Title: THE SPELLSPEAKER’S PROPHECY Author: Anna Abner Pub. Date: April 24, 2018 Publisher: Mild Red Books Formats: Paperback, eBook Pages: 250
Roz Carrera is a witch on the fritz. Thanks to the Coven’s rejection of her application for membership, she’s been denied a proper magical education. Without a mentor, she’s nearly useless in helping her team of vampire hunters. Complicating matters is the hulking shapeshifter she stumbles upon outside Las Vegas who may or may not be a vicious psychopath.
The only creatures shapeshifter Lukas Larsson hates more than vampires are witches. He’s in the Nevada desert to destroy the vampires who murdered his family, but the witch Roz Carrera and her ragtag team sideline him. He can’t allow the very sexy Roz to distract him from his vengeance.
The dangers of the bonfire forgotten for the shock of being in the direct vicinity of a shapeshifter, Roz whipped her magic up as the emotion in the crowd, the very air, energized.
Her power whirled like dust motes in a breeze. She couldn’t see it, no one could, but she felt it. A breath of wind passed through her, around her, up from her feet and spiraled around her body. Under her skin, energy surged through her veins.
Within the crowd, anger and righteous vindication broke down into undiluted fear. Half the people in the trailer park backed away from the shifter while the other half moved closer, firearms drawn. They may never have seen a shifter before. Neither had Roz. But, like her, they figured it out. And a supernatural creature was far more frightening and dangerous to their daily lives than a man-eating bear.
“Ladies, weapons up,” Connor barked. “Roz, calm them the fuck down. Ali, shoot the first son of a bitch that makes a move. We’re getting bear boy out of here before they tear his legs off.”
Connor rushed forward, his .44 in the air. Firing once and sending the crowd low over the ground, he shouted, “Back off!” The masses smartly did what he said, perhaps sensing they should not fuck with Connor Beckett. A vampire with unlimited strength, speed, and healing abilities, he was nearly unbeatable by human foes.
“Calm, calm, calm.” Roz’s hands and knees shook, but not from the force of her power. She was scared. What would these people do to protect themselves? “Sleep, sleep, sleep,” she intoned.
Her spells worked. Kind of. Connor already had the shifter out of his chains and slung over his shoulder as if the full-grown man was a sleepy five-year-old. The pissed off fire enthusiasts stayed away, but no one appeared very calm.
Maybe her magic was all used up. She’d made the shifter pass out, but he’d been in a lot of pain. He was probably thirty seconds from falling over, anyway. All she’d done was nudge him over the edge. She wasn’t even a real witch. She was an amateur. A rogue spellspeaker.
A wannabe.
About Anna:
One of my first memories is dangling over the arm of our living room sofa telling myself a post-apocalyptic survival tale in which my mother and I were the last two people on earth. It was so fun, I never stopped telling stories. In high school, I faked being ill so I could stay home to work on a novel about a nanny who falls in love with her boss’ bad boy nephew.
As an adult I earned a college degree, got married, and had a child, but I never stopped writing. It only got more fun. I wrote through my lunch breaks at work. I wrote on the treadmill at the gym. Eventually, I had dozens of short stories, novellas, and full-length novels piling up on thumb drives and in plastic tubs.
Now, I’m ready to share my stories with you, starting with The Dark Caster Series, the Red Plague Series, and the Beasts of Vegas Series. I hope you love reading them as much as I loved writing them!
I also write LGBT short stories under the name Sadie West. All works available at Amazon, SmashWords, and Barnes and Noble.
Disturbing His Peace
by Tessa Bailey Series: The Academy Series Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Publisher: Avon Books Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Danika Silva can’t stand Lt. Greer Burns. Her roommate’s older brother may be sexy as hell, but he’s also a cold, unfeeling robot. She just wants to graduate and forget about her scowling superior. But when a dangerous mistake lands Danika on probation—under Greer’s watch—she’s forced to interact with the big, hulking jerk. Call him daily to check in? Done. Ride shotgun in his cruiser every night? Done. Try not to climb into his giant, muscular lap and kiss him? Umm…
Greer doesn’t let anything—or anyone—distract him from the job. Except lately, all he can think about is Danika. He’s wanted the beautiful, cocky recruit since the moment he saw her. But she’s reckless and unpredictable, and Greer is painfully aware of what can happen when an officer doesn’t follow the rules. Probation seemed like a good idea, but now Danika’s scent is in his car and he’s replayed her voicemails twenty times. Christ, he’s a goner.
Danika’s melting Greer’s stone-cold exterior one ride-along at a time. Being together could have serious consequences… but breaking a few rules never hurt anybody, right?
The final book in The Academy series did not disappoint. The tension that’s been simmering between these two through two other books? Practically explodes here, and OMG, you won’t want to miss it. Trust me.
