The Extraordinary Life of Amy Winston, Book 3
by Liza O'Connor 
Genre: Historical, Regency (right after the end of the Napoleon wars) through Early Victorian 
Despite her lack of dowry and cloudy past, Amy Winston becomes one of the most sought-after young ladies in the London marriage mart. Some desire her for her beauty and charm while others appreciate her unique skills of seeing with her mind, healing with her hands, and disappearing in plain sight. By her choice of husbands, she secures her safety. However, her marriage almost brings the English Parliament to its knees.
Amy studied the young man for a moment. “Are you an only child?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
“Did you like your nanny?”
“Very much.”
“And your tutors?”
“Not so much.” His forehead crinkled in annoyance. “Is there some point to your questions?”
Darby sighed and stared at the ceiling in exasperation. “She is trying to figure out why you are such a pompous ass and expect to have your way all the time. She has no doubt concluded from her three questions that you were spoiled by your nanny into a horrid monster of a boy who has no idea how to make or keep friends, and clearly from your display today, she will conclude you’ve not made much progress since.” He then looked at Amy. “You can move me to the fourth dance if you are still willing to give this brat a chance. In his favor, he’s a very good dancer and can be an interesting conversationalist, if you can keep him from talking about himself.”
Amy ran an arrow to the forth line for Darby and added JM on the third line.
“Why does Darby get more letters?” Marsh asked.
Amy laughed and added vsgd at the end of his initials for ‘very spoiled good dancer’.
“That doesn’t spell anything…”
At this point, Ann felt compelled to intervene. “John, you’ve got your dance, dear. Stop bullying Amy and leave now.”
PURE INNOCENCE, BOOK 1
For some, Amy is an angel incarnate; for others, she is the child of Satan. In her early years, Amy learns the skills of a soldier and discovers she can heal with the touch of her hand. Upon the death of her beloved Uncle John, he stays as a protective ghost to assist the soldiers in their vigilant efforts to keep her safe. Never has a girl arrived at Madam Cousec’s School for Young Ladies with more charm, more friends, or greater protection. She’ll need them all to survive the head girl and set her future in motion.
John turned his attention back to the girl. Her dark hair was wild and matted. In the center of the mats was dried caked blood. No doubt from the stones the townspeople threw.
The girl spoke rapidly in a shrill voice, declaring she was “bad, evil, the devil’s whore, and to go away, go away, go away.”
He suspected the voice was not hers but a mimic of the people who had said these cruel words. Suddenly, her voice dropped lower in a mimic of a man and she quoted dark bible passages about casting out demons.
Dear God, was it possible these were her parents’ words?
“Tell me the name, tell me the name, damn you!” the voice bellowed.
Finally, he heard the girl’s own voice. The pain and misery it held tore at his old battle-weary heart.
“There is no name,” she cried. “There was no man. Only a dream while I rested on the banks.”
“Then it’s the seed of Satan and it’ll not be raised in my house!” her voice deepened and bellowed
Inside the bundle of cloth, she held tight to her chest, a baby’s wail rose, almost as if in protest to her words. The baby’s cry startled her and for one terrible moment, John feared she would toss the child over the edge.
Then her madness dissipated, and she transformed into a young mother fretting over her new child, soothing it with soft words, as she sat down upon the ground. She opened her filthy torn blouse and placed the baby upon her right breast, rocking the child softly while it nursed. Her face held love and adoration for her helpless infant.
John knew he must save this young girl and her baby. She was not yet lost to madness.
LOVE'S BETRAYALS, BOOK 2
When Amy and her friend Domnika arrive in London, she discovers her guardian, Nicolas, is under the thrall of his ‘perfect’ wife. Neither is happy she has come. The only person who seems pleased with her arrival is the handsome valet, Antonio, who turns out to be far more than a servant.
Needing to escape her guardian’s care, Amy and Domnika take refuge at a fellow schoolmate’s home. Antonio leaves Nicolas’ service and becomes one of her many protectors. Unlike the other protectors, he becomes the first of many admirers that vie for her hand.
All the while, Nicolas continues to prove over and over that he is not the fine fellow her uncle had thought.
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As Nicolas and his valet, Antonio, sat on a bench overlooking the docks, Antonio interrogated him about Uncle John’s niece.
“Is she intelligent?”
“Frighteningly so. By now I suspect she knows more than most doctors in London about medicine.”
Antonio smiled. “A practical woman as well.”
“I hardly would call it a practical vocation,” Nicolas objected. “No one will ever accept a female doctor.”
