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Come Fly With Me
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: It wasn’t every day you watched a World War Two Soviet fighter plane make its way up the main street of a small Highland town. To be fair, it was wingless and secured to a flatbed lorry at the time, not flying over the cobblestone road. Still, the sight was definitely out of place in among the crooked old white houses that made up the high street. Nor did it blend in with the green hills and blue loch that gave the town of Invertary its picturesque setting. In fact, the aircraft was such an oddity—in a town where oddities were commonplace—that it’d brought everyone out to watch the spectacle. “So, she’s really come home then?” At his younger brother Darach’s words, Brodie MacGregor grimaced. “It would appear so.” “And she has the plane she went off to find.” “Aye.” The self-same plane that was responsible for ending his marriage. “I hear tell she’s a rocket in the sky. Can fly pretty much anything you put in front of her.” Brodie cocked an eyebrow at his brother. “Where exactly did you hear that?” “A wee bird told me.” The dickhead grinned. “Must make you feel like a complete arse, seeing as you told her she’d never make it as a pilot or find one of the planes her granny used to fly. In fact, some might say you had egg on your face from being so bloody arrogant in the first place.” “If some were to say that within my hearing, it would be the last words they uttered.” From the mocking smile on Darach’s face, it was clear he wasn’t intimidated by his brother’s threat. Idiot. Even though Darach had a couple of inches on Brodie, and some army training under his belt, the numpty still thought he could take him in a fight. Brodie knew better. Unlike Darach, he never pulled his punches with his brothers. It was the only way he’d managed to survive growing up as the middle child of seven boys. “Did she give you a heads-up she was coming back?” Darach asked, lifting his chin toward the cab of the truck, where Brodie’s ex-wife sat behind the wheel. “A letter from her lawyer.” “So, she’s still pissed at you, then.” “You could say that. I was charged for the postage.” Darach burst out laughing. “I always liked that girl.” Aye, and so had Brodie. Liking Katya was never the problem—living with her was. When the truck sped past, he caught sight of Katya’s face as she stared straight ahead. And just like that, his jeans became uncomfortably tight while his stomach did a backward somersault. Almost ten years since they’d parted ways, and all it took was one glimpse to make him want to bed her. It came as a brutal blow to his ego to discover his Katya addiction hadn’t waned. And he’d just bet she would laugh her head off if she ever found out. Darach elbowed Brodie to get his attention. “Does it bother you that she’s still calling herself MacGregor?” “No.” Sure, it’d been a slap in the face when she’d kept the name and dumped the man, but he could hardly blame her. MacGregor was preferable to Savage any day of the week. In fact, he’d often wondered if one of the reasons she’d been so eager to marry, despite them both being barely legal, was just to get rid of her family name. But then, there were easier ways to achieve that than taking on a MacGregor. “Do you think she heard about your plans?” Darach mused as they watched the plane disappear over the crest of the hill at the top of town. “I’d be surprised. Her family doesn’t exactly live on this planet most of the time. Even if they heard the gossip, it probably didn’t register.” Darach grinned widely. “Have to say, I kinda miss the family dinners we had when you two were together.” Yeah, it was hard not to smile at those memories. Brodie caught his brother’s eye, and they both said, “Delia Savage’s dramatic monologues!” And burst into fits of laughter. “But seriously.” Darach wiped at his eyes as he sobered. “What are you going to do if she has plans for your land?” And just like that, all the humor in the situation was sucked right out. “I’ll do what I have to.” Both their names might be on the title, but he’d been the one tending the land for the past decade. Katya hadn’t set foot on it since she’d walked out on him. “Eh, I hate to point this out, big brother, but you don’t exactly have a lot of options. Unless you split the land down the middle.” Aye, that wasn’t going to work. Their plot of land was a long, narrow rectangle, with the best views lying on one of the shorter sides. Even if they halved it, neither of them would take the back section with the crappy views. And you couldn’t split it lengthwise, because they’d both end up with a strip that was too narrow to be of any decent use. “She’ll just have to see reason.” Brodie folded his arms over his faded blue plaid shirt. Darach nodded. “Because Katya’s well known for her ability to see reason. Like when you told her to do exactly that, right before she left you.” “This is different.” It had to be. “We’ve both grown up since then. Surely now, we can act with civility toward each other?” “The letter from her lawyer seemed really civil.” Brodie glared at Darach as he wondered for the millionth time why he’d been cursed with six smart-arsed morons for brothers. “Are you trying to help here?” “Mainly, I’m trying to ensure I get a ringside seat for whatever happens next. I know it’s going tae be helluva entertaining.” He mimed an explosion, with sound effects. “Dickhead.” “Entertained dickhead. One whose sister-in-law has returned to town and is about to drive my brother insane.” 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:
