Monday, November 30, 2015

I'll Be There by Samantha Chase


Enter to Win a $50 Amazon eGift Card and 
a Signed Print Set of the Montgomery Brothers Series



I'LL BE THERE
Montgomery Brother's #6
Samantha Chase
Releasing Dec 1st, 2015
Sourcebooks Casablanca


Book #6 in New York Times and USA
Today 
bestselling author Samantha Chase's popular Montgomery series



This
Montgomery Has a Head for Business




Working for Zach Montgomery is
challenging on many levels-coming from a wealthy and powerful family, he lives
by his own rules and doesn't answer to anyone. But Gabriella Martine has no
intention of backing down. She's used to handling stubborn men, and it doesn't
hurt that Zach is smart, charismatic...and gorgeous.

And a Heart for Adventure



Zach's perfect world is turned
upside down when a climbing accident leaves him broken, angry, and maddeningly
dependent. In his slow quest for recovery, Gabriella is always there to
help...but as Zach comes to see his beautiful assistant in a new light, he is
forced to re-evaluate what it really means to be a man worthy of Gabriella's
love.

BUY NOW


a Rafflecopter giveaway






New York Times and USA Today
Bestseller/contemporary romance writer
Samantha Chase
released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011.
Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time,
writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her
students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up
through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing
dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.
When she's not working on a new
story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many
games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband
of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Haven't Started the Series?
WAIT FOR ME/TRUST IN ME 
are now available in a duo!


Cover Reveal:Merry Blissmas by Jaime Begley

We Wish You A
Merry Blissmas...


MERRY BLISSMAS
A Last Riders Holiday Novella
Jamie Begley
Releasing Dec 11th, 2015
Young Ink Press

Naughty


What can I say? I’m not a nice person. When I walk by, people call me a slut, and I’m okay with that. I believe in calling a spade a spade. I am a slut.
With the holidays approaching, I miss belonging to The Last Riders. Drake’s keeping me warm, but he wants more than I can give. He wants me to trust him, to believe he can protect me. Doesn’t he know Santa put me on the Naughty List long ago?

Nice



What can I say? I’m a nice guy and have always done the responsible thing.
Bliss is everything I shouldn’t want, but it’s hard to resist a woman who stopped believing in miracles. She wants to be back with The Last Riders, whom she considers her true family. Doesn’t she know it’s Christmas, and miracles do happen?





a Rafflecopter giveaway




"I
was born in a small town in Kentucky. My family began poor, but worked their
way to owning a restaurant. My mother was one of the best cooks I have ever
known, and she instilled in all her children the value of hard work, and
education.
Taking
after my mother, I've always love to cook, and became pretty good if I do say
so myself. I love to experiment and my unfortunate family has suffered through
many. They now have learned to steer clear of those dishes. I absolutely love
the holidays and my family puts up with my zany decorations.
For
now, my days are spent writing, writing, and writing. I have two children who
both graduated this year from college. My daughter does my book covers, and my
son just tries not to blush when someone asks him about my books.
Currently
I am writing five series of books- The Last Riders, The VIP Room, Predators MC,
Biker Bitches, and The Dark Souls.
All
my books are written for one purpose- the enjoyment others find in them, and
the expectations of my fans that inspire me to give it my best.”

Friday, November 27, 2015

Zenobia - Challenging a Legend (Zenobia Book Series, Book Two) by Russ Wallace

02_Zenobia Challenging a Legend

Zenobia - Challenging a Legend (Zenobia Book Series, Book Two) by Russ Wallace

Publication Date: November 14, 2015
Geode Press LLC
Hardcover; 512 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Action & Adventure/Young Adult

Add to GR Button

After winning the famous Alexandria horse race, Zenobia, a young Syrian warrior and an aspiring scholar, assumes her life will return to normal. Wrong! A tumultuous romance develops with her instructor, widely considered the most brilliant academic on earth.

Unknown to her, an enemy plans to kidnap Zenobia for his harem. The hired mercenaries never suspect their intended victim is a deadly warrior. The attack is thwarted, but the Syrians are alerted to a slave trade in young girls.

Meanwhile, a Nubian princess has been captured by the slavers. She struggles to survive in the dangerous situation while she seeks a way to escape. Can she succeed?