“I suppose it depends upon the situation. The next time I get stabbed or shot, I’ll be most glad to allow her to tend my wounds.”
“You don’t even know her.”
“She’s the colonel’s niece. That’s all I need to know.”
Raised in the southern mid-section of U.S., Liza escaped to the East Coast once out of college. She’s worked as a journalist, a radio DJ, a security guard, a stock broker, a strategist, and a business solutions consultant to name a few of her many occupations.
She learned to fly planes, jump out of planes, hang-glide, kayak and scuba dive, to name of few of her ‘let’s kill Liza’ sports. However, her favorite activity is to hike with her dog Jess among the shaved mountains of NJ.
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Ink Series Book 4
by Jude Ouvrard
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: JC Clarke (The Graphics & Formatting Shed) Editor: RE Hargrave 
Kyle Layne has it all figured out. The perfect life, including a future with his dream woman, is in his grasp. Each day filling with more happiness than the one before, he couldn’t ask for a better existence.
But fate has other plans.
Like lightning from the heavens, Kyle’s dream turns into a nightmare in the blink of an eye. Lost, and filled with pain and anger, his once perfect life now resembles a broken mirror—shattered.
With the help of his best friend Levi, he finds a ray of hope in the depths of darkness. Kyle’s fragile shell is transformed into a work of art, freeing his mind and soul for a chance at a new future while memorializing his sacred past forever in ink. Kyle’s dream has died, but life starts making sense again after his tattooing career takes off and strong friendships help rebuild his sanity… until a one-night stand flips his world upside down, that is.
Can Kyle risk his battered heart in Destiny’s untrustworthy hands? After so much loss, does he dare to dream again?
There was a girl watching me from the other end of the bar. I didn’t know if she was playing games, but her flirting was obvious from miles away. Not that my taste could be trusted, but she was hot. Her dark hair and dark skin had something exotic. Of course, after this much vodka, almost any girl in the place could’ve led me on.
I nodded, hoping she didn’t want to talk—because I wasn’t having any of that—and she smiled. These days it all came down to sex. Why talk when I had no intention of seeing them again? No feelings whatsoever, no strings attached… just raw sex. Plain and simple.
“’Ello,” she said.
“Hey,” I answered before drinking my vodka like water.
“Wanna get out of here?” Her thick accent had me smiling.
“Of course.”
As quick as that we were outside. I followed her to her place, which was a studio of some sort. It was small, very small. She closed and locked the door behind me, and then started throwing her clothes on the floor.
Wow! Hell, she isn’t wasting time.
Her long dark hair hid her breasts as her eyes dared me to come forward. To claim her. There was something about the colors of her eyes which took me by complete surprise, though. One seemed brownish-green, while the other was just green. What the hell?
“Come on, hot stuff. Are we going to get started, or what?”
“Alright, alright.”
Once I’d taken my clothes off, she pushed me down on the mattress. “Look. I had a shite flight, and I’m exhausted. Let’s get rolling.”
This was the first time I’d been with a girl who came off colder than me. It felt different, and somehow made me unsure. She was sure of what she wanted, though.
My back pressed into her cold, black sheets while she crawled on top of me, taking charge as if I were a toy. She was chewing me up, not leaving me time to process anything or enjoy this. Karma, I guess, for all the times I’d played this same old game with women—flirt with them, fuck them, and then leave them without a goodbye. This time, though, the girl had a plan of her own, and not having anything better to do, I gave myself to her.
Several drinks past tipsy and more than turned on, I decided enough, that it was time to take back the power in her bed. After all, I’d had a rough day, too. Hell, I’d had rough days ever since… yeah, ever since I lost my soul.
Fueled by my pain, yet again, I gave her everything in me. All the roughness and lust. Turned out we had some kind of chemistry. Her dark tresses were all over the damn bed. She was a black fucking panther, a wild animal.
Why am I analyzing her so damn much anyway? I never care about who… I promised I would never care again.
Writhing and moving together, the sexual tension between us kept rising. My toes curled while my fingers gripped her hair and I worked to keep this going until I couldn’t anymore. Her once perfect bed had turned into a mess of sweat, tangled sheets, and exhausted bodies.
Who am I kidding?
This woman was something else.
Using my arm and legs, I held her in place against my chest after we’d both climaxed, until she got out of bed without saying anything.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm. The girls I’d met were never so emotionally detached.
“Tiff. You?”
“I’m K.”
“Well, K. I’m going for a shower. It’s been real, thanks.”
Is she really kicking me out?
