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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
Come meet the men of Hardcore Inc.!
Please welcome Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend BRITT JONES!!!
Twelve Army Rangers are ambushed on their last mission and left to die. The survivors vow to seek revenge for the three who didn’t make it home.
Dedicated to serving their country, fellow soldiers and anyone unjustly attacked or abused. While they follow the trail of evidence to the group that betrayed them, they just might find love along the way.
Each story is a standalone with a complete and satisfying love story and a guaranteed HEA while adding one more piece of evidence to the puzzle leading them to expose murder, abuse, and corruption at the highest levels. The group responsible for the loss of their friends will not be fully exposed until the last book UNMASKED.
UNSCATHED
HEART OF A WOUNDED HERO
and
HARDCORE INC, Series Book Three
Protective Military Hero, Instalove, Romantic Suspense
BOOK
UNSCATHED
HARDCORE INC, Book 3
By Britt Jones
Stumbling onto evidence of a murder, she’s frantic to hide. But her hiding place allows her to overhear a conversation that turns deadly. When rescue comes in the form of a friendly patron at the bar where she works, she discovers she’s fallen down a rabbit hole of complex lies and deception.
An Ex-Ranger, he’d hoped to leave the nightmares behind. When his past throws him into the crosshairs along with eight other survivors of his team, he goes on the offensive. Innocent people are dying, targeted for information they don’t realize they’ve uncovered. Fighting against the clock to stay alive, he’s prepared for anything…anything but the women with blood on her hands.
Will hiding out keep them alive long enough to have a future?
Ambushed and left to die, they vowed to seek revenge.
Meet the men of: HARDCORE INC
Available at Amazon
UNSCATHED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3Q17K8Q
(Please note: this book was originally published as part of the HEART OF A WOUNDED HERO SERIES. It is also book 3 of the HARDCORE INC SERIES.)
Series Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFNYBWCZ
UNSCATHED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3Q17K8Q
UNFIT https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCHHDRLD
UNSCATHED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3Q17K8Q
(Crossover with the Heart of a Wounded Hero series)
UNFORGIVEN https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCF5P31Y
UNSEEN https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJMFDVZY
UNBOUND Releasing Soon
UNWANTED Following Soon
UNDONE Following Soon
UNMASKED Following Soon
EXCERPT:
Mattie
I half drag, half carry the overstuffed garbage bags down the hall and outside to the dumpster. At six foot three, Richard, my dick boss at Chuggers Bar, would be better suited to do this job. But as he says, he’s the boss and trash duty is for the hired help.
What was I thinking moving from San Francisco to Alexandria? My ditzy cousin talked me into moving because we both needed a new start.
Come live with me in Maryland. There’s plenty of jobs. Hot guys outnumber the women, and we could have some fun together.
I’d just caught my now ex-boyfriend in our bed with the new female associate at his law firm. His excuse, I wasn’t responsive in bed, and he needed more than a paper pusher at his side when he made partner. Yep, definitely time to move on.
The day I arrived, my cousin handed me the keys and lease to ‘our’ apartment and took off with her latest conquest who’d been reassigned to Fort Bragg. Since my cousin forged my name on the lease, I’m stuck here for another three months. After using most of my savings to relocate, there’s no way I can afford to move again. I’m barely making ends meet as it is.
I step onto the milk crate my boss so thoughtfully keeps by the dumpster so I can heft in the garbage. I grab the push broom I use to shove the bags from earlier to the side in order to make room for this next round. Glancing down, I see what looks like a Louis Vuitton bag. It’s probably a knock off, but still. I hook the strap with the broom and pull it out. There isn’t enough light to check its condition, so I drop it on the ground and toss my garbage. Then I sit on the milk crate and pull out my phone to use the flashlight.
I freeze when I hear Ames’ voice loud in the quiet of the night. The guy is a sleazy customer. I don’t trust him if he would find me out here alone.
“You stupid fuck. What do you mean you threw the purse in the dumpster? I told you to take it back to the car and we’d dispose of it in a safe place,” Ames grinds out.
“Sarge, I thought you said dump everything in different dumpsters!”
I hear what sounds like someone slamming into a car, then a scuffle and pained groan.
“You broke my nose.”
“Shut the fuck up or I’ll break your neck. Now get the purse.”
I glance down at the bag in my hand. Oh shit! What am I going to do? There’s no place for me to run and I’m afraid of what Ames will do if he sees me with the bag. What the hell are they doing with a purse anyway? Are they thieves? An irrational fear for my life grips me. Desperate, I crawl between the dumpster and the brick wall and try to make myself as small as possible.
I hear rummaging in the dumpster. Someone bumps into it hard and the heavy metal container pins me against the wall. I slap my hand over my mouth, so I don’t cry out. One more nudge and my cheek scrapes against the brick.
“Fuck. It should be right on top.”
“Wasn’t that waitress carrying trash out? Maybe she covered it up,” another voice chimes in. “Maybe she saw it and took it?
I swear my heart stops.
The door to the bar crashes open, spreading light onto my hiding place. If anyone bothers to look, I’m a sitting duck.
Richard, my boss, shouts. “Get the hell out of my trash. Are you the assholes that’ve been filling up my dumpster? I got you now and I’m calling the cops. My bill has almost doubled in the last month.”
