by Angela Smith | Apr 26, 2016 | Guests
Sean Muldoon knows trouble when he sees it, and he sees it in Laney Murphy the minute she passes out in his arms. He thinks she’s a con artist, and she thinks he’s just like everyone else, arrogant and judgmental. Much to Sean’s dismay his family is determined to help Laney and he just doesn’t understand why. That is until he gets to know her and realize under her tough exterior beats a heart of gold.
Excerpt:
“Move, Ace. You’re in my way.”
“Sweetheart, I haven’t even begun to be in your way.” He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “I will not allow you to hurt Tommy or Molly, so why don’t you pack up your schemes and dreams and hit the road. You won’t get a penny from them. I’ll see to that.”
I have never been known for having an even temper but I’ve worked hard to keep it under control, but not this time.
“Look, asshole, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. You’re delusional if you think I have any intention of taking a dime from Tommy that I haven’t earned. I pay my way!”
“Sure you do. I ran your fingerprints, darlin’, right off your juice glass from this morning. You’ve got a nice background there, Laney. Pandering? Breaking and entering? Those are great
ways to pay your way, huh? You got a scam to bilk Tommy, but you might as well hit the road running, babe,” He smiled, acting quite pleased with himself. “Tommy and Molly all too often
fall for the sob story and feel sorry for the strays that come along.”
I felt that to my core. Stray? Felt sorry for me? The last thing I needed was anyone’s pity.
But right at the moment the only thing I felt was the need to strike back at Sean. “Stray, huh? “Weren’t you a stray too? They feel sorry for you then? Take you in on pity?” I saw his jaw
tighten and knew I’d scored.
“Leave now and I won’t tell them your plans to take them for a ride,” he growled.
“My plans? You’re so sure about my plans, huh? Wow, you sure are smart, Sean Michael Muldoon. You ran my fingerprints and so now you know my whole life story in one fell swoop? Look, you arrogant ass, you have no idea what my life has been like and a couple of knocks on a police sheet only tells you what your narrow-minded brain wants to hear. But for your parents’ sake, I’ll go and save you the trouble of making a fool out of yourself.”
I tossed the case of champagne at him. He let out a curse, as he lunged to catch the box and I shoved him hard when I went through the doorway. I heard him hit the shelves, rattling bottles and swearing a blue streak. I heard the case of champagne hit the floor with a thud and the sound of breaking glass.
I know I could have done worse and to this day I still have no idea why I didn’t kick him in the nuts, or flat out deck him. I should have done something other than leave. I wanted to do
anything other than leave, but I couldn’t bear having to own up to some of the missteps I had made long ago.
Author Bio:
Galen Rose lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains and is an avid cook, gardener and traveler. Over the years, she has repaired bikes, been a telephone solicitor, a day care aide, managed the order department of a family law publishing firm and for nine years ran her own on-line Celtic jewelry and gifts store. Oh, and you can add in wife and stay-at-home-mom too. A Jill of many trades but not one true color for her parachute, until the day she really sat down to write and kept on writing and hasn’t stopped.
BUY LINKS:
Amazon
Amazon UK
Blog – http://www.galenrose.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GalenRose/Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/galnrose/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/GalenRose1
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6423084.Galen_Rose
by Angela Smith | Feb 14, 2016 | Books
Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether you celebrate or not, it’s a new day, and I hope it’s a day full of love.
Liberation is being released today, and I have a special excerpt never seen anywhere else. Also, this week, the first in this novella series is free, so be sure to grab that if you haven’t already. It won’t cost you a thing.
Here’s an excerpt of Liberation:
Marianne settled on a chair across from Ben, watching him strum a guitar, his head lowered, eyes closed, lost in the music. Firelight flickered across his downturned face, lips pursed, unmoving. The men sat around the fire, some talking, some listening. Leath wrapped his arms around his wife, and whisked her off to a makeshift dance floor under the stars.
The chords caught in her throat. Her breathing stilled as flames licked across her skin. He lifted his face, met her eyes, and started singing.
She was a goner. Nothing in her life mattered at this moment except this man, this experience. She could stay this way forever, lost in his gaze, under the stars, the flames snapping between them a sign of the undercurrents between them.
She wouldn’t worry about her business. She’d quit it for night after night like this. Ben’s baritone voice quieted her soul, made her realize the battle was worth fighting.
He blinked. Glanced down to rasp more tunes. The soldiers joined in a chorus of love and war and good times to be had. She breathed again, but her throat was heavy, longing for more, longing for forever.
