Series: Aspen Lake Series Book 3 Genre: Romantic Suspense Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Publication Date: May 6, 2019
Gone…but never forgotten.
Ever since a devastating family tragedy seventeen years ago, Grace Bighill has struggled to keep her remaining family from falling apart. Then the discovery of her mother’s body in the woods unearths a connection to a decades old murder case, and Grace is dragged into a politician’s bitter bid for revenge.
Constable Mike Davenport’s days in Aspen Lake are numbered. He’s ready to take his next step up the career ladder somewhere a lot more cosmopolitan. He’s avoided any emotional attachments, despite having fallen hard for a certain stubborn local. But when a body turns up, Mike’s careful intentions collapse in the face of Grace’s grief and her exhaustive efforts to care for her family.
A search for answers leads Grace and Mike down a twisted path proving no one can escape their roots. But someone might die trying.
The music still played but no one listened. They were too busy trying to talk at once.
Mike settled in beside her and his disapproving green eyes scanned her face. He lifted the cloth covering her knee and winced. “You okay?”
Grace flinched as his fingers did a gentle probe. “Welcome to the party.”
“Seems we were a little late getting our invitation.” His expression turned serious. “This may need medical attention.”
“It’s just a scratch.” She tamped down the gooey need threatening to overtake her. Tried to remember it didn’t pay to get sentimental over this particular man.
Her reassurance didn’t stop him from carefully dabbing at her cut. Or from leaning in to get a closer look. “I don’t see any glass, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any in there.”
“I’m fine.” She braced her hands on the floor ready to lift herself up, having had enough attention and being at the center of it.
Mike put his hand on her shoulder and coaxed her back down. “There’s no rush. Take a moment.”
She warmed under his touch and the tender concern she’d secretly, and not so secretly, yearned for since he’d arrived in Aspen Lake two years ago.
About Karyn Good
Karyn Good grew up on the Canadian prairies and she’s still there loving every minute. She writes romantic suspense featuring strong heroines and the men who love them. In the pages of her books you’ll find danger, passion, and a winding path of twists and turns that lead to forever.
Gian Guzzi’s problems are piling up faster than he knows how to handle them. A murdered grandfather, an unpredictable mafia, and a new boss that threatens both his family’s legacy and his life. He has a duty to the oath he swore. First to la famiglia, and only then to himself.
Duty. Legacy. Love. Always in that order.
Or that’s how it should be.
With the violent uncertainty that has become constant in his days, Cara Rossi should have been only a distraction for him to enjoy. Until she becomes so much more.
The lies? Their life? All this love?
It doesn’t matter how much it entangles together; it’ll still unravel eventually.
And when it does … may God save them all.
*
Gian & Cara: The Complete Guzzi Duet features the full-length novels, Unraveled and Entangled.
EXCERPT
“So …” Bambi said, drawing the word out for much longer than what was necessary.
Awkward.
Finally, Cara’s mouth decided to play catch-up with her brain, and work. All she managed to say was a confused, “So.”
Bambi didn’t look offended over Cara’s lack of response to her presence, never mind her lack of enthusiasm at conversing like a normal human being. No, if anything, Bambi looked happier, her smile growing all over again.
And then Cara had to go and open her mouth to ruin it with, “What exactly are you doing here?”
Bambi’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by a hurt dancing over her pretty features. “I’m sorry. Am I not allowed to visit a friend?”
First, Bambi had always been more of a friend to Lea than Cara, for the most obvious reason … being Bambi’s lifestyle. For lack of a better word, Cara thought.
She could be brutally honest—Bambi liked her made men. Mafia men were just her thing. But the second reason why Bambi should not be knocking on Cara’s door?
Cara looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s eleven-thirty at night.”
Jesus. Was it really that late already? Hadn’t she been talking to her brother that afternoon?
Well, shit.
Cara had literally slept her day away. She’d missed another round of classes. An exam. An assignment that was due. A lecture.
And she needed groceries.
Fuck.
She was a mess.
She didn’t even know how to go about fixing it. Or even if she wanted to.
