DROWNED AT THE RAT (Press Pass Mysteries) by April Anderton
Synopsis The bass player’s dead and no one’s talking.
When the bass player of a local punk group turns up dead at the infamous night club known as The Rat, it looks like a clear-cut case of band envy. Boston reporter, Ali Loukas, isn’t so sure. Something smells off and with the help of her boyfriend and homicide detective, Ryan McGuire, Ali sets out to sniff out the real killer . . . or killers.
It’s 1997 and The Rat is slowly dying. Underground violence and cutthroat competition have become the norm, but Vinny G.’s death threatens to close the curtains. Can Ali help find the killer and save the club or will she end up six feet under?
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My Review The second book in the Press Pass Mysteries, Ali Loukas has come into her own as a reporter for Channel 7. In the midst of doing a story at The Rathskeller nightclub, she stumbles upon the murder of Vinny G, a member of a band slated to play there. And Ali, being who she is, can’t just walk away from this story, even though her sort of boyfriend, Detective Ryan McGuire, all but begs her to. Their budding romance is hit from all sides as Ali is determined to find out what happened to Vinny at the same time that Ryan is keeping valuable information about the investigation from her. The deeper Ali digs, the more secrets she uncovers, secrets people will kill to keep hidden.
Plot
Once again, Anderton tells a well-plotted tale with plenty of twists and red herrings to throw us off, but in the end, the truth has been staring us in the face the entire time. Where the first book had multiple points of view, this second one in the series is only from Ali’s, which makes it smoother. By not being privy to anything she is not, the mystery unfolds at the perfect pace. The humor is ramped up in this installment without ever veering into silliness. The romance is a solid subplot and believable, adding a nice counterbalance to the murder mystery.
Characters The characters are where the story really shines. Ali Loukas, once again, is a likable protagonist who is easy to root for. Ryan is both her perfect foil and a swoonworthy book boyfriend. The rest of the cast of characters are ideal for the roles they’re scripted for and are far more than two-dimensional stereotypes.
Top things I Enjoyed About DROWNED AT THE RAT 1. 1997. From the fashion to the music references, this is a fun romp down memory lane.
2. Ali. She’s come into her own with style and wit. I love her even more than I did in the first book.
3. Ryan. He’s still a tough-as-nails cop who plays his cards close to the vest, but watching him soften toward Ali makes him all the more adorable.
4. The Rat. A retro 80s punk-styled nightclub in the late 90s is everything.
5. The Mystery. Once again, the author keeps us guessing.
Bottom Line A fun fast read with delightful characters and plenty of heart and humor
About the Book Title: DROWNED AT THE RAT Series: Press Pass Mysteries #2 Author: April Anderton Release Date: May 31, 2019 Pages: 238
Category: Adult Cozy Mystery Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
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Author April Anderton
About the Author April Anderton is a designer, blogger and author of cozy and young adult mysteries, survival adventures, non-fiction how-to books and articles for blogs and magazines. She lives off-grid in the mountains of North Idaho with her husband and their homeschooled pre-teen son. She doesn’t quite understand why her grown children would rather live in cities in homes with running water, plumbing and electricity, but she loves them anyway. If you ran into April at the grocery store, chances are high that she would not be wearing makeup and may be on the edge of looking presentable. She’d still say hello..
New York Times bestselling author, Pepper Winters, is unveiling the cover to THE LIVING CANVAS, the second book in her adult contemporary romance duet, Master of Trickery, releasing November 15, 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book, and preorder links.
THE LIVING CANVAS (Master of Trickery Duet #2) by Pepper Winters
The second and final book in the Master of Trickery Duet.
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Author Pepper Winters
About the Author Pepper Winters is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller.
After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller.
Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette.
Her books have garnered foreign interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages, including already released titles in Italian, French, German, Hebrew, and Turkish.
Welcome to the blog tour for DECEIVED BY DESIRE, the second book in the adult historical romance series, Gilded, by New York Times bestselling author, Marie Force. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
Synopsis Wealthy American industrialist Aubrey Nelson has invited the Duke and Duchess of Westbrook to visit his family’s Newport seaside “cottage” for the summer. With his parents’ departure from New York delayed, Aubrey’s mother sends him ahead to oversee preparations for their guests. But when he arrives, he’s surprised to find the house and staff in disarray . . .
With much to do and little time, Aubrey comes to rely on the housekeeper, a lovely young Irish woman named Maeve Brown. And when he also finds himself confiding in Maeve about more personal matters, he tells himself it’s merely their close proximity that draws him to the compassionate, hard-working beauty. Yet when he suspects Maeve is in danger, Aubrey realizes his feelings for her have grown much deeper than they should have. For what will his mother, who dreams of a society match for her son, have to say when she arrives to discover he’s lost his heart to a girl of the working class?
Praise for Duchess by Deception (book 1)
“Force has crafted a masterpiece with the perfect amount of romance.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
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Excerpt June 1903 Newport, Rhode Island
Chapter 1
He first noticed the alluring curve of her neck. The delicate stretch of pale skin suggested elegance, a sweetness that begged to be explored and an aura of strength that intrigued him. Aubrey stood in the doorway to the drawing room for the longest time, riveted by a woman’s neck for the first time in his life, before clearing his throat to let her know he was there.
Startled, she whirled around, letting out a gasp of surprise as the oversized feather duster she’d been using fell to the dirty marble floor with a loud clatter. She would need a hundred feather dusters, perhaps a thousand of them, to wipe the layers of grime from every room in the house. How had it gotten so filthy over the winter?
That was one of many mysteries confronting him since his arrival thirty minutes prior at Paradis Trouvé, his family’s summer home on Newport’s Bellevue Avenue. The name meant “paradise found” in French. It had been bestowed upon the home by a previous owner, and unfortunately, his parents had embraced the pretentious name when they acquired the property.
Aubrey cursed himself for scaring the young woman as he entered yet another room in complete disarray. What the hell had happened to their “cottage” since the family left last September? “Pardon me.”
The woman took a step back, immediately on guard. Her reddish-brown hair had been gathered into a neat bun, and her drab olive-colored shirtwaist dress—muslin if he wasn’t mistaken—was serviceable at best but showcased interesting curves. However, her face was the showstopper. Her alabaster complexion reminded him of the cameo his grandmother had worn—ivory perfection with a dusting of freckles across her nose and brown eyes that were at once shrewd and suspicious.
“Wh-who are you?” The lilt of an Irish brogue danced through the dusty air like music.
Captivated, Aubrey had to remind himself that she expected a reply. “I apologize for frightening you.”
“Are you the new butler? It’s about time you showed up.” All business now that the fright had passed, she bustled across the room toward him, removing work gloves as she went.
He ought to set her straight but decided in a prescient flash to let her think he was the butler. At least until he had a chance to find out more about her. His dusty, wrinkled travel clothing and hair damp with sweat from the unusually warm weather wouldn’t give him away as a member of the family that owned the forty-room seaside monstrosity. His father had bought it six years ago from a member of the Astor family. Under normal circumstances, the Italian Renaissance–style palazzo was all gold and glitter and ostentatious excess, but Aubrey had been shocked by the filth and disrepair. He’d been sent by his mother to oversee the preparations for his illustrious guests, the Duke and Duchess of Westwood, who would arrive in three weeks, along with the other friends Aubrey had invited.
“I’m Maeve Brown, the housekeeper. I have no earthly idea what’s become of the rest of the staff, but Mrs. Nelson will be arriving in two short weeks, and as you can see, the house is in complete disarray. Did the agency inform you that the Duke and Duchess of Westwood will be visiting this summer? Apparently, they’re friends of the Nelsons’ son, Mr. Aubrey. Mrs. Nelson is the daughter of a British earl, so needless to say, she has exacting expectations, especially when entertaining a duke and duchess.” Maeve bit her deliciously full bottom lip as she seemed to debate whether she should say more.
Aubrey wanted to beg her to continue, just so he could listen to her melodic voice that spoke of culture and breeding far above a housekeeper’s station.
“From what I was told, the previous staff quit in protest of Mrs. Nelson’s treatment of them. In this day and age, there are plenty of other homes that treat their employees with respect and dignity. I was told a new staff had been hired, but no one has come.”
“If Mrs. Nelson is such an ogre, why are you here?”
Maeve’s cheeks flushed with a rosy glow that enchanted him. “By the time I arrived in New York, this was the only housekeeper position remaining for the Season. However, Mrs. Nelson’s reputation is well known, which is probably why the rest of the staff never arrived. Unless we both want to find ourselves out of work and without references, we’ll need every minute until she arrives to prepare for her guests.”
“I’m not afraid of hard work. Are you?”
“Certainly not.”