Zenobia’s impetuous nature continues to impel her to take unwise risks, both in class and on a hunting trip. When a second kidnap attempt on her fails, the last attacker escapes. She decides to run him down to save her family. Thus begins an epic chase on horseback across the desert in the dead of night. It culminates in a shocking revelation that threatens her very future.

Circumstances now force Zenobia into roles for which she is untrained. As she meets the challenges, she begins to unleash her strategic genius, which will one day raise her to the pinnacle of her world.

“Book two in the Zenobia book series has it all …the book is full of adventure with kidnappings, hunting, fighting, revenge, chases, escapes, and piracy. Zenobia learns a heart breaking truth about love and this will mold her into the women she is destine to become. This was an ARC…You'll want to put this book on your TBR list.” – Julie Martin Wallace

My review:
Copy Received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
Four Stars
As luck would have it, I happen to receive two books in the same month about Zenobia.  "Zenobia- Challenging a Lengend" was an excellent introductory read.  Wallace gave many interesting details about Zenobia.   This was my first time hearing about this historical figure.  It was a fantastic introduction and even though I did not read the first book in the series it did not impede my enjoyment of this story.  Having read about Hatsheput last year, Zenobia was another great woman to learn about. 

 I loved Zenobia's strength and determination, her vulnerability and humanity made her more real to me.  The book is lengthy but the pacing made it fly by and the tension filled scenes were very entertaining.  Last but not least, the romance was a wonderful addition. I'm a sucker for romance and Zenobia was a passionate individual.  I already placed the first book on my to-read list and really enjoyed this story. 

03_Russ WallaceAbout the Author

Russ Wallace is an avid student of history and religion. Zenobia, one of the deadliest and most fascinating women of history, comes to life in his series about her. Russ is working on future releases in the Zenobia book series.


Blog Tour Schedule

Saturday, November 14
Tour Kick Off & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Monday, November 16
Character Interview at Boom Baby Reviews

Tuesday, November 17
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews

Wednesday, November 18
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Thursday, November 19
Excerpt & Giveaway at Unshelfish

Friday, November 20
Excerpt at Let Them Read Books

Saturday, November 21
Spotlight at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Tuesday, November 24
Excerpt & Giveaway at Room With Books

Thursday, November 26
Excerpt at Just One More Chapter

Friday, November 27
Review at Book Nerd

Saturday, November 28
Review at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

Sunday, November 29
Interview at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

04_Zenobia_Blog Tour Banner_FINAL

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

My Lady Gloriana by Sylvia Halliday

 

Enter to Win a 
Print Copy of MY LADY GLORIANA


MY LADY GLORIANA
Sylvia Halliday 
Releasing Nov 24th, 2015
Diversion


In
this twist on the Pygmalion story, a duke makes a wager that he can bed the
uncouth Lady Gloriana. But the bet takes on a life of its own...

The year is 1725. Lady Gloriana
Baniard is a beautiful fish out of water. Brought up on the mean streets of
London, she is a brash, blunt, obscene force of nature. But thanks to a brief
marriage to a disgraced aristocrat, she is forced to live with his noble family
and endure the humiliating process of learning to be a lady. Rebelling, she
runs away to Yorkshire, where she intends to be a blacksmith, a skill at which
she excels. She knows she’ll need a manservant to front for her. When John
Thorne appears, she hires him, stirred as much by his irresistible attraction
as by his strength.

John Haviland, Duke of Thorneleigh,
is an arrogant, indolent gambler and womanizer. Having seen Gloriana just once,
he yearns to make her his own. When he learns she has run away from her family,
he makes a wild bet with his wastrel companions―he will find the lady and bed
her. Disguised as a humble servant, he becomes her assistant, learning the
blacksmith trade. The clash of wills between these two proud people creates
more sparks than a blacksmith’s anvil, as Gloriana learns to be a lady, Thorne
learns humility―and desire deepens to love.

