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Monday, November 11, 2024

Spotlight: Wicked Knight, Book 2 Audiobook by Diana A. Hicks

 

 
Maxim is ruthless and always gets what he wants and what he wants is me. He doesn’t care that I’m forced into this marriage or that our families are enemies. It wasn’t until our wedding night that I realized just how cruel destiny can be. Readers who enjoy steamy, forced marriage, and second-chance romances will consume Wicked Knight, Book Two by Diana A. Hicks, a dark mafia romance.
 
 

From award-winning author Diana A. Hicks comes the dangerous conclusion to the Wicked Knight duet.

Destiny Can Be So Cruel…
Maxim Belov is Papa’s favorite son.
Like his father, Maxim is ruthless and always gets what he wants.

Maxim wants me.

He doesn’t even care that our families are mortal enemies, or that I’ve never seen his face.
Because of him, I’m forced into a marriage with a stranger.

On our wedding night, when I finally come face to face with my worst enemy, my entire life is turned upside down.

Authors Note
: Wicked Knight is book two in the Knight Duet, set in The Society World. It's best enjoyed if you read book one first.
 
Add to Goodreads Here!
 
Purchase At Your Favorite Retailers!

 
Excerpt
Copyright 2024, Diana A. Hicks
 
“It itches.” He grunted. “How long before I can take it off?”
“How long has it been? It usually takes about two weeks.” I squirted water on his side.
He flinched, reaching for my wrist. I froze, keeping my gaze on the stitches and the blood running down his side. And because my brain hates me, I thought of our impending wedding night. Though by now, I was sure that would not happen today. The man could barely move without wincing. As formidable as he was, and though he acted like a beast, he was still human.
His fingers slid up my arm. “This one hurts the most.”
“I bet. There was a lot of debris to clear out. I had to dig deep.” I freed my hand. “It is healing fine. I can give you something for the pain.”
“Fuck.” He made to touch his wound then stuffed his hand in the pocket of his trousers. “I don’t know if I should risk taking more drugs from you. Will you poison me this time?”
In his defense, I had considered the option. “Not tonight.”
He scoffed. “If Anatoli hadn’t come to his senses, I’d still be unconscious.”
So Anatoli was the one who foiled our plans. Coward. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrugged. “Maybe you too will come to your senses soon.”
I strode to the bathroom and rummaged through the medical kit Anatoli had left for me. I went through a bunch of bottles until I found a strong pain killer. Something to knock Maxim out for the night. And every night after that, until I found a way out of this place.
“For the pain.” I offered him two pills and a glass of water.
“Am I so ugly, you can’t even look at me.” He took the meds and knocked them back. “My senses are fine by the way.”
“Right. Because kidnapping a woman for revenge is the epitome of mental health.” I turned to leave.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me toward him. “You have no idea what your family is capable of.”
“You’re wrong. I know exactly what they can do.” I jerked to free myself, but he held me tighter. I was no match for his strength. I exhaled. “One day my love will find me. He will make sure you pay.”
“Your love?” He let out a dark chuckle.
“Yes.” I panted a breath. “And when he does, he will chop you up and feed you to your dogs.”
“He sounds violent.”
Luca was an erudite, a distinguished professor despite all my efforts to corrupt him. He wasn’t a brute like Maxim, punching his way through doors. But regardless of their extreme opposites, Luca would find a way to save me. I knew he would. I just had to hang on a little longer.
“He will come for me. You can be sure of that.”
“The only thing I can be sure of, princess, is that it’s time for bed. And since Prince Charming isn’t here, I guess I would have to do.”
 
Purchase At Your Favorite Retailers!
Purchase At Your Favorite Retailers → https://geni.us/WickedKnightBook2
 
About Diana A. Hicks

Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy romantic suspense and science-fiction romance.
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys hot yoga, kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta and loves spending time with her two children and husband. Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.
Praise for Diana A. Hicks:

"Hicks' first installment of her Desert Monsoon series is confident and assured with strong storytelling, nuanced characters, and a dynamic blend of romance and suspense...A sexy and irresistible tale for fans of contemporary romance." - Kirkus Reviews

Release Tour: An New Excerpt From the Tech-nically Love Series by Michelle Dayton



 Technology complicates everything, including love. Fans who enjoy spicy, contemporary romances from authors such as Christina Lauren, Jasmine Guillory, and Sally Thorne will love the Tech-nically Love series from Michelle Dayton. 