He’d known her for two minutes and already wished he could sit and talk to her for hours, until he knew everything there was to know about Miss Maeve Brown, formerly of Ireland. His mother would have an apoplexy over the thoughts he was having about the housekeeper, which was all the more reason to have them. After both of his older brothers had sworn off marriage, it had fallen to Aubrey to continue the Nelson name, a predicament his mother took far more seriously now that the family had become ridiculously wealthy. Prior to that, she hadn’t given a fig about the family name. Defying his mother had been one of his favorite activities as a child and younger man. With her pressuring him relentlessly to make an “appropriate marriage,” admiring the curve of the Irish housekeeper’s neck would be the last thing she’d want him doing.
But it was a splendid neck, perhaps the most delightful neck he’d ever beheld, and he’d seen some truly excellent female necks in his day, most recently last year in London where he’d endured a second Season to placate his mother. She’d positively salivated at the thought of him marrying into the British aristocracy. Alas, it was not to be, and he was through with that charade. The only thing that had kept it from being completely unbearable had been his friendship with Derek Eagan, the Duke of Westwood, as well as Derek’s cousin Simon and their mutual friend Justin Enderly, who was the second son of an earl. With Derek and Simon now married, and Justin avoiding the social scene, Aubrey had flat-out refused to return to London this spring. His mother had been furious, but he’d stood his ground.
Now with a summer in residence with his mother about to transpire, Aubrey fully expected another charade to unfold that would have to be endured rather than enjoyed. However, the Newport house was his favorite place in the world, and there was nowhere he’d rather be, even with his mother and her many charades to endure.
“Sir?”
Aubrey realized Miss Brown was talking to him.
“I asked if you’d like me to show you to your quarters before you get to work.”
“Yes, please.” Aubrey knew he ought to end this misunderstanding immediately, but something stopped him. He couldn’t say what, but rather than confess to not being the new butler, he followed her through familiar hallways thick with dust and spiderwebs to one of the back corridors and the stairs that led to the servants’ quarters on the third floor. As they went up the stairs, Aubrey tried not to notice the gentle sway of her backside. He failed utterly as her backside was almost as intriguing as the curve of her neck.
“I cleaned this room yesterday after we received word of your impending arrival. There’re fresh towels in the wardrobe and a bathroom down the hall. Mr. Nelson had plumbing put in the house two years ago, and it’s quite delightful.”
Aubrey agreed. Indoor plumbing was delightful, and so was she. “How did the house get so filthy?”
“I was told by one of the other housekeepers in town that after Mrs. Nelson left at the end of last summer, the remaining staff opened the windows and left them that way. When I arrived a week ago, the house was filled with rodents and seagulls. I almost didn’t stay.”
Horrified, Aubrey didn’t know what to say. She’d had to contend with that alone? He was also ashamed that he’d stopped paying attention to his mother’s high-handed behavior years ago. That she mistreated her staff to the point they’d leave the windows open for the harsh New England winter came as a shock to him and was something that would have to be addressed as soon as she arrived. At least he had a couple of weeks to dread that conversation.
“Didn’t the pipes freeze?”
“Apparently they were spared because the water had been shut off. For that we can be thankful.”
“Indeed. Why did you stay?”
She hooked her fingers together and looked down. “I need the position.”
Her quiet dignity touched him deeply. He wanted to know her story, where she came from, what had brought her to America. “We’ll see about getting you some more help.”
“It’s going to take a miracle to have this house ready for the arrival of the duke and duchess.”
“You needn’t worry about them. They don’t stand on formality.”
Her brows knitted adorably. “And you know this how?”
Damn. Aubrey realized he’d spoken as their friend and not as the new butler. “People speak of them in New York. The duke is well regarded in social circles in London, and his duchess is said to be very down to earth.”
“Who were your employers in New York?”
He had to think quickly to come up with a name she’d recognize. “The Smiths.” Thankfully, he’d gone to Choate with Adam Smith and knew the family.
Her eyes widened with amazement. “They’re one of the wealthiest families in America.”
“Yes, they are.”
“So why are you now employed by the Nelsons?”
“I wanted to come to Newport, and the Smiths don’t summer here. Mrs. Smith has an aversion to the sea. Her father drowned while rescuing her from a rogue wave when she was a child.”
“How awful!”
“She’s never forgotten it.”
“How could anyone forget such a thing?”
“It’s very tragic indeed.”
She gave him a look that had him wishing his hair was clean and his face shaved. “You’re very . . .”
Aubrey held his breath, waiting to hear what she would say.
“. . . young for a butler.”
He was young for a butler—by decades, in fact. “While I was with the Smiths, their butler and under-butler succumbed to typhoid, and I was the head footman. The family promoted me to butler.” Where was this nonsense coming from? He told himself to stop it, to tell her the truth, to end this ridiculous farce.
“I see. Would you like something to eat before you begin work?”
“Yes, please. I’d appreciate that after the long journey.” He left his bag in the room she’d assigned him and followed her down the backstairs, where his sisters’ children hid from their governesses.
They went down three flights to the kitchen and the servants’ dining room in the basement.
“This is the new cook, Mrs. Allston. Mrs. Allston, this is the new butler . . .” Maeve turned to him, her face flushing with a pleasing shade of pink. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
“It’s Jack. Jack Bancroft.” The name of the duke’s estate manager popped into Aubrey’s head.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bancroft.” A stout, sturdy woman with ruddy cheeks and neat gray hair, Mrs. Allston stood watch over a pot of something that smelled delicious.
Aubrey’s stomach growled loudly.
Maeve laughed, and the delicate sound traveled through him the way a bolt of lightning might. He wanted to hear that laugh again and again. He wanted to hear it in his dreams and in his every waking hour. As a man who’d relished his freedom and independence, the feelings she evoked in him were frightening and unprecedented, to say the least.
Aubrey glanced at her. “I beg your pardon. I’m apparently hungrier than I thought.” He’d taken the overnight steamship from New York and had been served an elaborate breakfast several hours before the boat docked at Newport’s Long Wharf.
Mrs. Allston ladled soup into two bowls and set them on the rough-hewn wooden table along with a basket of freshly baked bread. “There you are then.”
He waited for Maeve to be seated before he slid onto the bench across from her. The huge table would easily accommodate thirty people. When the house was fully staffed, there would easily be that many in service, if not more.
They ate the delicious split-pea soup and bread in silence, but he was aware of her every move, her every breath. In all his thirty-two years, through hundreds of hours spent in London ballrooms and New York social clubs, in music halls, opera houses and at countless society dinners, picnics and house parties, he had never once responded to a woman the way he had to her.
His reaction to her defied explanation.
It defied belief.
It would infuriate his mother.
Aubrey smiled to himself, imagining her reaction to hearing that he’d finally found the woman he wanted, and she was the new Irish housekeeper at their Newport estate.
Once the epicenter of the cotton, rum and slave trades, Newport had become the place to see and be seen in the months of July and August when most of New York society relocated to their cottages by the coast. The social climbers came to make their annual impression on the hostesses who determined whether one was in or out—and if you were out, there was little chance of ever getting in.
His mother, the ultimate social climber, had made a blood sport out of climbing the rungs in Newport. Imagining her reaction to learning he’d developed a sweet spot for the Irish housekeeper had Aubrey picturing her exploding into a rage the likes of which would be talked about for years to come. He’d seen her rages before, most of them directed at others, including his siblings, but had never been the reason for one.
Compared to his far more rebellious siblings, Aubrey had been her good boy, her golden child as his siblings liked to say chidingly. Perhaps it was time for him to take his turn in stirring her ire. He had a feeling that Miss Maeve Brown, formerly of Ireland, would be worth the hell his mother would rain down upon him.
As he surreptitiously watched Maeve eat her soup, he noted the way her lips closed around the spoon and how her throat moved when she swallowed.
How was it possible that the pedestrian act of eating soup could be so impossibly erotic? A surge of heat to his groin had him holding back a groan.
“Are you quite all right, Mr. Bancroft?”
That voice. Dear God, the sound of her words was the sweetest music he’d ever heard. He could listen to her speak all day without ever tiring of the sound. It wouldn’t even matter so much what she said, as long as she never stopped talking to him. Aubrey summoned his composure, which had deserted him the second he first laid eyes on the appealing curve of her neck. He nodded in response to her question. “I’m quite well, thank you.”
“And the soup is to your liking?”
“It’s delicious.”
“I agree. Mrs. Allston is a wonderful cook. We’re lucky to have her, especially in light of the reputation this house has with those in service.”
Aubrey wiped his mouth on the cloth napkin, made of much coarser cotton than the linen he was accustomed to upstairs. “So there’re exactly three of us then?”
“I’m afraid so, at least until the others turn up. If they turn up.”
“And the task before us is . . .”
“Monumental. Wait until you see the wreckage that is Mrs. Nelson’s room.” She shuddered. “It’s a travesty.”
