How can the dream of a lifetime of service as a Navy SEAL be over when one mission goes straight to Hell? How do you handle being told your future is over and you’re half the man you were? After dedicating his life to the Navy SEALs, a devastated Ollie wakes up in a military hospital only to be told his career is over. Shattered, he struggles for answers with no explanation or solace for those men lost. Dismissed and sent home to recover from his injuries and restart his life, Ollie goes to the one person who always has his back, Onyx his sister.
Watching Ollie deteriorate, Onyx calls a college friend, whose husband owns a company that employs service people, concentrating on those cut loose for whatever reason. A flight to North Carolina may be Ollie’s only chance to find himself not only a new start but also the tools necessary to move forward.
Paisley gave it her all but after her last relationship almost killed her, literally, her passion is now focused on her veterinary clinic and the small rescue shelter for unwanted animals she started.
Desperate for help, Ollie stumbles on the town vet. When their eyes meet for the first time, he feels like a bolt of electricity runs through him. Something about the tiny pixie draws his interest and the more time they spend together the more he wants.
When push comes to shove, can Ollie and Paisley survive beyond the difficulties in their lives to come together, or will their future be overshadowed forever?
D.M. Earl is a U.S.A. Today Bestselling Author who spins stories about real life situations with characters that are authentic, genuine, and sincere. Each of her stories allow the characters to come to life with each turn of the page while they try to find their HEA through much drama and angst. D.M. finds ideas for her next story from within those around her and what she experiences in daily life. Each book has a part of her left behind in it. She lives in Northwest Indiana married to her best friend who was instrumental in the start of her writing career in 2014. When not writing D.M. loves to read, play with her seven fur-babies (yeah crazy) and ride her Harley Dyna Lowrider.
“Enjoy this Ride we call Life.” Remember we only get one chance.
(Exploration, #1) Publication date: May 15th 2022 Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Young Adult
Brillar was expected to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a healer but she was headstrong and impetuous and took the Way of the Bow. Now a highly skilled hunter, she has been forced to kill to release a mage, bound in enchanted chains. It was self-defense, but that is no excuse for a healer.
Releasing a Master War Mage from bondage could get you killed . . . or apprenticed. When Master Elden insists on the latter, Brillar finds herself on a journey not of her making. When it doesn’t end well, she insists on directing a new journey where her healing skills will find newer and greater challenges.
Settled lands are one thing, but in the Wild, she will have to rely on her Master’s knowledge of the terrain and the people. And the Rovers are not always friendly.
Elden stood transfixed, staring at this madman. “A hoax? A wild hoax? Then why not reveal yourself to the Brotherhood, to your friends? Why am I here? You are a mage; you were my Brother. ”
“And let you off so easily? No, no, there had to be more, a balance for me, for her. I won’t be shut away as mad. There will be more. I can’t remove the blood of the innocents,” he rubbed his hands on his arms, “but the Brother who kills me will bear its stain! That is your punishment.” He was trembling again, fighting to remain standing. ”You, you who left me. You will bear its stain.”
“You wanted me alive then?” Now Elden was angry and shouting. “You gave a dimlock to your bounty hunter! You would have had me dead for all it mattered to you.”
Through fog and pain, Brillar heard shouting and the words “dimlock” and “dead.” She began to gather strength wordlessly, without moving, breathing in deeply, fighting the pain in her body, the fog in her mind.
“It was only to be used if needed,” was the shouted reply. “I expected them to take you sooner and closer. I suspected that you wouldn’t come willingly to kill a Brother, even one such as I have become.”
“I would not,” Elden shouted back. “I’ve not killed in many years. I want no killing!”
“That one,” Harrolen gestured toward Brillar, “has killed, and for your aid. That much, I had from her.”
Elden stiffened again. “She was attacked by your man. The kill was in self-defense.”
“As you say, Brother. No matter, it’s time for you to do a kindness for a member of the Brotherhood. I will not defend myself.” He came down one step.
Elden stepped back again and tripped, falling to one knee before recovering.
