A Cover To Be Proud Of ~ A PRIDE OF BROTHERS:AIDEN by Peggy Jaeger #RomanceGem

 

Good morning, all! I'm very happy to have Romance Gem author Peggy Jaeger on today with her cover reveal for A PRIDE OF BROTHERS:AIDEN, and it's a beauty! But first, let's get a look at the cover that precedes it in the series.

I absolutely love these covers. I think they're sharp. I love the title, series, and tagline placement. I love the back to back pose.... Just to tease you a bit further, let me give you the blurb for Aiden's book...

Blurb ~

 

Lexi Buckley wants answers about her younger sister's death. The police have labeled it a suicide, but Lexi doesn't believe it. Stymied in her investigation, she doesn't know where to turn next. After a chance encounter with a private investigator, she thinks her prayers have been answered.

Aiden Keane has never been an answer to a prayer before, but he agrees to help Lexi. A quirky combo of brains and beauty, the pixie blonde makes him feel things no professional ever should for a client.



When their investigation puts Lexi's life in jeopardy, her safety becomes his number one priority. The hard part is not falling for her.




And here it is!

A PRIDE OF BROTHERS: AIDEN

Book 2 in the series

Romantic suspense

Coming soon!

Doesn't that sound good? And now, to entice you further--because I'm like that--here's an...

Excerpt ~

 

Were you close with your sister?” Aiden asked.

Not the way we should have been. Not at the end.

“We had a sizable age difference between us. Almost ten years. I was the big sis. The oldest.” Her lips trembled when she pulled them into a sad line. Rolling her eyes she added, “The bossy one, according to her. She was the baby and took full advantage of her status from the moment she realized it.”

“And rightly so.” The corners of his eyes crinkled. “I’m the youngest of my brothers and I’ll can tell you with one hundred percent honesty, my oldest brother is the bossiest one of us. I think it comes with birth order. Although he takes his so called right uber-seriously. Especially at work.”

This time her grin was steadier.  “What kind of business do you all own together?”

“We a run a private security company.”

“Security?”

“Personal bodyguards, if a client needs protection from something. Background checks for employers. Mostly we do investigations.”

“What, like private eyes? Like on television?”

He laughed. “Nothing so glamorous. The fast cars and hot babes are all fantasy. It’s a lot of boring research, computer work, and surveillance, but yeah, you could say I’m a private eye.”

Lexi’s entire mood turned on his words. The sorrow flew, the hurt dissolved. Even her nervous trivia-speak went dormant. She sat bolt upright, her knees bumping against the tabletop when she shifted. Excitement shot from her system as she turned her body, placed a hand across his forearm and declared, “Oh, my God. You’re the answer to my prayers.”

 

A PRIDE OF BROTHERS: RICK is available now across all digital media and in print: https://books2read.com/u/38RV7O

 

 And now, once again, in all its glory...

 I love the muted colors! Well, what are you still doing here? Hop on over and snatch this up! ...and then come back and comment. (Bossy, much? ;) )

Thanks for reading and have a fabulous Tuesday!

DEATH RACE, It'll Get Your Heart Beating In More Than One Way ~ Kari Lemor #RomanceGem Author

Happy Feature Friday, all! Today I have Romance Gem author Kari Lemor with me and she's brought along her hero and heroine from her new release coming to us this Saturday, DEATH RACE, Book Five in her LOVE ON THE LINE series. Meet my friend Kari and Keith Cho and Samantha Bates. 

Let's start with Keith...

Tell me about yourself? What is your occupation? Why? What are your strengths & weaknesses?

I’m Officer Keith Cho, Boston Police Department. I bring criminals to justice. I don’t think it’s a good idea to publicize any weaknesses. Not in my job.

How did you and Samantha meet? What was your first impression of her?

I met Samantha when her brother, Paul and I became partners in the Boston PD. She was still a teenager at the time. I always enjoyed the time all three of us spent together, though she was far too young for me to think of in any romantic way. I still shouldn’t because Paul made me promise to take care of her. I don’t go back on my word.

What do you like about the Samantha?

There’s lots to like about Sammi. But I’d have to say her best quality is she doesn’t play games. What you see is what you get. She’s truthful no matter what. Even if it hurts your feelings.


Has life handed you any major disappointments?

Sure, everyone has disappointments. My biggest is not being able to save Paul when a scum thief killed him.

If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

Due to this bullet wound in my shoulder, I’ve got about a month of free days. I’d planned on taking a cross country trip to visit my family. Now that Sammi’s with me, I guess the trip won’t be so boring.

Now it's Samantha's turn...

Tell me about yourself? What is your occupation? Strengths, weaknesses?

I’m Samantha Ann Bates. Sammi to my family. Well, it was. They’re all gone now. I’m a mechanic. I’m good at fixing cars. And saying things maybe I shouldn’t. It doesn’t always go over too well. So I guess that makes it a weakness.


Describe Keith. What was your first impression of him and did it change over time?

Keith Cho has this façade that he presents to the world. Cold, emotionless, business-like. I was kind of intimidated by him when we first met. Thought he was super cute, too. But Paul told me to forget any crush on Keith. But my brother insisted Keith has a sense of humor in there somewhere. Now that we’re on this cross-country trip together, guess I’ll have time to look for it.