Even though Greer’s more than lived up to his “Lieutenant Hard-A$$” moniker throughout the series–and what Danika overhears him say about Jack in book 2? Yeah, it’s hard to get over–finally seeing things from his point of view really turns him into a sympathetic character at last. And watching him do what he must to become the kind of guy Danika deserves? Heart. Melting. Because, yeah, this guy’s got it bad, and does he ever have a lot of work to do before they can be together. Fortunately, Danika’s got her own demons to slay, and watching them work through things, both together and separately, makes for some absolutely fantastic reading.
And did I mention their off-the-charts chemistry? No? Well, it is… 🙂
As sorry as I am to see this series end, Disturbing His Peacewas one heck of a way to go. I can’t wait to see where Ms. Bailey is going to take us next!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
About Tessa Bailey:
Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans, and laptop, and drove cross-country to New York City in under four days. Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend, and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention. She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband and daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.
Author Links:
Tour Wide Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of DISTURBING HIS PEACE by Tessa Bailey, we’re giving away one paperback set of The Academy series!
GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. One winners will receive a paperback set of The Academy series by Tessa Bailey. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance. Giveaway ends 5/4/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
Redeeming the Pirate by Chloe Flowers Pirates & Petticoats #5 Publication Date: March 22, 2018 Genres: Adult, Historical, Romance, Standalone
SYNOPSIS:
He steals for the French crown. She heals for the Catholic church. He will heal her heart. She will steal his.
To complete a mission for the French crown, a former pirate must either commit treason or betray the woman he secretly loves. Betraying one sends him to the guillotine, the other straight to hell.
French Privateer Captain Drago Gamponetti is given one final mission from his employer, the king of France: reclaim religious relics from a New Orleans cathedral and bring them back. Trouble begins when he’s forced by a mysterious, veiled, novitiate nun to swear on the Bible to protect the very items he was instructed to steal.
Worse, 60 British warships have amassed in Negril Bay, Jamaica, preparing to attack New Orleans. He must retrieve the relics before the British arrive and seize the city.
How will Drago complete his mission without failing his employer or breaking his vow and betraying the church and the woman who has stolen his heart?
Novitiate nun and healer Eva Trudeau has secrets, and hides more than her face behind the veil. The convent has been her safe haven since she crawled, beaten and bloody, to its door nine years ago. When an old enemy re-surfaces and threatens to drag her back into the dark underworld from where she’d escaped, both she and her dark pirate captain stand to lose everything they’ve fought so hard to protect…including each other.
This series is about spirited, independent women and rakish bad boy pirates, wrapped up in women’s action and adventure sea stories. If you enjoy romantic action and adventure, action and action and adventure romance fiction, historical romance or women’s fiction, you’ll love the Pirates & Petticoats series.
AVAILABLE NOW FREE WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED! Amazon(#FREE with #KU) Paperback
Excerpt:
He shifted. The angle of his head gave her a full view of both narrowed silver eyes. “Why are you so eager to return?”
Before she could answer, the captain’s shoulders tensed and his attention whipped around to focus to the right of the trail ahead. Broad leafy shadows crossed the moonlit path. Nothing moved, no sounds.
No noises at all.
No beetles buzzing, no night creatures rustling in the underbrush, no chirping tree frogs. Her lungs tightened. Jamaica wasn’t without its dangerous beasts, both human and animal.
“What is it?” she whispered, gripping the edge of the cart seat, staring wildly into the dense flora.
“We’re being watched.” Easing a pistol from his belt with one hand, he pulled the reins with the other. The mule’s ears twitched; he stopped abruptly, attention forward, listening. The captain spoke in a low voice. “Easy.”
A lone figure stood on the trail a few yards ahead of them. “Why you be travelin’ dis time o’ night, Sistah Eva? You gots troubles?”
She slumped with relief. Miss Kalia. Next to her, the captain froze, his hands gripping the reins as if they kept him from falling into a burning pit of lava.
“I’m taking a sick child to the caves.”
“Girl-child then. Who wit you?”
She swallowed. The premonition. “Capitaine Gamponetti.”
Kalia grinned then cackled a short laugh. “Ah, yes, yes. Last time him saw I, him come from da red house. Long night wit da rum. Bad day next, eh Drago?”
The captain turned to granite beside her, likely embarrassed (as well he should be) that Miss Kalia had seen him leaving a brothel. Eva chewed her lip. Maybe she misread the man. Allowed desperation to dictate her impressions.
The old woman approached the wagon, swaying like seaweed with the tide, perhaps due to aching joints, but on a night like this, it was bewitching and unnerving, like an adder mesmerizing prey. The moonlight subdued her brightly patched skirt into shades of grayish-reds, greens, blues, and yellows. Colorful feathers poked out in every direction from the silver hair piled high on her head. A streak of white paint trailed from one ear, ran along her jawline, across her chin, ending at her other ear like a gruesome grin. Eva fought the strong desire to squirm closer to the pirate for protection. That would give her as much reassurance as jumping from an alligator’s jaws to a lion’s mouth.
