There will be a thousand kisses in a lifetime but only a handful trapped forever in your heart. This Valentine’s day, join The Story of a Kiss anthology as we take you into the lives of thirteen couples. From a very first kiss of a high-school prom queen, to a kiss that travels the width of time. Kisses of redemption, heartache, discovery, and so much more.
At twenty-four, Margaret Andrews is still a virgin and sick of it. After a year on the top dating site in America, and a late night episode of HUNG on HBO, she’s decided to take matters into her own hands and hires a professional.
Kelly Lincoln – Maybe now
When Hunter finally reveals his feelings for his best friend, Ava, their moment is destroyed by a tragedy. Now adults, a change meeting could be the perfect opportunity for a kiss ten years in the making.
Kathryn L. James – Crazy Beautiful Kiss
Calista and Colin shared a sizzling kiss…one she couldn’t forget and one he didn’t remember. When their paths cross again, an innocent weekend in paradise becomes unforgettable.
Sha Renée – Forbidden Kisses
Ethan is a Navy Officer. Layla is Enlisted. According to rules, any personal relationship between them is prohibited. But can military regulations separate lovers who are destined to be together?
Leslie Kung – At Long Last
Janny and Tom grew up together, but right before their friendship could turn into a budding romance, life and gravity pulled them apart. When the friends reconnected, their chemistry was undeniable–but tragedy put distance between them again. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to finally fall in love.
Emma Marie Leigh – Wrong time
Jo Stevens is an archaeology graduate student on the opportunity of a lifetime- an excavation in Pompeii. When her group discovers a basement, everything Jo knows is rocked. Rules are broken. Lines are crossed. Jo unearths everything she’s ever wanted. She’s just in the wrong time.
Louisa Blackwood – Can’t Let Go
Josephine “Joe” Burke has been running since the night her mother died, choosing solitude over dreams. Forced to return to her hometown and her old flame, she can feel her defenses crumbling. Can she let go of the haunting history holding her back?
Polly J. Brown – Ever Be
Evangeline’s life revolved around the water until she nearly drowned. Six weeks later, she returns to the beach to confront her fears, and Gregory Owen, the surfer who saved her life.
Jaye Cox – Love in Photographs
When her heart remembers but her head doesn’t, will one photograph change everything? Claire didn’t need her memories when everything within her knew she loved him.
Brandy Ayers – Fighting Faith
At nineteen, Jasper, the love of Faith’s life, shattered her heart. Now, ten years later, they’re forced together once more. Can she hold onto the last few remaining pieces of her heart?
Kate DeHart – Missed Kisses
Struggling with the recent death of her mother, Jess finds solace in her best friend Ben. Years of sweet memories cause their feelings to grow, until he does the one thing that could tear them apart.
Jody Pardo – Left Swipe Chronicles
Roommates Liz and Michelle venture into the world of online dating. After a series of bad first dates, how many swipes will it take to find her Man of Steel?
Cherry Shephard – Precious
18 year old Precious Montgomery is a nobody, she’s never even had her first kiss . . . but that’s about to change. Precious has to decide what’s more important; what she’s always wanted . . . or what she’s always had.
For Tyla Rand, her future couldn’t be bleaker. Death follows her everywhere, especially to those she loves. Being a member of the royal pack, she believes her time of happiness will come. That is, until wolves from her old pack show up missing. Her mission is to find them, but she won’t be going alone.
Sebastian Lyall, a true born royal and the one man Tyla’s been trying to push away, has offered to help in her quest. Their journey not only brings out their true desires, but attracts the attention of another, someone from Tyla’s past. However, nothing is as it seems. Death is not done with her and now he wants her to pay. He won’t be satisfied until he’s taken everything away . . . including those she loves.
“Can I help you?” I asked, turning to face Sebastian Lyall.
His whitish-blond hair was perfectly coifed in messy spikes, his light blue, button down shirt matching the color of his eyes. The last thing I needed was to look into them. He’d had me tongue tied several times in the past and it ended up making me look like an idiot.
Smirking, Sebastian stepped closer, holding out a hand. “Would you care to dance?”
Rolling my eyes, I nodded toward the group of women in the corner who watched his every move. “Why don’t you ask one of your groupies? I’m sure they’d be more than willing.”
He and his brothers, Micah and Zayne, along with Colin, were hot commodities in our pack. They were all royal wolves—the elite. No female could resist them, except me that is. I couldn’t complain though; the royals helped make our pack invincible.
Sebastian leaned closer, his gaze serious. “I asked you, Tyla Rand. Besides, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Why do we have to dance in order for you to spill? Just say it now.”
Chuckling, he grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor. “What’s the matter, afraid to be close to me? I promise I won’t bite.”
Right. Huffing, I reluctantly walked onto the dance floor just when the tempo changed to a slower, sensual beat. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I growled. Other couples joined in and held each other, swaying to the music, while I stood there like a fool.