Is there anything about Keith that you would consider a flaw?

Sure. The fact he’s a cop. Don’t get me wrong, being a police officer is a noble and courageous career. I have the utmost respect for what they do. Unfortunately, both my father and brother died in the line of duty. I can’t lose someone else that way.

What is it that you want out of life?

See this black eye and these bruises? Yeah, how about not getting punched in the face or kicked by your supposed boyfriend. Cause that really sucks. Is that too much to ask, to be treated well?

I would think not! Has life handed you any major disappointments?

Well, the punching boyfriend was definitely a major disappointment. But before that absolutely. My dad died in the line of duty when I was fourteen. My mom died last year from cancer. Then a month after Mom died, my brother Paul was killed in the line of duty. Not sure I could handle anything bigger than that.

What CD is in your CD player right now?

Well, since I hightailed it out of town so the jerk boyfriend wouldn’t come after me, I don’t have my car or the CD player. But Keith’s nice big truck has all the latest gadgets. Unfortunately, he prefers classic rock. Don’t get me wrong, rock is great, but I need some twanging country boys telling me all their woes so mine don’t seem quite so bad.

Hmm. Not a bad idea.

Now here's more about DEATH RACE...

Blurb ~

The road to happiness is paved with danger...

Recovering from a gunshot wound is the easy part. Boston cop, Keith Cho, discovers coming to grips with his partner’s death requires a different sort of medicine. He’ll start a cross country road trip with seeing his partner’s sister, Samantha Bates.

Sam can’t hide the injuries or the backpack she’s hauling as she hikes away from town. Fleeing from her abusive ex-boyfriend is key. When she and Keith reconnect on a back country road, he insists she come with him.

Keith is good company but needs to stay firmly in the friend category. Being with a cop can only lead to heartache, something Sam can’t handle again. As they travel, frequent accidents seem far too convenient. Are these incidents connected to them or a mystery someone wants silenced? It’s a race against death and someone’s going to lose.

HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN BUY DEATH RACE:

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091NDNYBV

Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B091NDNYBV/

Amazon Au https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B091NDNYBV/

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B091NDNYBV/

Amazon DE https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B091NDNYBV/

Amazon IN https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B091NDNYBV/

B&N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-race-kari-lemor/1139173843?ean=2940162252054

iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/death-race-love-on-the-line-book-5/id1561506890

Google https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kari_Lemor_Death_Race_Love_on_the_Line_book_5?id=qKcKEAAAQBAJ&hl=en&gl=US

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/death-race-love-on-the-line-book-5

Books2Read https://books2read.com/u/31lKAn

HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND KARI:

Website: https://www.karilemor.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/karilemor

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karilemor/

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9756283.Kari_Lemor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kari-lemor

Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Kari-Lemor/e/B00ON2YDI6/

Thanks for being my guests today, Kari, Keith, and Samantha!

MASON'S MISSING ~ And You Need To Find Him! ~

Please welcome author Theresa Burrell with her latest, MASON'S MISSING...


​

Mason’s Missing (A Tuper Mystery – Book 1)

by Teresa Burrell

Publication Date: October 3, 2017

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Print Length: 249 Pages

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB ~

Tuper is helping find five-year-old Mason, who was presumably taken by his father. But when Mason’s father is found unconscious, Mason has disappeared again.

In an impossible search during a bitterly cold Montana blizzard, old cowboy Tuper and his hacker friend Lana’s quest blurs into one of insanity and murder. As wounded Tuper fights to stay alive in the bitter cold, Lana searches cyberspace and finds someone is working hard to ensure certain secrets remain secret — especially Mason’s true identity.

From the Author ~

This was a fun book to write. Tuper, a character from THE ADVOCATE’S FELONY, was a reader favorite. I received many emails asking for “more Tuper.” So I decided to give him his own series. Tuper is an aging cowboy who lives in Montana and seems to know everyone in the state. His interests include three things: guns, gambling, and women. People seek his services because he knows how to get things done.

Tuper reluctantly receives help from a very unlikely partner — a young woman who is more than proficient on a computer. They are polar opposites, but they both bring a unique skill set to the table.

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Read an Excerpt



AUTHOR BIO ~

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Google+ | Pinterest | Goodreads

Teresa Burrell is the author of the award-winning Advocate Series as well as two children’s books. Her readers rave about The Advocate Series with the majority especially fond of her PI, JP Torn. Her main character, Sabre Orin Brown (her initials are S.O.B. – but she is not) is a dedicated child advocate, who can’t seem to stay out of trouble herself.

Teresa was born in Minnesota where she lived the first five years of her life on a farm with her eight siblings. For the next five years she and her family traveled to California to get away from the harsh winters, but each spring they returned to the small midwestern town. Eventually, they stayed in southern California where she graduated from high school and college. After obtaining her teaching credential Teresa enjoyed a satisfying career in the classroom. She has taught children of all ages with diverse backgrounds and special needs. After creating an after-school program that kept kids off the street, she received a community service award.