Brillar saw him fall through swollen eyes, closed them, and drew in more strength, reaching almost unperceptively for what the archer had left behind, drawing it toward her.
“You will kill now!” Harrolen screamed.
“You have archers,” Elden began.
“They are innocent!” another scream, “the blood must be on a Brother’s hand.”
Brillar, hearing the screamed words, readied, drawing in more strength, praying to the Light that they wouldn’t notice.
“You will kill me; you must,” Harrolen ranted. He sent a sudden bolt of lightning at Elden, who was forced back but turned it aside. A second bolt, this one of fire, singed his clothes but was turned before there could be more.
Hearing the screaming, smelling the smoke from the spells, knowing their attention was on each other, Brillar made one great effort, pulling bow and arrow to her hand, drawing in strength as she could. A deep cold blanketed the room briefly and was gone. She was nearly ready…
Harrolen howled again, filled with anger and frustration, “It must be your hand!”
“Not my hand, Brother.” Elden stepped back finally, submitting, eyes closed, spreading his low-held arms at his sides, knowing it could mean two deaths.
Seeing him through a haze, Brillar pulled herself to one knee, drew the bow, and let fly.
Harrolen crumpled to the ground silently, an arrow deep in his neck, as Brillar wavered and collapsed on the stones.
VL Stuart is a journalist and author living in Costa Rica with her husband and a small comical dog.
She is a long-time reader - usually of science fiction, historical mysteries, and epic fiction. As a teen, she cut her teeth on Heinlein and found the delightful worlds of McCaffrey as an adult. Her first genres were poetry and essays, and she won awards in both. Her 'Orb and Arrow' trilogy has been well-reviewed and is available on Amazon. Her work in progress, 'Warriors of the Kalahn,' is in progress and she recently completed ‘Master of Magic,’ another book set in the world of Orb and Arrow. As for her writing process, she is a pantser - "May all the gods bless grammarly.com. Even with an English degree, my errors are legion."
At present, she lives between two volcanoes, "But no worries, only one of them is active."
Readers Giveaway Contest
Win a free copy of Orb and Arrow: Duty (Book II)
If you’ve enjoyed reading about Brillar and Elden’s adventure in Orb and Arrow: Exploration, you can win a free paperback copy of Book II in the series, which will be published in September 2022.
Here’s how to enter:
Read Orb and Arrow: Exploration (Book I) available now in paperback or eBook
Write a review of the novel. The review must be at least two sentences long (tell readers what you liked most about the plot, what character you liked best and why, do you favor Creature Magic or Life Magic, what you hope will happen next in the series–anything that helps get other readers engaged).
Post the review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Send a copy or link to the review via email: vlstuart2019@gmail.com
Dean is the Beta of the Wolf Hollow Pack and he’s focused on making sure Jason is secure and safe in his new position as the Alpha. That means keeping an eye out for any possible threats, even ones that Jason can’t see himself.
Like the strawberry blonde-haired devil with the striking green eyes.
Amara was pretty sure she was going crazy. She had saved her best friend from almost certain death with some magic voodoo stuff coming out of her fingers and now she was hearing a voice. She was officially out of her mind. It didn’t keep her attention from wandering back toward the handsome, gruff-looking mountain of a man, Dean.
If only he wasn’t a wolf.
This is the third book in the Wolf Hollow Pack series.
Book 1 – Claiming My Mate
Book 2 – Becoming the Alpha
Book 3 – Securing the Kingdom
Nicole Howl is the pen name for Kaylee Johnston. She is a paranormal romance author who has an obsession with wolves, vampires, and witches. She's currently got 9,743 stories in her head and is writing as fast as she can to get them on paper. She lives with her husband, Russell, and beagle Bassett hound, Ollie, in Southern California. She's obsessed with animals, books, and several TV shows that annoy the crap out of her husband (Gilmore Girls, Friends, New Girl, and How I Met Your Mother). She has a touch of awkwardness - hence why she's referring to herself in the third person and is a big personality. Drop her a note to say hi!
