Excerpt & Giveaway: Mid-Life Love by Whitney G.

Mid-Life Love
By: Whitney G.
Publisher: Self-published
Published: June 28, 2013
Genre: Romance

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If you'd asked me what love was two years ago, I probably would've said, 'It's this amazing feeling that obsesses and possesses you; it's what me and my husband currently have.' If you ask me that same question today, I'll say, 'Please get the hell out of my face.’

Claire Gracen's life is picture perfect. Her career as a marketing director is on the brink of being legendary, and her marriage to her high school sweetheart has never been stronger. No, wait. It has. It used to be amazing and fulfilling, but one day Claire realizes that she's been living a lie and her best friend and husband have committed the ultimate betrayal.

Broken and depressed, Claire is in need of something new—new city, new job, new friends.

When she happens to attract the interest of the sexiest man she's ever met, a man significantly younger than her, she immediately turns him down—only to later discover that this man is Jonathan Statham, self-made billionaire and CEO of Statham Industries. Her boss.

Jonathan Statham is unlike any man she's met before. He's used to getting whatever he wants—whenever he wants, and he isn't about to take no for an answer. 

“How long have you been working here, Miss Gracen?” He placed subtle emphasis on the word ‘Miss’ and smiled.

“About four years.”

“Hmmm. I can’t believe I’m just now finding you.” He rubbed his chin. “Do you like it?”

There has to be a better word than “sexy” to describe you…

“Do I like what?”

“Your job, this company.”

“You want me to be completely honest?”

“That would be nice.”

“I absolutely hate it here, but the offices are decorated quite nicely. The interior designers did one hell of a job.”

“Good to know.” He laughed. “I take it that since you haven’t called, you’re not interested in going out with me?”

I nodded weakly. “Clearly.”

“May I ask why, Miss Gracen?”

He needs to stop saying my name like that…

“There are several reasons why.”

“Name the best ones.” He stepped in front of me and looked deep into my eyes. “But your age and the fact that you have kids aren’t good enough reasons for me.”

Poker face…Poker face… “Well, as I’m sure you already know, it’s against company policy.”

“I can have that rewritten by the end of the week.”

“It’s also completely immoral and highly inappropriate.”

“That’s…debatable.” He reached out and pushed a strand of hair away from my face. “Is that all?”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t say anything.

I was too busy getting lost in his incredible eyes. I realized that they weren’t entirely blue; his irises were outlined in a wispy cloud of charcoal gray and there were speckles of emerald green gleaming within them.

“Miss Gracen? Are there any other excuses?” He inched even closer to me, slightly rubbing his nose against mine.

Why am I so turned on right now? I shouldn’t be feeling this way…He’s way too young for me, way too young for me…

“I’m not attracted to you.”

He raised his eyebrow. “Oh really?”

A self diagnosed candy addict, travel junkie, and hypochondriac, Whitney Gracia Williams LOVES to write about characters that make you laugh, cry, and want to (in the case of Selena Ross) reach through your Kindle and slap them.

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Excerpt, Guest Post & Giveaway: Dangerous Proposition by Jessica Lauryn

Dangerous Proposition
By: Jessica Lauryn
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Published: June 25, 2013
Genre: Romantic Suspense

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When Julia Dyson learns her father has been abducted, she believes his hidden profession may be to blame. But when she discovers a man’s name in her dad's caller history, a man suspected of shady business activity and also her teenage crush, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She confronts her father's presumed abductor, resulting in an unforgettable kiss.

In the course of one disastrous evening, diamond smuggling kingpin Colin Westwood learns that his best recruit is missing in action, and that the man has been keeping a secret for years—he has a twenty-six-year-old daughter. Determined to protect his identity, Colin vows to find the young woman, and keep her silent at any cost. Later intrigued to learn that she is actually the attractive woman he kissed, he makes Julia an offer. Come to New York City with him to search for her missing father…as his mistress.

Keeping Julia firmly within the groove of his arm, Colin stepped inside the hotel room and flicked on the light switch. After shutting the door, he double-bolted it behind them.

Short of a pale complexion, Julia didn’t appear to be injured. At least, it didn’t look as though she had any bruises. But he knew he wouldn’t feel better until he saw this for himself. Though it was completely unethical, he had half a mind to give her a physical. And if he actually believed he could perform one on her and control himself, he would do just that.

He led a trembling Julia to the bed. Looking into her tearful eyes, he knelt beside her, cupping her cheek. It killed him seeing her like this, killed him even more knowing that he was completely to blame.

Speaking as gently as he could manage, he said, “You’re safe now. It’s all right, sweetheart. You’re safe. I’m right here—no one’s coming after us. No one’s going to hurt you ever again.”

Julia nodded, but she said nothing, causing him to have a horrifying realization. Maybe something had happened between her and Dylan Rossler in that room. She’d been dressed when he found her, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t put her clothes back on afterward, or that Rossler had bothered to remove them at all.

Feeling as though he were on the brink of an explosion, Colin said, “Did that guy—I mean—Dylan Rossler didn’t…you and he didn’t—”

“Of course not! Holy crap, Westwood. What kind of girl do you think I am?”