BUY NOW
Amazon | B
& N
 | iTunes | Kobo






a Rafflecopter giveaway







Award-winning author Sylvia Halliday’s first historical novel,
written as Ena Halliday, was chosen by Pocket Books to launch their Tapestry
line. She subsequently wrote for Popular Library/Warner and Harlequin
Historicals under the pen name of Louisa Rawlings, the name of her maternal
great-grandmother. She has written for Kensington/Zebra under the pseudonym of
Sylvia Halliday. She has published 14 historical romances. Her FOREVER WILD
earned 5 stars from RT Book Reviews and Affaire de Coeur, and was a RITA
finalist for the Romance Writers of America. Her latest offerings, published by
Diversion Books, are MARIELLE (The French Maiden Series, #1), LYSETTE (The
French Maiden Series, #2), DELPHINE (The French Maiden Series, #3), DREAMS SO
FLEETING, GOLD AS THE MORNING SUN, THE RING, and SUMMER DARKNESS, WINTER LIGHT.
FOREVER WILD, STOLEN SPRING, and PROMISE OF SUMMER, written by her as Louisa
Rawlings, are available from Samhain Publishing.



Race to Tibet by Sophie Schiller

02_Race to Tibet_Cover

Race to Tibet by Sophie Schiller

Publication Date: January 26, 2015
Tradewinds Publishing
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 342

Genre: Historical Fiction/Adventure

Add to GR Button

By 1889 Tibet is the last unexplored country in the world. Gabriel Bonvalot is determined to be the first Westerner to reach Lhasa but lacks a sponsor. When the Duke of Chartres promises to pay his expenses Bonvalot agrees, even after he learns he must bring along the Duke's wayward son, Prince Henri d'Orléans. Along the way Bonvalot meets Camille Dancourt, the wife of a missing surveyor, who attaches herself to the expedition in order to find her missing husband. During the journey the intrepid explorers are besieged by freezing temperatures, volatile winds, mountain sickness, hostile Tibetans, and duplicitous Chinese Mandarins. Nearing collapse, Bonvalot realizes they will have to resort to force if they ever wish to escape Tibet alive.

RACE TO TIBET is an adventure thriller that will take you on a suspenseful journey to the Roof of the World.

"Fans of Jules Verne’s travel adventures will find Schiller has done a solid job of transforming an obscure real-life Victorian expedition into a thrilling yarn." — Publishers Weekly


Excerpt

The Tibetan spoke again, but this time his voice changed. He began to chant as if he had gone into a hypnotic trance. He closed his eyes and recited a mantra that sounded like a prayer from another world.

"Our Oracle predicted that during the year of the Iron-Tiger the Jade Emperor would capture the golden bird and send her into exile, but a small army with metal sticks would sweep down from the north and rescue her. Once free the golden bird would fly to the Potala Palace to perform the sacred duty of acting as tutor and maidservant to the Dalai Lama. The Oracle said that for this great service, good fortune would follow the foreigners all the days of their lives. But if the golden bird is captured by the mandarins, they will lose their heads. She is called Pema, or lotus flower. Her true identity may not be known by anyone outside this tent, not even by your closest servants. For this reason, we call her the golden bird."

"I'll bear that in mind," said Bonvalot. "Don't worry, your golden bird will be safe with me. You may go in peace now."

Bonvalot led the visitors back to their horses while Pema stayed behind beside the tent, looking like a forgotten stupa on a windswept hill.

The Tibetans mounted their horses and galloped away. All that remained behind was the forlorn figure of Pema wrapped in her sheepskin coat, silent except for the humming of her prayer wheel. Her eyes followed their every movement.

"Now that we've got her, what do we do with her?" said Bonvalot, regarding the Tibetan girl with curiosity.

"I suppose our Christian duty is to feed her," said Father Dedeken. "And give her a warm place to sleep."

When Rachmed explained the situation to the caravan men, some of them objected to the intruder; others raised their eyebrows and cast suspicious glances in her direction, but otherwise they accepted Pema's presence, albeit guardedly.

Later, Bonvalot sat Pema down by the fire and offered her a bowl of tsampa and tea. When she became more comfortable, he urged her remove her shawl.

Reluctantly, the girl pushed away the shawl and when they caught a glimpse of her face in the light of the campfire, the men gasped: Pema was the most exquisite creature they had ever seen. She was beautiful in a mystical sort of way, with skin like polished white jade, rose petal lips, and black, almond-shaped eyes. Her hair was braided into dozens of tiny plaits that were bounded by a single strand of coral beads suspended from a golden disk on her forehead; around her neck she wore multiple strands of coral and turquoise necklaces, and in her hands she held a prayer wheel that she clutched like a golden scepter. Pema had an almost regal presence about her, like a royal consort. Or a goddess.

