It’s 1964. People in the resort town of Pine Lake, Wisconsin are unnerved when a stranger is found unconscious in the park. He’s taken to the hospital with severe head injuries and subsequently slips into a coma. All efforts to identify him fail. A young nurse is enamored with the sleeping stranger. Waking only complicates matter when the man has no memory of who he is or what happened to him. Together, he and the nurse journey across the state in search of his past.
Other Books in the Pine Lake Adventure Series:
Battle Born
A Pine Lake Adventure, Book 2
Publisher: El Cid Publishing
Published: January 2018
The War is over. Nora Jensen must now work past the horrors of human carnage she experienced as an army nurse. Angry and bitter, she’s turned her back on God and is at war with the army for the physical attacks and abuse she’s had to endure. All she wants is a life free of military rules and regulations, and to no longer be a triage nurse, having to choose among the wounded who is the first to treated, often determining who lives and who dies. A chance meeting with a fifteen-year-old girl could once again put Nora in a life and death situation
From a small town in Wisconsin to the high desert of Nevada, journey with her as she tries to stay one step ahead of the law and those that want to tear her world apart. A lover from the past may be her only ally.
Joe Van Rhyn grew up in a small resort town in Wisconsin. In school, he divided his time between sports and the theater. His first love was being on stage. Among his credits, he was Pish Tosh in the Mikado, the Prince in Cinderella, and the villain Cassius Carstairs, in an old-fashioned melodrama. Joe uses his theatrical experience in his writing to create memorable characters, compelling dialogue, and an intriguing story. “Born Yesterday” is the first in a series of novels centered around the small resort town of Pine Lake. “Battle Born” is the second, with a third due out in early 2019
Grace followed the rules. She always played it safe and never put her heart in jeopardy. Until the night she met Ryan. She’d never imagined that she could connect with an alpha male like him. Giving herself to him as he’d cradled her in his arms came naturally… until she sobered up. He was everything that she’d convinced herself she didn’t need. Or was he everything she needed?
Ryan balanced on a thin line of gray. He’d killed his share of demons but managed to live at peace with his actions. Then he met Grace, a woman who pushed all his buttons and shook him to his core. The need to have her overwhelmed him, but she kept shooting him down. Could he convince her that he was exactly what she needed?
About the Author
Karen Tjebben lives in central North Carolina with her wonderful husband, twin daughters, and two hamsters. When her girls left for kindergarten, Karen discovered that she needed to fill her days with something, and that was the beginning of her new career in writing. She loves to create worlds filled with unique characters that she hopes will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and seeing the world through her daughters’ eyes.
Andino Marcello’s world is turned upside down when he becomes the next heir apparent to the Marcello empire. He was comfortable in his place as a Capo, but comfort is for the weak in the world of mafioso. The boss’s seat is waiting. It takes meeting a tattooed beauty who has no idea who Andino is or the criminal legacy he now carries beneath his three-piece suits, and charming smile for him to finally bend the rules set out for him. That doesn’t mean he can keep her.
They say things that never challenge you won’t change you …
Haven Murphy is doing her own thing, and she does it well. The owner of a successful Brooklyn strip club, she makes it her only goal to never fail. She’s just trying to live her life when a morning jog puts her face to face with a man that will change the direction of her life with a single conversation. She knows there’s a dark side to him beyond his good looks, and three-piece suits, but it’s hard for her to care when she wants him. That doesn’t mean he can be hers.
He’s going to break her heart; she’s going to keep his.
Because duty waits on no one.
DUTY – MUSIC PLAYLIST
EXCERPT:
“Bad things happen to people who aren’t paying attention,” the woman said.
Andino nodded. “That’s true.”
She gave him another look, adding, “I guess the bad guys probably don’t wear three-piece suits, or walk their dogs in the middle of broad daylight.”
Funny.
Hadn’t he just killed a man a couple of days ago? Didn’t he have a gun hidden at his back? Wasn’t he just told he would be the heir to a criminal empire?
That all spelled bad guy to him.
Just in different ways.
“Life is busy,” Andino said, whistling after for Snaps to come back. Unquestioningly, the dog left the woman’s side, and came back to his master to sit patiently at Andino’s leather loafers. “Too busy for me, maybe. I don’t like change, but someone decided something recently that changed everything for me. Walking Snaps clears my head.”