An Italian Affair
Get it FREE on Kindle Unlimited! -- EXCERPT: As we descended from the rooftop back to the restaurant, the feel of Sandro’s eyes on my back was visceral. The luncheon had been wonderful despite my momentary discomfort when he had touched my back and kissed my neck. He thought it was because I was leary of men after what Alex did to me. And maybe partly it was. More like I was so overwhelmed by my reaction to Sandro that I didn’t know what to do. He was a stranger. I had barely known him a few hours. But when his knuckles brushed down the length of my spine, exposed by the design of the dress, my knees had weakened and my breath quickened. It had been so unexpected and so sensual. I just had to think about his actions and the hairs on my arms stood on end and my belly shuddered as I relived his touch. His lips on my nape? Bloody hell! It was the lightest of touches but enough that I felt their firm press, his breath tickling the little hairs at the base of my hairline, the whisper of a sigh from his lips as they met my skin. The rasp of his beard tickling my nerve endings. I had felt my nipples tighten in response and the surge of heat that flowed through my body and straight between my legs was startling. If that was what the lightest of kisses could do, then what the hell would a full-on assault accomplish? I didn’t think the man realised the power he had over me already. It was scary, and tantalising. It stirred my interest to find out more. It had been a long time since I had indulged in casual sex, not since my university days. Ships were a morass of gossip and sex, everyone knew everyone, and if you slept with someone it was almost guaranteed someone else on board had as well. There was no avoiding it, so I had been much more circumspect in my relationships since going to sea. But would I consider breaking all my rules and having an affair with someone shoreside. I had never been tempted. Until now. Sandro brought out my sensual nature in a way that was impossible to ignore. The way I reacted to him was all the more obvious to me because not once had Alex stirred such physical responses in the time I spent with him.
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Limitless
-- EXCERPT: “Please tell me there are beers here.” Without thinking, I ripped off my sweaty t-shirt and grabbed a replacement LTZ shirt out of my bag. “Um, yeah. Over there.” Alex’s eyes were transfixed at my bare torso as she pointed toward the deck. “Great. Well, let’s go.” I gestured, flexing my biceps. She quickly looked away, embarrassed at being caught ogling me. Externally, I kept a neutral face but internally I was secretly pleased that she liked what she saw. Having a hot, young woman like Alex find you attractive wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Even if I’d never do anything about it. We headed toward the makeshift bar on the deck. I grabbed a Manny’s and she grabbed a Coke. “Sucks that me and Zoey can’t drink in front of all of the parents.” Alex pouted. “God, I can’t wait to be twenty-one. Or to be somewhere it doesn’t matter.” “Ah, it’s not all that different.” I laughed. “How old are you?” Alex asked. “Twenty-three.” I smiled. “Too old for you.” God, her eyes were the most amazing combination of blue with dark flecks. Her skin a smooth, caramel-colored tan with the slightest pink tinge on her cheeks. With only a hint of mascara and lip gloss, she was quite possibly the most naturally gorgeous woman I’d ever seen. Girl. Not that I’d ever, ever, ever do anything about it. “True, you’re an old man.” Alex’s eyes crinkled when she laughed. “You’re practically retirement age.” “Ha ha.” I grinned. “So, Zoey and Ty have really hit it off.” Alex gestured over to where our friends were tangled together, giving each other googly eyes. “They’re a little over the top.” “Ty’s never had a girlfriend before, so she must be pretty cool.” I knew how girls worked, especially best friends. I wasn’t going to give up any intel to Alex on my man Ty. “Was that redhaired girl at the club your girlfriend?” Alex cocked her hip and pulled a long drink on her soda. I couldn’t help but watch her lips as she took a swallow of her Coke, thinking that she was more beautiful than the models who usually advertised the beverage. Again, not that I’d ever do anything about it. “Um, no.