Cesya MaRae Cuono's Blog, page 4
September 12, 2017
Release Day Blitz! Forbidden Bastard by Felicia Lynn @inkslingerpr @flynnauthor

Today we are celebrating the release of FORBIDDEN BASTARD by Felicia Lynn. This is a mafia romance title that you won't want to miss! You can purchase it now on amazon, and follow Felicia's newsletter for exclusive details about the book.





Published on September 12, 2017 08:30
Release Day Blitz! Destiny Disgraced (Talon Pack #6) by Carrie Ann Ryan @inkslingerpr @CarrieAnnRyan



Get a sneak peek of DESTINY DISGRACED:Mitchell cursed under his breath as soon as she walked outside to the porch. He’d come outside to get away from her scent since it seemed to permeate the small house with the sweet and floral aroma that was all Dawn, and now here she was, invading his space. Again.
He didn’t know what it was about her, but he knew he needed to get a handle on whatever was going on. He might act like a bastard most of the time, but he wasn’t cruel. Yet right then, he just wanted to yell and scream and get away from her— and he had no fucking clue why. She was so damn close, too. So near, he could feel the heat of her skin against his. He hadn’t gone far from the door when he came outside, and now they were only a few inches apart.
“So… I didn’t know you’d be out here, or I would have stayed inside. Not that I’m avoiding you per se, it’s more that I know if you’re out here, then you’re probably like me and need some space to breathe or just be, and now here I am, standing in your way and not letting you be alone. So, yes, not avoiding, but I still try to give you a wide berth. Anyway, I can go back inside if you want, and go, uh… just go. Yeah, I’ll do that.”
She basically said all of that in one breath, and Mitchell had to admire her for that even if it sort of overwhelmed him.
“And now I’m talking too much, I can see it in your eyes. Or like, the corner of your eye since you’re not actually looking at me. Anyway, thank you for listening to me ramble. I’ll go back in and check on my brother. Oh, and thank you for helping him, by the way. I know you probably have four hundred things to do a day, but coming by the den and checking on Cole when your Alpha can’t… well, that’s truly just amazing. I hope you see that even if it might just be a duty to you.”
She opened her mouth and was either about to take a breath since she hadn’t in a while or start talking again. And since Mitchell didn’t know how to politely to tell her to shut up since her voice kept sending his wolf into an odd frenzy he couldn’t figure out, he did the one thing that came to mind.
He turned and kissed her.
Hard.

See the DESTINY DISGRACED trailer!

Published on September 12, 2017 08:00
Release Day Blitz! Cold Malice (Cold Justice #8) by Toni Anderson @inkslingerpr @toniannanderson

COLD MALICE by Toni Anderson is available today! Romantic suspense lovers won't want to miss this next riveting installment in her Cold Justice series. Find out more about COLD MALICE, read an excerpt below, and pick up your copy today!

About COLD MALICEASAC Steve (Mac) McKenzie is out to prove himself by leading a task force investigating a series of murders in the heart of Washington, DC. His undercover work in an antigovernment compound twenty years earlier is related—as is the sweet, innocent girl he befriended back then. Now that girl is a beautiful woman, and she has something to hide.Tess Fallon spent a lifetime trying to outrun her family’s brand of bigotry, but someone is threatening her anonymity by using the anniversary of her father’s death to carry out evil crimes and she’s terrified her younger brother is involved. She sets out to find the truth and comes face-to-face with a man she once idolized, a man she thought long dead. As the crimes escalate it becomes obvious the killer has an agenda, and Tess and Mac are running out of time to stop him.Will the perpetrator use a decades-old dream of revolution to attack the federal government? And will the fact that Tess and Mac have fallen hard for each other give a cold-hearted killer the power to destroy them both?Add COLD MALICE to your Goodreads list here!
ExcerptHe sat in his car, staring at the house, knowing she was inside watching him right back.
The unexpected attraction had caught him off guard. He’d forgotten what it felt like to actually want someone. But he couldn’t afford to start something with the daughter of one of the most notorious white supremacist leaders in history. That would not look great on his résumé.
That stupid hug had knocked him off balance and made him sit here like a damn stalker. He’d hoped to neutralize some of the antagonism his turning up out of the blue had created and keep her onside should he need her help in the future. But now the fresh scent of her shampoo invaded his nostrils, and the feel of her soft skin tantalized his senses. The sight of her in that damp robe— knowing that she was naked underneath— had distracted the hell out of him. And damned if that embrace hadn’t felt like coming home.
Chances were she wasn’t involved in the current murders. It didn’t seem likely that an accountant, raised by a woman of color, would turn around and start killing people based on her daddy’s evil doctrine. But who knew? He’d seen crazier things in his career. Tomorrow he’d check out her alibi and cross her off his to-do list.
More’s the pity.
And so what if his mind turned dirty. It wasn’t going to lead anywhere. She was off limits. And he was in control of his wants and needs.