Grabbing my other hand, Sebastian pulled my arms around his shoulders and put his around my waist. “See? Not so bad.”
I glared up at him. “Just keep your hands from wandering. Now what do you want to talk about?” His hands snaked lower and I growled. “Keep it up and see where your hands end up next.”
Chuckling, he lifted them higher. “I like watching your cheeks blush. It’s sexy as hell.”
AUTHOR BIO
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.
Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over twenty novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.
Satisfy your book cravings with Grit, Chef Pierre and Smoke & Mirrors.
This box set is only available for a very limited time. Get all three books worth $8.97 for $4.99.
GRIT
TOP 100 AMAZON BESTSELLER
***Recommended for 18 years and over***
Alpha MC Prez Jaeger Dalton wants the land that was promised to him.
Sassy Phoenix Ward isn’t about to let anyone take Freedom Run away from her.
He’ll protect what’s his.
She’ll protect what’s hers.
Jaeger is an arrogant ass, but he wants nothing more than Phoenix.
Phoenix is stubborn and headstrong, and she wants Jaeger out of her life.
Her father lost the family farm to gambling debts, but Jaeger isn’t the only one who has a claim to the property.
Sometimes it’s best to let things go.
But sometimes it’s better to fight until the very end.
CHEF PIERRE
Holly Walker had everything she’d ever dreamed about – a happy marriage and being mum to beautiful brown-eyed Emma – until an accident nineteen months ago tore her world apart. Now she’s a widow and single mother to a boisterous little 7-year-old girl, looking for a new start. Ready to take the next step, Holly has found herself a job as a maître d’ at Table One, a once-acclaimed restaurant in the heart of Sydney. But one extremely arrogant Frenchman isn’t going to be easy to work with…
Twenty years ago, Pierre LeRoux came to Australia, following the stunning Aussie girl he’d fallen in love with and married. He and his wife put their personal lives on hold, determined for Pierre to take Sydney’s culinary society by storm. Just as his bright star was on the upswing, tragedy claimed the woman he was hopelessly in love with. He had been known as a Master Chef, but since his wife’s death he has become known as a monster chef.
Can two broken people rebuild their lives and find happiness once more?
SMOKE AND MIRRORS
Words can trick us.
Smoke obscures objects on the edge of our vision.
A mirror may reflect, but the eye sees what it wants.
A delicate scent can evoke another time and place, a memory from the past.
And a sentence can deceive you, even as you read it.
There’s something about the written word that is pure magic.
Possibly it’s the fact there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and they can create something so beautiful or so empowering they’re capable to change our lives.
How important is it that we break suit and stretch our minds?
I like to think of myself as ‘unique’. My stories aren’t for everyone, and sometimes I may push what you believe to be ‘normal’.
Normal is subjective.
I prefer to be known as a person who’s never been ‘bound by custom’ but is ‘unique by choice’.
Cadence Lewis has been dancing since she could walk. Living in New York with her parents she has the chance to go to the best dance school in the country, but when her father does the unthinkable she’s forced to leave her dreams behind and move to a small southern town with her mom. Cadence is having a hard time adjusting to her new life when she meets Jade Carpenter. Jade starts to show Cadence that small-town life isn’t so bad, but when Cadence has a chance to go back to New York she is on the next flight and will do anything to get her old life back.
As the bell rings for the end of the day, I stand and take my time walking from class because let’s face it, who wants to have everyone know you drive that clonker?
When I’m almost to the door frame, I’m met by Jade.
“Hey, Cadence, right?” she says.
I look her direction. “Yup. That’s me,” I say with a fake smile. Why can’t these people leave me alone?
“Just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Jade,” she says as she walks beside me.
“Yeah. I got that from what’s her face.” I toss my head back toward the classroom.
She giggles. “You’re funny.”
I crinkle my nose. I’ve never been called funny before. “Why’s that?” I question.
“’Cause you just called Ms. Luckadoo what’s her face and not to mention you look like you’re about to run the catwalk at fashion week. You do realize where you are?”
“Well, I couldn’t remember her name and I live for fashion. It’s obvious people around here do not feel the same way.”
“Oh they do, but it’s a different kind.”
“What do you mean?”
Jade takes a moment to gather her thoughts. “Okay, let me give you the run down.” I can’t wait to hear this. “Most girls around here are up on the latest southern preppy trends from either Simply Southern, Southern Charm, and Southern Fried Chics. Every girl here owns boots to work in as well as boots to go out in. Jack Rogers are a must and we monogram everything.”
“Are you serious? You monogram everything?”
“Yeah. Just look around.” I do and notice every backpack as well as vehicle has initials on them. What the hell? “Oh and don’t forget the more glitter, the better.”
“That’s insane. Are people afraid they are going to forget their names or something?” I say smartly.
“Nope, it’s just a southern thang,” she says with a deep southern drawl. “See,” she says as she shows me her car. Oh gosh, she’s one, too.