About the Author

03_Sophie Schiller_AuthorSophie Schiller was born in Paterson, NJ and grew up in the West Indies amid aging pirates and retired German spies. Among other oddities her family tree contains a Nobel prize-winning physicist and a French pop singer. She loves stories that carry the reader back in time to exotic and far-flung locations. She was educated at American University, Washington, DC and lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is currently working on a new historical thriller set in the Caribbean.

For more information visit Sophie Schiller's blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 23
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views
Interview at Let Them Read Books
Spotlight at 100 Pages a Day

Tuesday, November 24
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews

Wednesday, November 25
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Spotlight at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, November 26
Guest Post at Passages to the Past
Spotlight at Book Nerd

Friday, November 27
Interview at Boom Baby Reviews

Giveaway

We have a signed paperback of Race to Tibet up for grabs! To enter, see the GLEAM form below.

Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 27th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open internationally.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

04_Race to Tibet_Blog Tour Banner_FINAL

SWEETEST SCOUNDREL by Elizabeth Hoyt Plus Excerpt PLUS Give Away


SWEETEST SCOUNDREL by Elizabeth Hoyt (November 24, 2015; Grand Central Publishing Mass Market; Maiden Lane Series)
SHE'S TAKING CHARGEPrim, proper, and thrifty, Eve Dinwoody is all business when it comes to protecting her brother's investment. But when she agrees to control the purse strings of London's premier pleasure garden, Harte's Folly, she finds herself butting heads with an infuriating scoundrel who can't be controlled.

HE'S RUNNING THE SHOW
Bawdy and bold, Asa Makepeace doesn't have time for a penny-pinching prude like Eve. As the garden's larger-than-life owner, he's already dealing with self-centered sopranos and temperamental tenors. He's not about to let an aristocratic woman boss him around . . . no matter how enticing she is.

BUT LOVE CONQUERS ALL
In spite of her lack of theatrical experience-and her fiery clashes with Asa-Eve is determined to turn Harte's Folly into a smashing success. But the harder she tries to manage the stubborn rake, the harder it is to ignore his seductive charm and raw magnetism. There's no denying the smoldering fire between them-and trying to put it out would be the greatest folly of all . . .
Excerpts
“What do you see when you look at me?”
What did she see when she looked at him?
Eve inhaled, trying and failing to tear her gaze from his.
Mr. Harte sprawled across her dainty settee like a Viking marauder in a pillaged Christian church. His broad shoulders took up more than half the width, his arms lazily draped over the back. His scarlet coat was spread open, contrasting with the sedate gray-
blue of the cushions almost shockingly. One long leg was thrust straight before him, the other cocked open and resting on a booted heel. The pose made the apex of his thighs very . . . obvious . . . and even as she kept her eyes locked on his she could feel heat rising in her cheeks.
What did she see?
She saw violence and anger, kept under a control that was tenuous at best. She saw power and a strength that could hurt her—kill her—if he so chose. She saw the innate brutality that was, in larger or smaller part, in all men.
She saw her most terrible fears.
But—and this was the truly unprecedented part—she saw more in him. She saw temptation—her temptation—alluring and frightening at the same time, his virility so strong it was nearly a visible miasma in the space between them.
She wanted him. Wanted that brash gaze, those long, muscled thighs, that mocking, insulting mouth, and the shoulders that went on forever, big and brawny and so
very, very male.
This was madness—she knew that intellectually. She’d never wanted a man before—was in fact afraid of almost all men, let alone one so obviously, blatantly sexual.
She took a breath, hoping that he couldn’t read all this from her gaze—and knowing it was a lost cause already.
His heavy-lidded green eyes were far, far too perceptive.
“I see . . .” She paused to lick suddenly dry lips. “I see that your hairline is nearly a perfect arc across the expanse of your forehead. That your eyebrows tilt ever so slightly up at the ends and that the right has a scar through it. I see that when you are solemn, the outer edges of your lips reach just to the midpoint of your eyes, but when you smile, they go beyond the corners. I see that your chin and jaw are almost in classical proportion and that a small white scar forms a comma on your chin just to the right of center.” She finally glanced away from him, breathing heavily, certain that she’d not thrown him off the track with her artist’s eye’s impressions. She inhaled again and ended, “I see every line of your face, every line’s intersection and how they relate. That is what I see when I look at you.”           
“And is that all you see? Lines?” His voice was deep and amused.
She chanced a peek.
He still watched her, his gaze utterly unperturbed by her observations about his countenance.
No, she’d not fooled him at all.
She licked her lips again, buying time. “I see,” she said carefully, cautiously, “a very self-possessed man.”
Self-possessed,” he drawled. “I’m not sure what that means, frankly. It sounds, just a bit, like a coward’s answer.”
Her gaze flew to his, outraged.
But before she could take him down a peg, he chuckled softly. “Tell me, Miss Dinwoody, would you like to know what I see when I look at you?”
She shouldn’t. She really, really shouldn’t.
“Yes,” she blurted, and then winced because she knew well enough what men
thought when they looked at her: ordinary, if they were charitable. Plain if they were not.
She braced herself for mockery, but when she glanced again at him, his gaze was hot and hard. Certainly not gentle. Certainly not kind. But he wasn’t dismissing her, either.
He looked at her as if they were equals. As if he really saw her, a woman to his man.
“I see,” he said, his deep voice musing, “a woman afraid, but fighting her fears. A woman who carries herself like a queen. A woman who could rule us all, I suspect.”
She gazed at him, her breath caught in her throat, afraid to exhale and break the spell.
A corner of that wicked mouth tilted up. “And I see a woman who has a deep curiosity. Who wants to feel but is worried—of herself? Of others?” He shook his head. “I’m not sure.” He leaned forward slowly, destroying his pose, and she had to fight herself not to scoot her chair away from him. “But I think she has a fire banked within her. Maybe it’s only embers now, glowing in the dark, but if tinder were to be put to those embers . . .” He grinned slowly. Dangerously. “Oh, what a conflagration that would be.”
My Review:
Four Stars
Copy from Publisher for an honest review:
This is the third book I have read by Elizabeth Hoyt in her “Maiden Lane” series and I just love it! Even though I have not read all the books in the series I just love how she keeps coming up with different characters and how she interweaves them throughout!