“If we were to take it a room at a time, focusing on the public spaces and the bedrooms required by the Nelson family and their guests, we might be able to get it done in time.”
“We have two weeks until Mrs. Nelson, her daughters and grandchildren are due to arrive and three until the duke and duchess are expected.”
“I’ll see what I can do about getting some more help. Surely there have to be more people seeking positions for the summer.”
“I certainly hope so, because without more help, I can’t envision how we’ll ever be ready for the duke and duchess. I quite fear Mrs. Nelson’s infamous rages.”
“Don’t you worry about her. We’ll have everything in place for her and her guests.”
“Thank goodness you’re here.” She took a sip of the hot tea she had steeped for them both. “I have felt quite like I was climbing a mountain all by myself with no possible way to reach the summit in time.”
“We will get there together.” As he said the words, he considered the double meaning of the two of them reaching the summit together. A shiver rippled through him, making him shudder from the desire that gripped him. He thanked goodness for the table that hid his obvious reaction from her.
“Are you sure you’re well? You seem rather . . . flummoxed.”
That was a good word for how he’d felt since first laying eyes on her. Flummoxed indeed.
He was about to respond to her when another man came into the kitchen, looking as road weary and dusty as Aubrey imagined he did, too. This man was older, with silver strands mixed in to his dark hair, his face craggy with age and wisdom, his eyes red with fatigue but friendly.
“May I help you?” Maeve asked.
“I’m Joseph Plumber, the new butler. The agency indicated I should report today.”
Maeve’s shocked gaze shifted to Aubrey. “If Mr. Plumber is the new butler, then who, pray tell, are you?”
About the Author Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. In 2019, her new historical Gilded series from Kensington Books will debut with Duchess By Deception.
All together, her books have sold 6.5 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list many times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news..
Welcome to the blog tour for HANDLE WITH CARE, the third book in the adult contemporary military romance series, Veteran Movers, by New York Times bestselling author, Marie Harte. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
HANDLE WITH CARE (Veteran Movers #3) by Marie Harte
And that was before he met the stunning, sexy woman having a meltdown.
Evan Griffith has had many careers in his life. But who knew working for his family’s moving company would hold just as much action as his stint in the Marine Corps? On an unforgettable job, Evan finds himself taken by a teenage conman and confronted by a woman wielding a knife―and promptly falls head over heels for her.
Kenzie Sykes is doing her best to raise her little brother and keep him out of jail―all while dealing with her own broken heart that just hasn’t healed. She doesn’t have time for romance. He’s not asking… Until he is, and she finds herself saying yes.
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Excerpt #2 Kenzie stared at the phone, half expecting it to bite her. Had she really said no to a date with Evan? Yes, yes, she had, because she didn’t need complications right now. And the way he made her feel certainly qualified as difficult, perplexing, and chaotic.
“Who was that?”
She jumped, not having heard her brother return to the living room. “Um, no one.”
“Really? Because it sounded like you were saying no to coffee, and the only guy you’ve talked to about a coffee date was Evan. I was there, remember?”
She didn’t need lectures on honesty from a thirteen-year-old juvenile delinquent. “Shouldn’t you be heading to bed?”
“Kenzie, it’s seven thirty on a Friday night.”
“And? You’re a growing boy.”
He rolled his eyes in the way only an adolescent could, sneering without sneering. “Admit you like the guy.”
“I admit he was nice. So what? I’ll probably never see him again, unless there’s something you’re not telling me. Did you steal his phone again? Will he be a character witness for the feds when they come to take you away or raid our house for some illegal mess you’ve once again gotten yourself into?”
He flushed. “No. And quit changing the subject.”
“There is no subject. Now go watch TV or something. I have more work to do.”
He stared at her, his brows drawn, then headed back upstairs. She felt bad about chasing him away…for all of three seconds. Her brother loved Netflix, and she really did have work to do. Especially since she’d spent much of the afternoon trying to ignore thoughts of Evan while the girls continued to talk about him.
If only he weren’t so attractive and polite. If only he hadn’t asked her out after she’d already put him in the “must try to forget” pile.
The little demon perched on her shoulder, an amalgamation of Lila and Rachel with its nonstop yammering, whispered: What would really be the harm in going out with him?
She tromped downstairs to her office and fired up her computer. The harm, she thought, would be in getting involved, liking him as a friend. Then a boyfriend. Then dating, having him interact with Daniel. They’d hang at his place, then her place. More and more, until she would grow attached. Then she’d fall in love with him, and he’d leave.
Just like Bryce.
To torture herself a little more, she dug up an old picture of the three of them from happier times, the one she kept hidden in a bottom desk drawer. She tried to see the flaws in her relationship, but the picture only showed a woman and man in love and a young boy ecstatic about going to a fall festival.
Kenzie gripped the frame, wishing she could go back and undo…what? She hadn’t stepped a foot wrong. She’d always put Daniel first, had checked out Bryce before their first date, and thought long and hard on it before living together. Bryce had never been anything but loving and fun—until the end, of course.
How could she have known things might change?
Before she could cry, she smacked herself on the arm and laughed, not a little hysterically. Holy crap, Lila’s aversion therapy kind of worked. Because instead of crying, all she could think about was Lila’s silly “Bryce.” Smack. Rinse and repeat.
Kenzie tucked the photo away and, smiling now, concentrated on her work, liking the new idea for their footwear client though still not sold on the walking, talking kale for the organic food business.
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Author Marie Harte
About the Author Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.
Welcome to the blog tour for AFTER SHE FELL, a stand-alone adult contemporary romance, by Amber Laura. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis She’s tried for years to convince herself that she isn’t in love with him. If it hasn’t worked, at least she’s managed to convince him of it, anyway.
A tragic love affair from her past had shattered Christina’s illusions of romance—it’d shattered her entire world, left her utterly broken and blamed. She’s fallen once before. She isn’t about to make the same mistake twice!
Jason Gordman is off-limits. Charming, playful, confident—he’s everything dangerous to her defenses. Worse yet, he’s the boss’s son. Hiding behind antagonism and indifference, Christina manages to keep him at a careful distance. That is, until one fateful night when she finds herself snowbound with him in a blizzard and she slips, allows herself one, forbidden kiss…
Struggling to reconcile her feelings, Christina is entirely unprepared for where that one stolen moment will lead her.
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Excerpt #2 “Try not to overthink it okay, Jas? It was only an idea. Clearly, a stupid one.” Letting out a weak laugh, Christina walked toward her kitchen.
She didn’t need anything in there, didn’t, in fact, know what she’d do once she made it inside the small space. All she knew was it was the only room in which she wouldn’t have to stare into his knowing eyes. It was little more than a stall tactic, a way to expedite his no doubted hasty exit.
Her stride never wavered, not even when she flapped a dismissive hand back toward the bottle of whiskey still on the floor. “Hell, let’s blame it on the alcoh—ah!”
With a gasp of surprise, Christina felt two hands grip the backs of her arms, and then she was being spun around, and before she had time to get in a proper breath, she felt her body being pushed backward, forced up against the wall separating her living room from the kitchen. Her chest heaved at the abruptness of it all, her frantic eyes clashing with Jason’s stormy glare.
His body was pressed up tight to hers. She could feel his quick breaths. She could feel the muscled proximity of his thighs crowding against hers. That, for some reason, calmed her a little.
“Shut up, Christina,” he said, his voice gruff with the words, erratic. His eyes traveled over her face, his gaze stopping curiously over her parted lips. “Give me a damn minute to catch my bearings.”
In control again, Christina laughed up at him coquettishly. “You need a minute to decide if you want to kiss a woman?” His eyes narrowed. “You have a way of confusing me.”
She licked her lips, her body tingling at the intensity in his eyes, at the feel of his weight enveloping her. “Then, by all means, tell me what you want.”
“Hell—” With little more than that rough word hanging in the air between them, Jason’s head dipped, his lips crashing into hers. It wasn’t a light kiss. It didn’t linger over her lips, playing teasingly there.
No, it was almost desperate in its heatedness. No sooner had his mouth touched hers than Christina felt his tongue skimming against the seam of her lips. With little more urging than that, she obliged him. Moaning at the insistent pressure, at the feeling of his lips twisting, biting, sucking against hers, his tongue plunging into the recesses of her mouth, Christina sank against the wall behind her.
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Author Amber Laura
About the Author Five fun facts about Amber:
As a writer, Amber Laura does her best daydreaming as a window-gazing passenger on long car rides.
If there’s creamer, she’s drinking coffee. When she edits, there’s always creamer.
A blogger, she also writes web fiction—(free stories updated chapter-by-chapter, week-by-week). Check it out at www.litliber.com.
Psst! Her debut novel, Topaz and Lace, a contemporary romance set in a fictitious Texas town, got its start on that same blog.
