Category Archives: romance
Check out this review!
from poems_by_jojo (a friend and sister writer)
“I usually post poems, but this is a fantastic read for Pride month (or any other month). One of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors.”
No Good Deed–new from C.D. Bennett!
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND C.D. BENNETT!!
Hello readers, I am thrilled to be included in the blog today. I appreciate the opportunity to connect with all of you and introduce you to my upcoming release No Good Deed. A book that, in a small way, took shape from personal experiences. This novel takes place on a family ranch in the rugged mountains of Colorado. A beautiful state filled with breathtaking views and people that share a deep-rooted love of the outdoors. It also happens to be where I spent a lot of my childhood. I got to play among the aspen trees and have ridden through those mountains on horseback. I still miss it. Since I can’t hop on a plane every time I get nostalgic, what better way is there to revisit my old stomping grounds than to write about it?
I also included a main character that previously worked as an EMT (just like I did). It is how I put myself through college. Everyone says to write what you know, right? Needless to say, my heroine can handle a crisis. It’s a good thing too, because Kiya James couldn’t have known that saving the life of a stranger would make her the target of a dangerous unknown adversary. When she joins forces with the victim and his family, she finds herself thrust into a world filled with endless greed and relentless danger. It also opens the door to new love and found family.
I would love to hear your thoughts on No Good Deed!
Blurb:
No Good Deed…goes unpunished.
Kiya James’ relocation to idyllic Riverton Colorado is disrupted when she discovers a critically wounded man lying in a field near her home. Little did she know that her selfless act to save the man’s life would thrust her into a world of corruption, greed, and danger. As the only witness to the initial attack, and shaken by an attempt on her own life, Kiya is offered refuge with the victim’s family. Together, they struggle to uncover the circumstances that would trigger an unknown assailant to unleash a string of deadly attacks in an otherwise quiet rural ranching community.
Jake McCleary’s world could have been destroyed with a single bullet if it hadn’t been for the quick actions of a stranger. Now, in a desperate attempt to protect her, and his entire family, Jake must fight to defend his home, livelihood, and the woman who was rapidly capturing his heart, against the vicious actions of a criminal that will stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wants. But will they find the answers they need in time, or will they lose everything to the conceit of a madman? And will the bond between his wounded brother and the woman that saved him prove to be too big of an obstacle for Jake to overcome in the pursuit for Kiya’s love?
Introduction to the excerpt:
In this excerpt, Jake and Kiya have been spending time together while trying to uncover information about an attack on Jake’s brother, Dylan. Jake starts to realize that his feelings for Kiya aren’t as simple as he thought, but he would never hurt his brother by coming between the two of them.
Excerpt: Troubling realization
Outside, the air had turned chilly causing Kiya to shiver slightly when the wind blew across the yard. Jake immediately wrapped his jacket around her shoulders. He had snagged it from a peg hanging inside the door as they were leaving. “What are you doing running around out here without a jacket?”
“Thanks, I didn’t need one on my way over, and I wasn’t expecting it to get so cold. The temperature changes fast around here,” she said as she snuggled farther into the jacket.
They made the short walk to the cabin in relative silence, but as they entered the glow given off by the light near the front door, Kiya stopped and turned toward Jake.
“Thank you for inviting me tonight. It was great getting to see Dylan that way. Even if he still tires easily.”
“It’s surprising how effortless it is for you to tune in to how he’s feeling. You noticed his change in energy quicker than any of the rest of us.”
Jake’s words were spoken lightly, but his eyes appeared guarded. Kiya shrugged.
“I know what to look for, that’s all.”
“I suppose that could be it,” he allowed.
The wind picked up again causing Kiya’s hair to flutter across her cheeks. Without thinking, Jake reached over and smoothed the silky strands away from her face, but the mental image of his brother’s interaction with her earlier in the evening had him pulling his hand back and shoving it into his pocket. He had been unprepared for his reaction to their almost instant and very obvious bond. He was struggling with the fact that he didn’t like it.
No Good Deed The Wild Rose Press,
June 26, 2024
Romantic Suspense 308 pages
Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-good-deed-c-d-bennett/1145264311?ean=9781509255269
Amazon
The Wild Rose Press
Books2Read
https://books2read.com/u/49JY9X
About the Author:
I am an avid reader and nature lover that enjoys adventurous outdoor activities when I’m not busy writing romantic suspense novels. Horseback riding, hiking, kayaking/paddleboarding, and swimming are some of my favorite pastimes. I have even “taken the plunge” with skydiving and scuba diving. I live in rural NW Pennsylvania with my family and a menagerie of animal companions. I am currently working on my third book.
Contacts:
Website
https://readcdbennett.wixsite.com/readcdbennett
Amazon Author
https://www.amazon.com/author/c.d.bennett
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090902103529
https://www.instagram.com/readcdbennett/
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23250604.C_D_Bennett
BookBub
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-d-bennett-318e7889-91ae-45c9-9925-cc8ae405d3f9
Serenity by the Sea: The Gull Island Series Book 2
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND JENNIFER VIDO!
The inspiration behind the Gull Island series came from a family vacation to Fripp Island, South Carolina. As a frequent visitor to coastal Carolina, I am fond of the Lowcountry, especially the people who call it home. Fripp Island is a small barrier island, rich with natural beauty and history—the perfect backdrop for my fictional town, Gull Island. My childhood experiences growing up on the Jersey Shore filled in any missing blanks about living near the sea.