My gaze is fixed on my boss when I see a shadow behind him shift. I squint harder and make out the image of River Rhodes staring right at me. He brings a finger to his lips, and I know he’s not going to out me.
Thank God. My racing heart slows a fraction. River is the nicest guy who comes into this dive. He never says much, but he’s a big tipper. That alone tells a girl he’s a decent guy.
“It’s not us loading our trash,” Ames says. “This idiot is drunk and walked into your dumpster. His five-hundred-dollar sunglasses went flying into the bin. I’m just helping him search.”
“Not anymore you aren’t. Get the hell out of here or you’ll be explaining to the cops.”
“We don’t want any trouble,” Ames replies. “Guess next time he’ll pay closer attention. I better get him home before he loses anything else.”
I listen as their footfalls stomp away and two engines start up. I’m afraid to crawl out before they drive off. Once they do, Richard goes back inside. I try to shift and crawl out, but I’m stuck and can’t move the heavy bin.
“Stop moving. I’ll get you out.”
“River?” I confirm, recognizing his voice.
“Yeah. Just give me a minute.”
Want more? Follow me on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Britt-Jones/e/B0B3PT38SR
Meet the Author: Britt Jones
Britt Jones lives in the Big Apple where story inspiration is just a walk out the door.
She writes short and steamy Instalove Romance. The heroes are protective and devoted. The heroines are strong and independent. The stories are hot with a guaranteed HEA.
Her HARDCORE INC Series adds a little suspense and danger to the mix.
You can find Britt here:
Website: https://www.brittjonesauthor.com/
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/s8s9d7
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Britt-Jones-Author-113675198023227
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Britt-Jones/e/B0B3PT38SR
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/151856786-britt-jones
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/4190954017
Bernadette Jones, Britt’s alter ego, writes longer Romantic Suspense. Bernadette has a series within a series under the series brand, Aspen Gold Series.
You can find Bernadette here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bernadette-Jones/e/B07ZY84C6K
Website: https://www.bernadettejones.com/
Come Meet the Men of HARDCORE INC.
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND BRITT JONES!!!
Twelve Army Rangers are ambushed on their last mission and left to die. The survivors vow to seek revenge for the three who didn’t make it home.
Dedicated to serving their country, fellow soldiers and anyone unjustly attacked or abused. While they follow the trail of evidence to the group that betrayed them, they just might find love along the way.
Each story is a standalone with a complete and satisfying love story and a guaranteed HEA while adding one more piece of evidence to the puzzle leading them to expose murder, abuse, and corruption at the highest levels. The group responsible for the loss of their friends will not be fully exposed until the last book UNMASKED.
UNDAUNTED
HARDCORE INC, Series Book One
Protective Military Hero, Instalove, Romantic Suspense
BOOK
UNDAUNTED
By Britt Jones
Reggie Sackhouse needs to find a killer, before she becomes his next victim.
Army Ranger Jed Harmond was briefly assigned to help her investigate the crime that now has her on the run. When the two of them met Reggie was tempted by his intense, heated gaze, but he disappeared as suddenly as he’d been appointed. At the time he was the one who took her suspicions seriously. Now he’s the only one she trusts to protect her and the truth.
Jed was reassigned again and again, then his men were betrayed. He’s going to find out why. None of the scattered information he’s gathered makes sense. Until Reggie shows up.
Together they’ll find the answers and maybe love along the way.
Available at Amazon
Series Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFNYBWCZ
UNDAUNTED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7CNCKWF
UNFIT https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCHHDRLD
UNSCATHED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCHHDRLD
(Crossover with the Heart of a Wounded Hero series)
UNFORGIVEN https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCF5P31Y
UNSEEN https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJMFDVZY
UNBOUND Releasing May
UNWANTED Following Soon
UNDONE Following Soon
UNMASKED Following Soon
EXCERPT:
Jed
“Yo, Major, someone’s here to… hey, lady this is a private club, you can’t go back there!” Mercury shouts.
I watch a slender woman with gorgeous dark curly hair, dressed in a business suit and heels push past Mercury and head across the gym floor toward me. I grimace, don’t think she’s here for a workout.
I finish my last two dumbbell curls. Placing the weights back in the rack, I straighten and turn when she reaches me. My gaze locks on striking violet eyes and a fleeting memory whispers in my mind. I’m distracted and don’t notice her fist until she lands a punch to my gut. With a half-step back, I glare at her. “What the hell was that for?”
She tries to land another punch, but I grab her wrist, shift her arm behind her and spin her around. Holding her tight against my chest with my other arm.
“You, sonofabitch. Bastard. Let me go,” she snarls.
Twisting and squirming, she tries to stomp her heel into my foot. Lifting her off the ground, I tighten my hold on her and growl against her ear. “Stop. You’ve got me mixed up with someone else.”
“The hell I do. I know exactly who and what you are, Major Jed Harmond. Forgetting me and the case just proves what an indifferent piece of shit you are.”
What the fuck? “I don’t know you. What the hell could I have done to piss you off?” She tries to dig her elbow into my abs. I give her a little shake.
“You got Ariana murdered, you bastard. My client is dead because you didn’t do your job. Because you didn’t care. You fucking asshole.”
