In the quiet town of Myersville, Oklahoma, a serial killer is murdering victims by savagely removing their hearts.
Sheriff Kate Nevill is desperate to end the nightmare, but the only lead is the fingerprint of a man who’s been dead for months.
As time slips away and the body count rises, Kate must confront the impossible to save her town—and stop a killer who shouldn’t exist.
Excerpt:
Camden cocked his head and listened. Then he heard it too, and his blood chilled. A shuffling, grunting sound. Not an animal, he was sure of it. This was human-sounding. But not normal. It was something that didn’t belong in nature.
Branches from the woods nearby cracked and Colbey grabbed Camden’s arm and tugged on it. “Come on, there’s’ something out there. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Oh shit,” Camden muttered. His legs went weak, and he stumbled after Colbey, who was already halfway up the bank, fishing poles and tackle boxes forgotten on the ground.
They’d only gone a few more feet when something burst from the tree line and onto the path in front of them.
A man wearing a black hooded cloak stood five feet away, blocking their route to the car. The grunting and groaning was coming from him. His face looked like something from a horror movie…mottled skin, evil, deep-set eyes, and a maniacal grin.
“Wh-what do you want?” Colbey squeaked out.
The man didn’t answer. His gaze swung from Colbey to Camden, then back again. He licked his lips and pulled something from the pocket of his jacket. A knife. A huge-ass scary as shit knife. Camden stood frozen to the spot. Something warm trickled down his thighs, and he realized he’d wet himself. If they survived this, Colbey would never let him live this down. Live was the key word. They had to make it out of this alive…he didn’t want to die. A whimpering sound seeped through his consciousness. Colbey…he’d never heard his older brother make that sound. Never known of him to be scared of anything.
Colbey reached over and held out his hand. Camden took it, gripping it tightly like he had when they were younger and he’d been scared. He hadn’t been scared in years…and he’d never been scared like this. This was pure, deep and chilling terror.
Camden thought back on what he’d heard about the other victims. They’d been split open. Their hearts removed. Staring at this…monstrous thing…in front of them, Camden had a feeling he knew what had happened to those hearts. And he knew without a doubt, this was one scrape he and Colbey were not going to escape from.
The fourth series of Friday the 13th horror short stories is now available. In each, a murder takes place or a body is found on Friday the 13th. See if you can spot the other recurring elements. Dive into these short horror reads and have a frightfully great time!
****** Only 99 cents until the witching hour when the price goes up! (Well, until around midnight :))
For the series buy link, click on the below:
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Spit on a grave by Tamrie Foxtail
Fun Fact:
When I was in high school there was a cemetery across the street. It may sound odd, but it was a quiet place to study and walk. And there was that one mysterious headstone…off by itself…broken….
About Spit on a Grave:
No one likes a bully and Kiera’s tormented by four of them. But Kiera knows something they don’t. She knows how to turn the tormentors into the tormented.
Snippet:
“Audrey’s right,” Makayla said. “This is spooky. Why can’t we just say we went?”
“Because we have to post a picture,” Jenna said. “With the time.” She pointed to her right. “Kiera said the grave is over there in the corner, under the oak tree.”
They walked two abreast, dead leaves crunching beneath their feet and the full moon playing hide-and-seek through bare branches.
“There,” Alissa said, pointing at the lonely stone. She motioned for the other three to follow.
“Do we just take a picture standing in front of the grave?” Audrey asked.
“We’re supposed to spit on it,” Makayla said.
“That so disrespectful,” Jenna said.
Alissa shrugged. “Who cares? She was a child killer.” Alissa turned on her camera and aimed it at the stone. “Here we are in front of the grave of Barbara Dawn Callan,” she said in a spooky voice. “So scary. Not.” She made certain she was in the video, turned and spit on the grave. “There you go Barbara Dawn. Come and get me.”
Makayla followed. “Waiting for you, Barbara Dawn,” she taunted.
About the author:
Tamrie Foxtail followed her husband from the Sunshine State to the Sooner State thirty years ago. She loves carousels, reading, her family, and her fur babies.
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Soulless by Alicia Dean
Fun Fact:
When I write, I like to pay homage to things I love or that are personal to me. In Soulless, there are several scattered throughout:
The name of the town is Pleasence, after Donald Pleasence who played Dr. Loomis in the Halloween movie franchise.
A nearby town is called Boone Springs, which is the name of the town in my grim reaper romance, Soul Seducer.
My sheriff is Rosalyn (Roz) Grimes, and Rick Grimes is my favorite character in Walking Dead, and Roz is from one of my favorite sitcoms, Frasier.
Of course, I mention Elvis, though briefly.
And, I mention MLB, although at the time I wrote it, I didn’t realize that no post season game would be happening on Friday, although in the story I say there is.
And, lastly (I think), my bad guy’s name, Dearil, means ‘call of death.’
About Soulless:
When Sheriff Rosalyn Grimes shoots and kills the serial killer who is holding her daughter captive, she thinks the ordeal is over and her town is safe. But a rash of new murders plunges them right back into the nightmare—is there a copycat on the loose or, even more terrifying, has the same murderer come back to life?
Snippet:
He was only ten feet away, and she was suddenly afraid to go any closer. He gave off a bad vibe…as if just his being naked in the middle of the road wasn’t a bad vibe enough. No, there was something about this guy she wanted no part of. Screw it, she’d definitely call the police. And grab her gun while she waited for them.
She backed away, keeping her eye on him, but still, he didn’t move. She turned and hurried to her porch. She was twisting the knob when a smell like death assailed her nostrils. Fear choked her, and she whirled to see the man looming behind her. How had he gotten here so quickly?
She fumbled for the door and managed to get it open, then hurried inside. When she went to slam the door shut, he shoved it open from the other side and sent her tumbling to the floor.
He stalked over to her. “Let me in, little piggy.” His harsh voice rumbled out of him like a death rattle.
Shivers raced over her skin. “What do you want?” she managed to get past the lump of fear in her throat. “My husband’s upstairs, and he’s got a gun.”
His grotesque mouth lifted in the parody of a smile. “Don’t lie to me, Bethy. Your husband’s out of town. I need his clothes.”
The moon outside the window passed from behind the clouds, illuminating his features, and she gasped with recognition.
About the Author:
Oklahoma author, Alicia Dean, has an unhealthy fascination with murder and all things creepy and disturbing. On a lighter note, she’s a lifelong Elvis fan, loves the NFL and MLB, and hardly ever makes her darkly disturbing fascinations a reality.
Some friends and I attended a forensic class at a Skeleton Museum. We were given a skull and instructions on how to determine the cause of death. It was interesting to go through the steps anthropologists and forensic scientists go through to determine age, sex and physical trauma. Skeletons really can tell a story of a person’s life.
About The Widower:
Lucy Cable has an inexplicable talent for reading bones—she can look at a skull and see the person’s face. While touring a local bone museum, she notices a skeleton on display and is horrified to identify it as her missing friend. When another murder takes place, Lucy realizes a maniac is in their midst. Can she figure out how to stop him before her snooping around puts her next on his list?
Snippet:
“I didn’t think the museum would have this effect on you. Seriously, I just thought it would be a fun party.”
“I’m fine,” Lucy said. “I just need to sit down for a bit.”
“Ok, if you don’t mind, I’m going to find Cora.”
“Knock yourself out.” Lucy headed for an empty bench across the room. She was almost there when a sight stopped her short. She couldn’t have seen what she thought she had. It couldn’t be. Slowly, she pivoted on her heels. She had to be imagining things. She walked toward the single skeleton in the far corner of the room.
She put her hands on the glass and stared at the figure allowing the flesh to layer in her mind. There was no mistaking it. The same pert nose. The high cheekbones. The perfectly shaped rosebud lips. Add the blue eyes and long blonde hair. It was Maeve. Her mind spun with the implications. She’d seen her last night and now her skeleton was on display. “Oh, Maeve.”
“Now, what do you think of my museum?” Professor Porter beamed down at her. Lucy looked into the eyes of a killer.