The Gull Island series is a testament to the power of community and features three standalone novels: Serendipity by the Sea, Serenity by the Sea, and Simplicity by the Sea. These books are not just about the town, but also about the people who make it a community. Each novel introduces a strong, relatable woman at a crossroads in life, navigating the complexities of work and love, and searching for her own happily-ever-after.
I hope readers will gain an appreciation for small, coastal towns—tight-knit, Lowcountry resort areas like Gull Island—where kindness is the heartbeat of the community. When I visited Fripp Island, I was struck by the island’s warm hospitality and how locals seamlessly interacted with visitors, sharing the island’s history and natural beauty. Gull Island has a story, including historical landmarks and meeting places where the locals like to gather. Each of the three books introduces the reader to a different part of the island, providing a glimpse into Lowcountry living at its best.
Exciting news for fans of the Gull Island series! Serenity by the Sea: Book Two is set to be released on July 31st, continuing the journey in the delightful seaside community of Gull Island. As an author, I’m committed to connecting with my readers. Follow me on Goodreads and sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive behind-the-scenes details and insights into the inspiration behind these stories. I look forward to sharing more with you!
Tagline:
While reinventing herself, a celebrity designer tangles with a contractor determined to remove her from his renovation.
Blurb:
Celebrity designer Hailey Maybank escapes to Gull Island to reinvent herself after a high-profile divorce, lending her expertise on a renovation project. Working with the boss’s son comes with complications, but will she risk her professional reputation for a chance at love?
Will Purdey vies for a partnership in the family business by showcasing his design skills on the firm’s latest project. Partnering with a famous designer who has a tarnished reputation can ruin his plans, but will his growing attraction for the colorful artist allow him to complete the job?
Excerpt:
The phone pinged, interrupting her search. Rubbing her temples with her neatly manicured hands, she debated subjecting herself to another cringe-worthy social media post by some overly invested follower who insisted on commenting about her messy divorce. The public jumped into the ring, clinging to every dribble of drama when she signed the papers three months ago, making the split official. Separating her public persona from her personal life was nearly impossible, with the paparazzi following her every move, hungry for a sensational headline. Their telephoto lenses snapped away, searching for a money shot capturing her despair. A single tap on the screen could open the floodgates once again.
Being married to a celebrity chef had its perks–like a refrigerator perpetually stocked with decadent leftovers from his namesake restaurant–but getting divorced from Jason Leoni, Atlanta’s most sought-after culinary genius, royally sucked. His star-crazed followers granted the dark-haired Italian stallion a hall pass for his cheating ways, pinning the blame on Hailey for breaking the couple’s wedding vows. The ashes of a breakup, no matter the circumstances, burned, but this one continued to smolder. Try as she might, Hailey couldn’t figure out how to escape the heat. To the social media world, she was the villain who crushed their foodie fairytale.
Bio:
Jennifer Vido pens sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut book in the series won Best First Book from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. Baltimore Magazine also named her a finalist for Best Local Author. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband, Durbin, are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
Shark Shifters and Selkies
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND KATE HILL!!!
Whenever I’m planning a new book, research is always an adventure, even if it’s mainly done at home. I love to learn new things that help me create exciting fictional worlds.
My latest release, Shifters’ Sea, is a paranormal romance featuring shark shifters and selkies. Both mythical creatures have different backgrounds. In my story I’ve tried to blend what I’ve learned about their legends with the fantasy world in my story.
Shark shifters have roots in legends from Hawaii and Greece, among other places, while selkie myths are of Celtic origin. Unlike normal sharks who are often the object of fear, shark gods and goddesses of Hawaii were protectors. Shark shifter legends in Greek mythology were often more frightening. The gods and goddesses sometimes turned people into sharks as punishment, as was the fate of the once beautiful youth Akheilos.
Selkie myths told of charming creatures that easily shifted from seal to human and held great appeal. They sometimes mated with humans who fell in love with these lovely shifters.
In my short story Shifters’ Sea, a modern shark shifter and selkie meet during a storm at sea and for them a new adventure begins.
Excerpt from Shifters’ Sea:
The seal fights its way closer to the boat. I’m about to dive in after it when it reaches the edge. Grabbing a coil of rope, I toss it overboard. The seal shifts to a blond woman. She clings to my line.
Grunting, I haul her up, fighting wind and water, until she lands, naked and panting on my deck.
“Hey are you okay?” I kneel beside her. Still breathing hard, she lifts her gaze to mine and nods. I’m momentarily stunned. She has the most amazing green eyes I’ve ever seen, not to mention a gorgeous body. Muscles, generous curves, long legs. If we weren’t in the middle of a storm, I’d be slack-jawed, but right now my main concern is to keep us afloat. Not that I couldn’t survive in the open sea, even in a storm, but I’ve gotten attached to this boat and I’d rather not lose it.
“Come on. I have clothes you can put on.”
We stand and the ship lurches. I reach out to steady her, but her sea legs are just as good as mine. Not shocking, considering what she is.
I glance off to the side. Another giant wave rises and in it, I glimpse a big, dark silhouette with glowing amber eyes. It’s gone in seconds.
“What’s wrong?” asks my unexpected guest.
“I thought I saw something, that’s all.”
Shifters’ Sea
by Kate Hill
Series: Romantic Moments
Format(s): Ebook
Heat Level: Spicy
Pairing(s): M/F
Genre/Themes: Paranormal Romance, Shifters, Instalove
Length: Short Story
Purchase Link:
Blurb:
Kai – Once upon a time, my kind were protectors, but the modern world doesn’t believe in legends, so I cruise the oceans, happily single with no responsibility. During a storm at sea, I rescue an irresistible woman and get dragged into a battle with a crazy cousin who has developed a taste for selkies.