“One who clearly has a death wish,” Colin muttered under his breath.

“Me?” Julia exclaimed. “I went over there to save your ass. Not the other way around.”

“Which you were obviously doing a phenomenal job with while you were locked inside that bedroom.”

Her chin squared. “You may have been the one to kick the door down, but I would have gotten out of that room with or without your help.”

“If you really believe that, Julia, then you really are naïve. Do you realize what Dylan Rossler would have done if I hadn’t gotten there when I did? Allow me to clue you in, since you’re obviously not aware. Because it’s the same thing every other red-blooded bastard at that party wanted to do to you!”

“You mean”—she bit her lip—“that he—”

“Was planning on having sex with you? Of course, Julia. Of course those guys thought you were sexy, of course Dylan Rossler wanted to have sex with you! I’m not blind. I can see what’s right in front of me. Any man at that party who didn’t want you was either gay or in a drunken coma!”

Her blue eyes narrowed, and Colin bit his tongue. He hadn’t intended to say all that out loud. Hadn’t intended to say any of it, in fact. But he was glad it had happened because he was done holding back.

There was something between him and Julia. A need that ran deep and had been building since that night in his bed. Sometimes it seemed as if it had been longer, particularly at moments such as this when he wanted nothing more than to toss her onto the bed, rip off that damned cocktail dress she was wearing, and sample every last inch of her skin.

He’d wanted to keep his desires to himself, wanted to keep things simple between them. The complications they were risking were great, and God knew he hated the idea that he might be taking advantage of Julia when her father was missing. But right now, he couldn’t seem to think about those things. And after everything they’d been through tonight, he was no longer sure that holding back was going to be possible.

“Does ‘every other red-blooded bastard’ include you?” Julia asked, blinking her blue eyes furiously.

Colin took a staggered breath. Narrowing his gaze, he approached her with two hastened steps. “If you didn’t want me to behave like a red-blooded bastard, Julia,” he whispered, “then, you shouldn’t have worn this dress.”

A great book can do wonders for the soul. It’s there for you when you need a friend, or a distraction. It can serve as an escape, or a fantasy in which to indulge. Books comfort us, and they take us to places and times we’d otherwise never know. There’s only one thing I love more than a great book. That is, a great series.

When I was an adolescent, I loved reading Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High. Twin sisters Jessica and Elizabeth served as the perfect contrast to one another. One is introverted, smart, and studious, while the other is the life of the party. At the age of 12, I had no idea why I was so drawn to the duo, other than the obvious fact that I wanted to be living the life of a teenage girl myself. But looking back, I realize the draw actually stemmed from something much deeper than that.

Series writing can take on a life of its own. In a romance series, the author creates her very own world. She starts with a setting: a time, a place in which her characters will exist in. Then, she gets to work building. Hero and heroine’s story is told in book 1. And in book 2, a new couple typically takes center stage. I think the most exciting part of doing this, for me, the author, is figuring out how I will connect the characters from one book to the next. They don’t necessarily need to know one another, but I’ve found it can be a lot more fun when they do. Writing a series is very different from writing a stand-along book because you have a lot more time and space to play around with. You (the reader) get to see how a family, a group of friends, maybe even an entire town affects the lives of the people around them, possibly for years to come.

My debut series, The Pinnacles of Power, was never supposed to be a series. While I was writing what eventually became my second release, Dangerous Proposal, I was creating what I intended to be the one and only book of its kind. I was, as writers do, spending hours inside the characters’ heads, trying to get to know them. Something I wasn’t expecting struck me while I was doing this. That was, there were several characters in the story besides my hero and heroine who had a story to tell. I already had a setting I loved (several settings, actually), and I had characters who had the potential to become couples, lovers, and soul-mates. They were screaming for me to tell their stories, and so I began doing just that. Barely realizing what I was doing, a series was soon born.

Reading book 1 in a series may not feel much different than reading a stand-alone novel. Doing so, you’ll discover a plot, characters, conflict, and, as is the way with romance novels, a happily ever after. The real fun (at least, for me) comes in book 2, when you already know something about the authors’ world. In books 3 and 4, you know even more, and you’re likely to recognize the main characters as well. You may feel as though you sort-of know them as people, and the setting and time have become all-too familiar to you. This is when your imagination can really take over, because you can completely immerse yourself in the author’s fantasy world—the greatest thing a reader can experience!

I love books. But given the choice, I prefer that they be part of a series. The imagination is one of the greatest things in existence. And I find it easier to put that machine to use when there is a world of stories and characters crafted and bound for my reading enjoyment! 

 An author of Contemporary Romantic Suspense, Jessica Lauryn is most intrigued by dark heroes, who have many demons to conquer…but little trouble enticing female companions into their beds! She feels that the best romances are those where the hero is already seducing the heroine from that first point of contact. 

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Excerpt & Giveaway: Scent of Salvation by Annie Nicholas

 Scent of Salvation
(Chronicles of Eorthe #1)
By: Annie Nicholas
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance

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Love blooms across species, culture, and time.