Teresa has dedicated her life to helping children and their families in both the courtroom and the classroom. After twelve years of teaching, she entered the University of San Diego where she earned her Juris Doctorate degree. As an attorney in San Diego, Burrell maintained a private law practice for twelve years, which specialized in domestic, criminal, and civil cases. Her work in juvenile court focused on representing abused minors and juvenile delinquents. Burrell has received several awards and special recognition from the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers for her countless hours of pro bono work with children and their families.

Now in semi-retirement in California, Teresa continues to educate groups about social issues impacting children and write novels, many of which are inspired by actual legal cases. She is the author of The Advocate Series which now contains eight novels, The Advocate, The Advocate’s Betrayal, The Advocate’s Conviction, The Advocate’s Dilemma, The Advocate’s Ex Parte, The Advocate’s Felony, The Advocate’s Geocache, and The Advocate’s Homicides. The Advocate’s Felony received the San Diego Best Mystery Award, and five of the books have received the International Readers’ Favorite Award.

Teresa has recently written two children’s books, along with illustrator, Zack Settle, called Gaspar, the Flatulating Ghost and Gaspar, the Flatulating Ghost Meets a Bully. This series is designed to entertain as well as help children deal with problems they confront on a daily basis.

Her newest novel is MASON’S MISSING, the first in the Tuper Mystery Series. This book stars Tuper, a character from book 6 of The Advocate Series. Tuper was a fan-favorite when he first appeared in THE ADVOCATE’S FELONY.

GIVEAWAY ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~

~ You Need To Be Reading A DEEP THING! ~

Please welcome A.K. Smith and A DEEP THING...

Blurb ~

What was her husband hiding in the jungles of Mexico?

Rocked by her husband’s tragic death, Kendall Jackson strives to put her life back together. But Ryder, her nineteen-year-old stepson, is bitter and wants nothing to do with her. And she can’t keep the grief at bay. Sometimes, it’s so strong, she wonders if life is worth living.

A call from a cave diver in Mexico gives her hope of mending the relationship with her stepson. Before his death, her husband arranged a diving expedition as a birthday gift for his son. Kendall persuades Ryder to honor his father’s last wish.

From the campus of Western Maryland College to the woods of Camp David and the caves of the Yucatán, Kendall and Ryder take a journey to discover what her husband worked so hard to hide, and to protect his treasured secrets from falling into the wrong hands. The choices they make will decide their fate and the future of others. Will they risk everything for the truth?

EXCERPT ~

Kendall, sat cross-legged on the bed, staring at her laptop. A glass of white wine, sat untouched on the bedside table. She put her iPod in, selected Jason Mraz and turned it up loud.

She turned off the Wi-Fi. Her mind was battling thoughts of hackers and computer surveillance.

She held the unusual memory stick in her hand before plugging it into the side of her computer. Black rubber surrounded the stick like the rubber on an underwater camera. Here goes. She watched it upload. Let’s see what this is all about.

Ten documents labeled by date flashed on her computer screen. Six documents dated years before Tim and Kendall met; the other four ranged from the beginning of their relationship to one dated three days before Tim died.

Inhaling deeply, she touched her mouse, pulling down to the right and clicking without hesitation on the last icon, a video file. She squeezed her eyes to hold back tears as Tim’s face filled the screen. The background was the upstairs office over the garage. She hit play.

“This message is for my wife. Kendall, if you’re watching this video, I’m so sorry not to be with you. Obviously, something happened to me for you to be hearing this. I know life’s been hard for you. I’m sorry, my love, I’m sorry I kept a secret from you, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy to protect a division of the US government. I hoped they will share this video with you. I can’t disclose the details about my job, but it’s not important to us. Something I did, not who I am. You know who I am, Kendall, you’re the only one who really knew me.”

She wiped the tears running off her chin.

“Stay close with Ryder, he’s not your blood, but he is a part of me and I want him in your life. UWMA, Kendall, UWMA I love you, Lambie.”

Her brows furrowed as tears ran down her face and her open mouth. She gasped for air. A division of the US government? Some type of CIA agent? The badge said Navy. UWMA. Was this truly happening?

LINKS ~

To purchase A DEEP THING:

https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Thing-K-Smith-ebook/dp/B01MG3FOXS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500825620&sr=1-1&keywords=a+deep+thing

For A.K. Smith:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/A.-K.-Smith/e/B01MPZX7X0/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

FB: https://www.facebook.com/aksmithauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aksmithbook

~ Do You Have BURIED SECRETS? ~

Please welcome back the talented Elizabeth Meyette with her newest offering, a follow-up to The Cavanaugh House, titled Buried Secrets. But first Elizabeth is going to tell us a little bit about ghostly mysteries...

It’s a (Ghostly) Mystery

Remember the line from the movie Sixth Sense, “I see dead people?” Well, Jesse Graham, my protagonist in both The Cavanaugh House and Buried Secrets, is a ghost-empath. She shares the emotions of dead people. While some psychics and those who are highly perceptive can “see dead people,” others may sense a spirit who has passed over through smell, touch, or sound. Jesse, senses the presence of a spirit through shared emotion, and, in the course of doing so, she solves mysteries.