“So, tell me more about Lawndale High?” I ask.
“Well, there’s not much to say. I mean, it’s school. The guys here are your typical country boys. They drive trucks and miss a lot of days the first day of the season.”
“Why would they miss school on the first day of Autumn?” I question.
“Please tell me you didn’t just say that.”
“Um, yeah. The first season to occur while in school is Autumn.”
She starts to shake her head. “Girl, you’ve got a lot to learn around here. Let me spell it out for you. Bambi, big bucks, big boy toys, trophies on the wall, and food in your belly.”
Casey Peeler grew up in North Carolina and still lives there with her husband and daughter.
Growing up Casey wasn’t an avid reader or writer, but after reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston during her senior year of high school, and multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading. That love ignited the passion for writing several years later, and her writing style combines real life scenarios with morals and values teenagers need in their daily lives.
When Casey isn’t writing, you can find her near a body of water listening to country music with a cold beverage and a great book.
All proceeds donated to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Worth the Chase by J.L. Beck
Unlucky in Love by RD Berg
Chance Encounter by LB Dunbar
Lucky Stud by Rebecca Elise
Love at Lucky Stables by Ashley Hampton
Lucky Me by Kelly Moran
Right Kind of Wrong by K. Renee
Lucky for You by Mayra Statham
Wish Me Luck by Shantel Tessier
Worth the Chase by J.L. Beck
Gia King and Chase Winchester come together in an explosive romance with one chance encounter at love. College, romance, and two families who were hell bent on being enemies. Can love between these two really transpire or will everyone else have the last say?
Sometimes you have to chase what you want.
Unlucky in Love by RD Berg
Two days ago Chloe James considered herself the luckiest woman alive, as she excitedly did the final preparations for her dream wedding. How did she end up in the back of an ambulance in her wedding dress with the brazen paramedic, Braden Dean, on her wedding night? Chloe soon discovers her luck well has run dry, and she just might have become Unlucky In Love.
Chance Encounter by LB Dunbar
Liars and cheats, that’s what Americans were to me, Chance Fitzgerald. My first impression was a bit skewed then of Keli Donagel. She was breathtakingly beautiful, until I heard that damn accent. Nothing good ever came from the Americans I encountered, most of all those who possessed something I want returned. What a corker that Fate is, though? She had other plans for me.
Lucky Stud by Rebecca Elise
When Kurt Davis let Briony Jensen move in as a favor to his cousin, it was only supposed to be temporary. He never expected to fall for her, but he is determined to make her his.
Just when he thinks he is getting close, Briony drops a bomb on him, forcing him to make a a difficult decision. Does he let her go or beg her to stay?
Love at Lucky Stables by Ashley Hampton
Mystery surrounds Lucky Stables. Many, like Emily Lane’s parents, fell in love there. After tragedy struck, Emily ran far away,believing the stables were cursed. In Emily’s absence, Shane Patterson has stepped in to help Emily’s aging father. When Emily returns home, will Shane help her believe in love and luck
Lucky Me by Kelly Moran
Declan O’Leary’s family is cursed. For the past one-hundred years, bad things happen if they fall in love. So Declan lives his life onewoman at a time. Until he meets Lily Durand and he finds himself wishing for a forever that can never be. Yet their fate encounter and one week of sexual, intimate bliss just might be enough to turn his luck around.
Right Kind of Wrong by K. Renee
Dannicka Grady has no idea she’s in trouble. When her sister Sage sends in a friend to protect her, the sparks fly. Sawyer “Saw” O’Brien is a dirty talking biker, and Dannicka never expected to be drawn to a man like him, especially since their worlds are so different. Can Sawyer protect her and win her heart at the same time?
Lucky for You by Mayra Statham
Ready for a fresh start, single mom Keira Jennings has discovered a slice of in heaven in the mountain town of Whispering Springs,California. Police chief Rex Malone is smitten at first sight for the charming new resident of his hometown. After a routine stop sparks fly. Has Keira’s luck changed for the better? Or is Rex just like every man she’s ever met?
Wish Me Luck by Shantel Tessier
I’ve always considered myself a lucky man. Women and money both come easily. That is until I meet Ashlyn. What was supposed to be fun and simple turns hard and complicated. I’m Ryder O’Kane, and I have fallen for a woman who made one night more memorable than any woman before her. It’s funny how luck runs out when you need it the most.
J.L. Beck is the best selling author of numerous books including Indebted, Inevitable, Invincible, and The Bittersweet Series. She’s best known for weaving a tale, that ends with your mouth hanging open, and your hands gripping the edge of your seat.
She’s a no holds bar author who enjoys spending time with her husband of eight years, three year old hellion, and soon to be newborn son Kolden, as well as Hatchi & Halo her two fur babies. She calls Wisconsin home, but loves to travel. In her free time you can catch her watching bad reality tv, cooking, reading books, or spending time outdoors.
