Are you listening? #MFRWHooks

This is a blog hop. Be sure to check the link at the bottom to see posts from other authors!

Only a Good Man Will Do by Dee S. KnightBlurb:
Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover Academy, and be purer than Caesar’s wife. Good luck with that!

Daniel Goodman is a man on a mission. For years he has striven for perfection, fighting for the pinnacle achievement in his world of academia, Headmaster of Westover Academy. Westover, established before the American Revolution, is still one of the most prestigious schools in the country. They accept only boys whose parents fit a certain mold and only those teachers who hold to a stringent set of mores, on and off campus. His brother Jonah considers Daniel a prig. Daniel sees himself as doing his best to serve his students. How much better can he serve them as headmaster? That is what he seeks to find out.

Suddenly, into his cut and dried, strictly black and white life of moral and upright behavior, comes Eve Star, formerly one of Europe’s foremost exotic dancers. Her life is anything but cut and dried, black and white. Bad enough that she’s enrolled her son in Westover Academy under false pretenses. More, she runs the town’s most disreputable bar. Worst, much to Daniel’s dismay, he finds himself drawn to her like a kid to chocolate. Nothing good can come of this attraction. Or can it? He is after all, a good man.

Buy link:
Amazon Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/2q7ovi4

MFRW Book Hooks

Excerpt:
“Daniel, am I talking to myself, here?”

“Oh, no, I’m…” He chuckled an amused admission. “Tell me what you said again.”

He could almost hear Eve smile. “I said, you called at four-thirty on Saturday and Sunday, so I took a wild leap that you would today, too.”

“Ah.” Smiling to the empty room, he squirmed to get into a more comfortable position. “A woman of logic.”

“Absolutely. You don’t want to play me in chess. I think five or six moves ahead.”

“I’ll remember that. There’s nothing worse than seeing a guy cry when he’s been beaten at chess by a girl. Now tell me why you’re upstairs. I know you don’t have a lot of help this time of day.”

“I’m paying Jed extra to come in a bit early.” Her voice was low, as though she didn’t really want to tell him. The words struck his heart.

“You don’t have money to be paying Jed extra, Eve. I’ll start calling later, after dinner and before I grade papers.”

“No, don’t. It’s quiet this time of day and I want these few minutes to myself. Jed doesn’t mind, and he can use a few extra bucks.”

“Well, okay.”

“Besides, you won’t be calling forever. Soon you’ll be head of the school and won’t have free time for the likes of me.”

Daniel hadn’t promised her on Friday that he’d call. He’d simply felt the desire and acted on it. Then, by unspoken agreement, they hadn’t mentioned what might happen next in their relationship. They’d spent time sharing that day in their respective worlds.

Today, he’d discovered the desire to talk to Eve wasn’t an “at loose ends” feeling that sometimes came over him on weekends. After his dorm assistant had arrived, Daniel had locked his doors, put his books and papers away, and picked up the phone. Only after they’d been well into the fantasy did he remember he hadn’t even removed his gown and jacket before pressing her number. He’d wanted to hear her, find out what her day had been like and communicate his own. He felt seventeen again, with an infatuation about to drive him crazy. Except men his age didn’t have infatuations. They had obsessions.

“Hey,” Eve charged, “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, like I was hunting for compliments or reassurances. I was simply stating a fact, the way we both know it to be. I want this to be short term as much as you do, so don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

But he was. How long did obsessions last, anyway? Daniel had never allowed himself to be distracted by a woman or anything that might waylay his goals.

Until now.

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New! Second chances–for people and pets! Gayle Irwin

Finding Love at Compassion Ranch by Gayle IrwinShe crouches then pounces upon the enticing mouse like her cousin the bobcat. His tail swishes as he stares and then stalks the feather on the floor like his larger brother the tiger. Domestic cats, like their wild relatives, enjoy the hunt and chase. They entertain their human companions, bringing smiles and laughter. Their purrs soothe stress, and their company delights days.

June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, and in my recently-released book, Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, my main character, Erin, adopts two cats. This clean, contemporary romance is a second-chance story, for the human couple and for the animals featured in the book. Here’s an taste:

That afternoon, as Erin played with the cats, she focused again on the two yellow tabby brothers, Ricky and Rocket. The more she engaged with them, the more certain she was that her daughter would enjoy these kitties. She watched Rocket refocus his attention on a sunbeam dancing across the nearby wall. She laughed as the tabby leaped, as if trying to catch the light. Another sunray on the floor captured his interest, and the cat began zooming around the room. With her cell phone, Erin snapped several pictures of Ricky playing with a catnip mouse and others of Rocket pouncing on rays of sunlight. A few moments later she texted the photos to Brittany along with this message: “I think I’ve found the purr-fect cats for you! Two brothers, about two years old. Playful, fun, and friendly. We already know they get along, they are healthy, and they like people. What do you think? Want me to adopt them for you?”

As she waved a feather toy in front of the tabbies’ faces, Brittany responded with a text: “YES! I already love them. Do they get along with Winston?”

Erin responded, “I’ll plan a sleep-over to find out. Potential adopters can do that here, just like at Best Friends Animal Society.”

“Super!” came Brittany’s response. “Let me know how everyone does.”

Two cats share my house. I adopted them when they were 10 weeks old; they will be 15 years old in August. Murphy and Bailey are sisters, although to look at them you couldn’t think so. Murphy is a long-haired black and white (often called ‘tuxedo’), and Bailey is a short-haired tortoiseshell (black, orange, and white). Their mother was a medium-haired, cream-colored Persian-looking cat. Only two of the six in the litter looked alike, and they were black and gray tabby cats. I’ve been a cat person since I was a child. My first was a calico who followed me home after school when I was nine years old. I named her Precious and she was my companion for more than 10 years.

Buy links:
Amazon ebook
Amazon print
Barnes and Noble
Kobo

Bailey and Murphy catsI weave pet rescue and adoption into my romance stories because that topic is something I’m passionate about. The second book in the series, Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, sees my main character, Erin, volunteering at Compassion Ranch, a sanctuary for former research animals. The fictional sanctuary is based on a real facility called Kindness Ranch. In the book, Erin reconnects with a man she knew in high school when she shows up to volunteer. Both she and Mike, my primary male character, have lost their spouses. Sparks ignite, especially after Erin helps Mike save the life of an ewe and her lamb. However, Erin wonders if she gives her heart to Mike, will she be betraying her late husband and her two grown children?

Pick up your copy of Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, available as an e-book through Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Amazon, and available in print format through Amazon. You can also obtain my first book in this Pet Rescue Romance series, Rescue Road, in which the character of Erin is introduced, through the same outlets.

I encourage you to support your local animal shelter, humane society, or pet rescue organization. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), each year nearly 3.2 million cats and kittens enter animal shelters and humane societies across the United States. Sadly,Rescue cats more than 850,000 are euthanized due to illness, owners not claiming their lost/stray animals, and overcrowding due to lack of adoptions and reclaims. Whether through adoption, fostering, donations of supplies or money, or volunteering, these groups need our help to help the animals they serve.