Committed Sharon C. Cooper (Atlanta’s Finest Series) Publication date: July 8th 2022 Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
Even when he does good, he’s still bad…
Lazarus “Laz” Dimas made plenty of enemies as an Atlanta police detective. Now that he is a security specialist and married with a family, he does everything by the book…mostly. It’s not until someone threatens his family that he falls back into his old, lethal behavior and resurrects his former mantra: By Any Means Necessary.
Journey has it all—an amazing husband, a rewarding career as an assistant district attorney and the most adorable baby girl. Yet, she wants more. She wants to be elected Atlanta’s next district attorney.
Laz is always supportive and makes sure she wants for nothing, but not this time. He insists she choose—their marriage or the job she desires. It should be an easy decision, but it takes almost losing everything she holds dear before Journey checks her priorities.
And when tragedy threatens to rip her and Laz’s relationship apart, they must fight to keep it together…but is it too late?
Laz had just started up the stairs when Journey came from the living room area. Just as she reached him, Kenton and Angelo strolled into the house.
“Guys, thanks so much for everything you’ve done for us today,” Journey said. “I know you’re probably tired and ready to head home. We can take it from here.”
“They’re not going anywhere,” Laz said with more bite behind his words than intended. This was why he had to get the hell out of there before he made the tension between him and Journey even worse. “You’re going to have a security detail until further notice. At least two guys at all times.”
“Laz,” she started.
“This is not up for negotiation.” He didn’t care how pissed she made him at times. Her safety was at the top of his list of priorities, and until he knew who or what they were dealing with, he wanted her protected. “I especially want someone around since I won’t be here.”
Journey’s perfectly arched brows scrunched together, and she jammed her hands onto her hips. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ll be staying in one of the crash rooms at work for a few days.”
When his boss, Mason Bennett, had purchased an old warehouse to house Supreme Security, he had converted it into a state-of-the-arts facility. In addition to tech-smart meeting rooms, a cook’s kitchen, a gym and weight room, he’d had the foresight to include several rooms that were like studio apartments. Some of the security specialists, especially those who lived outside of Atlanta, used the spaces to grab a nap in between assignments instead of going home.
“Whenever you’re at work or too busy for our daughter during that time,” Laz continued, knowing he was being an ass, “one of the guys will bring Arielle to me.”
“First of all, how are you making these decisions without discussing them with me? Secondly, Arielle is going to Florida with my parents as planned.”
“Like hell she is,” he roared. “Plans have changed.”
Journey moved closer to him, and her I’m-not-taking-your-shit-tonight demeanor was fully in place. He loved this woman like crazy, and she was sexy as hell when she was angry. Any other time, he could appreciate the can of verbal whoop-ass she was about to unleash, but he wasn’t in the mood.
“I know you’ve been through hell today,” she said with controlled fury, “but what you’re not going to do is come in here and start telling me how things are going to be.”
From his peripheral, Laz saw the moment when Kenton and Angelo eased into the living room, which was probably for the best. He had a feeling this argument was going to blow up at any minute.
“I’m done talking to you.” Laz started up the stairs to their bedroom.
“Good, then you can do the listening,” Journey said and stomped up the stairs and shoved passed him. “I’ll meet you in the bedroom.”
A smart man would do a one-eighty and head back down the stairs, but Laz never claimed to be smart. He wasn’t in the mood for a drag-down, blow out with Journey, but it was safe to say that’s exactly what was about to happen.
USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper loves anything involving romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. She writes contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Her stories have won numerous awards over the years, and when Sharon isn’t writing, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work, or reading a good book (a romance of course).
(One for the Money, #2) Published by: Dangerous Press Publication date: August 16th 2022 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pregnant. Alone. And heartbroken. The only thing Eva Morelli knows for sure is that she wants this baby. She learned how to depend only on herself a long time ago.
The father, however? He made his position on marriage and children very clear.
Finn Hughes has fought his fate for years, but it’s finally catching up to him. Duty took away his choices. How can he hope for forever? He already knows how this ends.
There’s only one thing worse than having a family.
Losing them.