RD BERG
RD Berg lives in the great state of Texas with her three boys who drive her to the brink of insanity most days. She loves to read, write and watch her two favorite shows, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. When she isn’t enthralled with a novel or a gory show, you can find her in the stands loudly cheering on her boys at their basketball and football games. She has three strong beliefs in life; Vanilla cake and Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream should be a major food group, Halloween should be celebrated every month, and Harry Potter’s birthday should be a national holiday.
L.B. DUNBAR
I’d love to say I’ve written for 10,000 hours, and that makes me a pro. But I can’t say that. What I can say is I had a story in my head that wouldn’t go away. I thought typing it in my computer would be the end of things, but it only led to another story and another. I love reading, so characters in my head isn’t something new. What is new is my creation of them. Hope you enjoy my favorites as much as I do. Happy reading!
Rebecca lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania with her daughter. She has a degree in Communications and Journalism with a focus in Corporate Communications and Public Relations.
Three things Rebecca loves are Coldplay, a bowl of half melted ice cream (any flavor!) and a glass of red wine. When she is not writing, Rebecca can be found with her nose in a variety of dirty romance novels, playing with her daughter or hanging out with friends and family.
While Rebecca has been writing for years, The Subzero Series is her first published work.
ASHLEY HAMPTON
Ashley Hampton works as a Licensed Psychologist in private practice during the day. When she leaves work, she puts on her writer and photographer hats and enjoys living in the worlds created in her mind. She lives near her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama with her cat, Gemma. Ashley wanted to find a creative way to meld her love for music and psychology with writing, and the Southern Rock Lyrics series was born. With other series planned, Ashley wants to write in the romance, erotica, and psychological thriller genres.
KELLY MORAN
Kelly’s been known to say that she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there’s always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself.
Kelly is a Catherine Award-Winner, Readers Choice Finalist, and earned one of the 10 Best Reads of 2013 by USA TODAY’s HEA. She is a proud Romance Writers of America member.
Kelly’s interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don’t tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and her black lab. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well.
K. Renee is from sunny, California. Creative by nature, she decided to put her imagination to paper. K. Renee is an avid reader. During the day she works in an office and at night she writes. These stories have been in her head for years and are finally coming out on paper.
MAYRA STATHAM
I have always had an addiction to books. Once upon a time I wrote one, but was easily discouraged.
Today is a new day and have decided to put my work out there.
My first series is called 6 degrees of separation… basing it on the theory where we are all connected, even if at the moment we might now know it, later down the road we see it.
The first book of the series is Crown’s Chance at Love.
This is Sabrina Miller & Michael Crown’s story. A story about second and sometimes even third chances, because everyone deserves love.
Shantel is a Texas born girl who now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her high school sweetheart, who is a wonderful, supportive husband and their three year old little princess. She loves to spend time cuddled up on the couch with a good book.
She considers herself extremely lucky to get to be a stay at home wife and mother. Going to concerts and the movies are just a few of her favorite things to do. She hates coffee, but loves wine. She and her husband are both huge football fans, college and NFL. And she has to feed her high heel addiction by shopping for shoes weekly.
Although she has a passion to write, her family is most important to her. She loves spending evenings at home with her husband and daughter, along with their cat and dog.
Cadence Lewis has been dancing since she could walk. Living in New York with her parents she has the chance to go to the best dance school in the country, but when her father does the unthinkable she’s forced to leave her dreams behind and move to a small southern town with her mom. Cadence is having a hard time adjusting to her new life when she meets Jade Carpenter. Jade starts to show Cadence that small-town life isn’t so bad, but when Cadence has a chance to go back to New York she is on the next flight and will do anything to get her old life back.
“What did you say? A stroke?” I ask with concern and confusion.
“Not literally. If you haven’t noticed it’s hot and sticky here, makes you feel like you’re a stick of butter melting. I can promise that you don’t want to be out here in the heat of the day, but if you don’t get to moving, you will be.”
“I’m not doing any of it Gran. This is not what I signed up to do.”
“Sugar, the moment you disrespected me was the moment I knew it was time to teach you a lesson or two about life. So pick up those boots and march your ass right in there.” Holy shit! Gran cursed!
“What? Shit ain’t a bad word. Look out there. There’s plenty of it,” she says pointing to the pasture. As I turn back to Gran I notice my cellphone lodged in a pile of crap.
“Gran, my phone! It landed in a pile of crap.”
“Well, brush it off.”
“Oh, no, I’m not touching that and now I need a new phone. How am I going to talk to Lauren and my other friends without a phone?”
“I have one in the house. Now quit your whining and get started on those stalls.”
Reluctantly, I follow Gran into the barn. Hearing a crazy sound, I have no idea what I’m about to do, but I pray it doesn’t have anything to do with a cow’s tatas.