Stranded in another dimension, on a primitive version of Earth, Dr. Susan Barlow needs to find a way to survive. There’s no electricity, no cities, and to her shock, no humans. Instead, she faces a population of werewolves, vampires and incubi. The people are vicious but she must find her place among them. And live.

An illness is killing Sorin’s pack. As alpha it’s his responsibility to save them, but it’s a battle this warrior doesn’t know how to fight. Then a blue light in the sky brings a creature he’s never seen. She calls herself human, but to him she smells like hope.

Sorin offers Susan a safe haven in return for a cure, but she’s not that kind of a doctor. She’s a doctor of physics, not a physician. Yet as they search for a cure to save a dying people, they find something special—each other.

But even with Sorin’s protection, Susan can’t help but wonder how long she can survive in a world without humans…

Warning: Feral shifters, power-hungry vampires, and a sole human female suffering culture shock.

Stars flashed in Susan’s vision. Air finally flowed into her chest, and she let out a groan. She felt more like she’d fallen than been blown to pieces.

Something cool and soft touched her cheek. She flinched and tried to sit up but only managed to roll onto her stomach. That didn’t help her nausea, and she struggled to keep breakfast down.

Fuck it. The blast hadn’t killed her so the military could clean her puke. Then they could haul her ass to jail—or the hospital.

Resting, she waited for Jeff’s yells for her arrest and execution, but the only sounds came from birdsongs. She jerked her face off the moist ground and grunted.

Birds? Had she blow the roof off the building?

Cool.

She rubbed her blurry eyes and blinked. Her heart did a double beat. She shook her head and blinked again.

Surrounded by lush green plants, Susan sat on a carpet of soft moss. She rose onto shaky, numb legs. A giant tree loomed thirty feet over her head. Three grown men touching fingertips might be able to hug the trunk.

There wasn’t a forest for miles, yet here she stood in the middle of one. She did a slow three-sixty. Tree, tree, bush, tree, building. Bingo.

Before her towered a stone structure overgrown with flowering vines. Taking one slow step at a time, she approached it. The steps were swept clean of any debris or growth. She climbed, listening for anything inside. Huge gaps in the walls let the sunlight in between the stone slabs, and deep, worn engravings covered them. She traced one with her fingertip and didn’t recognize the language. Hell, she couldn’t even read the symbol. Where was she?

Sucking in a sharp breath, she clapped her hands over her mouth.

DOUG had worked?

She was standing in another dimension.

Alive.

Her trip had been unintentional yet successful. She needed to high five someone. It had worked just like she’d said it would. All those people who’d laughed at her idea could shove it up their collective—

Twisting around with a foolish grin cramping her cheeks, she saw only rainforest. Shadows covered the ground since the trees’ canopy blocked most of the sunlight. Her grin faded and she broke into a cold sweat.

Oh shit, it had worked.

A vacuum of dread sucked the excitement from her body. The explosion must have punctured a hole through the dimensional veil and thrown her through. She couldn’t see the blue portal light. Without the machine, the gateway couldn’t remain open. Or ever open again since it should be slag with the rest of her lab. She shivered and pulled her coat tighter.

She was alone. Stranded God knows where.

For all she knew, T-rex lived over the next hill or worse, the Nazis had won World War II.

Taking a shuddering breath, she closed her eyes. She was a brilliant scientist, graduating at the top of all her classes. The unknown wasn’t something to fear but to be embraced and studied. However, field operations had never thrilled her. She was a lab geek with delusions of exploration. She’d always pictured herself guiding those brave souls who would step onto a new world from the safety of Technocon, not being that person. Glancing over her shoulder at the forest, she took a steadying breath.

What lived out there?

Birds sang, loud and uninterrupted by the hum of cars or machines. She couldn’t see any electrical lines or other buildings. Please, let there be some kind of path or road to follow. How long could she survive in the wilderness? Probably a couple days before something ate her.

The birds fell silent. She froze, facing the forest. Nothing moved. Her heart galloped as she searched the gloom. She backed into the building, not wanting to take her eyes off the woods. A crack in the floor caught her heel, and she stumbled while her arms pinwheeled until she caught her balance.

All right, she needed to get a grip. Just because things were quiet didn’t mean she should panic. Breaking her leg would be a death sentence. She kicked off her shoes. The logic was sound but the adrenaline coursing through her body told her to screw off and run. A cold sweat broke out over her skin, and a cool wind made her shiver.

She scanned the inside of the building. It didn’t have a roof. A stone altar in the center offered the only shelter. She hurried across to it and laid a hand over the smooth, cool surface. Breathing a sigh of relief, she closed her eyes for a heartbeat. It wasn’t bloodstained. That was a good sign, right?

She crept around to the other side and knelt behind it. Hiding felt right.

Crouched on the cold stone floor, she hugged her knees to her chest. At least the military hadn’t gotten her machine. A small consolation while squatting in another dimension, all alone like a frightened animal.

The rustle of leaves to her left made her squeak. She clapped her hand over her mouth and peeked around the corner. Something with silver-gray fur crawled under the vines through one of the wall’s many gaps.

Please let that be a big-ass raccoon. She watched as the creature’s dark, wet nose moved in her direction and sniffed. All her muscles seized. She couldn’t move or breathe.