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “Hmmm. She raised her eyebrow back at me. “We’re leaving on tour for six months.” I sputtered. “Uh huh.” She held my gaze. “She’s not my girlfriend.” I huffed. “Now is not the time for a girlfriend.” “I said the same thing to Zoey.” Alex looked at me directly. “She’s going to college in the fall, it seems a little irrational to get serious about a dude this summer.” “Well, I like to tend my own garden. Ty can tend his.” I glanced around, not super interested in the way the conversation was heading. “Fair enough.” Alex took the hint good-naturedly, absentmindedly playing with a few of the bangle bracelets on her wrist. “I’m not going to college, I want to travel the world. It’s pissing my dad off to no end.” “Really? Where will you go?” I was genuinely surprised, figuring Zoey and Alex were attached at the hip. “Everywhere! That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. I figure if I can get a good following on Instagram, maybe I could even start funding my travel that way.” She gestured excitedly. “I know it will take a few months, but maybe you know some shortcuts or ways to get there faster.” “Hmmm, well, I have a marketing degree but in real life I’m not an expert at all. It’s been a bit of trial and error with the LTZ account. Basically, it’s all about watching your analytics and seeing what is working and what isn’t and just doing more of what resonates.” I explained. “Well, it will be a piece of cake then,” Alex said sarcastically. “Look, I can help you get started, I’ve discovered a few shortcuts.” I took another pull of my beer. “Oh, for the love of God. Get a room,” Alex muttered when her attention was diverted to the show our friends were putting on. Ty and Zoey were full-on making out in the middle of the backyard and everyone was trying to avert their eyes, which was nearly impossible. I started laughing. Clearly, they didn’t care at all who saw. Why should I? “Well, Alex the adventuress?” I nudged her with my shoulder. “Are you gonna stare all night or should we figure out a way to make you famous?” “Yes, please. I’ll need a project because I’m pretty sure that I won’t be seeing much of Zoey for the rest of the summer.” Alex laughed. I couldn’t help but flash her a smile, hoping my dimples were on full display. Chicks dug my dimples. “So, um, Jace, just so you know I don’t want to be another annoying Instagram model. No cheesy, posey, pouty stuff. I mean, I’ll do what I need to do, but I want to find a clever way to travel and also raise awareness about animal rights.” Alex said as we walked over to an open bench seat. “Piece of cake.” I followed her. “No fish lips, only fish.” 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:  Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Between You and Me, a new novel from Carol Mason.  Between You and Me Is her new husband really who she thinks he is? When young doctor Lauren Matheson meets Joe, an older divorced businessman, at a glittering poolside in California, it’s a chance encounter that seems life-changing for them both. Back home in London, their feelings only strengthen. But Lauren soon discovers that building a happy future with Joe is going to be an uphill struggle… She’s determined to be a good stepmother to his children, four-year-old Toby and complicated teen Grace. But under the watchful eye of Meredith, Joe’s intimidating ex-wife, Lauren can’t seem to do a thing right. Why won’t Joe ever take her side against Grace? And what really happened between him and Meredith? As her husband retreats into a cold, secretive version of the dashing man she met in California, Lauren starts to wonder if she’s made a costly mistake. Was Joe ever the man she thought she married? Purchase Link  My thoughts: This was the first book I've read by Carol Mason and I can see now why she has such a great reputation for being an excellent storyteller. I expected the book to be a domestic thriller, but despite a few twists, it turned out to be a solid, well-written family drama exploring what it's like to be a second wife and a stepmother. Lauren Matheson is in her final year of Medical School when she meets fascinating Joe. There is immediate attraction, but Joe is married and has a 13year old daughter Gracy and 3year old son Toby, so there can never be anything between Lauren and him. A year later things have changed - Joe got divorced and is free to date again. After a whirlwind romance Lauren, who is now a junior doctor, and Joe get married and Lauren is sure nothing can come between them. After all, Joe made it clear there's nothing that matters more to him than Lauren's happiness. That is apart from his children. Was Lauren really aware of how difficult it is to be a stepmother to a stroppy teenager and a sweet, but not without his challenges, four-year-old boy?Let's not forget she also has a challenging career which often leaves her emotionally drained. Joe and Meredith (the ex-wife) have joint custody and understandably Joe tries to spend as much time as possible with his children, while Lauren is trying very hard to find her own place in this family. Still, whatever she does, she can't gain Grace's respect, the ex-wife Meredith accuses her of being negligent and irresponsible...and Joe isn't supportive at all. Can Lauren and Joe's realtionship survive these changes or is it something Lauren should have thought more carefully about before falling in love with and agreeing to marry an older man with an ex-wife and two children? I found the book absolutely gripping -it kept me up reading until the small hours. The plot is quite straightforward (ok,there are a few twists that test Lauren's moral principles), but mostly it is about Lauren's marriage. The book is toldfrom her point of view and it is impossible not to sympathise with her, although the reader is aware that there's always the other side of the story. Would it have been better to have other POVs? I am happy with the author's decision- in real life, do we really know what other people think and how they interpret our words and actions? we can only guess and make suppositions, observe and ask. Joe appears quite elusive, or rather it's Lauren's idea of Joe that keeps changingThe number of secondary characters is quite small and they all serve to move the story forward or make Lauren realise some things, which just shows how well-structured this book is. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about family relationships, second marriages, life changes, setting boundaries and working out what makes you happy (or not). I'm gladto have discovered this fantastic author and I can't wait to read Carol Mason's next book. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random resources, the author and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.  Author Bio Carol Mason is the Amazon Charts and Kindle #1 bestselling author After You Left (more than 300,000 copies sold), The Secrets of Married Women, The Last Time We Met, The Shadow Between Us, Send Me A Lover and Little White Secrets which hit the Bookstat digital bestsellers list top 3 in the week of its launch. She was born in the North East of England where most of her novels are set. She now lives in Canada with her Canadian husband, a rescue dog from Kuwait and a three-legged cat. When not writing, Carol loves to read, cook and binge watch Netflix. Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/CarolMasonAuthor https://twitter.com/CarolMasonBooks https://www.instagram.com/carolmasonauthor/  Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Tuesday! 
Lessons in Sin
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play -- Author Bio: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band. Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes. Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Amazon GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:  Thank you to Rachel fromrachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for The Islan, a new gripping psychological thriller by Mary Grand.  The Island The Island - where everyone knows everyone, and secrets are impossible to keep... ‘Be careful, you don’t know them as well as you think. Remember - anyone can kill.’ Juliet has returned to the Isle of Wight from years abroad to visit her sick father and to be reunited with her three sisters – Cassie, a professional musician who seems to have lost her way in life, Mira, who is profoundly deaf, is married to the local vicar but their relationship is falling apart, and Rosalind, glamorous and charming but now deeply unhappy and secretive about her life. As Juliet’s father lies dying, he issues her with a warning. There is a killer on the loose, and they may be closer than she can ever imagine. He anxiously tells Juliet that he confided a family secret in son-in-law Rhys, and now regrets ever saying a word. Days later, as the clock strikes one in the morning, a man comes out of Rhys’s church, walks along the path and is run down by a car driven by an unidentified person. When the finger of suspicion points to Juliet, she realises the only way to clear her name is to uncover the secrets her family has been keeping from her for years. But with a killer on the loose, danger is getting closer all the time… The Island is set on the Isle of Wight - insular, claustrophobic, and where secrets are hard to keep. Mary Grand's heart-stopping who-dunnits are perfect for fans of Louise Candlish. Agatha Christie and Lucy Foley. Purchase Link  My thoughts: The Island by Mary Grand is a kind of book that grows on you as you keep on turning pages. My first thriller by this talented author and I was pleasantly surprised by how good the book is. Set on the beautiful Isle of Wight, it is atmospheric (almost gothic in some parts, despite clearly being contemporary, twisty, and impossible to put down. Thirty-one-year-old Juliet has been teaching English in China for two years, when she receives a call from her mother teling herabout a serious car accident that put her father in hospital. Juliet takes the first flight home and gets to the hospital just in time to have one last conversation with her dying father, who hints at various secrets that must not be revealed. especially since anyone with a motive can become a murderer on a small island like this. He also seems to regret having confided in Rhys, the local vicar and his son-in-law. At the funeral, Rhys makes a strange eulogy talking about sins, punishment and the duty of doing the right thing. Back home, Juliet sees more and more secrets and strange, conspiratory looks. All sisters in this close-knit family are well-written characters with distinct personalities. The eldest one Cassie is a talented musician who used to be distant and uninvolved in the family, but is about to become a partner in a new business venture. Kind