In Buried Secrets, Jesse’s first encounter with the Weeping Woman, the ghost of a Seneca Indian woman, is on a dark rain-swept road when she fears she’s just hit and killed someone. She senses that she’s being watched, and is overcome with inexplicable rage and sorrow. She recognizes the presence of a spirit—and wants no part of it. She’s been there once already.

In The Cavanaugh House, Jesse first hears a sound that indicates Helen Cavanaugh’s presence in the house. The “scritch, scritch, scritch” sound is not readily definable. Initially, I used “scratch, scratch, scratch,” but “scratch” connotes something different for each reader. I wanted a sound that was raspy, soft, and eerie, but held no specific meaning. Once Helen had established her presence through sound, she began to affect Jesse emotionally.

Helen’s emotions were the antithesis of the raging fury of the Weeping Woman in Buried Secrets. This ghost assaulted Jesse, filling Jesse with her anger and thirst for revenge—and resolution. Jesse’s encounters with the Weeping Woman sometimes led to physical injury, even the threat of death.

Surrounded by her friends including Joe Riley, who is capturing her heart, Jesse learns to accept her role in bringing peace to ghosts who hold keys to mysteries.

Blurb ~

When Jesse Graham almost runs over a “body” in the road one night, she is plunged into a labyrinth of secrets, lies and murder. All Jesse wants is a simple life teaching at St. Bart’s… and a chance at love with Joe Riley. She realizes that plan has been thwarted when puzzling occurrences at St. Bartholomew Academy for Girls get increasingly dangerous. The danger doesn’t just spring from the ghost who haunts the grounds of St. Bart’s, but from a sinister presence that is not ghostly at all. As she digs into the mystery, threats on her life and the life of her student escalate.

Which danger threatens her life the most? The ghost haunting her student or the secrets buried in the school?

Buried Secrets

Sequel to The Cavanaugh House

By Elizabeth Meyette

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Genre: Mystery | Thriller | Suspense | Romance

Published by: Boris Publishing

Release Date: October 3, 2016

Length: 324 Pages

Excerpt ~

Jesse Graham squinted through the windshield wipers at the rain-swept road ahead of her. In her twenty-eight years, she had never liked being out in a thunderstorm, and this one was a doozy.

“NASA plans to put a man on the moon next year, but nobody can invent windshield wipers that work in a downpour,” she grumbled.

She hadn’t meant to work until after sunset, but she’d obsessed with putting up creative bulletin boards and adding final touches to the course guides to be ready for the first day of school tomorrow. Though she had taught in Rochester for five years, no doubt her obsession stemmed from the fact that she was the newest faculty member at St. Bartholomew Academy for Girls.

Adjusting to the late-summer darkness was hard enough, but add this thunderstorm and visibility was nil. At least upstate New York didn’t suffer through tornadoes or hurricanes. She gripped the wheel, concentrating on avoiding the deep ditch carved out along the shoulder.

A flash of lightning revealed a shape sprawled in the middle of the road ahead. She leaned forward, as if that would help her see if it was a deer someone hit and left to die. Another bolt of lightning illuminated the shape again, revealing blonde hair spread out on the wet pavement. In a moment of clarity—at least she could always count on that oddity in the midst of panic—she knew it was not a deer. Downshifting, she slammed on the brakes, her 1965 Volkswagen Beetle skidding sideways. She broke out in prickles of sweat as her car thudded against the form and halted.

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!” she cried out.

She was pinned to her seat. Her legs shook, then her whole body. She fumbled for the door handle, unable to find it at first. Finally, she grasped it, threw open the door, and scrambled out onto the road. The sky strobed as a lightning bolt slammed into a nearby tree. Her nose stung with the acrid smell of sulfur. Her knees buckled, but she recovered, stumbling toward the immobile form. Slowing her pace, she neared the cloth-draped figure, afraid it might leap up and attack her. Afraid it might not move at all.

Have I just killed someone?

Trembling, she dropped to her knees beside the form. Bile rose in her throat at the sight of long, blonde hair streaming out from beneath the gray wool blanket that covered the shape. Pulling the blanket back, she gasped. A blonde wig was perched atop a dummy fashioned from burlap stuffed with hay. What the…? Slowly, she realized what she was looking at. She breathed with relief. But her relief was short-lived.

Son of a bitch. This prank could have sent someone flipping end over end. Storms weren’t known to improve traction.

“Who the hell would pull a rotten trick like this?”

She looked around—was the perpetrator standing just off in the trees beside the road? Rain spattered against her hair. As she brushed the clinging ringlets from her eyes, she pulled up the hood of her nylon poncho. Heart pounding, she leaned back on her heels, inhaling deeply to still her trembling. Hot breath escaped through her flared nostrils. Grabbing the dummy, she wrapped the blanket around it and lugged it to the car.

Author Bio ~

Author, blogger and believer in dreams-come-true, Elizabeth Meyette fell in love with books as a child when her sister read her Goldilocks and the Three Bears. “She had me at ‘Once upon a time…’” Elizabeth confesses. Writing her first book on a dare, she kept Love’s Destiny on her closet shelf for more years than she would like to admit while she taught English and Journalism. Finally she retired early in order to pursue her passion: writing. A friend says she’s not retired, she’s “refired.”

