Category Archives: Excerpt
EXCERPT REVEAL ~ A Little Too Fast by Staci Hart
A Little Too Late, an all-new romantic standalone
from Staci Hart is coming October 24th!
A Little Too Late
by Staci Hart
Publishing Date: October 24th, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with the nanny.
When my wife left, she took the illusion of happiness with her, and I’ve been caught in a free fall ever since. For nine long months, I’ve been fighting to figure out how to be a single dad, how to be alone.
For nine long months, I’ve been failing.
When Hannah walked through the door, I took my first breath since I’d found myself on my own. She slipped into our lives effortlessly, showing me what I’ve been missing all these years. Because Hannah made me smile when I thought I’d packed the notion of happiness away with my wedding album.
She was only supposed to be the nanny, but she’s so much more.
The day my wife left should have been the worst day of my life, but it wasn’t. It was when Hannah walked away, taking my heart with her.
Excerpt:
Hannah
The first time I saw Charlie Parker, I didn’t see one thing at a time; I saw all of him. It was an assault on my senses, an overwhelming tide of awareness, and for a moment, the details came to me in flashes over what was probably only a few seconds but felt so much longer.
His hair was blond and gently mussed, his face long and nose elegant. I could smell him, clean and fresh with just a touch of spice I couldn’t place. I tipped my chin up—he was tall, taller than me, and I hovered just at six feet—and met his eyes, earthy and brown and so deep. So very deep.
And then he smiled.
He was handsome when he wasn’t smiling. He was stunning when he was.
I was so lost in that smile, I didn’t register the flying gob until it whapped against my sweater. Tiny splatters of something cold speckled my neck.
This was the moment the clock started again, and the sweet serenity slipped directly into chaos.
A blond little boy looked up at me from his father’s side with a devilish gleam in his dark eyes. The spoon in his hand was covered in blood-red jam and aimed at me like an empty catapult.
Several things happened at once. Charlie’s face morphed into embarrassed frustration as he reached for who I presumed to be his son. The boy—Sam, I guessed from the names I’d been given by the agency—spun around lightning fast and took off down the hallway, giggling. Another child began to cry from somewhere back in the house, and a bowl clattered to the ground, followed by a hissed swear from what sounded like an older woman.
I glanced down at the sliding, sticky mess against my white sweater and started to laugh.
Charlie’s head swiveled back to me, his face first colored with confusion, then in horror as he looked at the Pollock painting on my sweater.
“Oh my God,” he breathed, his apologetic, wide eyes dragging down my body. “Jesus, I am so sorry.”
I was still laughing, almost a little hysterical. I couldn’t even tell you why.
I waved a hand at Charlie, and he took my elbow, guiding me into the house as I caught my breath. Another crash came from the kitchen, and a little girl came toddling out into the entry, leaving powdery footprints on the hardwood.
Charlie’s face screwed up. “Sam!” he called, stretching the word, a drawn-out promise of consequences.
A riot of giggling broke out in the kitchen.
We both snapped into motion. I followed him as he scooped up his crying daughter and stormed toward the kitchen. The little girl watched me over his shoulder with big brown eyes, her breath hitching in little shudders and her small finger hooked in her mouth.
Charlie stopped so abruptly, I almost ran into him.
When I looked around him and into the kitchen, my mouth opened. I covered it with my fingers as laughter bubbled up my throat.
A bag of flour sat in the middle of the floor, the white powder thrown in bursts against the surrounding surfaces and hanging in the air like smoke. The floor next to the bag was the only clean spot, shaped like a small bottom—the little girl’s, I supposed. A bowl lay upside down, its contents oozing from under the rim and slung in a ring from ceiling to cabinet to floor, as if it had completed a masterful flip on its way to its demise. And in the center of the madness stood an older woman with flour in her dark hair and dusted down the front of her. Clutched under her arm was a wriggling Sam, offending spoon still in hand.
Her face was kind but tight with exasperation. “Please tell me this is the new nanny,” she said flatly.
“I doubt we could convince her to stay at this point,” he said with equal flatness.
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About the Author
Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life — a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife, though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey.
From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.
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NEW RELEASE ~ Jagged Edge (The Arsenal, Book 1) by Cara Carnes
Jagged Edge
The Arsenal, Book 1
by Cara Carnes
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
Blurb
Mary “The Edge” Reynolds is the most sought-after back office operative around- the creative genius pulling the ultimate bad-asses out of impossible situations.