“With this addictive contemporary, Dayton balances a deeply satisfying romance with real stakes…Readers won’t want to put this down.” –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

 

The Love Hack

Fans of Emily Henry will swoon for this nerdy chemistry …
Just when Tess Greene’s life is finally almost perfect, her past springs one last surprise on her. Targeted by an internet predator whose sleazy website is known for publicly humiliating women, Tess has one month to stop his ambush before her reputation is forever ruined.
As an IT disaster recovery specialist, Tess has always handled challenges on her own, but this calls for serious geek backup.
Max Hampshire
, a brilliant hacker, is exactly the lifeline Tess needs. But she’s pretty sure she doesn’t need Max himself—certainly not his quick wit, sexy black-framed glasses, or all-around sweetness. The last guy who helped Tess left with his life crushed and his heart broken, so she knows that keeping her emotional distance from Max would be safer for both of them. But safety isn’t an option when love gets involved.
Previously Published as Disaster Girl.
 
Add to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/5eywn9wy
 
Purchase at your favorite retailers: https://tinyurl.com/5c2eumz5
 
Cupid Tricks


The internet complicates everything—especially love.
Jo Harper isn’t always who men think she is. Every day she dons her psychology PhD and above-average computer skills like a super cape to right love’s wrongs. She and her team of four young women run an elite, undetectable online romance scam designed to trick married cheaters.

Jamie March, Bay Area royalty known as “The Conscience of Silicon Valley,” hates every aspect of online crime, especially those who defraud people. And when it appears that his brother is the victim of a sophisticated romance scam, he can’t stand idly by.

What’s weird, though, is that when Jo and Jamie meet, they don’t hate one another. Not at all. He makes her laugh and feel alive again. She challenges his intellect like no other. And their compatibility is off-the-charts sexy between the sheets. But enemies-to-lovers is only a fantasy.

Jamie March, Bay Area royalty known as “The Conscience of Silicon Valley,” hates every aspect of online crime, especially those who defraud people. And when it appears that his brother is the victim of a sophisticated romance scam, he can’t stand idly by.
What’s weird, though, is that when Jo and Jamie meet, they don’t hate one another. Not at all. He makes her laugh and feel alive again. She challenges his intellect like no other. And their compatibility is off-the-charts sexy between the sheets. But enemies-to-lovers is only a fantasy.
Or is it?
Previously Published as Scammer Girl.
 
Add to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/y77uknw7
 
Purchase at your favorite retailers: https://tinyurl.com/5c2eumz5
 

The Love Hack

You can’t divorce yourself from love…
Attorney Emily Saturn needs to drown herself in work and turn off her feelings for her soon-to-be ex-husband, Bobby March.  A wave of insanity swept them into an intense whirlwind romance last fall, but the whole marriage was a mistake.

But Bobby is certain he can fix whatever has gone wrong. He’s been working on his new career and personal growth, determined to be the man his wife deserves. Confident he can get her attention, he invites Emily to a series of individually designed virtual escape rooms, each one a moment from their love story. Hopefully, the sexy, romantic trip down memory lane will spark their second chance.
Emily has never been able to resist a puzzle. Or, frankly, Bobby. The more she interacts with her husband online, the more she wants to see him again in person. Which is beyond stupid because Emily knows he’s not Mr. Right. Unless she’s wrong about everything.
Previously Published as Escape Girl.
 