Ivy – When I left home to escape an arranged marriage to the leader of our selkie harem, I didn’t expect to be caught in a storm and hauled aboard an old tub by a gorgeous guy. Kai is everything I want, but when I return home to tie up loose ends, I find a killer hunting my people. We selkies learn fast that to kill a shark, it takes a shark.
Note: Shifters’ Sea is a short insta-love paranormal romance. This Romantic Moments story is the perfect length for a lunch break, before bed, or any time you want a quick, romantic read.
About Kate
Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic fantasies. When she’s not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, watching horror movies, and researching vampires and Viking history. She runs the Compelling Beasts Blog that is dedicated to antagonists, antiheroes, and paranormal creatures. Kate also writes as Saloni Quinby.
Visit her online at https://www.kate-hill.com. Join her newsletter at https://kate-hill.com/index.php/newsletter.
Kate’s Links:
https://www.instagram.com/katehillromance/
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/katehillromancewritingandmore
A man must make a hard choice
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND MAGGIE BLACKBIRD!!
I write romance starring Canada’s Indigenous People. Normally, I stay within my comfort zone of contemporary and historical. But for Twisted Beauty, my latest release, I wanted to focus on the Indigenous People of North America, but with a twist. The twist comes from my fave movie The Road Warrior aka Mad Max II. I longed to take my characters into that kind of civilization where they live outside of modern society and play by their own rules.
I’m an action movie watcher at heart. Although I love romance novels and writing them, when it comes to visually immersing myself in something, it must be action or mystery. Some kind of adventure! And that’s exactly what Twisted Beauty is. Adventure in the plot, but also adventure in the character arcs of the two main male leads.
I’m not an adventurer LOL. I golf. I exercise. I walk. I enjoy working on my lawn. I don’t even get on rollercoasters haha. So I live vicariously through movies where the leads are finding themselves in all kind of adventurous situations.
Currently, I’m hooked on watching the climbs on Mount Everest thanks to YouTube. Would I go up Everest? Heck no. I enjoy a good hike, but not that far off the ground. So my characters do the crazy and wild living that I won’t. Sure, I’d love to race cars, but I’m leaving that up to Chassis (one of the male leads) to do for me in his ’69 Mustang Mach 1. Or Hunter, who sits on the passenger seat of his car, aiming a shotgun at Chassis to take him down.
I hope you enjoy reading the novel as much as I had fun writing it. Yes, it borders on dangerous and violent, but there is plenty of romance, too.
Book Blurb and Buy Links:
His community or his enemy. He can’t have both.
Deep in the badlands, long after the fall of modern civilization, Hunter patrols the area as the war chief for his Lakota community. His latest mission is to hunt down a marauder who robbed his neighbors of their precious goods. He’ll act as this man’s judge, jury, and executioner.
Having lost everything at his former Ojibway encampment, Chassis is far from home. He wanders the badlands, a grim reaper bringing death to those with what he needs to survive. But there is one man courageous enough to challenge him.
When the duo faces off, neither expects the sizzling chemistry to erupt between them, nor for their duel to touch what both have denied themselves. Now they must choose to either remain together and sacrifice their beliefs, or go their separate ways, losing what they’ve spent their lives searching for—love.
EXCERPT
The ember stirring in Chassis grew stronger, most likely because the man wasn’t a coward and had pursued him with the cunning of Nanabush. There was more going on here than a mingling of pure exquisiteness and bold masculinity. The stranger was as determined as Chassis. Most would have ignored his supposed crime. But something told him his opponent not only believed in an eye for an eye, the fucker wanted both, which was why the man had stalked him here—to kill him.
For some strange reason, he admired that.
Or he could be wrong. The people he’d robbed might be his opponent’s parents, as he’d surmised earlier. Any other reason to hunt down someone who’d robbed a couple of their food and gasoline was ludicrous.
Chassis moved the knife again but applied minimal pressure. The man’s incandescent eyes widened for a brief second and then were masked by an emotionless façade. Fear lingered, though, since he sat on the man’s chest. The vibrations coming from his captive’s rapidly pounding heart were present in Chassis’ groin.
Again, he peeked at Waabooz. Her presence reminded him why he couldn’t allow himself to become vermin. He licked his lips. But it’d be so easy to take what he wanted…
“Turn over.”
The man’s upper lip curled into a snarl. “Forget it. You want my life? Then you stare into the eyes of the man you’re gonna murder.”
“Is that what you do?” Chassis couldn’t help the amusement from creeping into his voice. It was sort of funny. The man’s ruffled feathers were about as stupid as some hero swooping in to save the day. Heroes didn’t exist. Not anymore. “Is that what you were going to do when you came here? Stare into my eyes before you killed me?”
The man snorted.
“Well?” Chassis again ran the blade across his opponent’s throat.
“Your question doesn’t merit an answer. Vermin like you don’t—” The man’s reply had spit to it.
“Vermin? I’m vermin?”
This son of a bitch was no better than Chassis. At least he was honest about what he was. He didn’t hide behind a mask, pretending to be an avenging angel out to save the day.
“That’s exactly what you are—vermin.”
Enough with the pleasantries. “Turn over,” Chassis coolly ordered.
“No.”
“Then I guess you leave me with no choice…”
Genre(s): M/M Dystopian Romance, LGBTQ+, First Nations Romance, Native American Romance
Heat Rating: Level 4 (violence, dubious consent)
Publication Date: November 3, 2023
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Beauty-Maggie-Blackbird-ebook/dp/B0CM8Y8NKP/
eXtasy Books: https://www.extasybooks.com/Twisted-Beauty
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/twisted-beauty-4
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144307020
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/twisted-beauty/id6471351602
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Maggie_Blackbird_Twisted_Beauty?id=40jhEAAAQBAJ&hl=en_CA
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1479229
BookStrand: https://www.bookstrand.com/book/twisted-beauty
Also available in Kobo Plus.