While she may physically reside in the beautiful country of Northern Minnesota, in her imagination, Amber Laura lives all over the world. She considers it one of the best perks to being a writer: easy, cheap travel. That and the oddball characters she meets along the way….
Today is release day for HANDLE WITH CARE, the third book in the adult contemporary military romance series, Veteran Movers, by New York Times bestselling author, Marie Harte. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive teaser.
HANDLE WITH CARE (Veteran Movers #3) by Marie Harte
And that was before he met the stunning, sexy woman having a meltdown.
Evan Griffith has had many careers in his life. But who knew working for his family’s moving company would hold just as much action as his stint in the Marine Corps? On an unforgettable job, Evan finds himself taken by a teenage conman and confronted by a woman wielding a knife―and promptly falls head over heels for her.
Kenzie Sykes is doing her best to raise her little brother and keep him out of jail―all while dealing with her own broken heart that just hasn’t healed. She doesn’t have time for romance. He’s not asking… Until he is, and she finds herself saying yes.
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Author Marie Harte
About the Author Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.
Today is release day for DECEIVED BY DESIRE, the second book in the adult historical romance series, Gilded, by New York Times bestselling author, Marie Force. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
Synopsis Wealthy American industrialist Aubrey Nelson has invited the Duke and Duchess of Westbrook to visit his family’s Newport seaside “cottage” for the summer. With his parents’ departure from New York delayed, Aubrey’s mother sends him ahead to oversee preparations for their guests. But when he arrives, he’s surprised to find the house and staff in disarray . . .
With much to do and little time, Aubrey comes to rely on the housekeeper, a lovely young Irish woman named Maeve Brown. And when he also finds himself confiding in Maeve about more personal matters, he tells himself it’s merely their close proximity that draws him to the compassionate, hard-working beauty. Yet when he suspects Maeve is in danger, Aubrey realizes his feelings for her have grown much deeper than they should have. For what will his mother, who dreams of a society match for her son, have to say when she arrives to discover he’s lost his heart to a girl of the working class?
Praise for Duchess by Deception (book 1)
“Force has crafted a masterpiece with the perfect amount of romance.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
About the Author Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. In 2019, her new historical Gilded series from Kensington Books will debut with Duchess By Deception.
All together, her books have sold 6.5 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list many times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news..
Author L.M. Halloran is revealing the cover for THE GOLDEN HOUR, a spinoff of her adult romantic suspense series, Illusions, releasing October 10, 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book, preorder links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE GOLDEN HOUR (An Illusions Duet Spinoff) by L.M. Halloran
About the Book Title: THE GOLDEN HOUR Series: Illusions Duet Spinoff Author: L.M. Halloran Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense Release Date: October 10, 2019 Links: Goodreads | iBooks
Synopsis My name is Finn McCowen, and I want my revenge.
Callisto Avellino was the heiress of one of the country’s most influential families. A delicate wildflower in a bed of thorns. And the daughter of the man who killed my father.
Six years ago, she disappeared.
She says she ran away to escape the poison of her corrupt family. Money. Prestige. Power. Murder.
We have the same agenda – or so it seems: ruin the Avellinos at all costs.
If I have to put her in harm’s way to get what I want?
So be it.
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Author L.M. Halloran
About the Author When not writing or reading, the author enjoys walking barefoot, subjecting her husband to questionable recipes, and chasing her spirited daughter. She’s a rabid fan of coffee, moon-gazing, and small dogs that resemble Ewoks. Home is Portland, Oregon.
Today is release day for THE BAR NEXT DOOR, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Barflies, by Katia Rose. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE BAR NEXT DOOR (Barflies #1) by Katia Rose
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: THE BAR NEXT DOOR Series: Barflies #1 Author: Katia Rose Release Date: August 22, 2019 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Sometimes you take the shot, and sometimes the shot takes you.
As the manager of Montreal’s most infamous dive bar, Monroe—and it’s just Monroe, thank you very much—is used to serving up her signature pearls of wisdom alongside an array of shots, pints, and pitchers. In fact, she thrives on it. Taverne Toulouse is a mighty ship, and she its fearless captain, trusted by patrons and bar staff alike to steer them through choppy waters.
If only she’d been given a little warning before a full-on tsunami swept in next door.
Julien Valois’ wining and dining empire is making waves. The next item on his agenda is opening a trendy lounge right next to Monroe’s beloved Taverne Toulouse—one that’s meant to run the dive bar out of business so he can buy up that property too.
His plans did not include falling for a five-foot-nothing brunette with an impressive vocabulary and an even more impressive ability to manhandle drunk frat boys twice her size.
They’re rivals in every sense of the word, but when Monroe and Julien are in a room together, the battle lines fade away. Their defences lower, their hearts get louder than their heads, and the burn between them goes down like just the right shot—intense, intoxicating, and able to sweep their priorities away with a single taste.
Until reality decides to slap up a big ‘For Sale’ sign and force them remember those priorities all too clearly.
The Bar Next Door is part of the Barflies trilogy, a series of standalone romantic comedies that follow the ups and downs of the staff at a Montreal dive bar.
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Excerpt #1 My relationships have all been duds, just packs of seeds I hopefully sprinkle onto freshly tilled soil and nurture for weeks on end, only to watch some runty little weed poke its head up and then wither a few days later. My mother says I have a habit of taking on boyfriends as ‘projects’ and that I like to ‘seek fulfillment by helping others reach their potential instead of working toward my own.’
That’s what you get having a former psychologist for a mother.
The man in front of me doesn’t look like he needs any help on the road to Potential Town; everything about him announces he’s already there.
“I think I know that guy.”
Roxanne’s declaration startles me back into the present. I realize we’ve both moved so close to the door we’ve almost got our noses against the glass. I step back and rip my gaze away from beardie to give her an incredulous look.
“You know that guy?”
She might as well have just told me she’s real tight with Zeus and that they hang out all the time on Mount Olympus.
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Author Katia Rose
About the Author Katia Rose is not much of a Pina Colada person, but she does like getting caught in the rain. She prefers her romance served steamy with a side of smart, and is a sucker for quirky characters. A habit of jetting off to distant countries means she’s rarely in one place for very long, but she calls the frigid northland that is Canada home.
Welcome to the book blitz for BOUNDARY, a stand-alone adult paranormal romance, by Ebony Olson, releasing September 20, 2019. See below for information on the book, preorder links, an exclusive teaser, and details on her giveaway.
BOUNDARY by Ebony Olson
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: BOUNDARY by Ebony Olson Author:Ebony Olson Release Date: September 20, 2019
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Links: Goodreads | Amazon| Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Vera Cana has given her life to escape her abusive ex. She’s earned her freedom and has the scars to prove it. Now, she’s starting a new life. Purchasing a cottage in a lush forest, she’s ready to live out her days in peace. The goddess has other plans.
If Vera thought by hiding out in her little cottage she could avoid any more packs and their alphas, she was wrong. When her new neighbor knocks on her door, the draw to him is magnetic, but the scars of her past are a barrier higher than the boundary fence between their properties. Dale’s presence causes a heady mix of calm and excitement, which only adds to the potency of his patient, but determined personality. Vera is about to learn a lot about the way packs work, and she’s going to discover how strong she can be.
Nothing takes more inner strength than learning how to trust someone with your heart.
A stand-alone paranormal romance.
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Author Ebony Olson
About the Author Ebony lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband, daughter, and six cats. She loves to read fantasy, thrillers, and paranormal romance, spending most of her free time with her nose in a book or writing.
Having always possessed an over-active imagination she spent her younger years regaling friends with fantastic stories, holding her audience captive with the passion and suspense of her characters plights.
Now in adulthood, she has numerous published works and shows no signs of stopping her imagination from spreading across as many pages as it can find.
Welcome to the book blitz for DANGEROUS PARADISE, the second book in the adult romantic suspense series, Paradise, by Barbara Nolan. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
DANGEROUS PARADISE (Paradise Series #2) by Barbara Nolan
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: DANGEROUS PARADISE Series: Paradise #2 Author: Barbara Nolan Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing Release Date: August 21, 2019 Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense Link: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Eddie Morgan, the Harley-riding owner of Manhattan mega-club Beyond Paradise, has a secret: Illegal, underground cage fighting in dingy basements. It keeps the dark days of addiction at bay and quiets the static in his brain.
Paige Drake, New York heiress to the Drake Hotel dynasty, has one last chance to prove her worth in the family business: Upgrade the outdated hotel bars.
When a dinner party from hell throws these total opposites together their tantalizing teasing and sparring words awaken deep feelings neither one knew existed.
Even though the Long Island socialite is way out of Eddie’s league, he can’t resist the challenge, and soon Paige finds herself zooming out of her buttoned-up life on the back of Eddie’s Harley. He agrees to help Paige with her business venture but soon realizes that her club promoter is a member of a vicious Russian drug cartel using Paige’s bars as a front for their drug operation.