Read an excerpt from COLD MALICE:He sat in his car, staring at the house, knowing she was inside watching him right back. The unexpected attraction had caught him off guard. He’d forgotten what it felt like to actually want someone. But he couldn’t afford to start something with the daughter of one of the most notorious white supremacist leaders in history. That would not look great on his résumé. That stupid hug had knocked him off balance and made him sit here like a damn stalker. He’d hoped to neutralize some of the antagonism his turning up out of the blue had created and keep her onside should he need her help in the future. But now the fresh scent of her shampoo invaded his nostrils, and the feel of her soft skin tantalized his senses. The sight of her in that damp robe— knowing that she was naked underneath— had distracted the hell out of him. And damned if that embrace hadn’t felt like coming home. Chances were she wasn’t involved in the current murders. It didn’t seem likely that an accountant, raised by a woman of color, would turn around and start killing people based on her daddy’s evil doctrine. But who knew? He’d seen crazier things in his career. Tomorrow he’d check out her alibi and cross her off his to-do list. More’s the pity. And so what if his mind turned dirty. It wasn’t going to lead anywhere. She was off limits. And he was in control of his wants and needs.

See the COLD MALICE trailer:
Did you know the first book in the Cold Justice series is available for free? Get your hands on A COLD DARK PLACE!

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Published on September 12, 2017 07:30
Release Day Launch! My Kinda Song (Summer Sisters #3) by Lacey Black @inkslingerpr @AuthLaceyBlack

Today we have the release day blitz for My Kinda Song by Lacey Black! Check out the festivities and be sure to grab your copy today!


Exclusive Excerpt:Back on stage, Gage instantly starts heckling me about where I was with Crystal. I don’t bother telling him I wasn’t with her because he sure as shit won’t believe me. He’s one of those guys who latches onto something and won’t let go. Like a dog with a bone, he’ll keep needling me until I give him the juicy details. Only this time, there are no details to give, but that doesn’t matter. He’ll just accuse me of keeping my dirty little secrets to myself. We’ve been down this road before.
Grabbing my guitar, I give it a quick tune, making sure everything is just right. Dexter starts tapping out the beat on his drums, and Andy and I join in on guitar. Gage belts out the opening notes of “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash and the crowd goes nuts. It’s not the typical rock music we usually play, but when we find a good song that the fans love and we enjoy playing, then we go with it.
After another two songs, it’s time to slow it down. Gage heads off stage to take a quick break, and I step up to the mic. I usually sing backup, but for three songs during our show, I take the reins and sing lead vocals. This song is one of them. It’s my favorite song to sing because it’s Abby’s song.
Way back when we were in grade school, I caught her humming it as we walked home from school. She was going to help me work on our Constitution assignment at her place, which happened every week or so. That particular day, she was quiet, lost in thought, so I let her be. Suddenly, she started humming, and it didn’t take me long to catch on to the tune. She had the voice of an angel, I remember thinking, and wanted to beg her to sing something for me. I had already discovered my love for music, but knowing that Abby shared this passion with me was like kismet. When I asked her about it, she just shied away and hid behind her books. I went home and started working on that song on my guitar. It took a while, but eventually, I got it down, and have been playing it ever since.
I start strumming the opening notes of Jeff Healey’s “Angel Eyes.” Continuing to play the song I know by heart, I scan the crowd until I see her, standing in the back, a soft smile on her face as she sings along to the song. Everything and everyone around us just fades away. It’s as if we’re the only two people on the beach. The way she watches me kicks my heart into overdrive, because I know, when it comes to this song, she only has eyes for me. Not that I want her eyes on me or anything. I mean, we are just friends. But if it were something more than friendship, then I’d be the luckiest son of a bitch to have her there with me.
Closing my eyes, I sing the words I’ve known by heart for fifteen years to my best friend. I can picture her out there saying the exact same words at the exact same time. We’ve sung this song together for years. Not publicly, of course, because she’d rather strip naked and do the chicken dance in the rain in the middle of Main Street than to get on stage and sing. In the privacy of her apartment or mine, we’ve belted out the words on several occasions. Abby actually has a beautiful voice. She just refuses to let anyone but me hear it.
When I reach the end of the second verse, I open my eyes and scan the crowd. She’s still there, standing in the same spot, watching me and singing along. I give her a knowing grin as I finish off the song strong, singing it for her. For her because she loves it, not because it means anything more than that. She’s my friend, remember? We’ve covered this.Why does it feel like I’m completely full of shit?


About Lacey Black:Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races, shooting guns, and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight. Lacey’s debut novel, Trust Me, was released in August 2014 and has been an Amazon Bestseller twice for Free e-books, as well as #1 for Contemporary Romance. All of the Rivers Edge books have been bestsellers in the Romance and Contemporary Romance categories. Connect with Lacey:Email | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

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Published on September 12, 2017 07:00
Release Day Launch! Tripped Out (Blacktop Cowboys #8.5) by Lorelei James @InkSlingerPR @LoreleiJames

From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lorelei James, comes TRIPPED OUT, a new novella in her Blacktop Cowboys Series , brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure to grab your copy today!