When people purchase my books, I donate a percentage of sales to pet rescue organizations. I also volunteer for a few groups. In fact, the two cats in my story, Ricky and Rocket, are based on two cats I met at a rescue. Their picture is above.

Happy reading!

Blurb:

A ranch like no other …

Erin Christiansen is still adjusting to life as a widow. She seeks additional healing by volunteering at Compassion Ranch, a sanctuary for former research animals. Upon arrival at the majestic and unique northwestern Wyoming ranch, she meets Mike, a man she knew in high school, whose compassion for animals and people might be the balm Erin needs.

Retired veterinarian Mike Jacobs is no stranger to loss. Five years after the accidental death of his wife, he now serves as ranch manager of Compassion Ranch. He not only fixes fence and provides tours, but he applies his veterinary skills and his heart for animals to his work. Upon recognizing Erin from high school, he can barely believe his first love will spend a few weeks at the sanctuary.

Can Erin and Mike span the years since they have seen each other or do they, like many of the rescued animals, have wounds that run too deep to trust and love again?

Yellowstone Lake
Much of the story takes place here, at Yellowstone Lake

Excerpt:

That evening before sunset, Mike secured wire to a wooden post a few feet from the barn. More fencing to his left helped create a new corral, the project he’d been working on all day. He didn’t hear Erin walk up until she called out, “Hi, there, busy guy!”

He stopped his work and looked at her. Her large smile brought one to his face.

“Hi, yourself.”

Mike noticed Winston beside her. He squatted down and said, “Hey there, fella. How are you and those cats doing?”

Winston, his tail wagging, sauntered up to Mike, and the ranch manager patted the little dog’s head.

“They’ve done very well,” Erin responded as she walked closer. “A few hisses and growls by the cats at first, but with Winston’s gentle, sweet personality, the Ricky and Rocket adjusted pretty quickly. Winston learned about cats while at Rhiann’s sanctuary, so he knows not to push the limit.

They all took about a thirty-minute nap on the couch before supper. I think Brittany’s going to be quite happy with the boys.”

As Mike drew to his full six-foot-one height, he noticed Erin held a cloth bag in her hand.

“You don’t have the cats in there, do you?” he asked in a teasing voice as he pointed to the sack.

She laughed slightly and held up the bag. “I think you’d hear a lot of fussing. No, silly. I brought your supper. I’ve been hearing the pounding of nails all afternoon and saw you putting those posts in the ground earlier. I figured you could use a break.”

She opened the container, which held two sandwiches, a small bag of potato chips, and a covered glass pitcher of lemonade. Her kindness startled him. Not that Erin wasn’t thoughtful, but in the midst of her own busy day, settling in two cats, the thought that she would notice he hadn’t taken a break in several hours touched his heart.

“Thank you, Erin. I appreciate your thoughtfulness,” he said in a sincere voice.

She smiled and handed Mike the bag. He reached for the lemonade first and poured a cup from the small thermos. After consuming the tart liquid, he said, “Ah! That hits the spot.” He smiled. “I knew you were a good woman, Erin, I just didn’t realize how much of an angel until now.”

Author Bio:

Gayle IrwinGayle M. Irwin is an award-winning author and freelance writer, being recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc., and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books and stories for both children and adults. Her first novel, a clean, contemporary pet rescue romance titled Rescue Road, released November 8, 2019; the second book in that series she calls Pet Rescue Romance is titled Finding Love at Compassion Ranch – the book released in May 2020. Gayle subtly weaves important life lessons within the lines and pages of her stories, including the importance of pet rescue and adoption. An animal advocate, she volunteers for various dog rescue and humane society organizations and donates a percentage of all book sales to such groups. Gayle resides in Wyoming with her husband and their adopted animals. Learn more about the author, her writing endeavors, including a weekly blog, and her pets, and receive free stories and resources by visiting her website: www.gaylemirwinauthor.com.

New release! Enjoy a few Invincible Dreams with Denise Devine

Invincible Dreams anthology: Denise Devine

Denise Devine and a few of her friends would like to share their
Invincible Dreams in a convenient boxed set!

Authors participating:
Tamara Ferguson
Jen Talty
Denise Devine
Natalie Ann
Stacy Eaton
Nancy Radke
Jennifer St. Giles
Suzanne Jenkins

Blurb:

Freedom has a price, and sometimes the past and present collide. Our heroines are determined to reach the goals they’ve set for themselves and fight for their dreams to come true. It might require them to start over, forge a new path, or even change directions along the way. Sometimes they might get more than they’ve bargained for…

RESTORATION (New): Tamara Ferguson, USA Today Bestselling Author
AFTER THE FIRE (New): Jen Talty, USA Today Bestselling Author
GUARDING THE BOOTLEGGER’S WIDOW (New): Denise Devine, USA Today Bestselling Author
ALL THE WAY: Natalie Ann, USA Today Bestselling Author
YOU’RE NOT ALONE: Stacy Eaton, USA Today Bestselling Author
THE SUNNIEST GAL FROM TENNESSEE: Nancy Radke, USA Today Bestselling Author
THE MISTRESS OF TREVELYAN: Jennifer St. Giles, USA Today Bestselling Author
FRIENDS TO LOVERS: Suzanne Jenkins, USA Today Bestselling Author

INVINCIBLE DREAMS – 99 cents on Kindle and available on KU.
Order now! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088C3L5JD

About Guarding the Bootlegger’s Widow by Denise Devine:

It’s 1926 in St. Paul, Minnesota and Prohibition is in full swing. A woman can vote, work full time, show her legs in public and cut her hair but she can’t enter a speakeasy without a man by her side…

Charlotte LeDoux is struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Her late husband, Gus, has left her a lot to deal with—his sprawling business empire, his enemies and an ex-mistress who desperately needs a friend. It’s tough for a woman to compete in a man’s world and even though it’s a never-ending uphill battle, she is determined to succeed.

Char gets a new Model T and is excited when William Van Elsberg offers to give her a driving lesson. She’s attracted to the handsome private detective, who, in many ways, is the polar opposite of Gus. Will takes her out for a spin in the car and instructs her how to drive, but at the same time, teaches her how to love again. She’s never been so happy!

Meanwhile, Gus’ enemies are circling like vultures. An anonymous note threatening Char’s life forces Will to become her personal bodyguard. He’s highly qualified, but Char’s stubborn belief in her own independence makes it the most difficult job he’s ever taken. Can he keep her safe or will he lose her in the most dangerous fight of her life?

Excerpt:

Prologue

According to the gossip on the streets of St. Paul, my late husband was a man of many secrets. One of the most widely spread stories I found intriguing, but also amusing, involved a secluded hideout where he supposedly had a wall literally lined with stacks of cash. If he did, Gus had taken this information to the grave because he’d never shared it with me.