Brooklyn and Leath danced nearby, their shadows like a mystical light of guidance. Love did exist. Despite hardships, catastrophes, heartache and war, love could overcome. If one was willing to fight.
She was willing to fight.
The fire weakened, but the blaze in her heart grew stronger. Mark rose and threw on another log. Ben ended the song and asked if someone else wanted to play.
“Sing another,” Brad urged, and so Ben sang another.
When the song ended, and Ben asked again if someone else wanted to sing, Brooklyn asked for the guitar. “You going to help me again, Leath?” she asked.
All of her worries, regrets, and expectations fled when Leath sat near his wife and wrapped her in his arms, her back facing his chest. She strummed the guitar as Leath fingered chords.
Peace exploded around her. To see her best friend with her husband, the brother she’d held dear, and the other soldiers who seemed so content sitting around the fire and connecting with the music. She couldn’t fathom what they faced overseas, but the stories she’d heard hadn’t been good. The stories of them coming home were even worse.
Brooklyn and Leath’s voices melded together in a song that made Marianne believe in forever love. Her dad had that kind of love with her mom, her grandparents before them. The war might destroy relationships, lives, and hope, but it could never destroy the type of love that brought families back together.
Her eyes burned. The wood snapped, making Ben jump. He met her gaze and wiggled his brows, then stood and approached. “Would you like to dance?”
“Love to,” she breathed.
Her body swayed with his, the chorus of soldiers joining in the song like a sweet, eternal mating call.
Buy Ebook:
by Angela Smith | Feb 13, 2016 | Books
In honor of Valentine’s Day, Goodreads had a list of fictional weddings that make them swoon, and it made me think of Garret and Reagan’s wedding!
We first meet Garret and Rayma in Burn on the Western Slope, but in the second (standalone) novel, Chayton and Naomi now get their chance (if they can ever stop arguing), and we celebrate Garret and Reagan’s wedding. I had such a fun time with this scene. Here’s an excerpt from Fatal Snag, where Naomi is walking down the aisle as her cousin’s bridesmaid, and has a hard time keeping her feet from going Chayton’s direction.
Excerpt:
The music began and the wedding planner’s nod indicated time for Naomi to step through the door. She gripped her flowers, letting the infusion of tulips, freesia, and dahlias steady her.
She paused at the entrance as the flash from the photographer’s camera caught what she hoped was a stunning smile, then stepped down the aisle, her dress gliding behind her. Glancing at Garret, she smiled. Her eyes trailed to Chayton. Her heart dropped. She nearly lost her footing and hoped no one noticed her wavering walk. Breathing deeply, she tried not to focus on him or think about how much she wished this was her wedding and she walked down the aisle toward him, her groom.
God, what was she thinking? How could she be so stupid? Her, marry Chayton?
Afraid she would veer his direction, she focused her attention opposite him, where she would stand.
She’d never seen a more gorgeous male. The black tux Chayton wore accentuated everything sexy about him, including his broad shoulders and lean, muscular frame. His thick hair, though combed immaculately, possessed that wild, disheveled look she loved.
She stepped past Garret and stood on the other side of him, facing the crowd of onlookers who waited for Reagan to emerge.
Underneath her skin, she buzzed with an underlying energy of excitement, nervousness, and longing. Reagan didn’t have to hide the fact she loved Garret with all her heart, and Garret returned her love tenfold. It was obvious every time he looked at her. Chayton’s mere presence made Naomi feel out of place. She wanted to be wrapped in his arms. She wanted to scream out her feelings for him in public so everyone would know. And she longed for him to share those feelings.
No, no, no. She couldn’t let it happen. Her feelings were just desire. Lust made her heart tremble so. Not love. No, no.
Yes, yes. Love wrapped itself tightly around her, stifling her breath, quickening her pulse. She glanced at Chayton, but he watched the door, his jaw clenched. The music introducing Naomi stopped. The wedding march started. Everyone stood in awe and respect when Reagan stepped through the door. Naomi forced herself to focus on Reagan, not Chayton.
Guests emitted ahs of delight. Although Naomi had been with her moments ago, she was still taken away by her cousin’s joy and beauty. Her wedding gown was made of silky satin, sequins beading the neckline, sheering into the straps and behind the back to cut into a V style. The long, flowing train fell to the floor in delicate softness, moving gracefully behind the bride as every sequin sparkled.