“I was hooked from page one. With steam and grit, Warren captures your attention and has you begging for the next chapter. Book gold!” — USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke for Private Property
Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance. Her books have sold over one million copies. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.
(The Ivankov Brotherhood, #2) Published by: Oliver Heber Books Publication date: August 9th 2022 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Mafia, Romance
She thought it was only for one night…
I’ve never let anyone into my life.
At least not like her. Not until her.
She sees a side of me that isn’t the bratva monster everyone else believes.
Now that she knows, she’s mine.
Mine to keep and protect. Mine to please. In return, it’s her love I crave. She’s my soulmate.
Every kiss, every touch will take her to her limits, and I’ll be the one to catch her.
Bratva Sweetheart is an interconnecting, standalone Dark Mafia Romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains extra-steamy scenes that will make your toes curl and your granny blush. This is book two in The Ivankov Brotherhood, a six-book series that’ll keep you warm at night.
Sabine Barclay, a nom de plume also writing Historical Romance as Celeste Barclay, lives near the Southern California coast with her husband and sons. Growing up in the Midwest, Sabine enjoyed spending as much time in and on the water as she could. Now she lives near the beach. She's an avid swimmer, a hopeful future surfer, and a former rower. Before becoming a full-time author, Sabine was a Social Studies and English teacher. She holds degrees in International Affairs (BA), Secondary Social Science (MAT), and Political Management (MPS). She channels that knowledge into creating engrossing contemporary romances that will make your toes curl and your granny blush.
Book Title: LIES AT HER DOOR (A Psychological Thriller) by A.A. Abbott Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 220 pages Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Thriller Publisher: Perfect City Press Release Date: July 5, 2022 Content Rating: PG + M: The book has references to adultery (not explicit), kissing and drugs. It features mild blasphemy and profanity.
Book Description:
She forgot about her childhood friend… until his body is found under her
garden. Can she prove she didn’t commit the decades-old murder?
Lucy Freeman struggles to find satisfaction in life. Trapped in the shadow of her rock star brother, the thirty-two-year-old craves more than her
days at home caring for her terminally ill mother. But her routine takes a turn for the horrifying when a giant sinkhole collapses the earth outside their house and reveals a skeleton.
Shocked to discover the bones belong to a former member of her sibling’s band, Lucy’s worst nightmare comes alive when police suspect her of the killing. And as she turns to her dying parent’s diaries in a desperate search for vindication, she’s entangled in a dark and complicated truth.
Will unearthing long-buried wrongs prove lethal?
Lies at Her Door is a heavy-hitting psychological thriller novel. If you like strong character growth, overcoming dysfunctional relationships, and revealing unexpected secrets, then you’ll love AA Abbott’s chilling whodunnit.
British crime thriller writer A.A. Abbott (also known as Helen Blenkinsop) enjoys escaping with an exciting and emotional read, and
that’s what she aims to write too. Based in the city of Bristol in England’s beautiful West Country, she’s shared her love for the city by writing about it in her latest psychological thriller.
Lies at Her Door is Helen’s ninth book. She’s had help from readers on subjects as varied as police procedure, philosophy and music. She’s grateful to them and to editor Katharine D’Souza for making huge improvements to the story.
Like 10% of us, many of Helen’s family are dyslexic. While she is not, she wants her books to be enjoyed by readers with dyslexia and visual impairment too. She publishes her thrillers in a Large Print dyslexia-friendly edition as well as standard paperback and ebook
versions. (You can also adjust the font on your electronic device to suit your needs.)
A member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Helen likes speaking to book groups, business networks and social circles. She also has fun reading thrillers and short stories at live fiction events and on Zoom. If you're a book blogger, litfest organiser, reviewer or simply adore books, she’d love to hear from you.
We are so excited to share the cover reveal for The Hidden Love by RJ Gray, the next book in the Meet Cute Book Club Series. Keep reading for more details about this sexy, second-chance romance.