Kalia hummed as she peered over the side at Jacqueline. “T’ought so. Eva, see I in a vision just now. Surrounded by thunder and frost, perched next to a jaguar black as night. Woke I wide up.” Before she could respond, the woman scampered up into the wagon bed bringing with her a strong tang of wood smoke.
Julian didn’t take his eyes from her but still leaned away as she bent over his sister. She placed her palm against the girl’s cheek, her brown hand contrasting sharply with the pale skin, even though it was still flushed with fever. She tilted Jacqueline’s head back, pressed her chin down to open her mouth. Sniffed her breath.
Unsure what to say or do, Eva dragged her gaze from the old woman to the captain. How long had those two known each other? His storm gray eyes followed the crone’s every move.
Miss Kalia hopped down and slipped to Eva’s side. The old woman grasped her hand and pressed a cluster of herbs against her clammy palm. “Her need dis. It make best tea for dee girl. Him,” she nodded toward Captain Gamponetti and lowered her voice until it was barely there. “Him must to drink dis.” She caught her gaze and held it, as she slid a small flask under the herbs. “Den dat what you want by him, you get.”
Eva shoved them into her bag, afraid to refuse them, and unsure of what else to do or say.
The old Jamaican woman stepped back from the wagon and lifted both hands in farewell. Or some sort of blessing?
Maybe a curse?
A white witch. A “good” witch, if there was such a thing. Sister Beatrice would say there was not. But Eva had seen too many things to denounce anything outright. There was no telling what spell Kalia incanted or bestowed upon them. The pirate slapped the reins and clucked the mule forward, none too soon.
As they passed, Kalia spoke again, but this time to him, her voice both smoky and chiseled, eyes black and white. “Change in de wind, Drago. Time come near for you to make a choice. Choose wrong way and die. Before de tree flowers bloom, you betray an ally and aide a foe…break a vow. Light beckons you, but de dark always a seductress.” Her wild stare locked with Eva’s. “Which voice will him follow? Him heart or him head?”
Tension radiated from the captain in waves of heat. Kalia had managed to slither past his, steely, rugged aura to poke the tiniest gap between courage and unease. The muscles in his jaw tightened, but he did not look at the old woman as they passed.
“I…I don’t know how to answer her question.” Eva looked over her shoulder, but the witch had disappeared. An awkward silence followed. The jungle remained paralyzed for several minutes.
He could have taken Jacqueline to Kalia, but he didn’t. Most island people would have sought the Obeah healer first. She peered at him again, understanding now why he hadn’t. A rigidity thrummed through his broad shoulders; he had a flare in his nostrils, a fierce glint in his eyes.
Then it hit her; she terrified him. Her curiosity flared. “Have you been acquainted with her long?”
The captain released a long breath. “Everyone knows Kalia. And Kalia knows everyone.” A wry smile seeped up to his eyes. The edges crinkled and a dimple settled in his cheek, giving him a roguish, but more pleasing look. Much like an unapologetic child holding a stolen cake. “In truth, I found there’s no way to avoid her even when it’s your intense desire.”
She learned much the same. A strange sense of balance lodged between them. Kalia unnerved him as much as he unnerved her. The vulnerability the old woman raked out of him made him less threatening. “The people here have great respect for Miss Kalia. It would be foolish to dismiss her or her methods. To do so would also betray the islander’s trust.”
The captain slapped the reins again and muttered, “Kalia’s black medicine attracts too much attention, especially from the white man. They do not understand it. White men fear what they don’t understand.”
“It’s not black medicine.” She corrected him. “Obeah is a very ancient healing practice.” Trying to ignore the twinge of foreboding they sent through her chest, she shifted the tea and the tonic to the bottom of her sack.
“Call it what you will, the white settlers and plantation owners fear it,” he rumbled.
How should she approach the last premonition? He had to be familiar with the old woman’s visions if indeed he knew who she was. How would he react? Surprise? Disbelief? She plunged ahead anyway.
“Miss Kalia stopped me at the market two days ago and told me a man would come to the abbey with a sick girl-child,” she blurted it out before she could stop herself. He would think her a ninny. Talking about an old woman’s premonitions as if they were gospel, which they were not.
Yet, a flicker of surprise shot across the captain’s face. “She did?”
So he was familiar with Kalia’s visions. “Yes, and here you are.”
“Indeed.” His brows dropped in thought, or perhaps concern.
She couldn’t, wouldn’t confide what Miss Kalia had said next. That was something she dared not repeat.
“Him not what him seem to be,” the old woman had whispered. “But den, so not are you.”
ABOUT CHLOE FLOWERS:
15% of Chloe’s profits go to the NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION.
On average, over 80% of their funds go to programs that directly support women through every step of the breast cancer journey.