Add to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/2p87c7m2
 
Purchase at your favorite retailers: https://tinyurl.com/5c2eumz5
 
Christmas Single Bells

It’s the classic holiday movie set-up, b
ut there’s mischief behind the scenes…

Jane Zielinski plans to create her own present this Christmas. She throws herself into directing a homemade reality dating web series, Single Bells, as a publicity stunt to keep her struggling small town competitive with the ritzy resort towns luring holiday tourists. It’s the perfect way to pair up with her crush—Michael, the boy-next-door-turned-most-eligible- bachelor–and be a hometown hero.
But gorgeous Bella Bradley, Jane’s childhood BFF who skipped town when times got tough, returns with handfuls of cash and a smoking-hot business partner, Nate Wright. It’s bad enough that Bella immediately upstages Jane’s attempts to save the town’s Christmas, but she also uses the Single Bells activities to rekindle her high school romance with Michael. Furious, Jane is not above sabotage, cheating, or flirting with the mischievous Nate to win.
Maybe it’s the Christmas shenanigans, maybe it’s the holiday magic … but suddenly, Nate is a lot more than a tall, dark, handsome stranger. But is he just a mistletoe fling.
Previously Published as Grinch Girl
 
Add to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/2kae6sf7
 
Purchase at your favorite retailers: https://tinyurl.com/5c2eumz5
 

Excerpt:

Excerpt

Copyright 2024, The Love Hack by Michelle Dayton

 

Like a lot of other people who often have sex without an emotional connection to one’s partner, I usually dislike all the stuff that comes after orgasm. The awkward cuddling and excusing myself to pee so I don’t get a UTI and the finding a nice way (or a blunt way) to explain that a sleepover isn’t happening. I don’t like sharing a bed, and I don’t like waking up with a stranger.

 

I should have known that everything with Max would be different.

 

The orgasm left me almost catatonic for a few minutes. I was vaguely aware of Max leaving the room to get rid of the condom, and I felt the mattress dip when he got back in bed. My body felt deliciously banged around, and my brain was mushy enough that I was almost dozing. I didn’t even squeak in protest when I felt Max’s fingers caress my face.

 

I did, however, shriek in pain when he yanked out one of my eyelash extensions. “Ow!” I smacked his arm as hard as I could. “What is wrong with you?”

 

He ignored my outburst, examining the eyelash between his fingers with fascination. “Look at this beast. It’s enormous. Stop your whining—they’re not real, right? How much could it hurt?”

In another bed, with another man, I probably would lie and say they were my natural lashes. But with Max, the filter between brain and mouth was just never where it was supposed to be. “It hurts a ton, you ass,” I snapped. “They’re stuck on with medical-grade glue. It hurts ten times more for you to pull out one of those than if you pull out a normal lash.”

 

Finally, he looked sheepish. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” A telltale flush on his neck. “I’ve just looked at your eyes so much lately. I’ve been curious. Why do you get fake eyelashes?”

What a dumb question. “Because I’m vain, you imbecile.” I was also a strawberry blonde, which meant my own lashes needed a heavy coat of mascara to be visible. With the extensions, I woke up already looking like my eyes were done for the day and without any smudging. A solid investment, in my book.

 

He rolled the lash between his fingers. “It feels like a pine needle.”

 

I started laughing. This was the oddest post-coital conversation. “You might be the strangest person I’ve ever had sex with.”

 

He looked between the lash and my face, laughing along with me. “Ditto.”

 

He blew the lash away very deliberately. Had he made a wish? Did wishes made on false lashes count? “Lie on your stomach,” he said.

 

Curious, I obeyed, curling my toes over the end of the mattress. Max pulled the sheet down, exposing my bare back. “You have a tramp stamp.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

 

“You already knew that from the countdown picture on the Sex Ghost website.” I tried to yank the sheet back up to cover the tattoo at the base of my spine, but he wouldn’t let me.

 

“When did you get it?” he asked, dancing his fingers over the decorated skin.

 

I snorted. “When every girl gets a tramp stamp. I was eighteen.”

 

“Why did you choose an anchor?”

 

Normally, I deflected when someone asked this question. I’d say, “I just liked the design” or “I have a pirate fetish” or “I dream of sailing around the world someday.” I always found it kind of funny-sad that no one ever looked at me skeptically and commented that none of my explanations sounded like me.

 

Maybe that was why I didn’t lie to Max. If he hadn’t been skeptical, I would have been so disappointed. Which would have been idiotic since I’d known him for a matter of weeks.