I glance up. Mercury and the rest of my men stand in stunned silence. “Is massage room X empty?”
“Uh, yeah,” Mercury stutters.
I spin the woman around and flip her over my shoulder, pinning her arms beneath her and trapping her legs with my arm. Her soft oomph is little satisfaction for the scene she’s causing. I like my privacy and she’s a bullhorn.
Grabbing a roll of athletic tape as I pass the row of weight benches, I head to the rear of the building where the private massage and sauna rooms are located. Once in the room, I kick the door shut and lock it. “I’m putting you down. No more hitting or kicking. You’re going to start at the beginning and tell me why you think I’m responsible for this Ariana’s death.”
“Go to hell, you sonofabitch.”
She squirms in my grasp, trying to kick me once more. I’ve had enough. I slap her ass hard to get her attention.
It gets mine too. She’s got a damn fine ass and I’ve been on a nine-month dry spell. Doesn’t seem fair that this hellcat has to be the one to remind me and my cock that I still have a libido. I shake my head to clear my lust filled thoughts.
“Come at me again, and I’ll tape your ass to the table. If you behave, I won’t press assault charges. I have witnesses and security camera footage.”
Cautiously, I lower her to the floor and step out of reach, intentionally bumping the hidden plate that activates the recording device for the room. HARDCORE is more than a gym.
Meet the Author: Britt Jones
Britt Jones lives in the Big Apple where story inspiration is just a walk out the door.
She writes short and steamy Instalove Romance. The heroes are protective and devoted. The heroines are strong and independent. The stories are hot with a guaranteed HEA.
Her HARDCORE INC Series adds a little suspense and danger to the mix.
You can find Britt here:
Website: https://www.brittjonesauthor.com/
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/s8s9d7
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Britt-Jones-Author-113675198023227
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Britt-Jones/e/B0B3PT38SR
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/151856786-britt-jones
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/4190954017
Bernadette Jones, Britt’s alter ego, writes longer Romantic Suspense. Bernadette has a series within a series under the series brand, Aspen Gold Series.You can find Bernadette here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bernadette-Jones/e/B07ZY84C6K
Website: https://www.bernadettejones.com/
Chanel and Ryan’s wild adventure
Please welcome back Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend Amber Daulton!
Into The Fire is a romantic suspense box set featuring 10 smokin’ hot, danger-filled novellas from 10 authors.
In my contribution, Ryan’s Temptation, beautician Chanel Leroc leads a normal, mundane life until she witnesses a serial killer at work with his latest victim. If not for her sexy new neighbor, Dr. Ryan Naylor, she’d be dead too. The police stash them in a witness protection program, but after the killer finds them, they take matters into their own hands and flee the city.
With fate drawing them together, they embark on an adventure of romance, friendship, and survival. Mostly importantly, they learn how far they’re willing to go to protect the ones they love. Nothing and no one will stop them from doing what’s right, even if that means losing each other in the process.
Publisher: Carnal Imprint Publishing
Release Date: December 14th, 2021
ASIN: B097SCY69Z
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Heat Rating: 4 Flames
Blurb – Into The Fire box set
Danger, Secrets, Murder, Passion… Love.
Lose yourself in the world of cops and criminals, witnesses and fugitives, old loves and new flames, where the stories turn scandals into romance and secrets into passion. With all levels of law enforcement included in the intrigue, you’ll find unintended romance, passionate secrets, and forbidden love.
Your favorite contemporary romance authors invite you to join them for scintillating stories of law and order. Which of these arresting stories will have you cuffed?
These romances will take you deep into the fire.
Who will get burned when the case is cracked wide open?
Blurb – Ryan’s Temptation by Amber Daulton
Wrong place, wrong time. Now she’s running for her life.
Beautician Chanel Leroc can wield a pair of scissors like nobody’s business. After she witnesses a murder and lands on a serial killer’s hit list, she has to figure out how to protect herself—and fast. The killer tracks her down, but her sexy new neighbor, Dr. Ryan Naylor, drives the brute off.
The police dump the pair in a witness protection program, which doesn’t last long. Either the killer has a connection to the police, or he’s far more intelligent than they realize. All Chanel wants to do is get back to her safe life and get to know her attractive neighbor better. Instead, she and Ryan hit the road and try to survive on their own.
How will they stay alive and keep their blooming romance intact with the killer hot on their trail?
Tagline – After Chanel witnesses a murder, she and her sexy neighbor flee the city with the killer in hot pursuit.
Excerpt from Ryan’s Temptation by Amber Daulton
He deepened the kiss and danced the tango with her tongue. Her sweet cherry taste rocketed through him. Yes! Delicious. Her breathy gasp filled his lungs as he trailed his hands to the hot skin poking out between the hem of her top and her waistband.
Chanel clutched him close and feathered kisses across his jawline. “More. Touch me.”
Fucking hell. He backed her against the stove and claimed her mouth again. She pressed her soft breasts to his chest and tugged on his hair. The burning in his scalp thickened his cock. The inferno racing through him blazed hotter as he squeezed her supple ass.
She gasped and ripped her mouth from his.
He fisted her long, silky hair. The shudder rolling through him stopped his heart, then jump-started the organ. He unbuttoned her pants and stroked the hem of her cotton panties.