Gus had been a bootlegger who’d made his fortune running “Minnesota 13,” the Dom Perignon of bootlegged whiskey from two Minnesota counties—Stearns and Morrison—to distributors in the Dakotas and Chicago. Ruthless and powerful, “Lucky” Gus LeDoux had earned an unfathomable amount of money and gained a notorious reputation, but made permanent enemies along the way. I always knew someday he’d die a violent death. I just never envisioned it would be by my hand.

I hadn’t planned to shoot my husband; I’d acted purely in self-defense. It did no good to dwell on it, but the memory of that horrific, life-altering day still haunted me…

Desperate to escape his life of crime, I’d run away from my husband and found refuge working as a domestic servant in the home of a private investigator. Gus eventually found out and stormed my place of work, forcing me to leave with him. As Federal agents surrounded the area, two men tried to apprehend him and he gunned them down—while I helplessly watched. My husband had a reputation for brutality, but to witness it firsthand horrified me and caused me to fear for not only my own safety, but also the well-being of my unborn child. I refused to go on and told Gus I wanted nothing more to do with him. He roared that if he couldn’t have me, no one would, and he tried to choke me.

Determined to save my baby, I grabbed his gun. We struggled. The gun went off. The memory of that deadly, piercing sound still left me numb; a stark reminder that my son, now three and a half months old, would never know his father. And I was to blame.

Only one other person saw what happened, but I knew Will Van Elsberg would never divulge my secret to anyone. To rescue me from the fray, he had lifted me in his arms and carried me to a secure place to keep me safe, proving himself to be the only true hero I’d ever known.

The events of that dark, rainy afternoon altered my life forever. As Gus’ widow, I inherited a fortune and became the sole parent to my newborn son. Though I was on my own for the first time in my life, I felt safe. I was free.

Then fate pulled me back to the dark side of Gus’ world, the most dangerous place I could be.

Invincible Dreams anthology: Denise Devine

Denise Devine:

Denise DevineDenise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author who has had a passion for books since the second grade when she discovered Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote her first book, a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever since. She loves all animals, especially dogs, cats and horses, and they often find their way into her books.

She has written twelve books, including books in the Beach Brides Series, The Perfect Match Series and the Hawaiian Holiday Series. Her books have hit the Top 100 Bestseller list on Amazon and she has been listed on Amazon’s Top 100 Authors.

If you’d like to know more about her, visit her website at https://www.deniseannettedevine.com or join her VIP list today to get the scoop on free books, new releases and lots of goodies at http://eepurl.com/csOJZL

More feisty lawyers! Martimus by Seelie Kay

Martimus
Feisty Lawyers Series (Book 5)
by Seelie Kay

About Martimus: 

Martimus. An underwater habitat dedicated to pharmaceutical research. Martimus. A facility that staffs its vessel with inmate labor. Martimus. The place where inmates visit and never return.

Agent Cate Creighton is in love. Unfortunately, as the Agency honeypot, she is knee-deep in an assignment that tests the bounds of her new relationship. It seems eight socialites have gone missing, all wealthy twenty-somethings with influential parents. No one seems to care until a former vice president’s daughter disappears.

When the vice-president shares a tale of false arrest, a broken promise of deportation, an illegal diversion into a private prison, and an alleged trip to an unwater habitat called Martimus, Cate and her colleagues must find a way to follow the same path. In other words, they must enter the right prison, meet the right fixer, wind up on Martimus, and hopefully return in one piece. And it looks like Cate is the perfect bait.

That doesn’t sit well with Cate’s lover, former U.S. Navy Seal Warren Hazelton. He intends to protect her until death ‘til do they part.

Fortunately, another possibility appears, in the form of an MISix agent who has interfered in one too many Agency operations. Tillie Henderson owes them and they are all too willing to serve her up on a plate. It’s race against time as the Agency attempts to lure their adversary out of hiding and into their somewhat ambiguous trap. Maybe then Cate can finally focus on love.

Release Date: May 29, 2019
Publisher: Extasy Books
Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, four flames

Buy links:

Publisher: https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2862-4-martimus/
Amazon: coming June 1
Barnes and Noble: Coming June 1
Kobo: Coming June 1


Excerpt from Martimus: 

Tom cocked an eyebrow. “Warren, you’re a former Navy Seal. Isn’t there some sort of limit on the amount of time you can spend under the sea before it starts to seriously impair your health?”

Warren frowned. “Usually two weeks. After that, the lack of exposure to the sun and the constant high pressure oxygenated environment would begin to take a toll. There’s also a psychological impact. Think sensory deprivation. Your senses are out of whack because you’ve been dumped into a soundproof sponge. There is no normal sensory stimulation. No sunlight, no sound… Even taste and smell become compromised. Coming back to the real world would be an adjustment.

“In addition, those underwater stations are small. People are right on top of each other. Things we take for granted, like privacy, hot showers, home cooked meals, are in short supply. That can create anxiety, depression, and stress. No way he served that sentence consecutively. He had to take a break in between.”

Warren gazed at Tom. “That environment is more hostile than a prison. You may not be in danger from other inmates, but you are putting your life at risk. Three months sounds like way too much time to be stuck underwater though, especially if you’re not leaving the station for deep sea diving on a regular basis. They must be breaking up the time somehow, otherwise they’d have a pretty tough situation on their hands. A lot of contract workers would be headed to a rubber room. It would be extremely difficult to survive a month, much less three, down there.”

“Could they be treating the inmates like guinea pigs?” Hope asked. “Testing their limits? Tracking actual survival rates?”

Warren sighed. “Possibly. It’s not like they have to answer to anyone. They are located in international waters. No country in particular has legal oversight. I imagine they could be doing anything they want without recourse. Unfortunately, when the prospect of a reduced sentence is dangled in front of some people, they grab it, damn the consequences. If one or two inmates suffer some sort of harm or die along the way, they chalk it up to collateral damage.”

“And who’s going to know?” Cate shook her head. “Someone dies, they probably flush them down a chute into the deep sea and they become shark chum. No evidence left behind.”

Hope cringed. “God, that’s kind of evil. But that still doesn’t answer our original question. Where the hell is Fuzzy? Has he already served out his sentence? Has he been released, and if he has, where the hell is he? He’s the one we need to find. He could have a lot of the answers.”

“That lack of governmental oversight is troubling,” Tom said. “If Cassie McIntyre is down there, I can’t believe the CIA isn’t all over it. At least, our government should be doing a welfare check through the Red Cross or something.”

Warren grimaced. “Unless no one knows she is down there. Think about it. They are on the bottom of the ocean, more than two miles under the sea. It’s not like you can just go down there and knock on the door. Any regular monitoring would be impossible.”

Cate nodded. “And we haven’t been able to confirm that she embarked on the same path as Fuzzy. All we’ve got are suspicions. Right now, she’s missing. We need to sit down with her family and get more information. And we need to find other prisoners who contracted with Martimus.