“Can you lock the door on your way out?”
Shit, she is.
As an editor, sometimes working through a manuscript becomes technical, and you don't necessarily get "sucked in." With Forever in Ink, I found myself having to stop reading to go back and edit. And, yes, I cursed Ms. Ouvrard a couple of times for making my heart race... in both good and bad ways. Kyle's story is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. Everyone deserves a second chance.
#EditorApproved ~ RE Hargrave
Jude Ouvrard is an author who writes from the heart, and reads with passion and devotion. Jude enjoys stories of drama, true love, tattoos, and everything in between. While writing is her therapy, reading is her solace. Life doesn't get better than books and chocolate, and maybe a little bit of shopping.
A romance lover, Jude writes about love, pain, heartbreak and matters that will challenge your heart. A book can tell an unexpected story, no matter which directions it takes. Jude embraces words that have haunted her for years.
Jude is a working mom who dedicates her time to a law firm and writing books. She has an energetic superhero son, and a supportive boyfriend of many years. Her family is her rock; she could not survive without them. Born a country girl, she transformed into a city woman who now lives in Montreal, Canada. Although French is her first language, Jude decided to write in English because she liked the challenge.
AS RIGHT AS RAIN by J.M. Maurer Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
After finally landing her first job at a television station, meteorologist Makayla Reading is determined to make her mark on the world. With an ex she’d rather forget and no time for a new man in her life, what she needs is a true friend to help her deal with jittery nerves and her crabby boss who makes her life miserable. Though a don’t-fall-for-the-cameraman rule should be easy to follow, sparks fly when she meets the handsome and charming Eli Barringer. As their relationship moves beyond friendship, Makayla realizes she must not only give in to her heart but also let Eli in on a secret she’s been keeping, a decision she knows is…as right as rain.  
“Hey.” Eli ruffles the hat on my head like one would do to a child, and then lifts my chin with his gentle fingers, leveling my gaze with his. “You all right?” I blink him into focus, seeing the crease of concern deepen between his eyes. Although I’m grateful for his question, he doesn’t need to know what’s on my mind. My emotions are all over the place, scattered like debris after a storm. Plus, I’m having a difficult time pulling my sight from his eyes and keeping my thoughts on my job. What are you doing, Makayla? Yes, he’s gorgeous. And off limits. He’s sexy. And still forbidden. I’m confident there has to be some sort of don’t-fall-for-the-coworker rule I should be following. But no such rule seems to be preventing me from reacting to him the way I am. Not wanting to alert him to what’s making me so frazzled, I respond to his question with the first thing that pops into my head. “I’m just new. And nervous.” It sounds plausible coming out, and it’s partially the truth, a fact I’m comfortable with, given I’ve just met Mr. Beautiful. He moves his hand to my shoulder and squeezes just enough to hold me in place, which also keeps me from sliding in my seat as Sam steers us out of the garage and onto the street. “Okay, if that’s what you’re going with, I’ll buy it. For now.”
A Chandler County novel
by Cherime MacFarlane Genre: Contemporary Sweet Romance
Grant remembered waking in a hospital bed with Crystal's hand on his forehead. And no matter how hard he begged, the girl said she must leave. She needed to get away from her father and couldn't stay with his family due to the generations-long feud. Crystal joined the Army. So did he. Then he came home, ran for sheriff and won.
The first thing he did when in office was open the file labeled Missing and Presumed Dead. No one had seen or heard from the mother of the Dane children in years. Did her husband kill her as Royce Dane said? If not, how did she disappear without a trace? But things take an odd twist when he discovers his mother's involvement.
Crystal likes everything about the man Grant is. But she isn't cut out for mixing in the upper echelon of Chandler County society. Her brother needs to know what happened to their mother, Crystal isn't so sure she cares. If her mother walked away from her children, Crystal doesn't need her now.
Crystal let the other passengers leave ahead of her. She needed a little time to psych herself up into getting off the plane. She wanted to see Gentry and meet the man who trundled her off to Alaska without a by-your-leave. But she didn't think Gentry would appreciate it if she busted his nose for him at first sight.
The line cleared out and only the crew remained. Time to get it over with. The whole thing bothered her. Without the structure of the Army to keep her on the straight and narrow, Crystal wondered how she would make it in the civvy world.
She pulled the O.D. green duffel out of the bin and followed the last of the passengers. The pilot said the weather was clear and a comfortable 43 degrees. A small snort followed that thought.
Comfortable for who? Dudes wrapped in two layers of down parkas? What did the man consider uncomfortable? No! Scratch that. A minus something probably, maybe in the low thirties.