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Excerpt:The first rule of being a prankster?A killer poker face.And Stirling Gradsky had that down pat.The second rule of being a prankster?Learn your opponent’s weak spots.Maybe Stirling didn’t have that rule down entirely. Her pranking prey, Dr. Liam Argent, remained as much a mystery now as he’d been when he’d waltzed into High Society ten months ago and declared himself emperor.Okay, maybe not emperor, but he definitely acted like the laboratory was his private kingdom.His appearance hadn’t been a surprise. Stirling’s brother Macon, her business partner in High Society—a cannabis operation that included a retail store, a medical dispensary, and an onsite grow house—had informed her that he’d hired a guy from California, a cannabis expert, to work in the lab.After dealing in euphemisms regarding all things cannabis related, Stirling believed “the lab” was Macon’s shorthand for the grow house. She imagined the California dude to be an older version of the iconic stoner character Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.Turned out she had been wrong on both accounts.Macon had indeed meant he’d created a full-blown, state of the art laboratory, complete with a beefed up security system for their resident cannabis expert. And the “dude from California” turned out to be Dr. Liam Argent, stuffed shirt extraordinaire, with advanced degrees up the wazoo.The man drove her crazy.Crazy.From day one he’d refused to tell her what he was working on in his fancy-ass lab. When she’d complained to Macon about Dr. Argent’s secretive manner, he’d instructed her to leave Dr. Argent alone.Her brother may as well have waved a red flag in front of her.She’d tried being friendly…to no avail.She’d tried being bossy…to no avail.She’d tried every “employee relations improvement” tactic she’d learned in her years in the corporate world…to no avail.Hence her oh-so-mature decision to prank him until he cracked. She’d worked with men like him before. At least if you got them angry enough, they’d yell at you, which nine times out of ten led to an actual conversation.Except Dr. Argent hadn’t shown the slightest chink in his armor. In fact, he’d joined in on her prankfest and one-upped her on occasion.Which was why today’s prank ranked as one of the better ones he’d pulled on her.It was also why Stirling was massively annoyed.




Published on September 12, 2017 06:30
Release Day Blitz! Drunk on You (Hope Town #4) by Harper Sloan @inkslingerpr @harpersloan

![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00005]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1505452478i/23926149.jpg)
It was supposed to be fun. A mutual use of each other's bodies. To be a ruse to the world around us. I wanted to be free from my ex, and he wanted to escape his. One drunken night turned a joke into a life-changing moment. He warned me not to fall for him, and I should've listened. He intoxicated me. He made me crave him. He ruined me. In the end, I'll never be the same. AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA | AMAZON AU | Kobo | iBOOKS | BN



Published on September 12, 2017 06:00
September 11, 2017
Release Day Blitz! Speed (44 Chapters Spin-Off #2) by B.B. Easton @bb_easton @inkslingerpr

Today is the release day blitz for Speed by BB Easton! Check it out and grab your copy today!