Whether it’s dancing naked in a downpour at 3AM, zip-lining in a rainforest, or racing ponies, Chloe’s always looking for the next adventure.
Her pets have always been named after favorite characters or action heroes: Indiana, Luke, Gimli, Thelma, Rocket, Forrest, Al Giordino, Severus, Mushu, Mérida, Gibbs, Jack…Dead Pool (he’s a goldfish).
Chloe’s biggest fault is her apparent inability to say “no” whether it’s in response to a call for aid or a double-dog-dare to hike home through 30 acres of a snow-covered forest at midnight…during a full moon. It was early morning during said adventure when she came upon a group of sheriff’s deputies searching for a lost girl. So, of course she offered to help. Turns out, they were searching for her.
In addition to her addiction to adrenaline, she has a weakness for good red wine, dark chocolate and brown-eyed guys with beards, which is probably why she digs pirates and treasure hunters and writes about action and adventure, pirates and romance (which is the greatest adventure of all).
Today we have the blog tour for UNDER A STORM-SWEPT SKY by Beth Anne Miller! We are so excited to share this new title with you! Check it out and grab your copy today!
Title: UNDER A STORM SWEPT SKY Author: Beth Anne Miller Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:
An eighty-mile trek across the rugged, stunning beauty of Scotland’s Isle of Skye isn’t something I imagined myself doing. Ever. This isn’t a trail for beginners. And I’m not a hiker.
But I have to finish it, even if it kills me. I have no choice.
With the ever-changing weather and relentless terrain, I’m in over my head.
Rory Sutherland, my guide on this adventure, is not happy. We clash with every mile, but we recognize a shared pain. Not only is the journey a struggle, but the tension between us is taut with unsaid words. And hope.
He’s broken. I’m damaged. Together, we’re about to make the perfec
Beth Anne Miller has a fascination for all things Scottish (including, but not limited to, men in kilts), which has influenced all her writing to date. Her first novel is a time travel called INTO THE SCOTTISH MIST; her second, A STAR TO STEER HER BY, has a Scottish hero; and her newest book, UNDER A STORM-SWEPT SKY, is set on the Isle of Skye, and was inspired by her own long-distance treks in Scotland. A native New Yorker, Beth Anne lives on Long Island and works in the publishing industry. She’s looking forward to her next trip to Scotland.
Deputy Marshal Angel Larson has been set up and accused of murder. On the run, desperate to stay one step ahead of the law and the real killer, she turns to a former protectee in a small town—the man who’s haunted her dreams…and fantasies…ever since.
Former DEA agent Colton Williamson misses the action of his past life since entering witness protection as a high school math teacher. He also misses Angel, who refused to join him in his new life. Now it’s Angel who’s in trouble, and Colton can’t help but be there for her—before it’s too late.
But the killer may be closer to them than they think.
Angel hadn’t been sure what kind of reception to expect from Colton. Having a gun pulled on her had not been outside the realm of possibility. Still, seeing a Glock 19 pistol instantly appear in his hand made her pulse jump and her own hands reach for the sky.
She only hoped she’d be able to explain before he pulled the trigger.
“You broke my guard dog,” he said.
A cautious spurt of relief went through her. “I didn’t break him. He works fine. He just loves me. I think he knows I picked him when you said he was scrawny.”
When Colton had found out he was destined for WITSEC, he’d decided he wanted a companion. She’d suggested a puppy. Later, when he asked her to go into the program with him, she’d realized he wanted more in a companion than long walks and playing catch.
He’d wanted to spend the rest of his life with someone, and okay, she’d panicked.
“Not only did you eat my shoes, but you picked a girl over me?” He frowned at the dog, who didn’t look the slightest bit remorseful.
Colton’s Glock was still leveled on her, so she stayed still with her hands in the air. “I seem to remember telling you not to purchase a firearm.”
He looked down at the pistol and shrugged. “Old habits.”
“Your new identification is good, but an overzealous background check could turn up inconsistencies,” she reminded him.
She’d guessed right away his new identity wouldn’t sit well with him. She’d even spoken to his handler about it. The man needed constant action. He would say it was because he didn’t like being bored, but that was BS.
She knew the real reason why he lived for danger.
“Are you going to let me in, or should I leave?” she asked, no longer alarmed by the gun. He might be really angry at her, but he wouldn’t shoot her. At least, she didn’t think so.
He’d probably been pissed after she’d left without a word in the middle of the night, but, surely, he was over that by now. No doubt, she was the only one still wondering what might have happened if she’d stayed…
“That depends,” he said. “Are you going to kill me, too?”
He knew her better than that. They’d spent months together, and she’d let him in behind her walls, where no one else was permitted. Granted, she hadn’t told him about her past—she didn’t talk about that, ever—but she’d told him enough for him to know that she would have gladly put herself in front of that knife to stop someone from killing the person she was protecting.
