Title: Doctors of Darkness Boxed Set (Books 1-3)
Author: Ellery Kane
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Series Blurb
Straight from the mind of a forensic psychologist comes an addictive series of betrayal, lust, revenge, and murder. These doctors earned their degrees from the dark side. The Doctors of Darkness e-book bundle contains the first three books in the series: Daddy Darkest, The Hanging Tree, and The First Cut.
Daddy Darkest
Bury your secrets. Bury them deep...
A month after her high school graduation, small-town-girl Samantha "Sam" Bronwyn boards a plane with her best friend, Ginny. Destination: San Francisco. But when Ginny disappears inside an airport bathroom wearing Sam's letterman jacket, it doesn't take her long to figure out she was the intended target. Alone in a strange city, Sam's on a run for her life--drawn into a dark past she never knew existed. A past where secrets aren't all that's buried and where revenge comes at the highest price.
Who is Sam really--and who can she trust? The mysterious stranger in 4A who secreted a gun in his backpack? The guilty ex-con? The disarming FBI agent? Her own mother?
Only one thing is certain. Someone is after her. Someone who knows more about her than she does. Someone who wants to teach her a hard lesson: There are worse things than murder.
The Hanging Tree
What if you couldn't remember the worst night of your life?
What if you couldn't forget it?
May 13, 1994.
On her thirteenth birthday, newly orphaned Evie, witnesses a brutal attack at the hanging tree. She wakes the next morning on a bus to Los Angeles, dazed and bruised and desperate to remember. Her best friend died that night--she's sure of it. But there's no body, no crime scene, and no witnesses. Twenty three years later, the whole night is still a blur. The murderer, a faceless, nameless man.
Fresh out of a stint in juvie, Butch kills a girl, strangles her. Twenty three years later, he walks out of prison a free man. But a haunted one, the ghost of his past at his heels.
When another body turns up at the hanging tree--a girl, strangled--Evie is certain her lost memory holds the key. Can Butch help her find the faceless man? Or is he hiding the darkest secret of all?
The First Cut
When "Love Doctors" Ian and Kate Culpepper are brutally murdered in their Carmel mansion on Valentine's Day, Ava knows it's karma. Because Ian's leaving her for perfect Kate four years ago had cut her bone deep. And then they had the nerve to show up here, on her turf. With their perfect house and their perfect daughter and their matching perfect smiles.
It's no wonder Ava can't stop watching. It's no wonder she can't let go.
But Ian is far from perfect, and Ava owes a debt too. For the unforgivable thing they'd done together. The dark deed that severed their marriage in two. When Ava's name is found inked in blood at the crime scene, a reckoning seems inevitable. Someone knows what she's hiding. Someone sees what she's done. And karma is ready to collect its pound of flesh.
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Author Bio
Forensic psychologist by day, novelist by night, Ellery Kane has been writing--professionally and creatively--for as long as she can remember. Just like many of her main characters, Ellery loves to ask why, which is the reason she became a psychologist in the first place. Real life really is stranger than fiction, and Ellery's writing is often inspired by her day job. Evaluating violent criminals and treating trauma victims, she has gained a unique perspective on the past and its indelible influence on the individual. And she's heard her fair share of real life thrillers. An avid short story writer as a teenager, Ellery recently began writing for enjoyment again, and she hasn't stopped since.
Ellery's debut novel, Legacy, has received several awards, including winning the Gold Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards, young adult, e-book category, and the Gold Medal in the Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards, teenage category. In 2016, Ellery was selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition.
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Title: Branded
Series: Savage Men #4
Author: Clarissa Wild
Genre: Standalone Dark Romance
Release Date: February 4, 2019
Blurb
She was supposed to be my forever.
Instead, I became her worst enemy.
I fell for the one girl I could never haveâ¦
And it destroyed us both.
I did a bad, bad thing.
But she isnât exactly innocent either.
When Iâm faced with the ultimate choice â Let her die or save her â I grab her and run.
She calls me a monster. The devil himself.
No one will take her from me.
Sheâs mine to punish.
Mine to keep⦠forever.
Note: This STANDALONE novel contains disturbing content that may be offensive to some readers. No Cliffhanger. Book 4 in the Savage Men Series.
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Free in Kindle Unlimited
Excerpt
He rolls his eyes. âWeâre stopping, sugar, whether you like it or not.â
I purse my lips in annoyance. âDonât call me that.â
Iâm not fucking sweet, and he knows it.
With a smile that would make all the girls fawn, he looks my way, and says, âWhatâs that, pumpkin?â
I cringe. âPumpkin?â
Anything but that. Anything. Iâd settle for bitch at this point as long as he doesnât call me pumpkin. What is this, the fifties? God, this makes me wanna ram my head into the dashboard.
âPie?â He nods his head, and I donât get where heâs going at all.
âWhat do you want from me?â I ask with a raised voice.
A dark, delish laugh rolls off his tongue, one that makes me want to punch him in the throat.
âNothing right now, cupcake,â he muses, grabbing my cheeks to squeeze them.
I swat him away, but my skin still prickles where he touched me. Goddammit, I donât wanna feel this way around him. Anyone but him.
Goddamn him and his annoying nicknames.
âMaybe later, when I feel like roughing you up again â¦â He winks, and itâs one of those that instantly makes your heart flutter. Fuck.
âBut for now, I think you could use some of that.â With that devilish smile, he directs my attention toward a billboard hanging high above the diner that says âDarlaâs Delicious Pumpkin Pie!â and my mouth begins to water.
So thatâs what he meant.
I stare at it for a second before realizing heâs still watching me instead of the billboard, probably trying to gauge my reaction.
âHungry?â he asks, lifting a brow.
I clear my throat, and say, âNo, we donât have time for thatââ
He takes an instant left turn, and if it wasnât for this seat belt, I would have flown out of my seat. With screeching tires, we come to a stop on the parking lot. My hair is a mess and so is my heart rate. On his face is an even bigger grin.