About the Author:
Krysta Scott is the author of the novel, Shadow Dancer. Since publishing her first book through the Wild Rose Press, she has since published two novellas in the Martini Club 4 series and three novellas in the Friday the Thirteenth series. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, daughter and dog.
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The Boy in the Bubble by Stephen B. King
Fun Fact:
This story was inspired by meeting someone who spent his childhood as a true boy in the bubble due to severe allergies that would kill him if he left it. Later in life, when he gained some immunities, though he still has to lead a sheltered life, he suffered a hernia and the operations went wrong. We can all be grateful that he didn’t have the telekinetic power Timothy does in the story……
About The Boy in the Bubble:
Timothy has spent his life in a bubble which protects him from fatal allergies. But nature always compensates and Timothy has developed incredible telekinetic powers. When a simple hernia operation goes wrong causing him unbearable, non-stop agony, Timothy strikes back the only way he knows how by reigning death and destruction.
Snippet
Much later, when Joseph recalled the incident, he realized their attacker suddenly resembled a marionette operated by a manic puppeteer. As the man reeled backward away from the cab, his hand, which held the switchblade, trembled as it turned toward his own stomach. The man seemed to be fighting with an invisible bodyguard, and he grasped his right wrist with his left hand to try to stop the knife from stabbing into his own body. But he was fighting a losing battle, and the blade disappeared into his stomach as he screamed a blood-curdling yell which ended with an even louder shriek.
“No,” Joseph shouted frantically, “Timothy, stop.”
The man jerked the knife out, and a squirt of blood arced toward the open door, some hitting Miriam’s skirt. “Arggghhhhhh,” the mugger exclaimed and looked directly into Joseph’s eyes as the knife re-entered an inch higher, then again, and again, repeatedly until he fell to the sidewalk, shaking and kicking his legs in pain before passing into unconsciousness.
About the Author:
I am thrilled, and deeply humbled to have published 17 books. Though my first love is psychological thrillers featuring the worst serial killers imaginable, I have also written romantic thrillers, horror stories and even a time-travel romantic thriller where the protagonist comes back in time to save the world, and falls in love. Find me on FB: @stephenbkingauthor
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A Wicked Fate Mark Edward Jones
Fun Fact
I like to pluck quotes from Shakespeare’s different works and in Hamlet I found ‘Our wills and fates do so contrary run.’ I wanted to show a bit of the killers’ perspectives in this story. Can the young female antagonist, Miomir, resist her destiny, or will her uncle force her to accept her fate?
About A Wicked Fate:
Miomir ìl Kurić desires money, power, and to be feared, while unburdened by her past. Her Uncle Karanosz insists she remains a part of their unique family, one which harbors special skills … and connections to evil.
Snippet:
The ancient granite structure no longer offered Christian worshipers a place for gathering in southern Vienna. The Catholic Church abandoned then sold St. Ezekiel—some said because the hauntings had never ceased. A half-century earlier, the Jews of Vienna had been herded like cattle into the old church before transport to Mauthausen or one of its surrounding camps. The church sat empty for decades, an outcast building with broken stained glass, dusty pews and altars, and fading memories of the long-ago tragedy.
Two people had claimed a portion of the former church. A man with a fedora in his lap leaned back into a cushioned love seat, his head tilted upward with eyes shut. A young woman paced the living area, clenching an unlit cigarette between her lips.
Miomir stared and yanked the cigarette from her mouth. “Comfortable?” she asked, staring at her resting uncle. “Two dead, and now we are the hunted again.”
Tasev sighed and sat forward. “Dear Miomir, I cannot believe you let it happen.” He shook his head. “There will be many questions about the condition of the body. If someone knows your … abilities, they will identify you.”
About the Author:
Mark retired from higher education finance in 2017. He is working on his third detective mystery, has written three paranormal short stories, and has completed the first chapter of a proposed sci-fi mystery.
One morning, during the writing process of SHARE my grandson and I went on a bicycle ride through town. On our way home, our path led us beside an abandoned building with an entire wall missing. We could see something inside and climbed onto the crumbling foundation to get a better look. There, standing alone, was one single piece of furniture–a baby cradle complete with bedding. In contrast to the surroundings, the cradle was in perfect condition. The scene absolutely took my breath away, because of the similarities to my existing book cover–so much so, I snapped this picture with my phone.
About SHARE:
Expectant mother, Autumn, offers to lend her body through “lend and borrow” technology to her childless boss and mentor, Sadie, who longs to experience the movement of a child within her before she dies. However, Autumn is horrified to learn that her good intentions have warranted certain death for her unborn child. Sadie doesn’t like to share.
Snippet:
“Wow,” Autumn breathed, stopping in her tracks. “Look at that.” She pointed to a large painting of a crying infant whose colorful—was it a soul?—descended from the sky, entering the child, filling its small body with light. A Not For Sale sign was attached to the ornate frame.
Sadie approached, touching Autumn’s arm. “How far along are you?”
She turned slowly toward her. “Almost five months. But most people are surprised when I tell them. How did you know?”
“I just knew.”
“Do you have children?”
“Actually, no. I’ve had three miscarriages, each at around twelve weeks gestation. Shortly after the last one, our house burned down, and my husband died in the fire. No children, no husband. It’s just me and my shop. Loss is so painful.”
“That is heartbreaking.” Autumn wrapped an arm around Sadie. “Your husband is waiting in heaven for you. Your babies are there, too.”
“I wish that were true. But my children never drew their first breath, therefore they never received a soul.” She looked up at the painting. “The soul is granted by God when a newborn child takes its very first breath. The soul is precious. Reserved for children who thrive outside the womb, not those who merely exist inside it.”
“You said yourself it was painful to lose your children,” Marlene piped in, her words bristling with irritation.
“Extremely painful. But even more painful was the acknowledgement that each of those small, lifeless bodies lacked a soul.”
The breath whooshed from Autumn’s lungs. She steadied herself against a sturdy-looking bookcase as Marlene put an arm around her and glared at Sadie. “Seriously, lady? What you said goes way beyond polite conversation.”
“I’m sorry—”
About the Author:
Anna is a screenwriter, freelance writer, and fiction writer with twelve books in publication and over a dozen articles/stories featured in Writers’ Digest, Southern Writers, and Woman’s World magazine. She was named “Oklahoma’s Best Author of 2021” by Oklahoma Living Magazine.
In “Blanks,” my favorite character, Josiah Poopart, better known as Beaver, rides again. I liked him so much in “Stripes” that I couldn’t resist writing a sequel. I’ve known him in various forms my entire life: canoeing buddies, fellow soldiers, family members. Men with a simple yet somehow poetic view of life. None as homicidal as Beaver, of course, but they speak of the world much as he does. He is very true to my experience and very close to home. He is not sophisticated, but he is creative, and he’s never met a story he was afraid to embellish. He’s so fun to write. My hope is to write at least five stories documenting the misadventures of my lethal, bucktoothed friend. I’d like to eventually publish them as a single work. (Title suggestions are welcome. 😊) We’ll see.
I did a lot of research for this story (LSD, Spavinaw history, etc.) I always do. My favorite scene, however, wasn’t due to any research or innate creativity on my part. I really wish it was. The Tale of the Depressed Duck was given to me whole cloth by my buddy Colin. He had just had a nearly identical conversation with his wife and was wondering how he should respond. I had no advice for him but, I roared when I heard the story and had to find a way to make it Beaver’s. Fortunately, Colin was willing. I’m hoping you enjoy my retelling of The Depressed Duck. If not, that’s on me. The original version was hysterical.
About Blanks:
Beaver Poopart has graduated both the VA psych ward and the police academy. Now he’s gone to Oklahoma in search of a wayward woman. Lots of people are going to wish he hadn’t.
Snippet:
“Anyway,” I said, “thirteen weeks I spent getting my head unscrewed and re-screwed. No booze. No women. Nothing but cigarettes and all the sleep and VA chow you could eat.”