“Otherwise, we’ve got nothing.”

About Seelie Kay:

Seelie Kay is a nom de plume for a writer, editor, and author with more than 30 years of experience in law, journalism, marketing, and public relations. When she writes about love and lust in the legal world, something kinky is bound to happen! In possession of a wicked pen and an overly inquisitive mind, Ms. Kay is the author of multiple works of fiction, including the Kinky Briefs series, the Feisty Lawyers series, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, The White House Wedding, and The President’s Daughter.

When not spinning her kinky tales, Ms. Kay ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. She resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she shares a home with her son and enjoys opera, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.

Ms. Kay is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!

Seelie’s Author links:

www.seeliekay.com
www.seeliekay.blogspot.com
Twitter: @SeelieKay https://twitter.com/SeelieKay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/


Prior Books:

http://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs/
http://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs-too/
http://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs-thrice/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1734-5-kinky-briefs-quatro/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2023-9-kinky-briefs-cinque/
http://www.extasybooks.com/the-garage-dweller/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1504-4-a-touchdown-to-remember/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1795-6-the-presidents-wife/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2263-9-snatching-diana/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2032-1-the-presidents-daughter
https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2291-2-infamy/
https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2349-0-seizing-hope/
https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2538-8-cult/
https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2658-3-hope/
https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2796-2-the-white-house-wedding/

An Interview with Seelie Kay:

Q. Why do you write romance?

Because I am fascinated by the games people play to find and secure a lasting relationship, which is not always love. There’s the chase, the courtship, the falling, the surrender. That’s what I try to capture in my stories.

Q. Do you prefer a certain type of romantic hero?

I adore smart, dashing gentlemen who aren’t afraid to live on the edge. They can be a bad boy, a billionaire, a prince, or a secret agent. That hint of danger just hooks me! However, I they have to be paired with strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want, even love.

Q. Why did you write “Martimus?”

This is the final book in the series, so I needed a way to tie up a lot of loose ends. That meant the Feisty Lawyers needed a compelling story to accomplish that. Something in space was beyond the realm of believability, but something at the bottom of the ocean? The possibilities were endless. I went in all sorts of directions at first, but ultimately made Martimus a key step in a much broader journey. The bottom of the ocean is an unforgiving environment. Survival is never guaranteed. Divert a few socialites there to serve out a prison sentence, make then disappear, and you’ve got what I hope is an exciting story!

As a former lawyer, I also developed an interest in private prisons. These are institutions that are governed by a different set of rules and not all institutions follow the same rules. In some cases, the private prison an inmate winds up in can mean the difference between survival and death. In addition, there have been several cases of prosecutors and judges who received a financial incentive to divert inmates to private prison. Some were so incentivized that people innocent of the crimes with which they where charged have been convicted just so the prosecutor or judge could get their kickback. It is an industry that requires serious regulation and monitoring.

Q. How does your former profession as a lawyer impact your writing?

My friends say I am obsessed with justice and I guess that’s true. After 30 years, the law and the legal world are so firmly embedded in my brain that I can’t flush them out. That has become the lens through which I view the world and that naturally guides my characters and plots. Injustice infuriates me, but it also leads me to great stories!

Charity Sunday: Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse

Charity Sunday: Dee S. KnightHow Charity Sunday works: for every comment made on this blog post, I will donate money to the charity named. Thanks for your help and your participation!


This month I choose a charity close to home for my donation. It’s the Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. Violence in the home can happen at any time, sadly, but it seems even worse during additional times of stress—like holidays and during this horrible time we’ve been going through lately, with the virus. We’ve been stuck inside. All of us. Not everyone knows how to handle such situations, made worse by worry about jobs and money, and schools, etc.

ATVP has stayed open, recognizing that victims of domestic violence may have nowhere else to go if they are closed. Their mission is: “ATVP provides 24 hour emergency and supportive services to family and sexual violence victims and survivors and their children. Services are available for concerned, supportive family members, friends and community members.” I like that they also have an education component that “…focuses on increasing understanding, awareness, and ultimately on preventing family and sexual violence.”

I appreciate your comments!


My book this month is Only a Good Man Will Do (Book 1 of the Good Man series)

Blurb:
Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover Academy, and be purer than Caesar’s wife. Good luck with that!

Daniel Goodman is a man on a mission. He aims to become headmaster of Westover Academy. For that he needs a particular, special woman to help him set high standards. Into his cut and dried life of moral and upright behavior, comes Eve Star, formerly one of Europe’s foremost exotic dancers. Her life is anything but cut and dried, black and white. Daniel is drawn to her like a kid to chocolate. Nothing good can come of this attraction. Or can it? He is after all, a good man.

Buy links:
Amazon Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/2q7ovi4

Excerpt:
“Daniel, am I talking to myself, here?”

“Oh, no, I’m…” He chuckled an amused admission. “Tell me what you said again.”

He could almost hear Eve smile. “I said, you called at four-thirty on Saturday and Sunday, so I took a wild leap that you would today, too.”

“Ah.” Smiling to the empty room, he squirmed to get into a more comfortable position. “A woman of logic.”

“Absolutely. You don’t want to play me in chess. I think five or six moves ahead.”

“I’ll remember that. There’s nothing worse than seeing a guy cry when he’s been beaten at chess by a girl. Now tell me why you’re upstairs. I know you don’t have a lot of help this time of day.”

“I’m paying Jed extra to come in a bit early.” Her voice was low, as though she didn’t really want to tell him. The words struck his heart.

“You don’t have money to be paying Jed extra, Eve. I’ll start calling later, after dinner and before I grade papers.”

“No, don’t. It’s quiet this time of day and I want these few minutes to myself. Jed doesn’t mind, and he can use a few extra bucks.”

“Well, okay.”

“Besides, you won’t be calling forever. Soon you’ll be head of the school and won’t have free time for the likes of me.”

Daniel hadn’t promised her on Friday that he’d call. He’d simply felt the desire and acted on it. Then, by unspoken agreement, they hadn’t mentioned what might happen next in their relationship. They’d spent time sharing that day in their respective worlds.

Today, he’d discovered the desire to talk to Eve wasn’t an “at loose ends” feeling that sometimes came over him on weekends. After his dorm assistant had arrived, Daniel had locked his doors, put his books and papers away, and picked up the phone. Only after they’d been well into the fantasy did he remember he hadn’t even removed his gown and jacket before pressing her number. He’d wanted to hear her, find out what her day had been like and communicate his own. He felt seventeen again, with an infatuation about to drive him crazy. Except men his age didn’t have infatuations. They had obsessions.

“Hey,” Eve charged, “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, like I was hunting for compliments or reassurances. I was simply stating a fact, the way we both know it to be. I want this to be short term as much as you do, so don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

But he was. How long did obsessions last, anyway? Daniel had never allowed himself to be distracted by a woman or anything that might waylay his goals.

Until now.