 

Daniel and Kat were the only two people to whom I’d tried to explain why I’d chosen that particular image. Daniel had immediately co-opted the meaning, which I didn’t appreciate. Kat didn’t really understand, but that was my fault because my explanation to her was incomplete.

 

So I didn’t lie to Max. I didn’t tell the truth either though. Instead, I deftly changed the subject. I gave a dramatic sigh. “I’d like you to know that the phrase ‘tramp stamp’ was not in the common vernacular when I was eighteen. If it had been, I would not have chosen to get a tattoo on my lower back.”

 

I was rewarded with his laugh. His hand rubbed harder, from the base of my spine all the way up to my neck. I arched my back like a cat. I hadn’t had an unprofessional back rub in years. I meant to make a flirtatious comment, something along the lines of “You’re good with your hands.” But what actually popped out was “I like the way you touch me.”

 

I immediately stiffened. That sounded both goofy and way too serious. I should probably get up and go now. It was definitely time to make a graceful exit. But Max just chuckled again and lay next to me, so close that we brushed against one another from shoulder to toe.

 

“Good.

 



About Michelle Dayton

There are only three things Michelle Dayton loves more than sexy and suspenseful novels: her family, the city of Chicago, and Mr. Darcy. Michelle dreams of a year of world travel – as long as the trip would include weeks and weeks of beach time. As a bourbon lover and unabashed wine snob, Michelle thinks heaven is discussing a good book over an adult beverage.
 
Follow: Facebook | Instagram Twitter | Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Release: Review of Whispered Southern Secrets by Gail Haris



Series: Magnolia Grove Series
Author: Gail Haris
Release: November 7, 2024
Genre/Tropes: Contemporary/Small Town Romance
Goodreads 
Bookbub
 
My reputation at home is a laugh so I go to the place where I'd always been the happiest : Magnolia Grove with my MeMaw and PawPaw.

Little did I know that news of my brief and failed marriage had made it there. I venture to a nearby town for one night of peace. I thought I was emotionally unavailable until a chance encounter with a handsome stranger gives me a night of freedom and fun. No exchanging of names or personal information, and no intention of ever seeing one another again. No matter how incredible our chemistry may be.

But I do see him again—at my MeMaw's church.
My stranger is the town's new preacher.
 
Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited):
Universal: https://mybook.to/WhisperedSecrets
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLKYZ777
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CLKYZ777
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLKYZ777
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CLKYZ777

My thoughts:

Whispered Southern Secrets is the next book in the Magnolia Grove series.  This one is Honey and JD's story.  They had a one night stand 3 years before. Now both are back in Magnolia Grove and are trying to get their life together.  There is a twist, JD is the new pastor in town.  I thought this one was cute.  Because it involves a pastor, its very tame compared to the other books in this series.  I loved the length of time that the story spanned.  I really felt like the two of them got to know each other.  First as friends and then that friendship grew into love. Through that love, they both became more open and confident in themselves.  The relationship that JD developed with James was a nice added bonus to the story.  I definitely recommend this one.



 
Author Bio:

MURDER. LAUGHTER. HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
 
Let’s make it awkward!
 
Gail Haris loves blending romance out of life's everyday chaos. Stories filled with humor, steam, and moments of sweetness, along with suspense and twists. Using coffee and her imagination, Gail writes in a variety of genres including romantic comedy, romantic suspense, small-town, and new adult/coming of age romance.

Gail enjoys living in her small town in Southeast Missouri, and then taking adventures all over the world with her two fierce princesses and Boo Bear, who is her ultimate real-life book boyfriend. When she’s not getting into mischief or scheming with her two girls, she’s busy coming up with  crazy scenarios for her characters. Hopefully by following her dream, she can be an example to her daughters that their dreams can become a reality.

Never stop believing in love, dreams, and yourself. And coffee…especially the coffee. Don’t give up on coffee and books.
 