and selfless Mira, married to Rhys, appears to have some disagreements with her husband. The baby of the family Rosalind, the most spoilt and impatient of all of them, has grown a hard edge. Juliet keeps remembering the day Cassie and her mother came home with the newborn Rosalind, when their neighbours' son Harry was killed. The police have never found the murderer. When Rhys's body is found outside the vicarage in what appears a hit-and-run accident, everyone becomes a suspect. I really liked the way the author kept adding layers and layers, secrets, hints and suppostitions in a slow and steady manner in this compelling domestic thriller. Mary Grand doesn't tell you, she shows a detail and lets you make your own conclusions. Sometimes they will misdirect you, other times they will lead straight to the crux of the matter. You just have to be patient and pay attention to the clues that will allow you to solve the mysteries and secrets that abound in this family and this part of the island. I particularly appreciated the portrayal of Mira who is profoundly Deaf and the details that made this character so realistic. I was thoroughly entertained and will be looking forward to reading Mary Grand's next book! Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random resources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.  Author Bio: Mary Grand is the author of five novels and writes gripping, page-turning suspense, with a dark and often murderous underside. She grew up in Wales, was for many years a teacher of deaf children and now lives on the Isle of Wight where her new novel, The House Party, which was published by Boldwood in August 2020, is set. Social Media Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormarygrand Twitter: https://twitter.com/authormaryg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryandpepper/ Newsletter Sign Up Link: https://bit.ly/MaryGrandNewsletter Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-grand  Thankyou for reading the post! Have a wonderful Sunday!   A sharp and hilariously relatable novel about the business of weddings, the toll they can take, and the lengths one exasperated bridesmaid will go to for the love of friends. Lily Weiss is her mother’s worst nightmare: thirty-two and single—the horror! She’s also a talented writer but hides behind a boring job at a science foundation. To her friends, she’s reliable and selfless, which is how she winds up a bridesmaid in five weddings in six weeks. Anything for her three best friends and two (younger) siblings, right? Even if her own love life is…well, she’d rather not talk about it. To keep her sanity, Lily needs a safe place to vent. And so her anonymous blog, Bridesmania, is born. The posts start pouring out of her: all the feels about mom-zillas, her vanishing bank balance, the wicked bridesmaids of the west, high-strung brides-to-be, body-shaming dress clerks, bachelorette parties, and Spanx for days, not to mention being deemed guardian of eighty-eight-year-old Granny (who enjoys morning mimosas in the nude) for her brother’s destination wedding. So far the blog has stayed anonymous. But as everyone knows, few things online remain secret forever… When all is said and done, can Lily help all five couples make it to happily ever after? And will her own happy ending be close behind?
My thoughts: For Love of Friends is a typical summer read- everybody knows that summer the best season for weddings and everybody knows it's impossible to survive being a bridesmaid in five weddings over two months without some major damage to one's sanity. Here is a story that will make you think even more fondly of your friends who never (occasionally/ sometimes/ quite a lot ) lost their good old common sense and good nature and started asking impossible things from you. Lily Weiss, our protagonist, is a friend/sibling and bridesmaid to 5 manic brides. She adores her dad and has quite a complicated relationship with her mother (nothing Lily does is going to be good enough, starting from being thirty two years old and single) and her younger sister. Lily is bored with what she has to do at work. Still, she is lacking courage to leave her secure job and become a writer. Compromise? a wedding blog where she can put down on paper (sorry, screen) her observations and tell her jokes without hurting anyone's feelings. Yes, some of the stories are incredibly entertaining (¡Hola abuela!) and even shocking esp. her involvement with not one, but two of the best men from her best friend's wedding party. To be perfectly honest, my feelings towards Lily were all over the place. First, I liked the way she refused to beat herself up about her one night stand and feel obliged to start another dead-end/ short-term relationship... unfortunately, things weren't that straightforward and she came very close to sabotaging herself. Perhaps, I was a bit too harsh on Lily- I expected a thirty two year old to be more mature and more self-aware, but some things you see only when you are ready to see them. I liked the fact that she grows as a person, a friend and a family member and clears a lot of issues in the end. Lily's blogging journey sounded interesting- a lot of people