Cover Reveal! Invincible Dreams: Denise Devine

Invincible Dreams anthology: Denise Devine

Boxed set: Invincible Dreams
Participating Authors:
Tamara Ferguson
Jen Talty
Denise Devine
Natalie Ann
Stacy Eaton
Nancy Radke
Jennifer St. Giles
Suzanne Jenkins

INVINCIBLE DREAMS – 99 cents on Kindle and available on KU. Pre-order now!

EIGHT STORIES (3 new) From USA Today Bestselling, Award-Winning Authors!

Freedom has a price, and sometimes the past and present collide. Our heroines are determined to reach the goals they’ve set for themselves and fight for their dreams to come true. It might require them to start over, forge a new path, or even change directions along the way. Sometimes they might get more than they’ve bargained for…

RESTORATION (New): Tamara Ferguson, USA Today Bestselling Author
AFTER THE FIRE (New): Jen Talty, USA Today Bestselling Author
GUARDING THE BOOTLEGGER’S WIDOW (New): Denise Devine, USA Today Bestselling Author
ALL THE WAY: Natalie Ann, USA Today Bestselling Author
YOU’RE NOT ALONE: Stacy Eaton, USA Today Bestselling Author
THE SUNNIEST GAL FROM TENNESSEE: Nancy Radke, USA Today Bestselling Author
THE MISTRESS OF TREVELYAN: Jennifer St. Giles, USA Today Bestselling Author
FRIENDS TO LOVERS: Suzanne Jenkins, USA Today Bestselling Author

Blurb for Denise Devine’s story, Guarding the Bootlegger’s Widow:

It’s 1926 in St. Paul, Minnesota and Prohibition is in full swing. A woman can vote, work full time, show her legs in public and cut her hair but she can’t enter a speakeasy without a man by her side…

Charlotte LeDoux is struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Her late husband, Gus, has left her a lot to deal with—his sprawling business empire, his enemies and an ex-mistress who desperately needs a friend. It’s tough for a woman to compete in a man’s world and even though it’s a never-ending uphill battle, she is determined to succeed.

Char gets a new Model T and is excited when William Van Elsberg offers to give her a driving lesson. She’s attracted to the handsome private detective, who, in many ways, is the polar opposite of Gus. Will takes her out for a spin in the car and instructs her how to drive, but at the same time, teaches her how to love again. She’s never been so happy!

Meanwhile, Gus’ enemies are circling like vultures. An anonymous note threatening Char’s life forces Will to become her personal bodyguard. He’s highly qualified, but Char’s stubborn belief in her own independence makes it the most difficult job he’s ever taken. Can he keep her safe or will he lose her in the most dangerous fight of her life?

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088C3L5JD

Excerpt:
Prologue

According to the gossip on the streets of St. Paul, my late husband was a man of many secrets. One of the most widely spread stories I found intriguing, but also amusing, involved a secluded hideout where he supposedly had a wall literally lined with stacks of cash. If he did, Gus had taken this information to the grave because he’d never shared it with me.

Gus had been a bootlegger who’d made his fortune running “Minnesota 13,” the Dom Perignon of bootlegged whiskey from two Minnesota counties—Stearns and Morrison—to distributors in the Dakotas and Chicago. Ruthless and powerful, “Lucky” Gus LeDoux had earned an unfathomable amount of money and gained a notorious reputation, but made permanent enemies along the way. I always knew someday he’d die a violent death. I just never envisioned it would be by my hand.

I hadn’t planned to shoot my husband; I’d acted purely in self-defense. It did no good to dwell on it, but the memory of that horrific, life-altering day still haunted me…

Desperate to escape his life of crime, I’d run away from my husband and found refuge working as a domestic servant in the home of a private investigator. Gus eventually found out and stormed my place of work, forcing me to leave with him. As Federal agents surrounded the area, two men tried to apprehend him and he gunned them down—while I helplessly watched. My husband had a reputation for brutality, but to witness it firsthand horrified me and caused me to fear for not only my own safety, but also the well-being of my unborn child. I refused to go on and told Gus I wanted nothing more to do with him. He roared that if he couldn’t have me, no one would, and he tried to choke me.

Determined to save my baby, I grabbed his gun. We struggled. The gun went off. The memory of that deadly, piercing sound still left me numb; a stark reminder that my son, now three and a half months old, would never know his father. And I was to blame.

Only one other person saw what happened, but I knew Will Van Elsberg would never divulge my secret to anyone. To rescue me from the fray, he had lifted me in his arms and carried me to a secure place to keep me safe, proving himself to be the only true hero I’d ever known.

The events of that dark, rainy afternoon altered my life forever. As Gus’ widow, I inherited a fortune and became the sole parent to my newborn son. Though I was on my own for the first time in my life, I felt safe. I was free.

Then fate pulled me back to the dark side of Gus’ world, the most dangerous place I could be.

~*~

Author Questions:
NA; How did you come up with an idea for your book?
DD: I grew up listening to my grandmother talk about the 1920s. She was born in 1902 so she was eighteen at the time the Roaring Twenties began. She wore a flapper haircut with Marcel waves all her life and favored jewelry from the twenties. When the 20s trend started to become popular in the romance and mystery genres, I decided it was time to write my story.

NA; What sort of research did you do to write this book?
DD: The book takes place in Minnesota in the mid-twenties, so I wanted to write about Prohibition and the Roaring 20s from a local perspective. The Minnesota Historical Society had a number of really good books on the subject by local historians. Interestingly, I found that moonshiners in Minnesota made a high-grade bootlegged whiskey called “Minnesota 13” that was better quality than many of the commercial brands at the time!

NA; A fun fact about writing your book.
DD: The names of the two main characters—Charlotte Esther LeDoux and William Charles Van Elsberg are my grandparents’ names. LeDoux is Charlotte’s married name in the book (and her maiden name is Johnson). My grandmother’s correct maiden name was Charlotte Esther Smith before she married Will Van Elsberg. And if you’re wondering—the personalities of these characters are my own creation.

NA; What started you on the path to writing?
DD: As I indicated in my bio, I’ve had a passion for books since I learned to read. Little House in the Big Woods was the first book I read that I couldn’t put down. Growing up, I always thought you had to be rich and connected to publish books (got this impression from TV), but when I was thirteen, my family took a train trip out to Oregon and I found out that my cousin was writing a mystery with her friend. That gave me a new perspective on the idea and I wrote my first story in a notebook on the train on the way home. I still have that story locked away in my hope chest.

NA; What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
DD: My non-writing friends think it’s fascinating. My family is so used to it, they pretty much ignore it. One of my brothers, however, reads every book I write and is always asking when the next one will be finished. I dedicated one of my books to him.

NA; The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer.
DD: I had no idea there were so many people writing books—especially romance. I didn’t learn this until my husband showed me an article in the Sunday paper (back in the late 80s) about Romance Writers of America holding a conference in Minnesota at the Mall of America. Unfortunately, this was after the conference happened. The internet wasn’t available yet and the journalist who wrote the article didn’t give any contact information for how to join. I didn’t find a local chapter of RWA in Minnesota until 1991. I found so many new friends through that chapter that I still hang out with today.