Even though this is a little out of order, I have to say I cannot wait to see what she does that the horrible Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery!!! He is so awful I cannot wait to see what she has in store for him and Bridge Crumb- the housekeeper. He has had it coming for over two stories now. Even the little snippets we saw of him in this story were fantastic!

Now on to the hero and heroine in this story, Eve Dinwoody is the illegitimate sister of Val or the Duke of Montgomery. He has always protected her and looked out for her and Val has given the financing of the theater, Harte’s Folley, to her. Eve is a very smart and pragmatic business woman. She also loves her brother and is unbendingly loyal to him. Asa Makepeace is also unbendingly loyal to the theatre. It is his passion and his life. He takes his job of managing the theatre very seriously. When Eve decides to take a “hands on” approach to managing the theatre Asa is less than happy about her meddling.

I really liked Asa and Eve together. Right off they don’t like each other and they rub each other the wrong way, but it makes for wonderful tension and wonderful reading. Eve is a very isolated individual. She has no friends and no connections outside of her brother-for her, emotional connections are very difficult. Asa is very outspoken and crude- he says what he means and means what he says. I loved how they both got underneath each other’s skin. Asa really breaks through Eve’s isolation and in many ways she helps him reconnect with his family. I loved the background that the author provided on both these characters and it became easy to see why they had the different hang-ups that they did.

Aside from the great chemistry between Asa and Eve, Hoyt also includes a little bit of mystery as Asa’s work at the theatre is being sabotaged. I was curious to see who was causing all the trouble and placing the lives of these people in danger. The presence of Val was also a good addition to the story since I am impatiently awaiting his story. The characters from “Darling Beast” and “Dearest Rogue” also appear and I enjoyed their participation in the story.

Needless to say I continue to be a huge fan of this series. Hoyt combines so many great elements in the series that the minute I finish one story I am impatient for the next. I can almost feel how great “Duke of Pleasure” will be to read. This was a great addition to the “Maiden Lane” series.

Buy the book!