Title: The Hidden Love
Author: RJ Gray
Release Date: 8/11/2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Trope: Second Chance Romance, Military Romance, Hidden Baby, Brother’s Best Friend
"Oh, God! Did I just fall right into my dead best friend’s ex-boyfriend, secret baby daddy, incredibly sexy, Navy SEAL’s arms?” - Sounds like a line right out of one of my book club's romance novels. Except it's not. It's real life. My real life.Grieving the loss of my best friend, and suddenly taking on raising her son, I'm faced with a whole new set of challenges. That includes breaking the news to my brother's best friend, Kade, that Danny is his son. As if that's not enough for one woman to handle. Kade is even hotter than I remember, and navigating all the details of Annabelle's death and Danny's future brings us closer than ever, in more ways than one. And my girls in from book club? They're all for me finding my happily ever after with the sexy as sin man in uniform. But Kade has even more on the line without worrying about a relationship. Will he choose a family and life outside of the military, or will he return to his unit and leave it all behind?
RJ Gray is a USA TODAY, Amazon & International Bestselling author of Explosively Hot Romance. Writing military romance comes second nature to RJ. After serving in the military herself, she married her very own hero, an active duty Army EOD technician. In the last seventeen years, they’ve lived in Illinois, DC, Missouri, Alabama, Florida, Washington State, Colorado, Virginia and Hawaii. Recently, RJ moved to the great state of South Carolina with her husband, two young sons, their rescue pup, and two adopted kittens. RJ lives an active life. When not writing, her hobbies include whipping up delicious meals, capturing life's beauty with her camera and attending her children's multiple sporting events. Find out more about RJ by following her on social media or dropping her an email.
Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club where meet-cutes don't only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever afters. Eight single women bound by their love of books take a monthly break from real life to lose themselves in the chapters of romantic fiction. From friends to lovers to fake relationships and more, each story features a brand new couple and their journey to find love from an amazing lineup of authors including Louise Lennox, Tracy Broemmer, A.M. Williams, Mel Walker, RJ Gray, Rebecca Wilder, Julie Archer, and Kate Stacy. These eight standalone romances are packed with meet-cutes, heat, and of course a happily ever after!
This promotional event is brought to you by TheIndie Pen PR
Charming, captivating, and seductive,
And a cold-blooded killer.
But I married the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva anyway.
I had to. It was part of the deal.
Now, I’m faking marital bliss,
As I tremble with fear,
And I cannot wait to be out of the clutches of this ruthless man.
Roman
I get anything I desire.
And I want this perfectly imperfect little manipulator.
The way she can deceive anyone into believing she’s crazy in love with me,
Just makes me want her even more.
She doesn’t know it yet,
But I am not letting her go.
The deal – is off.
*Painted Scars is a full-length novel with several open-door steamy scenes, no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.
This is the first book in Perfectly Imperfect mafia series, and compared to the other books in the series, it’s not overly dark. Painted Scars is primarily a love story which focuses on the relationship between Nina and Roman, and while there are a few scenes depicting violence, it’s considerably lighter than the sequels.
I follow his gaze and my eyes land on a woman in a long emerald-green dress. Black embroidered decorations accentuate the neckline and her tiny waist, and then flow along the edges of a high slit, revealing one slender leg. My eyes trail the slit upward until they stop at her face, and I almost fail to recognize her. She removed the nose ring. Her hair is different as well, pulled up on the top of her head in some complicated design. I can hardly believe that this is the same woman I met a few days earlier.
Neva Altaj writes steamy contemporary mafia romance about damaged antiheroes and strong heroines who fall for them. She has a soft spot for crazy jealous, possessive alphas who are willing to burn the world to the ground for their woman.
Her stories are full of heat and unexpected turns, and a happily-ever-after is guaranteed every time.
Publication date: July 1st 2022 Genres: Adult, Chick-lit, Women’s Fiction
Socialite Quinn Appleton knows how to live life—at full speed and with no limits. She has the perfect life, an amazing boyfriend, friends by the bucketload and an eye for fashion. Life is good.
The Appletons are a household name, their eponymous biscuit empire having been in the family for over one hundred and fifty years, making them one of the country’s richest families. They are no strangers to controversy either, constantly gracing the covers of gossip magazines, caught in compromising positions at outrageous parties.