The nose pushed through, followed by a large, wolf-like head. On his stomach, he crept into the building. Her vision tunneled as he rose to his hind legs and kept rising until he towered over her. Long claws protruded from his fingers and toes. Swinging his head, he sniffed the air. Three jagged scars ran over his muzzle. His amber gaze met her stare, and he bared his sharp teeth. As he moved, thick, solid muscles slid under his silver fur.

With a knocking heart, Susan was anchored to the spot. A werewolf. A real, honest-to-God werewolf stood not five feet from her. She hadn’t crossed dimensions. She’d died and gone to hell.

As he stepped toward her, something flipped off in her brain and it stopped functioning. Deductive reasoning vanished like a cheap parlor trick. Sixty thousand years of human instinct buried in her genes kicked in, and Susan scuttled away from the beast until her head hit the stone wall. Ignoring the sharp pain, she grabbed the vines and pulled herself to her feet. All the while she couldn’t stop staring at this magnificent creature made of nightmares. She took a deep breath and let out a scream that rattled her tonsils.

 Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon’s ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont.

Annie writes for Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, and Lyrical Press.

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Excerpt & Giveaway: Breaking the Rules by Melinda Dozier

Breaking the Rules
By: Melinda Dozier
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Published: July 8, 2013
Genre: Romance

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A forbidden love affair in the past has led Hope Robinson, a middle school principal, to Harbor Bay, Florida, where she commits herself to play by the rules. This can be difficult for a perpetual klutz, who—even strapped in a cast—has to uphold a competent attitude at all times.

Luckily, she has Dr. Colin Calaway on her side, a widower and father of a student, who is ready to give love another try. When Colin convinces Hope they should explore the connection between them, a steamy romance develops, though it could destroy them both. They must decide if their jobs—and their hearts—are worth the risk.

Without a word, he grabbed her hand and led her to the back where a piano sat on a small stage. Letting go of her hand, he opened his arms and said, “Your wish is my command.”

Her mouth fell open and she touched her parted lips. “Are you kidding me?”

He shook his head and backed away. “It’s all yours.”

At the closest table to the stage, he sat in a chair and watched Hope stroke the baby grand piano next to her. Her fingers caressed the keys, then she glanced around the room. Looking back at him, she mouthed, “I can’t.”

He mouthed back, “Yes, you can.”

She giggled and bit her lip. Squeezing her eyes shut, he saw her take one of her yoga deep breaths. She sat down at the piano bench, her fingers outstretched on top. After a few more breaths, she looked more at ease. Colin smiled. He couldn’t help himself. She looked like she actually belonged on that stage.

Tucker brought over a beer and gazed at Hope on stage. “She’s a looker.”

“I can’t wait to hear her.”

“Let me get her started, then.” Tucker headed to the stage and stood in front of the microphone. When he nodded at Hope, she nodded back in acknowledgement and then he announced to the seven or eight people in the audience, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have an impromptu performance. Give it up for Ms. Hope Robinson.”

A few claps sounded, and then Colin heard the keys of the piano. A soft tune that complemented this soft Hope. Smiling, he took a sip of his beer and relaxed. She actually did this, no qualms, no major retorts, just a simple, “okay, I’m in for it” attitude that turned him on even more.

So far, he’d seen two sides of Hope. There was the Ms. Robinson side, the principal who was all business, straight and narrow. Then there was the fun Hope—his friend, damn it—who laughed at his jokes, relaxed and open. Up on the stage, Hope turned into yet another person. An artist. Soft. Gentle. Almost pure. And she was really talented. So much so that he closed his eyes and imagined she played to him, and only him ... and okay, he couldn’t help himself. She was naked. A man could dream, couldn’t he?

The tune was nice, somewhat jazzy with a touch of classical. He was no music connoisseur, but he knew when music sounded good. Opening his eyes, he saw her lean into the keys, feeling in her touch, her eyes closed and her head moving. This Hope was a sensual one. He wanted her to play him like she played that piano. Stroking, with a tenderness that only she knew, telling a story with the sounds.

Shit. This friends bit wouldn’t pass. If he couldn’t convince her otherwise after today, he would have to ignore her completely, or else he would go crazy. And he didn’t want to ignore her. He wanted to take this to the next level, and by God, he would kiss her again by the end of the night if it killed him.

Melinda Dozier lives in Guatemala, Central America, with her husband, three boys and German Shepherd. She enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her boys once they’re grown.

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Excerpt & Giveaway: Zombie, Incorporated by Jill Elaine Hughes

Zombie, Incorporated
By: Jill Elaine Hughes
Publisher: Hackberry Books
Published: March 25, 2013
Genre: New Adult/ Paranormal

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Eighteen-year-old Katie Allred is socially awkward and unpopular at school. The only child of parents who had her right out of high school, Katie is herself about to leave the nest, even though she hardly feels ready.

Katie’s new after-school job at the Zimble Box Corporation draws her into the complex social strata of high school cliques and backstabbing friends in ways she never imagined. Katie soon discovers there’s something very strange about the “in” crowd at school---and about her employer, too. Shortly after starting her new job, the Contagion breaks out, plunging her town and the entire nation into chaos as zombie shadow forces come out into the open, ravaging the streets. Katie goes into hiding and her parents disappear, along with almost everyone else she knows.