About the author:
Elizabeth Hoyt is the New York Times bestselling author of over seventeen lush historical romances including the Maiden Lane series. Publishers Weeklyhas called her writing "mesmerizing." She also pens deliciously fun contemporary romances under the name Julia Harper. Elizabeth lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with three untrained dogs, a garden in constant need of weeding, and the long-suffering Mr. Hoyt.

The winters in Minnesota have been known to be long and cold and Elizabeth is always thrilled to receive reader mail. You can write to her at: P.O. Box 19495, Minneapolis, MN 55419 or email her at: Elizabeth@ElizabethHoyt.com.

Connect with the author!
This may contain confidential material. If you are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender, delete immediately, and understand that no disclosure or reliance on the information herein is permitted. Hachette Book Group may monitor email to and from our network.




Please comment below for a chance to win!

Monday, November 23, 2015

A Seal Forever by Anne Elizabeth Plus Give Away

A SEAL Forever by Anne Elizabeth
West Coast Navy SEALs, Book 3
ISBN: 9781402268960
Release date: December 1, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca


Summary

Even a hero needs someone to believe in him...

Parkour instructor Maura Maxwell has always denied her attraction for her bachelor neighbor because she’s seen his revolving door of women and doesn’t want to become another notch on his belt. But the man who rescues her from a sudden storm isn’t the one she thinks she knows—he’s Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five, and he literally sweeps Maura off her feet.

Just as his teasing and tenderness start to work their way into Maura’s heart, Declan and his team are called in for a dangerous op in the Middle East. The man who returns is facing the toughest fight of his life, and he needs Maura by his side more than ever…

Buy Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MAFrDB
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1O3JffD
Apple: http://apple.co/1M6H7Dj
Books a Million: http://bit.ly/1M6Hrlt
Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1O3JEPe

Author Bio


New York Times bestselling author Anne Elizabeth is an award-winning romance author and comic creator. With a BS in business and MS in communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at conventions as well as a member of The Author’s Guild and Romance Writers of America. Anne lives with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL, in the mountains above San Diego.

Social Networking Links

Website: http://www.anneelizabeth.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aeauthorfanpage/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aeanneelizabeth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/732316.Anne_Elizabeth

A Navy SEALs Fun Fact from Anne Elizabeth

Food is fuel, and fuel is important. Know your body’s needs and limits, so that when you need to push past them you understand what that means.



Excerpt

Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five rolled over the side of the Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat and slid soundlessly into the Pacific Ocean. The RIB took off without even a comment from the operator, leaving Declan to sink farther into the drink.
The temperature cooled as he swam away from the surface. Fish skirted the edges of his thighs, small shimmers of movement against his skin. He scissor-kicked his way forward. The ocean currents caught him, dragging him in the direction they wanted to go, toward shore. He lay with his arms at his sides, frog-kicking only. Above him, he could see the afternoon sunlight glistening and frothy foam chasing away the glassy surface. Down here things were different…calmer. Peaceful, in a way few souls would understand, and yet he knew that even he would have to surface soon.
His lungs would start to ache and burn, his gut would begin to feel as if it would cave in, and that would force him to either head topside or drink in the salt water. But there was still time. This was the water in front of Imperial Beach and the apartment he lived in. He knew it very well.
Scanning the ocean floor, he gauged it would be about thirty seconds until he reached one of the many rocky sandbars out here. He’d have to pull up before then, or the force of the current would smack him against the side.
As his body began to complain, he used both arms and legs to draw himself upward. Breaking the surface, he opened his mouth and drew in air like a thirsty man would gulp water.
The waves bounced him like a buoy. The tide was coming in and the wind was picking up momentum. Looking at the sky to the east, he could see that there would most likely be a storm today. Over his should, to the west, he spied a wave coming his way large enough to take him to shore. It would reach him in about thirty seconds.
Dec took a long, slow breath and appreciated the sun dropping into the horizon. The colors were extraordinary; orange and gold dappled the horizon as the blazing ball of light attempted to sink before the moon lifted higher in the sky.
His hands flexed, cupping the water. It had been a hot day, and the sun’s rays had heated the top of the ocean, making the surface feel like a warm bath, loosening his muscles. Three months ago, he’d been in waters so frigid, with actual ice caps—the memory still made him cold. But here, the Pacific Ocean off California’s Imperial Beach, was a slice of heaven.
Coming in from the east were some nasty-looking cumulonimbus clouds. Seeing the lightning arc way off toward the distant desert, he decided it was time to go in, and right on cue, here came a perfect wave.
Swimming at top speed, Declan pushed his way through another changing current, one that sought to drag him into faster-moving waters. He went over a higher sandbar, having no intention of going to Mexico today, and increased the reach of his stroke. With single-mindedness he worked his way into the more placid surf as he homed in on a large stretch of beach.
The SEAL felt a few sea lions swimming around him, and one nosed him in the gut and another in his back a few times, assessing whether or not he’d play. Not this time, my friends. He continued swimming without engaging. If he stopped to play, he’d be out there for hours.
Switching to the breaststroke, his arms protested. His platoon had switched their training this month to desert-warfare techniques, and he’d been sweating his balls off in the heat. He managed to learn a thing or two, even now, after all of his years in the Teams. But it felt good to be back in the ocean, his element. He’d live in the deep blue like a Jules Verne character if he could.