âIâll decide what we have time for,â he says with a smug face as he takes the keys from the ignition. âTime for food.â
Author Bio
Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of Dark Romance and Contemporary Romance novels. She is an avid reader and writer of swoony stories about dangerous men and feisty women. Her other loves include her hilarious husband, her two crazy but cute dogs, and her ninja cat that sometimes thinks he's a dog too. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, playing video games, reading tons of books, and cooking her favorite meals.
Want to get an email when my next book is released? Sign up here to receive 4 FREE short stories: http://eepurl.com/FdY71
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Title: The Thing About Us
Author: Jennifer Domenico
Genre: Contemporary MMF Menage Romance
Release Date: February 4, 2019
Blurb
It was all fun and games until it wasnât. Lies, deceit, and jealousy threaten to tear the three of us apart. We can have it all, but thatâs not as easy as it sounds. Ben: I never thought Iâd show my best friend this side of me, but I had to take my one shot or regret it forever. Luc: It was only supposed to be one night of something I didnât understand and never wanted, but it became so much more. Georgie: They want me to choose, but I want them both. They just have to admit they want it too. The thing about us? We can make it work...even if we have to fight to keep it together.
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Excerpt
The three of us pile into the back of the car and before we barely start moving, Georgie is kissing Ben and pulling my shirt to bring me closer. I move closer, stroking her hair as she and Ben make out, trying to analyze my feelings. The whole night has been tinged with sexual tension. Now, knowing Ben is willing to go as far with this as possible, I have to get on board or get out. I just canât understand why watching them is turning me on so much.
I let my hand move down her body over her hip, then around the front where I inch my way up to her tits. Ben starts kissing her neck, freeing her mouth for me to move in. I kiss her as his hands move into her hair. When Ben starts kissing her cleavage, she moans softly, driving me a little closer to the edge. Feeling a bit freer, I let my hand grope her through her dress, and she responds by gripping my dick through my trousers. Weâre interrupted when the car stops and the driver announces weâre back at Georgieâs place. Ben opens the door and exits the car, but I grab Georgieâs wrist stopping her.
âAre you sure you want us to come in? Both of us.â
âIâm sure, Luc. Letâs go.â
I tell the driver weâre done for the night and walk up to the door where Ben is kissing a giggling Georgie on the neck whilst she unlocks the door. To say Iâm in all new territory is an understatement. Iâm well versed in multiple women scenarios thanks to my uni days, but another man? Never. My best mate? Definitely never. The truth is, I want Georgie enough to give it a go.
Author Bio
Jennifer Domenico writes contemporary and erotic romances. She loves alpha males with a soft spot, flawed characters, and strong, sassy women. Her characters usually have a side of kink and aren't afraid to demand what they want. The author doesn't apologize for that. She's a sucker for a happy ending as long as it comes with a lot of heat.
She lives in Phoenix, Arizona but is a Bostonian at heart. The way to her heart can be reached with a foreign accent, a shot of Fireball, and an unlimited supply of cupcakes. She is also known under her alter ego, Jaelyn LaStoria, author of time travel romances, because why not.
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Title: For Emery
A For You Novel
Author: J. Nathan
Genre: New Adult Sports Romance
Release Date: February 4, 2019
Blurb
Emery
Iâve loved Jordan Grady since I was eight.
Since he became my protector.
Since he became my safe haven each night.
But I was younger.
Off limits...
Until high school when he finally kissed me.
And for a few fleeting moments, everything was right in the
world.
Then I was forced to do the hardest thing Iâve ever had to do...
Disappear from his life without a trace.
Grady
Iâm Alabamaâs star right tackleâand a real prick.
I live my life by a few solid truths.
Life isnât fair.
Donât let anyone get too close.
And those who claim to care about you can up and leave.
But you know what they say about things that disappearâ¦.
But Emery Pruitt had never been mine.
Even if she had returned after four years.
Older.
Confident.
And more beautiful than the night she vanished.
But it didnât erase the fact that sheâd left me.
So, why find me now?
Purchase Links
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Excerpt
Emery stood there, her eyes dancing with amusement. Her skinny jeans and sparkly black tank top made her fit in with the rest of the girls in the crowded bar. But she wasnât just any girl. âWhatâd you do?â
My eyes narrowed.
She ticked her head over her shoulder. âTo make her ditch you in the middle of the dance floor?â
âI told her I wasnât taking her home with me.â
Emery stared at me, her brows drawn. âWhy not? Isnât that what you college football players do? Get girls to go home with you?â
I shrugged. âNot sure. You wanna come home with me?â
She laughed and her entire face lit up like it did when we were younger. And that right there. That was the reason the other girl wasnât coming home with me. She didnât look at me like Emery did.
The thought hit me hard, nearly leveling me.
I wanted to be looked at the way Emery looked at meâlike she saw the real me. I deserved that.
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AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS Author Bio
J. Nathan is the author of new adult and sports romances with cocky heroes and sassy heroines. When she's not writing, she's a total romance junkie! Add an alpha male who's unlikable in the beginning...even better. She loves guys in backward hats, country music, the summertime, and her amazing family and friends.
Title: Crazy Beautiful Love
A Dirty Dicks Standalone Novel
Author: K.L. Grayson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 31, 2019
Blurb
Thereâs a fine line between love and hateâ¦
Tess Walker is game for anythingâexcept world-renowned photographer Beau Allen, the guy who inadvertently sent her life into a downward spiral. It has taken Tess years to find herself and become a person she can be proud of. Now Beau is back and making a play for her heartâ¦a play sheâs not sure she wants him to make. The more he pushes, the more her walls crumble, and Tess soon discovers that his sweet kisses and even sweeter words might be just what sheâs been looking for in life.