“Food bad?”
“Hell, no. I ate better than I ever did. Free, too. They had this carrot Jell-O that I got to liking a lot. Little blob of whip cream on top. Real darn good. Sometimes I think I ought to head back over there for dinner or lunch some time. In fact, we could—” I stopped myself. Shooter might meet one of my docs. He might not understand about that dead orderly, Raymond.
Nothing to do with me, of course. People break their necks falling down the stairs all the time. They don’t often die on the fire escape outside my room, but that ain’t my fault. Truth is, nobody knows what he was even doing out there. I reckoned him for a peeping Tom, and I told them so. I told them I was suing for sexual harassment. I pointed out that he kept trying to give me weed, which everybody knows is a gateway drug to sexual slavery. Turns out they had their own suspicions.
About the Author:
Christopher Farris lives in a very old, very small house in a very old, very small town nestled deep in a valley of the Boston Mountains of Northwest Arkansas. His novels, The Fountain, and Intersection: A Trucker’s Christmas Carol are available at Amazon.com, as are his Friday the 13th short stories, including the first Beaver story, “Stripes.”
The climax to the story takes place in the old Rainier Brewery in south Seattle. The huge building is next to the freeway with an iconic “R” sitting on top. Millions of people have driven past the place, but few have entered it. I decided the bowels of the building would be an ideal setting.
About The Devil’s Dregs:
A witch has stolen Steven Metcalf’s newborn son and intends to sacrifice the child to her dark lord. Steven and his two friends scour Seattle to rescue the infant, but the city has become infested with witches and their allies. Can Steven and company save the innocent before it’s too late?
Snippet:
We were about fifty yards down the hill, stumbling through the ferns and salal bushes when a bright flashlight illuminated us. A woman shouted, “This is the police! Stop where you are!”
We ignored her and increased our pace, careening down the hillside by taking flying leaps through the wet fall foliage. Gunshots rang out. I could hear the whizzing sound of bullets flying past us and into the leaves of bushes. Bark flew off a nearby tree. This caused us to leap even faster until we entered a copse of evergreens with low-hanging branches, shielding us at least from view. We crouched on the ground and gathered together as bullets continued to wiz over our heads.
“What now?” asked Hu. While normally cool as a cuke, her voice betrayed her desperation.
About the Author:
Robert Herold is the author of the award-winning Eidola Project novels, which follows a team of 19th-century ghost hunters, and The Seattle Coven Tales, declared by N. N. Light Book Heaven as the “must-read paranormal series of the year.” Find out more at:http://robertheroldauthor.com
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Feast or Famine by Jon Minton
Fun Fact
The story contains a scene at the Teatro della Pergola, an opera house in Florence, Italy. It opened in 1656 and still hosts shows today. In the scene, the main character is watching Robert le Diable, a Meyerbeer opera about the medieval legend who discovers he is the son of Satan. Released in 1831 it is known for the provocative Nun’s Ballet.
About Feast or Famine:
Theresa Salomé is cursed and blessed. Every Friday the 13th, she must kill and cannibalize her victim, extending her life. She’s collected knowledge, amassed wealth, and watched empires come and go. But as centuries pass, the cycle and isolation threaten to tear her mind apart. Is she a monster, a preview of humanity’s future, or just another pawn for gods and devils.
Snippet:
Tess’s strength and extended life came from the brain and heart, the meat and potatoes of the meal. She threw the heart to Marco, who tore into the tough muscle like butter. Despite popular opinion, the brain isn’t something you can hold. Tess scooped out gelatinous fat, slurping it from her hand like an oyster.
Everything that came after the brain and heart, just like the spinal fluid hors d’oeuvres, could be skipped. Tess reminded herself that there was a technical need. If nothing else, body disposal. On a cursed day, she tore flesh and consumed it with the same efficiency as her companion, and together, they would devour it down to the bone in a single day.
About the Author:
Jon Minton is an American speculative fiction writer based in Oklahoma City. He is a software developer but has always been passionate about a great story.
The natural springs and caverns that are part of this story were once popular spa destinations in Florida for travelers in the laste 1800s and early 1900s.
About Violet:
Ivy Powers, now Ivy Ligon, is happily married, renovations to convert the Victorian home she inherited from a distant relative into a bed-and-breakfast are almost complete, and she just discovered she’s expecting. Life is perfect except for troubling dreams and the heartbreaking wail of a child that keeps waking Ivy in the middle of the night. While one lost soul may be seeking solace, another intends to keep its secrets buried…forever. Ivy will be forced to pay a price in her quest to right a wrong…but will it be worth the cost?
Snippet:
“Did you hear about the skeleton they found at the sinkhole on Aaron Rebisz’s farm?”
Ivy was sitting cross-legged next to a box of ledgers from the 1900s the town librarian had dropped off for the new museum. Across the room, Truby Santella was methodically sorting four generations of war medallions donated by Pete Wilson, a retired Navy captain who came from a long line of patriotic men and women who’d served in the Armed Forces.
“Passaway is slow to reveal her secrets, but nothing stays buried forever.”
Ivy flinched at Truby’s choice of words. Although she’d slept a few more hours, undisturbed by eerie cries, the thought of a small child dying in an underground cavern unsettled her. She’d confessed her feelings to Mike who frowned sympathetically but cautioned her about jumping to conclusions.
“We don’t know what happened,” he’d said, smoothing a strand of hair out of her face. “A family could have been picnicking out in the field on top of another sinkhole and the child fell in and was trapped under the dirt and rocks. Jackie mentioned something about a health spa where people came to swim in the natural springs. Could be the child accidentally drowned or was swept away by the waters. Whatever it was, I suspect it happened a long time ago, given there are no stories about children who unexpectedly went missing in the area.”
Her husband was right. The child’s death was most likely an unfortunate mishap.
No, it wasn’t.
Ivy’d had a series of baffling and inexplicable events when she first arrived in Passaway. Premonitions, visions and dreams that seemed to be those of another woman, ghostly encounters, roses with supernatural abilities—all related to Rosemary Storm’s murder. She’d learned to trust her intuition and believe in the unbelievable.
There was a dark secret connected to the child’s skeleton spit out by the earth yesterday. What would it take for the truth to be revealed?
“You’re familiar with the town’s unofficial history.” Ivy tried to sound curious, not like she was digging. “Have you ever heard of a young boy or girl getting lost in the caverns around here?”
“That’s not something I know,” Truby drawled. “Each generation has its own secrets.”
About the Author:
Connor Treadway is the pen name for the writing team behind Gothic thrillers and mysteries. The duo lives and writes in northeastern Florida.
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Karma’s a Bitch by TL Schaefer
Fun Fact:
This was one of those stories that just appeared in my head as I drove back from a lunch meeting with my writer friends! Driving time is the best time for conjuring ideas.
About Karma’s a Bitch:
Millie is determined to prove the existence of the paranormal in Bountiful, Oklahoma. But the people of Bountiful don’t care much for strangers asking questions…
Snippet
A monster emerged soundlessly from the depths of lake into the eerie silence, the last rays of sunlight putting her on display.
She was small, no bigger than Millie, but pure presence and power surrounded her like a nimbus, making her seem larger than the men arrayed before her combined. Her naked body was mottled gray and green and brown, long knotted ropes of what looked like moss shrouding her face. She was grotesque and stunning at the same time, and her terrible, terrifying beauty made the breath clog in Millie’s lungs.
The water streaming off of the monster was clear, and all around her water lilies formed and bloomed, a riot of green and white and pink against cool, crisp water that had looked black and clouded just a moment before.
A kind of wonder tinged with terror swept through Millie, leaving chill bumps on her arms as she looked and tried to comprehend. Failed. She’d never seen anything like this. Had a feeling no one had, except the men who’d summoned the creature.
About the Author:
TL Schaefer writes mysteries/police procedurals that also have a romance twined throughout. And likely some stuff that goes bump in the night.
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Knockers by Mary Coley
Fun Fact
The KNOCKERS story came together after visiting the famous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO this summer.