Casey Peeler grew up in North Carolina and still lives there with her husband and daughter.
Growing up Casey wasn’t an avid reader or writer, but after reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston during her senior year of high school, and multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading. That love ignited the passion for writing several years later, and her writing style combines real life scenarios with morals and values teenagers need in their daily lives.
When Casey isn’t writing, you can find her near a body of water listening to country music with a cold beverage and a great book.
They tell you that a parent’s love is all consuming. I never put much thought into it. Not until the minute I heard her take her first breath. That little girl is my world. I’d do anything to protect her.
My ex signed over her rights and her family vowed that my daughter didn’t exist. Now that she’s gone, they want my little girl. They’re trying to say I can’t give her what she needs.
I’ve known Evan all my life. Our families farms run parallel with each other. He and my brother Aaron have been best friends for as long as I can remember.
What they’re trying to do is wrong. He needs my help, someone he can trust and I’m more than happy to do it. I volunteered without hesitation.
I should have thought about what it would be like to have our lives intertwined. I should have thought about what would happen when our time together ended and how my heart would feel when I had to walk away.
Kaylee Ryan has had a passion for reading since she was a little girl. That passion has slowly led to spinning romantic tales, and a one-click addiction. When she doesn’t have her nose stuck in her kindle or fingers glued to the keyboard, you can find Kaylee hanging out with friends and family. She loves all genres of music, and enjoys scrapbooking. She lives in Ohio with her husband (her real life happily ever after) and their rambunctious little boy.
Jade’s young life was tough. After her mother died during childbirth and her father could no longer look after her, she was placed in foster care where she stayed for the next ten years. She grew up feeling unloved and unwanted as she was passed around from one screwed up home to the next.
Things began to look up for her when she was adopted by a wealthy socialite at the age of eleven. Sometimes though, things aren’t always what they seem. Jade didn’t know it at the time, but her new adoptive mother had big plans for her, and spent the next seven years grooming Jade for that role.
Jade learnt early in life that she couldn’t rely on anyone but herself. Instead of letting her circumstances beat her, she took all the negatives she’d been dealt, and used them to her advantage. She grew up to be a strong, successful, determined and independent woman. She was a loner by choice.
The only thing lacking in her life was companionship and love. She’d never experienced it, so she didn’t know what she was missing, until she had a one-night-stand with a handsome stranger. One night, that would change everything.
Brock
Brock grew up privileged. He had everything going for him. Money, looks, charm, success and an endless array of beautiful women. He wasn’t interested in commitment. To him women were easy. They practically threw themselves at his feet. All they wanted was to do something nobody had ever managed before. Snare the hot, rich bachelor.
Then he met Jade. She was like a breath of fresh air. A challenge. Nothing like the women he was used too. Their one night together ignited something within him. A burning desire to own her, possess her, but Jade had other plans. Nobody says no to Brock Weston, nobody.
He’s left wondering about a woman he knows he can never have. But, when fate brings them together again, will he get what he wants? Will he be able to claim the unattainable? Or will her secrets crush him, and destroy any chance they have of being together?
**VOTED BEST NEW AUTHOR FOR 2014 IN AUSROM TODAY’S READERS CHOICE AWARDS**
J L Perry is a mother of one son and a wife. She was born in Sydney, Australia in 1972, and has lived there her whole life. Her love of reading, from a young age, gave her the passion to write. My Destiny was originally written for her sister, in 2013. It was never intended to be published. However, after finishing this book, she felt there was still a lot of Brooke and Logan’s story left to tell. This inspired her to write My Forever. With the encouragement of her family and friends, she decided to follow her dream and become a published Author.
That dream was realised on the 6th of June, 2014.
My Destiny is her debut novel in the Destiny Series. My Forever is the conclusion to this book. My Destiny and My Forever, won a gold and silver medal in the 2015 eLit Book Awards for digital publishing, with the Jenkins Group. Her series that included My Destiny, My Forever and Damaged, also won a first place in the Easychair online Bookstore annual awards in 2015. Her books received a perfect score from all the judges. Her third book Damaged – Jacinta’s Story was released October 15th, 2014. This is a standalone book, but is based on a character in My Forever. Her fourth book Against All Odds, is a standalone book, as well, but part of the Destiny Series. It was released in May, 2015.
Her fifth book Bastard, was self-published in September, 2015, and became a #1 Bestseller, before she signed a five book deal with Hachette. Bastard and Luckiest Bastard – the Novella, were re-released through Hachette on the 7th of December, 2015. Hooker, Jax and Nineteen Letters will be published through them over the course 2016. Her latest book, The Deal is scheduled for release in 2017.
J L’s love of romance and happy endings makes a perfect combination when it comes to writing her beautiful love stories.
