Reviews!

To any authors/publishers/ tour companies that are looking for the reviews that I signed up for please know this is very hard to do. I will be stopping reviews temporarily. My husband passed away February 1st and my new normal is a bit scary right now and I am unable to concentrate on a book to do justice to the book and authors. I will still do spotlight posts if you wish it is just the reviews at this time. I apologize for this, but it isn't fair to you if I signed up to do a review and haven't been able to because I can't concentrate on any books. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. I appreciate all of you. Kathleen Kelly April 2nd 2024

18 August 2022

Operation Turquoise by Rani Ramakrishnan Book Tour! @BookReviewTours, @author_rani @b00kr3vi3ws, @author_rani #TheMavericks1

 

One is a brave soldier, the other a deadly terrorist. A camera will decide which man survives.


The Major is a seasoned field agent, and neutralising a target is routine for him. But everything about Operation Turquoise, from the target to the weapon, is disturbingly unconventional. Alone in a foreign country, the Major must execute each stage of his mission with utmost precision. There is no Plan B.

The Poet has a way with words—and warfare. His voice echoes in thousands of homes worldwide, yet few have ever seen him. Endowed with a sharp mind and evil intent, the Poet has orchestrated many spectacular terror attacks in Asia and Africa. His latest mission has the Indian intelligence fraternity on its toes.

Ridden with risks, Operation Turquoise will bring the two men head to head—and only one will survive.

Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon.in * Amazon.com


Meet The Major from Operation Turquoise


The Major, 6.2’ lean and fit with short black hair, was like any regular Indian man, unless he was on duty; then he became the job.

Along with hundreds of pumped up youth in their late teens, he became a gentleman cadet at the National Defence Academy (NDA) just before the 80s decade ended. It was a career decision like becoming a doctor or engineer for him. But his training at the academy transformed him for life. His profession became more than a mere job to him.

Every time he donned the crisp green army uniform, his soul took on a new life. Any task assigned to him become a responsibility he had to fulfil, irrespective of the odds. 

As a young lieutenant, eager to challenge his own abilities, he volunteered to become a Special Forces Paratrooper. This required another year of intense training.

The opportunity to join the Special Group, India’s secret special force unit that took on assignments that the government could not acknowledge, came soon after. Completing the additional training and becoming a member of Col Bhatti’s team of Special Group soldiers known as the Mavericks was the single most cherished accomplishment of his life.

It was also the decision that put an almost definite expiry date on his life.

Now the tasks that he undertook were not only dangerous but also top secret. The day he failed at an operation, that day he ceased to exist. But this reality didn’t deter him or weaken his resolve because his failure also meant the success of a serious threat to India’s national security. As long as he breathed, he could not let that happen.

For Operation Turquoise, he found himself in the land of the Pharaohs disguised as a tourist but he had no time for sightseeing. He had to hunt a man who had not been sighted in years.

From his NDA days, he was known for his ability to disguise himself. On this mission, this skill was put to the ultimate test. His disguise had to work for his mission to succeed. Being a Krav Maga expert, hand-to-hand combat was another one of his strengths that came in handy when an unexpected development threatened to derail the mission. 

While among friends and colleagues, he was a regular person who cribbed about cancelled leaves and poorly planned field operations. He criticised aspects of the armed forces he found wanting and had realistic expectations about what the government of India could offer him in lieu of field support.
He was single, and had always worked in an all-male environment. Even the mention of a woman in the background made him doubt the credibility of the plan for the mission. But no matter what his misgivings, once given a responsibility he makes it his mission to complete it. 



Rani Ramakrishnan writes contemporary thriller novels. In another lifetime, she was an entrepreneur, a management professional, a trainer, even an author of study materials for distance education. She is an occasional blogger and a regular bookworm. Two things influence her writing: people she met and the places she has visited.

She lives in Coimbatore, a picturesque city on the foothills of the Nilgiri Mountains, in South India. She loves the outdoors and of late, she has developed a healthy passion for marathons.

















17 August 2022

The Price of Peace (The Dutchmen MC #3) by ML Nystrom Blog Tour!

Title: The Price of Peace (The Dutchmen MC #3) 

Author:  ML Nystrom 

Genre:  MC Romance 

Subgenre:  Romantic suspense 

Book Tagline: “ I didn’t choose this life. It was chosen for me a long time ago.” 