About Knockers:
Trina Ellsbury needs a break. Then she checks into the StayLonger Inn. The desk clerk neglects to tell her about Knockers that linger on the fifth floor, or the history of Room 511.
Snippet:
“Front Desk. How may I help you?” A woman asked.
“Trina Ellsbury in 511. I need maintenance. The water in my bathtub is brown.”
“511? That can’t be right. What room, Ms. Ellsbury?”
“511. I checked in last night and have been here all day.”
The woman cleared her throat. “I have no one in 511. We don’t rent that room. Please check the number again. I’ll be happy to send someone up.”
“Trip has been here several times today.”
“Trip? We don’t have an employee by that name.”
“Then ask Lou. He delivered food and picked up something for the cleaners. I assure you I’m here and in room 511.”
“Lou? We have no one on staff named Lou. I’ve been at the desk all day.”
“Mr. Jenkins has helped me each time I’ve called. Get him, please. Mr. Jenkins, the manager.”
“There is no Mr. Jenkins. I’m Sandra Lawson, the night manager.”
Someone knocked on the door. Knock…knock, knock, knock, knock. Five times. In my head, the two answering knocks sounded.
“Maintenance, Ms. Ellsbury.” Trip called. He knocked five times.
Through the peephole, I recognized Trip’s blazing smile. I knocked twice in response, loudly, and let him in.
About the Author:
Mary Coley thinks in mysteries. Her favorite question is WHY? A traveler, nature and dog lover, her next story is just around the corner. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and Trixie, their current rescued hound.
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Spine Chilling by Michelle Godard-Richer
Fun Fact
I put up a post in The Booklounge For Readers and Authors to ask men which classic books were their favorites to decide which book Peter McFadden would possess.
About Spine Chilling:
Peter McFadden’s life is ending, but he isn’t ready to leave this world and his killing ways behind. His spirit lingers inside his favorite vintage book, tethering him to this world, while he waits for his next victim.
Snippet:
Esme kneeled beside her sister and angled the flashlight on her phone into the dark space beneath the box spring. The beam illuminated two boxes. A black metal case and a big shoe box.
Lucy pulled them out. “If he had anything valuable in this room it would be inside these.” She tugged the metal box towards her and lifted the latches. “Yep, this is his old Colt. We’ll take this with us. What’s in that one?”
With an unexplainable sense of unease lifting the hair on the back of her neck, Esme pulled the shoe box towards her and flipped it open. “This is weird.” She picked up a bundle of cards, with a woman’s driver’s license on top, held together by an elastic band. She tugged the elastic off and spread what turned out to be a bunch of driver’s licenses across the carpet. They all belonged to young women. “What the hell, Luce? Why would he have these?”
“I don’t know. I’ll google the names.” Lucy’s fingers flew across her iPhone as she glanced at the driver’s licenses. Her skin turned clammy, and her hands shook.
“What’s wrong, Luce?”
“Ohmigod. I’ve searched three of the names so far, and they were all murdered by the Colorado Strangler. And the police still haven’t caught him. But that still doesn’t explain why Dad has these.” Lucy picked up a small jewelry box, the only other thing left in the shoe box. “I wonder what’s in here.”
Esme’s stomach twisted into a tight knot as her brain worked through the shock of their discovery and arrived at a horrific conclusion. “I wouldn’t touch that if I were you.”
“Why not?” Lucy opened the box, then dropped it, and covered her mouth.
The box landed on its side and a mound of gleaming white teeth spilled out all over the carpet. Almost as if their father had polished each tooth individually after…he yanked them out of someone’s mouth.
About the Author:
Michelle Godard-Richer is the award-winning author of The Fatal Series. She writes edge-of-your-seat suspenseful stories with strong protagonists and diabolical villains. linktr.ee/mgodardricher
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Shirley Goldberg with a fun new series…
Revamped, a Vampire Comedy
An energy vampire hungry for love meets the wisecracking woman of his parents’ nightmares.
Blurb:
Vampire Dante Allegretti hates his sucky life. Born into a family of energy siphoners, he’s desperate to reinvent himself as a fun-loving normal guy rather than a crowdsourcing parasite. To stop the draining urges, Dante resorts to grinding alternative meds in an ancient Mortar & Pestle, not knowing it contains magical properties.
Enter wisecracking thirty-year-old Sophie Arley, who lives with her clingy parents. Working three jobs and craving independence, she’s come back strong after a breakdown crashed her cozy world. So when the weird, hot guy she just met-cute asks Sophie to the movies, she agrees.
Sophie won’t spoil their magical connection by mentioning her heartbreak. And Dante dreads telling Sophie about his dark side. Will the power from the Mortar & Pestle guide them to their happily ever after despite the secrets and lies?
An excerpt/Teaser From Revamped
I marveled that since I first met Sophie, she hadn’t once lost her energy in my company. My meds were working and as long as I took them, I’d fool everyone, pass for a Foodish guy, normal as everyone else.
I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against me. She lifted her head and I kissed her, little smooches around her mouth. She put a hand on my jaw and tilted toward me, her mouth on mine tasting faintly of cranberries and wine.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since––”
“Since the last time you kissed me?” she teased and stepped back. “I want to be kissed and kissed well. From now on.”
“Is that a line from a movie?”
“Not sure. It could be Scarlet O’Hara. It’s something she’d say.” She peered closely at me. “You do know who Scarlet O’Hara is, don’t you?”
A fun fact about me is this is my first paranormal romance. I’d never read paranormal until I started writing books and met fellow authors who wrote paranormal, fantasy, monster romance and shape shifters—all manner of romance. I also got out of my comfy reading box and began to read across genres.
What was the most difficult thing about writing with the other authors?
Feeling afraid I wouldn’t measure up or meet my deadlines. I put pressure on myself. It was comparisonitis.
What was the best thing about writing with other authors?
The support I got from my fellow authors, concrete and emotional. Everyone shares and we all benefit. Plus, we enjoyed a tubful of laughs. And adopted pirate lingo.
Author Bio:
Shirley Goldberg is a novelist and former ESL and French teacher who’s lived in Paris, Crete, and Casablanca. She often writes about men and women of a certain age dating. Middle Ageish, Eat Your Heart Out, and A Little Bit of Lust are part of her Starting Over trilogy. Revamped, her new vampire comedy, has a younger hero who’s also starting over. Revamped is part of the Mortar & Pestle series by seven authors coming in March.
Shirley’s characters all believe you should never leave home without your sense of humor and she agrees. Her website http://midagedating.com offers a humorous look at dating in mid-life, and her friends like to guess which stories are true.
To grab the FREE Prequel to the Mortar & Pestle series, see the link below.