And Tess Walker hates Beau Allenâ¦
Beau Allen has it all: loving family, plentiful friends, and a job that sends him all over the world. What he doesnât have is a homeâor a reason to make one. Living out of a suitcase isnât ideal, but heâs perfectly content. That is, until a beautiful woman barrels her way into his life and has him second-guessing everything. Tess is nothing like the women heâs used to and everything like the woman he wants. Grounded, strong, funny, sweet, and sexy. Did he mention sexy? Her curves make it hard for him to think, and his lifeâs mission soon becomes making her laugh and sigh and moan, because he really likes it when she moans. But Beau isnât used to sticking around. Still, heâs hoping sheâll give him a reason to stay.
Doesnât she?
Purchase Links
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Also Available
99c for a limited time!
Free in Kindle Unlimited
99c for a limited time!
Free in Kindle Unlimited
99c for a limited time!
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Coming Soon
A Dirty Dicks/Big Sky Novella
(Kristen Proby Crossover Collection)
Releasing March 12, 2019
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Author Bio
K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endingsâ¦and not particularly in that order.
Title: Drawn Into Love
Series: Fluke My Life #4
Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Blurb
From New York Times bestselling author Aurora Rose Reynolds comes a flirty romantic comedy of big love and second chances.
Courtney Williams wanted forever. She got six years of empty promises, a divorce, and a well-deserved settlement thatâs paid her way to Manhattan. She has a new home under renovation, a new job, and a do-over as a happy âsingle in the cityââuntil she meets an architect with designs on more than her beams. Heâs also a devoted single dad, a great cook, and has dark lashes to die for. Too good to be true. Now all Courtney can do is whisper, Oh no, not again.
Divorced Lucas Fremont isnât looking to get swept away. But how can he not with a woman this sweet and sexy? Sheâs making his broken heart beat fast. His sister-in-law, Fawn, says go for it. But as cautious as Courtney is, Lucas has to do more than that. He has to fight for it. Now all he can do is think, Donât let this one get away.
But Courtney comes with a secret. And Lucas comes with a bitter ex. If love is to stand a chance, theyâre going to have to take a chance.
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Also Available
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Free in Kindle Unlimited
Author Bio
Aurora Rose Reynolds is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose wildly popular series include Until, Until Him, Until Her, Underground Kings and Shooting Stars.
Her writing career started in an attempt to get the outrageously alpha men who resided in her head to leave her alone and has blossomed into an opportunity to share her stories with readers all over the world.
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Title: Kings of Mayhem
Series: Kings of Mayhem MC #1
Author: Penny Dee
Genre: MC Romance/Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 28, 2019
Blurb
When a King loves
He loves hard
CADE
Iâve loved her since we were five years old.
We grew up side by side.
Two kids tied together by the Kings of Mayhem Motorcycle Club.
But I broke us.
I broke her.
So, she fled.
Now sheâs back after twelve long years.
And Iâm going to show her all the reasons why we should be together and make her forget all the reasons why we shouldnât.
INDY
Iâm back in town but only because I have to be.
Iâm here to help my mom bury my father.
And the sooner we get it done, the better.
Because I want to see Cade as much as I want a hole in the head.
He broke me onceâno, he broke my everythingâ and Iâll be damned if Iâll let him do it again.
Get in and get out. That is the plan.
But you know what they say about best-laid plans.
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Excerpt
CADE
I heard her as soon as I entered the building.
âItâs a classic, sonny boy, and you donât fuck with the classics. Do you hear me? Or has that combover blocked your ears?â
I couldnât help but grin. The voice belonged to Sybil Calley, my formidable, charismatic grandmother. Seventy-something-years old, she was a force to be reckoned with and very rarely backed down in an argument. Any poor soul who took her on was in for a fierce fight, and by the sounds of it, Tito was about to feel the full force of hurricane Sybil.
âItâs blasphemy! Thatâs what it is. Blasphemy! Why, I bet Deborah Kerr is rolling in her grave, God rest her beautiful soul. How dare you stain such a beautiful story with your weirdness, you rude little boy!â
As I rounded the corner, Sybil and Tito came into view. Tito was standing with his back to the wall with his arms in the air, while my formidable grandmother yelled at him. He looked terrified.
âGrandma Calley,â I interrupted, trying to contain my grin. Seeing me walk in, Tito looked relieved and relaxed his arms.
Sybil wasted no time in getting straight to the point. She held up a DVD so I could see the cover. âDid you know about this?â
I took it from her and couldnât help but grin at the cover. Pure spank bank bullshit that sells. But definitely not what you wanted your grandmother looking at in front of you.
âHow on Earth did you even know about it?â I asked.
âI might be edging close to buying the farm, Cade, but Iâm not quite dead yet. You know I like to keep my finger on the pulse. Itâs Tuesday, and I know you drop into this pit of despair on Tuesdays, so I came down to speak with you.â She gave Tito a withering look. âRan into this little twerp and found this . . .â
She ripped the DVD out of my hands and held it up. The cover was a rip-off of An Affair To Remember, except it was titled, An Anus to Remember. Gay porn. It was a bestseller.
âItâs a disgrace, Cade. An absolute disgrace.â She pushed the DVD into Titoâs chest. âYou should be ashamed of yourself.â
âAinât nothing wrong with a bit of man-on-man love, Grandma,â I said, trying to diffuse the situation. Sybil could be unpredictable at times.
âI know that! Man on man. Woman on woman. I donât give a goddamn! What I do care about is taking a classic and turning it into smut. Now that is not right, Cade. Not right. You donât fuck with the classics.â
âCade, this canât keep happening,â Tito moaned.
Sybil turned back to Tito. âIâm seventy-three years old but I ainât dead yet, sonny. Iâm the original biker queen and Iâm still packing as much attitude as I did back when my old man started the Kings of Mayhem more than fifty years ago. If you ever mess with one of the classics again and put your perverted stamp all over it, I will knock you on your ass, do you hear me?â
Again, I struggled to contain my grin.
Tito, however, looked unraveled. And he had every cause to be because I had no doubt Sybil meant what she said. She was a classy lady who never left the house without taming her bright red hair and putting on a thick coat of red lipstick. But she was a biker queen first. Tough. Fierce. With a mean right hook.