Learn more at gailharis.com
 
Wanna be pen pals?  Subscribe for Gail Mail! Don’t miss out on release announcements, exclusive giveaways, behind-the-scenes snippets, and glimpses into the chaos of her life, and more.
Sign up at https://gailharis.com/newsletter/
 
Author Social Media Links:
Universal: https://linktr.ee/GailHarisAuthor
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/GailMail
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorgailharis
Website: https://gailharis.com/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gail-haris
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GRGAILHARIS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorgailharis
Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/BOOKBELLES
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgailharis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GailHaris
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gail-Haris/author/B083H58XCB

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt from Mistletoe Season by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller and Pepper Basham

 


Authors: Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller and Pepper Basham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: October 8, 2024
Pages: 320
Genre: Romance/Women’s Fiction/Holiday Romance
 
BOOK BLURB:
 
This Christmas, three couples find themselves under the mistletoe . . . whether they want to be there or not.
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts—Mistletoe is Hailey Fairchild's kryptonite. Every time she's kissed someone under the mistletoe it's led to love disaster. Not a good thing for a romance writer! When she was a gawky high school girl, her hunky neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team (and her dreams) kissed her under the mistletoe on a dare. But the kiss wasn't a dream come true. It was a mortifying moment she's never forgotten, and now she's about to go home for the holidays, unengaged and . . . determined to say no to mistletoe. Especially if Carwyn is anywhere around.

Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller—Emmy Banks has always loved Christmas. How could she not when she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri? Kieran O'Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother's seventieth birthday. He reconnects with Emmy, his sister's close friend, and spends time with her in her charming antique shop. When the weather turns colder, things start to warm up between Emmy and Kieran. But can Emmy risk her heart when she knows he'll never stay in Mistletoe, and she will never leave?

The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham—Prince Arran St. Clare has lost his freedom and fairytale life in exchange for a three-month "punishment" in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. To prove he is ready for the royal life for which he was born, Arran must engage in the Christmas charity fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. But when kindness, authenticity, and hard work prove more appreciated in Appalachia than a royal pedigree, Arran must face the mirror and find out who he is beyond the crown. Add a beautiful and intelligent woman who doesn't recognize her own worth, some mistletoe, and a little Christmas magic and it all might be enough to help the rebel-prince understand what truly matters most.

Mistletoe Season is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
 
My Thoughts:

Mistletoe Season is an anthology of stories that have a mistletoe theme.  If you are looking for a cozy set of novellas to get you into the holiday sprit, then this is a good place to start.  I did enjoy all of the stories, but the second one, Mistletoe Prince was my favorite.  I really liked Arran and and Charlie together.  There is something for everyone in here, so give it a try.




Book Excerpt:

Mistletoe is my kryptonite.One kiss under it, and I go weak in the head. My last three mistletoe kisses resulted in relation- ship disaster. Which is why I, Hailey Fairchild, am swearing off it. 
You’d think after three love fails I’d hate cupid. I don’t. I’m one of his loyal acolytes. I write romance novels. I’m a believer. 
If you ask me, everyone should be. We need more love in the world. I need more love, but so far I’m only finding it on the pages of my computer screen. 
On the screen is better than nothing. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. 
Consider this a public service announcement, a warning. Don’t go under the mistletoe. It’s hazardous to your heart. Here’s what it did to me.
 
 
About the Authors
 


Sheila Roberts has written over fifty books under different names and in different genres. She’s seen three of her novels made into movies for the Lifetime, Hallmark and Great American Family channels and has over 3 million copies of her books in print. The story in this anthology makes her eighteenth Christmas story.
 
Website https://sheilasplace.com 
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/funwithsheila/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sheilarobertswriter/


With over two million books sold, USA Today best-selling author Kathleen Fuller writes amusing stories with quirky characters and happy endings. Her novel, Written in Love, won the 2018 Romantic Times Inspirational Romance of the Year. Many of her books have also hit the CBA and ECPA best-seller lists. A retired Special Education teacher, she and her husband James live in Arkansas and are the parents of four adult children. When she’s not writing you can find her reading and crocheting—usually at the same time. She also enjoys traveling, football, and collecting recipes she’ll never use. 
 
Website https://kathleenfuller.com 
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WriterKathleenFuller/ 
Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/kf_booksandhooks/ 
 


Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is a wife, mom to five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her dual timeline novel, Hope Between the Pages, was a 2022 finalist for the prestigious Christy awards. Pepper’s newest book, Loyally, Luke, made it on the ECPA bestseller list for May. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.
 