NA; Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
DD: Yes, I do! I need to know what my main characters want, why, and what’s keeping them from it otherwise I find myself in a corner eventually and don’t know how to get out of it. I start every book the old-fashioned way with a pencil and a cheap wire-bound notebook. I start scribbling pages of notes until I get so many I have to reorganize them in a Word doc. That’s when the outline starts to take shape and I can see what’s missing. I always know the beginning and end of every story before I start plotting.

NA; What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
DD: My husband is a travel agent so you know what I like to do best! I’ve been all over the world. When I’m home I love to garden, sew, read, go to movies and have lunch with writing friends.

NA; A pet peeve.
DD: People who think writing is easy. Everybody wants to write a book but very few people have a clue what that entails. My biggest pet peeve are self-published authors who don’t research the market at all and don’t have a single clue how to market their books because they don’t bother to find out.

NA; What errand/chore do you despise the most?
DD: Making supper every night! I hate having to stop what I’m doing and figure out what to cook.

NA; Strangest place you’ve brushed your teeth?
DD: Not really strange but totally fascinating. I stayed in a hotel in Egypt that was nearly walking distance of the pyramids at Giza and it used to be the hunting lodge of a former Arab prince. The architecture absolutely blew me away.

NA; What are you working on now?
DD: I’m starting a new small-town series called West Loon Bay and book one is called Small Town Girl. Growing up, I lived in small Minnesota towns for 5 years. My husband was born and raised in a small town and his family still lives there so I have a pretty good handle on the daily life of rural Minnesota. West Loon Bay is a tourist town on Lake Tremolo (resorts, golf and fishing) so there is always a lot going on.

NA; What question didn’t we ask that you’d like to answer?
DD: What I write specifically. I write sweet books, and by “sweet” I mean no profanity or onscreen sex, but there is plenty of conflict in the relationship. I also write romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, historical suspense and cozy mystery. I also have one inspirational romance. I have a private group on Facebook that I host with Raine English called Happily Ever After Stories – Sweet Romance. It’s a fun group with no controversial stuff ever, but we do have fun FB parties

About the Author
Denise DevineDenise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author who has had a passion for books since the second grade when she discovered Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote her first book, a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever since. She loves all animals, especially dogs, cats and horses, and they often find their way into her books.

She has written twelve books, including books in the Beach Brides Series, The Perfect Match Series and the Hawaiian Holiday Series. Her books have hit the Top 100 Bestseller list on Amazon and she has been listed on Amazon’s Top 100 Authors.

If you’d like to know more about her, visit her website at:
https://www.deniseannettedevine.com
or join her VIP list today to get the scoop on free books, new releases and lots of goodies at:
http://eepurl.com/csOJZL

Naughty teacher! #MFRWHooks

Only a Good Man Will DoThis is a blog hop. Be sure to check the link at the bottom to see posts from other authors!
Blurb:
Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover Academy, and be purer than Caesar’s wife. Good luck with that!

Daniel Goodman is a man on a mission. He aims to become headmaster of Westover Academy. For that he needs a particular, special woman to help him set high standards. Into his cut and dried life of moral and upright behavior, comes Eve Star, formerly one of Europe’s foremost exotic dancers. Her life is anything but cut and dried, black and white. Daniel is drawn to her like a kid to chocolate. Nothing good can come of this attraction. Or can it? He is after all, a good man.

Buy link:
Amazon KU: https://amzn.to/2q7ovi4

MFRW Book Hooks

Excerpt:
Daniel stood. “Shall we talk in the kitchen?” The woman sighed, but led the way.

“I feel so awful for that boy,” she started, lifting the coffee pot and raising her brows at Daniel.

“No, thanks.” Daniel leaned against the counter and stared at the woman. With only the light over the stove casting a glow, her hair shone like an auburn halo. Her head bowed to blow on the hot liquid in her cup. Full, round breasts rose and fell with each breath, tempting him to touch. Her narrow waist and curvy hips were pure sin and there wasn’t anything he wanted to do more than press her against him and explore every curve. He’d never get the chance, considering how tangled she was with Michael Haynes and The Bare Moose.

Feeling awful. Is that how you happened to put both him and yourself at risk by becoming involved with him?”

Her head snapped up, and eyes he’d fantasized glazed with lust a brief moment ago now flared with fire. “We’re not involved. He said it, we’re friends. My—” she stopped, looked away, took a breath, looked back, “—my son, Timmy, and I were in the park by the river one Sunday last June. I was painting. Michael stopped to talk. We saw him several times in the park after that. I didn’t see any harm.”

“Didn’t see any harm? The boy’s infatuated with you, couldn’t you tell? Besides, The Bare Moose is a long way from the river.” Fifteen miles from the park, light years from Westover Academy.

She lifted one shoulder and let it drop. “One Sunday I took a picnic and Michael joined us. He always seemed so alone. When he asked if I knew how to cook pot roast and I said of course, he looked … I don’t know, wistful. So I asked if his parents would mind if he came to my house for supper the following week, and he assured me they wouldn’t. I didn’t think it was all that wrong. Until the school year started, I didn’t know he attended Westover and he hasn’t visited here since then. He’s never been inside the tavern, and I certainly don’t give him alcohol.” Her eyes flashed again. “I promise you, we don’t engage in anything racier than passing the mashed potatoes or cutting hair.”

Daniel frowned. “Cutting hair?”

“Yes. I thought he looked a little shaggy one day, so I cut his hair. Look, he plays with Timmy and tells me jokes and stories. I teach him art. We’re company for each other. There’s nothing more to it.”

Daniel hadn’t gotten past Eve’s cutting Michael’s hair. He could feel her fingers raking through his own hair, skimming his scalp, skating the tips of his ears. His cock rose, hard and throbbing, not caring that he and Eve were strangers and that impressionable children were mere feet away.

“So, you were a dancer?” She blushed, and the certainty of what caused the blush made his dick ache even more. He’d bet the tassels on his mom’s old pasties that he knew exactly what kind of “dancer” Eve Star was.

Evening Star. He could picture what her costume looked like. Battery-powered star headdress to illuminate her path to the center pole, silver lamé cape sailing behind like the tail of a comet, shimmering bra, panties and high, high heels that showed off her sexy-as-hell legs. He’d bet she made every man in the room salivate and want to become an astronomer so they could examine her heavenly body up close. Just like Daniel wanted to do right then. The kitchen counter was just the right height to…

He shook his head to clear the image of taking her on her spotless kitchen counter.

“Dancing’s behind me. I run the tavern now.”

At least she can do that with her clothes on.