The woman crossed her arms over her chest, and it drew Andino’s attention to the colorful artwork tattooed up her arms. Full sleeves on both arms, ink covering her throat, and traveling down to where the baggy tank top dipped low on her chest.
Damn.
He wondered what kind of stories her ink told.
Something amazing, probably.
“You should take a break, then, stranger who wears a three-piece suit to walk his dog.” Her tone was half-amused, and half-teasing. “You looked happy right before I interrupted—I bet Snaps would like you to take a break, too.”
“I—”
Andino’s phone buzzed with a call—he cursed as he shoved his hand into his pocket, and pulled the offensive device out to check the call.
Dante.
The boss.
No shunning a boss.
It was a rule.
He turned slightly to make his shoulder face the woman as he picked up the call. “Yeah, boss, what can I do for you?”
“Nothing you can’t handle, I am sure.”
The last thing Andino wanted to do was handle business. Any kind of business. He thought of the woman, and her words. Maybe she had a fucking point.
“Actually, I need a couple of weeks,” Andino said.
“Excuse me?” Dante asked.
“Yeah, I need a break.”
“For …?”
“At this point, whatever the hell I want. And anything that is not in this city.”
He needed to get away, and just … relax. Maybe then he wouldn’t get so snappy when his mother asked about women in his life, or whatever. Maybe then he might start to feel better about this whole fucking boss thing.
“Is this about the business, and la famiglia again, Andi?”
“Do you really need me to answer that?”
“You’re the right choice,” Dante said quietly. “The best choice. And you know it.”
“Fact remains. You’ve upended what I thought was my life. I need time to adjust.”
Dante sighed harshly, and Andino knew then he was going to get what he wanted. After all, Dante would want to keep him happy.
This was a two-way street.
A give and take.
“Fine, but—”
“No buts,” Andino interjected. “A break is a fucking break.”
“Has your father ever told you that you’re a demanding little shit?”
“Yes, and also that it suits me.”
Dante grumbled under his breath, but Andino was pretty sure his uncle said, “He’s not wrong.”
“Yeah, well—”
“Take your break.”
Dante hung up the phone without a goodbye. Andino wished he could say he was surprised. Turning on his heel to apologize and say goodbye to the woman who had been at the mouth of the connecting trail, he found the spot empty.
And the woman gone.
Fuck.
He hadn’t even gotten her name.
Snaps looked up at Andino with his big, dark eyes—ready and willing to find yet another stick to be thrown for him, probably.
“Where did she go?” Andino asked his dog.
Snaps simply wagged his stubby tail.
Thanks for the help, buddy.
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
Andino Marcello’s world is turned upside down when he becomes the next heir apparent to the Marcello empire. He was comfortable in his place as a Capo, but comfort is for the weak in the world of mafioso. The boss’s seat is waiting. It takes meeting a tattooed beauty who has no idea who Andino is or the criminal legacy he now carries beneath his three-piece suits, and charming smile for him to finally bend the rules set out for him. That doesn’t mean he can keep her.
They say things that never challenge you won’t change you …
Haven Murphy is doing her own thing, and she does it well. The owner of a successful Brooklyn strip club, she makes it her only goal to never fail. She’s just trying to live her life when a morning jog puts her face to face with a man that will change the direction of her life with a single conversation. She knows there’s a dark side to him beyond his good looks, and three-piece suits, but it’s hard for her to care when she wants him. That doesn’t mean he can be hers.
He’s going to break her heart; she’s going to keep his.
Because duty waits on no one.
EXCLUSIVE RELEASE EXCERPT: DUTY
“Twenty-three,” Andino murmured.
Haven glanced back at him at the sudden drop in his tone when he spoke. She realized then that he had been looking at her again while she searched the floor, but she had been too distracted to notice.
Huh.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Twenty-three stars so far. I missed one behind your ear.”
Her heart stopped for a split second—she swore it did. How was he still keeping track of how many stars she had tattooed on her body? Hell, she had stopped counting four years ago when she got her twentieth.
Subconsciously, she moved to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, but forgot she had pulled her hair up into a high, messy bun to work the bar. Which explained how he had seen the star behind her ear, considering the last time they met, her hair had been down.
Andino grinned lazily.
On another man, she might think that cocky look wasn’t her thing. On him, though? It looked divine.
“You could save me the trouble,” Andino said, “and just tell me how many stars there are.”