relish in the anonymity of the Internet and give vent to their feelings (perhaps, even slightly exaggerating things to make the content more striking). We know it will all blow in her face and there will be consequences...Perhaps, Lily needed a push, a disaster of a kind to force her into changing. I liked the fact that she grows as a person, a friend and a family member and clears al ot of issues in the end. The writing was almost addictive. Some time in the middle, I wondered if five weddings was really too many (I know, that's the whole point!) and the book could have been as good or even better with fewer plotlines. Then again, not all our relationships in life are equally deep or equally important at all points of our lives, but all benefit from attention, kindness, and communication, and this book really drives it home. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC provide in exchange for an honest opinion.  About the author: Sara Goodman Confino teaches high school English and journalism in Montgomery County, Maryland, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and two miniature schnauzers, Rosie and Sandy. When she’s not writing or working out, she can be found on the beach or at a Bruce Springsteen show, sometimes even dancing onstage. For more information visit www.saraconfino.com. Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: August 1st, 2021
The 7th Lie
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: Freezing wind gusted as I stepped outside the facility. I pulled my hood over my head and followed Agent Logan through the snow. “You ready?” he called, his frame hidden under bulky layers of clothing and a gray overcoat, a red-letter V stitched over the breast pocket. I hesitated before answering. I’d spent half my night wondering if I’d made the right decision by staying. Finally, I’d sent off a quick message to Dad, telling him I loved him, I would come back. I was sorry about Mima June. My emotions were too raw to know what else to say. “I’m ready,” I called back. “You got everything?” I straightened my backpack’s straps. If he was asking if I had all my material things, then the answer was probably not, as I was famously lousy at remembering everyday things like a toothbrush and underwear. If he was asking if I had everything in my head—all the knowledge of Champ Island, the Bering Sea, the weather patterns, the gateway cave, the dome and the little information we knew of what was under it—then the answer was yes. I hadn’t spent the last six months of my life in training for nothing. “I’m good,” I yelled back. He nodded, then sat on his snowmobile, pulled his goggles over his eyes, and cranked the engine. The roar mingled with the howling wind. I cast one last glance at the facility. The stark metal building loomed against a churning white sky. A single red light flashed from the antennae reaching up into the storm, as if it were a beacon screaming for help. I wasn’t sure it had stopped storming since I’d arrived half-a-year ago. I’d had no idea what I was getting into. My nerves on that first day had been unbearable. After joining Vortech and making the cut to elite status, they’d sent me here to the top of the world, to a tiny, unknown island north of the Russian mainland. A place filled with mysterious sphere-shaped boulders that pocked the unforgiving landscape. That’s when I’d learned about the dome, and my Kansas way of thinking—of Earth and everything in it—had been shattered forever. After cranking my snowmobile’s engine, I pushed the throttle. Snow spewed behind me as I sped forward and followed Logan. I allowed myself to revel in the rush of wind, the crispness of the air, and the taste of ice on my tongue, something unfamiliar after being trapped inside the facility, with only a few trips to the outside world on my survival expeditions. We sped past the wreck of the old immigrant’s ship. Weathered wooden planks comprised its hull. In some places, the boards stuck up like the bones of a whale’s skeleton. Whatever storm had pushed it to the top of the world must’ve been massive in scope. The ship conjured images of the pages of a book I’d read as a child. The Lost Shipwreck of Champ Island. The book opened as if I were reading it again. Black-and-white photos and their captions popping out at me. How the ship got here is still a mystery. The immigrants’ disappearance is a mystery, too. After fifty years of study, scientists are beginning to fit the puzzle pieces together. No bodies were recovered, and in extreme temperatures such as those found on Champ Island, their remains would’ve been easily preserved. Some scientists believe they may have found a cave to take shelter in, yet no evidence of such an event has been recorded. Beyond the ship lay an expanse of snowy wasteland. I dodged sphere-shaped boulders, some as small as ping-pong balls, others larger than my snowmobile. A blanket of white covered their tops, as if to hide their secrets. Lines of text from the Atlas of Champ Island jumped out in my mind. Perfect spheres don’t exist in nature. Scientists have discovered the boulders were formed by water. However, because of the extreme temperatures, there are no recorded civilizations