With a sigh, she entered the long covered walkway leading to the interior of the terminal. She got a good look at the whole thing before they landed. The entire complex, runways and all would fit in the back corner of Atlanta's Hartsfield–Jackson airport without any fuss.
She followed the signs for the baggage claim area. Not that she had any baggage. Gentry said once she got past security, they would find her.
As soon as she got Gentry to herself, it would be time to spill the beans. Well, perhaps not all of it. The kid didn't need to know she set fire to the barn in a fit of rage. That would stay her secret.
Without the anonymity of her uniform, Crystal felt naked. Why in the hell did she let Royce and Uncle Thad talk her out of re-upping? She hadn't been drunk and just didn't get it.
Liar! Her mind screamed. She knew why. The phone call with Grant played all over again in her head. It was the part about her having a tight ass. She caught the warmth in his tone and figured he had to be smiling when he made the comment.
It was amazing how all airports had the same general layout. Ahead of her a large bank of windows stood on the other side of steps and escalators. Lots of people stood to the side as they waited for passengers to leave the secured area.
"Crystal! Hun!" That was all the warning she got before her baby sister slammed into her with arms wide.
The duffel hit the floor and Crystal wrapped both arms around the kid. With his hands stuffed in the pocket of his jeans, a guy with dark hair and equally dark eyes watched Gentry hug her.
Russ. That was the husband's name. The dude could play poker with the best of them. Crystal couldn't tell anything from a quick glance at his expression.
But her sister felt different. She must have put on about ten or fifteen pounds. Was she pregnant? Crystal sure hoped the hell not. Gentry was just a baby yet. She needed time to figure out who she was since getting out from under Augie's thumb.
Gentry turned to the guy with a smile on her face. "Russ, come and meet my sister."
When he walked forward and held out a hand, Crystal thought she caught sight of a wary expression in his dark eyes. Then he closed up tighter than hell.
That's okay, Alaska. I'm not sure I like your ass either. But for Gentry's sake, she planned to keep it all screwed in tight. The girl looked happy enough. If Gentry loved the little shit and didn't want to leave, so be it.
There would be other visits. If things didn't work out, they would all have a home at the Reynolds place. And that was the other reason she let them talk her out of enlisting again. Sheila. If Royce didn't get some kind of closure on the thing with their mother, the kid might lose what marbles he had left.
For now, she had a week to assess how Gentry was making out up here. The other two guys in Chandler County would want a full report on her findings. But it wouldn't do to alienate the husband right off.
Crystal shook his hand. She made the pressure just firm enough, but not like a wuss. She would treat him like a fresh out of school junior officer. Crystal could do that in her sleep.
She settled in the seat behind Russ. Gentry crawled into the extended cab with her. They had a few miles to go before they reached Homer. Then would come a boat ride to Seldovia. Crystal shook her head. It was a damn good thing she slept on the plane.
Gentry grabbed her hand and squeezed. "I'm so glad to see you. But why did you leave the service?"
With a grin, Crystal chucked her under the chin. "Royce, Uncle Thad and I are planning to make the old man and Johnny's life hell. And it's been a long time coming."
I came to Alaska kicking and screaming in 1976, and I never want to leave. I cut firewood on shares for money to get through the winter. I swore I would not live above the Alaska Range because it was too cold there and wound up in the Copper River Basin where it got just a cold as Fairbanks.
My second husband, a Scot from Glasgow, was the love of my life. When I write Scots dialect, I experienced hearing it from my in-laws. Each time my husband got on the phone to Scotland after five seconds, I could hardly understand a word. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and roadie.
I live in a cabin which is slowly being surrounded by the city and wish I were farther out. My cat and Husky-Collie mix dog are happy in our little slice of heaven called Alaska. In the silence of winter dreams of people and places provide a rich pool of ideas to explore.
As a reporter for the Copper Valley Views, Cherime MacFarlane received a letter of commendation from the Copper River Native Association for fair and balanced reporting.
Other Awards: Finalist in McGrath Book Awards 2017, Amazon Best Selling in Anthologies-twice and Hardest Working Author Award from Author Classified.
The British Stripped Bare
by Hunter S. Jones Genre: History/UK/Women & Gender/Sexuality 
Discover the ménage that changed the course of the Anglo-Saxon throne, go undercover to explore Courtly Love, learn about the business of Tudor marriages. Read of a possible dalliance involving Queen Anne Boleyn, and the controversial marriages of Mary, Queen of Scots. Peek into the bedrooms of Victorian prostitutes. Each story provides shocking detail about what was at the heart of romance throughout British history.