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It’s a sweet thang–a Sweet Thang mystery, that is! Gloom, Doom, and Missing Groom by Emma Ames

Gloom, Doom, and Missing Groom, A Sweet Thangs Mystery, Book 2

Gloom, Doom, and Missing Groom by Emma Ames

Blurb:
Tizzy Donovan, widow, single mother, baker and part-time bartender, is getting married–if she can find the groom.
Join Tizzy and her ragtag team as they scour two counties, drag a lake, and enlist the help of a fortune teller to solve the mystery.

Excerpt:
A Hunter’s Moon hung high in the sky and lit up the night. The temperature hovered in the low forties, but the thirty-five mile per hour wind created a chill much colder. Tizzy wished she’d grabbed a coat before leaving the house. The low-cut, sleeveless, dress proved to be a poor selection.

Thanks to a text from Jinx, she knew where Ridge parked on Lide. Not that she would have any trouble locating the old Chevy. But at least she wouldn’t have to drive around to find him and risk him seeing her first. From a safe distance, she sat in her van and watched him. There wasn’t much activity. The cold wind must have been keeping the Johns at home and the girls off the street.

Tizzy adjusted her blonde wig and decided the time was right to make her move. She was almost to the car when Ridge noticed her. He rolled down the window, and she leaned in.

“Hey, cowboy, need a date?”

“Jeezus, Tizzy. Do you ever listen to anything I say?”

“The name’s Velvet, and are you sure you don’t want some company?”

“Cut the crap. What are you doing here?”

“If this is going to be a long conversation, may I please get inside? I have a full nipple alert.” She stuck out her chest and gave him a good view of the warning.

He gulped for air. “No. You need to leave, and we’ll talk about this at home.”

“If that’s the way you want it.” She rose to her full height, then ducked back down again. “Just one more question. Would you be less mad if I mentioned I’m not wearing panties?”

Buy links:
Book trailer: https://tinyurl.com/sl3uayy
Buy links: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZTT97XJ
Audio: https://tinyurl.com/sl3uayy

How I Start a Story
For me, a good story starts with a great first line, and I can’t begin to write until I have one. At least one I think is great. For the Sweet Thangs Mystery Series, each opening sentence needs to set the tone of the book—a blend of mystery, romance, and humor.

I love it when a first line grabs me. Here are a couple from my favorite authors.

One hot August Thursday afternoon, Maddie Faraday reached under the front seat of her husband’s Cadillac and pulled out a pair of black lace underpants—they weren’t hers. ~Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie.

It wasn’t every day a guy saw a headless beaver marching down the side of the road, not even in Dean Robillard’s larger-than-life world. ~Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

Two from my alter-ego, Ann Everett.
Quinn Dorsey had kissed her share of toads, and now, just months before her thirty-fifth birthday, her efforts were about to pay off. ~Two Wrongs Make a Right

According to scientific studies, Maggie knew even good girls got aroused by bad boys.~Tell Me a Secret

And here’s the one from the book featured today, Book Two, Gloom, Doom, and Missing Groom: Twenty-four hours ago, Tizzy Donovan was naked in Ridge Cooper’s bed, screaming to get God’s attention.

When choosing a book, how important are opening lines to you? Let me know in the comments.

Emma’s bio:
Emma Ames/Ann EverettEmma Ames is an alter-ego of Ann Everett, who is an alter-ego of a real person. All three live in Texas.

Emma writes sweeter versions of Ann Everett’s steamy mysteries and romances. Although they contain no graphic love scenes or language, they are still rated 18+ due to sexual innuendo and adult themes. And, as always, a happily ever after is guaranteed.

Social media links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaAmes11
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/emmaames
Find out more about Emma: https://www.anneverett.com/emma-ames-books/

New! Don’t Forget the Dog: Linda O’Connor

I’m so excited to celebrate my latest release!

DOn't Forget the Dog by Linda O'Connor

Don’t Forget the Dog (Dr. Brogan Corkie Matchmaking Doctor, Book 2)
Medical Romantic Comedy
Sweet Romance

Read about the first in Linda’s series, Don’t Drop the Baby!

Blurb:
Dr. Brogan Corkie is happily semi-retired from medicine and now has time for other hobbies. Her passion for food is second only to her skill at matchmaking!

Blaine McKinnon, owner and executive chef of an upscale restaurant in Mapleton, has an adorable Old English sheepdog named Tacos. Brogan is roped into dog-sitting Tacos at Blaine’s house. The upside is the spectacular kitchen at her disposal.

Dr. Sabrina Langfield, a newly minted doctor, is in a bind when her mom, Rue, falls and fractures her wrist. Brogan offers to help and does double-duty looking after Tacos and Rue.

Blaine and Sabrina were high school sweethearts but parted ways when Blaine pushed Sabrina to pursue a career. Sabrina hasn’t seen him since, but Rue is a huge fan and frequents his restaurant. Rue’s biggest regret is her part in Sabrina and Blaine’s break-up, and with Brogan’s help, she’s determined to get them back together. It might not be that easy – Sabrina is wary of Tacos and, more pressing, she’s decided to move a four-hour flight away to do five more years of training in emergency medicine.

Will meddlesome matchmaking, Blaine’s persuasiveness, and – don’t forget the dog – Tacos’ sweet nature be enough to convince Sabrina to stay?

Excerpt:
Rue stepped inside. She brushed a hand down Blaine’s arm and then opened her arms for a hug. “You’re so sweet to welcome me into your home.” She squeezed him tight with her left arm. Her casted arm fell to her side.

“Not even a question.” Blaine closed his eyes briefly as Rue held him. “I was sorry to hear about your accident.”

“A bit of a busted wing, but no worries, I’ll fly again.” Tacos nudged against them and Rue broke contact. She held out her hand for Tacos to sniff and then rubbed him behind the ears. “Look how you’ve grown, Tacos. Do you remember me? Still so cute.” She bent and put her face in Tacos’s fur when Tacos tried to lick her.

Blaine turned to Sabrina. “Are you going to hover on the doorstep or come inside? You’re letting all the heat out.”

Sabrina stamped her feet to knock the snow off her brown suede boots and then stepped inside and shut the door, avoiding eye contact with him. She brushed at the snow on her tailored wool coat.

Blaine watched her with a half smile on his face. “Looks like you missed a snowflake.”

Sabrina’s jaw clenched. She held out a bag. “My mom’s things.”

He raised an eyebrow. Rue reached around him and took the bag. “Thanks heaps, dear.”

Tacos skipped over to sniff Sabrina.

Sabrina took a step back to avoid him. “Don’t forget to take your pain pills regularly today, Mom. Don’t wait for the pain to become intolerable. And get some rest.”

Blaine pulled Tacos away from Sabrina and interjected. “Rue, have you met Brogan Corkie? Brogan, Rue Langfield.”

Brogan stepped forward. “Hello. I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Sorry, I should have introduced you,” Sabrina mumbled. She loosened the belt and undid the top buttons of her coat. Underneath she wore a crisp white blouse and a navy blue pencil skirt.