But CEO and matriarch Lady Elizabeth Appleton has had enough. Tired of her children and grandchildren not pulling their weight and dragging the once respectable Appleton name through the mud, she decides to cut them all off financially.
With her life in ruins, Quinn is just one Jimmy Choo heel away from living in a cardboard box when Gran gives her an ultimatum: take a job at the company for six months and her trust fund will be reinstated. The catch? She must do it under a false identity and work her way up—no one can know she’s an Appleton.
Surely it can’t be that hard to hold down a lousy job? After all, millions of other people seem to do it. But Quinn is about to learn just how different the world is when you find yourself suddenly working class.
‘The company has always been the heart of this family—for generations. The Appletons were synonymous with the products we made, that’s what made it special—we had wholesome, family values. But now the only way anyone hears anything about the Appletons is in the gossip magazines.’ Gran nodded at ever-faithful Lionel, who stepped forward on cue, turning to gather a stack of magazines from the sideboard to spread out on the table.
Her brother was on some of them; his arm draped across the shoulders of a topless woman on a beach somewhere exotic on one, and standing naked in the doorway of a luxury villa on another, a huge yellow star hiding his groin (which, personally, Quinn thought was probably twice the size of whatever it was supposed to be covering).
On the other covers, Greta was captured at various parties, kissing multiple men and women on different occasions; on another, she was holding up a bottle of Scotch with one hand and flipping the bird to a photographer with the other.
Then there were the ones which featured her. Quinn grimaced slightly at the cover closest to her, having been taken after a heavy night of drinking. Of all the photos Gran could have used. She was sitting in the gutter out the front of a prominent nightclub, her top sliding off one shoulder, her skirt hitched up to an indecent level and her makeup smudged and hideous. It was unfair that even in drunken debauchery, Greta had never been caught on camera looking that horrific. Cow.
Quinn had been featured in way more magazines than that, and had actually looked fricking amazing. Typical that it would be that cover they used to highlight her wayward behaviour.
‘This is what a once respectable family name has become,’ Gran said as her gaze moved around the table.
‘Mother, I hardly—’ her father started before he was cut off by a glacial glare.
‘I blame all of you for raising such delinquent children.’
‘Just pointing out that I have no children,’ Tobias said, with a doleful glance towards his mother, ‘and can honestly say, looking at this, that I’m bitterly disappointed in my siblings and their offspring.’ He shook his head sadly at the offending magazines.
‘Oh, shut up, Tobias,’ Gran snapped, and without even needing to look at Lionel, the man dropped another three magazines on the pile, featuring her uncle in varying displays of undress at some questionable-looking parties.
‘Oh. Yes,’ Tobias murmured with a devilish grin, reaching over to snag the top one. ‘I remember that night.’ The self-satisfied smile vanished from his face when Gran reached over and snatched the magazine from his hands.
‘I will not have this family’s name dragged through any more mud. All of this nonsense stops right now. Until I’m confident that we’ve rebuilt our reputation back up to a standard we can be proud of, none of you will be getting a single cent out of this company.’
‘Mother, I think you’re blowing this all out of proportion,’ her father tried once more, but bit back a frustrated sigh when she waved off his protest.
‘You’ll be noticing several changes that will start immediately,’ she continued, just as a rumble sounded outside.
‘What on earth is that?’ Quinn’s mother asked, frowning, or what would be frowning if her recently administered Botox had allowed her forehead to crease.
Tobias dropped his linen serviette onto the table as he rose from his seat and went to the window, curiosity getting too much for him. ‘Mother, you wouldn’t,’ Tobias gasped, turning a disbelieving stare on Gran.
‘Yes, son. I would and I have.’
Karly Lane lives on the beautiful Mid North Coast of NSW in Australia. A certified small town girl, she is most happy in a little town where everyone knows who your grand parents were. She writes women’s fiction – everything from romantic suspense to family sagas and life in rural Australia. She has romantic suspense titles published under Karlene Blakemore-Mowle and her latest release, Third Time Lucky is available now.