Author Bio: An Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario, Maggie resides in the country with her husband and their fur babies, two beautiful Alaskan Malamutes. When she’s not writing, she can be found pulling weeds in the flower beds, mowing the huge lawn, walking the Mals deep in the bush, teeing up a ball at the golf course, fishing in the boat for walleye, or sitting on the deck at her sister’s house, making more wonderful memories with the people she loves most.
Links: Web Site | Facebook Page | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub | Instagram | Amazon Author Page | eXtasy Books Author Page | Newsletter Sign-Up
It takes two steps forward to get that story out there
It was thrilling to officially complete the first draft of what was to become my debut novel, “Skye, Revised.” Other writers may know that joyful rush of typing “the end.” However, in this particular case, a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach told me my manuscript wasn’t quite ready yet. There was something that needed fixing and I wasn’t quite sure what it was.
As I started editing of “Skye, Revised,” I was gifted with a series of quiet mornings while my son slept in. (Those with young children will understand this is, in fact, a gift.) I used those hours to their full capacity, editing “Skye, Revised” in part using Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat story structure as well as utilizing some of her Writing Mastery courses. The Save the Cat beats emphasize that the character’s world must look quite different from the beginning of the story to the latter parts. It was a great fit for “Skye, Revised” as my main character wakes up from her disappointing life to find she is an adored and world famous pop star.
I powered on in the editing of this book, adding scenes and taking them away, to create a story that was cohesive, and hopefully, a fun ride for readers. After I was finished, I let it sit. I felt in my bones that the story was complete…yet was I truly ready to send it out? Wasn’t there something else I needed to do first? A few months later, I realized it was, in fact, time. What was I waiting for?
I queried a small number of agents and publishers, including my future publisher The Wild Rose Press. Things moved fairly quickly after that. I received a positive response from my now-publisher and was soon under contract. The experience was a good reminder that sometimes we need to give a story time to understand where it really wants to go and then we might need a good kick in the pants to get it submitted. It would have been all too easy to keep “Skye, Revised” in the proverbial drawer. Instead, I get to share it with you.
Skye, Revised” Excerpt
“She’s coming to-day.”
I looked up from my phone to Francesca’s frantic face. My boss was standing at the front of the room, just outside her glass-encased office. Dallas and Denver were at their desks on either side of me.
“Yes, we know.” Denver’s tone was bored as she ran a file against the top of her nail. “And we’re doing all we can…”
“Did you literally just say that to me—” Francesca said. “—when you’re filing your nails?”
Dallas scooted out from behind her desk, hurried toward Francesca, and put a red-tipped hand on each of her shoulders.
“Remember, you always get like this before we meet a new client.” Dallas spoke as if she were calming an irate child. “But we’ve got everything under control. We’ve been planning this for weeks.”
Though Dallas and Denver were not sisters, they looked as if they could have been. Both women were tall and willowy, with long blonde hair and skinny limbs that flitted around from texting to typing to delivering Francesca her morning latte. Incidentally, they were also both named after the cities they were conceived in.
“It’s just so unromantic,” Denver had complained of her name shortly after we met. “Why not just name me Philly or Tucson?”
I looked up as Dallas continued moving her hands over Francesca’s shoulders in a sweeping motion. It seemed to be working. Then, the shrill ring of the phone jolted Francesca back to a frantic state.
“I got it,” I said, raising my hand authoritatively.
“Hello,” said a male voice on the other end. “This is Roger, Personal Assistant of Sissy Stone.”
“Yes, hello?” Though I felt tense, I gave Francesca a confident smile.
“I need to go over what will happen today during Sissy’s powwow with Francesca. Who am I speaking to, please?”
“Oh, um, Skye Peters, Associate Public Relations Professional.”
“Is Francesca available?”
Noting my boss’s bloodshot eyes, I decided to protect her from further stress. “She’s…indisposed. I can assist you.”
Sighing with a mixture of irritation and ambivalence, Roger went on. “Okay, will there be a private room where Sissy can freshen up?”
“Um…” I glanced around the open-style design. It consisted of three metal desks positioned outside of Francesca’s office. My eyes darted to the conference room. “Sure, yes, of course.”
“Terrific,” Roger said blandly. “Sissy likes every room she enters to be filled with a large, let me repeat, large vase of crimson red—that’s crimson red, not pink, not yellow, and not pale red—roses. And she likes the room to smell like roses. So, a floral-scented candle may be necessary.”
I swallowed, scribbling down his comments. Roses. Deep Red. Scent everywhere. I underlined “everywhere” as Francesca, Dallas, and Denver stared at me in tense silence. “Okay, sure, terrific.”
“And Sissy asks that no one make eye contact unless she makes eye contact with them first and says the magic word.”
Roger paused, making me fear I was supposed to know what the word was. Luckily, he proceeded.
“Well, then.”
Though that was technically two words, I held my tongue.
“We’ll make sure everything is set up to Sissy’s specific needs. She has nothing to worry about. We’ll see her soon.”
“Uh-uh.” Click.
BIO and buy links:
Pamela Spradlin Mahajan is the author of Skye, Revised, a women’s fiction novel with a delicious dash of magical realism and romance. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and creative writing from Missouri State University and a Masters from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Her recent short stories have appeared in the online literary journal “They Call Us” and she has been honored in the WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest. A native of Springfield, Mo., Pamela lives with her family in Kansas City, where in addition to writing women’s fiction, she also works as a copywriter, journalist, and reseller.