Would you swig a magic potion or plot to kill your husband in order to marry your lover? These are just two of the many romantic and sexual customs from British history that you will explore when eight authors take us through the centuries, revealing that truth is stranger than fiction when it comes to love. From bizarre trivia about courtly love, to techniques and prostitution, you’ll encounter memorable nuggets of provocative info that you'll want to share with friends and co-workers.
It's all here: Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom, ménage a trois, chastity belts, Tudor fallacies, royal love and infidelity, marriage contracts (which were more like business arrangements), and brothels, kept women, and whorehouses. Take a peek at what really happened between the sheets. Each story provides you with shocking detail about what was at the heart of romance throughout British history.
The Impact of Sexuality in History: The British Stripped Bare chronicles the pleasures and perils of the flesh, sharing secrets from the days of the Anglo-Saxons, medieval courtly love traditions, diabolical Tudor escapades—including those of Anne Boleyn and Mary Queen of Scots—the Regency, and down to the ‘prudish’ Victorian Era.
Learn more about the scandals and romance that shaped Great Britain and ultimately influenced the United States…Nashville, Tennessee during the Union Army’s Occupation during the Civil War, settlement of the American West, and the development of America’s first art form in the sultry brothels of New Orleans.
This provocative collection of essays depicts the cultural and societal kinks of the British because the truth is stranger than fiction when it comes to love. This scholarly yet accessible all-female project brings to light the myriad varieties of sexual and cultural mores which shaped history and the effect on women and gender roles into the early twentieth century.
“A fascinating new book” -Mail On Sunday and Daily Mail, U.K.
"A balance of both entertaining and educational reading in equal measure” -Dr. Roxanne O'Neill
“The work is well written and researched. Each essay could be its own book. Well done, ladies.” ocmd, Vine Voice Reviewer
Hunter S, Jones is passionate about the history of romance, science and music, a.k.a. sex, drugs and rock & roll. She has a popular history blog, and is a historian for Past Preservers Casting. When she isn’t writing, talking or tweeting about kings, queens and rock stars, she’s living the dream in Atlanta, Georgia with her Scottish born husband.
Look for her first collection of historical essays, Sexuality and Its Impact on History: The British Stripped Bare, available early 2018 from Pen and Sword Books. She is delighted to work with the talented team of Emma Haddon-Wright, Annie Whitehead, Jessica Cale, Maryanne Coleman, Judith Arnopp, Gayle Hulme, and Dr. Beth Lynne.
Contributing authors
The Juniper Court Series
by Jennifer Theriot Genre: 'Seasoned' Romantic Comedy Book Publication Date: February 28, 2018 
Meet Phillip & Jayne Miller, original homeowners on Juniper Court. He's a successful attorney; she's a flourishing blogger. Head over heels in love and approaching 50, their relationship needs a little jump start. With the Miller's twin girls married and moved away from Sunview, Phillip and Jayne decide it's time to focus on resuscitating their relationship, complete with spicing up their neglected sex life. When competition between the two sets in, it becomes a full out game to see who can one-up the other trying new things. Ah, yes. Life on Juniper Court gets interesting... and sometimes embarrassing. Be careful what you wish for and where you stick your nose. Sometimes keeping up with the Joneses--or in this case, the Sullivans can have consequences. 
M. Capehart has been narrating since 2008, and has over 60 audiobooks to her credit. Her childhood was spent performing in theater and music, and studying Spanish. She is adept at voicing both male and female characters, and a wide variety of accents and ages. She has received excellent reviews on her romance narrations, and stays very busy narrating this genre. A dedicated sound-proofed recording booth helps ensure her recordings are clean and require very little treatment in post-production. M records on a high quality AudioTechnica 4040 condenser mic and annually hires professional sound engineers to evaluate her sound.
In addition to adhering to the highest technical quality, M also takes performance training classes each year, in order to learn new methods, and hone her narration skills. A major component of her continuing professional education is attending the annual Audio Publisher Association Convention.
 
USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Theriot (pronounced Terrio) hails from the Great State of Texas. She is a career woman, working as CFO of a Texas based real estate investment firm. She felt something was missing and discovered her passion for writing--mostly at night and on weekends. In her limited spare time Jennifer enjoys being outdoors; preferably somewhere on a beach curled up with a good book. Spending time with family and friends, watching a baseball game and enjoying a good bottle of wine are usually on her to-do lists. Jennifer has three grown children and is also 'MiMi' to four beautiful grandkids - all of whom she adores.