“Ryan.” She gyrated against him, breathing hard. “We shouldn’t.”
“You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t be here with you if I did.”
He suckled the smooth skin of her neck. “I’ve wanted you since I saw you lugging boxes to your apartment.”
She gripped his back. “Why didn’t you say something?”
He thrust his erection over her belly. “I thought you might’ve been dating one of the men helping you.” Though he hadn’t seen either of those men in the building since Chanel moved in. One of them reminded him of someone, as though they’d met before, but he couldn’t place him.
“Mason and Jim are both engaged to their better halves. You had nothing to worry about.” She tilted her head back as he licked the line of her throat. “We need a—”
“I won’t hurt you.” He clasped her flushed cheek and treasured her kiss-swollen lips.
“Ooh, I know, but…” She shifted out of his hold.
He groaned. No! Why? He gulped and lifted his hand to calm her. “Chanel, I like you a lot. I didn’t mean to insult you about being a beautician, I swear. You must like me, too, or you wouldn’t have kissed me back.” Please, God. He needed release. This sexy woman had twisted him into a pretzel.
“Do you have a condom?”
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58592015-into-the-fire
Check it out on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/into-the-fire-a-limited-edition-collection-romantic-suspense-anthology-by-b-a-erickson-and-beth-hale
Purchase Links
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/intothefireboxset
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097SCY69Z
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/into-the-fire-stephanie-morris/1139726536
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/into-the-fire-a-limited-edition-romantic-suspense-anthology
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=jmM0EAAAQBAJ
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/into-fire-limited-edition-collection-romantic-suspense/id1573513856
About the Author, Amber Daulton
Amber is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.
A taste of Nadja Petrov’s adventures @AdrianaKraft #NewRelease #Steamy #RomanticSuspense #MFRWAuthor
A desperate espresso café owner, a determined coffee franchise rep, a quiet Midwestern town, anonymous threats out of the blue—where does the true danger lie?
What would it be like to live in Nadja Petrov’s shoes, for even a little while?
Picture Kiev (Kyiv), Ukraine, suffering under the thumb of Communist rule in the 1970s. Find a neighborhood of unremarkable but tidy apartments, where the birth of a long awaited only child, a daughter, takes place sometime in 1976. The girl’s father works for the communist government, and they have adequate resources but are by no means wealthy.
Tall, blonde, and blue-eyed, the child Nadja is selected early for ballet lessons. The goal? The famed Russian Ballet company. She studies hard and attends ballet classes daily, where she is a star pupil.
What the free world celebrates as a victory – the 1991 end of Russian rule in Ukraine – is for the fifteen year old Nadja a personal disaster. The state-sponsored ballet lessons come to an abrupt halt. Her father loses his job, and finances become strained. For a while the family manages to continue Nadja’s ballet lessons privately, but in the hands of unscrupulous coaches, that process becomes a disaster and she quits.
Fast forward to 2001. Nadja’s father has died, and when her mother becomes ill, they decide to join her mother’s younger sister in the USA, where they can get better treatment. In spite of the best America has to offer, her mother dies two years later.
Would this scenario set the stage for an adventurous heroine? Now twenty nine, Nadja has learned a few things: Nothing is guaranteed. No one is promised. Men are either uninteresting or not safe. Self-reliance is primary.
Is she up for the challenge?
Excerpt
“If I don’t sell, how long do you suppose it will take before Java Beans has a franchise here?” Nadja asked.
“Depends.” Kevin shrugged. “I’ll have to spend much more time scoping out possibilities. I have a meeting with a realtor tomorrow morning. And I’ll meet with a member of the chamber of commerce for lunch. If we fast track it, maybe nine months. More likely twelve to eighteen months.”
“I see.”
Kevin watched Nadja’s nose twitch and her chin jut out.
“And if I have sex with you, will you go away and tell your superiors that setting up a franchise here would be a very bad idea?”
Kevin couldn’t close his mouth. Had he heard her correctly? Of course he had. His fingers curled into fists. He reached deeply for breath. “Whatever gave you such an idea? Do you really think I can be bought with sex?”
He winced. Her stare was fixed, not giving away at all whether she was bluffing. What would she do if he said yes? “Would you really do such a thing?”
“I’d do anything to protect what’s mine.”
Blurb
It’s nothing personal…
It all seems simple enough—Ukrainian immigrant Nadja Petrov is determined to hold on to her thriving new coffee shop, Nadja’s Literary Cappuccino, and Java Beans District Rep Kevin Langley is equally determined to move into her North Iowa town with a franchise and run her out of business.
He scopes her out, she keeps a watchful eye on him, and the sparring begins. But there are other players involved, and the web of intrigue soon threatens Nadja, her shop, and her aunt as well as Kevin, his potential franchise, and his son. Within this cauldron simmers a sexual attraction between Nadja and Kevin that catapults them to overcome their fears of intimacy and commitment. Their lovemaking is tender and raw. Their love is nearly lost in tragedy—can it survive doubts, fire, and even a death?