Title: SPEEDAuthor: BB EastonGenre: New Adult RomanceRelease Day: September 11thAbout SpeedBecause BB Easton had so much fun writing her bestselling, award-winning memoir, 44 CHAPTERS ABOUT 4 MEN, she decided to give each of her four men his own steamy standalone! SPEED is the second book in the 44 Chapters spin-off series—a gritty, taboo love triangle overflowing with dark humor and tangible teen angst. It is based on a true story. After her possessive, psychopathic, rage-fueled ex, Knight, joins the Marines, sixteen-year-old BB is left trying, and failing, to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart. It isn't until she meets Harley James—an easy-going, tattooed mechanic with a face as angelic as his habits are sinful—that she learns how to live again. How to laugh again. But will she learn to love again? Over Knight’s dead body. Buy NowiBooks | Kobo | Nook | Paperback
Exclusive ExcerptIt was love at first sight. A late ‘60s Mustang fastback body style, matte black paint job, matte black rims, blacked out windows, and a massive open-air scoop on the hood. It looked like something straight out of Mad Max.
“Can I help you with somethin’?”
I turned and met the amused stare of a broad shouldered, baby-faced, blue-eyed mechanic. His dirty-blond hair was pushed back in a messy pompadour. His forearms were covered in hot rod tattoos. His pouty bottom lip was pierced. And his name was embroidered on the A&J Auto Body shirt hugging his hard chest.
Hellooo, Harley.
“Sorry,” I sputtered. “I know I’m probably not supposed to be back here, but I…” I looked back up at the beast on the lift and a deep longing seized my chest. “I just can’t leave her.”
Harley—if that was even his real name—chuckled and said, “So, you like the ladies, huh?”
“What? No!” I snapped.
“Good.” The mechanic smiled, and the twinkle in his mischievous blue eyes reminded me just how much I liked boys.
Trying to bring the subject back to cars and away from my sexual orientation, I looked around the garage and pointed to my faded black hatchback on the farthest lift. “I drive the baby version of this.” Harley glanced over at my most prized possession and nodded in approval. “Five-oh, huh? Not bad. Manual or automatic?”
“Manual,” I groaned.
“No shit? Your boyfriend teach you how to drive that thing?”
“No,” I said, letting my mouth hang open in pretend offense.
“Ah,” Harley nodded. “You met him after you got the car.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I said, rolling my eyes. I had to bite the insides of my cheeks to keep from smiling. God, he was cute. The guy had a face like James Dean and a body like Dean Cain. And that accent. Living in the south, Southern accents are a dime a dozen, but Harley’s was just subtle enough to be cute. Cute, cute, cute.
Harley smirked at me and asked, “Your old man must be a car guy then, huh?”
“You got me,” I smiled. “I’ve been hoarding all his old Muscle Carmagazines since I was a kid. I used to cut out all the Mustang pictures and tape them to my bedroom walls, but the tape fucked up the sheetrock so my mom bought one of those clear plastic shower curtains with the photo pockets and—”
Harley held up a hand to silence me. “I’m gonna have to stop you right there,” he beamed, “’cause right now all I can picture is you in the shower and I’m pretty sure I’m not gonna be able to process another word you say.”
Oh my God!
I could feel the prickly heat of a blush creeping up my neck. I bit the insides of my cheeks to keep my face from splitting open into a blotchy, big-toothed grin caused by his sexy little comment had caused. This guy, Harley, had to be in his early twenties, he was fiiiine as hell, and he was flirting with me.
Having no idea how to respond to that, I tried again to change the subject. “So, what do you drive?” “Hmm…” Harley tilted his head and smirked. “Why don’t you take a guess?”
Oh, we’re playing games now. Okay…
I tapped my lips with my fingertips and eyed him, thinking hard.
“You strike me as a…Volkswagen Beetle kinda guy.”
Harley almost laughed, then quickly scowled, trying to look offended.
“No? Oh, I got it. PT Cruiser.”
Harley pursed his ample lips, fighting back a grin.
“Wood-paneled Pinto?”
That one had him wrinkling his nose in genuine horror.
“Oh, I know—it’s a trick question! You drive a Vespa!”
Snort.
I was running out of ideas, so I looked around the shop and spotted a ‘64 Impala lowrider. “Ooh! I found it. Right there,” I said, pointing to the hoopty. “The gold rims were a nice touch. I bet you even put hydraulics on it, didn’t you?”
Harley finally let out the laugh he’d been biting back. It was deep and raspy and made my insides tingle. “You’re getting warmer,” he said. “It’s actually on hydraulics right now.” Harley lifted an oil-smudged finger and pointed to the matte black sex machine above my head.
(subject to change)

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Published on September 11, 2017 07:00
Chapter Reveal! Honest Intentions (Safeguard #5) by Kennedy Layne @inkslingerpr @kennedyl_author

We're just over a week away from the release of HONEST INTENTIONS by Kennedy Layne - but we couldn't wait that long! Read the first chapter below and preorder your copy today!

HONEST INTENTIONS releases September 19th - preorder your copy now!✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2tdIcrO✦iBooks http://apple.co/2i19V8M ✦Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/2jkiuxl✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2qXv3mD