Her best-selling Out of the Box Series, OUT OF THE BOX AWAKENING, OUT OF THE BOX REGIFTED, OUT OF THE BOX EVERLASTING and TOCCATA OBBLIGATO~SERENADING KYRA are currently available on Amazon.com.
This no-fat blackberry cobbler is the BEST! You can substitute chopped apples, or peaches and it is just as good. The secret is stone ground oatmeal and almond flour. I discovered a fat free, sugar free maple syrup at my local Sprouts, made Walden Farms and it tastes divine! https://www.waldenfarms.com/products/syrup_pancake.html You can find it at your local grocery or stores like Sprouts, Whole Foods or Fresh Market Here is my recipe: Preheat oven to 350 degrees 4 small containers of fresh blackberries, rinsed 1 Tablespoon cinnamon 1/4 c Walden Farms Sugar Free, calorie free maple syrup 1 tablespoon water 1 cup stone ground oatmeal 1/2 cup almond flour 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) Place rinsed blackberries in a mixing bowl. Add cinnamon, water and maple syrup. Stir to blend and let sit for about 5 minutes. Spray the bottom of an 8x8 or 9x9 square baking dish. Add blackberry mixture In the same bowl you used for the blackberries, add the oats, almond flour, coconut oil and pecans. Stir to mix and crumble on top of the blackberry mixture. Bake for 25 minutes uncovered. Cover with foil and bake for another 2o minutes. **Note** I've also made this using apples and peaches. For apple cobbler, follow the recipe, substituting apples for the blackberries. I use 6 large Fuji apples, peeled, cored and cut into large pieces. I also add 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice to the apples. For peach cobbler, I use 6 ripe large peaches. For easy peeling, I drop the peaches into a pan of boiling water for about 30 seconds, rinse under cool water and the skin comes off easily. Cut the peaches into large chunks. I hope you enjoy it and would love to hear your comments! <script async defer src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script> <script async defer data-pin-hover="true" data-pin-tall="true" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script> 
WITCH WANTS FOREVER
The Witches of Wimberley Book 2
by Victoria Danann
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fantasy 
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT TILL IT'S GONE.
Only one thing could be worse than never finding the love of your life...finding her and forgetting.
From New York Times bestselling author, Victoria Danann, "mistress of modern romantic fantasy".
"...illustrated that love is the strongest magic of all."
Rachel can't imagine life without Dashiell Fonteneau. They were the kind of couple who believed they were destined to find each other eons before they were born.Married people, but forever lovers.
When Dash goes to Denver on a business trip that was supposed to last for three days and doesn't come home, Rachel finds herself in conflict with the colony at Wimberley over what to do.
The entire community is in complete agreement when they decide magic can't be used to bring him back. They say she'll have to learn to live without him.
"I was tense the entire time I was reading this book. It keep me riveted. I couldn't put it down."
READERS ARE SAYING: It's the perfect blend of angst, humor, and a little night magic.
A year and odd months earlier, he’d spent a few weeks celebrating finishing his MBA at Tulane. And there was no place better to celebrate anything than the home of Tulane, New Orleans. He was on top of the world. Twenty-six years old with a prestigious degree from a prestigious school and a string of prospective job courtiers lined up to write him a golden ticket. So that he didn’t have to accept the path of least resistance and go to work for his family’s business.
Any day he was going to decide which lucky company would be honored to have him agree to work for them. While he was mulling, he was partying. Right up until the day he got the mysterious invitation to come to an exclusive presentation.
Normally that sort of suggestion would make him scoff and snort at the same time.
He tried throwing the card away. Several times. But would always go get it out of the trash and look at it again. That cycle repeated itself for three days before he called the number and agreed to see what they were offering. Just so his curiosity would be satisfied and he could get back to deciding between serious offers.
He attended the presentation, went to choosing week at Wimberley, and, most important, met Rachel. After that he wouldn’t have cared if he worked as the dog catcher in the world’s tiniest town just as long as he could be near her.
Dash had a tendency to see the world in patterns that largely consisted of numbers. Nature had balanced his business genius by giving him scant imagination and no reason to think he was missing out. So his perception of Rachel as a woman surrounded by light that was a symphony of sparkle and movement, was mesmerizing. Permanently.
In a community full of couples experiencing the kind of marital bliss that was indeed bliss and not intended as tongue-in-cheek snark, Dash and Rachel managed to stand out. It was generally accepted by the residents of the enclave that their relationship was unique.