Aurora Rose Reynolds is a navy brat who’s husband served in the United States Navy. She has lived all over the country but now resides in New York City with her Husband and pet fish. She’s married to an alpha male that loves her as much as the men in her books love their women. He gives her over the top inspiration everyday. In her free time she reads, writes and enjoys going to the movies with her husband and cookie. She also enjoys taking mini weekend vacations to nowhere, or spends time at home with friends and family. Last but not least she appreciates everyday and admires it’s beauty.
An assignment has just turned interesting for GFI investigator Malachi Whitetail. When a shy, mousy woman walks into his local diner, it takes him a minute to recognize her as an employee of the real estate office he’s been monitoring. Not a believer in coincidence, Mal decides a closer look at the short brunette might be warranted. It will be the first, but certainly not the last time, he finds himself coming to her rescue.
Kimeo Lowe leads a pretty quiet existence, which is why, when she ends up a witness to a crime, her curiosity into her boss’s suspected shady dealings gets kicked into high gear. She may not be the most sociable of people, but she’s always been independent and industrious, so when an opportunity to dig a little deeper arises, she doesn’t think twice. It would seem that this time she’s bitten off a bit more than she can chew, and when a freakishly tall Native American Adonis intervenes not just once, she decides sleuthing may be best left to professionals. But it’s a bit too late.
Just when life has settled into a comfortable routine, Kim finds herself dealing with not just one, but two threats on her life. With every turn there are new challenges to face, and Mal is not about to let her face them alone. Not even when he turns out to be no match for her most dangerous enemy.
“I’ll have a chicken salad and a glass of water, please.” Her voice is as timid as her appearance. Like a little mouse, she slipped in behind me and sat down at the furthest booth. Shocked, I tried my best not to display any reaction to her showing up here. I never expected to have one of the people I’ve been keeping an eye on show up at Arlene’s Diner. Sure, it’s popular around these parts, but given that I live in the apartment above and take most my meals here, it feels like more than a coincidence. This is why I’m keeping my back turned and my ears perked.
Arlene tags her the minute she comes out of the kitchen and is taking her order. Fucking chicken salad and water, who lives on that? I’ve had reason to keep her in my sights since taking on this assignment, and the woman rarely eats more than that from what I’ve seen. Seems to feel comfortable in the real estate office she works in, but the moment she steps out, she seems to want to disappear in the shadows. Head always low, never making eye contact and wrapping herself up in that godawful blanket thing—some kind of poncho.
It’s her boss I’m really keeping track of. Gus got a call from the Ute Reservation a few weeks ago. The council had concerns about two farms backing onto reservation lands. The chief mentioned that both had sold within a month of the other through Martin Vedica, the little mouse’s boss, and they had moved out within days. A third farm, owned by an older couple, was being targeted as well. The couple, Ezhno and Tiva Walker, had moved off the reservation some thirty years earlier to raise their family. They didn’t go far, since their property backs right onto McElmo Creek near Finley Canyon, which is on reservation lands. In fact, it is wedged between reservation boundaries and the southern border of Canyons of the Ancients National Park.
Gus asked me to keep an eye out and I have, but with Vedica out of town since yesterday, I’d been using the time to do some online digging. So far, I have come up with little to nothing. Keeping my eye on the stainless steel backsplash behind the counter, I can see in the reflection that her face is turned my way. It isn’t busy in the diner right now, being lunchtime, but there are still a few booths occupied. Still I know they are her eyes burning in my back, and I wonder if she could possibly have spotted me before.
Kimeo Lowe. A rather exotic name for the pretty, but unassuming little thing hidden under layers of dark clothing. Soft voice, soft brown eyes, and from what I’ve been able to distinguish, a soft rounded body. Hardly the description for anyone associated with some kind of nefarious real estate deal, but you never know. Looks can be deceiving.
EXCERPT 2
Kim
The moment Mal walks out the door the reality of what happened earlier tonight sets in with a vengeance. Memories of crouching down in the pitch dark, fists stuffed in my mouth while Martin was being murdered on the other side of the door cause my stomach to roll. So much blood. I barely make it to the powder room where I drop to my knees beside the toilet and heave until nothing is left in my stomach. When I sit back I notice it’s dark, not only in the bathroom but there is no light at all. I can’t remember if I turned the lights on or not. I thought I did. At least in the kitchen, but there is no glow under the door.
The shivering starts up again in my limbs and I’m struggling not to hyperventilate. A noise somewhere in the house startles me and my heart starts hammering in my chest. Afraid to move, I wedge myself further between the toilet and the wall. All I can hear is the sound of my blood rushing in my ears. I squeeze my eyes shut and wrap my arms over my head protectively. When the door opens I make myself even smaller.
“Fuck,” I hear, before I’m yanked up on my feet. I struggle against the big arms surrounding me, but they won’t budge. “Hush, Kimeo. You’re safe.”
The whispered words finally penetrate when a wet nose presses against my hand. “Boo?” The responding licks and distressed doggie whimper pulling me all the way into the here and now. Back into the hallway just outside the bathroom, with Mal holding on tight and Boo pushing his head against my side. I’m home—safe. There are no guys wielding guns here, just Mal and Boo coming back from a walk. Fuck, I’m losing it.