But Katie soon discovers she has special powers that help her survive. She’s a Beacon, someone with the innate ability to help zombies produce children. It’s a power her employer — and what little remains of the U.S. government — both want to exploit for their own ends. Not only that, it runs in her family---which has a secret past Katie never knew about until now.

Enter Agent Morehouse of the FBI Special Zombie Control Unit. A reformed zombie working undercover, he suppresses his urge to eat human flesh in order to serve and save humanity. But Agent Morehouse can’t help but be attracted to a Beacon like Katie, and she to him. Even as they fight zombies the world over, they must fight their intense attraction to each other, hoping to keep Katie from suffering Agent Morehouse’s terrible zombie fate.

I froze. Nobody had ever kissed me before. I didn’t know what to do. I’d often wondered what my first kiss would be like. (Yeah, I was eighteen and never been kissed. Talk about a late bloomer). And you can sure as hell bet that I never once would have guessed that my first kiss ever (especially with tongue) would come courtesy of Steve Bosch, the most popular guy at school at an exclusive invitation-only party at Lily Carmichael’s house.

Wow, I had hit the ‘in’ crowd jackpot. This really was too good to be true. All I could think about was what I might have done to bring this incredible chain of events about—and I was totally at a loss.

So we made out on the bean bag for a few minutes. I was scared at first, but Steve was really sweet and patient, and eventually I seemed to get the hang of things. I relaxed a bit and even let my mouth open a little so Steve could get his tongue all the way inside. I didn’t really tongue him back, just let him explore my mouth as he liked and enjoyed the sensations. My whole body felt warm and tingly, and I started breathing hard. I remembered from our Sex Ed unit in Health Class that this was all normal when it came to this sort of thing, but I’d never really made out with a boy before, so it still felt strange. Wonderfully strange.

But when Steve reached under my blouse to grab my boobs, I put on the brakes. I pulled away from him abruptly and turned to face the wall. “I’d rather you didn’t do that,” I heard myself say.

Steve bit his lip and looked sheepish. “Sorry,” he said in a small voice. “I thought you would like it.”

I shrugged. “Maybe next time.” I tried to sound nonchalant, like I made that kind of remark to hot popular boys trying to feel me up every other day or something, but I just ended up sounding stupid.

But Steve seemed to take it in stride. “That’s cool,” he said. “I like a girl who takes her time with things.” He reached over and patted me softly on the back of the hand. “Do you want another beer? Or maybe some food? If you’re hungry I can go see what they have.”

This day just got weirder and weirder. Just when I thought Steve was going to ditch me and find some other more attractive and popular girl to make out with, he started waiting on me hand and foot. And I was sort of hungry. I’d forgotten my lunch money that day at school so I’d only eaten a few leftover tater tots from somebody else’s plate since breakfast. “Sure, I’ll eat something,” I said.

“Cool. What do you like to eat?”

I shrugged again. “Oh, anything I guess. I’m not picky.”

Steve smiled again and left the room, giving my shoulder an affectionate squeeze first. I glanced around the room and saw that most of the other necking couples had disappeared, and the loud music that had been blaring from somewhere in the house when we arrived was gone, too. Plus the room seemed a lot darker than before. I glanced out the only window and saw that the sun was almost down.

Gee, time really flies when you’re having fun, I thought to myself with a chuckle. I glanced at my watch and saw that almost two hours had passed while Steve and I were sucking face. Boy, no wonder people were so into making out—it was more entertaining than going to the movies.

I unwedged myself from the beanbag and tried to figure out what the hell was going on. How long had I been there, exactly? And what had happened to everybody else? God only knew where Stacey had disappeared to, or if she was even still here at all. I thought about going off to look for her, but then how would Steve find me when he came back with the food? Would Steve come back at all? Or was he just messing with my head and this whole thing was some sort of sick joke perpetrated by the popular kids onto lowlifes with no social standing like me?

Just as I was weighing the merits of sticking around to see what happened next versus making a mad dash for home, Steve reappeared, carrying two Styrofoam dinner plates. “There wasn’t much left,” he said. “Looks like we missed most of the good stuff while we were, um, you know.”

He handed me my plate, and reached around to take two more beers that he’d stuffed in his back jeans pockets. It was the same beer as last time—Busch Light— but the food was, well, not like anything I’d ever seen before.

 I'm an independent author of New Adult (mature YA, 18-26) fiction as well as a full-time freelance journalist based in Chicago. I've contributed to the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Chicago Reader and many magazines as a journalist over the past 15 years.  And like most New Adult fiction authors these days, I've gone the self-publishing route for my work since most publishers haven't caught up to the readership trends in this emerging shelf category. My writing is usually laced with humor and also often has sexual and/or dystopian elements.

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Excerpt & Giveaway: The Switched Baby Scandal by Theresa Meyers

The Switched Baby Scandal
(A Scandals of San Sebastian, #1)
By: Theresa Meyers
Publisher: Bliss
Published: June 10, 2013
Genre: Romance

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His child. Her daughter. One monumental mix-up.