Skye, Revised – Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Social Media Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamelajsm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pjsmahajan
Belle Isle: a park in the heart of the city
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND, CHRISTINA LYNN LAMBERT!!
I was born and raised in Virginia and currently live about two hours from the ocean and three hours from the mountains. During the winter, though, I’m not likely to leave my warm house unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’m not a big fan of winter so I am counting the days until the temperatures rise and the flowers and trees start to look alive again. One of my favorite local spots to go once the weathers begins to warm up is Belle Isle, in the heart of the city of Richmond.
The traffic and bright, hectic energy of the city surrounds the island but once I park my car and walk across the street, it’s like entering another world. A suspended foot bridge provides a path over the depths of the James River. At the end of the bridge, defunct train tracks and rusty transmission towers nearly obscure the mouth of the forest. A dirt trail leads hikers to the shore of the river. The huge, flat rocks rising up from the water create the perfect place to sit and read a book or have picnic.
Belle Isle has been occupied by many things over last few centuries including a fishery, a nail factory, a small town, and an iron works facility. The island was also a prison during the civil war. In 1973, Belle Isle became a park. Wildlife and nature thrived where destruction of the land and suffering had once occurred. From the flat rocks above the water, I can see the old Tredegar Ironworks, historic Hollywood Cemetery, kayakers working their way through the rapids, and in the distance, there is the city. On the island though, there is a pause, a temporary peace.
Belle Isle has been a source of inspiration for my writing over the years. Being outside helps me feel connected to the most essential things, the things that really matter. The island is nature rising once again, but nature didn’t obliterate all signs of the past. The island entwined itself into the old structures. A reminder. The view of the city remains just as the truth and the past remain. In the heart of Richmond City, the island is a place of hope and harmony.
Blurb:
Kylie was the victim of a brutal experiment that gave her telekinetic abilities. Coyote shifter Trevor doesn’t trust the psy but when his feelings for Kylie grow out of control, will he risk everything to be with her? When a deranged doctor has disturbing plans for shifters and psy, can Trevor and Kylie stop him, or will they be silenced forever?
Excerpt:
Blackwell didn’t introduce Trevor to the mystery woman, though, and that sent his curiosity into caution mode. The purple-haired beauty gave him a wary look before glancing back down at the computer tablet in her hand. Right. Business. Trevor had obviously interrupted a meeting. He’d stopped by Matt Blackwell’s hotel room to drop off a folder full of intel and surveillance photos. He needed to find an excuse to stay and talk to the woman with lovely dark brown eyes.
“Thanks for taking care of the research,” Blackwell gave him a nod. “Set the info on my desk and I’ll take a look before the meeting tonight.”
Trevor walked past the mystery woman and set the folder full of information on the small desk beside the coffee table. He stole another, longer glance at the woman. Her nails were painted indigo blue. His favorite color. The tattoos winding around her arms seemed to be in motion, encircling her in their safety. Weird trick of the light. Had to be. He rubbed his eyes. Blinked. The tattoos went still. The woman smelled amazing, like wildflowers after the rain, but she didn’t smell like a shifter. Didn’t mean she wasn’t one.
Scent blockers made it easy for shifters to mask their unique scent, to a degree. The blockers also did a fairly good job at hiding other smells shifters could detect, like fear, desire, and rage. Even so, Trevor could almost always detect hints of the slightly rancid, faint garbage aroma of the blockers, no matter what brand or what home recipe a person used. Coyote shifters could pick up on smells most other shifters couldn’t.
What is the woman with the willowy tattoos? Was she a threat to Blackwell? Maybe a rabbit shifter? Rabbit shifters were the only animal shifters who carried no animal scent, but their eyes…. Not a specific color, just a look. Plus, they usually liked to flash their double rows of horrifying sharp teeth upon meeting other shifters. Just for a flex. The rabbits could be mean when bothered unnecessarily, but mostly, they were pretty decent. The woman caught him looking again and gave him a little half smile. Her pretty eyes with long, thick lashes were definitely not the strange eyes of a rabbit shifter.
“I’ll see you later, Trevor.” Blackwell gave him a pointed stare.
“You’re alright here?”
“I’m fine. I have Nathan,” Blackwell gestured to his giant assistant and body guard who was seated in a chair in the kitchenette, reading a book.
No code phrases were used, and Trevor didn’t detect any signs of distress from the mountain lion shifter or his bear shifter assistant. Trevor nodded. Apparently, Blackwell had no intention of introducing him to the woman sitting with him. Nathan, grinned at Trevor, like he knew something. Fine, Nathan could keep his secret. But Trevor would get information, one way or another.
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZT58GXZ
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coyotes-vow-christina-lynn-lambert/1143274092?ean=2940185830819
Kobo Books: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/coyote-s-vow
Author Bio:
Before I had the wild idea to write a book, I worked in a few different fields. I was in sales for a while, and after I finished college, I worked as a case manager. When my children were little, I was a personal trainer and running coach. During the evenings, when I was supposed to be studying for another fitness training certification, I started writing a story. Finally, I gave in and acknowledged that writing is what I’m meant to do. I love creating imperfect but determined characters who find the courage to love and the strength to survive in a world where there are no guarantees. My stories include a fair amount of sarcasm, suspense, steam, and violence. When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time outside and finding ways to avoid cooking. I live in beautiful Virginia with my husband, two teenagers, a sweet, hairy monster of a dog, and two devious cats.