Haven really shouldn’t be flirting while she worked. It was a rule she had for all the girls that worked the place—it was fine to smile, and whatever else, but lap dances, private rooms, and meets outside the club were strictly forbidden. They weren’t that kind of joint, and she didn’t even want to give the appearance that they were to begin with.
And yet, all she wanted to do in that moment was play with Andino—tease him a little, and give it back to him just as much as he was giving it to her. He made it easy, and fun. God knew it had been a long damn time since a man came around to perk her interest.
Haven always had too much to do.
Too much work.
Too much responsibility.
Too much everything.
Valeria was always telling Haven to take a break, or do something fun. To try something new, and get out of her comfort zone. Maybe this was something she could do that with—what would it hurt?
“Where’s the fun in me telling you how many stars are tattooed on my body,” Haven asked, “when you seem quite intent on finding them yourself, Andino?”
The man across the bar flashed his teeth in a wickedly sinful smile, and let out a husky laugh that made her wet between her thighs from the sound alone. It rocked through her body, and touched every single one of her nerves.
Jesus fucking Christ.
The man was several feet away.
A bar separated them.
He wasn’t even touching her!
And he made her wet.
Yeah, this could be fun.
“I mean,” Haven continued, shrugging her dainty shoulders, “your way seems a hell of lot more fun than just telling you. The game ends once you know.”
Andino shoved his hands in his pockets, and rocked back on his heels a bit. He turned his head to the side, giving her a glorious view of his strong jaw, green eyes, and all the hard lines of his face. The man really was beautiful. He looked like he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days what with the dusting of facial hair covering his jaw and cheeks. She bet that scruff would feel some kind of good between her thighs.
Wow.
She went right to that place fast.
The man had to be at least two-forty or even two-fifty in weight, if not more. And yet, he didn’t look bulky. Fit, strong, and dominating. She hadn’t noticed before, but he had a tiny cleft in his chin, and a dimple in his left cheek when his grin deepened just enough.
Yes, with his suit tailored to fit his large frame, and those looks of his, he was every woman’s walking wet dream come to life. Sex in the flesh, if there was such a thing. Tall, mysterious, handsome, and a whole lot of trouble.
Andino peered at Haven through the corner of his eyes, and she swore she could feel the wheels in his head turning. “So, is that what this is, then? Have you decided?”
She cocked her head to the side a bit. “You’re going to have to be clearer.”
“This,” he said, gesturing between them, “you and me, and whatever this little chase is I seem to be doing with you. You’ve decided it’s a game, then?”
Haven wet her lips, and smiled. “I didn’t know you were chasing me, Andino.”
“Me either … until now. You know, though, so tell me.” He edged closer to the bar, and pressed his hands to the top. Leaning a little over the counter, he came close enough that she could smell the cologne he wore—a strong, distinct musk that made her think leather, smoke, and man all rolled into one. Somehow, Haven had moved to creep a little over the bar, too. Both of them were close enough that all she could see was his handsome features, and the darker green flecks inside the lighter greens of his eyes. “Is it a game you want to play?”
“Is there going to be a winner?”
Andino laughed, nodded, and slapped the bar before pushing away. “You bet your pretty ass, donna. There will most certainly be a winner.”
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
Returning home was just the beginning, but staying…might be her end.
After uncovering a devastating secret, Casey McKay left her beloved home town and pretended not to look back. For years, the truth her sisters hid from her has kept her away. Now, in desperate need of Casey’s help, her sisters have hired a PI to find her.
As a private investigator, Ryan Keller is used to getting into sticky situations, but nothing could have prepared him for the likes of Ms. McKay. Unable to resist her appeal for help, Ryan returns with her to Blue Creek. Little do they know they are walking right into a deadly plot to destroy the McKay sisters.
The closer they get to the truth, the harder it is for them to resist temptation. But succumbing to their desires puts Ryan in the crosshairs of a vengeful foe. To save them, Casey must face her past and the secrets that have shaped her.
Save the Date! Follow the book tour from October 22 – November 3, 2018.
Visit each tour stop daily and discover more features, excerpts, reviews, interviews, fun facts and more! To check the latest tour schedule, visit the The Secrets That Shape Us Book Page at Book Unleashed.
About W.L. Brooks
W. L. Brooks likes to write like she reads with a bit of mystery, romance, suspense, and, to keep it interesting, the occasional dash of the paranormal. Living in Western North Carolina she is currently working on her next novel.