Readers wanted more of the story of Jonathan Brentwood and Emily Wentworth, so Elizabeth got to work on Love’s Spirit. While she loved writing the two historical romances, her muse, Boris, started whispering in her ear characters and plot for The Cavanaugh House. That book was conceived on a trip to upstate New York to visit her family. The Cavanaugh House was a number one paranormal bestseller on Amazon for weeks until Stephen King bumped it to number two. Readers wanted more of Jesse Graham, so Boris nudged Elizabeth to pen a sequel to The Cavanaugh House, Buried Secrets.

Elizabeth has also written several children’s books that she hopes to publish in the near future. Her poetry has appeared in various anthologies.

A native of upstate New York, Elizabeth now lives in Michigan with her husband Richard. They have an agreement that she cannot cook on writing days after he endured burnt broccoli and dry chicken. Fortunately, Rich is an excellent cook.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | 

Goodreads | Pinterest

Giveaway ~

 Two $50 Amazon Gift Cards!

1. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~ Another Eggcellent #EggcerptExchange by Mari Manning ~ from STRANGER AT MY DOOR ~

What a fantastic cover, huh? Let's hop right into this eggcerpt and find out what it is about!

Blurb ~

The only thing standing between Dinah Pittman and a murderer is a man she’s afraid to trust …

As far as Dinah Pittman is concerned, men can’t be trusted. Especially cops. Her own father was a cop and a convicted felon who stole a small fortune before dying in prison. The best part? No one knows where the money is…and someone is willing to kill off everyone who knows anything about it.

And Dinah is next.

Rafe Morales left the Dallas police force to settle down to a simpler life in the small Texas town of El Royo. Instead, he finds himself protecting an infuriating, tough-as-nails, oh-so-sexy victim—and driving himself crazy with a thoroughly unprofessional desire.

But as the body count rises, Rafe and Dinah must find a way to trust each other…before they both end up dead.

Eggcerpt ~

The front door rebounded and clipped Rafe’s shoulder. He kicked it closed with his boot before raking his flashlight beam across the unlit entryway. The hall was clear. His heart thumping against ribs, he burst into the living room. His light hit the figure of a woman, and his feet froze. He tilted the beam up and framed Dinah Pittman’s expressionless face.

Most girls would have screamed or hid when he kicked in the door. Not this one. She had balls, he’d give her that.

Her forearm lifted to shield her eyes from the light. “Who are you? What do you want?” She sounded tired. “I already told Teke, I don’t know where the money is.”

Rafe lowered the flashlight and rolled his shoulder to loosen a tight muscle. There were about two dozen abandoned bungalows in this part of town. When he saw a candle flickering in the window, he’d expected a confrontation with teenagers or maybe a squatter.

He stepped into the candlelight. “Officer Morales, ma’am. Got something against electricity?” As soon as the words were out, he regretted them. The pink flyers. She’d needed money to turn on the lights.

Her mouth tightened. “Get out.” Turning to a small table by the window, she gathered up scattered cards, probably her tarot cards. Had she found customers already?

He studied her as he summoned up an appropriate apology. She wore cut-offs and a white T-shirt. His eyes swept down her slim legs to her bare feet and red toenails before he could stop himself. Why were pain-in-the-ass women always hot?

“I didn’t mean to upset you—”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“That’s tough to do with you around.”

Her hand stilled for a moment, then returned to its task. “You could have knocked.”

“Sometimes we get squatters in these abandoned houses. They’re more likely to be discouraged by a show of force.”

“I could have been a mass murderer. Aren’t you supposed to call for backup?” She glanced down at his flashlight. “If I was a bad guy with a gun, you’d be dead, Officer Morales.”

“Rafe.”

She’d read him right. He’d tried to pull out his service revolver when he broke down the door, but—predictably—his hand had turned to Jell-O. After two years, he still couldn’t get past the night in Dallas when his beautiful, daring Sam’s luck ran out, and he’d avenged her but failed to live up to his own lofty ideals. So he relied on the element of surprise and big fists.

Gathering up the cards, she set them in a neat stack. “As you can see, I am not a squatter.” Her gaze flickered to his flashlight, then back up to his face. “There’s an empty house about two blocks down if you’re determined to rescue one.”

The corner of his mouth inched up. She’d be a handful…for the right man, which sure as hell wasn’t him. Not anymore. “Thanks for the tip.”

Author Bio ~

Let’s start with the fun stuff. I love small towns, mysteries, quiet men, laughter, old-fashioned spaghetti dinners. I love boots and shopping and jokes and Hershey’s dark chocolate and white wine. I love lots of things. But my first love is reading.

I love to read. Just about anything, but it has to be well-written. I go through periods where I am into historical novels or romance or mystery or history or biography. I never know when my desires will suddenly change.

Now for the writer-ish, official stuff: Mari Manning is the author of several contemporary romances and three romantic suspense novels set in the Texas Hill Country. Stranger at My Door is the first in her A Murder in Teas series. The second, Stranger in My House will be published by Entangled later this year. The third book in the series is Stranger in My Bed. Currently Mari is working on a series of cozy mysteries.

She and her husband live in Chicago.