Author Social Media Links:
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Christina-Lynn-Lambert/e/B01MCYK0K7
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christina-lynn-lambert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinalynnlambert
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15900423.Christina_Lynn_Lambert
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinalynnlambert
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/christinalynnlambert
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chris4lamb
WordPress: https://christinalynnlambertwordpress.com
Love is not just for the young…
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND SEELIE KAY!
Love comes in all shapes and sizes, and it doesn’t discriminate. But other people do.
In life, as in books, it is rare to witness a passionate romance between two middle-aged or senior adults. Why is that? Sure, we’re older. We may have a few wrinkles, maybe gray hair. When it rains, our bones ache, and we step carefully on ice so we don’t break a hip. But that doesn’t mean our loins aren’t stirred by a handsome stranger. Butterflies still take flight at instant attraction or when cupid’s arrow strikes.
And I want to read more stories about people my age falling in love. With wild, passionate love. Erotic hijinks and kinky sex. Just because I’m in midlife does not mean I have become a dried-up old prune with a cold heart. That’s why I wrote “Broken Down Cowboy.” I have always had a fondness for cowboys, so I created a story about two middle-aged people who, despite their differences, fall in love. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s romantic, it’s somewhat steamy, but in the end, they find what they didn’t even know they needed. Love!
Blurb:
When is it time to take a leap of faith? When the man holding the net is a sexy, middle-aged cowboy!
Tea shop owner and pastry chef Bailey Willis is nonplussed when she finds a handsome Texan sprawled out on the floor of A Spot of Tea. Trevor Anderson, on the other hand, is instantly smitten. Some might call him a broken-down cowboy, but that doesn’t mean he lacks the ability to pursue a beautiful woman, even if she is a northerner and a Green Bay Packers fan! Unfortunately, Bailey has other things on her mind, like winning the Hales Corners, WI holiday bake-off. When Trevor provides a valuable assist, Bailey begins to regard him in a different light. Too bad he’s planning to head back to his ranch after the new year. Will Bailey agree to wear Trevor’s Texas-size ring? Will Trevor agree to settle in the frozen tundra, the site of one of the Dallas Cowboys’ most humiliating defeats? Hold on to your cowboy hats folks, this tale of romance is going to take you for a ride. Texas style!
Excerpt #1:
Before Mrs. Franklin could respond, they heard a loud crash, and then the sound of breaking glass. The floor seemed to shake.
Bailey paled and quickly curtsied. “Excuse me, please.” She hurried back into the kitchen where her chef, Spencer, held a substantial pastry brush and was swatting a man sprawled out on the floor. A black cowboy hat sat at the man’s feet. “Spencer, what the devil? We do not beat on our customers.” She extended an arm to the man and helped him to his feet. “Now, will someone please explain to me what’s going on?”
Spencer’s victim picked up his hat and slapped it on his leg, then reshaped the crown. He placed the hat on his head. His soft brown eyes, punctuated by crow’s feet that appeared carved into his tan face, gazed at Bailey, and his full lips curled up in a cocky grin. “Sorry, ma’am,” he drawled in a sexy baritone. “I didn’t mean to disturb you, but my daughter sent me to pick up her order for my granddaughter’s birthday party. I saw how crowded it was out front, so I thought it best to come ‘round to the back door.” He made a face. “Not sure how I wound up on the floor. Guess I slipped.” He shrugged and chuckled. “Guess that happens to those of us ready for the pasture.”
Bailey squelched a sigh. Pasture my eye. He couldn’t be more than fifty, around her age. This guy could be on the cover of a romance novel. He was tall and sturdy, with curly dark hair, bushy eyebrows, and just a hint of a five o’clock shadow. And that voice. She could just imagine the man whispering into her ear after a night of passionate sex. A tiny shiver raced up and down her spine. She was exiting her forties, but her body was not immune to a handsome cowboy. Damn, he was fine.
Spencer planted his hands on his skinny hips and scowled. “He didn’t knock. He just whipped open the door and barged on in. Scared the bejesus out of me. I dropped a water glass.” He shot the cowboy a dirty look. “His boots must be wet because he took a less-than-graceful tumble. You know, ass over teakettle? You may be all that in Texas, cowboy. But in Wisconsin, we wipe our feet before entering a building.” He clucked his tongue and tossed his head. “Everyone knows what happens when you track in snow.”
The cowboy held up his hands and tried to squelch a grin. “Hey, I apologize. In my defense, I knocked several times. When no one responded, I just thought it would be easier to come in…”
“Oh, for Pete’s Sake. Did you grow up in a barn?” Spencer huffed. “I need to go clean up. I’ve got enough flour on me to enter a powder puff derby.” He flounced away, muttering about uncouth cowboys with bull crap on their boots.
Bailey rolled her eyes and giggled. She smiled at the man. “I hope that pastry brush didn’t seriously injure you.”
The man chortled. “I’m a bit buttered up, but it beats my granddaughter’s fingerpaints all over my face. As long as he doesn’t force me into an oven, I think I’ll be fine.”
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOPNBT7LHa4
Buy links—
Publisher: https://www.extasybooks.com/Broken-Down-Cowboy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Down-Cowboy-Seelie-Kay/dp/148744012X
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-down-cowboy-seelie-kay/1144463727?ean=9781487440121
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/broken-down-cowboy-by-seelie-kay
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201784722-broken-down-cowboy
About Seelie Kay
Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s creative pen has resulted in more than twenty tales of contemporary, erotic, and paranormal romance, and romantic suspense.
Seelie resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.
She is also an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis.
Seelie can be found on most social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To subscribe to her newsletter, please visit https://rb.gy/w69pim.