“Let’s go clean up,” Mal’s deep voice rumbles. I finally open my eyes and tilt my head back to find his eyes warm and concerned.
Right. I’m suddenly very aware of the fact I probably have puke-breath. That thought alone is mortifying enough, but add that to my smelly shirt, stringy hair and whatever my face looks like now, and I want the ground to open up and swallow me. Determined to create as much space as possible, I push hard against his chest. He immediately releases his arms and allows me to step back. “I’ll be okay now. You can go home.” I try to make my voice sound firm, but the little hitch in my breath at the end ruins the effect.
“Not happening.” Mal doesn’t seem to have a problem sounding firm. I have no energy to fight him and without another word, I turn and walk to my bedroom, close the door and peel out of all my clothes, tossing them in the hamper on my way into the bathroom. There I turn on the tap until the water runs hot and I numbly step into the shower where I scrub myself raw, the faint light of dawn slipping through my window by the time I’m done.
EXCERPT 3
Mal
“Kimeo, you’ve gotta snap out of this.” At the mention of her full name her eyes finally snap open, looking wild and disoriented. It’s Boo’s soft whimpers from where his head is perched on the pillow next to hers, that seem to pull her back into the here and now.
“What?” Her voice sounds hoarse from the screaming. Turning her face away from Boo, her eyes finally focus on mine and she repeats, “What?”
“You were having a nightmare. Pretty bad from what I could tell. Do you remember?” The confusion seems to disappear from her eyes only to be replaced with horror as she scans my face.
“Oh my God…did I do that?” Her shocked whisper has me raise a hand to my cheek where I feel a slight burn. It comes away bloody and instantly Kim’s eyes fill with tears. “I am so sorry…” Her fingers skim over my face, leaving a cool soothing trail in their wake.
“It’s fine. Just a scratch, honey. You did worse damage to yourself. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Without waiting for an answer, I reluctantly push up from her body and get off the bed, before pulling her off too. My hand firmly on the back of her neck, I guide her into the bathroom where she stares in shock at her reflection.
“I did that?” “Mmm.” I grab a washcloth from the shelf and wet it under the tap before gently wiping her throat while lifting her chin up with my other hand. “It’s not that bad, have a look. Just a scratch,” I reassure her.
“I was in the supply closet and the door opened, but it wasn’t you. Just two eyes behind a mask. He had a knife.” Her body does a full on shiver and against my better judgement, I dump the washcloth in the sink and wrap her tight in my arms. “Just a dream,” I mumble in her hair.
“Yeah, but you rescued me again,” she whispers in my chest before tilting her head back to look at me. “Thank you.”
Fuck me. Those big liquid eyes, plump pouty lips, hell even the red blotches on her nose are impossible to resist. Keeping her gaze trapped with mine, I slant my mouth over hers and on her gasp of surprise, sweep my tongue inside for a taste. Sweet, hot, with a hint of spice—damn. Big mistake.
When I feel the vibrations of her moan against my tongue I know I have to pull back or I’ll lose all control. That moan travels all the way down to my cock and I know there’s no way she missed that pressing in her belly.
Rather abruptly, I push her back by the shoulders. She has a dazed look on her face and I know exactly how she feels. In a last indulgence I run my thumb over her soft bottom lip before completely letting go of her.
“Have a shower. It’ll make you feel better. I’m gonna whip us up some dinner.” With that, I leave a not quite coherent Kim in the bathroom. So much for staying away from her…
This is not going to be a very long, drawn out review but only because there are only so many ways to say how much I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Freya Barker is one of my favourite authors…ever. I adore her writing style and LIKE ARROWS is now my favourite book in her Cedar Tree series. ~ Kez Korner
After reading Like Arrows by Freya Barker I have now added a new author to my “To be read” list. Kimeo and Malachi’s story sucked me in from the start. I love how she had these characters evolve in a way that brought them together as a strong couple with flaws, but who complimented and boosted each other up. ~ Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
I have read all of Freya Barker’s books in the Cedar Tree series and Like Arrows was freaking amazing. The story was fast paced and easy to read. I was hooked from the first page to the last. ~ Goodreads Review
BLP REVIEWS
REBECCA
Pure Beauty. Pure fucking beauty that spoke to my soul, even got me to shed a tear and we all know I’m the unemotional one of this blogging partnership, the one who is all “yeah it was emotional” while my bestie is a sobbing wreck telling me I have no heart or soul! I think the reason this story touched me so deeply is I’ve been Kimeo, without giving away huge spoilers – because nothing is worse than a review that does that – I’ll just say that the lack of control over aspects of your life due to medical issues, if you’ve lived it, hits deep, body issues and how society dictates and judges hits deep, but when an author is as talented as Ms Barker is at real, REAL characters, people you can see yourself actually knowing…. people you can see YOURSELF in, combined with hot as fuck and romantic to it’s very core, then you have a special and haunting story that stands out from the crowd.