Bambi only stared at Cara as though she had suddenly grown a second head in the span of seconds. “What are you talking about?”
Cara pointed at the clock. “It’s late.”
“Yeah, if you’re fifty.”
“I have school in the morning.”
Bambi cocked an eyebrow. “Tomorrow is Saturday, and I remember Lea saying once that you don’t have classes on Saturdays.”
Was tomorrow Saturday?
What was happening to her life?
Cara rubbed a hand over her face. “What do you want?”
“I was in the neighborhood. I thought you might like to see a familiar face.”
“You thought wrong.”
Cara could have softened that blow, but she didn’t have the patience to. Bambi didn’t seem all that offended. In fact, she looked as though she had expected that.
“Yeah, seems I’m not the first person you’ve chased off with your nasty attitude lately. People talk, and others tend to take notice and listen. I know we’re not the greatest friends, but your sister looked out for me a lot, and I’d like to think that Lea would be super pissed at me if I didn’t offer the same to you.”
Cara cleared her throat, more uncomfortable than ever. “I’m fine.”
“Well, that’s a lie.”
“Bambi—”
“You look like shit just came over and took another shit on your head.”
Ouch.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Cara said, grabbing the door to close it in the woman’s face. “It’s time for you to go.”
“Wait.” Bambi put her body into the doorway, effectively stopping Cara from closing her out. “One night, Cara. You can take one night to get out of this apartment, away from this …” Bambi waved at the darkness behind Cara. “Whatever this mess is, and do something. Maybe it’ll be fun. Maybe you won’t have to think for a while. Maybe you’ll even smile. What would it hurt to try?”
It could hurt a lot.
“I’m not even dressed or done up,” Cara said weakly.
Bambi smiled slyly, gesturing at herself. “That is why you have me.”
“I can dress and do my own makeup, thanks.”
“And I will be right here to make sure you actually do it. A new club opened up three blocks away, last week. I happen to know the owner is a great guy, and throws an awesome fucking party. Give it a chance.”
Cara was too mentally tired to argue. Or maybe it was that she wanted to feel normal for a minute. Even if that meant using alcohol and deafening music to do it.
That was that.
“All right,” Cara said. “Give me fifteen minutes.”
Bambi looked her over. “Twenty, at least.”
“You could be nicer.”
“You could look less dead.”
Bitch.
ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.
To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here:http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD
To get what he wants, he’ll have to play a game of dirty pool.
Michel Marcello never wanted to be a mafioso like every other man in his family—he wanted to be more. That doesn’t mean he’s unfamiliar with the life, or that he can’t hold his own against other made men.
They forgot where he came from …
His chance encounter with the fiery and beautiful daughter of Detroit’s most notorious Irish mob boss stokes flames beyond the ones that ignite between Michel and Gabbie Casey. Rivals shouldn’t mix, but these opposites have never been more attracted, either.
The lines between family loyalty, their duties, and responsibility begin to blur.
Love ruins all.
But these two aren’t the only ones playing this game, and it just became far more dangerous to get out alive.
*
Dirty Pool is a standalone romantic suspense.
EXCLUSIVE RELEASE EXCERPT
“Here, duckies!”
Michel’s dark chuckles came close to her ear as his nose grazed the back of her neck. Gabbie had all she could do not to shiver from the feeling of his lips pressing to her skin with featherlight kisses.
“I don’t think they recognize being called duckies,” he murmured.
“Shut up.”
“I’m just saying they don’t speak human, Gabbie.”
She didn’t mind his teasing.
Much.
“Says the man who had a small bag of birdseed in his car because bread is bad for the ducks.”
His hands landed on her waist, and she loved the way his fingers dug into her sides. He squeezed, a silent warning for her to stop the teasing. She heard it loud and clear, not that it made much of a difference. If he could dish it, then the man would learn to take it.
That was Gabbie’s way.
“I told you, I jog here.”
“Yes, with birdseed for the duckies, apparently.”
“Because they quack at me when I pass, and I feel bad for them.”
“Mmhmm. Of course, you do.”
Michel let out a laugh. “You’re impossible.”