A tear escaped as Naomi watched Reagan glide down the aisle with her father. Her throat burned, her chest pounded and more tears bubbled deep in her chest, threatening to erupt in blubbers of weeping.
Months ago, when Reagan and her father had been kidnapped by a madman working for a jewel fencing mafia, Naomi was in California stressing over whether or not her cousin would live. Chayton had been involved in her rescue. This wedding was the happiest day of her life. The happiest of Naomi’s for it was a reminder of the importance of small things. She hoped to have a chance to talk to Chayton later, if he would listen.
Naomi faced the preacher as he asked who would give Reagan away. As her father gave his daughter to Garret, Naomi chanced a look at Chayton. Her heart flipped when he caught her gaze and gave her a small smile. He hadn’t smiled at her all day. She felt he’d given her a piece of him, and she treasured the precious gift.
Later, she hoped they would dance. Talk. Make love. Commemorate a new beginning.
Buy ebook:
by Angela Smith | Feb 2, 2016 | Guests
Let’s welcome Rachel Dunning, author of the New Adult Romance Debt. Isn’t the cover fantastic?
99c Pre-Order Sale
Over 400 Pages
Standalone Novel
New-Adult Romance / Sports Romance
DEBT
By Rachel Dunning
Expected Release Date:
March 2016
What’s it about?
The Debt Collector
I pay my debts, and I expect others to.
I was raised in the slums of London, I knew nothing of privilege. My father was murdered when I was seventeen. Morty figured my father’s passing meant I would automatically take on dad’s debts. I refused.
And I paid for that refusal.
So did my sister.
So now I fight. All I know how to do is fight. The best cash is in the states, so that’s where I am now. A big fish called Vito came along offering me a “favor” when I arrived.
Another debt.
I paid for that one too.
I knew Kyla Hensley would be trouble when I met her. But I wanted her. I could see through the falsehood of her wannabe-slutty clothes and her sexy legs. So I chased her.
Besides, trouble is my middle name.
Kyla Hensley
I was brought up in privilege, but I lacked everything else. My father is a business tycoon who buys and sells and doesn’t care who gets rolled over in the process.
I never knew my mother, and all I have of her is a photo with a note scrawled on the back in French saying “I’m sorry.” The only Female Figure I had growing up is my dad’s wife who is a bleach blond with seven boob jobs. We never bonded.
I drink. I party. I meet guys.
But I wasn’t always like that.
I’ve had a string of lovers in the last few years, the worst and most recent of which was Vince Somerset. My best friend Vera was dating a guy called Rory Cansoom who is the opposite of Vince in so many ways, and yet so the same.
She and I hit the road for the summer, getting away from the two college psychos and just trying to have some fun.
But there’s a funny thing about trouble, the more you run from it, the more it finds you.
Which is when I met the Debt Collector.
It was only supposed to be sex. He made that clear. I made that clear.
That’s all it was supposed to be.
I never expected to fall in love. I never expected to fall so deeply, madly, uncomfortably in love with a man who is wrong, so wrong for me.
And yet…so unbelievably right.
Content Warning
Not intended for readers under the age of seventeen.
Genres:
New-Adult Romance
Sports Romance
Links:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A02LNLC
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A02LNLC
Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01A02LNLC
Amazon Australia: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01A02LNLC
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/debt/id1071559413?mt=11
Nook / B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/debt-rachel-dunning/1123196983?ean=2940152548570
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/603988
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28400056-debt
About Rachel
Rachel Dunning hit the scene in August 2013 and is the author of the highly praised Naive Mistakes Series, Truthful Lies Trilogy, Johnny Series and the paranormal romance series, Mind Games.
A prolific writer, she sticks to stories where Alpha Males aren’t pricks and where women have guts.
She’s lived on two different continents, speaks three different languages, and met the love of her life on the internet. In other words, romance is in her blood.
Get Rachel’s Newsletter
Sign up for Rachel’s Newsletter and never miss a release or a special.
You can sign up here:
http://www.rdunning.com/p/non-spammy-news.html
Where Else to Find Rachel
Blog / Website: http://www.rdunning.com
Facebook: http://bit.ly/RachelDunning
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelDAuthor
Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/racheldunning
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/RachelDunningBN
iTunes: http://bit.ly/RachelDunningiTunes
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/racheldunning
When did you absolutely know that you had to be a writer?
After I got my first five-star review. Up to that point it was pretty touch-and-go.