You didnât fuck with Sybil Calley.
Taking pity on Tito, I slunk an arm around Grandmaâs shoulders and guided her toward the front door.
âNow, Grandma, you canât come in here and get up in Titoâs grill about things. Head Quarters is off limits to MC women, remember?â
That rule had come about after Sybil had swept through Head Quarters like a hurricane and upset an entire cast of actresses on the set of a movie we were making called Some Like It Hard. Sybil was a die-hard Marilyn fan and managed to put the fear in all the actresses who were on set, leading to a mass walk-out and halting production for three days.
Not that Sybil paid any attention to rules. She was the original rule breaker. She did what she wanted, when she wanted. And if it suited her, sheâd blame her forgetfulness on her age to get away with it, despite being sharp as a tack.
She waved off the mention of the rules.
âIf that little pervert canât handle a seventy-year-old woman, then he needs to take a cup of cement and harden the fuck up.â She glanced over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Tito as we were walking away, and muttered, âlittle pussy.â
I tried not to laugh because that would only encourage her, so I asked, âGrandma, why are you here?â
She relaxed and smiled. âNow, Cade, you know youâre my favorite grandsonââ
âYou say that to all your grandsons . . .â
â. . . and I love you. So I wanted to see how you were feeling about Indy coming home.â
âThis isnât her home anymore, Grandma. She lives in Seattle now.â
âThank you, Captain Obvious. But you know what I mean.â Her face softened as she took my hand. âI know the affect that girl has on you. I just wanted to make sureâ¦â
âWhat?â
She smacked me hard on the arm. âThat youâre not going to be an ass about it.â
I couldnât help but grin. Good on Grandma Sybil.
âA lot of water has passed under the bridge, Grandma. Iâm not an eighteen-year-old psychopath anymore.â
Sybil didnât look convinced. âYouâre a Calley and weâre passionate sonsofbitches. When we love, we love big, and if that love dies, then we die a big death along side it. I should know. When your Pappy died, my heart went with him.â
I couldnât help but smile at my feisty grandmother.
âIâm sure Jury wouldnât like to hear you say that,â I said.
Jury was my grandmaâs sixty-year-old boyfriend.
âJury isnât the love of my life. Your grandpappy was. Jury knows Iâm just after his body.â
I raised an eyebrow at her. âGrandma, there are certain things a grandson should never hear his grandmother say, and thatâs right up there with them.â
She waved me off. âThe body may be old and the reflection in the mirror might be slightly different, but the mind is still twenty years old. I might not be able to do it the way I used to butââ
I stuck my fingers in my ears. âLalalalalalalalala . . .â
She rolled her eyes. âFine. Iâll let you think that I donât do the things I still did when I was twenty.â
âSeriously, Grandma . . .â I begged, pained by the mental images.
Sighing dramatically, she changed the subject. âYour mom is making dinner for Lady and Indy. Somehow I was extended an invitation. I assume youâll be there.â
To say Sybil and my mom didnât exactly get along would be an understatement. The civil unrest had ended years ago, but in its wake was a frosty cold war of mammoth proportions. Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law didnât exactly see eye to eye.
I nodded. âIâm heading over there now.â
âFine. Iâll follow you. Lord knows Iâve had my fair share of pussy and cock today.â
I opened the front door for her and shook my head. âJesus Christ, Sybil. My ears are bleeding.â
Early Reviews
âThis book drew me in from the first page and I couldn't put it down.â â Goodreads Review
âPenny Dee writes some of the hottest sex scenes Iâve ever read.ââ Bookarella Blog
âCade and Indyâs journey was all kinds of angsty/swoony goodness.ââ Goodreads Review
âThis story is gonna grab you hard and not let go until it's ready. This story is full of angst and redemption! It's going to make you feel ALL THE FEELS!â â Goodreads Review
âThis book right here.... OMG kept me on my toes. I finished it in one sitting. The author had me captivated the whole time.ââ NetGalley Review
Coming Soon Releasing February 26, 2019
B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS
Author Bio
Penny Dee writes contemporary romance about rockstars, bikers, hockey players and everyone in-between. She believes true love never runs smoothly, and her characters realize this too, with a boatload of drama and a whole lot of steam.
She found her happily ever after in Australia where she lives with her husband, daughter and a dog named Bindi.
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Title: Changed By You
Author: Kristin Mayer
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 4, 2019
Blurb
I'm in over my head, and Teale Delaney is the reason why.
She's beautiful, sassy, and I can't stop thinking about her.
If I let myself, I could fall in love.
But I canât. I wonât.
Itâs to protect her, not me.
Someone out there wants vengeance. If I allow them to see my true feelings for Teale, theyâll stop at nothing to take her away.
Iâm lying to everyone around me to protect the only woman who can bring me to my knees.
Purchase Links
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Trailer
Excerpt
âFuck, itâs too cold for this shit.â I slammed the door of my truck before clomping up the snow-covered stairs. Skagway was having one of the coldest winters in history. We were getting so much damn snow, and no one could keep up with it.
I glared at the door of the cabin my friend Butch had rented out. Heâd asked if I could help the tenant with any problems while he was away. Of course, there would be problems with some stupid city slicker renting it out. Butch owed me big.
Iâd gotten twenty text messages that the heater wasnât working. Twenty damn text messages. Who sends that many? I had just as many voicemails but hadnât listened to one. Iâd gotten the picture from one text. No need for twenty.
Shit.
And it was some guy named Teske. What kind of name is that? I would have bet this guy wore some shiny-ass loafers with his fancy-ass business suit.
It was the middle of January. Normally, this was my chance to get away from all these jokers and recharge for the hunting season. Instead, I was here, dealing with a heating issue. Teske probably couldnât find the pilot light to save his life.
I have too much shit to do.