Website https://pepperdbasham.com 
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pepperdbasham/
Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/pepperbasham/

Release Blitz: Excerpt From the Tech-nically Love Series by Michelle Dayton

 

Technology complicates everything, including love. Fans who enjoy spicy, contemporary romances from authors such as Christina Lauren, Jasmine Guillory, and Sally Thorne will love the Tech-nically Love series from Michelle Dayton. 

“With this addictive contemporary, Dayton balances a deeply satisfying romance with real stakes…Readers won’t want to put this down.” –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

 

The Love Hack

Fans of Emily Henry will swoon for this nerdy chemistry …
Just when Tess Greene’s life is finally almost perfect, her past springs one last surprise on her. Targeted by an internet predator whose sleazy website is known for publicly humiliating women, Tess has one month to stop his ambush before her reputation is forever ruined.
As an IT disaster recovery specialist, Tess has always handled challenges on her own, but this calls for serious geek backup.
Max Hampshire
, a brilliant hacker, is exactly the lifeline Tess needs. But she’s pretty sure she doesn’t need Max himself—certainly not his quick wit, sexy black-framed glasses, or all-around sweetness. The last guy who helped Tess left with his life crushed and his heart broken, so she knows that keeping her emotional distance from Max would be safer for both of them. But safety isn’t an option when love gets involved.
Previously Published as Disaster Girl.
 
Add to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/5eywn9wy
 
Purchase at your favorite retailers: https://tinyurl.com/5c2eumz5
 
Cupid Tricks


The internet complicates everything—especially love.
Jo Harper isn’t always who men think she is. Every day she dons her psychology PhD and above-average computer skills like a super cape to right love’s wrongs. She and her team of four young women run an elite, undetectable online romance scam designed to trick married cheaters.

Jamie March, Bay Area royalty known as “The Conscience of Silicon Valley,” hates every aspect of online crime, especially those who defraud people. And when it appears that his brother is the victim of a sophisticated romance scam, he can’t stand idly by.

What’s weird, though, is that when Jo and Jamie meet, they don’t hate one another. Not at all. He makes her laugh and feel alive again. She challenges his intellect like no other. And their compatibility is off-the-charts sexy between the sheets. But enemies-to-lovers is only a fantasy.

Jamie March, Bay Area royalty known as “The Conscience of Silicon Valley,” hates every aspect of online crime, especially those who defraud people. And when it appears that his brother is the victim of a sophisticated romance scam, he can’t stand idly by.
What’s weird, though, is that when Jo and Jamie meet, they don’t hate one another. Not at all. He makes her laugh and feel alive again. She challenges his intellect like no other. And their compatibility is off-the-charts sexy between the sheets. But enemies-to-lovers is only a fantasy.
Or is it?
Previously Published as Scammer Girl.
 
Add to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/y77uknw7
 
Purchase at your favorite retailers: https://tinyurl.com/5c2eumz5
 

The Love Hack

You can’t divorce yourself from love…
Attorney Emily Saturn needs to drown herself in work and turn off her feelings for her soon-to-be ex-husband, Bobby March.  A wave of insanity swept them into an intense whirlwind romance last fall, but the whole marriage was a mistake.

But Bobby is certain he can fix whatever has gone wrong. He’s been working on his new career and personal growth, determined to be the man his wife deserves. Confident he can get her attention, he invites Emily to a series of individually designed virtual escape rooms, each one a moment from their love story. Hopefully, the sexy, romantic trip down memory lane will spark their second chance.
Emily has never been able to resist a puzzle. Or, frankly, Bobby. The more she interacts with her husband online, the more she wants to see him again in person. Which is beyond stupid because Emily knows he’s not Mr. Right. Unless she’s wrong about everything.
Previously Published as Escape Girl.
 