Release Date: July 29, 2022 

Hosted By: Buoni Amici Press LLC


“God doesn’t have a place for sinners like me.”

When does sin become unforgivable? Find out in bestselling author ML Nystrom’s gritty The Dutchmen MC series, where you’ll meet a darker breed of bikers.

Rail has the impossible task of leading the Dutchmen MC through a long and chaotic transition. His life is spinning out of control, trying to live up to club expectations. Some want revenge for crimes against the club, some are ready to move on, and some want to continue their former lifestyle. It’s tearing Rail apart. The only family he’s ever known is his dying grandmother and it’s more than he can handle.

One night, he meets Gretchen, a deaf woman who reminds him of past sins. She brings back painful memories of where he came from and what he’s done in his life, but he can’t stay away from her. She is the light, he is the dark, and his former transgressions demand payment. Can he afford to pay the price?

Kindle Unlimited

AMAZON 

Tweet: #BlogTour The Price of Peace (The Dutchemen MC #3) By @ml_nystrom Purchase your copy today @Amazon #Kindle Unlimited https://ctt.ec/Otq4w+ #MLNystrom #RomanticSuspense #MC

His eyes. God, his eyes. A true gold with dark brown rings. His hair was a dark dirty blonde, the top half pulled back in a ponytail and the scruff on his face was slightly darker. Slouched back as he was in the boxy chair, his stomach didn’t protrude, showing he was fit. He was a big guy anyway, and Carrie estimated he would tower over her five-foot seven-inch height even with the added bonus of the four-inch heels she wore. He had to be a big guy as the huge cock he freed from his jeans indicated.

Those eyes stared into hers for a long moment. Something let go in her middle. He wouldn’t hurt her. She didn’t know why she thought that. There was nothing in his gaze that indicated compassion or pity or any other emotion. Snake eyes, some people might call them, but there was something that called to her.

A full shot glass appeared in her line of vision and she leaned back to take it from Angel’s hand. She looked up into his eyes and tossed back the liquor, taking away his taste. It burned a long path to her stomach. She didn’t like it and avoided drinking as much as she did the drugs, but she thought if she refused, Grizzly would take it as an offense and make her do something or someone else. Angel tucked himself back in his pants. His expression was unreadable. Blank. He came, but he might as well have been a statue for all the emotion he showed. Angel? More like a stone gargoyle.



ML Nystrom had stories in her head since she was a child. All sorts of stories of fantasy, romance, mystery, and anything else that captured her interest. A voracious reader, she’s spent many hours devouring books; therefore, she found it only fitting she should write a few herself!

ML has spent most of her life as a performing musician and band instrument repair technician, but that doesn’t mean she’s pigeon-holed into one mold. She’s been a university professor, belly dancer, craftsperson, soap maker, singer, rock band artist, jewelry maker, lifeguard, swim coach, and whatever else she felt like exploring. As one of her students said to her once, "Life’s too short to ignore the opportunities." She has no intention of ever stopping... so welcome to her story world. She hopes you enjoy it!

Kindle Unlimited

 

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The Foundation of Plot by Elena Hartwell Book Tour and Giveaway!

The Foundation of Plot by Elena Hartwell Banner

The Foundation of Plot by Elena Hartwell
 

The Foundation of Plot

by Elena Hartwell

August 1-31, 2022 Book Tour
  
Structure underlies every story, but without a strong foundation, even well-written sentences can fail to result in a marketable manuscript. The Foundation of Plot defines the components of a story arc, details the differences between plot and story, and covers common errors writers make. It also includes exercises which apply concepts to works in progress or new projects. Drawing on the author’s decades of storytelling and teaching experience, this short guide provides the framework for fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir, walking writers through a first draft, the repair of a failed manuscript, or any draft in between. For experienced authors and first-time writers alike, applying the concepts outlined in this manual can help launch a submission from the slush pile to the bookstore shelf.   