She’s never failed on a mission, and she’s not about to fail on the most important mission ever-keeping her newly designed security system safe. Relying on others isn’t in her nature, but the newly formed Arsenal is her only hope for escape when she’s kidnapped.
She is the Edge.
The Edge never breaks.
Never quits.
Dylan Mason and his brothers have put everything on the line to form The Arsenal. When the paramilitary arena is rocked by Edge’s capture, he’ll do whatever it takes to get the fearless operative back, but his wary heart isn’t ready to handle the vulnerable woman buried beneath the hardened shell. Getting her back was simple. Keeping her and her “security system” HERA out of enemy hands is another story.
Together they must hunt down the faction behind her capture and subsequent torture to keep HERA from becoming an unstoppable terroristic threat. What they uncover could destroy them both.
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Excerpt
“Bravo, Charlie has eyes on two packages. Repeat, two packages secured.” The gun lowered. Black marks ran below pasture green eyes and down across a firm, square jawline. Dark hair so brown it was almost black hung in disarray around the man’s handsome face.
Mary knew that face.
Relief washed through her. The sensation struck like a tsunami. Dizziness assailed her. Her stomach roiled, but she didn’t have the energy to puke.
Exfil.
She’d survived.
Two packages secured. The man’s words ricocheted through her.
No. No. No.
“Three.” She rasped the words.
Intense green eyes settled on her, then returned to Glenn, who’d stood.
“Get on your knees,” the man repeated to her fellow cellmate.
“It hurts,” he whined.
“Not telling you again.” The threat hung in the room, a fourth presence Mary suspected would overpower the man cowering beside her.
“Three,” she repeated. Her throat burned and throbbed with the effort she expended.
The man released his grip on the rifle. It settled against his side from the strap wrapped around thick, muscular shoulders. And arms. Mary trembled when he reached into a pocket and pulled out a water bottle.
Long legs ate the space between them until her tunneling gaze saw only thighs. He palmed her chin. “You’re safe now, Edge. We’ve got you.”
Author Bio
Born in small-town Texas, Cara Carnes was a princess, a pirate, fashion model, actress, rock star and Jon Bon Jovi’s wife all before the age of 13. In reality, her fascination for enthralling worlds took seed somewhere amidst a somewhat dull day job and a wonderful life filled with family and friends. When she’s not cemented to her chair, Cara loves traveling, photography and reading.
For more information, check out her website
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CHAPTER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY ~ Sick Fux by Tillie Cole.
Dark Contemporary Romance. Contains explicit sexual situations, violence, disturbingly sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and very mature topics. Recommended for ages 18 and over.
The first time I met Heathan James he was picking the wings off a butterfly. When I asked him why, he turned his light gray eyes my way and said, “Because I want to watch it die.”
I watched as his gaze rolled back to the squirming wingless insect in his hand. Watched his lips part as the sad creature withered and died in his palm. A long, soft breath escaped his parted lips, and a victorious smile tugged on his mouth.
I once heard of the theory that the simple flutter of a butterfly’s wings, a tiny perturbation, that merest whisper of movement in the air, could start the process of building something much bigger; a tornado, devastating thousands. A tsunami crushing iron-heavy waves onto sandy shores, obliterating everything in its path.
As I looked back on the moment we met, this introduction to Heathan James, the man who became my entire world, the pulsing marrow in my bones, I wondered if his deadly act of ripping the wings from the bright blue-and-black butterfly started such a perturbation in our lives. Not a tsunami or a tornado caused by a simple flutter, but something much darker and more sinister, caused by stripping a beautiful creature of its ability to fly, to thrive. A path of destruction no one saw coming; the sweetest, most violent deaths carried out with the gentlest of smiles on our faces and the utmost hell in our hearts.
Heathan James was never the light in my life, but instead a heavy eclipse, blotting out the sun and anything bright, bringing with him endless, eternal night and murderous tar-black blood pumping through my veins.
Heathan James was the genesis of my soul’s reawakening . . . a soul not meant for peace, but one handcrafted for death and murder and blood and bones . . .
Soulmates forged in fire, under the watchful gaze of Satan’s mocking eyes.
Heathan.
Ellis.
Just a couple of sick fux . . .