The FBI was on my ass to find a potential serial killer. There had been a wave of unsolved murders all throughout Alaska. The last one had been in Juneau, which was too fucking close for comfort. In exchange for my help, the FBI agreed to leave Kory and Hayden alone. No more questions about all the shit that had happened. No more bothering them, period. They werenât supposed to even look Kory and Haydenâs direction.
So far, the feds had been true to their word.
But now they wanted me to pull a rabbit out of my ass and make a murderer appear out of thin air.
News flashârabbits arenât found in peopleâs asses. At least not in mine.
I needed a fresh crime scene to track. The ones Iâd been brought to so far were already tainted. In some cases, it had been four months since the murder. The Juneau incident was four weeks previous. By the time they brought me on board, the crime scene had been ruined. Even worse, the pictures theyâd taken were shit. The whole case was a disaster. And they had no idea who was behind it.
The agents had nicknamed him âLumberjack Killer.â Talk about being original and unique. It was hard to even say the name with a straight face.
What the fuck ever.
I pounded on the door of Butchâs cabin. In the next second, it shot open.
âOh, thank goodness youâre here! Iâm about to become a Popsicle.â
For a second, I was frozen in shock. I hadnât been expecting a woman to answer the door. Butch had said there was only one occupant, and Iâd assumed it was a guy. She had on so much fur it was hard to see anything else. Whatever was on her head looked like what Hollis, our local town doctor whoâd relocated from New York, considered a Paul Bunyan hat on steroids. Time and time again, Iâd tried to tell Hollis that Paul Bunyan wore a beanie, but Hollis was Hollis, and he stuck to his beliefs.
âIâm looking for Teske,â I said.
âWho?â
âTeske.â I took a deep breath; my patience was growing thin. âThatâs what the text said.â
She laughed. âNo, that was supposed to say Teale. But my hands were so cold my fingers probably slipped. And I canât see much with all this fur. Iâm freezing.â
I stepped inside the cabin and was disappointed to find it just as cold inside as it was outside. That wasnât good. âWhy didnât you start a fire?â
The poor girl was shivering. âUmm⦠I couldnât find the remote.â
The what? âRemote?â
âUhh⦠yeah. At home, I push a button and voilà ⦠let there be fire. There wasnât a remote or button to push.â
Well, shit.
I wanted to laugh, but I kept a straight face. A remote? Is she serious? Even Hollis would have been able to figure out the fireplace needed wood and matches.
âLet me check out the heater.â
âOkay.â
I walked to the back of the cabin and found the furnace tucked away in a closet.
Double shit.
The thing was old as dirt. It looked like a rusted tin bucket. What the hell? Butch should have known better than to rent out his cabin without a properly working heater. I screwed around with it for a few minutes, but the damn thing was completely shot. We needed to come up with a Plan B.
I walked into the living room where Teale sat with another blanket wrapped around her. There was a hell of a lot of luggage stacked at the door. Maybe she hadnât had time to unpack. I thought sheâd been here for a week or two already. Oh well. I couldnât concern myself with that.
âWell, the heater is shot. Let me see if I can find some space heaters. Then we can get a fire going. You should be good to go until I can get the parts to fix it.â
âOkay⦠sure.â
I went to search the different closets, and I heard the front door open and close. When I walked back into the living room, Teale was gone. From the window, I saw her heaving one of her suitcases into the bed of my truck.
No. No. No. This isnât going to happen.
I opened the door and yelled, âWhat are you doing?â
She folded her arms over her chest. The damn fur obscured her face even more. âIâm going anywhere but here. Iâll freeze to death here. You do not want my death on your conscience. Iâll come back to haunt you. I can be very scary.â
For the second time that day, Iâd wanted to laugh, but I refused to allow it. Me laughing out loud in front of strangers never happened. She wasnât coming with me. No way. âNo, weâll start a fire and get you a space heater.â
She opened the passenger door. âHey, puppy. Donât bite me. I just donât want to freeze to death.â Mariah looked at me, her big blue husky eyes asking what was going on. I closed my fist to my side to let her know it was okay. Iâd trained Mariah personally, and she was the best damn dog Iâd ever had.
âTeale, be reasonable.â
âNope. Iâm going with you.â
This was getting us nowhere. I just had to get her back in the cabin and show her how warm I could make it. Calmly, I walked toward the truck. As I reached the door, the locks engaged.
Motherfucker.
She yelled through the window, âI need you to get the rest of my luggage first. Then Iâll let you in the truck.â
âTeale, get out of my truck.â This was ridiculous, and I was tired of playing games.
âNope. Sorry. Luggage first. Iâm coming with you.â
âTeale, I will get the cabin warm again.â
She cocked her head to the side and smiled at me. âWill you please get my luggage, Mr. Foster? Then you can take me into town. The one thing I do know is that Iâm not staying in this cabin a second longer.â
Iâd known her for five minutes, but this woman was going to be the death of me. Fine. Iâd take her to the hotel and be done with this shit. The roads out to my cabin and Butchâs were still terrible. It had taken me nearly ninety minutes to make it out there. Normally it was only about a twenty-five-minute drive. I gritted my teeth and hoped the main road into town had been cleared enough for me to manage it. However, I knew I would be stuck in town for a minimum of a few days. From my cabin, it was still a thirty-minute drive to my parentsâ on a good day. If I had to, I could stay with Mom and Dad. Butch, you owe me.
I pulled out my phone and texted Dad. My parentsâ house was only about ten minutes or so from town.
Me: Heard anything about the roads in town?
Dad: If youâre thinking about coming into town, I wouldnât. Theyâre still bad. One of the plow trucks broke down and the other needs a new blade.
Just my luck. Skagway had two plows and both were out of commission.
Me: Okay, thanks.
Dad: Everything okay?
Me: Yep. Just had a few errands to run.
If my brothers got wind of this⦠well, it wouldnât be good. I had to talk sense into this woman. âTeale, letâs talk.â
She shook her head and pointed at the cabin. This woman was so damn stubborn. I grabbed all fifty million suitcases and threw them into the back of my truck.