There had been a time when she wasn’t sure she was cut out for that level of duty, but it had been tested, and she’d proven she would always do the right thing when it came right down to it.
“Seriously?” She made a sound of annoyance and rolled her eyes.
She’d pinned everything on his willingness to help her. Her Plan B was to look for an abandoned property and hide out until things died down. But with the level of media coverage the story was getting, that could take months. Or longer.
Besides, abandoned properties usually contained things like rats and spiders. No thanks. She’d go up against a bad guy any day, but a spider? Hell, no.
She needed Colton. In more ways than one. But she was determined to keep things professional this time.
She let out a breath when he lowered the Glock.
“Get in here,” he muttered.
Whether he meant her or the dog she wasn’t sure, but both of them hightailed it into the house.
—
About Allison B. Hanson:
One very early morning, Allison B. Hanson woke up with a conversation going on in her head. It wasn’t so much a dream as being forced awake by her imagination. Unable to go back to sleep, she gave in, went to the computer, and began writing. Years later it still hasn’t stopped.
Allison lives near Hershey, Pennsylvania. Her contemporary romances include paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery suspense. She enjoys candy immensely, as well as long motorcycle rides, running and reading.
The Golden Boy (A St. Mary’s Academy Novella) by Seven Steps & Audrey Rich Genre: YA Contemporary Romance Release Date: April 24th 2018
Summary: Meg has it made. She has money to spare, attends an exclusive private school with the best film production program in the country, and, to top it off, she has a super-hot boyfriend. But when her father’s business goes under, and her boyfriend cheats on her with a ditzy cheerleader, the only way she can maintain her perfect life is to figure out a way to stay in school.
When a fellow student offers to pay her tuition, Meg jumps at the chance. She only has to tell one tiny white lie to someone she’s never met.
How hard could that be, right?
Until she discovers she must deceive Julius ‘Hercules’ Samson, the school quarterback with a heart of gold. Even worse, he’s determined to sweep her off her feet.
Can Meg go through with the plan to save her future, even if it means ruining Julius’?
Inspired by Megera (Meg) from the story of Hercules, The Golden Boy is a poignant, emotional, young adult contemporary romance about a teen girl’s hard choices, loss, and love.
St. Mary’s Academy is a young adult contemporary romance series that brings classic fairytale characters to life in a modern day, high school setting. It’s filled with angsty heroines, hot heroes, and drama galore. St. Mary’s Academy Shorts are shorter stories from within the St. Mary’s Academy universe.
Buy this book today because you’ve never read a fairytale quite like this.
“Everyone laughed. The cacophony made my head hurt. I struggled against the hands holding me. I had to get out of here before things got worse.
Suddenly, the shouting died down.
My eyes flew open. My search for the grownup landed on a pair of gorgeous blue eyes….
Julius!
He pushed the crowd aside.
“Let her go. Right. Now.” His voice boomed against the walls. A couple of the kids covered their ears.
I felt the hands holding me quiver.
“Listen Herc, this girl is the reason you’re no longer quarterback and-”
“I don’t care what you think, right now, Grunski. Let go of her right now.” He closed his fingers into two giant fists and scanned the area as if searching for victims to pummel.
“I’m already leaving this school. I have no problem beating your head in on the way out.”
About the Authors:
“Let me be that I am and seek not to alter me.”–William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing.
I have been writing for as long as I can remember. One of my mentors (you know who you are) often reminds me of my first foray into the world of literary fiction. It was a lively story about a bee’s journey to find a pot of missing honey. He says that I have improved since then. I think that he’s right.
I am a working wife and mother, as well as a devoted owner of a beautiful cat named Rosie. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family, thrifting, and anything that reminds me of my childhood.
My favorite genres are Sweet Romance, Science Fiction, Dystopian and Historical.
Author Links:
Audrey Rich is a New York City transplant living in South Florida, who writes sweet YA and NA Contemporary Romances and is an avid reader of novels where love conquers all.
She’s married to her own happily-ever-after Hero, is an inactive CPA, and a stay-at-home mom homeschooling her teenage daughter, while also missing her son, who is away at college.
Audrey enjoys volunteering with children of all ages at church, especially the enthusiastic teenagers, and teaching the Junior Achievement curriculums at local middle and high schools. She also loves to travel with her family.
Author Links:
Check out the FB party between the 22nd and 29th for more giveaways and prizes!
From New York Times Bestselling author Joanna Wylde comes ROME’S CHANCE, a new novella in her Reapers MC series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure to grab your copy today!
About ROME’S CHANCE:
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joanna Wylde comes a new story in her Reapers MC series…
Rome McGuire knew he was in trouble the first time he saw her.
She was sweet and pretty and just about perfect in every way. She was also too young and innocent for the Reapers Motorcycle Club. He did the right thing, and walked away.
The second time, he couldn’t resist tasting her.