What’s a bad girl to do when the world won’t let her be good …
With her thirtieth birthday looming, actress Natasha Bernard wants to reinvent herself as something other than Hollywood’s favorite villainess. When she hears rumors that a tell-all exposé reveals details of her love life with her rockstar ex, she decides to put a stop to it. Even if that means confronting his bandmate, Richard Mac—the man who let the world brand her with a scarlet ‘A.’
She’s his nemesis … his secret obsession … and the only woman who can incinerate his life …
Guitarist Richard Mac is a control freak, whether he’s working on a new album or using his custom leather toys in the bedroom. When “Hurricane” Natasha storms back into his life, he risks everything to claim her. But he can’t risk losing control and letting her guess his darkest secret … that she’s the one woman he’s always wanted and could never have …
Nadia Blair writes steamy contemporary romance featuring outrageous bad boys and gutsy girls who give as good as they get. She has a thing for snappy dialog, humorous situations, and swoon-worthy happily-ever-afters.
When she's not having conversations with fictional people, she enjoys summer thunderstorms, top-shelf whiskey, and rockin' out to a classic guitar solo.
Mac dug his cigarette case and lighter out of his pocket. For a while he smoked in blessed silence.
Movement caught his eye. A woman wandered up the beach, flirting with the waves teasing around her bare feet. In the light of the rising moon, she was all ember-bright hair and pale skin. The wind plastered her short white dress to her long legs. She waded knee-deep, laughing softly, her head tilting back as she watched a seagull gliding overhead. Something about the purity of her profile in the silver moonlight caught him. He paused for a second look, cigarette smoldering forgotten between his fingers.
A high wave crashed over her. With a yelp, she staggered back. The sodden dress clung to her skin, the white fabric gone transparent. Mac told himself he wasn’t a crude sod and he shouldn’t look.
But he did. He had a pulse, didn’t he? Her braless breasts were clearly visible beneath the flimsy fabric, the rosy nipples puckering into hard points. The sight was more erotic than if she’d bared it all to go skinny-dipping.
“Oh, bollocks! Bloody fucking fuck.” Her curses, uttered in a posh English accent, made him chuckle.
Mac strode forward as she squelched across the sand. “Here.” He offered his jacket.
She gaped at him. “Where the devil did you come from?”
“Melbourne.” It was an asinine response, but her husky voice, so at odds with her prissy accent, was doing strange things to him.
“You’re laughing at me,” she muttered as she draped the jacket over her shoulders.
Altruistic impulses were overrated. Her gorgeous curves, those lovely pink-tipped breasts, were now hidden beneath black leather.
“I am.” Somehow, a statement of the obvious seemed necessary.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “I never imagined the Pacific would be so cold.” She swept windblown hair from her face and met his eye.
As he finally got a good look at her, that tight, tangled knot within him came loose, and for the first time in ages, he could breathe. Mac tossed away his half-smoked cigarette. It spun, glowing, into the darkness.
He wanted to say, Oh, it’s you.
What he said was, “Who the fuck are you?”
She cocked her head. “Of course, you’re Richard Mac. I should have known one of Sloan’s mates would have the looks of a Viking and the manners of a caveman.” She offered her hand. Her palm was cool against his, but her touch seared straight through him. Her breath caught, as if she felt it too. When he skimmed his thumb across the pulse fluttering at her inner wrist, she trembled.
“I’m Natasha,” she said. “Sloan sent me to fetch you. Said you should stop chain-smoking and pretend to be sociable for a bit.” She glanced down at her hand, still clasped in his. With a gasp, she tugged free.
Natasha. The name roused a dim memory—Sloan going on and on about his new girl, with legs up to here and long, red hair.
Christ.
Never in all his twenty-nine years had he begrudged Sloan anything—not his poster boy good looks, or his voice, or even his effortless charm. Mac had always known his own talents complemented his mate’s. He’d always been content to let Sloan have center stage.
For the first time in twenty years, he contemplated taking something of his.