living on Champ Island, and no conclusive evidence that the spheres were formed by human hands. Ice crystals crunched under our snowmobile’s skis, bringing me from my thoughts. I shook my head. Sometimes this photographic memory thing was a pain. I couldn’t stay focused on anything long enough before a book page hit me out of nowhere, and my concentration got jerked from one idea to another. A howling wind echoed through the expanse. This far away from civilization, I imagined what it would feel like to be a shipwreck victim out here alone, with the screaming wind and the numbing cold. Where would I have gone from here? The void of white faded with the setting sun, leaving the world drenched in gray. As we approached the substation, only the blinking red lights gave any indication we were near the bunker. The roaring engines grew quieter until we shut them off, leaving me with ringing ears in the sudden silence. Logan removed his goggles. “You good?” “Fine,” I called back. We got off our snowmobiles and headed for the entrance. I flexed my stiff fingers. Despite my gloves, the cold managed to seep through, straight to my bones, until numbness settled inside. The black metal hatch loomed, a block letter ‘V’ etched into the plate. We trudged through the snow until we reached the keypad. Logan removed his gloves just long enough to press his thumb to the fingerprint pad. A red laser scanned his finger, then the pad turned green, and the hatchway opened. Snow particles blustered around us. I stepped onto the metal grating and inside the bunker, then I walked with Logan down a metal staircase, our footsteps echoing with hollow clangs. The door sealed shut above us. Panic of being caged in weighed heavy in my chest, but I gripped the railing. 
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Alpha’s Moon
-- EXCERPT: She cleared her mind, focused on the question and her vision of Kayleigh. Then she sent her will down the pendulum and deepened her breathing, ignoring the ache in her ribs. Finally, she felt the tug in the chain, pulling her toward the Massachusetts and New York border, at which point, it stopped, as if hitting a wall. She sighed, letting her spine relax. She had a direction. A sound made her jerk and turn. Kane was leaning against the wall, just inside the door, his arms crossed in front of him, wearing jeans that fit him comfortably and a black leather jacket over a tight T-shirt. She tried to ignore the way he filled out the shirt and jeans, and the way his dark eyes heated as they roamed over her, but he didn’t move from the wall, just watched her with the steady intensity of the predator that he was. Her body heated as if his gaze was a laser as it traced her body, and a steady throbbing built deep inside reminding her of how long it had been since she’d been laid. His scent trailed through the room, through the layers of incense she’d lit, and she melted inside. Damn it. She should have sensed him invading her house. Her wards should’ve warned her. How could he have slipped past them without her knowing? She uncrossed her legs, an involuntary whimper escaping her lips as blood rushed to the limbs and the stiff muscles protested the movement. Quickly, he shoved off the wall and gripped her arm, helping her to her feet, not touching her anywhere else, his hand burning her like a brand. He then shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her wordlessly. “Not that I mind the way you’re dressed, but I thought you might be more comfortable this way.” His voice was a deep rumble, and she swore she could feel her pussy clenching then softening. Damn, he sounded sexy. She narrowed her gaze and dropped his jacket, striding casually from the room to her bedroom where she forced herself to slowly dress, not letting on how it bothered her that he was seeing her naked. It didn’t bother him at all, since shifters had a much more open view of nudity, not able to shift with their clothes. But she had never liked being that vulnerable, not that she’d let him know that. He leaned against the doorjamb and watched her with hooded eyes. Once she was appropriately armed with her jeans and black T-shirt, she turned to face him. “Do you often break into women’s houses? Is that how you get your rocks off? Or is this some sort of bizarre courting ritual?” He levered himself off the doorjamb and prowled over to her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I find it funny that you ask about my courting of other females. I’ve never courted anyone, and I won’t be going to any other female’s house.” He leaned closer to her neck and inhaled. Then he stepped back. “And when I’m courting you, you’ll know it.” She swallowed hard and let out a shaky breath. “I won’t hold my breath.” He gave her a wolfish grin then frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt this badly. You’re bruised all over the place. Didn’t Shayla heal you?” The near-feral growl in his voice made her want to soothe him instantly, not a normal response for her at all, and she resisted the urge. Instead, she fisted her hands at her side and adopted a deliberatively casual pose, folding her arms over her chest and cocking out her hip. “She did what she