Gorgeous and smart, fun and full of wonder, she jumped on his bike and would’ve followed him anywhere. Still, she deserved a shot at happiness somewhere bigger and better than a town like Hallies Falls. Walking away wasn’t so easy that time, but her family needed her and he had a job to do.
When she came around a third time, he’d had enough. Randi Whittaker had been given two chances to escape, and now it was time for Rome to take his.
This time, the only way Randi would be leaving Hallies Falls was on the back of Rome’s bike.
The sound was rough and sexy, with just a hint of a growl. Deeper than it’d been eight years ago, when I’d thrown caution to the wind and hopped on the back of his motorcycle for one glorious night.
Back then, I’d still been a shy little thing, terrified that some hot biker might actually want to talk to me, let alone take me out. When I caught him watching me at the party, I remembered studying the floor, his shirt collar, even the beer in my plastic cup, because I hadn’t known what to do with myself around such raw male glory. Apparently some things never change, because when I turned to face him, I found myself staring at the floor again.
This was a mistake, because his feet were down there. And the battered, black leather boots he wore led to jeans-covered legs. Legs topped by thick, muscular thighs.
Stop it. You’re acting like a giant dork! My brain hissed.
Oblivious and mesmerized, my gaze rose to the faded denim around his fly, and it was all over. My eyes started tracing the folds of the Okanogan Fire and Rescue T-shirt covering his still-muscular chest, although the Reapers Motorcycle Club vest he wore was a change. Back then, he’d been hanging around the Nighthawk Raiders MC. That whole club had disappeared for reasons I’d never fully understood, and the Reapers had taken over the town shortly afterward. Apparently Rome was one of them now.
Interesting…
I’d always wondered what’d happened to Rome after I’d left. We’d never said goodbye. That summer, the wildfires had swept through so fast that my family had to evacuate with the clothes on our backs. We hadn’t bothered to come back and sift through the ashes.
I’d kept in touch with my old boss, Tinker, of course.
I’d even considered asking her about Rome, but in some ways those fires were the best thing that ever happened to me. Starting over meant starting college in Missoula, and then a whole new life.
Wasn’t like Rome and I could’ve ever been anything real, anyway. Guys like him weren’t for girls like me.
My gaze reached his neck, which bristled with thick, black stubble that was more than a little out of control—this was different from when I’d known him before. Not that he’d ever been baby-faced, but he’d definitely matured. Now there were a few wrinkles around those dark blue eyes, although the dimple was still there. So was the crooked smile that’d spontaneously combusted my panties.
Correction.
A crooked smile that was currently combusting my panties. Who knew that a supermarket could be such dangerous territory?
“Been a long time,” he said. I shrugged, unsure what to say. I mean, yeah, we’d gone out on a date. He’d kissed me and wow… Not that we’d gotten much past second base, but he’d scored a home run in the lower deck of my ballpark, if you know what I mean. But he was one of those guys—you know, the kind of guys who hit lots of home runs with lots of girls.
I really liked Randi and Rome’s story–it packed just the right amount of drama, sexiness, and sweetness into a novella-sized package.
Rome’s Chance is a second chance romance of sorts, though the first time around Rome and Randi didn’t really have much of a chance thanks to a series of circumstances beyond their control. This time, though, Rome is determined to not let Randi get away again–no matter how many obstacles life tries to throw their way.
And whoa, did life do some big-time obstacle throwing here…
With everything that was going on in Randi’s life, Ms. Wylde could have definitely stretched this book into a full-length novel; instead she did a great job of just showing us the bits we really needed to see and kept it as an ultimately satisfying novella–a great addition to both the Reapers MC series and the 1001 Dark Nights series.
Though a few other Reapers MC series characters take part in the events here, it would work just fine as a standalone, making it a good choice both for first-time readers and for series fans.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
About Joanna Wylde:
Joanna Wylde started her writing career in journalism, working in two daily newspapers as both a reporter and editor. Her career has included many different jobs, from managing a homeless shelter to running her own freelance writing business, where she took on projects ranging from fundraising to ghostwriting for academics. During 2012 she got her first Kindle reader as a gift and discovered the indie writing revolution taking place online. Not long afterward she started cutting back her client list to work on Reaper’s Property, her breakout book. It was published in January 2013, marking the beginning of a new career writing fiction.
Joanna lives in the mountains of northern Idaho with her family.
Lord of Fortune, an all-new historical and romantic standalone from Darcy Burke is LIVE!
Dashing adventurer Penn Bowen is dedicated to preserving Britain’s history and his carefree, bachelor lifestyle. He’s happiest when he’s in pursuit of knowledge and the occasional liaison with the right woman. So he’s more than a little perturbed when the wrong woman inserts herself into his latest quest—proving that a valuable artifact in Oxford’s museum is a fake. Amelia Gardiner is smart and capable…and determined to prove that Penn is wrong about the treasure her grandfather found.
