question all things considered, but this was something different, something he hadn’t been expecting.

These statues were dangerous to him.

He turned his big head toward her and opened his mouth. God, those were big teeth. All the better to eat her with. Yeah, not a pleasant thought. In this form, she’d barely be a snack.

“Run.” The word was guttural, as though it had been pulled from him.

He’d known. He’d known she’d planned to betray him, and still he was trying to save her. If she hadn’t already loved him, she would have fallen in that moment. Man or beast, it didn’t matter. He’d known. He’d known she’d planned to betray him, and still he was trying to save her. If she hadn’t already loved him, she would have fallen in that moment. Man or beast, it didn’t matter.

Author Bio:

Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.

One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first romance novel and life would never be the same.

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

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Angel of Shadow

1/29/2018

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Angel of Shadow
D.H. Nevins
(Wormwood #2)
Publication date: January 13th 2018
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, New Adult

D.H. Nevins hurtles you into a world of half-angels, demons and tormented love in this driving, dystopian sequel to Wormwood.

Half-angels, known as Nephilim, have all but destroyed the surface of the Earth. Yet for Kali Michaels, her life is now much more complicated than simply surviving. Grappling with her own powerful identity, she worries her connection to the world of Shadows could destroy those around her.
And what if she hurts Tiamat Wormwood, the Nephilim outcast who has given everything to save her? Tiamat and Kali know they have no future—not when outside forces and Kali’s own power push both the humans and the Nephilim to the brink of extinction.

As she fights to stop the inevitable, she is led to question who her real enemies are, and whether the ultimate threat may actually be herself.

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EXCERPT:

“Do we have to go back?”

“No way. We’re not going to be stopped by a few branches,” I said. Keeping one hand on his back, I reached over him and broke off a few more of the limbs that were directly in our way. I grabbed a thicker branch for balance and stepped around Bram, positioning myself in front of him. “I’m going to sit down here. Just put your arms around my neck and your legs around my middle, okay?”

I lowered myself onto the log and he obeyed silently. I could feel his small frame quivering as he latched onto my back. “Stop looking down,” I told him. “It’ll be easier.”

“How’d you know?”

“That you were looking down?” I felt him nod his head against my back and I laughed quietly. “You know you’ve been staring down there almost constantly. It wasn’t hard to guess.”

“Well,” he said in a soft voice, “it’s scary down there.”

“I know, kiddo.”

“And,” he continued, his voice even quieter, as though he hoped it would fade into nothingness, “your Shadow is down there.”

I stilled. “You don’t ever have to worry about my Shadow. I control it … and I wouldn’t hurt you with it, Bram.”

“Yeah. Alright,” he said softly.

I couldn’t see the expression on his face, but he sounded like he believed me—a tentative belief, perhaps, but it would do.

Author Bio:

D.H. Nevins was born in Toronto and currently lives in a quiet area of Ontario, surrounded by forests and lakes. By day, she is a personable, friendly school teacher. By night, she silently chuckles as she writes about destroying the world. When she isn't writing, she enjoys world travel, hiking, camping, flying around on her motorcycle or dabbling in live theatre.

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Birds of Wonder

1/29/2018

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About the Author:
Cynthia Robinson is a writer and art historian based in Ithaca, New York. Her short fiction has been published by The Arkansas Review, Epoch, The Missouri Review, Slice, and others. She is Mary Donlon Alger Professor of Medieval and Islamic Art at Cornell University and has recently, following a very long hiatus, returned to fiction with her first novel, Birds of Wonder.

Birds of Wonder will be available via Amazon and other fine booksellers on February 20, 2018. To learn more visit cynthiarobinsonbooks.com and connect with Robinson on Goodreads and Instagram.

Read an Excerpt:
Edward painted girls. Girls, in fact, were his discovery.
He found them, mostly in magazines, the filthier the better. They had to be white, so the light could shine through the skin, not just on it. His chosen ones, he cleaned up. Heads and shoulders—never bodies. Faces framed by billows of hair you could sink your face into, necks like warm, slender columns of marble, clavicles bowed like a bird’s wing, the hollows dark and secretive. With every passing week, his girls were inching closer and closer toward perfection—according to his particular definition of the term—frozen in that exquisite moment between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, when molecules and cells twine themselves into lustrous hair, clear pink nails, skin like butter and cream.
His girls, though idealized--his gallerist wielded the adjective like a bludgeon; Edward would have bet his nonexistent retirement savings the woman had never read Plato—were also heart-stoppingly close to real. Each eyelash a whip of three-dimensional beauty, skin textured to believability, inviting touch—he’d learned a thing or two from his days as a photorealist, his girls looked as though they might burst right off the canvas. But they were frozen there, in space and in time, in the moment he had captured, saving them from the inevitable slide—from perfection there was nowhere to go but down—into the prosaic, the everyday, decay and decrepitude.
And his girls represented a sacrifice. Up until two years ago, he’d had a good gallery in MidTown. But then he’d been doing something the art world recognized, derivative though it was. A well-known critic had even attended Edward’s MFA show—he now wrote for the The New Yorker; Edward kept a notebook of his reviews, penning dissenting comments, precisely and in red, in the margins. The man had hailed his work as a new twist in Photorealism—meat-packing district diner scenes, transvestites after they’d been clubbing all night. The later the better—the baggier the under-eye circles, the redder the zits and the scars beneath the makeup. His work had been lauded because of the outré subject matter (it was a cheap shot and he’d known exactly what he was doing when he’d taken it). Following the critic’s review, he’d begun to sell, at first only a trickle, it was true, but he’d been on his way, even a couple of musems had bought small pieces, and eventually he was living decently on the sale of his work, the leaner times supplemented with the steadiness of underpaid teaching.
But then had come the epiphany. One summer evening after an opening—not his, but an artist also represented by his gallery, they’d been a kind of fraternity back then, now they all avoided him—he’d followed a golden-haired girl through the park, the dying light on her skin wouldn’t let him do otherwise. Even though he’d lost her—and he’d had no idea what he’d have said even if he’d caught up to her—by the time he’d reached his studio, he’d known he couldn’t keep doing it.