Open Internationally
Tillie Cole hails from a small town in the North-East of England. She grew up on a farm with her English mother, Scottish father and older sister and a multitude of rescue animals. As soon as she could, Tillie left her rural roots for the bright lights of the big city.After graduating from Newcastle University with a BA Hons in Religious Studies, Tillie followed her Professional Rugby player husband around the world for a decade, becoming a teacher in between and thoroughly enjoyed teaching High School students Social Studies before putting pen to paper, and finishing her first novel.
Tillie has now settled in Austin, Texas, where she is finally able to sit down and write, throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.
Tillie is both an independent and traditionally published author, and writes many genres including: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels.
When she is not writing, Tillie enjoys nothing more than curling up on her couch watching movies, drinking far too much coffee, while convincing herself that she really doesn’t need that extra square of chocolate.
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NEW RELEASE & EXCERPT ~ The Secret (Butler Ranch Book 3) by Heather Slade
The Secret
Butler Ranch Book 3
Heather Slade
Release Date October 16, 2017
Blurb:
Can Naughton Butler risk letting Bradley Saint John into his heart, or will his brother’s secret ruin his one shot at love?
Naughton Butler is a loner, partially by choice, but also because the secret his dead brother left with him could tear his life apart. When he and his brother Maddox inherit four hundred acres of prime vineyard property, they must decide how to manage Butler Ranch Winery, along with starting a new winery on Demetria Estate.
The solution is to hire the new kick-ass, hotter-than-all-get-out, winemaker who just landed on the Central Coast. When Naughton meets Bradley St. John, he’s expecting a man—and she is anything but. Thinking it’s a joke, he refuses to take her seriously. Bradley leaves, forcing him to follow and apologize. He watches as she makes her way through the vineyards, she was born to them, just like he was.
Getting a job with Butler Ranch Winery right out of college, is more than Bradley could’ve dreamed of. When Maddox Butler interviews her for the position, he warns her that Naughton could be difficult, but once he recognized her abilities, he’d back off. The burning question now was, would she want him to?
Naughton can’t stay away from her, even knowing being with her is impossible.
The Secret – Excerpt
Naughton, the dark and broody Butler brother, has always been the loner of the family. Like his oldest brother, Kade, Naughton keeps his feelings to himself. He doesn’t talk unless he has something he deems important enough to say—until he meets the new kick-ass, hotter-than-all-get-out, winemaker who just landed on the Central Coast. When Naughton meets Bradley St. John, he’s expecting a man—and she is anything but.
The Secret is the third book in the series set at Butler Ranch in the hills of California wine country—where winemaking, lovemaking and mischief-making abound.
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He was done waiting for her to make the first move to talk to him. Maddox thought; he and Bradley had a lot to discuss, and he told his brother so. Especially now. If what the marshal believed was true, everyone in the valley needed to be on high alert.
“Come with me.”
“I can’t. I mean, Maddox—”
“He knows you’re leaving.”
“Are you firing me?”
Naughton stopped so abruptly, Bradley almost ran into him. He spun around and faced her. “Why in God’s name would you think you were being fired?”
Bradley chewed at her fingernails, and Naughton gripped her wrist.
“You’re trembling. What’s going on?”
“Alex told me, you know, about the fire.”
“Good. I mean, I’m glad you know.”
“I’m so sorry…”
She looked as though she had more to say, so Naughton waited. He let go of her wrist and pulled her to him, soothing tears that turned into something worse. Bradley’s body shook against his.
“Hey, now,” he said, pulling back to get her to look at him. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
He took her hand and she followed, but her shaking didn’t stop. “Where are we going?” she asked.
“For a ride.”
“I told you, I’m not a horse person.”
“Not that kind of ride.”
He stopped in front of the barn, punched his code into his phone, and waited while the doors swung open.
“Here,” he said, handing her a helmet. “Put this on.”
“There’s something I need to tell you, Naughton.”
“Yeah? There’s something I need to tell you too, and both can wait.”
Bradley looked at the helmet, and then at him. “I’m not a motorcycle person either.”
“You will be.” he said, taking the helmet from her hands and putting it on her head. He adjusted the chin strap, and then put his hands on her shoulders. “Wiggle it around a little. Is it comfortable?”
When she nodded, he put on his own helmet and started the bike. “Get on.”
For a minute he didn’t think she was going to, but then she rested her hand on his shoulder and threw her leg over.