Book Details

Genre: Nonfiction 
Published by: Elena Hartwell 
Publication Date: July 19, 2022 
Number of Pages: 97 
ISBN: 9798986020600 
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | IndieBound
 

Read an excerpt:

Section of Chapter One: The Foundation of Plot

Raw doesn’t mean terrible. It’s just not ready for prime time. Foundation—story structure—underlies everything that writers produce. No matter how avant-garde a literary work might appear on the surface, dig deep enough and a skeleton lies underneath. Solidifying that underlying foundation can come at any point during the writing process. It could be in an outline before writing a single sentence, much as a carpenter uses a blueprint to build a house. Or it could be during a rough draft, determining the foundation through trial and error with character and action, like a dancer experimenting with choreography while the music plays. What’s important is that the process suits the writer for each individual project. For one project, a writer might benefit from building an outline first, while another project might evolve better with an organic method, discovering the foundation during a first draft. There’s no right or wrong about writing from an outline or relying on an organic process—only that the writer finishes that often stubborn first draft. Some writers mix and match, starting by writing organically, then creating an outline partway through, or changing the original outline completely as scenes begin to unfold. Or writers might create a simple outline, then figure out the bulk of the project while building the scenes on the page. It’s never too late to make repairs. Even after multiple drafts, a writer can still improve a manuscript’s foundation. Regardless of when the writer pays attention to foundation, the manuscript will continue to evolve through each rewrite. From the first inklings of an idea to the final, polished manuscript, writers—whether they know it or not—shape and reshape the foundation of their work. One concept that will be useful before going deeper into foundation is the difference between story and plot. Once that concept is clear, it may be easier to identify what does or doesn’t work in a current project.

Story Versus Plot

As used in this guide, story is all-encompassing. It includes what happens before a book starts, everything in all the scenes, and everything that occurs off the page. It even includes what happens after the manuscript is finished, when the reader’s imagination runs wild after “the end.” Plot, on the other hand, is made up solely of the events on the page. One error writers make in their early—and sometimes even late—drafts is to include parts of the story that aren’t necessary for the plot or leave out scenes a reader most needs on the page. This comes back to foundation. Those errors would be like using either too many joists to hold up a floor—making it heavy, cumbersome, and expensive—or not enough joists—causing the floor to fail the first time it bears weight. In both of those instances, the writer has confused story and plot. Falling in love with our own words, our characters, and the scenes that play out in our heads are constant dangers for writers. We want to include everything we research and invent. Sometimes this causes us to start too early in the lives of the characters and include scenes that are potentially beautifully written and explore behavior, motivation, and backstory but don’t move the plot forward. We love our characters and believe a reader will be just as curious as we are about every aspect of their lives. Readers, for the most part, want to follow a series of connected events leading to a satisfying conclusion. They don’t want to read a series of unconnected events that send them in circles or down alleys that ultimately lead nowhere. That is not the same as sending a reader down a wrong path for dramatic effect, as in a mystery where the detective follows the wrong lead. That experience can add to the plot, as a wrong lead can increase suspense. But it can be a problem if a detective goes down a wrong path and learns nothing from it. Readers want each road the writer takes them down to add to the overall story—even when that road teaches the protagonist what they don’t want or what won’t solve the problem at hand. A detective determining who isn’t the culprit can be just as important—and satisfying in its own way—as when the detective catches the killer. Readers may not be able to put this concept into words, but we’ve all heard comments like, “it took several chapters before I got into it” or “the writing was fine, but nothing happened at the beginning” or “I lost interest halfway through.” Those are instances when a writer likely included material the reader didn’t need—no matter how good the quality of the writing. Don’t confuse well-written sentences with a well-written book. High quality paints and canvases and excellent brushstrokes can still turn out an unsuccessful painting. A solid manuscript is more than just well-written sentences, beautifully crafted paragraphs, or even interesting chapters. A solid manuscript has a clear story arc, with each scene in each chapter adding to the whole and building a solid foundation. --- Excerpt from The Foundation of Plot by Elena Hartwell. Copyright © 2022 by Elena Hartwell. Reproduced with permission from Elena Hartwell. All rights reserved.
    
Elena Hartwell PHOTO CREDIT MARK PERLSTEIN
Elena Hartwell has spent years supporting writers and constructing stories. Her award-winning and bestselling works include the Eddie Shoes mysteries and All We Buried (written under Elena Taylor). Her plays have been seen around the US and UK, garnering critical acclaim and stellar reviews. As a developmental editor she has worked with hundreds of writers, most recently as senior editor and director of programming for the boutique editing house, Allegory Editing. She regularly teaches writing workshops and enjoys helping others achieve their writing dreams.