Is Eddie willing to throw himself back into a life that nearly destroyed him to save Paige? And is Paige willing to face the seedier side of Eddie’s world and accept his gritty methods of dealing with the cartel?
Eddie and Paige’s story twists and turns as two divergent people struggle to find common ground in a world where rules do not apply.
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Excerpt #2 Paige wished she didn’t feel anything. She wished Eddie didn’t affect her like a tidal wave of emotions breaking her heart. She wanted to trust him, wanted to grab onto those muscular, tatted arms and never let go, but she averted her eyes. How could she trust him again with so much at stake?
About the Author Barbara Nolan enjoyed writing most of her life and recently acquired her Certificate in Creative Writing from NYU. She also benefited from the help and influence of many talented professors and editors along the way. She is a member of RWA and the New Jersey chapter of Romance Writers. Her passion for reading and words make this a journey of love.
She writes gritty, realistic stories filled with strong men and the women who tame them.
She considers reading a luxury and writing a necessity.
Author Amelia Kingston is revealing the cover for TRUCE? HATING ELIJAH MONROE, a stand-alone adult contemporary romantic comedy, releasing October 1, 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book, preorder links, and an exclusive excerpt.
Synopsis A small town enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy.
Harper Delaney is a newly certified elementary school teacher with the mountain of student loan debt to prove it. Moving back to her claustrophobically small hometown is about as tempting as two week old sushi, but the allure of free rent and a guaranteed summer teaching job are undeniable.
On the hunt for her dream job in San Francisco, Harper just needs to survive the summer without murdering Elijah Monroe. He may have grown into a scorchingly hot fireman, but he’s still her nemesis. Harper gave Elijah her heart when she was sixteen, and never forgave the jerk for not wanting it. Probably for the best, since he’s also her stepbrother.
Elijah still makes Harper’s blood boil and heart race. And he knows it. She’ll wipe that smug smirk off his gorgeous face before leaving town. The only question is if she wants to do it with a kiss or a slap.
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Excerpt I know it’s been too long since I’ve had a date when my first thought at seeing a firetruck pull up outside the school isn’t “Oh, no. Where’s the fire?” but “Oh, yes. Where are the firemen!” I’m practically drooling when I see him step out of the truck. His tall frame is broad and solid. Every inch of his more than six-foot body is carved from stone. This guy is cut. Ripped. Hot. If I faint, will he give me mouth to mouth?
My heart drops into my stomach and a weird little squeak leaves my throat when I realize who it is. I might legit need CPR. He was cute as a boy, but he’s drop dead gorgeous as a man.
He’s not a man. He’s the devil. The bane of my adolescent existence. My stepbrother.
I drag my eyes up to Elijah’s face. He looks put together and mature in a way that I’m not prepared for. His hair is the same warm brown, but now it’s cut short and tidy. He’s clean shaven, making those full lips pop. Lips which are curved up into a familiar smug smirk as his bright green eyes sparkle with devious satisfaction. He caught me checking him out and he wants me to know it. He struts across the parking lot, shoulders back and chest puffed up. He’s the same pompous jerk I remember from high school, breaking hearts and causing trouble.
I look around the school yard and everyone has turned to watch the spectacle. The kids are all ogling the firetruck. The teachers and assistants are all ogling Elijah. I can’t control my groan. I cross my arms and scowl at him.
He’s still a few feet away when I snap, “What are you doing here?” I’m loud enough half the playground can hear me. My happy teacher persona is a distant memory. I’m an angry, frustrated sixteen-year-old again, fighting the magnetic pull drawing me to him. Was it always this strong? Doesn’t matter. I’ll never give in to it.
“Nice to see you too, Short Stack,” he quips, crossing his arms to match me.
“Enough with that stupid nickname already. It’s been almost a decade. Grow up, Elijah,” I fume. “Plus, it doesn’t even make sense.”
He looks down at the ground, trying to hide his smile. He loves winding me up. And I fell for it. Now I’m more annoyed than ever.
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Author Amelia Kingston
About the Author Amelia Kingston is many things, the most interesting of which are probably California girl, writer, traveler, and dog mom. She survives on chocolate, coffee, wine, and sarcasm. Not necessarily in that order.
She’s been blessed with a patient husband who’s embraced her nomad ways and traveled with her to over 30 countries across 5 continents (I’m coming for you next, Antarctica!). She’s also been cursed with an impatient (although admittedly adorable) terrier who pouts when her dinner is 5 minutes late.
She writes about strong, stubborn, flawed women and the men who can’t help but love them. Her irreverent books aim to be silly and fun with the occasional storm cloud to remind us to appreciate the sunny days. As a hopeless romantic, her favorite stories are the ones that remind us all that while love is rarely perfect, it’s always worth chasing.
Welcome to the blog tour for KNOWING NICHELLE, the third book in the adult contemporary romance series, Beckley’s Daughters Romance, by Tinsley Sellers. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
KNOWING NICHELLE (Beckley’s Daughters Romance #3) by Tinsley Sellers
Synopsis She’s just met the man of her dreams…but he’s not who he said he was. Neither is she. Until they get a second chance to make a first impression.
Is he a sophisticated big-city lawyer, or an easygoing small-town woodworker? And if she’s not a career-driven high-powered attorney, then who is she? Hiding behind their masks is second nature until circumstances force them to see beneath the surface and realize just how alike—and in love—they really are.
He’s only got one rule: no lawyers. She’s a lawyer.
Burned by experience, Buck’s got a rule for a reason. After walking away from a lucrative legal position, he found his peace in Beckley. Life on the farm is simple, and his woodworking business is thriving. He’s not interested in trading his work boots for wingtips and rejoining the rat race. So what if she’s the most compelling woman he’s ever met?
She’s only got one requirement: no a**holes. He’s an a**hole.
After a disastrous encounter in a trendy bar, Nichelle’s convinced that he’s an over-muscled a**hole. She’s got a sleek car, luxurious condo, and elegant designer clothes. Family comes first, and her legal career is on the fastest track. She’s never met a problem she couldn’t solve on her own. So what if he can see beneath her carefully constructed façade?
They’re perfect together. They just don’t know it yet.
Welcome back to Beckley, Michigan! Autumn is in the air and as the days get shorter, the air gets cooler and the calm lakes reflect the blue skies and red-gold trees for a double-dose of fall color. The people are just as warm, friendly, smart, funny, and real as you remember. When you need a place to call home, Beckley welcomes you—and sometimes the family you choose is as strong as the bonds you’re born with.
If you like small-town romance, you’ll like Beckley. If you like smart heroines who balance demanding professional careers with a commitment to family, friends, and finding love, then you’ll definitely like it here. If you like strong, sexy, hard-working heroes who have not-so-secret soft spots for kids, dogs, and classic cars, you may find that you never want to leave!
KnowingNichelle is the third in the Beckley’s Daughters Romance series. It can be read as a stand-alone story, but continuing readers will recognize many of the characters and locations. This series is recommended for adult readers and contains explicit language and intimate situations.
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Excerpt #3 Buck slowly strolled over to the bar. Every molecule of my body betrayed me, vibrating with anticipation, syncing to raise my temperature and heart rate. He looked so fine I wanted to taste him. His mossy green henley sweater was open at the neck, showing a triangle of the bark-colored t-shirt beneath. He had missed a spot shaving. Even now I wanted him, wanted to trace that spot with my fingertips, nuzzle it with my lips and teeth.
I felt like a spinster schoolmarm, still in my car-creased navy pencil skirt with my wilted floral-print bow blouse tied primly at the neck. I had left work at the last possible moment and driven hell-for-leather to make it here by five. I hadn’t changed my clothes, or even re-applied my lipstick. I knew he would notice, see all of the interior chaos writ large on my disheveled exterior. I dreaded his pity.
“Hey, Darlin’.” He sat on the stool beside me.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, wondering when it would stop. The goosebumps. The fluttering. The wishing he would wrap me close and make me safe. The ache for him to care for me.
Never. It was never going to stop, it would always feel this way. I had lost control and there was no getting it back. That it was too late was just…it just was.
I pushed my drink across the bar and caught Corey’s eye. “Throw a shot of gin in this for me?”
He grinned and took my glass to the far end of the bar, dumping it down the sink and preparing a fresh cocktail.
“You look gorgeous,” Buck said, too low for the bartender to hear. “You could make a paper bag look like Prabal Gurung.”
“It’s all about the attitude,” I bantered back with an exaggerated shrug.
Corey set a fresh glass before me. “A proper greyhound.” He turned to Buck with a wary gaze. “Molson?”