Dash had given up a career that might have eventually landed him on the cover of Forbes, but once he met Rachel, he no longer cared where he worked. When he’d shown up for the invitational not really knowing why he was there, just like the other guys, he hadn’t needed it to slowly become clear that he was half of a fated match. He saw Rachel across a crowded courtyard and knew instantly where he was supposed to be.
He didn’t need to wait to hear the way her voice slid over his spirit and soothed him like a favorite song. He didn’t need to wait to feel the electricity that arced between them when he shook her hand. He didn’t need to wait to see her blush from the intense way he was visually devouring her.
Dash was more than content to manage the enclave’s money and investments, which benefitted not only the witches and their families, but the residents of Wimberley as well. It was a good fit for his particular talent, skill, and interest. Satisfying to the core.
Romance that is destiny laced, fantasy infused, and dressed in a little night magic.
If he leaves, he can never come back. But is he dumb enough to get in his car and drive away anyhow?
New York Times bestselling author, Victoria Danann, begins a sizzling new series about an enclave of modern day witches who are sexy, philanthropic and living in the Texas Hill Country. They're selfless to a fault when it comes to generosity, but when it comes to the men they choose for themselves, they don't settle for anything less than the best.
"Enchanted from the very first page. I couldn't put it down!"- Night Owl Reviews 5* TOP PICK
While waiting for what would probably be his last acting audition ever, the guy standing in line behind Willem gave him a card with a phone number on it and said, "You're a good looking guy. If you're definitely quitting, try the witches."
Willem took the card for the sake of being polite. He planned to throw it away, but didn't. Crazy as it sounded, it seemed like the card was bugging him. It even kept him awake when he put it in the refrigerator.
He called the number, entered the competition and won. Winning meant getting everything he'd never even dared to dream about.
Her Knights of Black Swan series won BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES TWO YEARS IN A ROW (2013, 2014). Reviewers Choice Awards, The Paranormal Romance Guild.
Victoria's paranormal romances come with uniquely fresh perspectives on "imaginary" creatures, characters, and themes. She adds a dash of scifi, a flourish of fantasy, enough humor to make you laugh out loud, and enough steam to make you squirm in your chair. Her heroines are independent femmes with flaws and minds of their own whether they are aliens, witches, demonologists, psychics, past life therapists, or financial analysts from Dallas. Her heroes are hot and hunky, but they also have brains, character, and good manners - usually - whether they be elves, demons, berserkers, werewolves, or vampires.
The first book of the Knights of Black Swan Paranormal Romance Series, My Familiar Stranger, was nominated for Best Paranormal Romance of 2012 by both Reviewers' Choice and Readers' Choice Awards. All of her books have opened on the Amazon Best Sellers list and earned Night Owl Reviews TOP PICK awards. Many have appeared on Listopia BOOK OF THE MONTH as #1 across all genres.
For books published in 2013, Black Swan won three awards. 1. Best Paranormal Romance Series 2. Best Paranormal Romance Novel - A SUMMONER'S TALE 3. Best Vampire~Shifter Novel - MOONLIGHT. In 2014, Solomon's Sieve won Best Vampire Novel.
If you're interested in Victoria personally, she is also a classically trained musician who defected to Classic Rock music. Until 2013 she was the utility player for Houston's Roadhouse band, which means she played rhythm guitar, keyboards, sang back ups and female leads. Her band covered everything (note for note) from Styx to Led Zepellin to Rush.
She lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and a very smart, mostly black German Shepherd dog.
by R.E. Hargrave
Carina Anderson has had a craptastic year. From losing her parents in separate freak accidents to finding her boyfriend and BFF engaged in kinky sex games, her general enthusiasm for life has evaporated. It’s not a surprise that by the time Christmas rolls around, she’s ready to lock her doors and hermit the season away—until a chance encounter forces her outlook to change. With her newfound attitude, Carina takes a wild leap and lands herself in a world she never dreamed of. A world she’ll soon find she can’t get enough of.
Dr. Elijah Davies has been counting down the days until he can return to England—and the creature comforts of his playroom. Now used to the hustle and bustle of London, he’s only come back to Hooksett as a favor to his eccentric uncle. But when an adorable and oh-so-sexy elf crosses his path, Elijah decides his visit to the small New Hampshire town might not end up being so boring after all.
Never underestimate the magic of the season… or the power of attraction.