Single mom Taylor Lawrence just discovered that the hospital sent her home with the wrong infant five years ago. Now the headstrong and handsome biological father wants his child back. But Emily has always been her daughter, and Taylor won’t give her up without a fight.

Widower Reece Wallace believed his life was over when a drunk driver killed his wife and daughter. So when he learns of the baby switch, he sees this child as his ultimate salvation. But he never anticipated the fiery woman on the other side of this custody battle—or how she’d stir feelings in him long dormant.

As the media storm surrounding the hospital’s mistake intensifies, Taylor and Reece find there’s more to sort out than custody of Emily—they must work together to protect her while grappling with their growing attraction. Can they pick up the pieces of two broken families and meld them into something new?

Resentment and anger prickled to the surface of Taylor’s skin.

Reece squeezed his hands together. “This is my natural child we are talking about. I know that down in my gut and any test isn’t going to tell us differently. All I want is what you want, to reconnect with the part of me that is missing and perhaps have the opportunity to be part of her life. Is that so hard to understand?”

Taylor crossed her arms. She realized that posturing was going to get them nowhere quickly. If Emily were indeed his natural child, she would have to allow him access and ultimately attempt to forge a relationship of some kind with Reece. But she needed to know how high the cost was going to be.

“I’m not denying you access to Emily. I’m simply trying to determine what is best for her.” She took a deep breath. “I am assuming that is what you want as well.”

“It is.” He sat back, his gaze confident and unwavering.

“Good, just so we’re clear that Emily’s welfare is our ultimate goal.”

He nodded in agreement. “So what are we going to do when the tests come back positive?”

“I can give you a chance to get to know Emily under the right circumstances, but what do you have to offer me? I get nothing. My natural child is gone, Mr. Wallace.”

“And we’re back to Mr. Wallace already.” He looked down at his hands and twisted the gold band around his finger. Reece lifted his head and looked her straight in the eye.

“I can’t bring Alyssa back. I wish to God that I could. But I can give you something no one else on this planet can. I can make Alyssa real for you.”

Taylor gasped, her heart slamming against her ribs as he kept talking.

“I’m the only one with the memories, with the knowledge of what it took to put her to sleep at night, when her first tooth came in, and her first word. All her baby pictures. I’ll gladly share that with you, Taylor, if you’ll just give me the chance.”

 Raised by a bibliophile who made the dining room into a library, Theresa has always been a lover of books and stories despite dyslexia that made it difficult for her to write and read until the fourth grade. First a writer for newspapers, then for national magazines, she started her first novel in high school, eventually enrolling in a Writer's Digest course and putting the book under the bed until she joined Romance Writers of America in 1993. In 2005 she was selected as one of eleven finalists for the American Title II contest, the American Idol of books.

She is married to the first man she ever went on a real date with (to their high school prom), who she knew was hero material when he suffered through having to let her parents drive, and her brother sit between them in the backseat of the car. They currently live in a Victorian house on a mini farm in the Pacific Northwest with their two children, two cats, an old chestnut Arabian gelding, an energetic mini-Aussie shepherd dog, a parakeet and an out-of-control herb garden.

She collects teapots, teddy bears and steampunk gadgetry, and when not writing can be found sewing, painting, canning, baking, or hiding out in a comfy chair reading a wonderful book. On occasion, you might find her scuba diving or riding her white quad with hot pink flames on the sand dunes. Her favorite television shows are Supernatural (Dean Girl), The Vampire Diaries, Once Upon a Time and Grimm (is it any wonder she writes fiction?).

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Excerpt & Giveaway: Once Upon a Darkness by Aria Kane

Once Upon a Darkness
By: Aria Kane
Publisher:Entranced Publishing
Published: June 17, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Goodreads | Entranced Site

Gretchen and her twin brother, Hank, were abandoned to a zombie horde when they were five years old. Intended to be a sacrifice by their zealot parents, they were instead rescued by The Company. Raised to become soldiers in the war against zombies, they now provide safe passage through danger zones, one contract at a time.

Clint's only skill is war, but he's weary of killing other men. When his contract with the Marines runs out, he takes a job on Gretchen's team, hoping that the search-and-rescue life will suit him better.

On Clint's second day, their four-man team is attacked, drugged, and taken to a prison full of frightened civilians. The only way in or out is by helicopter and, here, their enemies are human. One by one, the captives are culled from the holding area. Rumors say the facility director uses the prisoners as experimental subjects for the testing of a zombie cure.

When Hank is taken, Clint and Gretchen must put aside their personal feelings and find a way out of the prison, surrounded by thousands of starving zombies, before Hank becomes just one more disposable guinea pig in the hands of a twisted mad woman.

  "Can we try something else?" Clint swung the practice sword in a wide sweep. "I think I got this motion down."

"When you're facing a crowd of zombies, there's no time to think," a woman's voice said behind him.