Find Elena Hartwell Online:

www.ElenaHartwell.com
Writing Blog: The Mystery of Writing
As Elena Taylor: ElenaTaylorAuthor.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @elenahartwell
Instagram - @elenataylorauthor
Twitter - @Elena_TaylorAut
Facebook - @ElenaTaylorAuthor  

Tour Host Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!    

Giveaway:

This is a giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Elena Hartwell. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
 
Thank you for your interest in this tour!

Find Your Next Great Read at Providence Book Promotions!

A Heartbeat Away from You by @ann_miller_author Book Blitz and Giveaway! #AHeartbeatAwayfromYou #annmiller ⁣⁣⁣⁣ #XpressoTours @XpressoTours

 

A Heartbeat Away from You
Ann M. Miller


Publication date: August 16th 2022
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sports, Young Adult

After a daredevil play on the baseball field leads to a four-minute long cardiac arrest, seventeen-year-old Ali Benton is lucky to be alive. Now she wants to make the most of her second chance-and she’s not going to let a pesky little pacemaker, or her helicopter dad, slow her down.

Between chairing multiple school clubs and working two jobs to help his single mother pay the bills, Max Delaney has got every second of every day planned. His childhood nemesis, Ali, doesn’t figure into any of them. But when her overprotective father offers him cash to keep an eye on her and steer her away from baseball, his plans change.

Ali can’t figure out why Max, the condescending know-it-all, is sticking to her side like Krazy Glue, and Max can barely tolerate headstrong Ali. But opposites attract, and before long, fighting turns to kissing. Even as sparks fly, the secrets they’ve been keeping threaten to tear them apart. When Max learns Ali’s been putting herself in harm’s way and playing ball in secret, he struggles with how to tell her father. If he tattles, he’ll lose her trust. If he doesn’t, he may lose her heart…in more ways than one.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

EXCERPT:

The tears spilled down my heated cheeks as I stumbled down the steps to the lawn. Fabulous. Now I was crying like a little kid. I needed something to kick or throw or—

Thud.

I crashed into someone. The top of my head whacked into what felt like a chin. Grunting, I stumbled backward. Two hands gripped my arms, steadying me. “Whoa. Slow down.”

A broad chest hovered just inches from mine, clad in a grass-stained T-shirt. Dazed, I lifted my head—and found myself staring into a pair of gorgeous eyes. We’re talking deep chocolate brown with little flecks of gold and framed by sexy dark eyelashes. Those eyes peered down at me, laced with a mixture of surprise and concern. His hair—a shade darker than his eyes—fell in a tousled wave across his forehead. Stubble dusted his strong jawline, and his tanned skin practically glowed in the afternoon sun.

He stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. His shirt was too small for him, fitting snugly across his chest. Tingles danced along my skin as I scanned his well-defined torso and arms. Who was this hot stranger in my backyard?

“You okay?”

“Huh?” I tore my eyes from his abs and forced myself to focus on his face. His amazing face.

“You hit your head pretty hard. Are you okay?”

Oh. My. Freaking. God. I swiped my hands across my tear-stained cheeks and took a step back. I knew that voice. This was no stranger.

My eyes widened. “Max?”

A faint blush tinged his cheeks. He flashed me a sheepish smile, wide enough to display a row of perfectly straight teeth. “Hi, Ali.”

Shock radiated through my body, keeping me rooted to the spot. This couldn’t be Max. Max had poufy hair and a mouth full of metal. He was stick thin with an acne-covered face and thick-rimmed nerd glasses. And his eyes… his eyes had never looked so bold and brilliant.

“I got contacts,” he said, as if reading my mind.

“Oh.”

His gaze tracked the length of my body. “I didn’t expect you to look so… well, so different.” His mouth tipped up on one side. “This is a good look for you.” Nothing sheepish about his smile now. It was mocking. Arrogant. And there was his critical tone, the one that made me want to slap him across the face.

The strange tingly feeling completely evaporated, and my body tensed. His looks might have changed, but his personality hadn’t.

“What are you doing in our backyard?” I asked in a terse voice.

“Your dad pays me to mow the lawn.”