Buy Links
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1140503297
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-am-not-for-sale
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1115419
https://www.extasybooks.com/I-am-Not-for-Sale
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59582104
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/i-am-not-for-sale-by-adriana-kraft
Review
Five Stars – Highly recommend! One hot romantic suspense I couldn’t stop reading… the perfect blend of blistering hot romance and suspense… it’s the character development throughout I am Not for Sale which makes this such an incredible story. NN Light’s Book Heaven
About the Authors
When it’s Time to Heat Things Up
Award winning author Adriana Kraft is a married couple writing Sizzling Romantic Suspense and Erotic Romance for Two, Three, or More. Whether readers open our romantic suspense or our erotic romance, they can expect characters they care about, hot sex scenes, and a compelling story. Our suspense stories deliver one man, one woman, danger and intrigue. Our erotic romance is edgier and nearly always includes ménage or polyamory, sometimes with two women and a man, sometimes with two (or more) couples. We write our Erotic Romance stories to entertain, of course, but most of all we write them because we believe in happy endings for all who fall in love, whatever their gender, sexual orientation or numerical combination.
Links
Website: https://adrianakraft.com
Blog: https://www.adrianakraft.com/blog
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Twitter https://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft
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GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1578571.Adriana_Kraft
Cheers to the end of summer!
Welcome to Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend Addison Brae!
Many people are looking forward to wrapping up summer 2021 by spending a long weekend with family, friends, or just taking downtime to relax. Food, football, and a dip in the pool can add more fun. There’s nothing better to cool you down and cheer you up than a cocktail and a thrilling book.
Anyone who enjoys a classic Old Fashioned, will find the Pinkie’s variation tasty and refreshing. If you’re a Cosmopolitan fan, you will enjoy the spicy and sweet Cajun Cosmopolitan. Gillian, the heroine in Becker Circle and Dark Energy, started out tending bar part-time and ended up managing a new restaurant and got pretty good at coming up with her own creative cocktails. She created these recipes to serve her friends outside of work.
Cajun Cosmopolitan
2 oz. Deep Eddy Orange vodka
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. pineapple juice
½ oz. lime juice
Shake with ice. Dip part of a chilled martini glass rim in Tony Chachete’s Original Creole seasoning. Strain into glass. Garnish with an orange peel.
Pinkie’s Old Fashioned
1 oz. Hennessey cognac
1 oz. bourbon
1-2 teaspoons agave nectar
1 teaspoon orange bitters
Stir in lowball glass. Add ice. Garnish with an orange wedge and cherry.
Gather some friends, play bartender and try these. After they leave, curl up with your favorite novel and have another.
###
Links
Connect with Addison on her website, Tirgearr Publishing, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Text “AddisonBrae” to 888.431.1137 or visit addisonbrae.com/contact and be the first to receive a text message (no more than 1 per month) on book launches, appearances, and book sales.
You can find Dark Energy (Return to Becker Circle) on Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Smashwords, Apple Books, Kobo, and B&N Nook.
Bio
Addison Brae lives in Dallas, Texas on the edge of downtown. She has been writing since childhood and continues today with articles, video scripts and other content as an independent marketing consultant. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary young adult fiction. When she’s not writing, Addison spends her time traveling the world, collecting interesting cocktail recipes and hosting parties. She’s still addicted to reading and enjoys jogging in her neighborhood park, sipping red wine, binge-watching TV series, vintage clothing and hanging out with her artistic other half and their neurotic cat Lucy.
Title/genre: Dark Energy (Return to Becker Circle), contemporary romantic suspense
Blurb: Cybercrime doesn’t talk. It creeps in and destroys lives right under Gillian’s nose when a cryptojacking scheme lands her boss, Pinkie, in jail. Gillian had just started over with a new career, boyfriend, and confidence after escaping a vicious murder investigation that shattered her ability to trust. Then Pinkie’s arrest leaves her struggling to run his two bars while also unraveling the conspiracy.
Gillian will not let her mentor and friend go down for something he didn’t do. Neither will Jon, the most talented musician on the bar’s stage and the perfect boyfriend…until his good fortune sends her reeling. Gillian forces herself to trust the cops, people who hurt her, and known criminals. Will it be enough to free Pinkie and save her life?
Excerpt
I flip the switch, illuminating the first bar I’ve ever managed. Rainbows of color dance through the full bottles lining the glass shelves. Glasses are stocked. Floors spotless. A chance to begin again after a not-so-perfect fresh start.
The new crew worked their butts off learning menus and setting up for today’s opening. They’re trained and ready for anything. Not sure about me, though. I’m a fast learner, a CPA, and have been a bartender. But that doesn’t mean I can run a bar. Pinkie makes it appear easy. He believes in me, and that’s more than I’ve gotten from most people in my life.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a note written in large block letters.
Welcome, Gillian! Breakfast in the bar fridge. You can’t start your first day as manager hungry. –Pinkie
“What?” My voice echoes in the empty room. Pinkie said he was right behind me before I left after midnight last night. When did he have time to cook? Inside the refrigerator is a container with my name written across it. I peek inside. “He remembered!” Sausage and grits, the first of his cooking I ever ate. Besides being an amazing chef, he’s been such a great mentor since I moved here, helped me survive some major screw-ups. I won’t get involved with the wrong people again.
Pinkie’s been more of a dad than my real father. If he hadn’t believed in me to run his new bar, I’d be working at another accounting job I hate instead of my dream job. Luck or not, after everything Pinkie’s done for me, I’ll never let him down.