Interview ~

Dinah Pittman, heroine of Stranger at My Door

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a small town in Texas. I’ll tell you the name, but it doesn’t matter since no one’s ever heard of it. It’s El Royo. For the first 17 years of my life, I loved it, then a crime destroyed my family, and I couldn’t get away fast enough.

When is your birthday?

I’m 25, so you do the math. I was born on November 1, and my mother, who believed in the stars, painted the night sky at it appeared the day I was born on the ceiling of my bedroom.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Pay back the money my father stole.



Rafe Morales, hero of Stranger at My Door
Where did you grow up?
I grew up on Hacienda Osito, which means Little Bear Ranch in Spanish.


Worst fear or nightmare?

I’ve lived through my worst fear – I watched someone I love die before my eyes. Something broke in me that night. Most people call it my nerve. My mother swears it’s my alma, which means soul. Whatever it is, I hope it mends, but I don’t believe I will ever be whole again.

Links ~

You can buy STRANGER AT MY DOOR at:

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/stranger-at-my-door/

You can find Mari at: 

Contact Mari at manningillinois@gmail.com

Visit my website at www.marimanning.com

Follow me @mari_manning on Twitter

~ What's It Like to be HUNTED? Find Out in Marissa Garner's Latest! ~

In the spotlight today--HUNTED, by Marissa Garner!

BLURB ~

Hot agents on explosive cases in the FBI Heat series: For San Diego’s elite FBI agents, risking their lives is standard procedure when it comes to capturing the city’s most dangerous criminals—but falling in love is the greatest risk of all. 

Catching bad guys in San Diego’s underworld isn’t just FBI Special Agent Ben Alfren’s job, it’s his life. He doesn’t have time for a serious relationship, doesn’t want one either. So when he meets his sexy new neighbor, Amber Jollett, he has nothing more in mind than unwinding with a glass of wine, a romantic walk on the beach…and maybe a hot fling.

But Amber is more than he bargained for. Hunted by an obsessed ex-boyfriend, the fiercely independent nurse chooses fight over flight for the chance at a future with her hot, blue-eyed neighbor. When she gets caught up in Ben’s plans to rescue five kidnapped women, their lives get entangled and their attraction flares into passion. But they’ll learn that in this dangerous game of cat and mouse, real love can save—or doom—them . . .

EXCERPT ~

The man in the gray hoodie was watching her. Amber Jollett couldn’t see his face, but he was the right height and build. Even from the opposite street corner, the intensity of his stare bored into her. She shivered despite the sunny morning.

Her focus never wavered as she slid behind two people. The man’s head turned with her movement.

The traffic light changed, and the crowd surged forward. Amber’s hand dug into her purse until it gripped reassuring metal. Weaving between bodies, she moved to the outside edge to put as much distance as possible between her and the man before the other pedestrians passed on the street. With each step, her heart beat faster.

Halfway across, the man reached up, pulled back the hood…and smiled. Straight black hair. Almond-shaped eyes. Asian features.

Not him.

Amber’s knees went weak with relief.

Not him. Not this time.

A car horn blared. She jumped and spun around to find a taxi idling a few feet away, its driver gesturing impatiently for her to get out of the way. Waving an apology, she scurried across the street. She found a spot out of the pedestrian flow next to the corner of a building. She needed a moment to quiet her nerves.

She braced her hands on the knees of her pastel pink nurse’s scrubs, inhaled deep breaths, and released them slowly. Fear began to fade as calm returned.

Damn you, Jeremy Nelson. I want my life back.
Amber grimaced and closed her eyes. It was starting all over again. Two years had passed since she’d broken up with her obsessed boyfriend, but he continued to stalk her. Restraining orders and calls to law enforcement had proved useless. Now she alone was responsible for her safety. She’d lived in Coronado, across the bay from San Diego, for only two months. But two or three months was the amount of time it normally took for Jeremy to find her. From now on, she would have to be on constant alert. The worst part was imagining him wearing every hoodie, hiding in every shadow, or following in every vehicle. Usually, she didn’t wait for an actual sighting—that would be too late. No, she couldn’t hesitate. Once her instincts told her he was closing in, she had to move on. She cringed. How much longer will I be hunted?

AUTHOR BIO ~

Marissa Garner is a wife, writer, chocoholic, and animal lover, not necessarily in that order. As a little girl, she cut pictures of people out of her mother’s magazines and turned them into characters in her simple stories. Now she writes edgy romantic thrillers, steamy contemporary romance, and sexy paranormal romantic suspense. Her stories will titillate your mind as well as your libido. She lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, but enjoys traveling from Athens to Anchorage to Acapulco and many locations in between.

You can find Marissa at:

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1NTfT19

Website: www.marissagarner.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_Garner_Author

You can buy HUNTED at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PjQLGK

B&N: http://bit.ly/1OnacNA

iTunes: http://apple.co/1SpIDSJ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/21m7Zao 

GIVEAWAY ~

Visit Facebook or website to enter $25 Amazon e-Gift Card giveaway.

Welcome to the Martini Club! ~ 1920s Romance That'll Have You Ruined, Rebellious, Reckless, and Possibly Make You a Runaway!