“Scoot closer and put your feet on those pegs,” he said, pointing behind him.
She moved a little closer and rested her feet where he told her to. “Put your arms around my waist.” She had to move closer to do so, and when she did, she was right where he wanted her. It may not have been the best idea to get her on the bike when she was upset, but riding always helped him get out of his head. Maybe it would do the same for her.
“Ready?”
She nodded, and Naughton eased the bike out through the barn door and onto the ranch’s main drive.
“Hold on tight,” he said when they reached Adelaida Trail. “If I lean, go with me, okay?”
About the Author:
My books are filled with things that bring me joy: music, wine, skiing, families, artists, and cowboys. Not always in that order.
I’m an Amazon best-selling author, and a PAN member of Romance Writers of America. I speak, teach, blog, am an executive sommelier, and all-around entrepreneur.
I grew up an east coast girl, and then spent half my life on the west coast. Now my husband, our two boys, and I happily call Colorado home.
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CHAPTER REVEAL ~ Dark Promises by Winter Renshaw
I don’t care if you like me or not.
Insatiable lust for power and control runs thick in my veins. My father served as president of the United States of America—and his father before him. Montgomeries are born to lead and rule, to fear nothing and cower to no one, to make allegiances not friends.
But I digress.
With a senate campaign about to launch and presidential aspirations at fever pitch intensity, imagine my dismay when my strategist tells me I need to “settle down” with a “nice girl” in order to appeal to my constituents.
Enter Rowan Aldridge, a head-turning stunner with a charm school walk, Jackie O. refinement, and a well-connected family.
She’s perfect.
So I’ll do what I have to do, make her believe what I need her to believe, and as soon as the campaign’s over and I’ve secured my senatorial seat, I’ll release my pretty little butterfly back into the wild.
But this isn’t about all of that.
This is what happens a villain falls in love.
“There was a girl crying in the restroom,” she says. “I had to console her.”
Mary Kate.
“Let’s make rounds, shall we?” I ask, downing the rest of my champagne before leaning into her ear. “I’d like to get out of here while the night’s still young. You slinking around here in that dress and knowing I can’t touch you the way I want to is driving me fucking insane.”
Her chin tucks and her mouth slips into a smirk.
Rowan slips her hand into the bend of my elbow, and I lead her into the crowd. The ballroom is filling by the minute, guests still arriving, and the jazz band in the corner is playing some Frank Sinatra tune.
Everywhere we go, people stare, and I don’t blame them.
We look incredible together, but it isn’t just our outward appearance. It’s everything. We just mesh. We fit. She gets me. I get her.
“I want to introduce you to someone,” I tell her, squeezing her hand as we approach a bald man in a dark gray suit. “Senator Harvey.”
The senator turns, his eyes landing on Rowan first then lifting to me, and when he recognizes me, he extends his hand, grinning wide.
“Keir,” he says. “It’s been a long time. Look at you.”
“Rowan, I’d like you to meet Senator Bill Harvey,” I say. “He was one of my most influential professors at Dartmouth. Now he’s influencing millions. Congratulations on passing that reform bill last year. I know what a labor of love that was for you.”
He rolls back on his heels, nodding. “Almost lost hope for a second, but it pulled through at the last minute. How have you been? How are things going for you?”
I glance at Rowan before answering. “Never better.”
And I mean it.
Rising on the balls of his feet, he makes eye contact with someone in the distance. “Looks like my wife is trying to flag me down, Keir. It was nice talking to you. And great meeting you, Rowan.”
Moving on, I take her from senator to representative to ambassador to billionaire benefactor, all of this serving two purposes.
Primarily, I want these people to feel comfortable supporting me once I announce my candidacy, and in order for them to feel comfortable, I want them to see that I’m getting settled, calming my wild ways. And second, I want Rowan to feel at ease in this world. I want her to feel like a part of it, a part of me. If she stays with me, she’ll need to schmooze and smile and socialize while I get my career off the ground.
When we’ve spent a solid two hours making our rounds, I call the car around.
I want to get her home and I want her all to myself.
I’m done sharing her.
And tomorrow, when she makes her decision, it better be me. And if it isn’t, I’m going to do everything in my power to change her mind.
I can’t lose her. I can’t let her go. Not now, not ever.
I realize tonight, with complete certainty, that I’m falling madly in love with this woman.
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