My enemy doing my yard work? Not when I was around. Contrary to what Dad thought, I was perfectly capable of physical activity. My heart may have been slow, but the pacemaker brought it up to a rhythm that was just as normal as Max’s. “You can stop,” I said. “I can do it now that I’m here.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think so?” I let out a harsh laugh. “Oh, excuse me, I didn’t realize you had a say in my family affairs.”

He whistled. “Wow, still the same hotheaded Ali.” He stepped away and grabbed the lawnmower from where it stood in front of the shed. “This is my job. I get paid to do it, and as far as I can tell, Mr. B. wants to keep it that way.”

Oh, I bet he does.

“Besides,” he continued, “this is newly sodded grass, and there’s a bit of an art to mowing it.” He raised his eyebrows at me. “I doubt you’re familiar with the method.”

Anger burned in my veins. “Still the same condescending Max.”

I jabbed my forefinger at the observatory next door. Sun glinted off its walls, blinding me. “Look, why don’t you go help your own father? I’m sure he’s got…” I trailed off, but I’d realized my mistake too late. Between my dad and Max, I’d been so riled up that I’d completely forgotten about what had happened to Mr. Delaney.

I quickly dropped my hand, my cheeks hot. When I opened my mouth to do damage control, nothing came out.

Max turned his own gaze to the observatory and curled his fingers over the lawnmower’s handle. A shadow crossed his face and something that looked like pain flashed in his eyes. But when he refocused on me, it was as if he’d flipped a switch. His expression was void of emotion, his stunning eyes vacant.

“Yeah, that might be a little difficult,” he said in a cool, detached voice, “since my father’s dead.”


Ann M. Miller writes young adult fiction about first loves and complex family dynamics. Her debut novel Captured in Paint was published in 2021, followed by the sequel, Illusions in Paint, in 2022. Her forthcoming YA contemporary romance A Heartbeat Away from You will be released in August 2022.

The youngest of six children, Ann grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada, where the local bookmobile fed her addiction to Nancy Drew mysteries, Sweet Valley High books, and Stephen King horror. After graduating from the University of King’s College, she moved to Newfoundland, an island that makes up for its unforgiving climate with beautiful coastlines and majestic icebergs.

When not reading or writing, Ann can be found spending time with her husband and son or binge-watching her favorite TV shows while curled up with the four-legged members of her family.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Devil’s Kiss: A Small Batch Mystery by Michelle Bennington Book Tour and Giveaway!


Devil’s Kiss: A Small Batch Mystery
by Michelle Bennington

About Devil’s Kiss

Devil’s Kiss: A Small Batch Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Kentucky
Level Best Books (May 31, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1685121128
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1685121129
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09Z3G9VZ9

Rook Campbell is broke, divorced, jobless, and in desperate need of steady employment, which is hard to come by in the small town of Rothdale, Kentucky. With the help of her friend and neighbor Bryan, she lands a good job at the Four Wild Horses Distillery and meets an attractive co-worker with lots of dating potential. Her life is finally headed in the right direction until a co-worker dies under suspicious circumstances and a shipment of rare small-batch bourbon goes missing. Worse, her personal life begins to unravel as her beloved grandmother falls ill. Normally she can depend on her ex, Cam, for help, but his new fiancée’s jealousy is getting in the way. As the body count rises, Rook becomes ensnared in discovering who’s committing the crimes—or she might be the next to die.

About Michelle Bennington

Born and raised in the beautiful Bluegrass state of Kentucky, Michelle Bennington developed a passion for books early on that has progressed into a mild hoarding situation and an ever-growing to-read pile.

When she’s not creating contemporary or historical fictional worlds full of mysteries, she obsesses over all things British and historical. In rare moments of spare time, she can be found engaging in a wide array of arts and crafts, dance, and attending ghost tours.

Author Links

Website: www.michellebennington.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellebenningtonauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.bennington.author/

Twitter:     https://twitter.com/MichelleAuthor/with_replies

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michellebenningtonauthor/_saved/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXQBN2nfqNwbOkErqf-ozQ

GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22406377.Michelle_Bennington

Purchase Links: Amazon – Barnes and Noble

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 10 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

August 10 – Books Blog – SPOTLIGHT

August 11 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

August 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

August 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT   

August 15 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

August 16 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 16 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 17 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

August 17 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

August 18 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST

August 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

August 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

August 22 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT  

August 23 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  


Giveaway!