Who the hell packs this much?
When the last bag was loaded, the locks disengaged, and I climbed in.
Teale pulled back her fur hat and looked at me. I was stunned momentarily in the deep dark pools of her eyes. They were gorgeous.
Well, fuck me.
I was in way over my head.
Also Available
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Books by Kristin Mayer
The Trust Series
Trust Me
Love Me
Promise Me
Full-length novels in the TRUST series are also available in audio from Tantor Media.
An Exposed Heart Series
Intoxicated By You
Changed For You
Wrecked By You
Full-length novels in the Exposed Heart Series are also available in audio from Audible.
The Effect Series
Ripple Effect
Domino Effect
The Twisted Fate Series
White Lies
Black Truth
Timeless Love Series
Untouched Perfection
Flawless Perfection
Tempting Perfection
Stand Alone Novels
Innocence
Bane
Whispered Promises
Predestined Hearts (co-written with Kelly Elliott)
Coming Soon
Unexpected Love â Coming May 2019
Play Me â Joint Collaboration with Kelly Elliott â Coming March of 2019
Complicated Love â Coming Fall of 2019
Author Links
Title: Whole Lotta Love
Series: Rock Star Hearts #1
Author: Amity Cross
Genre: Rock Star Romance
Release Date: August 29, 2018
Blurb
Sebastian Hale is missing in action.
As lead singer of the hot as sin rock band, Beneath, heâs got the world at his feet but he wants out. Heâs done with the empty relationships, the one-night stands, and the consequences of his wild celebrity lifestyle. Unable to break free of the darkness taking over his soul, he disappears, sending the media, his record label and the world into a frenzy.
When small town girl, Juniper Rowe, meets a sexy, brooding guy on an isolated beach in the middle of nowhere, sheâs shocked to learn heâs missing bad boy rock star Sebastian Hale.
Drawn together by fate, they find solace in their shared darkness, unable to resist the passion their tortured souls ignite in one another.
But when the reality of Sebastianâs life is revealed, Juniper learns a hard lesson.
Rock ânâ roll will save your lifeâ¦but the fame will kill you.
Purchase Links
Author Bio
Amity Cross is the author of wicked stories about rock stars looking for redemption, gritty romances featuring MMA fighters and dark tales of forbidden romance. She loves to write about alpha males and the strong women who challenge them to fall in love.
Amity lives in a leafy country town near Melbourne, Australia and can be found chained to her desk, held at ransom by her characters.
Donât send help. She likes it.
Author Links
Title: Sisters and Brothers
Author: Fiona Palmer
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Genre: Women's Fiction
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Blurb
A poignant novel of heartbreak, adoption and a father's love by beloved bestselling Australian author, Fiona Palmer
Bill, 72, feels left behind after the death of his adored wife. He relies heavily on his only daughter, Sarah.
Sarah, career woman and perfectionist homemaker, struggles to keep up with the Joneses. As her husband grows distant, she has no support network.
Emma, a down-to-earth nurse and busy mother of three, always dreamed of having a sister . . . But nothing prepares her for the shock results of a routine blood test.
Adam, a successful florist, was raised by his mother. As his dreams start to fall into place, he can't stop thinking about the father he never had.
Finally, Michelle is trying to build cake-making into a career. But at 46, has she left her run too late to fall in love, have children and find her birth parents?
These five very different people - all connected but separated by secrets from the past - could be facing their futures together. After all, friends will come and go but sisters and brothers are forever . . .
The new novel of heartbreak, adoption, family and a father's love by the Top Ten bestselling author of Secrets Between Friends, Fiona Palmer.
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Excerpt
âCome on, kids, move your backsides. I need to be at work yesterday!â screamed Emma Noble as she put her phone into the pocket on her blue nurseâs uniform. The only reply she got was the echo of her voice. Just when she was about to do her crazy banshee stalk through the house â thatâs what her oldest kid, Josh, called it â one child, her eldest daughter, appeared in the kitchen.
Maddison, dressed in her white school shirt, a big red R for Rockingham Senior High School written on her chest, moved slower than a turtle. She walked past the scattered clothes by the dining table, which doubled as the clean unfolded laundry pile, her feet shifting fluff and dog hair across the vinyl floor. Emma could almost hear her vacuum cleaner groan as it sat in the corner of the room, its contents well past emptying limit. Maddieâs plain dark shorts looked as if sheâd slept in them; no doubt theyâd fallen off the bed where Emma had left her clean, folded clothes. And Emma would bet her left leg that Maddie hadnât run a brush through her hair in days, though it looked passable now scraped up into a loose bun on top of her head. Her fifteen-year-old daughter was a sloth in every sense. She made a little effort on school days but at home she lived in her socks and Nike sliders and whatever clothes she picked up from the floor in her messy room. Emma had told her on many occasions that there could be white-tailed spiders breeding among the clothes on her floor, but it didnât seem to faze the teenager.
Maddie slowly picked up two slices of toast and headed towards the door without so much as a smile. It was quite possible that Maddie was still half-asleep. The only proof she was actually alive, besides the fact she was walking and breathing, was that her phone was in her hand, earphones wedged in her ears and the tinny sound of music so loud Emma could hear it. Maddie would need a hearing aid before her thirtieth birthday. The hand that held her phone had the top loop of her school bag hooked between spare fingers, and Emma wanted to tell her to stop dragging it across the floor, especially because her red school jumper was about to fall out, but she knew better than to waste her breath when Maddie wouldnât hear her.
Right, that was two kids accounted for, because ten-year old Max was already waiting in the car. It would be a sad day when he too joined the moody teenagers that inhabited her house. Emma found an elastic band on the table and quickly scooped her brown wavy hair up into a ponytail and then pulled her lip balm from her pocket and coated her lips. They always got dry at work because she never had time to drink. Being a nurse, there never seemed to be any time for anything, let alone eating or toilet breaks and especially not for proper hydration.