Amelia won’t allow Penn to denigrate her family’s legacy, and she certainly won’t join the ranks of women who throw themselves at his feet. As secretive and dangerous factions infiltrate their hunt, Amelia and Penn must work together to stay one step ahead. But passion ignites between them and suddenly their alliance is more than a simple convenience. When peril strikes too close, they’ll risk everything they hold dear: family, honor, and a chance for the greatest treasure of all—love.
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her reader club at http://www.darcyburke.com/readerclub. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit.
The Dylan Dilemma Patricia B. Tighe
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: April 24th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
High school senior Kenzie Harper-Shea has no time for dating, especially after the arrival of the basketball coach from hell. Now Kenzie has lost her confidence, is in a slump, and in danger of losing out on a scholarship to play college ball. The last thing she needs is her “vacation boyfriend,” Dylan McCoy, distracting her with warm smiles, inside jokes, and swoony kisses.
Dylan, however, is totally ready to date. He finally lives in the same town as Kenzie and is not about to lose the chance to let their relationship grow into something more. But for now, he’ll stay in the friend zone because he’s determined to find out what has her running scared. It can’t be just about basketball.
As Kenzie spends more time around Dylan, her feelings become a jumbled-up mess. It’s obvious they’re into each other. So, why does she panic whenever she thinks about dating him? Is it connected to basketball or to something deeper? She’s not sure. Does she have the courage to examine her heart, even if it means breaking Dylan’s?
Satisfaction settled over me. “That’s not true.” Oh, Kenzie was jealous all right. Now to get her to admit it.
“I don’t believe this. You’re usually so good at reading people and you’ve totally messed up where she’s concerned. That girl likes you. As more than just a friend.”
I shook my head. “We’ve always joked around. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“She kept touching you.”
I gave her my best “you’re being ridiculous” face. “Kenzie—”
“No.” She strode over to me. “She slid her hand down your arm like this.” Kenzie trailed her fingers along my forearm.
I forced myself to ignore the tickling sensation. “So?”
“She played with your hair.”
“What? She did not.”
“She reached up and stuck her hand in your hair.” Kenzie lifted a hand but paused, leaving it waiting in the air.
“You mean when she was pulling that leaf out of my hair?”
“Oh, good grief, Dylan. You did not have a leaf in your hair! She just wanted to touch you. Why can’t you admit it?”
I turned away like I was tired of the conversation. “You’re overreacting.”
She grabbed my shoulder, twisting me back around. “I know what I saw.”
We stood really close now, her hazel eyes glaring. They were tinged with blue, almost a light aquamarine color, and their intensity made me freeze in place. I wanted to pull her against me, to feel her arms tighten around me, but something was about to happen. Good or bad. I knew it. So I waited, not sure if it was right or not, breathing in the clean soapy scent of her T-shirt and wondering why she didn’t stink of sweat after tennis.
Kenzie slid her hand down my forearm. “Lissa did this,” she whispered. She ran the other hand into my hair, holding my head. “And this. And she wanted to kiss you, but I don’t know if she did or not.” Her lips were seriously close. “Did she?”
I swallowed. “No,” I said through a breath.
Author Bio:
The mother of two grown sons, Patricia B. Tighe lives in West Texas with her husband and dog. She eats way too much pizza, drinks way too much coffee, and watches way too much NFL football. On the bright side, she also reads and writes teen fiction. She promises to include as much romance, angst, and adventure as possible in her books.
Believing he’s too dangerous to be among people, feline hybrid Tanner Howland retreats deep into the forests of Washington State—with no choice but to leave behind the woman who’s captured his heart. What he doesn’t know is that she followed him…
SHE WOULDN’T STAY BEHIND
Heartbroken and determined, Dr. Zarina Sokolov tracks Tanner into the wild. Her presence unleashes Tanner’s protective instinct—big time. Locals have been disappearing and he is desperate for Zarina to leave. As the kidnappings escalate, Tanner must embrace the dangerous instincts he fears so much. But with Zarina at his side, he’ll have to learn to control his animal impulses, or lose himself—and the woman he loves—to the beast within.
Sighing, Tanner closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall of the cabin again. Zarina didn’t say anything else, not wanting to interrupt him if he was silently saying a prayer of thanks. She frowned a little, realizing she didn’t know whether he was religious or not. Then again, there was a lot about Tanner she didn’t know. He kept a lot of stuff to himself. She wished he didn’t do that. Maybe she could make his life better if she knew more about him. Which, strangely enough, was part of the reason she was so attracted to him. That stoic, stubborn nature of his was alluring—when it wasn’t driving her crazy.
Tanner’s eyes abruptly snapped open, and he pushed away from the wall, completely alert. A moment later, Zarina heard the sound of footsteps approaching the cabin. She turned to see Burt, along with another man and a dark-haired teenage girl who was about eighteen or nineteen. The man was probably the same age as Burt, but his face was more lined and his eyes more weary.