Adam is everything she wants, but can she trust another man?
Welcome Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend Lyndell Williams!
Steamy romantic suspense. He’ll never hurt her.
But can he protect her from the man who wants to?
From award-winning writer and bestselling author Lyndell Williams, a steamy romance that tests the boundaries of faith and yearning.
If Maryam Avery stays in New York for one more day, she will die.
Trapped in an abusive relationship with the manipulative and cruel Raad, she can feel her life closing in around her. After he chases her from her home and family, Maryam flees to Philadelphia, searching desperately for a new beginning, something to help rebuild her spiritually and physically.
When she meets the mysterious Adam, things are thrown off-kilter. A successful businessperson with his own past that he is fleeing from, he is everything that Maryam wants. But can she trust another man?
Doubt gives way to desire. They find themselves in a whirlwind romance, and for once, it seems like everything will work out.
Until Raad turns up.
Book Tour
https://www.silverdaggertours.com/tour-sign-ups/building-on-broken-dreams-tour-sign-ups
Author Bio
Lyndell Williams is an award-winning writer and bestselling author. She is a cultural critic with a background in literary criticism specializing in romance. She is an editor, writing coach and mentor. She has been published in peer-reviewed journals and writes for multiple online publications.
Blog – https://laylawriteslove.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/laylawriteslove/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/laylawriteslove
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/laylawriteslove/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWpN2YTkr9cGO9Z7-AB8xNw
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/laylawriteslove
Amazon – http://amazon.com/author/laylawriteslove
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lyndell-williams
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/abdullahpoulos/lyndell-williams-author/
Newsletter – http://bit.ly/lwlsubscribe
EXCERPT:
Maryam finished cooking and stood in the hall, holding a thermos of hot coffee in one hand and an egg sandwich half-wrapped in aluminum foil in the other. How angry was he? What is he going to do to her?
Adam strode toward her, grumbling and fumbling with his belt buckle. “Eight months of work shot to hell.” He stopped. His glower transformed into a grin that reached his hazel eyes. “What’s this?”
She plastered on a smile and batted her lashes at a speed almost matching the cadence of her heart. “I thought you could take it with you.”
His shoulders relaxed. He held her face in his hands. “You’re something else, Mary. You know—” he sprayed her lips with kisses “—I owe you a honeymoon. How about I arrange one?”
“I’d like that.”
He pressed her backward, pinning her between his body and the wall. The heat reignited and waved through her, burning away any fear or anxiety. He might have been angry, but not with her, and he would not take it out on her. She balanced the sandwich and mug in her hands. Her breathing got heavier with each nip to her neck. “Adam.”
He stepped back and reached into her robe. “Mary,” he groaned and yanked her panties from her hips while uttering a dua. Already moist white lace and satin fell to her feet. He propped against the wall across from her and ripped open his pants snap and zipper. “When you say my name like that, I gotta have you.”
“But your friend.”
“Will wait.” His rough hands spanned up her thighs and clenched her rear, lifting her. His breath rushed into her ear. “I want you now. Do you want this D or not?”
His throbbing stiffness titillated her fiery folds. “Yes.” She locked her legs around his hips at her ankles and squeezed his broad shoulders as he stretched and filled her. “Adam, please.” She slowly blinked at the bobbing picture of Mecca hanging on the opposite as he bounced her on his stiffness. The movement of their bodies fed a mounting desire. Their first time together had been so tender. He had eased her fears and brought her to ecstasy. Now, the raw lust surging between them infused every inch of her in a way she had never felt before. It was all so glorious. She tucked her heels under his tense bottom, stilling his thrusts and unleashing a carnal shriek from deep inside. He soon roared in release and set her down. She panted, leaning against the wall and letting her legs drop. He trailed pecks up her neck before stealing her air with a lingering kiss on her lips. He pinned her gaze while adjusting and closing his pants. “You don’t know what you do to me, Mary. I’ve never wanted someone so much.” He disappeared into the kitchen. Water ran for a moment before he came back, taking the thermos and crushed sandwich from her hands. “I’ll be back in time for the next prayer.” He offered salams and bit into it, strutting away and disappearing into the morning light, flooding the opened door.
Buy Links
Stranger Creatures tour and Giveaway!
Wolf’s Challenge
Stranger Creatures Book 1
by Christina Lynn Lambert
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspense
When Sydney left Seattle two years ago, she was scared, traumatized, and done with men for good. Now she has a good job, a hobby that’s fast becoming a second career, and best of all, she’s adopted a little girl named Angel. Life is good and Sydney’s not about to let charming lawyer Derrick mess that up, no matter how sexy he is, or how sweet he seems.
Things aren’t always as they appear in the town of Great Oaks, Virginia. Derrick isn’t the ladies’ man Sydney thinks he is, but he does have a few secrets, the least shocking one that he can transform into a powerful wolf at will.
Can Derrick convince Sydney to give him a chance, something more than her elusive maybe? More importantly, should he? He’s still trying to forgive himself for being at the wheel during the accident that killed his son. Losing Sydney when she learns the truth might break him, but he’s pretty sure not having her in his life would be just as bad.
Please note – this book contains mature language, situations and descriptive sex scenes and is intended for mature audiences only!