Rafflecopter giveaway code

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, November 19, 2015


Enter to Win a 
Kindle Fire HD 7" and
Kindle Ebook of ALL THE RIGHT PLACES



COMING APART AT THE SEAMS
Riley O'Brien & Co #2
Jenna Sutton
Releasing Dec 1st, 2015
Berkley


Love
can take some time to break in...

Teagan O’Brien, heiress to the Riley
O’Brien & Co. denim empire, is anything but a spoiled rich girl. She’s
worked hard to secure her place in the family business and can hold her own, in
and out of the office. Only one man has ever been able to get under her
skin—sexy football star Nick Priest. Years ago they crossed the line from
friends to lovers, but he left her heartbroken. Since then, she’s been
determined to keep him at arm’s length—no matter how tempting he looks in his
jeans...

Nick has fortune, fame, and looks
that make most women hot and bothered. But he doesn't have the woman he really
wants. He knows he screwed up when he walked away from Teagan, and now that he
has a second chance, he’ll do whatever it takes to win her over—no matter how
tongue-tied he gets...

Pre-Order





a Rafflecopter giveaway






Jenna Sutton spent most of her career as an
award-winning journalist covering business-related topics including healthcare,
commercial real estate, retail, and technology. Nowadays she writes about hot,
lovable guys and the smart, sexy women who make them crazy. It’s the
culmination of a lifelong dream, and she feels so lucky to be able to do it.

Jenna has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas Christian
University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from
Northwestern University.

Jenna and her husband live in a 103-year-old house in Texas.





Tuesday, November 17, 2015

COMING APART AT THE SEAMS Riley O'Brien & Co #2 Jenna Sutton


Enter to Win a 
Kindle Fire HD 7" and
Kindle Ebook of ALL THE RIGHT PLACES



COMING APART AT THE SEAMS
Riley O'Brien & Co #2
Jenna Sutton
Releasing Dec 1st, 2015
Berkley


Love
can take some time to break in...

Teagan O’Brien, heiress to the Riley
O’Brien & Co. denim empire, is anything but a spoiled rich girl. She’s
worked hard to secure her place in the family business and can hold her own, in
and out of the office. Only one man has ever been able to get under her
skin—sexy football star Nick Priest. Years ago they crossed the line from
friends to lovers, but he left her heartbroken. Since then, she’s been
determined to keep him at arm’s length—no matter how tempting he looks in his
jeans...

Nick has fortune, fame, and looks
that make most women hot and bothered. But he doesn't have the woman he really
wants. He knows he screwed up when he walked away from Teagan, and now that he
has a second chance, he’ll do whatever it takes to win her over—no matter how
tongue-tied he gets...

Pre-Order





a Rafflecopter giveaway






Jenna Sutton spent most of her career as an
award-winning journalist covering business-related topics including healthcare,
commercial real estate, retail, and technology. Nowadays she writes about hot,
lovable guys and the smart, sexy women who make them crazy. It’s the
culmination of a lifelong dream, and she feels so lucky to be able to do it.

Jenna has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas Christian
University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from
Northwestern University.

Jenna and her husband live in a 103-year-old house in Texas.






The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle

  THE PARIS WIDOW  Author: Kimberly Belle Publication Date: June 11, 2024 ISBN: 9780778307976 Format: Trade Paperback Publisher: Harlequin ...