Buck laughed and shook his head. “I’m in a good mood tonight, Kid. Surprise me.” The bartender’s eyes gleamed and he turned away to get Buck’s drink. I gave Buck’s neck a sidelong glance. That patch of stubble? He wasn’t in a good mood. I played along anyway.
“Now you’ve done it,” I warned him. “Your drink is coming back with a pink umbrella. I guarantee it.”
Just then Aerin entered the dining room, platinum perfection in a floral dress. The way Chet looked at her brought a tear to my eye, the intensity of his emotion etched plainly across his face. I glanced at Buck. He was looking at me the same way. I never wanted to look at anyone else again, if only he would never stop looking at me that way.
“No, Buck,” I forced myself to say the words, “you don’t get to look at me like that.” Never stop. I couldn’t help the thought. It wasn’t fair, it wasn’t reasonable, but right now I couldn’t bear it if he stopped.
He dropped his eyes and sipped his drink, a fluorescent pink thing in a curvy hurricane glass garnished with a yellow paper umbrella.
“It tastes like goddamn strawberry bubblegum,” he growled, pushing it away. Corey was in the dining room, so Buck strode behind the bar and found himself a bottle of Molson.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, pausing behind my barstool. He gave my shoulder a soft squeeze and kept walking, taking a seat at the long dinner table. Aerin tried to corral her guests, encouraging everyone to come to the table. I couldn’t move. The phantom weight of Buck’s hand on my shoulder pinned me to my stool.
About the Author Tinsley Sellers grew up in Chicago, spending her summers with her grandparents in a tiny town a lot like Beckley, Michigan. Life took her to Arizona, Washington, and Idaho before she finally found her home in Arkansas. She is married to an amazing, supportive (and handsome!) man, with whom she has rescued three dogs and two cats. When she’s not writing, she teaches physics and engineering at the local university. When she’s not writing or teaching, she’s probably trying new recipes. She enjoys fast cars, loud music, fine whisky, and big books. In no particular order.
Author Kathy Coleman is revealing the cover for SEALER’S GAME, the first book in the adult fantasy romance series, Sealer Saga, releasing October 22, 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
SEALER’S GAME (Sealer Saga #1) by Kathy Coleman
About the Book Title: SEALER’S GAME Series: Sealer Saga #1 Author: Kathy Coleman Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance Release Date: October 22, 2019 Links: Goodreads
Synopsis Hell hath no fury like a goddess scorned…
As Champion, Carita of Bel Auryn thought she would spend her days fighting demons. Instead, she is drawn into the latest scheme of the Moon Goddess, Ruby: a contest to choose a man who will have the “honor” of fathering her child. When Ruby encourages Carita to choose a man for herself, she picks the man she is most drawn to–and immediately regrets it.
Lucian Veradayne is the Lord of Death. He knows he must win Ruby’s game at any cost. It doesn’t matter that he has avoided her for two thousand years. Nor that she tried to kill their first child. And it really doesn’t matter that he would much rather woo Carita. The Soul Well has given Lucian a prophecy: he and Ruby must have another child. A child who will save the world.
Dealing with their mutual attraction will be the least of Lucian and Carita’s problems. They are not the only ones who have been drawn into Ruby’s game. Someone else wants to win. Someone who wants Ruby dead. Will Carita and Lucian be able to protect her long enough for a victor to be named? And if they succeed, will they be able to walk away from each other to ensure the prophecy is fulfilled?
Sealer’s Game is a 48,000 word fantasy romance novella about the King of the Underworld, a kick-butt warrior priestess, and a ruthless goddess who will stop at nothing to get her own way. It contains language, descriptions of violence, and sexual themes that may not be appropriate for all readers. Recommended for ages 18+.
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Author Kathy Coleman
About the Author Kathy Coleman lives in a little town in Ontario with her parents, one younger brother and two mischievous little dogs named D’Argo and Coco. She attended Trent University, majoring in English and Cultural Studies.
When she is not being kept awake at 3 a.m. by characters who refuse to quit talking, she can be found performing karaoke at charity events, updating her book blog I Write, I Read, I Review, shopping, or playing video games.
PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS (Press Pass Mysteries #1) by April Anderton
Synopsis Senator Morgan Maxwell’s fiancée is dead and it’s not the first time.
It’s 1996 and Boston reporter, Ali Loukas, has her sights set on advancing from radio newscaster to TV correspondent, so when the Maxwell story practically drops into her lap, she seizes the opportunity to solve the murder, scoop her competitors, and move up the broadcasting ladder.
But gaining access to evidence and witnesses without stepping on the toes of family friend, Detective Ryan McGuire, could be tricky.
Despite a knife wedged in her front door and opposition from the police, Ali is determined to prove that she can find the answers, solve the crime and earn the dream job…if she can stay alive to make it all happen.
If you love Mary Higgins Clark Mysteries, grab this one today!
Content Notes: PG equivalent – No swearing, sex or graphic violence.
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My Review Set in the mid 1990s, this is a delightful trip into my pre-kids/marriage youth, with references to some of my favorite music and other pop culture from that time. Ali Loukas moves to Boston as a cub reporter for a radio station, her sights set on working in TV some day, following in the footsteps of her idol. When she dives into the murder of a prominent citizen, she gets to meet her idol, only to discover she’s the exact opposite of what Ali imagined. As a viscous rivalry develops between the two, Ali is determined to solve the mystery first. Her sleuthing sends her directly into the path of dreamy Detective Ryan McGuire, the son of her mother’s best friend, making things doubly complicated, and then triply so when Ali discovers Ryan might just have reciprocal feelings for her. But before long, Ali somehow asks the wrong person the wrong question, putting her directly in the crosshairs.
Plot
The primary focus is the mystery – who killed Senator Maxwell’s fiancee. But there are a couple of solid subplots involving Ali’s career and her budding romance with Detective McGuire. The mystery is well done, with several twists and a culprit, who I did suspect from time-to-time, I never really latched onto as the one. The author expertly foreshadows everything, though, so the big reveal feels inevitable. Because the story takes place more than twenty years ago, there are some fun things the author takes advantage of, including the fact that smart phones weren’t a thing and the internet was still dial-up for a lot of the population.
Characters The characters were awesome. Ali is instantly likable as a determined reporter, who is maybe a bit naive, but tenacious enough to overcome it. Ryan is swoon-worthy as her foil and potential love interest, and the moms are the absolute best, driving some of the funniest moments in the book.
Top things I Enjoyed About PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS 1. Ali. She’s funny, smart, and will stop at nothing to get to the truth.
2. Ryan. He’s all about the rules. At least until he meets Ali.
3. The 1990s. Showing my age here, but the 90s were my favorite decade from the music, to movies, and TV shows. The pop cultural references were a blast from my past.
4. The Mystery. It was well done and kept me guessing.
5. Humor. A lightheartedness to the story kept it from getting too dark and had me laughing throughout.
Bottom Line A fun cozy mystery with a nostalgic edge and a lighthearted romance.
About the Book Title: PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS Series: Press Pass Mysteries #1 Author: April Anderton Release Date: March 1, 2019 Pages: 247
Category: Adult Cozy Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
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Author April Anderton
About the Author April Anderton is a designer, blogger and author of cozy and young adult mysteries, survival adventures, non-fiction how-to books and articles for blogs and magazines. She lives off-grid in the mountains of North Idaho with her husband and their homeschooled pre-teen son. She doesn’t quite understand why her grown children would rather live in cities in homes with running water, plumbing and electricity, but she loves them anyway. If you ran into April at the grocery store, chances are high that she would not be wearing makeup and may be on the edge of looking presentable. She’d still say hello..
Today is release day for HOME WITH YOU, the first fourth in the adult contemporary military romance series, Rambler Battalion, by Claire Cain. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
HOME WITH YOU (Rambler Battalion #4) by Claire Cain
Synopsis I hadn’t seen Major Reese Flint in ten years—not since I was sixteen. Growing up, he was always kind to me despite our age difference and my role as the caretaker’s daughter. Our reunion forced me to see the gorgeous man he’d turned into. Reese was just as shocked by me, but evidently not in a good way since he then resolutely avoided me.
We’re forced back together when Reese’s mother hires me to help him recover from an injury since I still live in the garage apartment above the house I watched for him while he was deployed.
When Reese’s mom asks for more than that, I’m torn between my loyalty to the family who gave me so much during my childhood and my newfound feelings for Reese. Just when Reese stops resisting his interest in me and I have more than I could have hoped for, I discover I’m more at risk of losing everything than I could have imagined.
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Excerpt I groaned as I stood and lumbered into the kitchen where Erin promptly let out a little yelp. She pressed her hands to her heart and took a few deep breaths before laughing hysterically.
Really. She doubled over, her long hair waterfalling to the ground, leaving me to admire the nearly bare expanse of her back but for the two small spaghetti straps of her tank top. When she finally turned upright, her face was red and her green eyes were wet with tears.