âIâll drive,â said Josh as he swept in, grabbed the last slice of toast and snatched the car keys off the table.
Emma looked up at her son. He was the giant in the family, towering over her and his father John. Heâd make a great basketballer if he could be bothered, but life at the moment was all about girls and cars.
Emma searched under all the mail, school work, breakfast leftovers, a shoe and one of Joshâs stinky T-shirts for her hospital lanyard. Finally she found it in the fruit bowl â a receptacle that never seemed to hold what it was made for â at the end of the breakfast bar.
Emma picked up Joshâs forgotten bag from the floor, hoping to Christ that the dog hadnât got to his lunch again, and headed to the door. She bent to pick up some of Maxâs artwork that had fallen off the fridge and stuck it back on, holding it in place with a big magnet of an XF Ford Falcon. The knife lay on the chopping board still covered with butter and Vegemite. Emma threw it in the sink, already full of last nightâs dishes, and cursed because it was Maddieâs job to stack the dishwasher and it hadnât been done.
It was hard having John away with his fly-in-fly-out job in the mines up north. Two weeks home, two weeks away. It was a tough lifestyle to live, especially when she worked full-time. The house during those two weeks looked like a shit hole, to use Johnâs words when heâd come home from his last shift.
Emma grabbed the large black faux-leather bag she got on sale at Kmart for five dollars and flicked off lights on her way to the door. âAh,â she said as she spotted their Staffy curled up on the couch. âSnake, you cheeky boy. Outside now.â His brown eyes shot her evil glances he must have learned from the kids but he reluctantly slid off the couch and headed for the back door, his brown tail between his legs. Once heâd gone through Emma locked the doggie door and ran back to the front.
âJesus Christ, why canât I ever have a simple morning?â When she got to the white Prado, Josh was already in the driverâs seat with his plates up. He smiled a cheesy grin and nodded to the passenger side.
âNo speeding,â she demanded as she climbed in.
Josh was a good boy; lean and sinewy, and he was the man of the house while John was away. Heâd pick up the kids from school and then come and fetch Emma from work, or if she had a late shift heâd get takeaway and feed them all. Some days he hated it, but she tried to even it up by making sure he had nights off to go out with his friends.
He raked his hand over his long dark fringe, and the little black earring in his ear glinted as he turned to check his mirrors. On his inner arm, just above where his school shirt stopped, was a tattoo heâd got a few months ago on a family holiday to Bali. It was a small anchor and chain with the word âFamilyâ along its length.
John had a whole arm sleeve, and Emma had the kidsâ names on her wrists, a heart with each one. And on her foot near her ankle she also had the word âFamilyâ written between an electrocardiogram pattern. A mix of her two great loves: work and family.
Josh dropped Max off first at the local primary school.
âBye, darling, have a good day,â said Emma getting out to hug and kiss him. Max had her dark chocolate eyes but Johnâs blond hair, which made for a very cute combination. He flicked his head to the side to shift his hair from his eyes. Heâd been asked out by two girls this week.
âSee ya, Mum.â
The next stop was the local high school where the other two kids piled out and Emma hugged them all before getting behind the wheel. She couldnât complain, really; they were hard work at times, but her kids still let her hug them â even Josh â and they waved goodbye as they walked off down the school path.
Before she could put the car in gear her phone rang. âHey Mum, Iâm in the car, just dropped off the kids.â âDarling, your dadâs in Emergency,â came her mumâs rushed voice through the car speakers. âDonât panic, heâs okay.â
Her mum Tammy sounded like she should take her own advice, her voice high pitched and breathless.
âWhat the heck happened?â Emma pulled out into the traffic and floored it in the direction of the hospital.
âHe was pruning that damn passionfruit vine, and the ladder tipped and he fell. Landed on his collection of junk . . . Ugh, there was blood everywhere. I couldnât move him, so I called the ambo.â
Her mum made a gurgling sound of repulsion. She wasnât so good with blood, so growing up Emma had to tend to those situations from a young age. Probably why she became a nurse.
âBut heâs okay?â Emmaâs pulse began to relax. âAre you okay, Mum?â
âHe needs some stitches and a needle. And Iâm fine, now. Almost passed out. I think Iâm getting better at dealing with it.â
Emma stifled a chuckle; sheâd been trying for sixty-eight years. âIâll be there in five, Mum. See you soon.â
After parking at the hospital Emma went straight to her ward to tell her boss that she needed ten minutes to check on her dad, and then headed to Emergency. The hospital was where she felt comfortable, its chaos not far off that in her own home. Sometimes the hospital was much quieter. Especially when her three kids went down with gastro.
It wasnât hard to find her dad: she just looked for her mum pacing outside the powder-blue curtain. Her once-brown hair had greyed and was now worn short. Her body was still fit and her beauty hadnât faded over the years. Her posture was poised, shoulders straight. Emma wished she had her mumâs natural elegance. In that respect she was more like her dad with his easygoing nature and the bird tattoos on his arms and hands that had fascinated her growing up.
âOh good, youâre here. They should be nearly done stitching him up,â said Tammy.
âItâs okay,â said Emma, hugging her. Lavender engulfed her, the familiar scent of her mum. Tammy was shaking slightly but towards the end of the hug Emma could feel her mum relax a bit. Touching her hand, Emma stepped behind the curtain.
Her dad, Steve, was propped up on the bed, looking up at the ceiling, his face pale beneath his grey beard. Those blue inked tattoos of his, faded over the years so the outside line seemed blurry, stood out on his hands. His colour would come back soon.
âThere you go, Mr Noble, all set.â The doctor leaning over his leg did a final trim of the stitches and stood up straight with a satisfied look on his face. âAh, Emma, I wondered how long until youâd be here.â
âThanks. Nice job,â she said to the doctor after having a quick look at his work. He left as she hugged her dad, drinking in his scent of wood chips and aftershave, and then reached for his chart on impulse. âHowâre you feeling, Dad?â
âOh, Iâm okay. Feeling stupid more than anything.â His voice was soft and a little uneven.