Read the first chapter of HONEST INTENTIONS now:Chapter OneOne week ago…The shrieking howl of the bitter cold wind pierced through the walls of the tiny log cabin as it endeavored to find a way inside. The flames of the blazing fire reflected a thousand tiny flickers on the river rock hearth as it rose through the rafters and beyond. The view was mesmerizing as the dancing columns of blue and yellow fluttered briefly in their efforts to consume enough oxygen.The crisp night air finally succeeded in finding an otherwise tiny gap in the roughhewn pine logs that nevertheless continued their valiant fight to keep Old Man Winter at bay. The tail ends of each curling spark were like desperate souls trying to fight for their survival.The irony of that useless battle wasn’t lost on her as the fire consumed its fuel.Brettany Lambert slowly ran her hands up her arms and over the soft fabric of her chain-knit sweater in a vain attempt to absorb the warmth emanating only a few feet from the fire. The electricity had gone out hours ago, the backup generator had failed to start, and the wind chill had already dipped well below zero. The night proved to be long, but she didn’t have to spend it alone.She shot a glance toward the window that usually offered her a charming view of Mount Evans, but all she could see were large, distorted snowflakes battering the windowpane that Jack Frost had decorated with a whimsical etching of the winter winds.Beyond that?Nothing but darkness.The Colorado mountain range was picturesque in the middle of winter, but it certainly wasn’t her idea of an idyllic place to host a romantic wedding. Who wanted to say their vows against a backdrop of a wind chill that was in the double digits? Add on to that the fact that each of the guests had to use snowmobiles or an arctic cat to reach their destination. That should have clued in the future bride and groom that a classic Aruba beach wedding would have been much more appropriate—in addition to being a lot warmer, even during the latter part of the season. Eighty-two degrees sounded pretty good right now.Brett sighed in resignation as she reached for the scarf she’d strung up over the coatrack earlier. She personally would have preferred any Caribbean location, but her proposal had been tossed aside like a bad penny the moment the wedding planning had begun over a year ago. She usually tried not to dwell over where she stood on the friendship scale, but at that moment she had been shoved aside given that certain souls born in the West Elk Mountains of west-central Colorado were strange breeds anyway. It was as if exposure to all those dark winter months affected their perception of what was obvious to everyone else.The bride had listened to her maid of honor, despite all the other opposing views. Heidi had thought Louise and Chad marrying where they met would be romantic, but it turned out to be a total disaster. The wedding journey had started off with the incredibly difficult task of finding a heavy winter coat that would cover a traditional wedding dress. Unfortunately, the beautifully added layer wasn’t needed by the end of the rocky passage to wedded bliss. Chad had decided the day before the ceremony was the perfect time to bring up old wounds, unearthing some deep-seated bitterness that had never been completely wiped clean. Louise had been all but blindsided as the groom had heatedly declared that the wedding was off, although most of the still sober guests suspected an alcohol-soaked bachelor party was to blame. It instantly caused their family and friends to take sides.“Complete idiots,” Brett muttered in fondness, wrapping the cashmere scarf around her neck before lightly binding the ends together. “Any Caribbean island would have sufficed. But no, we had to come to a place that resembles Antarctica.”She loved them both dearly and didn’t want either of them to throw away a life together over a past mistake that had been rehashed over and over again until there was nothing but ashes. Louise and Chad thrived on drama, though. It followed them no matter where they went—even on their wedding getaway to the great white north. Luckily for them, all the guests were now stranded on this isolated mountain range until the storm lifted and permitted everyone to take what snowmobiles and conveyances there were across the pass to safety. Until then, it gave Chad and Louise’s family and friends time to try to talk sense into the two of them…at least those who weren’t in favor of a total and complete separation.Had that been Heidi’s plan all along? She never did like some of Chad’s friends.Brett shrugged into the horribly expensive parka she’d specifically bought for this trip, ignoring the path her thoughts had taken. She wasn’t one to judge, and that certainly wouldn’t help the situation now that everything had blown over, so to speak. The bottom line was that she could either stay out here in this tiny, frosty cabin she’d been assigned to for the whole weekend and go stir crazy, or she could join the others up at the lodge and see if the massive hoard of proffered nuptial booze was still available.It wasn’t that the main inn was some kind of colossal log structure that could fit hundreds of guests. It was much more of a larger cabin…maybe triple in size as the one she was currently staying in with a large kitchen to host the twelve or so guests occupying the camp. It also helped that the lodge had a larger generator that worked even at these temperatures.Brett checked herself over one more time, taking in her winter jacket, scarf, gloves, and waterproofed Ugg boots. She had somehow drawn the shortest straw without even realizing it when she’d been assigned the cabin farthest from the lodge. Suddenly, the scene from Jurassic Park popped into her head when the actors drew lots to see who would race those velociraptors through the utility tunnels to turn the power back on to the contaminated pens. She honestly hadn’t minded the distance in the least, until the storm had hit. Watching the groundskeeper string rope from each cabin had put the dangers of such extreme weather into serious perspective.Brett finally gathered the courage to crack open the hatch. The wind was stronger than she had expected. She barely maintained her hold on the side of the door as a strong gust tried to rip the wood from her fingers. The snowfall didn’t feel like the normal white fluffy flakes collecting on the ground, but instead like pelting ice crystals trying to penetrate her cheeks similar to little needles. She pushed down her gathering irritation that they could all be lying on the beach somewhere enjoying the trade winds with those umbrella drinks to drown their disappointment with the cancelled ceremony.Brett turned away as she pulled the door closed behind her, not bothering to lock the latch. One, she trusted everyone here not to snoop. Two, no other sane person not stupid enough to attend this debacle could possibly be this high up on the mountain range in this crappy weather. Three, there was nothing of value that she’d brought with her other than her laptop anyway. It wasn’t like her computer was even of any use, considering there wasn’t Wi-Fi or any other type of cellular service that could be activated to reach the Internet. This area was as primitive as it got, which was why a shiver ran up the back of her neck that had nothing to do with the bitter cold. God help them should anything happen that would be considered a real emergency. They were a very long way from medical rescue help. There would be no life flight helicopter with this storm, just a whole lot of pain for a very long time.Another shriek of wind jarringly howled as the strong gusts of frigid air traveled through the ancient pines surrounding the campground. Had she not been listening to that exact same eerie sound all evening, she would have thought it was a screaming banshee somewhere off in the distance. It was downright terrifying. Mother Nature at her worst. Brett breathed a little easier as the screeching wail slowly faded.She had no choice but to expose her face to the harsh elements as she looked for the knotted rope that would guide her toward the lodge. It occurred to her that the knots were evenly spaced at ten foot intervals. She reached into her right pocket and pulled out a small black lithium battery flashlight they had all been given by the groundskeeper. That vital contribution alone should have clued her in as to how severe these conditions could develop from a simple prediction of two to four inches into something truly monstrous as the system stalled swirling over the top of the range like a miniature hurricane made up of icy winds.The meteorologist had certainly gotten this one wrong. His ass should be fired.Brett focused the beam in the direction of where the rope had been tied off to a small stake in the ground ahead of her. She had no trouble locating the line tied to her post on the front porch, though it was rather difficult to walk against the wind out in the open. At least seven inches of heavy snow had already dropped with many more expected according to the last radio transmission she’d heard this morning before the power and the wedding failed. Now one of the children’s songs from Frosty the Snowmangot stuck in her head. Put one foot in front of the other…Each step Brett managed to undertake took effort, but it wasn’t quite so hard with the joyful melody in her head. She mentally kept track of her pace, figuring she wasn’t even halfway to the next cabin and even farther from her intended destination. That was okay. Her daily runs kept her in fairly good shape. It was getting a little hard to breathe, but she chalked it up to the altitude and the temperature. “Ahh!”Brett tried to catch herself as her boot caught on something solid buried in the snow. Not even her tight grip on the rope could keep her upright. The cushion of the thick white blanket did nothing to stop the blunt force of her body hitting the ground with a muted thud. She landed on her hands and knees abruptly. The impact instantly sent her good spirits and the merry little melody packing. It didn’t help that she’d lost her hold on the tiny flashlight. The item in question had landed about four feet in front of her.“Damn it,” Brett muttered in frustration, instantly lifting both hands in the air as she sat back on her legs. She tried to shake out the snow that had stuck itself into the sleeves of her jacket, but it was too late. “Ugh.”The cold slush had already melted against her wrists and was instantly soaked up by the material of her sweater sleeves. It didn’t help that the thin denim of her jeans became saturated by the cold moisture around her knees in spite of her long johns underneath, though her boots were well insulated and protected her ankles and feet. There was always a silver lining, right?Well, she couldn’t stay outside in these unforgiving temperatures forever. She quickly reached for the rope that was now shoulder height above her. She finally caught onto the coarse twine, but she didn’t stand. Instead, she scooted forward on her knees and reached out toward the bright light illuminating the snow like a brilliant beam driving up into the night’s sky. Wait.What was on top of the snow?Blood?Brett instinctively closed her gloved fingers into the palm of her hand. Her mind immediately rejected the grisly word it had formed, her heart breaking for whatever poor animal had been hurt in such a harsh winter storm. She couldn’t stand to think of such an innocent creature suffering in pain.She tried to look around, but it was a futile effort.Had the critter found shelter, food, and water?Brett maintained her hold on the rope as she reached over the splatters of red dots for the flashlight. She followed the trail with the beam, easily making out the darker circle that had already melted the snow underneath. That was a lot of blood for an animal.“Shit,” Brett muttered, left with a decision that could very well be detrimental to her own health. She wanted to help whatever animal was bleeding so profusely, but she didn’t want to put herself in any danger of getting lost in the winter landscape. It could be a bunny rabbit or a doe some hunter had wounded that simply needed a bandage and some shelter in order to recover. Or it could very well be a very large black bear, in which case she would immediately regret her choice of not leaving well enough alone. “This is the kind of crap that gets me into trouble. Nothing like this would have happened in Aruba.”Brett’s parents had to deal with more strays than any other mother and father in their old neighborhood. She really should have become a veterinarian, but teaching kids had seemed less daunting than Taming the Shrew, her ode to her favorite classic author. How wrong she’d been, but she could ruminate about her life’s choices another time. A wounded animal was somewhere close by, and she couldn’t leave them to fend for themselves in this crap.She made a rash decision to quickly check out how far the trail of blood went with every intention of turning back once she reached the outer edge of the camp. She wouldn’t venture any farther than the back clearing the cabins were in. Taking in how far she’d already walked, Heidi or Martin’s cabin had to be to the right of her current location. Her search should be safe enough, if she discounted the fact that she was starting to shake from exposure to the cold.The pool of blood that had soaked into the ground happened to be right underneath one of the other ropes, so Brett grabbed ahold of the thick twine and cautiously proceeded to follow the trail. She didn’t want to inadvertently stumble upon a wounded animal, so she slowed her steps. The critter would almost certainly react in defense of itself, most likely striking out at her. It wouldn’t do to have them both hurt and bleeding.Brett couldn’t stop her teeth from chattering as the cold moisture from her denim and the wetness from the sleeves of her sweater started to soak into her skin. It didn’t help that the wind had once again picked up to a howl, propelling the little needles directly into her face. She blinked several times, unable to stop her eyes from watering as the forceful gusts refused to relent. After halting her progress a couple of times to wipe the tears from her cheeks with the back of her gloves, she finally managed to find the end of the blood trail. Surprisingly, it was on the doorstep to one of the cabins. Had someone already taken whatever it was inside?She lifted the flashlight and shined the beam on the assigned number.Four.That was Heidi’s cabin.Brett surmised that the animal must have curled up underneath the small awning, but a slow swipe of the artificial light revealed nothing of interest. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. A splatter of blood was literally at the threshold of the door. Had Heidi heard the injured animal and brought it inside? “Heidi!” Brett called out after a couple of knocks on the door. “Heidi, open up!” No answer.As a matter of fact, the wind had died down and the snow appeared to be falling at a slower pace as the flakes leisurely found their home with the others on the ground. It had become eerily quiet as the echo of her voice faded in the clearing.The smell of firewood burning drifted through the air from every direction, reminding Brett that everyone was trying to ride out the storm and stay warm. Had Heidi brought the wounded animal inside to keep it warm or had she taken it up to the main lodge?Brett looked over her shoulder, shifting her hood after she’d released her hold on the rope. She swiped the beam of the flashlight over the area, though she found no one else around. That wasn’t surprising. All the other guests were probably enjoying a late dinner and trying to patch up Chris and Louise’s relationship so that tomorrow’s ceremony could continue without further delay. Brett would knock one more time, just in case Heidi was still inside. She might need help bringing the little critter up to the central cabin. “Heidi?” Brett called out with a bang of her fist to the frozen wood, certainly not expecting the door to unlatch and swing open from the simple force of her knock. She instinctively used her shoulder to push open the entrance upon sensing the heat from inside…only there was no fire. There was only darkness…and the distinct smell of copper. “Hello?”Heidi must have already left to join the others, leaving her fire to burn itself out. Brett was well aware that leaving a roaring fire burning in the hearth when no one was present wasn’t the brightest of ideas, but this campground had no electricity at the moment. The only structure she knew of with a working generator was the main lodge, but that didn’t help the individual cabins once the main power to the camp had failed. It also didn’t help to extinguish the strong odor of what could only be blood. Had Heidi been unable to save the animal, or had she sought help from the others? Brett’s curiosity always got the better of her, and now was no exception to that rule. She quickly swiped her arm in one long motion, only wanting to confirm that the animal hadn’t been left behind. It took more than a few seconds for the sight before her to penetrate the deep-seated denial that her mind instantly created. The gruesome image trying to form in her mind was of Heidi’s sightless, cloudy, dilated eyes staring directly into the beam of Brett’s flashlight, but that couldn’t be right. Her friend couldn’t dead. That wasn’t right.“Heidi?” Brett took a step closer because the name falling from her lips came out as nothing but a whisper as her breath billowed in the air. Heidi wouldn’t be able to hear her. She hadn’t been loud enough to be heard properly. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Heidi?” Brett’s