(1) Prize Package from Author Michelle Bennington that includes book, mug, chocolate, candle (made by me), bookmark, hand sanitizer, car freshner, and pen, valued at about $75. US Only


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16 August 2022

Public Obedience by Kira Stone New Release Blitz!

Title: Public Obedience

Author: Kira Stone

Publisher: Changeling Press LLC

Release Date: August 12

Heat Level: 5 - Erotica

Pairing: Male/Male Menage

Length: 37 pages

Genre: Erotica, New Adult, BDSM, Contemporary, Multiple Partners, Voyeurism and Exhibitionism

Add to Goodreads


Synopsis

They've only been together nine months, but Bay thinks Court is the submissive he's been looking for, a lifetime keeper. If the night goes as planned, Court will have to prove he loves and trusts Bay more than ever before. Is Court up to the challenge?

Excerpt

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2014 Kira Stone

My cell phone rang, announcing the caller. Like I needed the memo. "Hey."

"When, where and how?" Court said by way of greeting.

Eager tonight. Excellent. "Around eight, a new place, and we're taking the bike but don't complicate the clothing."

"Got it."

Dial tone. Good boy.

I did my own cleanup, even straightened a few cushions on the flat spring couch. Damn thing wouldn't sell at a garage sale, but hey, I didn't use it much and it fit in with the rest of the house. My house, without owing a dime on it.

I ran my hand over my thighs, adjusted my cock, and checked myself out in the tarnished bathroom mirror. I figured I'd aged like any man should, rough around the edges but fighting off the fat with some success.

Headlights flashed through the living room right at eight p.m. Court just kept me smiling. I picked up the small black bag on the counter. The catch-all dish next to it caught my eye. Tonight? It couldn't hurt to take it along just in case.

I picked up the small piece of cut metal and stuck it in my right front pocket. I grabbed my leather jacket on my way out the door.

Court stood by the bike, waiting for me. Even though we'd just pick up more dust as we rode, he had cleaned it up a little. I tossed him the bag, which he caught and stored in the space under the seat.

Until he rode with me, Court had always called motorcycles by their nickname, donorcycles. Yeah, you could die on one. You could die in your bed too.

This one, however, had been accessorized to be as comfortable as possible without turning it into a car. Real bikers would jeer at us, but this had been a good compromise between Court and me. And one very important one.

I walked around the bike to where he was standing. I put my hand at the back of his head and drew him toward me. His arms slid around my waist, under the coat, and I held him there, studying his eyes in the moonlight.

So many people underestimated what you could see in a person's eyes. Court's told me he was calm under my touch, excited about the mystery night I had planned, and under that was the love for me I always found no matter what other mood those deep blue eyes reflected.

I lowered my mouth to his and kissed him. Sounds simple, but we'd turned the meeting of lips into a fine art of touch and taste and bonding. It said more than "hello," but rather, "I feel so much better for being with you."

Feelings. Gawd. I thought I'd left them behind me in high school, along with girls and the coward who couldn't fight or run fast enough to escape the crap in life.

"It's go time," I whispered against his lips.

"Plans?"

"Should be a good night. Just sit back and let me drive."

Court was a submissive. I didn't like saying I was his Master as if I owned him. Court remained independent at all times, but he had yet to refuse anything I asked of him. Then again, I knew his limits and he trusted me not to cross them. Tonight I'd be testing both his limits and his trust.

We rode out of town, even farther into the countryside than usual. For maybe an hour, I took us over low hills and lazy curves until finally I saw the neon sign I'd been looking for. I turned the bike into a gravel lot and surveyed the place.

Court squeezed my waist. "Here?"

Okay, so it wasn't a five star. It might even hang somewhere between one and two judging by the outside. But a country beat drifted out along with the smell of greasy home cooking. People were knocking balls around on a pool table. A lot of pickup trucks were in the parking lot, but handling straight guys was always part of the challenge.

"Yeah."

Purchase at Amazon

Meet the Author

Kira Stone lives in a warm cave tucked away in the remote Scottish Highlands, where a small band of ever-changing heroes serves as company. As they relax in front of a roaring fire, demons dance in leather pants and angels stroke tunes from the harp strings, while the Fae stop in to share tales from other worlds. Bound by pen and imagination, these are the folk who wait to greet you from the pages of Kira's stories. Visit Kira's Website.

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