Malcolm Comyn, the hero of The Comtesse of Midnight, my contribution to Storm & Shelter, A Bluestocking Belles and Friends Collection, has had little time to pursue hobbies or distractions. His duties as the Earl of Menteith running his Scottish estate have occupied most of his time since the death of his father a year earlier. He’s barely had time to pursue the ladies—until now, when he’s in pursuit of a very particular lady, The Comtesse de Fontenay.Weeks earlier, an anonymous threatening letter led him to London, and a search for both the author of the letter and the truth of his birth. For if he isn’t the true Earl of Menteith, by all honor, the title should go to his cousin, Finnley Macbeth.Though he can’t uncover the source of the threats, he does find evidence that the woman who gave birth to him was not the last Countess of Menteith, but a French émigré, wife of the Comte de Fontenay, his late father’s mistress.Honor demands he uncover the truth, whatever it might be. His quest leads him through Sussex and Kent and finally into Suffolk where in the midst of a terrible storm, he goes to the aid of a lady smuggler, helping her save the last of her cargo. With the roads impassable, they find their way to the isolated town of Fenwick on Sea. When the lady refuses to share her name, he senses that she is also running from scandal. With the inn completely filled with refugees from the storm, he and his anonymous new companion agree to wait out the storm together in the parlor of the dilapidated Elizabethan wing of the Queen’s Barque Inn.Malcolm has no quarrel with the lady’s free trading of spirits, nor any need to uncover the secret she’s running from. But, when he wakes to find her going through his belongings, he presses her for her name. What he learns brings him to the end of his quest, an old enemy, and a promise of a future he never expected.Blurb:A Scottish Earl on a quest for the elusive Comtesse de Fontenay, rescues a French lady smuggler during a devastating storm, taking shelter with her. As the stormy night drags on, he suspects she knows the lady he’s seeking, the lady who holds the secret to his identity. When she admits she herself is the Comtesse Fontenay, she dashes all his hopes—and promises him new ones.Blurb for the Collection:When a storm blows off the North Sea and slams into the village of Fenwick on Sea, the villagers prepare for the inevitable: shipwreck, flood, land slips, and stranded travelers. The Queen’s Barque Inn quickly fills with the injured, the devious, and the lonely—lords, ladies, and simple folk; spies, pirates, and smugglers all trapped together. Intrigue crackles through the village, and passion lights up the hotel.One storm, eight authors, eight heartwarming novellas.Pre-order now for 99 cents:ExcerptThe Scotsman, however, was dead on his feet. She could almost feel sorry for him. He was far from home, and had been traveling for several days. His neckcloth was limp, his cuffs soiled, his coat wrinkled. His boots, well and carefully crafted, if not by Hoby then by some equally fashionable bootmaker in Edinburgh, had not been properly polished in the last few days.He’d shaved though, probably very early that morning, because a delicious dark stubble had sprouted along his strong jaws.Did he have a razor in his interesting valise? She wouldn’t molest him, unless he thought to do the same to her. If it came to that, and she prayed that it wouldn’t, she would use her own blade and not some unfamiliar shaving instrument.“Is this one of your imports?” he asked, swirling the amber liquid. “It’s very good.”His words stirred her out of her imaginings about handsome young men, and she realized she must manage the conversation else she’d slip into sleep, or perhaps something more inconvenient, without thinking.The Comte had always succumbed to sleep when they’d conversed, no matter the topic. She must soothe this fine-looking and very fatigued man the same way.Outside, the thunderstorm had moved on, and the rain pounded in a comforting downpour. With the warm fire, and the heavy blankets, and the sleeping dog, it was quite cozy.But what to talk about? Most certainly not the free trade. It would be far too diverting to put him to sleep, and besides she had no idea what he would do with the knowledge.The countryside? She might slip and drop a hint about her home at Bloodmoor Hill.She thought back to her time on the fringes of a London society that she’d found unbearably dull.The weather.“I am glad you are enjoying the brandy,” she said. “But I daresay you are not liking this weather. It is quite the worst storm in many seasons, people are saying. Normally at this time of year the sea has quietened.” A lie, of course, but how would he know?He sipped his drink, eyeing her over the glass.Oh. Given that it might remind him of her activities that evening and spark questions, the sea was an inappropriate topic, whether or not one was fudging a weather report. “Winters, however are generally mild.”He yawned, and she went on, discussing the number of rainstorms in March and going back to February, and then January, and making up the story as she went along, until his eyes drooped and the empty glass fell into his lap and lodged itself next to his fall.Warmth uncurled in her. His trousers were tight in the usual fashion for gentlemen, outlining masculine endowments that sparked her interest far too much. Retrieving the fallen tumbler was out of the question.She set down her own glass and fought the urge to join him in slumber. Buy links:Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3kgRmLGApple Books: https://apple.co/3lZYHjaBarnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storm-shelter-bluestocking-belles/1137958115Kobo: https://bit.ly/3o0z977About Alina:Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but she prefers the much happier world of romance fiction. Though her roots are in the Midwestern U.S., after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California where she shares a midcentury home with her husband and a golden-eyed terrier, and is hard at work on her next historical romance.website https://alinakfield.comBlog https://alinakfield.com/blogTwitter https://twitter.com/AlinaKFieldFacebook https://www.facebook.com/alinakfieldMeWe: https://mewe.com/i/alinakfieldPinterest https://www.pinterest.com/alinakf/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alinak.field/Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173518.Alina_K_FieldBookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alina-k-fieldAmazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alina-K.-Field/e/B00DZHWOKYGet to know Alina K. Field better by signing up for an email newsletter https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z6q6e3
I am a few days late, but the winner of the $50 Gift Card for the A World of Gothic Giveaway is Mary Preston!! Please email me at Alicia@AliciaDean.com to collect your gift card. Congratulations!
Thank you to all who participated. I hope you had a Happy Halloween and if you purchased any of the books, I hope you enjoy them.
If you didn’t grab them while they were 99 cents, I think most of them are still on sale, so it’s not too late. You can find all the links here:
I love Casi’s writing…I am sure this is another great read, and I plan to find out soon! And, guess what? It’s on sale for 99 cents!!
A Gripping Novel By Award-Winning Author Casi McLean
Blurb:
She never expected to confront deadly villains…let alone fall in love with one…
After her friend, York, encounters the ghostly image of a young woman, Mackenzie Reynolds seizes the opportunity to initiate a time jump, thrusting them back to 1865 Georgia. Resolved to thwart the girl’s untimely fate, Kenzi stumbles into a deadly conflict over a stockpile of stolen Confederate gold.
An injured Civil War survivor, James Adams departs for home with a war-fatigued companion he’s determined to help. After pilfering a horse and kidnaping a woman, he never dreamed his hostage would steal his heart.
Kenzi and James must unravel a deadly plot, while helping York save his ghost woman from a brutal death. But can she leave York in a violent past to save James’s life?
Excerpt:
“Don’t you dare die on me, James Adams.”
Kenzi pressed the blood-soaked gauze against the left side of his abdomen. “I won’t lose you. Not now.”
Barely clinging to life, he opened his eyes a slit, raised his hand still clenching Colin’s gun, and shot two rounds.
Stunned, Kenzi snapped around. “No.” She screamed and dove for the gun through the hazy blue mist engulfing them.
“Brady…” His voice faded as he slipped into semiconscious mumbling.
Yanking the pistol from his grip with her right hand, she maintained pressure with her left. A heartbeat later, the cylinder encasing them rotated open. Kenzi stood then sprinted across the room and pounded on a fist-sized alert button affixed to the wall. The resulting alarm shrieked through the underground chamber, reverberating as it radiated throughout the compound. Two men dressed in white jumpsuits burst through double doors.
“Gurney. Now.” Kenzi screamed at the attendants. “And O-Neg blood. Hurry. Go, go, go.” She ran to James and knelt beside him. Lifting his head, she slid a knee underneath it for support and smoothed a chunk of his dark brown hair from his face. “I’ve sacrificed way too much to have you die now,” she whispered. “My ass will burn for this. Not to mention the repercussions for abandoning York.”
Pulse racing, she checked his bandage. Despite her efforts, streams of crimson still oozed from the wound. Pressing again on the gauze, she shook her head. “Geez. You’ve lost so much blood. Please, hang on.”
Again, the double doors swung wide. This time, a gurney pushed through, followed by the two assistants. One man ran to Kenzi.
“Help me lift him.” Her hands, slick with blood, shot to her white T-top, already drenched in crimson. On second thought, she swept them down the rear of her jeans. Sliding her slippery arms beneath his back, she braced her stance with one bent knee.
“One, two, three.” They heaved him in tandem onto the gurney. She doused her hands with Betadine then splashed more on James’s forearm, snatched an IV from the attached supply basket, and punctured a vein on the inside of his wrist with the sterile needle. Once connected, she hooked the blood pouch on the IV pole and barked at the team, “Let’s move. If this man bleeds out, there will be hell to pay.”
The men, poised with hands on the side of the rails, awaited their next move. “Where to, Dr. Reynolds?”
Kenzi stared at James’s ashen face, worried her meager experience wasn’t enough to save his life––but she had no option. “Surgery.”