Author links
Website: https://www.seeliekay.com
Blog: https://www.seeliekay.blogspot.com
Twitter: @SeelieKay https://twitter.com/SeelieKay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seeliekay51/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/seelie-kay
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16492565.Seelie_Kay
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorseeliekay
Newsletter sign-up: https://rb.gy/w69pim
Prior Books
Kinky Briefs: https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs-1
Kinky Briefs, Too: https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-too
Kinky Briefs, Thrice: https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-thrice
Kinky Briefs, Quatro: https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-quatro
Kinky Briefs, Cinque: https://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs,-cinque
Snatching Dianna: https://www.extasybooks.com/snatching-dianna
Infamy: https://www.extasybooks.com/infamy
Cult: https://www.extasybooks.com/cult
Hope: https://www.extasybooks.com/hope
Martimus: https://www.extasybooks.com/martimus
The Garage Dweller: https://www.extasybooks.com/the-garage-dweller
The President’s Wife: https://www.extasybooks.com/the-presidents-wife
Seizing Hope: https://www.extasybooks.com/seizing-hope
The White House Wedding: https://www.extasybooks.com/the-white-house-wedding
The Last Christmas: https://www.extasybooks.com/the-last-christmas
The President’s Daughter: https://www.extasybooks.com/the-presidents-daughter
A Touchdown to Remember: https://www.extasybooks.com/a-touchdown-to-remember
First, We Kill All the Lawyers: https://www.extasybooks.com/first,-we-kill-all-the-lawyers
Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass!: https://www.extasybooks.com/ye-god-the-law-is-an-ass
Vive la Resistance: https://www.extasybooks.com/Vive-la-Resistance
In the Midst of Angels: https://www.extasybooks.com/In-the-Midst-of-Angels
Saint Con: https://www.extasybooks.com/Saint-Con
Take an exotic trip into love and mystery!
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND J. Arlene Culiner!!
My book, The Turkish Affair, is a romantic suspense/mystery. There is certainly menace in the story, but it’s largely psychological. Yes, there has been a murder, but takes place offstage: there are no violent descriptions, there are no car chases or screaming sirens. The setting for this story is exotic — the archaeological site of Karakuyu in central Turkey, once home to the long-vanished Hittites.
The heroine of The Turkish Affair, is Anne, a strong-willed woman who’s running from a scandal in her past, but her attraction to my hero, Renaud Townsend, threatens her peace of mind and her way of life. Renaud is intelligent and tender, but has no wish to settle anywhere: his passion is archaeology “discovering the world from the ground down.” However, when important artifacts are stolen, both Anne and Renaud are drawn, although unwillingly, into the mystery.
The Turkish Affair was inspired by my own adventures. Like Anne, I went to live in central Turkey where I learnt Turkish and worked as a translator. Many of the incidents I describe in the book really did happen: I was with a group of archeologists when they were called in to identify fake coins; and the brave young woman, Leyla, who rescues Anne from a tricky and dangerous situation really does exist. She came to my aid on a lonely road in exactly the same circumstances. Like Anne, I was also brought in for questioning by a menacing group of policemen — a frightening experience in a country with a terrible human rights record, and where people were being arrested for criticizing the government, religion, for being a communist, a Kurd, or a journalist, filmmaker, writer, or even a teacher protesting against the lack of books.
And although I never did meet Renaud, the hero of The Turkish Affair, he is modeled after a man I briefly saw. I was traveling on a bus when it pulled off the main road, drove down a rutted lane, and pulled into an archaeological site. While we waited for a passenger to board, I caught sight of a man ambling in the direction of a tumble of pillars and ruins. He was lean, supple, and the bright sun caught the golden blaze of his hair. Who was he? An archaeologist? I never found out. With a puff of noxious smoke, the bus turned and roared back toward the main road. That blond man’s image remained with me over all these years; he was slated to become Renaud Townsend, Anne’s lover.
Excerpt
A delicious breeze tickled the air, and the little boat rocked gently. A fine line appeared between Renaud’s brows, and his blue eyes were, once again, serious. “I need your help.”
Anne stared. “My help? With what? Translating?”
“No. With something else. I have to find out who is behind the thefts at Karakuyu.”
The feeling of dread returned, but she forced herself to sound casual. “How could I possibly help you with that?”
“I don’t know.” He sighed. “I just don’t want to feel that I’m alone in this.”
What could she say to that? Tell him she was the last person he should team up with? That long ago, she’d escaped arrest by the skin of her teeth? If she did so, this splendid moment would be over. The silver-foil glimmer of romance would be tarnished forever. He’d row back to shore, drive back to Gülkale, get rid of her as quickly as possible.
“Anne?” He reached out to caress her bare arm. “Come back from wherever you are.”
“You know nothing about me,” she said jaggedly.
“Nothing,” he agreed.
She swallowed. “I could be involved in the thefts for all you know. Why ask for my help? Why choose me?”
He smiled faintly. “A good question. I suppose, quite simply, I need—or want—to trust you.”
She felt utterly miserable. Why was life always like this? Wanting someone and not being able to have them? Wanting trust, but seeing it snatched away before it came close?
Blurb
Love and Danger at the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu
Priceless artifacts are disappearing from the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu in Turkey, and the site director has vanished. Called in to solve the mystery, archaeologist Renaud Townsend is hindered by both his inability to speak the language and the knowledge that the local police are corrupt. His attraction to translator Anne Pierson is immediate, although he is troubled by her refusal to talk about the past and her fear of public scandal.