“I’m sorry,” I said, chuckling long with her since the sound of laughter was irresistible.
“No, I’m sorry. I—I didn’t expect to see you. I thought you were in bed. And your beard is, like, wow, so I didn’t realize it was you, even though of course it’s you.” She pressed her lips together. “Anyway, I’m sorry for laughing hysterically. It was that, or cry, and I do enough crying so laugh it was.”
“I’ve been sleeping down here so I’m upright. Did you need something?” I asked, and as soon as her face fell, I realized I’d done it again. She set the rag in her hand on the counter and moved to go, but I grabbed her wrist.
“Please. I don’t mean that in a brusque way. I’m not trying to get rid of you. I want to help you find what you need, if you need something,” I said, lowering my voice because whenever she was this close, which was rarely lately, I wanted to say things to only her. I wanted things between us that only we knew about.
She stared down at my hand on her wrist, then back at my face, her chest rising and falling. “I, uh… I came to check and see how the kitchen was. Your mom doesn’t always clean up, so I came to make sure everything was put away so you wouldn’t wake up to a mess.” She looked down like she was embarrassed and gently pulled her arm away.
“That’s very kind of you, Erin.” Her lashes fluttered when I said her name, and I wondered if she preferred her nickname. I’d have to try it out next time.
“Not really. I’m saving myself from more work tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I asked, stepping closer to her because apparently my body wanted more of her proximity.
“I’ll be here to make you breakfast. I mean, if that’s ok, of course,” she said, red rising to her cheeks.
“I’d like nothing more,” I said, catching her green eyes with mine to make sure she understood my sincerity. I was done fumbling around and failing to communicate with her. I’d bungled things between us enough already, and if my mother had obligated Erin to help me, I wasn’t going to make her feel unwanted.
She returned my stare a moment longer, her eyes moving between mine every few seconds.
And then it happened.
Then the best thing of my week happened.
The month.
Sure, maybe the year. I’d made the promotion list for lieutenant colonel and I was pleased about that, but this? This probably topped that.
Her focus moved from one eye, to the other, and then dipped down and caressed my lips. I kid you not, I could practically feel the brush of her lashes against my mouth.
Then, of course, she jerked away and plastered a smile on her face, bid me goodnight, and excused herself.
But it’d happened.
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Author Claire Cain
About the Author Claire Cain lives to eat and drink her way around the globe with her traveling soldier and two kids, but is perhaps even happier hunkered down at home in a pair of sweatpants and slippers using any free moment she has to read and cook. Or talk—she really likes to talk. She has become an expert at packing too many dishes in too few cabinets and making houses into homes from Utah to Germany and many places in between. She’s a proud Army wife and is frankly just really happy to be here.
Synopsis Leanne Strong hates June eighth even though it’s supposed to a day for celebration. Fifteen years ago on that date, baby Leanne was purported to be miraculously healed of a spinal cord defect after her mother prayed to a religious mystic who was later elevated to sainthood. Since Leanne’s unexplained cure, thousands of people gather in her small town every year to celebrate her miracle–a miracle she doesn’t remember but still accepts as real–most of the time.
When teen pitching phenom Braeden Dalisay moves into the house across the street from Leanne, he harbors a chip on his shoulder even larger than his athletic talent. Forced to spend the summer in the same law office, he and Leanne carry on a working relationship that vacillates between stormy and silent. After Leanne finds out that Braeden’s sister, Emeline, recently passed away, the reason for his behavior becomes clear. Emeline Dalisay was a girl who didn’t get a miracle.
Time softens Braeden’s anger, and he and Leanne eventually draw closer. But when he and his family are hit with another traumatic event, he pulls away, the unfairness of life a deep wound. Leanne wants to help Braeden and his family heal as much as she wants a relationship with him. More than that, she wants a miracle for Braeden.
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My Review Leanne Strong is the recipient of a verified miracle that she has zero recollection of. And while she’s grateful for the life she has, she hates being “Miracle Girl” and all the celebrity that goes with it. For that reason, she’s sworn off dating until she’s in college, far away from where anyone knows who she is or her miracle status. But when the Dalisay’s move in across the street, Braeden and and his sister, Sami, challenge everything Leanne believes about herself and her miracle. She wonders if she’s been ungrateful, even as she struggles to be what everyone expects her to, someone she doesn’t believe she is. Spending the summer working in her dad’s law firm, she spends more time with Braeden, who is also making a few extra bucks between baseball games. What starts off as a tense relationship soon blossoms into more, until Sami gets sick and threatens everything Leanne understands about herself, faith, and what it means to believe in something more than yourself.
Plot
The main plot revolves around Leanne’s relationship with her miracle girl status. She initially wants nothing to do with it. She’s just a regular girl with no recollection of what happened that night 15 years before. In fact, she can’t recall a time when she wasn’t the way she is now. She knows she’s expected to be so much more to others looking for their own miracles, but she feels inadequate when it comes to providing them with the inspiration they feel they so desperately need. With the help of Sami, Braeden, her family, and a priest, she comes to realize that memories aren’t required to appreciate the life she’s been given. There are also strong subplots involving her relationship with Braeden and her own faith.
Characters Leanne is so relatable as an ordinary girl with extraordinary expectations. She knows that the world wants more from her than she’s able to give and struggles with this burden through much of the book. Braeden is the perfect, somewhat brooding, foil for Leanne’s positivity, but they have more in common than either of them realizes. These two navigate a tenuous romance amidst all the drama, providing some of the most heartwarming moments. The rest of the characters wonderfully round out the cast, particularly Leanne’s dad’s office staff.
Top things I LOVED About MIRACLE GIRL 1. Sami. Even after everything she’s lost, Sami is a perpetually positive force and impossible to ignore.
2. Faith. It’s an underlying theme centered around hope and gratitude, so perfectly incorporated that even those who don’t profess any faith will enjoy this book.
3. Leanne. She’s one of my favorite young adult protagonists of 2019. She’s grounded in a way that is both because of and in conflict with her miracle status.
4. Braeden. The pitching phenom is as sweet as he is hot, but with a brooding undertone that adds to his swooniness.
5. Miracles. Always there, and a main part of the plot, it’s really not about the miracle itself, but how the recipient copes with her worthiness.
Bottom Line An inspirational story about faith, first love, and refusing to allow others to define you.
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Book Title: MIRACLE GIRL Author: Jennifer DiGiovanni Publisher: Vinspire Publishing Release Date: November 30, 2019 Pages: 242
Category: Young Adult Contemporary Romance/Spiritual Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
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Author Jennifer DiGiovanni
About the Author Jennifer DiGiovanni is the author of contemporary and light fantasy novels for teens. When she’s not reading or writing, she likes to try new sports and activities, from archery to ballroom dancing, all in the name of book research.
Welcome to the blog tour for RULES OF A REBOUND, the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, Breakup Bash, by Nina Crespo. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
RULES OF A REBOUND (Breakup Bash #2) by Nina Crespo
Natalie Winters thought she’d married the man of her dreams…but her marriage ended way too soon in a nightmarish divorce. She even has to share custody of the dog! The stress is killing her, so she decides to take a night off and attend the Breakup Bash—a private party for women celebrating their breakups—with her friends.
Former executive security specialist turned bartender Rome Collier is drawn to the woman easily trading sexy banter with him. And if she wants the “Do Me” condoms she accidentally throws across the counter at him, she’ll have to claim them…personally. Their flirtation turns into so much more, and every scintillating night they spend together is better than the last.
Strong, protective…and hot, Rome is everything Natalie ever wanted in a man. All she has to do is convince him he’s more than a rebound.
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Excerpt #1 Stop! Natalie sat up in bed, batting away the sadness that threatened to consume her now. Today wasn’t like the past. She wasn’t dependent upon anyone to take care of her, and no one was making her leave her home. She’d restore what was missing, and, if karma truly existed, the jackasses that had robbed her of her things and her peace of mind would get what they fully deserved.
Natalie flung back the covers. As she walked out of the bedroom in her bare feet, she tugged down her mid-thigh- length “When I die, the dog gets everything” T-shirt. A cup of stress-relief tea would help her relax and possibly slow down her thinking long enough for her to get some sleep.
She was almost halfway down the hall before she remembered to walk softly so she wouldn’t disturb Betsy… or Rome.
As she crept past the closed door of the playroom, Betsy’s collar jangled, but she didn’t whine or bark. Natalie rarely locked her up, but she wanted to make sure her fur baby didn’t wander into places that she hadn’t cleaned up yet. Betsy would tolerate a night of not sleeping where she pleased as long as she was taken outside in three hours, at six in the morning.
Natalie continued to the end of the hallway, planning to quietly make her way through the living room to the kitchen. But seeing Rome laying on top of the bedsheet in his low-slung jeans, arm resting above his head, brought her up short.