could. I’m fine. You never answered my question. Why are you here?” He scowled at her but dropped the subject. “I wanted to talk with you about Kayleigh and what you knew about her disappearance, to see if you had remembered anything else. And maybe share what I heard from some of the witnesses.” Her pulse quickened at the prospect of hearing additional information. Maybe that would shake loose what was bothering her, help her with her own investigation. He smirked, perhaps sensing her interest. “But first, tell me what you were doing. Was that a Finding spell?” Son of a bitch. He was too smart by half, and he had seen her in the middle of the ritual. She couldn’t avoid the talk any further. At that moment, her stomach growled loudly, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since dinner the night before, and not much at that. “I brought food,” he said, “since Healing burns calories, and I didn’t know what you might have to eat. We can talk while we eat.” He took her arm and started to lead her, but she resisted. One, because she knew where her own damned kitchen was and didn’t need anyone directing her. And two, when a shifter fed another, it usually meant something, especially when it was a dominant male, and Kane was Uber dominant, especially considering he was the next Alpha of his Pack. Taking food from him was a big deal, and she had to tread very carefully in the next few minutes. Correctly interpreting her hesitation, he dropped her arm. “For goddess sake, Sheridan. You have to eat. Unbend your goddamn pride and take the offering. I’m not asking you to mate with me.” She narrowed her gaze, sniffed once and smelled the food that she hadn’t before, and her stomach reminded her how long it had been since her last meal. She strode past him, but not before he added, “Yet.” 
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Rycks
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: “Look. I can’t stay here past tonight. But if I go back with something that looks important, you could control the information I’m giving them.” Was it my imagination or did he look disappointed? “I don’t like it. I’d have to discuss it with Thorn, and he’d have to decide what you tell them, but it’s not something I want to risk.” “It’s the only option I have.” “Why?” “I’m sorry?” “Why do you have to go back, Lyric. You’re here with me now. You’re safe.” “All you need to know is that I have to go back. I want to go back.” If the look on his face was any indication, I’d just thoroughly pissed Rycks off. “You’re staying. End of discussion. You want to go back, you tell me why.” “It’s personal. That’s all I’m saying so don’t ask again.” Rycks sighed and reached for me to pull me onto his lap, straddling his hips. He stood up and turned to sit in the same chair he’d plucked me out of. Those strong hands held me still. Like I’d dare move. “Are you telling me you want to go back to that lot? They’ll use you until there’s nothing left. I’m surprised they haven’t already. You’ll die in that place if you go back. You have to know that.” “No. I don’t know that. Dangling information from someone high in rank at Black Reign would keep them off of me. Plus, they need me working at my job in the city. It’s the only way they’re able to get their information.” I tried to ignore how good it felt to be in his arms again. Rycks was my first lover. He’d made me feel special despite his refusal to keep me. Even that had been because he’d thought any danger I faced wasn’t anything like what I’d face with him. I had no idea if he’d been right, but I knew where I was now was as deadly dangerous. “You’re a damned fool,” he snapped. Then he did something unexpected. He slid his hand into the hair at the back of my head and pulled me to him. “Girl, I’m surprised they let you leave at all. Surprised they haven’t already made you a whore in the most violent way possible. It would be Rat Man who’d start with you. You know that, right?” I shivered. Rat Man. Even saying his name gave me the creeps. The man knew no depravity he didn’t indulge in. If there was a repugnant sex act out there, chances are he’d done it. “Yes. I can see you do know. I can also see you’re afraid.” He sighed, loosening his grip on my hair, but not letting me pull away from him. “I suppose that’s something.” With a sigh, he pulled me to him until my head rested on his shoulder. “You’re going to be a problem, I can see. Not sure the word brat even covers you.” “Why would you call me a brat?” Maybe I was, but it was only because, for some reason, I felt safe to let that side of myself out when I was with him. Sure, he tried to come across gruff and dangerous – -and I was sure he was under the right circumstances — but I knew in my heart he wasn’t like anyone at Kiss of Death. He was a protector first. A killer only when someone he was responsible for was threatened. “Because you’re testing me when you should be following orders.” “Never been much good at following orders.” “I can see that. Also,” he said, taking a deep breath, “you’ve got to tell me why your family went missing from Ismay. And why you’re the only one of them ever to turn back up.” 
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