What was your favorite part of writing Debt?
I loved the story, so every part of it was special for me. I think it’s my best story yet (I always say that after every book, but it’s true that writers improve.) It’s a very human story about how love can strike at any moment and how there are no “compatibility tests” that can predict when it will strike. It’s about how sometimes people just know things, despite all evidence being to the contrary. It’s extremely romantic.
What is your favorite aspect of writing a novel? I.e. do you prefer to create characters or to plot?
Characters are above and beyond to plot for me. Although plot always needs to be exciting. I hate stories where characters spend pages and pages and pages on internal musings.
Do you ever use your life experiences in your novels?
Not really. But I think it’s impossible to not have a part of you filter into the story in some way. That’s what makes all writers unique. Everybody is an individual.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one book with you, what would you take?
I’d take a notebook…and a pen.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one song with you, what would you take?
A Thousand Years, by Christina Perri
If you had the career of your choice, what would you choose and why?
You mean other than writing? I’d be a rock star, or an actress. Simply because it’s cool. 😉
Who would play your characters if your book was made into a movie?
The Debt Collector would be played by a younger Matthew McConaughey.
I’m not sure who’d play Kyla Hensley. Any takers?
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Writing itself is challenging. But as an indie author, I find the marketing more challenging than the writing (I don’t know if it’s any easier for “published” authors.)
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Forget what everyone else says, if you want to be an artist, be one.
Great advice! Thanks for stopping by!
by Angela Smith | Nov 9, 2015 | Guests
Blurb for Modern Magic: A Quartet of Fractured Fairy Tales
What if Cinderella ditched the prince’s ball and sent her fairy godmother to find love in her place?
Suppose a streetwise hero hired to steal an all-powerful Genie (stuck in a flash drive rather than a brass lamp) for a tech company ended up running for his life with the CEO’s gorgeous, intelligent daughter?
Or what if the bed that a certain golden-tressed girl accidentally napped in belonged to the hot and famous middle brother of a notorious boy band?
Can you envision the sparks that might fly if a bitter and downright beastly wheelchair-bound woman propositioned a handsome bookseller to stay with her in exchange for her rare book collection?
This spellbinding anthology features modern and sexy spins on four classic fairy tales that will enchant you by Jennifer DeCuir, Stephanie Cage, Andrea R. Cooper, and Nancy C. Weeks.
BUY LINKS
AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE
KOBO
About the Authors:
Jennifer DeCuir, author of A Late-Blooming Rose, grew up in a small town in Maine, which provides the basis for Scallop Shores, the fictional town in Drawn to Jonah. She’s busy raising two kids and a husband. She loves including children and babies in her stories, as her own provide endless story ideas. Currently residing in rain-soaked Washington, she can usually be found working on her latest book in a local Starbucks.
Where to find Jennifer DeCuir:
Website
Author Facebook Page
Twitter
Stephanie Cage, author of Music to Her Ears is a British romance writer, author of ‘Perfect Partners’ (Crimson Romance) and ‘Desperate Bid (The Wild Rose Press). She studied English Literature at Oxford University and Creative Writing at Bath Spa. One of her most exciting writing moments was winning a holiday to Sicily in the Woman’s Own Short Story Competition. More recently she won the Yorkshire Ridings Magazine’s Romance Story competition. Oddly, both short stories were set in the same location in Yorkshire.
Where to find Stephanie Cage:
Stephanie Cage’s Blog
Facebook Author Page
Twitter
Amazon Page
Pinterest
Andrea R. Cooper, author of Fairy Trouble writes fantasy, paranormal, historical and romantic suspense. Her favorite childhood memories revolved around creating vibrant characters for her friends, and then acting out their adventures. Inside her fantasy worlds of darkened forests, dragon-filled glades, and iced islands, nothing was banned. From the ethereal Elvin to the most maligned Vampires, all were welcome in her fictional realities, a stark contrast to her home, where the magical and mythical was forbidden.
Where to find Andrea R. Cooper
Website
Newsletter
Twitter
Nancy C. Weeks, author of His One Wish has loved happy-ever-after romances since she was in her early teens. While still in college, she met and married her hero. She spent the next several years honeymooning and working overseas. Today, she lives in suburban Maryland with her husband of more than thirty years. With her two grown children out of the nest, she loves spending her days on her deck writing as the local bird population keeps her company.
Find Nancy C. Weeks:
Website
Facebook Author Page
Twitter
Pinterest