But when murder enters the picture, both Anne and Renaud realize that the risk of falling in love is not the only danger.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zkQ20uC4eg
Purchase Links: https://books2read.com/TheTurkishAffair
Author Bio
Writer, social critical artist, and impenitent teller of tall tales, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a mud house on the Great Hungarian Plain, in a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, a haunted house on the English moors, and on a Dutch canal. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest where, much to local dismay, she protects spiders, snakes, and weeds. Observing people in cafes, in their homes, on trains, or in the streets, she eavesdrops on all private conversations, and delights in hearing any nasty, funny, ridiculous, sad, romantic, or boastful story. And when she can’t uncover really salacious gossip, she makes it up.
Author links: https://linktr.ee/j.arleneculiner
What makes a great adventure?
Sometimes a great adventure happens without traveling out of your city or town. It doesn’t require a long trip, a boat, a plane, or a significant amount of money, but it’s an adventure that changes your entire life. The adventure begins when you decide to leave behind old ways of thinking, guilt, or inhibitions that tell you that you’ll never be anything but what you are at the moment or that you don’t deserve to be happy.
A great adventure starts when you realize that you have other options and that it’s not too late to change your job, walk away from a bad relationship, or expand your knowledge and skill set. Other people might not want you to go off on that adventure, but it doesn’t hurt to look at them and their motives so that you can do what’s best for you.
It’s this kind of adventure that changes the life of the heroine in Shauna’s Silver Swordsmith. Shauna has a rough life. She’s dealt with loss, hunger, and worry over where she’ll live. She’s tied up with people who have no interest in her welfare, people who want to keep using her for their benefit. Then she meets two men who offer a helping hand. They know she has not only the potential but the right to be more than she is. It takes her time to accept the opportunity to leave her old life behind. She can’t believe that that past won’t follow her or that she can trust anyone, but it’s a decision that can’t be made for her. She has to make the choice.
At the start of her story, Shauna doesn’t leave her city, but she has a giant adventure, changing from a victim to a warrior who learns to believe in herself.
Shauna’s Silver Swordsmith (Silver Hearts 3)
by Kate Hill
Steamy Paranormal Romance
Blurb:
Daniel – Reared by the master swordsmith who taught me his craft, I’ve dedicated my life to forging steel. I never thought about the occult, until a foreign man with unimaginable power stops at my home and forge. He takes me to Japan where I study under an ancient swordsmith. Nothing and no one, especially a woman, can tear me away from my craft, or so I think. While visiting New York City in 1927, I meet Shauna, and everything changes.
Shauna – Working the streets with only my abusive pimp Jack to look out for me is no way to live, but I don’t have much choice. When a rich weirdo takes me to a ritzy hotel and offers me a way out, I’m not sure what to do. Then he shows up at Jack’s juice joint with tall, gorgeous Daniel whose mixed messages make my head spin. Can a vampire swordsmith fall in love with a former pro skirt, or is all his heat only in the forge?
Note: Shauna’s Silver Swordsmith is a short vampire romance with a stubborn hero, a resilient heroine, historical settings, some spice, violence, and a HEA.
Excerpt from Shauna’s Silver Swordsmith:
I close the bathroom door, relieve myself, and wash up in the sink. When I return to the living room, Lucas is seated in a chair by the fireplace. By now the logs have been reduced to tiny pieces of burnt, smoldering wood. How long have I been here? I haven’t checked in with Jack all night. He’ll probably kill me.
“Mr. Kishida, I have to go. That wine must have hit me in the head, but I don’t remember much of anything after you—To be honest, I don’t know what you did. Oh, and that whole taking my blood thing, it’s a great act. You really had me going. If you give me my dough, I’ll scram.”
“Your money. Of course.” He stands and tugs a wallet from his jacket pocket. He removes several bills and places them on the coffee table.
I snatch the money and count it. “Wow! 50 clams! You must have had a helluva time tonight, and I don’t even feel worse for wear.”
He studies me with a hint of pity in his strange gray eyes. The rest of his face remains calm, like a wax statue again. Just like when I’d seen him on the street corner.
“I really have to go, but if I can ever do anything for you again—”
“I know where to find you. Shauna, you should consider applying for a job here.”
I smile. “They won’t hire me.”
“I have pull with management.”
“I bet you do.” Hell, I’m tempted to listen to him, but if I don’t get hired and Jack finds out—
Who am I kidding? Even if I do get hired, Jack will never let me keep the job and all my teeth.
“Why the hesitation?” he presses. “Room and board comes with the job. It will get you off the street.”
“Room and board,” I whisper, shuffling the bills like they’re cards. I lift my gaze to his. “I’ll think about it. Now I’ve really gotta go. It’s probably too late to get a cab, and besides, I shouldn’t spend the dough.”
“Why not? It’s yours.”
I laugh. “You slay me. It doesn’t work that way. It’s been an interesting night, Mr. Kishida.”
Purchase Link:
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CKX1C8WC
Author Bio:
Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic fantasies. When she’s not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, watching horror movies, and researching vampires and Viking history. She runs the Compelling Beasts Blog that is dedicated to antagonists, antiheroes, and paranormal creatures. Kate also writes as Saloni Quinby.
Visit her online at https://www.kate-hill.com. Join her newsletter at https://kate-hill.com/index.php/newsletter.
Social Links:
Website: https://kate-hill.com/
Blog: https://kate-hill.com/blog/
Newsletter: https://kate-hill.com/index.php/newsletter/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Hill/e/B002BLS7OW
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-hill
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16157.Kate_Hill
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katehillromancewritingandmore/_saved/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/katehillromancewritingandmore
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateHillRomance
Lyndi Alexander's worlds of fancy 