If you’ve read From Dust then you know already that darker and emotional is in Freya’s repertoire. If you’re familiar with the Cedar Tree series you’ve met Mal, you know some of his history and difficult past, so may be expecting that different tone to this one, but when you add Kimeo and her story into the mix it’s heart-breaking perfection. Every ingredient that we’ve come to expect is in here- snappy sassy dialogue, recurring characters, family made by choice – as well as blood – with strong loyalties, hot as fuck sex, real issues not sugar coated or dismissed yet done with such sensitivity and class that it adds to the story while not taking away any of the fantasy we read these alpha romances for ……..and did I remember to mention the HOT AS FUCK sex?!?!?!?!?!!
Freya really puts a lot into the cultivation of her characters and, in this book especially, the heroine. She is a woman that you can relate to in so many, if not all ways. We all have our physical drawbacks and a person in our lives that makes us feel inadequate, but when it’s those who should love and support us unconditionally that do this, then the damage is worse. When Kim finds her backbone I was cheering in my head and twirling pompoms!
“It’s no wonder you two have to put up with each other, with personalities that ugly, It’s no wonder I’m the one standing here with a good man, a decent man“ – I lean in for more emphasis,- “and yes, a gorgeous man at my side. There isn’t a man worth his salt who would put up with such ugliness.” Mal tugs at my hand but I’m not done. “You think you can tell from the outside what a person represents? What their life is like? You think you know by just one look? Well feast your eyes as my fat ugly ass walks away with my amazing boyfriend. And in case you were wondering? He’s hung like a stallion and knows how to use it.”
Mal has his demons as we already know and as the relationship unfolded I was thinking they could fix each other, this is gorgeous, then right at the last quarter of the book a twist gets thrown in that had me unable to put the book down, turning the pages in horror, crying (never, never happens) and thinking no HEA was going to be, WTF is going on, NOOOOOOOOO…………………….
I should have trusted Freya because we get a HEA and it’s beautiful.
Real.
Warts and all.
Life, Karma, Beauty. Total fucking perfection.
“I love all of you Malachi. Each part, every nuance, the dark, the light, the protective, the vigilant, the tender, the wounded-I love them all. Each separately and all combined. There isn’t a part of you I want to hide from or want hidden from me. I love you.”
(**I normally call dibs on all of Freya’s boys but for this one I’m calling dibs on Boo!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TRACY
I’ve loved and felt an empathy with the gals from the Cedar Tree series – Freya’s characters are so very real and face troubles and issues that we all know happen in real life – but while reading LIKE ARROWS I really felt a connection with Kimeo.
There’s a few reasons for this I suppose – any and all of which I’m not gonna count out in this review as her issues are a huge part of the story – but I know that there are a lot of people who will understand where our heroine is coming from and the challenges she faces on a daily basis.
Kim was so very down to earth, pulled into a mess that was not her own making and that’s where she first got the interest of Malachi. Now there’s an alpha character who knows how to take care of someone – both physically and emotionally – though Kim was as good for him as he was for her! Now, there’s one thing I’ve got to admit – the first couple of times that Mal came across Kim in person I could happily have gutted the bugger – regardless of what his intentions were!!! – but as hoped, he did redeem himself and I have to say that he’s now one of my top 2 leading men from the CT series.
So much emotion and feeling was experienced throughout the read. We had action and adventure and intrigue that left us not knowing what the hell was gonna happen. A couple of scenes where I could only cheer Kim on and wish that she had that strength and belief in herself always! There was the much loved appearance of family (choice & Blood) and friends – the camaraderie, care and affection between that group of people is heartwarming. The heat, attraction, passion and sexual tension between our main characters was intense.
All in all LIKE ARROWS was one helluva read and I absofuckinlutely adored it!!!
If you’re already a fan of the Cedar Tree series you’ll love this latest instalment. If you haven’t yet visited their little corner of the fictional world you’ll be able to read this wee treasure as a standalone BUT to fully enjoy all that is Cedar Tree and Freya Barker, I’d suggest you take the time to read the previous books in the series before you pick up Malachi & Kimeo’s book.
I rate LIKE ARROWS 5 stars – but this still isn’t enough in my opinion!! *****
About The Author
Author of the popular Cedar Tree series, as well as the critically acclaimed standalone “From Dust,” Freya Barker is driven to make her stories about ‘real’ people; with characters who are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills, and some hot, sizzling sex in their lives.
Recipient of the RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for best first book, “Slim To None,” Freya has hit the ground running. She loves nothing more than to meet and mingle with her readers, whether it be online or in person at one of the signings she attends.
With her kids grown and out in the world, Freya has poured her creative energy into spinning story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!
Book Loving Pixies 