He spun, sword in hand. She lunged at him. He had enough time to register pale skin and straight white-blonde hair atop a lithe frame before her arms crashed into his shoulders with shocking force. Air rushed painfully from his lungs as his back hit the ground. His sword rattled out of reach. She crouched on top of him, somehow holding him down with not much more than a hundred pounds to her. Eyes the color of ice on an Alaskan glacier stared back at him.

"If I were a zombie, you'd be a three-course meal right now." The woman, who was maybe a few years younger than him, snapped her jaw and laughed.

"Or a new zombie, yourself," another male voice said. Clint looked over her shoulder to find the male version of his attacker standing about twenty feet back from the scene. Next to him, a mountain of a man smirked with amusement. All three of them were nuts.

She shaped her hand like a gun and pressed it to his forehead. "No, I'd kill you before I let that happen." She said it casually, like telling someone lunch was ready.

"Thanks?" Was this some sort of weird initiation?

The woman leapt to her feet and yanked him up after her. She tapped the back of his skull. "When you're attacked, your lizard brain takes over. You have to do something like a sword swing or a roundhouse kick thousands of times so that it becomes instinctual. Hesitation is fatal." She punctuated her words with practiced movements; the swinging of an imaginary sword and a roundhouse kick aimed at the practice target.

"Right." He had known this, of course, but had forgotten it in the absolute boredom of swinging the sword the same way for hours.

The woman stood there with her hands on her hips as if she were waiting for some kind of applause. He didn't know what else to say that would keep her from jumping him again. Though, now that he got a good look at her, maybe he wouldn't mind another roll in the dirt. She was tall, with long legs bared by khaki shorts. A tiny white tank top stretched over a black sports bra that definitely earned its keep. Lean muscle stretched along the full length of her arms, torso, and legs. Strapped to her legs and waist were weapon holsters of all varieties that - in his mind, at least - only made her sexier.

"What are you, Zombie Slayer Barbie?"

Aria Kane is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance writer. She lives in sunny Florida with a 60 lb mutt who thinks he's a Chihuahua.

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Excerpt & Giveaway: Curse Girl by Mark Mackey

Curse Girl
(Blue Winter, #2)
By: Mark Mackey
Publisher: Jessina and Montalay/Trixie in the Mirror Publications
Published: March 23, 2013
Genre: Horror

Goodreads | Amazon

Amanda Hansen targets a new student Julie Argyles whose ancestor just happens to be a witch. Julie’s act of payback changes Amanda in a way she could not expect or want, and now she and her friend Gillian must take a road trip to find Julie before seven days pass, and Amanda is stuck the way she is forever.

Feeling the cool fall air against her face stepping from the house gave Julie a strong incentive to continue what she set her mind on doing.

Starting to walk along a residential block with the street named Cylers caused Julie to feel excitement blossom in her at a rapid pace. The idea being in a new town would allow her to escape and be free of the constant torment of ridicule; this coming as a result of Sharon, Angela, Bridget and her being what they were. It sure would be something of a miracle if Blue Winter was void of pathetic, vile witch-haters like Tracy and Heather; the thought of this causing Julie to start moving faster toward the section of Blue Winter with stores and businesses.

As the hour progressed following departing her house, Julie arrived at her intended destination. What she saw brought her to be reminded of good old Darkwoods, Blue Winter and it bore one heck of an incredible resemblance to one another. In addition it was like any other quaint little suburban town, a mixture of old time dime stores, ice cream Shoppes, and the new, Starbucks and Subways. Now if there weren’t any pathetic witch-haters such as Tracy and Heather infecting Blue Winter, her life here would go perfectly smooth in this new town she and her parents had relocated to from Darkwoods.

Continuing to travel along, what snagged Julie’s attention, a store front music store with the name Rosemonts. If it was one thing Julie enjoyed besides spending an hour or so talking on the phone with Sharon, it was listening to and buying music.

“Hey new girl welcome to Blue Winter,” Maddie announced as Julie stepped in; “yeah I know you’re new all right, I have a talent of knowing each and every one of the teenagers who live in this town. It’s quite easy for me to do so since the only high school is Saint Anne’s. So what brings you here?”

“My Dad being handed the opportunity of running a branch of the company he works for,” Julie answered as she started heading toward the counter and Maddie and Dahlia.

“So what’s your name new girl?”

“Julie Argyles, and since your last name is Rosemont, I suppose you’re related to the owners of this record store?”

“Yeah uh-huh, it’s been in my family for generations now.”

“Well I’m glad to meet the two of you Maddie and Dahlia. Hey you think you could tell me a little bit about Blue Winter?”

“I should have expected that question next,” Maddie replied. “Julie this town isn’t much different than any other wholesome, quaint little American community.”

“What about the residents and others our age?”

“For the most part, Blue Winter’s residents are accepting of new citizens, but-” Maddie said, not finishing her sentence, but shooting a brief nervous glance at Dahlia.

“Okay what’s with you not finishing your sentence Maddie, is there something I should know about?” Julie asked with nervousness present in her voice.

“Just to give you a heads up before you start settling in and getting comfortable here.”

“Sure go on I’m listening.”

“Julie there’s a group of girls who Dahlia and I asked to join and had our invitation rejected, run by best friends Amanda Hansen and Kristen Flemings. Well just by Amanda now, since Kristen moved away only yesterday.