Gabbie winked at him over her shoulder as she pulled out a handful of birdseed. Michel wasn’t wrong—bread was terrible for ducks. It got stuck to the roof of their mouths, and if it did get in their bellies, it would swell up to make them think they were full when they weren’t. It was harder for them to digest, too.
She adored he had birdseed in his car to toss to the ducks when he jogged at the park. He wasn’t all bad, despite what people in her family liked to say about the Italians. How could someone be bad if they remembered to feed the ducks when they went jogging?
It was sweet, really.
“You must be getting hungry,” he said.
“A little.”
“You want to go—”
“Not yet.”
She was enjoying this.
The park, peaceful at almost midnight, was dark and quiet. There wasn’t a soul around, and the small pond was rarely ever this empty when she came to see it in the daytime.
“I like that you chose here for a date,” she said.
Michel rested his chin on her shoulder, and wrapped an arm tightly around her middle. “Oh, why is that?”
“Most guys would pick a club, or something. Dinner, and a show. The usual. I like this better. It’s just us, and we can talk.”
“I would have taken you for all that other shit, too, but it’s late.”
It was.
Most restaurants were closed, although she was sure they could find a hole-in-the-wall diner to eat at, if they really wanted to. Not that any of the food would be the kind of stuff she was supposed to eat. Michel probably knew that, too, and took it into consideration without telling her he was doing it.
She appreciated it.
Gabbie grinned. “All of that for a date, too?”
“Yeah, probably not. I wanted to be alone with you … can’t exactly do that when there’s other people around, can I?”
ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.
To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here:http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD
A New MC Romance by Amazon Bestselling Author Tory Richards
Series: Desert Rebels MC Series # 1 Genre: MC Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance Publication Date: May 1, 2019
His job is to protect his MC but he can’t resist her, she can’t refuse him, and deception will test the strength of their attraction to one another.
He can’t resist her.
She can’t refuse him.
Lies will rip them apart.
As enforcer of the Desert Rebels Cole’s job is to protect his MC. A favor for a friend has them taking in a young woman they think is trying to get away from a crazy ex. Turns out she’s lying. When the truth comes out, so does trouble to the club. Cole wants Raven, but will their insane attraction to one another be enough to overcome the deception and give them a chance at happiness?
Heart pounding, I panted breathlessly, “Cole! I’m-I’m not who you th-think I am!” I scraped his scalp with my nails, bowing sharply beneath his mouth. Oh, sweet Jesus, he was going to kill me with pleasure!
Breathing hard, he pulled his mouth off my nipple and looked up at me with surprising clarity in his eyes, his dark expression stamped with raw arousal. “I know exactly who you are,” he grated hoarsely. “I’ve known since I pulled you beneath me.”
What? I took a second to process what he’d said, or to at least try. I was so turned on that it felt as if I were on some life-altering drug, and I was, in a way–I was high on Cole. “We-We can’t do this,” I whispered, while at the same time asking myself why it was that we couldn’t.
His grin was pure sex. “Looks like we are.”
“But . . . you thought I was someone else,” I reminded him. “What about her?”
He released a frustrated breath. “Can we talk about this later? I’m right in the middle of something.”
I was not going to be a convenient fill-in for another woman, no matter how turned on I was. No matter how hot Cole was. “Listen, jerk, when a man makes love to me, I’d at least like to know that he knows it’s me he�s making love to.”
His body vibrated with laughter against me. “I don’t make love, baby. I fuck.”
I felt a surge of anger in response to his flippant attitude. “Well, then find someone else to fuck,” I hissed, trying to wiggle out from beneath him. Cole was a big man, and he was heavy. Bumping my hips to try to force him to move proved to be a dumb move, because all it managed to do was reveal how fucking huge and hard his cock was.
Cole grunted in response and dropped his head back onto my breasts. I began to wiggle wildly, afraid of where this was going.
Afraid of myself.
“Get off!”
“Jesus, wait a fucking minute, will you?” he growled as if he were in pain, pressing my body down to hold me still.
I stilled. “I’ll give you ten seconds.”