Springing into action, one man rolled the gurney down the hallway, while a second leapt onto the base and slipped an oxygen mask over James’s nose and mouth. “I hope this guy isn’t allergic to Propofol.” He attached an anesthesia drip to the IV. “Damn, what caused this gaping wound?”
“He was shot…with a musket.”
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If you sign up for Casi’s newsletter, you’ll receive a free story! After clicking the link, you can scroll down to receive an additional special prize.
Six stories about love, passion, and the role Fate plays in the lives of lovers. Six couples must decide whether to accept Fate or fight against it. Have your soul touched and your heart set afire. You won’t be able to put this anthology down.
Undeniable Fate by Mia London
“Lily.” His finger lifted her chin, his thumb brushed her lower lip. “I’m not lying. I mean every word. Your body is perfect.”
My story is about a project manager, Lily Bennett, who makes a business trip to Rome and meets Brandon Morgan along the way. There’s a bizarre twist of fate when the hotel double-booked the room and Brandon enters her room by mistake. In the four days they have together, he slowly breaks down her insecurities and she dares to hope for more.
As CEO, Brandon is responsible for his company’s latest acquisition, one that will prove he can handle anything thrown his way. He just hadn’t planned on the encounter of a lifetime with Lily. But as a classic Type-A driver, a relationship is absolutely out of the question.
I enjoyed seeing how these characters transformed before me. And I knew my readers would fall in love with them. In fact, I was nearly 80% done when I realized the readers would want more of Lily and Brandon. So, this is in fact book 1 of a 2-book series. But don’t worry. There are no cliffhangers.
Temptations of Christmas Future by Lexi Post
She thought she could stop him. Save him.
He didn’t need saving. He needed—her.
Temptations of Christmas Future is the 3rd in the Christmas Carol Series, but definitely not the last. It’s the story of two Spirits of Christmas Future who are helping a young widow move on with her life. Usually, spirits aren’t paired, but this is a tough case. So tough that I’ll have to write the fourth book for next Christmas, but don’t worry, this IS NOT a cliff hanger.
Malcolm is from Scotland in the future and he has a very pessimistic attitude about, well, everything, including women, but he has good reasons. Joy is from present day America, the Southwest to be exact. She is the ultimate optimist despite being a hospice nurse while still among the living. Of course, opposites attract and she is so attracted to Malcolm that she even dreams about him, and who wouldn’t? The man is walking sensuality. I may have had a couple dreams about him myself. Just sayin.
Sadly, the pressure of this particular assignment will break them both down, which will have them turning to each other for comfort and some hot bedroom, and non-bedroom, experiences. Still, comfort is one thing and success another. Unfortunately, the two may not be compatible, in which case, someone will have to pay the price for failure. Who? I can’t say as that would spoil it, but I promise there will be a happily ever after.
Highland Oath by C.A. Szarek
He’d never had a lover like his little healer. She was so free, so receptive and reactive to his touch, his kiss. Would that she felt the same way about his heart.
Highland Oath is Angus’ story, for those of you are familiar with my Highlanders. If you’re not, that’s okay! His book is the first of a “spin-off” series and it was a long time in coming. It’s special to me because Angus is 9 years old in the first book of my first trilogy (Highland Secrets), and then he’s a 92 year old grandfather in Highlander’s Portrait. I revisited him with his parents’ story in The Princess and The Laird, (series prequel) so he’s been with me for a long time. His story was AWESOME to write, so it was great to see him meet his very own HEA, Lila.
Claiming Emerson by Heather Miles
“By day, I charmed wealthy benefactors into gifting the art world with their money and time. By night, I was the gift and my time didn’t come cheap.”
Claiming Emerson is book one in a new series by Heather Miles. It’s the beginning of Emerson Anee’s story. How she became the youngest curator to ever grace the floors of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, at the same time as being one of the most exclusive escorts in New York City. By day, she charms wealthy benefactors into gifting the art world with their money and time, but by night, she was the gift and her time didn’t come cheap. She lived a double life, conservative in one world, daring and risky in the other. It was a shell game. The art of illusion wasn’t just something she’d become proficient at, she lived it. This is the story of what molded her into the woman she became and the men who tried to claim her as theirs.
A Twist on Fate by Jillian Stone
They say that you don’t meet people by accident, that you cross paths with strangers for a reason. But then memes about fate are for morons, right? Thing is—after what just happened—I’m not so sure anymore.
Jenn Fenstermaker should be grateful––no––thrilled to be an assistant producer for Storyville Pictures. But the script is in rewrite, and the last thing her flagging film industry career needs is another box office mega bomb. Chronically late to work, she cuts off a BMW on the freeway.
Gabriel Tobias Grant feels terrible about the damage to Jenn’s car. He’s also attracted to the bold, beautiful young woman. Gabe is a San Francisco chef/entrepreneur and as a way of making amends, he offers to cook dinner. Both Jenn and Gabe are in for an amazing night of orgasmic appetizers, à la his sensuous grilled scallops, but neither one is prepared to deal with what happens next—an unwelcome intrusion by a stranger.
On A Whim by J.M. Walker
“You, my sweet girl, are a brat and I’m going to have fun showing you exactly what I do to them.”
On A Whim is about Kiki Smith and Bo Layden. Both of them work in the book world. Kiki’s a graphic designer and falls into her work after getting stood up at the altar. Bo on the other hand, gets screwed out of thousands of dollars by people he thought he could trust and is on a hunt for a new designer. When he contacts Kiki under his author name, B. Vesper, she doesn’t realize that they are actually the same guy. Cue dramatic music. This story was fun because Kiki was something fresh and Bo was my typical dark Alpha male…with a J.M. Walker twist.
Escape with 25 brand new and exclusive sexy reads from NY Times, USA Today, and International bestselling authors. The Tropical Tryst Boxed set is perfect for romance lovers of all kinds. Offering up passionate and enticing tales, set in hot and tropical settings, this collection will feed your need for summer sexiness! Available for pre-order for only 99 cents. Release date Aug. 1
Celeste Hall, author of Just Trust MeWhat inspired you to choose your setting? One of my favorite vacations, was a boat trip down the Amazon river, to a beautiful eco-friendly resort tucked inside the Peruvian jungle. It was truly amazing. Most of the crazy adventures my heroine endures, are based on my real life experiences. What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? I’d love to see more of the South American jungles, as well as the many nearby isles. Galapagos, Fernando de Noronha, Ilha de Tinharé, and Easter island, just to name a few. It could takes months to properly experience them all. Beautiful scenery aside, I’d really be happy anywhere, so long as I had the right travel companion. What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? I adore Charlize Theron, but I’m not sure she’d appreciate the situation. Chris Evans would probably make a better choice. I’ve had survival training, so he just needs to be charming and keep me motivated until our rescuers arrive. He seems like a pretty affable guy. Blurb: When her best friend invites Jenn to spend time in a beautiful Amazon resort, she leaps at the opportunity. Maybe she can finally escape the terror stalking her in New York. She is blindsided by Remi’s surly brother. Ex-marine, now chief in security, Jackson is sexier than ever, but just as unapproachable. When Jenn’s deadly secret unravels, Jackson vows to keep her safe, but to do so, he must gain back the trust he destroyed.
Bio: I am a passionate writer of romance in a variety of sub-genres, but my favorite are probably the paranormal stories. I believe that a great book can do more than offer an afternoon’s pleasure, it can change your life. For that reason, I am absolutely addicted to happy endings. I feel that everyone could use more love and happiness in their lives. When not writing, I enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors. I also enjoy a variety of artistic mediums, gardening, horseback riding, and geeking out online – especially on Facebook. Contact links: www.CelesteHall.comwww.facebook.com/celesteh1www.amazon.com/author/celestehall
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Carma Haley Shoemaker, author of Sunset Seduction
What inspired you to choose your setting? Choosing Saint Lucia took a bit of time. My location needed to be romantic, as well as serene. My character needed a place to find herself again, but the location also needed to offer a tropical setting that would sweep her off her feet, and lower her defenses, allowing the romance to find her.