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Smashwords
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42286726-wolf-s-challenge
Buy Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wolfs-Challenge-Christina-Lynn-Lambert-ebook/dp/B07JCSLVBJ
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wolfs-challenge/id1441052967
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wolfs-challenge-christina-lambert/1124676509?ean=2940161888049
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christina_Lynn_Lambert_Wolf_s_Challenge?id=UOB1DwAAQBAJ
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wolf-s-challenge-1
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/900526
Bear’s Edge
Stranger Creatures Book 2
A boss can’t date her employee—simple as that. No matter how much Shayla wants to unravel a few of Grant’s mysteries and take her friendship with the shy, sarcastic man to the next level, she’s determined to keep her fantasies of him to herself.
After bear shifter Grant lost his girlfriend and three best friends in a fire, he did his best to shut himself off from everyone around him. Falling for Shayla wasn’t part of his plan, but after a kiss that leaves them both speechless and hungry for more, Grant can’t keep his desire for his boss under wraps any longer.
When things between the two of them get hotter than he could have imagined, Grant wonders if some of his darker desires will be too much for Shayla or will she embrace the needs he’s kept hidden for so long?
An obnoxious reporter and Shayla’s bitter ex have teamed up to chase down conspiracy theories that could destroy Shayla’s business and worse, put her life in danger. To find their happily ever after, Shayla and Grant will have to trust in each other and find a way to crush all the obstacles standing in their way.
Please note – this book contains mature language, situations and descriptive sex scenes and is intended for mature audiences only!
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Smashwords
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43062605-bear-s-edge
Buy Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/bears-edge-stranger-creatures-book-ebook/dp/b07kb78g9k
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bears-edge/id1441668063
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bears-edge-christina-lynn-lambert/1127154505?ean=2940161778401
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christina_Lynn_Lambert_Bear_s_Edge?id=GcZ2DwAAQBAJ
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bear-s-edge-1
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/905705
Tiger’s Last Chance
Stranger Creatures Book 3
While working a case, Sean Whitman is tortured for information, drugged, and bitten against his will by a shape shifter. The fallout leaves him jobless, friendless, and dumped by his girlfriend. Needing a fresh start, he leaves town and opens a private investigation business. Learning to live life sober isn’t easy, but he makes it to the two year mark.
When Detective Nikki Jackson with the Great Oaks, Virginia Police Department calls him, accusing him of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house, Sean can’t help but like the sound of her voice, despite her ridiculous accusations. He’s shocked when she calls him back with an apology then asks for his help as a consultant on a case. On the phone, her sweet, slightly Southern voice captivates him. In person, she’s unlike any other woman he’s encountered, and nearly impossible to resist. But could the sexy detective ever want a man like him?
After Nikki’s last dating disaster, the mountain lion shifter has sworn off men. Then she meets Sean, and with every second she spends around the tall, dark-eyed man, her resolve crumbles. And the fact the guy’s kiss leaves her breathless? Yeah, that no-men idea sounds more and more like a bad idea. But for some reason, despite the undeniable attraction between them, Sean seems determined to push her away.
An investigation into missing refugees leaves Nikki with more questions than answers. Her refusal to let the matter drop leads her to the discovery of a radical political group’s horrifying plot for dominance. Traitors are embedded within the very organizations meant to keep shifters safe. As the list of people she can trust dwindles, Nikki calls on Sean to help her unravel a web of deceit.
Sean realizes pushing Nikki away was a stupid move. So when the sexy, amazing detective contacts him, he jumps at the second chance, dropping everything to fly across the country to help her. And he hates flying. But with her life in danger, he’ll do whatever it takes.
Can Sean and Nikki stop a hate group from carrying out their deadly plans? And if so, will he get one last chance to prove his love for her?
Please note – this book contains mature language, situations and descriptive sex scenes and is intended for mature audiences only!
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Smashwords
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53738906-tiger-s-last-chance
Buy Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/b088p6mydb
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/tigers-last-chance/id1513644203
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tigers-last-chance-christina-lynn-lambert/1137033221
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/tiger-s-last-chance
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1022227
About the Author
A few years ago, I read my first romance novel and I was hooked, so much so that I decided to give the idea of writing a story a chance. Love, courage, hope, and second chances are a few of my favorite themes. 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 daughters, and a sweet, hairy monster of a dog.
Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Author Links
Website: https://christinalynnlambertwordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinalynnlambert
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chris4lamb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinalynnlambert
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christina-lynn-lambert
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Christina-Lynn-Lambert/e/B01MCYK0K7
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15900423.Christina_Lynn_Lambert
Giveaway
$5 Amazon
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/stranger-creatures-book-tour-and-giveaway
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Life Mirrors the Cosmos
Welcome to Lyndi’s Adventurous Friends author Addison Brae!
Do you know people who always get the short end? The poor souls who are as careful and as nice as humanly possible but bad luck finds them anyway? Why does this happen?
My theory is based on one of the great mysteries of the cosmos. Dark matter, scientists believe, brings planets and stars together while dark energy pushes them apart and destroys things to create massive voids. Astronomers speculate 96 percent of our universe is composed of dark matter and dark energy. But no one has ever seen these dark substances, and they only have theories as to what are.