As my eyes scanned over the huddles of bodies, I noticed a lone man in the far corner. He sat so that his back was against the wall, his long, worn jean-covered legs stretched out in front of him. Donned in a threadbare, long-sleeved black shirt and what looked to be a handmade scarf wrapped around his neck, I couldn’t see his face as he concentrated on a tattered book in his hands. I was still watching him, willing him to look up at me in fact, when Deborah returned.
Just as I turned to give her my attention, he lifted his head, then smirked while he blatantly ran his eyes up and down my body. My breath caught in my throat at his feral intrusion. Something in the way he stared me down made me feel like I was on the menu, and I shuddered, my panties dampening. His eyes crinkled when he laughed.
“Carina, this here is Stan and Billy, if you’ll show them where your car is, they’ll bring everything in,” Deborah said, capturing my attention.
“Yeah, sure,” I mumbled, my eyes cutting back to the corner where the man was still staring at me. My outfit suddenly felt a tad silly and childish.
I led Stan and Billy out to my car and unlocked the doors so they could load up baskets. While they headed back inside with their first armfuls, I went to the trunk to retrieve the bags of cocoa.
“May I—”
I’d been leaning into the trunk, stretching to reach the bag which had shifted to the back, when the deep voice startled me, causing me to lose my footing and fall forward into the trunk. Horrified that my ass was on display as my legs flailed behind me, there was nothing I could do. A loud, rich laugh reverberated around me, caressing me and making it hard to think straight.
“Oh, dear, let me give you a hand,” he said, and hands closed on my hips, but not before they ran faintly over my ass. His British accent and wandering hands left a searing heat where they’d touched me… fuck me.
Would it be wrong to take one of the strays home with me? I wondered for half a second.
With his help, I managed to get my feet back on the ground and remove myself from the trunk victorious, cocoa bag in hand. I uprighted myself with a pleased smile on my face and shifted to thank my would-be attacker and savior in one. It was the man from the corner.
And he was grinning at me again.
My chest and cheeks heated up as embarrassment washed over me knowing it had been him to witness my flailing about. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“You’re blinking?” he stated, an air of confusion in his tone. Huh?
I glanced down to see what he was talking about and realized that in my stumble I must’ve bumped the on-button for my bra. The exposed shoulder strap was indeed flashing, along with all the trim work on the bra, which was now quite visible through my white sweater.
“Shit!” I cursed under my breath then stuck my hand down my top to locate the switch, withdrawing my hand and looking up once the lights were dimmed again. “Yeah, uh, that wasn’t supposed to happen.” I giggled, feeling sheepish. In the sunlight, I could see that his hair was strawberry blond, and it sparkled with meandering snowflakes. His eyes were a dark green that matched my leggings.
He licked his lips as he leaned into me, his hand grasping my elbow then sliding down my forearm to catch the bag in my hand left a fiery trail in its wake. The man pressed his mouth to my ear and I felt his warm breath as he purred into my ear, “It’s very festive. I like it… it’d be a great treat to see all of the light show, love.”
Leaving me speechless, my cheek warmed where he kissed it before walking away with the cocoa.
 
Hargrave lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX and is married to her high school sweetheart; together they are raising three children. A native 'mutt,' she has lived in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and California. She is fond of setting her stories—which range from the sweet to the paranormal, to the erotic and horrific—on location in South Carolina and Texas.
by Jude Ouvrard
Genre: Contemporary Romance with Military elements 
When Carter is killed in combat, he leaves behind his heartbroken wife, Avery and his shattered best friend Remy. Naturally these two wounded souls gravitate together, irresistibly drawn by the loss of the one they both loved, as well as their deep friendship with each other. But when that friendship starts to turn into something more, new problems arise.
Will Avery be able to move on after losing the love of her life?
Will Remy be able to fill the void left by the loss of his best friend? Or will this new chance at love cost them all they have left?
Jude Ouvrard is an author who writes from the heart, and reads with passion and devotion. Jude enjoys stories of drama, true love, tattoos, and everything in between. While writing is her therapy, reading is her solace. Life doesn't get better than books and chocolate, and maybe a little bit of shopping.
A romance lover, Jude writes about love, pain, heartbreak and matters that will challenge your heart. A book can tell an unexpected story, no matter which directions it takes. Jude embraces words that have haunted her for years.
Jude is a working mom who dedicates her time to a law firm and writing books. She has an energetic superhero son, and a supportive boyfriend of many years. Her family is her rock; she could not survive without them. Born a country girl, she transformed into a city woman who now lives in Montreal, Canada. Although French is her first language, Jude decided to write in English because she liked the challenge.
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