“What’s that have to do with me?”

“Oh come on Julie, you arrived here practically at the same time Kristen left. Are you seeing why Amanda might try and attack you in some way because of the hurt and depression she’s feeling over losing her best friend?”

Mark Mackey, I live in Chicago, I’ve won two screenplay awards, have had four of my short stories published in four separate anthologies,
Without Title, Christmas Lites, All the Lovely Creatures, and the Perfect Christmas Stuffing.

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Excerpt & Giveaway: In Spades by K. Pinson

In Spades
(Mirrored, #1)
By: K. Pinson
Publisher: Self-published
Published: April 15, 2013
Genre: New Adult

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Avalynn has been running from her past for a couple of years now....never very far but always extremely fast. With an alcoholic father, a void of a mother and a town full of gossip, she struggles to find her place in the world.The only thing that saved her on her path of self destruction is her beautiful little sister, her miracle. Desperately trying to save Abby from a life that Avalynn has been trying so hard to escape from, she plots to take Abby away.The plan going dangerously astray, leaving Avalynn beaten and broken in what once was the hallway mirror in her childhood home. Avalynn finally comes to in the hospital after nearly being beaten to death. Father-Dead, Mother-Missing, Abby-In foster care--Everything changing in the blink of an eye.

Avalynn immediately sets to work to get her life in order , receive custody of precious Abby and focusing every ounce of attention, giving Abby the the life she deserves. Avalynn, now a 22 year old Elementary School Teacher and New Mommy, struggling to raise a beautiful and feisty five year old whom was just diagnosed with Mild Autism Disorder. Lots of challenges for her to face in the midst. Avalynn is ready to go at them all head on if it means Abby is raised in a happy and healthy home. Abby is the only thing she cares about...not even caring about herself or her life...that is...until she meets him. The man that can shatter her entire world with one glance. Their relationship a roller coaster ride from start to finish. One that Avalynn never wants to get off of..but she may not have a choice. Her happily ever after coming to a screeching halt yet again. Heartbreak, love, loss and hope--This story has it all, In Spades.

His hands were now working their way down my spine and lingering around my hips, massaging with his calloused hands. I loved every second of this attention. My body was tingling all over. I was losing all train of thought. My worries drifting miles away.

“You have no idea the effect you have on me.” The words slipped from my loose lips. I was so zoned out from the wonderful massage I was getting, the only thing I wanted to do was take him back to my bedroom.

“Good to know I just have to give you a massage to get you to loosen up. I’ll remember how easy you are.” He told me in a playful tone.

I scoffed and reached back to swat at him. I gave him my best mad face and before I knew it, he had me thrown over his shoulder and heading straight towards my bedroom. He was constantly surprising me with how he knew his way around my house like he belonged here. I squealed and my hair whipped around my face at the sudden rush of air. I felt instantly childlike and happy. He threw me down on the bed and rushed to close the door. He strides towards me, almost doing what would I would visualize a male model to do on the runaway. A cocky smirk touching the corners of his lips. I laughed out loud when he started dancing around my room and lifting up the bottom of his shirt showing off the V he had and teasing me. I threw my hand over my mouth to keep myself quiet so I wouldn’t wake Abby. But my stomach was hurting so bad, shaking the bed with laughter.

“I told you what would happen if you gave me the mad face.” He teased, smiling.

“Well I didn’t realize you were going to go all caveman style on me. Me Jane, you Tarzan!” I cracked up at my own joke and he shook his head in amusement.

“Only you would laugh at your own joke. You’re such a nerd.” He laughed.

I scowled at him. I hated being a called a nerd. It was my biggest pet peeve. I felt as if he was putting me in the friend zone instantly and it totally cooled down my sexual overdrive. He laughed at the look on my face and lunged himself on the bed next to me. Lying flat on his back, making himself comfortable. I’m pretty positive he enjoyed pissing me off. I rolled over and leaned onto my elbow to study his face up close. He had a dark shadow lining his perfect jaw, still in the stubble stage. He was scruffy and I loved it. His tan skin was as smooth as it could be with the exception of the hair. He had no flaws or imperfections. Unlike my own scarred skin. I ran my hand over his cheek and down his jaw. He sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes tight. It seemed as if he was fighting every shred of self-control he had left. But,I wanted him to lose it. I loved when he took control. I wasn’t the take control type of girl. At least not in this facet of life. I loved to have control over my own destiny and the life that Abby would have, what I was building for her. But as far as relationships went, both emotionally and physically, I was shy, reserved and completely in the backseat. I needed to be steered in the right direction or else I would drive off a cliff. I had never been very good about explaining my emotions and feelings. I consistently kept everything bottled up. It was easier that way. Not having to deal. Just going through the motions. I liked it that way, past tense. I even confused myself.

I am 22 years young. I live in a small, farm town. I love to read, write and sing. I am an assistant manager for an assisted living program. I have high hopes to get my degree in Music Therapy as I enjoy helping people. I have a crazy cockapoo dog that I consider my bratty child. I'm from MI born and raised, never really traveled anywhere else but would love to someday.

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