An Interview:
What inspired you to write Birds of Wonder?

When I was in my mid-teens, a girl was found—much as in the opening chapters of BIRDS OF WONDER—in a field near my house, by a woman walking her dog. Girls found in fields are presumed dead, and that was the case here. The girl, eerily similar in appearance to me, had been raped and strangled, and her arms amputated. This violent crime shook up my smallish Tennessee town for a good long time—my mother didn’t want to let me out of her sight. And it clearly impacted me, remaining deeply lodged in my subconscious for, literally, decades. Many other concerns and events informed the novel’s conception, often relating to exploitation of and/or violence against women, but the central kernel was the finding, so many years ago, of that young woman’s body, in my home town, where “things like that” didn’t happen.’

What advice would you give readers interested in reading Birds of Wonder ? How should they approach the story?

Don’t expect a traditional crime novel or psychological thriller all the way through. It does start out that way, but then—purposefully—veers off into other territory. Be ready for a few tough moments. All justified ( I believe and hope) by the plot.

Who are your favorite authors you like to read and/or follow?
I read everything by Kate Atkinson. Love Javier Mari’as (in Spanish), and Lola Lo’pez Monde’jar
ditto). Noy Holland, Kazuo Ishiguro, Rabih Alameddine. James Lasdun. And I could go on, but I won’t!

When do you find the time to write?
My sweet spot for writing is in the late afternoon to early evening. Ideally I get 2-3 hours
(daily). Obviously, sometimes this isn’t possible, but I try to carve out a spot, even if half an hour, each and every day, so as not to lose contact with my work.

How has career at Cornell Univiersity influenced your writing style?
For a good long time, my academic career kept me from writing fiction at all
(or, perhaps more accurately, I allowed it to do that). No more! In the positive column, my work as an academic (both as a teacher and a researcher) has given me focus and discipline, a deep knowledge of the past and of other languages and cultures, and a treasure trove of material I am beginning to tap only now. My published
(or soon-to-be published) fiction, for the most part, has steered entirely clear of the academic sectors of my life and knowledge, but I am changing that…

What are you working on now?
a novel set in a hotel in Bloomsbury, in London. The protagonist is a ghost. It circles themes of loss, regret, love… It time-jumps, it uses figures from the
(in)famous Bloomsbury Group as secondary characters. If I say more, I might jinx it, but I really am loving this project. It’s in its fourth draft, and I very much hope to deliver it to my agent toward the midpoint of the current calendar year. I believe that there will be short fiction spin-offs from this project, but for the moment I am focused like a laser on getting the draft in shape, to where I want it.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Read, lots. And then read some more. Find the process that works for you
( mine involves whiteboards and note cards…), which will take some experimentation. Find the schedule that works for you, and stick to it. Ass-in-chair is the best way to get words onto the page. You might decide you hate them, and you might even erase them, but you will have written.

We noticed you're very active on Instagram! What sorts of photos do you like sharing?
I’m not a Bookstagrammer in the sense that I have some sort of system for reading and reviewing books. But most of my post (except for the bunny part—the bunnies speak for themselves, or I often put words into their mouths…) do have to do with books and reading. I’m a very visual person, and so enjoy coming up with creative compositions that help to express, visually, what I feel about a particular book, or where I am in my reading process of it. I read like a writer, which means cannibalistically, always out for something that inspires me or helps me solve a particular problem, so my IG is maybe a bit chaotic compared to the pages of others. I’m also trying to include more literature from Spain, or from the middle ages, not to burden people with boring stuff, but just to introduce a little variety and wider awareness into my feed. Anything you don’t like, you can scroll past! I also am thinking about how to incorporate references to music that I associate with certain books or reads… just starting on that right now, so it’s still just a kind-of mess in my head at this point!

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