Add to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/2p87c7m2
 
Purchase at your favorite retailers: https://tinyurl.com/5c2eumz5
 
Christmas Single Bells

It’s the classic holiday movie set-up, b
ut there’s mischief behind the scenes…

Jane Zielinski plans to create her own present this Christmas. She throws herself into directing a homemade reality dating web series, Single Bells, as a publicity stunt to keep her struggling small town competitive with the ritzy resort towns luring holiday tourists. It’s the perfect way to pair up with her crush—Michael, the boy-next-door-turned-most-eligible- bachelor–and be a hometown hero.
But gorgeous Bella Bradley, Jane’s childhood BFF who skipped town when times got tough, returns with handfuls of cash and a smoking-hot business partner, Nate Wright. It’s bad enough that Bella immediately upstages Jane’s attempts to save the town’s Christmas, but she also uses the Single Bells activities to rekindle her high school romance with Michael. Furious, Jane is not above sabotage, cheating, or flirting with the mischievous Nate to win.
Maybe it’s the Christmas shenanigans, maybe it’s the holiday magic … but suddenly, Nate is a lot more than a tall, dark, handsome stranger. But is he just a mistletoe fling.
Previously Published as Grinch Girl
 
Add to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/2kae6sf7
 
Purchase at your favorite retailers: https://tinyurl.com/5c2eumz5
 

Excerpt

Copyright 2024, The Love Hack by Michelle Dayton

 

But before I left…I cocked my head in Max’s direction. “You were engaged?”

He slumped back in his seat. “Yeah. It ended a year and a half ago.” His entire face tensed as though waiting for a barrage of follow-up questions.

I surprised him instead. “I was engaged once too. Seven years ago.”

Abigail pulled her face out of her champagne glass and stared at me, incredulous. “You were engaged when you were young? To a boy?” I rolled my eyes at her astonishment and nodded. “That’s hard to imagine.” She waved her hand at me. “I think of you as a sort of boozy Amazon.”

I hooted. Now that was funny. And not a terrible depiction.

“What happened?” she asked.

The waitress appeared with the check, and I handed over a bunch of cash before the others could move. “We called it off the morning of the wedding.”

I waited until their faces softened with sympathy before I added, “It was completely my fault, of course. He found out, just in the nick of time, that I wasn’t the nice girl he wanted to marry.”



About Michelle Dayton

There are only three things Michelle Dayton loves more than sexy and suspenseful novels: her family, the city of Chicago, and Mr. Darcy. Michelle dreams of a year of world travel – as long as the trip would include weeks and weeks of beach time. As a bourbon lover and unabashed wine snob, Michelle thinks heaven is discussing a good book over an adult beverage.
 
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Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Spotlight: Excerpt from If You Lie: A Thriller by Caleb Stephens

If You Lie: A Thriller
Caleb Stephens
Publication date: November 1st 2024
Genres: Adult, Thriller

A buried past. A new-age cult. A floating prison with no way off.

Seven years ago, Olivia woke up in the trunk of a stranger’s car—and barely escaped with her life. She’s been looking over her shoulder ever since.

Now, Olivia is a true-crime podcaster on a mission to help other women avoid her fate. But years spent covering violence and crime have left her burned out. So when Olivia’s estranged sister Quinn invites her to reconnect on an exclusive cruise, she jumps at the chance for a break…only this trip won’t be the relaxing vacation she’s hoping for.

The ship is elegant, the meals are divine, and the people are friendly—maybe too friendly. But Quinn isn’t the sister Olivia remembers. And strange things are starting to happen that echo Olivia’s past in unsettling ways.

When someone on the ship goes missing, Olivia realizes she’s playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Only this time, she might not survive.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Sounds came.

The steady ping of rain drumming against steel.

The muted whoosh of wind. The high whine of rubber kissing asphalt.

I was moving.

Why am I moving?

Air clawed up my throat and slid back down again—slowly, painfully—my lungs pulling harder than my esophagus would allow, my chest rising and falling in uneven shifts. I couldn’t breathe.

I should be able to—

My eyelids snapped open to darkness. Pure black. I tried to scream and couldn’t. My voice was gone, lost in my burning throat. Another sound came instead—this one closer, directly overhead.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

I raised my hands and brushed a loose rod, then pushed past it and felt cool metal press against my palm. I followed it lower, the metal curving behind my head until it terminated in a rubber seal.