Published on September 11, 2017 06:00
September 8, 2017
Cover Reveal! Hearts Unleashed by Paris Wynters
Today we have the cover reveal of Hearts Unleashed by Paris Wynters! Check out the gorgeous cover and be sure to preorder your copy today!
Title: Hearts Unleashed Author: Paris WyntersGenre: Contemporary RomanceRelease Day: September 25thAbout Hearts Unleashed:After an IED ends his military career, Major John Rathborne struggles to re-adjust to civilian life. Haunted by the death of his brother-in-arms, John’s determined to find his canine partner, Koda, now retired and re-homed. The last place he expects to find her is on a ranch in Absarokee, Montana, where he lands a foreman job and a chance at a new start. Unfortunately, ranch manager Katie Locke just wants the new guy gone. She can’t shake the trauma from the night she was attacked, and God knows she doesn’t need some stranger invading her safe haven. She can’t ignore John’s brooding presence, and even her dog shares an uncanny bond with him. But when her father suffers a heart attack, Katie has no option but to put her differences with John aside to save the future of Three Keys Ranch. As they slowly find a common bond and their attraction heats up, both realize they must heal from their past wounds if they want to explore a relationship. But John hasn’t told Katie about certain parts of his past—including that he and Koda had been partners in Afghanistan. Then he learns someone is out to destroy the ranch, and Katie is in their crosshairs. Has John opened his heart too late? Preorder Your Copy Today:Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks
Exclusive Excerpt:Aware of the crackling in the air the moment he stepped through the entrance, she snapped her spine straight and emitted a tiny gasp. This was not the dead weight she’d imagined. He moved slowly. Purposefully. As if he calculated every footstep. His eyes remained obscured by the shadowy light of the barn, making them impossible to read even as he stood right in front of her. She swallowed, her suddenly dry tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth. Whoever this man was, he was anything but innocuous. Dad shook hands with the stranger, and then stepped back and turned to her. “This is John Rathborne. John, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Katie.” “Pleased to meet you, Miss Locke.” His voice was rough but warm, setting off a wave of heat within her belly. He sized her up, his dark gaze lingering curiously on her face.She lifted her jaw and adjusted her sunglasses, making sure they continued to hide her left eye. The man was broad-shouldered and tall. His close-cropped hair was speckled with gray, but he had the body of a man in his prime. Her cheeks heated, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.“Katie’s been working on the ranch her whole life,” Dad continued. “Even during college and nursing school. She even got the head nurse to adjust rounds so she could help during the cattle drive. But things didn't—work out. Now she’s back here full time.”“I’m sure I’ll be able to learn a lot from her,” John said. A faint beeping sound cut him off before he could say more. Dad craned his neck toward the house. “What’s that?”Her eyes widened. “Oh, my gosh. The banana bread! It’s burning!”“Oh, I should’ve known.” Dad simpered. “Happens every time. I’ll take care of it. Why don’t you two take a moment to get to know each other?” He looked at her and quirked his left brow, warning her to be nice. “I’ll be right back.”She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets and looked around the barn—at anything except the man in front of her. But her eyes fell back to his muscled arms. An electrical zing coursed through her body. Her teeth sank into the plump skin of her bottom lip, attempting to fight off the faint tingling sensation occurring between her legs.
About the Author:

I'm a hopeless romantic and a lover of all things coffee, canine, and exercise. When I'm not writing, I'm at the hockey rink cheering on my son, playing HALO on Xbox, or breaking a sweat in the gym. live in New York with my family and my two lovable and psychotic working dogs. I also run numerous 5k races in the New York area that raise funds to support the military/veteran community.
Connect with Paris:Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Enter Paris’ Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Exclusive Excerpt:Aware of the crackling in the air the moment he stepped through the entrance, she snapped her spine straight and emitted a tiny gasp. This was not the dead weight she’d imagined. He moved slowly. Purposefully. As if he calculated every footstep. His eyes remained obscured by the shadowy light of the barn, making them impossible to read even as he stood right in front of her. She swallowed, her suddenly dry tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth. Whoever this man was, he was anything but innocuous. Dad shook hands with the stranger, and then stepped back and turned to her. “This is John Rathborne. John, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Katie.” “Pleased to meet you, Miss Locke.” His voice was rough but warm, setting off a wave of heat within her belly. He sized her up, his dark gaze lingering curiously on her face.She lifted her jaw and adjusted her sunglasses, making sure they continued to hide her left eye. The man was broad-shouldered and tall. His close-cropped hair was speckled with gray, but he had the body of a man in his prime. Her cheeks heated, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.“Katie’s been working on the ranch her whole life,” Dad continued. “Even during college and nursing school. She even got the head nurse to adjust rounds so she could help during the cattle drive. But things didn't—work out. Now she’s back here full time.”“I’m sure I’ll be able to learn a lot from her,” John said. A faint beeping sound cut him off before he could say more. Dad craned his neck toward the house. “What’s that?”Her eyes widened. “Oh, my gosh. The banana bread! It’s burning!”“Oh, I should’ve known.” Dad simpered. “Happens every time. I’ll take care of it. Why don’t you two take a moment to get to know each other?” He looked at her and quirked his left brow, warning her to be nice. “I’ll be right back.”She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets and looked around the barn—at anything except the man in front of her. But her eyes fell back to his muscled arms. An electrical zing coursed through her body. Her teeth sank into the plump skin of her bottom lip, attempting to fight off the faint tingling sensation occurring between her legs.
About the Author:

I'm a hopeless romantic and a lover of all things coffee, canine, and exercise. When I'm not writing, I'm at the hockey rink cheering on my son, playing HALO on Xbox, or breaking a sweat in the gym. live in New York with my family and my two lovable and psychotic working dogs. I also run numerous 5k races in the New York area that raise funds to support the military/veteran community.

Connect with Paris:Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Enter Paris’ Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Published on September 08, 2017 06:00
September 6, 2017
His Hand-Me-Down Countess (Lustful Lords, #1) by Sorcha Mowbray @inkslingerpr @sorchamowbray

Today we are sharing an excerpt for HIS HAND-ME-DOWN COUNTESS, the first book in the Lustful Lords series by Sorcha Mowbray. This book is a historical romance title from Jack's House Publishing, and it will be releasing on September 20th. Check out the pre-order links for the book below.

His Hand-Me-Down Countess (Lustful Lords, #1) by Sorcha Mowbray Coming September 20 PRE-ORDER IT NOW!Kindle US | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google
Kindle CA | Kindle UK | Kindle AUPURCHASE IN PRINT FROM AMAZON Book Blurb:His brother's untimely death leaves him with an Earldom and a fiancée. Too bad he wants neither of them... Theodora Lawton has no need of a husband. As an independent woman, she wants to own property, make investments and be the master of her destiny. Unfortunately, her father signed her life away in a marriage contract to the future Earl of Stonemere. But then the cad upped and died, leaving her fate in the hands of his brother, one of the renowned Lustful Lords. Achilles Denton, the Earl of Stonemere, is far more prepared to be a soldier than a peer. Deeply scarred by his last tour of duty, he knows he will never be a proper, upstanding pillar of the empire. Balanced on the edge of madness, he finds respite by keeping a tight rein on his life, both in and out of the bedroom. His brother’s death has left him with responsibilities he never wanted and isn’t prepared to handle in the respectable manner expected of a peer. Further complicating his new life is an unwanted fiancée who comes with his equally unwanted title. Saddled with a hand-me-down countess, he soon discovers the woman is a force unto herself. As he grapples with the burden of his new responsibilities, he discovers someone wants him dead. The question is, can he stay alive long enough to figure out who’s trying to kill him while he tries to tame his headstrong wife?

AUTHOR INFORMATION:


Published on September 06, 2017 19:00