Rue held out her hand to shake and then smiled crookedly and waved it instead. “I’m delighted to meet you, too. Sabrina told me that you work with her at the clinic.”

Blaine’s head swivelled between them. “Is that so?”

Brogan smiled. “I do, or rather I did. I’m semi-retired now, so I’m not there as often.” She turned back to Rue. “My new passion is cooking, and I’m hoping you like to eat.”

Rue removed her knitted wrap and matching cap and tossed them on a chair. The loose-fitting caftan she had on flowed to her ankles and covered her cast in a tie-dye rainbow of colours. Her dark hair, with wisps of grey, fell in a long braid down her back. “I love to eat. We should get along famously.”

Brogan smiled. “Have you seen Blaine’s kitchen? It’s to die for.”

“Show me.” Rue put her arm around Brogan’s waist as they walked down the hall. Tacos trotted happily beside them. “You’re not one of those New Age, plant-based, vegan, health food nuts, are you?” Rue asked as they moved out of earshot.

Sabrina didn’t catch Brogan’s answer, but she winced when their laughter filled the air.

Blaine leaned against the wall. “I take it you’re still a plant-based, vegan, health food nut.”

Sabrina raised her chin. “There’s nothing wrong with choosing foods wisely to optimize health, despite what my mother thinks – or you, for that matter.”

He stepped closer and brushed at the snow melting on her neat ponytail. He could smell the perfume she wore. It took him back eleven years, and he almost lost his train of thought. “Eating for pleasure is just as important.”
Sabrina stiffened at his touch. Her back was ramrod straight. “Proper nutrition gives you the energy to enjoy what gives you pleasure.”

Her message and her body language read prim and proper, but her husky voice was pure sex. His body responded, and he leaned closer. “What gives you pleasure these days?”

She stopped him with a pointed finger jabbed into his chest and raised her chin. “Shouldn’t the question be who is giving me pleasure?”

Blaine jerked back, her words stopping him more effectively than a slap. He’d been fairly confident she hadn’t been dating anyone. He had a front seat window to the ticker tape of her life through Sabrina’s mom, who was a regular at Fire and Ice. There hadn’t even been a whisper of Sabrina dating, and even though two people couldn’t be any more different, Sabrina and her mom were still tight. There was no way Mrs. L wouldn’t know. He glanced at Sabrina’s left hand. No ring. She was baiting him, but he couldn’t deny the relief that coursed through him. He narrowed his eyes at her sublime expression and had to ask. “Who is giving you pleasure?”

Sabrina smiled slowly, her emerald eyes silently mocking him. “I would say that’s none of your business.”

She buttoned her coat. “I’ll pick my mom up after work at six.” She opened the door. “See ya.” She pulled the door shut behind her.

Blaine stood in the foyer and, with a shake of his head, smiled reluctantly. Round one to Sabrina. She was still sassy, sexy, and smart – exactly why he loved her. Game on.

Buy link:
e-book

Linda:
Linda O'ConnorAward-winning author Linda O’Connor started writing romantic comedies when she needed a creative outlet other than subtly rearranging the displays at a local home décor store. Her books have enjoyed bestseller status. When not writing, she’s a physician at an Urgent Care Clinic. She shares her medical knowledge in fast-paced, well-written, sexy romances – with an unexpected twist. Her favourite prescription to write? Laugh every day. Love every minute.

Website https://www.lindaoconnor.net
Newsletter Sign-up: https://www.lindaoconnor.net/contact/
Twitter https://twitter.com/LindaOConnor98
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LindaOConnorAuthor
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Linda-OConnor/e/B00S7CNLEA

New! Lisabet Sarai and D&S Duos 6

Duos 6 by Lisabet SaraiTwo searing tales of erotic surrender

MF and MMF BDSM Erotica
Approximately 12,000 words
Smashwords and AmazonKDP
ISBN (Smashwords): 9780463666326
ASIN: B087HHF835

Blurb:
Muse
Of course she’d dreamed of being a slave. That was obvious on a close reading of any of her romances. The passion leaked out, even in the tamest of her kinky scenes. Yet when the Master she’d craved appeared, at first she didn’t recognize him.

Détente
I don’t want to surrender, but I can’t help it. I’m dizzy with instantly kindled lust. He nips at my lips, probes me with his tongue. He drinks me in, consumes me. Between my thighs everything melts. The room begins to smell funky, as though he already had me naked and open before him.

Also includes an X-rated excerpt from Babes in Bondage:
Vegas Babes Book 5.

Buy Links:
Kinky Literature 
Amazon US 
Amazon UK 
Smashwords 
Barnes and Noble 
Kobo 
Add on Goodreads

Read an online Excerpt

Excerpt:
I tried to choose, ten years ago. I married David, traveled the world with him, settled down, as much as I’m ever likely to. My ties to Eric wouldn’t let me rest.

I would dream of his voice commanding me, his hands alternately caressing and tormenting me. I craved the sensation of him ravaging me until I was too sore to walk. I yearned for the near-telepathic connection we shared when he called me to his dungeon and bound me to his service.

“Give me your body – give me your mind,” he had whispered in my ear on that night long ago, when I was young and impressionable, before I’d ever met David. Malleable, he called me, gently mocking. Indeed, he molded my desires into strange and fearful shapes. Lust, obsession, love, whatever you want to call it, it flowed between us like currents of fire.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t enough to keep us together. His sensitivity could turn into irritability. His sense of power could dwindle to miserable inadequacy. He was intuitive, but didn’t always share his insights.

I was young, as I said. I reacted instinctively to his desire, but I didn’t really understand his heart. I thought that I was nothing more to him than his slut, and never would be.

Meanwhile David exploded into my life and swept me off my feet with his quirky gallantry. We skinny-dipped under the full moon, drank vodka and pondered philosophy until dawn, spent entire Sundays in bed feasting on each other’s bodies.

David wrote me poems and sang me the blues. He took me to the strip clubs in the seedier part of town, then later plowed me with long, slow strokes while we fantasized about the dancers. He recounted picaresque tales of his travels, bus trips through jungles in Sumatra, hurried couplings under the bridges of Paris, epiphanies in the mountains of Peru. He promised to take me with him on his next set of adventures.

I married David. Eric still hasn’t forgiven me.

About Lisabet:

Lisabet Sarai became addicted to words at an early age. She began reading when she was four. She wrote her first story at five years old and her first poem at seven. Since then, she has written plays, tutorials, scholarly articles, marketing brochures, software specifications, self-help books, press releases, a five-hundred page dissertation, and lots of erotica and erotic romance – over one hundred titles, and counting, in nearly every sub-genre—paranormal, scifi, ménage, BDSM, GLBT, and more. Regardless of the genre, every one of her stories illustrates her motto: Imagination is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

You’ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet’s books on her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com/books.html), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors. She’s also on Goodreads, Pinterest, and Twitter. Join her VIP email list here: https://btn.ymlp.com/xgjjhmhugmgh