A car, I thought. I’m in a trunk.

Oh, God …

Oh, fuck.

It’s why my knees were jammed in a fetal position, why a rough pad of carpet burned against my cheek and scratched my neck. A shot of cold panic swam down my spine. Time stuttered, and I wheezed for oxygen. It felt like I was breathing through a straw. I was going to pass out if I didn’t get it together and fast.

Focus, Olivia. Stay calm.

And then: He thinks I’m dead.

It’s why my hands weren’t bound, why my mouth wasn’t gagged. It’s why my ankles weren’t slung in an interstate of knots. The man who’d done this to me thought I was dead. I could still feel his fingers squeezing, digging into my neck, could still hear his voice burning hot in my ear.

Fucking die, already!

Those words pouring over me in a shower of sour breath.

Clack. C-Clack. Clack.

Think, Olivia! You have to think!

I slowed my breathing and forced my mind to calm. There had to be a way to open the trunk or signal another car. A wire to rip free from the brake lights or a latch to pop. Didn’t all the newer cars have those specifically for situations like this? For women who, like me, simply disappeared?

And I would disappear if I didn’t find a way to get out.

My heart sloshed in my chest, and I rolled to my right, toward the sidewall of the trunk, and extended an arm. My fingers brushed over objects I recognized. Jumper cables, and a can of gas. Coiled rope and boxes. A hard plastic case. Duct tape. Nothing else.

Jesus, no latch.

I tried the other side, muttering a prayer as my hands crawled through a graveyard of clinking bottles, my fingers scraping over the dry brush of cardboard and through the crinkle of plastic sacks. Dust tickled the back of my nose, and I nearly unleashed a sneeze before I bit it off. Don’t! He’ll hear you. Then I tried again, moving slower this time, feeling for what had to be there.

And it was—nestled a few inches above the floor of the trunk.

A trunk release. A lever to pull.

Reality wobbled. My heart fluttered and crashed.

Work, I thought. Please, God, work.

I pulled.

There came a click, and the world exploded into a fireball of light. A gray sky moved above me, swollen with thunderheads, trees sweeping past on either side. Headlights coasted behind the car in a sea of rushing metal. Cold rain lashed against my neck. I forced myself upright, and the brakes slammed and sent me hurtling backward as the car screeched to a stop.

Move! Move! Move!

I scrambled from the trunk.

One foot connected with the ground. The other slipped. I crashed to the road, and the sound of rain filled my ears along with the heavy thunk of a door opening. Two boots hit asphalt.

His boots.

Air scabbed over my lips. The world swam.

Go! I pushed myself upright—and I ran. Across the white line on the shoulder of the road and into traffic with brakes shrieking all around me. Horns tearing past. Rain pelting my face. Wind hissing in my ears. Behind me came a full-throat roar.

“Stop, you fucking bitch!”

My lungs burned for air, everything smearing to a blur.

“I said, stop!” Louder this time. Closer.

But I didn’t stop, couldn’t stop. I kept running—pushing through the fire in my chest, ignoring the pain in my throat—until I stumbled off the road and tumbled down a grass-slicked descent.

Rolling now. Everything spinning. Gasping for air.

I splashed into a pool of muddy water and came up coughing, wiping my eyes to a sight that filled me with terror. The man stood above me on the hill, looking down with one hand balled into a fist and the other holding a knife.

You’re dead, I thought. He’s going to kill you.

A cloud of blue and red light rose behind him followed by a voice. “Remain where you are! Drop the knife!”

But the man didn’t. He just stared down at me with his breath turning to mist.

And took a step. Took another.

Then the gunshots rang out.


Author Bio:

Caleb Stephens is an award-winning author writing from Denver, Colorado. His novels include the thrillers If You Lie, The Girls in the Cabin, and Feeders, as well as the darkly humorous urban fantasy novel, Soul Couriers, which is forthcoming in 2025. His fiction collection If Only a Heart and Other Tales of Terror includes the short story “The Wallpaper Man,” which was adapted to film by Falconer Film & Media in 2022. He's hard at work writing his next thriller.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / TikTok


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