It wasn’t until the trio stopped in front of them that Zarina caught sight of the half-healed scar along one side of the girl’s neck. Four parallel wounds, the two in the middle deeper than the ones on either side. It took Zarina only half a second to recognize those scars had come from a shifter—or a hybrid.
Zarina shot a quick look Tanner’s way, telling herself it wasn’t possible. She searched his face for some indication he was the one who’d hurt the girl, but he merely returned her gaze.
“Zarina, you know Burt already,” Tanner said. “This is Chad and his daughter, Lillie.”
Burt gave Zarina a nod while Chad and Lillie took turns shaking her hand. Zarina should have realized the girl was the man’s daughter as soon as she saw them together. They had the same gray eyes, aquiline nose, and arching brows.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you getting here so fast, Tanner,” Chad said. “And for bringing your friend.” He looked at Zarina. “I don’t know what we would have done without her, except maybe lose Lorraine. How is she?”
Zarina opened her mouth to point out that there would have been a lot less drama if they’d simply taken the woman to a hospital like normal people, but the sight of three huge, fierce-looking men coming toward them made her forget what she’d been about to say.
It wasn’t just the blatant anger on the men’s faces that stunned her speechless. It was the fact that she recognized them. But even as she stood there with her mouth hanging open, she told herself she had to be wrong. There was no way they could possibly be the men she thought they were, because the last time she’d seen them, Stutmeir’s goons had been dragging their dead bodies out of an abandoned ski lodge not more than fifteen miles from here.
“What the hell is she doing here?” one of the men snarled, showing off inch-long fangs to go along with his suddenly flaming red eyes. Dark-haired with a broad nose and full lips, he was nearly as tall as Tanner. “She’s one of those damn doctors who tortured us. I’d know her scent anywhere.”
Zarina was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that the hybrids were alive when the one who’d spoken strode toward her, his clawed hands itching to do damage. She barely had enough time to get out of the way before Tanner stepped in front of her and stiff-armed the guy in the chest.
“Back off, Spencer,” Tanner growled, his tone more menacing than Zarina had ever heard it. He pinned the other two hybrids with a glare. One had blond hair and a stocky build while the other was a tall, muscular dark-skinned man. “Peter and Malcolm, that goes for you too.”
That warning only got them more riled up. Zarina watched in alarm as Peter and Malcolm snarled and bared their fangs. Clearly, they were ready to go through him to get to her.
Tanner didn’t give them a chance. He dropped his hands to his sides, his claws extending to their full length so fast that blood splattered on the wooden planks of the porch. Then he bared his fangs at the men and roared so loud, people five miles away probably heard it.
Zarina reached out to grab his arm, desperate to stop the fight before it started, but Tanner slipped left and caught the blond-haired Peter in midjump. Latching onto the man’s shoulders, Tanner spun him around and sent him crashing into one of the pillars supporting the porch. Peter slammed into it with an audible crunch. Something told Zarina the sound wasn’t entirely from the wood breaking.
Peter hadn’t even tumbled to the ground before Tanner was moving again. He intercepted Malcolm just as the man lashed out at Zarina’s face with his claws. Their sharp points missed her by mere inches, and she gasped as Tanner ran headlong into her attacker, shoving him away from her.
Tanner and Malcolm went down in a pile, quickly becoming a rolling ball of muscles, snarls, growls, and flashing claws. A split second later, Spencer joined the fray.
Crap. This was going to get so much worse.
Heart pounding, Zarina hurried forward to intervene, but an arm wrapped around her waist, jerking her to a stop before she’d gone more than a few feet. She glanced over her shoulder to see Burt holding onto her. A few feet away, Chad was doing the same to his daughter. All around the camp, people poked their heads out of doors and windows, a few of them venturing out of their cabins to see what the commotion was about.
“You can’t get between them, not while they’re like this,” Burt insisted. “You do, and you’re the one who’s going to get hurt.”
Zarina knew Burt was right, but that didn’t keep her from fighting against his grip anyway. Tanner was in danger. That was all she cared about.
But Burt refused to let her go, so she was forced to watch as Peter joined Spencer and Malcolm. The three hybrids looked barely human now, their eyes completely lost in a glow of red and fangs flashing.
Tanner might be bigger than all three of them and a former Army Ranger to boot, but there was no way he could fight that many out-of-control hybrids all at once. He was so focused on Spencer and Malcolm that he never saw Peter coming at his back. Malcolm gripped Tanner’s shoulder, digging his claws in deep and flipping Tanner over. Peter immediately lunged forward and sank his fangs into Tanner’s free arm, pinning it to the ground and holding him tight. That’s when Spencer leaned in close and lifted his hand, his claws aimed at Tanner’s exposed neck.
Zarina’s heart seized in her chest. Oh, God. Spencer was going to kill him.
Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast.