What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? My idea of the perfect tropical getaway would definitely include a balance of adventure and romance. I would truly enjoy spending the day exploring a volcano, or hiking to a hidden waterfall, ending with a romantic, candlelit dinner for two on a secluded sandbar or floating pontoon.
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? The celebrity I would most like to be stranded on an island with is Jensen Ackles. Jensen plays Dean Winchester in the television show, Supernatural. He is funny, talented, athletic, and is very easy on the eyes.
Blurb:
Haunted by the image of her cheating husband, Julia Turner decided men weren’t worth her effort. Hoping the tropical sun will burn away the bitterness and depression, Julia embarks on girls’ vacation with friends to re-find happiness. When Julia meets Seth, the perpetual groomsman, neither is prepared for the tide of passion to come. Just what she needed to buoy her self-esteem, lustful desires leave Julia wondering if Seth can bring her back to life.
Bio:
A nurse by trade and a writer by nature, Carma Haley Shoemaker is a magazine writer turned novelist. She has written articles for numerous online and national print publications on various topics such as women’s issues including self-esteem and surviving divorce. Now a fiction writer, Carma has published four romance novels, with three additional titles due for release in 2017. You can find out more about Carma by visiting her website: www.carmicwords.com.
What inspired you to choose this setting? I wanted something beautiful, and fun and exotic. Hawaii seemed like the perfect destination, especially for a hero and heroine that live in New York. I
What’s your idea of a perfect tropical getaway? I love to swim, sleep in and sunbake. So anywhere for me where there is room service, crystal blue waters and sandy beaches is perfect for me.
What celebrity would you like to be stranded on a desert island with? Channing Tatum. I could look at that man allllll…… day!
About Miracle in Hawaii
Samara Jenkins is on a baby mission… but before she puts down her business hat, she has one more thing to do. Julian King needs her help restoring his hotel, and Samara’s skills are perfect for the job.
Samara and Julian are like fire and ice, yet they slide together into a hot, fling. But when Julian declares he doesn’t want anything long term, Samara leaves Hawaii, and takes something of Julian’s with her.
Bio:
Fiona Miers has a super busy life, like most modern women, but always finds time for reading and writing romance. Her love affair with the romance genre started when she was only 11 years old, when her mother, and nana, handed her, her first mills and boon. Since then she’s built her own business, become a mother to two beautiful little girls, and fallen in love with the most spectacular man on the planet. Fiona writes MF contemporary and historical romance, writing more erotic stories under the pen name Tamsin Baker. Thank you for reading this, and hopefully you’ll love reading about her characters as much as she loved creating them.
What inspired you to choose your setting? The hubby and I went to Peru as a part of our 12 countries in 6 months honeymoon and a few terrible things happened to us, so instead of dwelling on it I wanted to put my story to paper, embrace the romantic part of our holiday and find something good to celebrate about our time there. Not everything I wrote is autobiographical, and in order for the story to be exciting I upped the thrill, suspense and drama as well as made the hero and heroine meet and fall in love rather than go there together. I wanted to bring light to a dark part of our holiday.
What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? Live aboard yacht for four weeks through French Polynesia. Nothing but, sex, scuba diving and sun tanning.
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? Sir Patrick Stewart. I have a mad crush on the guy.
Blurb
Piper Valentine knows that life is short. Off to Peru to heal, she finds solace in Derrick King, the hot journalist she meets on the airplane. Derrick knows all about loss, too, and his secrets keep him from letting Piper in. Their journey to Machu Picchu quickly turns south as they’re pursued by mysterious gunmen. But Derrick makes her feel safe, even as his lust for her endangers her heart. Is there strength in surrender?
Bio
A West Coast baby born and raised, Whitley is married to her high school sweetheart and together they have a spirited toddler and a fluffy dog. She spends her days making food that gets thrown on the floor, vacuuming Cheerios out from under the couch and making sure that the dog food doesn’t end up in the air conditioner. But when nap time comes, and it’s not quite wine o’clock, Whitley sits down, avoids the pile of laundry on the couch, and writes. A lover of all things decadent; wine, cheese, chocolate and spicy erotic romance, Whitley brings the humorous side of sex, the ridiculous side of relationships and the suspense of everyday life into her stories. With mommy wars, body issues, threesomes, bondage and role playing, these books have everything we need to satisfy the curious kink in all of us.
JB Duvane, author of Starry Nights What inspired you to choose your setting? I live a couple blocks away from the beach in the Pacific NW and take long walks whenever it’s not raining too hard. I come up with a lot of the ideas for my books while I’m walking out there and this one popped into my head when I was wishing it was a little warmer.
What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? A private bungalow on a secluded beach where my partner and I could lounge around and have our food and drinks brought to us.
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? I’m partial to dark eyes and hair, as well as a quiet intensity, so Jamie Dornan – but specifically in the series The Fall.
Blurb for Starry Nights
Sometimes even being a movie star can’t buy you a second chance with the girl you still hunger for. But true love can…
Bio
JB Duvane writes about tortured billionaires, bad boys with secret desires, and men with a dark past. She loves them all – ranging from hired killers to serial killers to the non-lethal variety of bad boy. Above all, she wants everyone to have their HEA.
What inspired you to choose your setting? I had agreed to write a book that featured love in the tropics, and I thought, “How far away from the tropics can I get, while still technically fitting into the box set? How can I make this unquestionably unique?” I decided to strand the lucky couple in the summer desert of Phoenix, Arizona instead of the lush greenery and ocean of Maui…and still have them experience glistening pools, mai-tais, and great sex. I wanted to show that sometimes, the things you assume are boring and banal can end up having intricate, amazing features that make you love them. Getting the unexpected can be a gift, not a punishment, and beauty can come from the place you least expect.
What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? We rented a house near the beach the North shore of Oahu, one of the most beautiful places in the world. It came complete with a wrecking ball swing. You know, the thing that Miley Cyrus had in her famous video? So naturally, all of us had to take turns on it, swinging [fully clothed] and laughing until our stomachs hurt. That house also had dressers that fell apart when you opened them, a broken ukulele as part of the décor, fewer bedrooms than promised, and a very small bottle of holy water (!) in the spice cabinet. The sewage tank was overfull, and the ground near it was swelling and swampy. The caretaker who lived in a separate home on the property told us he was not a caretaker, but a wedding planner, so he couldn’t help us with the broken furniture or septic issues. The owner was not reachable by phone. But the beach was amazing – great snorkelling, and we had so much fun laughing together, my family and I. To me, that was the perfect tropical vacation – enjoying a wreck of a place on the best beach in the entire world, with the people who mean the most to me in the entire world.
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? If I had to be stranded with a celebrity, I’d pick one of those guys who deliberately get dropped off in the Alaskan wilderness with one sock and a toothpick, and end up building an airplane and communications tower out of ivy and dust while killing mooses with their bare hands to survive. Or maybe Chris Rock. He’s freaking hilarious. He could make us laugh while we ate coconuts and waited for a cruise ship full of bloated fat sneaker-wearing American tourists to come and save us. Also, could the “island” be “Greece?” I’ve always wanted to see Greece. If the answer is yes, then forget Chris Rock [sorry, CR, it’s been real], and instead I’ll take Betty White (I read that she’s ¼ Greek) and also David Sedaris, who is one of the funniest writers alive, and is also half-Greek.
Blurb for Hotter in Hawaii
Harper Bradley is thrilled to land the job of a lifetime, photographing a brand new Hawaiian resort. She’s working with sexy Zach Taylor, which would be awesome if he weren’t such a player…and if he hadn’t turned her down in an embarrassing episode months ago. When things go awry, starting with an emergency landing in Phoenix, Harper discovers there’s more to Zach than quips and abs. But is this commitment-phobic playboy ready for love?
Bio
Alexis Alvarez is an author, photographer, and digital designer who loves writing steamy romances. Her female heroines are always strong, intelligent women who fall for the sexiest guy around…and get the happy-ever-after ending of their dreams.