The glow from outside streetlights streamed through small openings in the blinds, illuminating him. Even at rest, cuts of muscle stood out in his chest, stomach, and arms. When they were in the storeroom, she hadn’t gotten a look at the entire juicy package. Had she known all of that was available, she would have ripped off his shirt.
Sex with Rome, the drink-serving god…the orgasm maker. That’s how her night after attending the Breakup Bash should have ended…with a thrill of being with him, not disaster.
He shifted his legs, and the natural V cutting along his hips deepened, framing his impressive abs. He brought his arm down. “Is something wrong?”
Unexpectedly hearing his voice caused her breath to hitch and made her feel a tad embarrassed. Ogling him while he slept drifted into stalker territory. “No. I’m…”
As Rome sat up and put his feet on the floor, his rippling muscles took her words away. “If you can’t sleep, that’s normal. What happened can leave you feeling uneasy.”
Or hot and bothered. Very hot, in fact. Suddenly, her light sleep shirt felt like a winter coat. “I’m not upset. I mean, yes, of course I’m upset. I was robbed, but that’s not why I’m here.” Her gaze drifted to his lap. Was that bulge a hard-on, or was she just dreaming?
“Okay.” His low, husky voice made her skin tingle. “Then, why are you here?”
Go make herself a cup of tea, or give in to the desire that made her breasts heavy and lust pool in her middle. The choice was clear.
She walked to the pullout bed and in between his legs. His body heat seeped through his jeans and into her skin.
About the Author Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions — the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing.
Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel.
Let Nina’s sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after.
***JOIN NINA’S READERS GROUP***
Help spread the word about the books in the Breakup Bash series as well as upcoming books. Your participation will not go unrewarded. Freebies, ARC’s, awesome swag, and bookish treats are a part of the fun!
Welcome to the blog tour for WE ARE THE GHOSTS, a stand-alone young adult contemporary romance, by Vicky Skinner. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis After her estranged brother suddenly dies, a girl embarks on a road trip to rediscover who her brother really was in VickySkinner’s contemporary YA novel, We Are the Ghosts.
When Ellie’s estranged brother, Luke, dies in a car accident, she’s not sure whether to be devastated that she lost the person who was once her best friend or enraged, still, that he left without a word a year ago. Now, the only people who seem to understand what she’s going through are Luke’s best friend and his ex-girlfriend, who she bonds with over their desire to figure out where Luke went when he walked out of their lives.
As she gets closer to them, and closer to Cade, a boy who seems determined to get to know her better, she realizes that she’s not the only one with reasons to be angry at Luke. And when Ellie makes a discovery that changes everything, she and her new friends hit the road, hoping that following Luke’s trail will bring them answers about the life Luke was living away from them.
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Excerpt #2 My hands tremble as I rip open the envelope and pull out the contents. I stare at the folded map in my hand, seeing just fragments of highways and state lines and blue bodies of water before I unfold it.
I recognize it immediately, and it’s my first instinct to drop it, my heart beating loud in my ears. Because it’s like having Luke’s ghost in the room with me. I press my hands to my stomach and look down at it, lying sprawled open on my carpet. I can’t really be looking at this map. That map can’t really be on my floor. That map has been lost for ages.
“These are all the places we have to visit before we die,” Luke said when he brought the map home. It was the summer before my freshman year of high school, before his junior year, and he spread the map across the dining room table like we were about to discuss war strategy. “If you want to add anything to it, just put X’s over the places, but I’ve already got most of the big stuff. Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Times Square . . .”
For months, we took turns researching new places to add to the map, and eventually we brought Wes into it. We picked big cities, ghost towns, weird attractions along the side of the highway. It was a whole summer of daydreaming about adventures in the mountains, relaxing on the beach, soaking up history and culture and sunshine.
I slowly reach down and pick it back up. All the X’s, in different color marker, his and mine and Wes’s, are so plentiful, I almost can’t see the city names beneath them. Notes in the margins about gas mileage and hotels and entrance fees. It’s been folded and refolded and laid out flat so many times that the original creases are gone. It was just a stupid thing he got excited about, the way he got excited about things and then didn’t usually follow through on them. The map was our world for a few months and then it was forgotten about, and that was that.
That was three years ago. Three years ago, and here it is, in my hands, and I feel dizzy with confusion and disbelief and maybe even a little fear. Where the hell did it come from?
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Author Vicky Skinner
About the Author Born and raised in Texas, I don’t act like much of a Texan. I like cold weather and hate country music. I have a gorgeous husband, two dogs, and a Literature degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. If I’m not at home reading a book or doing laundry, I’m probably at the bookstore, nannying three rambunctious boys, or stuck on the side of the road with car trouble. I’m a reader, a writer, and a bit of a crazy person.
Welcome to the book blitz for RE-VAMPING LAS VEGAS, a stand-alone adult fantasy/paranormal romance, by Jen Pretty. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway. For a limited time, you can pick up the eBook for just $0.99 or read for free with Kindle Unlimited.
RE-VAMPING LAS VEGAS by Jen Pretty
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: RE-VAMPING LAS VEGAS Author:Jen Pretty Release Date: July 12, 2019
Genre: Adult Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Links: Goodreads | Amazon| Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Nia hates people.
She also hates vampires.
Too bad she is one.
An innocent bit of fun finds Nia tangled with a dangerous man and the powers that be send her to live with the vampire lord of LasVegas.
Their efforts to get Nia back on the straight and narrow are almost as ridiculous as her fathers attempt to make her this heir in his bid for world domination. It’s LasVegas, what trouble could she possibly find? Her life takes a sharp turn when someone tries to use her in a power struggle against her father, and her past sneaks up on her.
The past never stays where you left it, and sometimes the beginning is just the start of the end.
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Excerpt #2 At sundown, I took a cab to the mall. There was a high-end electronics store owned by a local guy named Darren. He could hack, I was sure. He was the only person to suspect I was up to no good with my laptop. I replaced mine more often than average, but my continued patronage assured his silence.
My father thought he could buy me back by padding my bank account. He couldn’t, but he was rich, so I spent his money, and new laptops were my main purchase.
The mall was overrun with teenagers and old people pushing wheeled walkers with bags full of knitting supplies or whatever. No sensible person went to the mall when they could help it. The long wide hall with escalators down the center made way for the shops and department stores where well-dressed women and men rang through purchases of clothing and electronics. Beautiful women at cosmetic counters sprayed passers-by with perfumes that smelled like toilet cleaner. The teenagers hung around in a group like a cackle of hyenas, laughing raucously and shoving each other.
“Hey, Nia,” Darren greeted me as I walked up to the counter. He was geeky, in a cute way. His glasses made him look smart and his shirt and tie- professional. I had seen him in the club a couple of times though. Not a complete nerd.
“Hey, Darren. How’s it going?”
“Not too bad. What can I get for you today?”
“Something fast and pretty,” I smiled. He knew I didn’t tinker. I wanted a laptop ready to go, like usual.
He smiled and went into the back room.
I waited at the counter and watched a kid read the backs of all the video game packages by the front of the store. The kid was no more than thirteen years old and kind of motley. He wore an over-sized coat and his hair was shaggy and unkempt. He looked around and then tucked one game into his coat. I almost laughed but bit my lip. There was a security tag on everything in the store. Cue the fireworks.
Just as Darren came out from the back carrying my new toy, the kid walked out between the alarm sensors and lights and sirens went nuts.
“Hang on a sec, Nia,” Darren said as he went storming off after the kid. I walked to the doorway and watched as the kid raced down the hall towards the mall exit, Darren in hot pursuit. Mall security nabbed the kid before he made it out the door and he started screaming like a stuck pig. I laughed and watched as the kid squirmed trying to break free of the overweight security guard.
Once the guard had the kid well in hand, he told Darren he would call the police, but Darren just took his game back and told the kid not to enter his store ever again–probably scared him straight. Or set him up to be a career criminal. Either way, everyone settled down, and Darren came back to ring me through.
“Sorry about that, Nia. This has been happening more and more. I’m thinking about putting the games behind a glass case.”
“You’re pretty fast. I thought for sure that kid would make it.”
Darren looked at me and raised an eyebrow. When I didn’t respond, he chuckled and rang through my purchase. “You’re a strange one, Nia. I hope this laptop lasts longer than the last one.” He put it in a bag, I thanked him and walked back out of the mall.
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Author Jen Pretty
About the Author JenPretty is a well- known and prolific writer of smart urban fantasies. Her novels are character driven, witty, often violent, and with a liberal sprinkling of course language. Some of her books genre-hop into mythology, pulling characters and situations from a variety of sources.
When not writing, Jen can be found in the barn with her horses, or knee-deep in the vegetable garden at her home in rural Ontario, Canada, which she shares with her husband, three children, and a white husky dog named Salt.