I’d like to present Alicia Dean and friends, sharing a fun new series.

Before they introduce their stories, each of the four ladies have a question for readers.

Amanda McCabe: What TV show are you addicted to? (I never miss Downton Abbey or Sleepy Hollow, even though both have been letting me down lately. Death to Katrina, please!)

Alicia Dean: Which do you prefer, reading or watching television/movies?

Kathy L Wheeler: Do you have the desire to write a book?

Krysta Scott: Is there a book that you read over and over? If so, which one and why?

Martini Club 4 ~ 

The 1920s

A few years ago, myself and three of my writer friends—Amanda McCabe, Kathy L Wheeler, and Krysta Scott—began meeting each Friday evening (unless something extremely important kept one of us away, and trust me, it had to be IMPORTANT) for Martinis and various other libations, at the Martini Lounge in Edmond, Oklahoma. In time, we came to dub our gathering the ‘Martini Club.’ We unwind, vent, chat about writing, laugh, and strengthen an already strong bond of friendship. It’s not only fun, it’s beneficial. As all writers know, no other friend besides a writer friend truly understands us. (We also have an honorary MC member, Cindy Sorenson. Although she is a writer, she declined to write one of the stories, but she has been invaluable as far as brainstorming and beta reading. So, what else could we do…we named a character after her in the series!)


During one of these gatherings, one of us, and I can’t remember who, made an offhand remark about writing stories centered around the Martini Club. The idea blossomed from there, and the ‘Martini Club 4’ series was born. We thought it would be fun to set our first MC4 stories in the 1920’s, but we intend to write more in other decades in the future. During the planning, plotting, and writing, we have had a few weekend retreats that were loads of fun, and some were even productive. J What a joy to do something that I love so much—writing—with a group of ladies that I love so much!

Left to Right: Krysta Scott, Amanda McCabe, Kathy L Wheeler, Alicia Dean


Before we dive into their stories, the four ladies want to share a fun fact:


Amanda McCabe: Weirdly, since I love history, I am not much into my own genealogy, but a cousin is, and found out we are somehow related to Catherine the Great of Russia. I found that fascinating (since I love 18th century history). Who are some of your famous relatives??

Alicia Dean: I am a huge, lifelong Elvis Presley fan, and I blog about him every Friday. Who is your celebrity crush?

Kathy L Wheeler: I am a show hog. And a karaoke freak!

Krysta Scott: I watch too much tv. At least that’s what my friends tell me. But there’s just so much that captures my attention. Some of my personal favorites include Vampire Diaries, Sherlock, Haven, and The Lottery (which got cancelled. Sigh!)


*** Release date is February 26, 2015 and the price at that time will be $2.99 each. If you pre-order, they are only 99 cents each! ***

Please check out and ‘like’ our Facebook page:

http://facebook.com/martiniclub4

The entire series can be found at this link on Amazon:


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=series_rw_dp_labf?_encoding=UTF8&field-keywords=Martini%20Club%204%20Series%20-%20The%201920s&url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text

Without further ado, I’d like to present the four novellas in our Martini Club – The 1920’s series.

Rebellious ~

Martini Club 4 Series – The 1920s

Amanda McCabe

Blurb ~ Can an aristocratic lady melt the cold heart of a Russian gangster?

Lady Jessica Hatton fled her high-society London debutante life for one of investigative journalism in New York—only to be relegated to the fashion pages. Searching for a juicy story leads her to Club 501, the city's most glamorous speakeasy—and its handsome, mysterious owner, Frank Markov. But his past of war and revolution puts their hearts—and their lives—in danger...

Excerpt ~

I'm glad you're going with me tonight, Jess,” Meggie said in the back of the taxi, as they sped through the nighttime city on their way back to Club 501. She squeezed Jessica's hand and gave a grin, but Jessica could see the shadow at the back of her friend's eyes. The grim news of the girl in the alleyway had even affected stout-hearted Meggie.

Jessica smiled back. She knew Meggie would never want anyone to see her fright. Jessica didn't want anyone to see her own. “I have to get my handbag back, don't I?” And make sure no one read that notebook.

“How did you lose it, anyway?” Meggie asked. “You didn't say.”

“It must have fallen off my arm while I was dancing there,” Jessica answered lightly. “Wickedly careless of me, I know. At least there wasn't much money in it.”

The taxi let them off at the end of the alley, and Jessica and Meggie made their way down the walkway, talking and laughing loudly all the way. Luckily, they weren't the only ones there. Even though it was relatively early in the evening, there was already a short line at the underground stairs, elegantly dressed couples and a group of tiddly young men in silk hats and expensive jackets.

It seemed a murder wasn't going to slow down business. In fact, it increased it.


Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RICWBC8

Contact info: http://ammandamccabe.com

Ruined ~

Martini Club 4 Series – The 1920s

Alicia Dean

Blurb ~ She vowed she’d be no man’s doxy, but fate had other plans... 

After the Earl of Goodwin attempts to force himself on her, housemaid Eliza Gilbert flees England for New York, hoping to build a better life. But the land of opportunity proves as harsh as the London docks, and she finds herself in a situation more dreadful than the one she escaped.