To take the theory further, I see a parallel between karma and dark matter and dark energy. Some astronomers believe dark energy will eventually destroy our universe. This is similar to how karma can destroy lives—deserved or undeserved; explainable or not. The dark energy theory—or bad karma—is what continues to happen to Gillian, the smart, badass heroine of Dark Energy, Return to Becker Circle who never breaks her word. And she believes her boss/mentor serves as her dark matter.
Do you have people in your life who connect people to create bonds and shape things for the better like dark matter? And alternatively, people who always seem to be victims of back luck—or dark energy? It takes many dark matter people to resist dark energy—the empty space that slips into our lives’ voids to disrupt. Like dark energy, karma is random. If there is logic to karma, why do bad things happen to good people?
Links
Read more about Addison Brae on her website, Tirgearr Publishing, Amazon, and BookBub.
Connect with Addison Brae on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
You can find Dark Energy (Return to Becker Circle) on Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Smashwords (50% off through July), Apple Books, Kobo, and B&N Nook. A portion of the author proceeds will go to Staff Meal to help provide meals and other aid to restaurant workers in need during the pandemic.
Title/genre: Dark Energy (Return to Becker Circle), contemporary romantic suspense
Bio
Addison Brae lives in Dallas, Texas on the edge of downtown. She has been writing since childhood and continues today with articles, video scripts and other content as an independent marketing consultant. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary young adult fiction. When she’s not writing, Addison spends her time traveling the world, collecting interesting cocktail recipes and hosting parties. She’s still addicted to reading and enjoys jogging in her neighborhood park, sipping red wine, binge-watching TV series, vintage clothing and hanging out with her artistic other half and their neurotic cat Lucy.
Blurb: Cybercrime doesn’t talk. It creeps in and destroys lives right under Gillian’s nose when a cryptojacking scheme lands her boss, Pinkie, in jail. Gillian had just started over with a new career, boyfriend, and confidence after escaping a vicious murder investigation that shattered her ability to trust. Then Pinkie’s arrest leaves her struggling to run his two bars while also unraveling the conspiracy.
Gillian will not let her mentor and friend go down for something he didn’t do. Neither will Jon, the most talented musician on the bar’s stage and the perfect boyfriend…until his good fortune sends her reeling. Gillian forces herself to trust the cops, people who hurt her, and known criminals. Will it be enough to free Pinkie and save her life?
Excerpt – Chapter Two
Car traffic and jets stir me awake. I stretch and don’t open my eyes since I haven’t slept enough after such a long, incredible day. Then I remember restaurant reviews may be out. Slivers of the May morning sunlight make stripes across my soft grey and yellow comforter. I grab my phone and open the news feed, page through the day’s headlines. Do I want to know?
A headline jumps out at me—New Uptown Bar Opens to Sell-out Lunch Crowd. It must be us, and most definitely not PinHead Preston’s review.
Uptown’s newest place to be seen is Pinkie’s Too, the satellite site to its sister bar in Becker Circle.
Yes! It’s a good one!
The trendy but chill invitation-only crowd lunched on a full menu with Creole cuisine and pizza as the bar’s specialties. The cocktail menu is creative but non-pretentious with options including the Creole Cosmo and Pinkie’s Old Fashioned.
As a Dallas cultural history buff, the most unique Pinkie’s Too feature is the tables—each custom designed to commemorate a musician with Dallas roots who carved notches in music history. Some of the tables I could inspect without interrupting patrons’ meals were dedicated to Lisa Loeb, Erykah Badu, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Demi Lovato, Edie Brickell, Michael Nesmith, Boz Scaggs, LeAnn Rimes, Steve Miller, and even Meat Loaf—the musician, not the food.
It’s a great reminder of Dallas’ diverse, deep music culture.
Today’s soft opening only covered lunch. Friday is the true grand overture with the doors unlocking in time for happy hour with an appetizer menu from open until last call. The highlight will be one of Dallas’ up-and-coming bands, ShowStoppers. Come back to the website this weekend for my review of the nighttime experience.
I point and flex both feet, doing my under-cover happy dance and continue flipping through other news. No sign of a Dallas Daily News review from Don Preston yet until I choke on my own breath. Doctors Clear Accused Murderer for Trial. My happy feet halt.
Two photos appear underneath the headline—one shows a dark-haired man with a deep tan teeing off at a charity golf tournament. A chill runs through as it all floods back. The other is a mug shot, the usual sparkling dark eyes now chilling and full of hatred. The same hate I saw in Kyle’s eyes that night when he held the sharp, cold blade to my neck. The photos capture two of Kyle’s opposing sides.
I pull the covers tighter and squeeze my eyes closed to erase the vision.
Shattering glass.
The ear-splintering ring of the 9mm round going off outside my bathroom.
Kyle folding on the floor. Blood oozing from his shoulder.
My arms extended in front of me with my fingers frozen around the gun.
My resolve for no one to control me again. Ever.
The news brief says the judge threw out the venue change request. It also says the Dallas district attorney is withholding charging him for the attempted murder of his ex-wife and aggravated assault of another Dallas woman pending the trial outcome.
The “another Dallas woman” reference is me. It still seems like it was a different Gillian.
Lyndi Alexander's worlds of fancy 