His mouth was against my breast, and the feel of his smile on my flesh caused a shiver to ripple through my body.
About Tory Richards
Tory Richards is an Amazon bestselling author who writes smut with a plot. Born in Maine, she’s lived most of her life in Florida where she went to school, married, and raised her daughter. She’s retired from Disney and spends her time with family and friends, traveling, and writing.
The
last memory that Alannah ‘Lanie’ Jackson has of her father is the day he went
away. Hidden away in an attic from the rest of the world, the only thing that
Alannah ‘Lanie’ Jackson can hold on to is the memory of her father and the hope
that one day he will come for her. Every day that passes, the memory of her
childhood disappears and she learns that her only purpose now is to please.
Trained to act a certain way, the day comes when she can finally be free. She
only hopes that the man who purchases her will be kinder than her current
master.
Excerpt
The
wind had been whipping around all morning. If I hadn’t known better, I would
have thought that I was in the Arctic instead of Oregon. There wasn’t very much
that I could see through my small window, but it was big enough to see that the
bare branches of the oak tree that had died long ago were swinging in the wind.
Not many people came to visit the mansion since I began living here fourteen
years ago. But in the last six months no one came to visit at all. At first, I
thought it might have been due to the change in weather, but then Master
Winston said it was because I didn’t live up to their expectations and
therefore, I was of no interest to them. He blamed it on my inability to learn
and lack of obedience.
Moving
away from the window, I ducked my head and wandered over to my small bed, which
was nestled in the corner of the space that was my room. Pulling the covers
over my body, I tried to keep warm. The attic was very poorly insulated and the
exposed beams that held the rafters were proof. Sometimes it had gotten so cold
that I could see my breath. I found the best way to keep warm was to pull the
covers up over my head and trap the warmth of my breath beneath them.As much as I hated this room, I hated what
waited for me on the other side of the door when Master Winston came to call
even more.
Closing
my eyes, I let my mind wander. As I slowly began to fall asleep, I imagined
myself as the fairytale princess who was locked in the attic by her evil
stepfather, waiting to be rescued by a handsome prince. I knew the chance of
ever being rescued would be slim to none, but just the thought of it actually
happening was something that I would never stop hoping for. I wished that
things could be as they were when I was younger. I would give anything to be
together with my father again. So much time had passed since I’d seen him that
every day that went by, my thoughts of him were dimmer. I feared that soon I
would forget him all together. I wasn’t sure if it he would even be able to
find me. Last Chance, Oregon, was just that, and not many people came here. I
don’t think many people knew about this out-of-the-way town, at least not
anyone who cared.
“Push
me higher, Daddy, I want to go higher and fly like the birds.”
“Lanie,
if I push you any higher you are going to fall.”
“I
won’t, Daddy. I promise to hold on tight.”
The
warm wind felt so good against my skin. I loved my new swing set. It was pink
and purple and had two swings, a slide, and a Roman glider. It was the perfect
gift for my fifth birthday. I knew why my dad had put in so many hours at work.
It was so that he could buy me this swing set. Pumping my legs harder, I could
feel myself going higher and higher. It was as though I could reach the birds
above me.
Letting
go of the chain, I reached out to touch one. It was so close, but not close
enough. I felt myself falling from the swing. Instead of hitting the ground as
I should have, I was sent spiraling into a pit of fire.
About
the Author
Award-winning
Author of the Independent Press Award and NYC Big Book Award. A.L. Long is also
the recipient of the National Indie Excellence Award.
My
love for writing began several years ago after an early retirement from a
demanding job that I loved, but also hated because it consumed so much of my
time. Now, I am able to focus my time on what I love. Writing romance has been
a life long dream and to actually say that I am a published author is beyond
what I would have ever expected.
Even
though some may say I have a little naughtiness in my books, I look at it as an
added bonus for my readers. After all what is a romance book without a little
spice.
When
I am not writing, I enjoy spending time with friends either at home or out on
the town. Mostly, I enjoy a relaxing night at home where I can enjoy a glass of
wine in the company of a good book.