He wouldnât admit it but Emma knew just how much it had shaken him. She saw it in the eyes of the older folk in here, a feeling that as they got older they didnât bounce back like they used to, and the fear that the hospital was one step closer to the grave. He reached out his hand and she took it as her mum appeared.
Steve started speaking further about his fall, the nervous edge lingering in his voice. Emma nodded as she scanned his chart, gently squeezing his hand in support, until suddenly she cocked her head to the side and then looked up at her mum. âDadâs blood? Says heâs an O.â
Tammy just blinked.
Her dad cleared his throat. âYes, I am.â Colour was starting to flood back into his cheeks. âBut youâre O as well.â Emma shot the words at her mum.
Tammy shrugged her thin shoulders, her soft pink blouse moving slightly.
âYou canât be.â Emma could tell they didnât see what she was getting at.
âI am, last I checked,â said Tammy. She frowned and moved closer to hold Steveâs hand.
âBut Iâm AB! You canât get AB from two O parents.â Emma suddenly felt faint as her words registered. But she wasnât the only one who suddenly put two and two together. Her parentsâ heads snapped as they looked at each other, sharing something like fear that made her stomach churn. She swallowed hard. Surely not! A shiver cascaded down her body, disbelief and shock as she tried to put words to her thoughts.
âOh my god! Am I adopted?â It was the only explanation, unless the chart was wrong. But her parents were being weird. No one was jumping up to contradict her.
âOh my god, I am.â She dropped the chart to the bed and staggered back, her hand pulling away from her dadâs. Was he even her dad? His hand reached out for her, pleading, but no words came to his moving lips. Emma stopped when her back pressed against the wall. She was cornered like a scared animal and she couldnât escape the fear and dread that was settling in her bones. What had she stumbled upon? Her brain couldnât think straight, bombarded with so many options and possibilities, all of which made her feel sick. Her stomach was tight, her breathing shallow as her hands fisted at her side.
It was Tammy who finally spoke. âNo, honey, youâre not adopted. You are my child, and Steve is your dad in every way that matters.â
Tammyâs last words echoed through Emmaâs head, leaving a feeling of time standing still. Suddenly her body demanded she breathe, and she gasped in a breath. She looked at her parents. Her mum with her deep hazel eyes and a long nose and round face that Emma had inherited, so everyone said, and even she could see the resemblance. But her dad? She had dark hair like him, but his eyes were a greeny brown; but facially there was nothing she could say she had inherited, though they did have the same sense of humour.
âWhat are you not saying, Mum?â she croaked out. Her heart raced as she waited for a reply that never came. Pushing again, she said, âIs Dad not my dad?â Her gaze darted between the two, looking for any indication that she was right or wrong.
âDid you have an affair? What . . . how?â she stuttered, growing frustrated at their silence.
Her parents had been married for years before sheâd been born, so it wasnât like her mum was pregnant with another manâs child before they wed. Emma dropped her head into her hand for a moment while the thoughts churned, then quickly lifted it as she realised the two people opposite her had all the answers. She focused the Donât mess with me look that her kids saw regularly.
Tammy looked at Steve, tears now noticeable on her lower lashes. Steve reached for both her hands and squeezed them. Emma wanted to scream at them. Answer me!
âItâs okay, Tammy. She needs to know the truth.â Steve turned to Emma and spoke so softly she frowned as she tried to listen. âIâm sorry, honey. Weâd been trying for years to have a child, then I got tested and found the problem was with me.â He paused for a moment while Tammy rubbed his shoulder. âWe didnât have a lot of money and we thought of adopting but it was too hard and we werenât getting any younger. Then we came up with the idea of a donor.â
âA donor?â Emma frowned. Where the heck was this story going?
âWe found a nice guy, and your mum became pregnant straightaway, and the rest is history. We had what we wanted most in the world â you.â He smiled at her as if she were the baby Jesus in the flesh.
Emma was surprised to feel the wet heat of a tear slide down her cheek, followed by another one. âSo, youâre not my biological father? Is that what youâre saying?â
Tammy was crying too and pulled out a tissue from her bag to mop her face.
Steve sighed heavily. âNo, honey, Iâm not. But that doesnât mean anything to me. Youâre my daughter in every sense of the word. Iâm sorry you had to find out like this. It will never affect how I feel about you. Just understand how much your mum and I wanted a family.â His voice cracked, and Tammy passed him a tissue.
Emma felt her heart about to burst. She hated to see him upset. The man who had carried her when she was tired, patched up her wounds while her mum tried not to look, read her stories every night and walked with her down the aisle. And yet she couldnât shake the anger burning inside her, anger at the secret theyâd kept from her, anger that sheâd had to find out like this. It hurt so badly, like nothing sheâd experienced before. Worse than the time sheâd lost Max for an hour at the beach. It was like her life was being sucked out of her, vanishing before her eyes as everything she thought she knew was thrown upside down. Who was Emma Noble? Who was she really?
She saw his pain but couldnât voice her thoughts. You will always be my dad, she wanted to say but the words stuck in her throat. The shock made it impossible for her to comfort him; not yet, it hurt too much. Emma wanted to storm out of the hospital, she wanted them to feel as bad as she did, but she couldnât move. Stuck to the wall like glue. There was more she needed to know.
One question was burning a hole in her chest. âSo, who is my biological father?â
Tammy sucked in a deep breath, swayed a little and fixed her eyes on Emma.
Her words were said with no hint of regret. âHis name was Bill. He was the piano tuner.â
Author Bio
Before becoming an author, Fiona Palmer was a speedway driver for seven years and now spends her days writing both women's and young adult fiction, working as a farmhand and caring for her two children in the tiny rural community of Pingaring, 350km from Perth. The books Fiona's passionate readers know and love contain engaging storylines, emotions and hearty characters. She has written nine bestselling novels and her most recent book, Secrets Between Friends, was a Top Ten national bestseller.
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