Alexis is a wife and mom, a former chemical engineer, a dachshund-whisperer — wait, that’s a lie. The dachshund usually does the exact opposite of what he’s told.
Do you like contemporary romance with steam and humor? Darker BDSM/erotica novels with fascinating psychological insights? Alexis has you covered. She writes in both genres. One really cool thing about Alexis is that she’s a friendly author who loves meeting new people on Facebook. Please come on by and say hello. Thanks, and happy reading!
Escape with 25 brand new and exclusive sexy reads from NY Times, USA Today, and International bestselling authors. The Tropical Tryst Boxed set is perfect for romance lovers of all kinds. Offering up passionate and enticing tales, set in hot and tropical settings, this collection will feed your need for summer sexiness! Available for pre-order for only 99 cents. Release date Aug. 1
What inspired you to choose your setting? Who hasn’t dreamed of running away to a remote tropical island to escape all of their troubles. Sun, sand, umbrella drinks and hot guys. No shirt, no shoes, no problems!
What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? My idea of the perfect tropical getaway is a modern resort within walking distance of the beach. I like my creature comforts–A/C, wi-fi, room service–even in paradise!
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? Johnny Depp, but he must be wearing his Cap’n Jack Sparrow duds and have a generous supply of whiskey.
Blurb
Five years living on a tiny Caribbean island after fleeing the political scandal that ruined her life has dulled Dara Lockwood’s anger but not her disillusioned distrust. The occasional one night stand is working just fine until the arrival of Jack Wyatt. Something about the tall, dark and seriously sexy man makes Dara want to trust him, not only with her secrets but with her heart.
Bio
EmKay Connor is the award-winning author of sexy, sassy contemporary romantic fiction infused with quirky humor and engaging characters. Her bright and breezy romances are set in tropical locations and glamorous destinations where her heroes and heroines discover passion and fall in love. She lives and writes in northeastern Florida.
What inspired you to choose your setting? My husband and I took a cruise last January to celebrate our 25th anniversary. It was lovely to take a week out of our busy lives to spend all day, every day together relaxing and having fun. A lot of the places and incidents in my story are based directly on things we did and saw. Although with a lot of emotional drama added, of course!
What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? I would love to take a voyage in a sailing ship across the South Pacific, visiting lots of tiny islands away from the usual tourist destinations.
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? Lin-Manuel Miranda, so I could convince him my books would be the perfect source material for his next musical :).
Blurb
After Juanita is deported, her sister concocts a daring plan to smuggle her home aboard a cruise ship. She and Juanita will switch places, while her friend Ryan poses as Juanita’s boyfriend and accompanies her back to the United States. But when sparks ignite between Juanita and Ryan, things get complicated. Can a lie built on water, wind, and sunshine grow into a truth strong enough to endure once they reach dry land?
Bio
Elana Brooks is the author of the science fiction romance series “The Covenant of the Rainbow.” Book 1, Red Sky in the Morning, will be available in Fall 2017, with Book 2, Orange Blossom Special, following in Winter 2018, and Book 3, A Yellow Wood, in Spring 2018. Elana lives with her husband of twenty-five years in Houston, Texas. She went on her first cruise two years ago with her whole family, and enjoyed it so much she immediately planned another with just her husband. She’s already counting the days until she can sail again!
What inspired you to choose your setting? Nostalgia and one component of the writer’s arsenal. By pure chance, when the opportunity came along to write this novella, I had just returned from a Jamaican getaway with my husband and two adult children. I was conscious of time slipping away, and that we four may never again be together in such a spectacular location. Using Jamaica for my setting is one way of hanging onto those feelings of connection and trust. While we were there, the resort handled several business events, and my writerly brain responded by noting specific details and beginning to ask “what if” questions. For me, these early moments of a story’s birth are magical, and vastly superior to most travel souvenirs. (Especially those of the parasitic variety.)
What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? Access to swimming 24/7, an ocean as a backdrop, plus the ability to be outdoors with little more than sunscreen, a book and a towel. I also love unlimited quantities of fresh, exotic fruit.
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? Am I worried about survival? If yes, please give me Les Stroud of Survivorman, or someone of his ilk. If I’m safe, then I’d love to spend time with Malala Yousafzai. She amazes me in that she’s so young, yet possesses superhuman amounts of wisdom and resilience. She also straddles cultures with an effortless grace.
Blurb
Finn Wakefield thought he understood the reason for his breakup with Olivia Prosser. Now, during a corporate retreat in Jamaica and in his role as her new boss, new information comes to light. Not only might Liv be innocent, the party who framed her might be continuing their sabotage. But Liv shows no interest in righting the wrongs of the past. Is she over Finn, or protecting the saboteur? Either way, Finn can’t let it go.
Bio
A former family physician who once provided birth-to-death healthcare, Jan O’Hara has left medicine behind and now spends her days torturing people on paper. (See? Win-win scenarios really do exist.) She writes for the popular blog Writer Unboxed and lives in Alberta, Canada.
Roxy Sinclaire & Zara Zenia, author of His Diamond In The RoughWhat inspired you to choose your setting? Pirates of the Caribbean–my favorite movie franchise!! What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? I want to go to Maldives, I’ve seen pictures and videos and it looks so gorgeous! Also it’s not the typical going to the Caribbean which most people do! What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? Definitely Johnny Depp!!!
Blurb:
Samantha came from a poorer background. Lord Eric Godfrey is British royalty and a billionaire. Both of them are attracted to each other but have their guards up, too. Eric doesn’t trust the poor, especially if he thinks someone is a gold digger. Samantha doesn’t trust the rich and powerful. But will they be able to put that all behind them and accept one another? Or will more accusations and hate come out of it?
Bio:
Roxy Sinclaire writes steamy, suspenseful romantic stories as the main genre, and this includes a variety of different topics. Some of these include dark romances, action packed romances, mafia romances, and many more. She currently works in customer relations in New York City, but is trying to fulfill her passion in writing and eventually have her dream job become a reality. Zara Zenia is the pen name of Roxy Sinclaire, and writes mainly science fiction romance!
Susan Ann Wall – Off Balance (Superstitious Brides Romance #8)
What inspired you to choose your setting? I recently went on a 7 night Caribbean cruise with my mom. It was so relaxing and beautiful, exploring the islands, enjoying the water and fresh sea air, and there was so much romance happening on the ship. Lots of newlyweds, some ladies on a bachelorette party…it just seemed like the perfect setting for a couple to fall in love.
What’s your idea of the perfect tropical getaway? I’d love to just find a small cabin on a beach where a sexy cabana boy brings you food and drinks without needing to be beckoned, where you can socialize with others when you want to but where it is quiet and peaceful otherwise.
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with? Oh, Tom Hiddleston, no question. And he can talk all he wants, particularly if he tells me how smart and beautiful and amazing I am…over and over and over…
Blurb
Sometimes, to find your center, you must collide with the one who throws you off balance.
Along his journey to enlightenment, Haven Masters has come across many bumps and roadblocks, but never once has anything or anyone thrown him off balance the way Heather Wolfe does. While on a tropical cruise retreat, all Haven can do is look for his center again and hope that he finds it with Heather.
Bio
Big dreamer and certifiable overachiever Susan Ann Wall embraces life at full speed and volume. She’s a beer and tea snob, can be bribed with dark chocolate, and the #1 thing on her bucket list is to be the center of a Bon Jovi flash mob. Susan is a USA Today bestselling, multi-genre author of racy, rule-breaking romance and women’s fiction. Her bragging rights include the Fighting Back for Love series, Puget Sound ~ Alive With Love series, Superstitious Brides Romance series, Sunset Valley Women’s Fiction series, and Devon Taggart Suspense series. She also likes to boast about her three maniacal children, two amazing rescue dogs, and a happily ever after that started while serving in the U.S. Army and has spanned over two decades (which is crazy since she’s not a day over 29). In her next life, Susan plans to be a 5 foot 10, size 8 rock star married to a chiropractor and will not be terrified of large bridges, spiders, or quiet people (shiver).
Author Alicia Dean 