Former boxer, Vince “The Fist” Taggart dreams of marrying, having a family, and living a quiet, peaceful life. But when a girl he's known since childhood disappears, he heads to New York in search of her and meets Eliza, a woman with a less than honorable reputation. Inexplicably captivated, Vince can’t force himself to stay away, especially when he learns Eliza is the key to finding his missing friend.

Excerpt ~

Oscar let out a belly laugh. “I recommend you pick out one of these pretty girls and have yourself a real good time. It’ll cost you, but trust me, worth every penny. Just pick one out. Your choice.”

The whole idea sickened him, but he tried to appear interested and impressed. He scanned the room. His heart gave a little bump when he spotted Eliza from Club 501. He tilted his glass toward her. “What about that one?” He hoped his voice sounded more casual than he felt. The idea of spending a night of passion with a dame like her… Nah, he needed to waylay those kinds of thoughts. He wasn’t the type of Joe to buy a prostitute. And he was here for one reason only.

Oscar followed the direction he’d pointed. “Oh yes, good choice. Eliza is a quite a prize. And quite a looker. She’s new, but she’s a sweet one.”

An odd sense of protectiveness rose. At the club, he’d sensed something vulnerable and innocent. Even though he’d been told she was one of Oscar’s girls. She just didn’t seem the type. When their gazes met, he thought some kind of current—some kind of connection had passed between them. But apparently, she was just another hooker.

Vince nodded. “I’ll take her.”


Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RICLM2I

http://aliciadean.com

http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487

https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_

http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Reckless ~

Martini Club 4 Series – The 1920s

Kathy L Wheeler


Blurb ~ Lady Margaret turned Lady Bootlegger…

Singer Margaret (Meggie) Montley needs money…fast. Her friend is in a dire situation with nowhere to turn. While Meggie is on the brink of stardom, it’s not soon enough to save her friend.

Harry Dempsey is out to avenge the deaths of his father and brother at the hands of a ruthless gangster. But trouble spirals out of control when Meggie Montley shows up the night he meets his nemesis to settle the score. Saving the impetuous woman from a crime lord might be easier than saving her from her own reckless behavior.

Excerpt ~

Jessie grabbed the paper and read. “A rising new star is on the horizon. Lady Margaret will make your heart weep with those husky, sultry tones of hers. Small appearances in the Broadway productions of The School of Scandal and Betty, Be Good, have not deterred this deliciously attractive young lady from singing gigs around Greater Manhattan. No. These bit-parts Lady Margaret is accruing seem to be serving her needs well. Mark my words, ladies and gents, you would do wise in catching this rising star—if you can.”

“Let me see that.” Meggie's breath caught and she snatched it back.

“And that’s not all,” Jessie said smugly. “Paul Whiteman was at Club 501 last night with some new composer. Gershwin something or other.”

“Paul Whiteman?” she squeaked.

“Do you know of him?”

“Know him? Know him! They refer to him as the King of Jazz. Dear God. He heard me? The man played at Aeolian Hall last year. I heard tell he’s receiving five thousand dollars for a single broadcast.” She felt faint and fanned herself with the paper. The one small broadcast with Bernie and Edison at WHN had netted her nothing. Of course, she hadn’t cared. She was on the radio. But now...she needed money, fast.


Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RICW0G0


Contact info: kathy@klwheeler.com

http://kathylwheeler.com

http://kathylwheeler.blogspot.com

http://facebook.com/kathylwheeler

http://twitter.com/kathylwheeler

http://pinterest.com/kathylwheeler

Runaway ~

 Martini Club 4 Series – The 1920s

Krysta Scott

Blurb ~ Can she prove her innocence before more than her dreams are destroyed?

After escaping an arranged marriage, Lady Charlotte Leighton lands on a new shore, determined to realize her dream of opening her own bakery. But her plans are shattered when her former fiancé follows her to New York. Now, she finds herself in a fight for her freedom.

Haunted by a string of failures, Detective Felix Noble is determined to solve his latest case. But his efforts to find a murderer are jeopardized by a forbidden attraction to his number one suspect. While he’s certain Charlotte Leighton is keeping secrets, instinct tells him she’s not the murderess he first believed.

Excerpt ~

Reality seeped in similar to a dissipating fog. She bit her lip and pulled away, but with his hold, could only manage two steps back. “I’m sorry, I-I’m not much of a dancer.”

“Please.” he said.

Her eyes darted to the table. The sumptuous desserts no longer held her enthralled. A rush of heat flooded her cheeks as he guided her perfectly through the steps. His stride was strong, his hand confident as it led her this way and that. She spun through the steps, never feeling off balance. “You dance very well, Detective.”

“Surprised?” He arched an eyebrow.

“A little.” She averted her gaze, aware her comment could be construed as an insult. It wasn’t her intent to offend him. Being this close to him was unnerving. Breaking the silence with words, any words, was better than acknowledging the heat radiating through her, or the way his intense blue gaze heightened her senses enveloping her in a gauzy nest of pleasure. Surprised to hear him laugh, she lifted her face to stare up at him. His eyes shone with merriment. He wasn’t offended at all.


Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RIFHGPC


Love the excerpts, ladies, and the covers! Thanks for joining us!