Jocelyn Dunkirk is not your typical Victorian lady. She dresses in leather, wears goggles and is not afraid to get a little grease under her fingernails. Gentlemen avoid her like a dirty rivet.
Richard Windsor, the Prince of Wales, travels through time to claim Jocelyn’s heart, but if it isn’t one challenge, it’s another. He determines to be a constant, steady presence in her life, hoping to prove he’d make a worthy husband.
Jocelyn’s facing a bucket full of problems. The Prime Minister wants her to assist in ending a coal strike before it cripples the nation while her father attempts to recover from a serious injury. Will Jocelyn’s dedication to her country and family ruin the one chance she has at love?
Excerpt:
She swatted her hand next to her head like she was swatting a fly. Love could flitter away from her heart like a hummingbird for all she cared. Who needed it? Love hurt.
A knock rapped on the door, but before she could voice a reply, Richard walked in. He crossed the room, raw concern splayed over his face and he knelt before her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You look annoyed.”
“A lady never cusses,” she replied.
His lips tipped in amusement. “What else does a lady never do?”
“They never wear the same dress twice.”
He pulled up a chair and sat in front of her. “I believe that.”
“And a lady never lies,” she said.
He slid his hand over hers and laced their fingers together. A sweet jolt pulsed up her arm and she smiled despite herself.
“So what’s bothering you?” he asked.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. After serving 11 years in the US Army she currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks. She’s also an assistant den leader for her son’s Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children’s books published with 4RV Publishing.
Following the deaths of her husband, Corey, and ten year old daughter Ellie in a traffic accident, author Abby Miller sinks ever deeper into depression. She contemplates suicide as a way to be with them, and to end her unrelenting pain.
In a last desperate effort to find peace, she drives to Loon Lake where they last vacationed together, wanting to believe they will be waiting for her there. At least in spirit. Barring that, the pills Doctor Gregory gave her to help her sleep, are in her purse.
The cabin at Loon Lake was her and Corey’s secret hideaway, and not even Abby’s sister, Karen, to whom she is close, knows where it is.
But someone else does. He is one of three men who have escaped from Pennington prison. They are dangerous predators who will stop at nothing to get what they want – and to keep from going back to prison. Having already committed atrocious crimes, they have nothing to lose.
Unknowingly, Abby is on a collision course with evil itself. And the decision of whether or live or die will soon be wrenched from her hands.
“…Joan Hall Hovey knows suspense. She keeps it simmering in every scene she writes and knows just the right moments to turn up the heat and bring it all to a boil. THE DEEPEST DARK is a terrific suspense novel.” James Hankins, author of BROTHERS AND BONES and SHADY CROSS
“…readers will be chilled as they root for Abby to take back her life and escape the Loon Lake cabin alive and breathing. Once the first page is read in this one, nothing will be able to draw your attention away…”
Reviewed by Amy Lignor, author of “The Charlatan’s Crown,” published by Suspense Publishing, an imprint of Suspense Magazine
EXCERPT:
The three dark figures moved quietly among the shadowy, rain-dripping birches, pines and alders toward the old farmhouse where amber lights glowed in the two lower windows. They crept with the stealth of foxes intent upon the chickens in the hen house, hungry and deadly, already tasting blood. And the Nichols’ actually did keep a few chickens of their own, mainly for the fresh eggs, but not altogether for that reason. They liked seeing them clucking and pecking about the yard; they were good company and cost only a bit of seed. Once, they had operated their own farm, and a fair sized one it was, too. These days they kept a small vegetable garden and Ethel Nichols tended the flowers that grew along the walkway and in her window boxes, mainly morning glories in heavenly blue and pansies in shades of lavender and sun-yellow.
In their early eighties now, and in relatively good health, they were enjoying the fruits of their labor in these latter years, including the big screen TV on which they were presently watching an old rerun of All in the Family, one of life’s pleasures that Hartley and Ethel shared. …
When the commercial came on, Ethel rose from the big stuffed chair across from her husband’s Lazy Boy. She was white-haired, ample of figure, and quick to smile. “Cup of tea, Hartley?”
He looked in her direction and grinned mischievously. Though his own hair had long gone and he walked with a limp, to Ethel he was as handsome as the first time she saw him walking into Mr. Biggar’s class in grade nine. She could still see him as he was then, tall and lean, with a thatch of fair hair fallen over his brow.
“Wouldn’t mind having just a tiny slice of that apple pie you baked to go with my tea.” An affectionate coaxing twinkled in blue eyes that had faded only a little over the years.
Looking at him, she mentally shook her head. He knew he had trouble getting to sleep if he ate after he’d had his supper. “Sure,” she said. And it will be tiny, Mister Nichols, you can bet on that. She had started for the kitchen when she stopped in the doorway between the living room and kitchen, thinking she’d heard a noise outside. She listened. Heard it again. A squeaking of the porch swing chain?
“Did you hear that?” she called into the living room.
“Hear what? Didn’t hear nothin’, Ethel.”
“I’m not sure. Sounded like… oh, I’m sure it’s nothing. The wind.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Joan Hall Hovey, Photo: Cindy Wilson/Telegraph-Journal
Joan Hall Hovey is the definition of an ‘artist’. From her writing that has taken the form of suspense novels, as well as short stories and articles, this woman has not only taken the suspense world by storm, but also dabbles in the theatre community. In addition to it all, Joan takes the time to work with other authors, giving them the information and help they need to embrace their talent and become a part of the literary world.
Born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick, Joan has a family she adores; including, Scamp, the family dog. She is blessed to look out every day at the tall pine trees and the stunning view of the Kennebecasis River. But although that view is certainly inspiring, her fans will tell you that it is Joan’s view – the scenes and characters within her own creative mind – that is truly unforgettable. This is a talent who brings vibrancy to the page, creating locations that, even in the light of day, chill fans to the bone.
An insatiable reader, the works of Poe, King, and other masters of the mystery world, inspired Joan to write. And now, with her latest novel – THE DEEPEST DARK – she once again hits the nail on the proverbial head, drawing readers into a world of fear that will leave them absolutely breathless.
Love, desire, domination, and submission. Two domestic discipline romances by USA
Young beautiful loving couple is embracing on a black background
Today bestselling author Cara Bristol in one volume. Wife on the Lam Janelle wants to take a luxury vacation for her wedding anniversary. Despite numerous hints, husband Brent misses all the clues and plans a business trip! Miffed, she flies off alone to a luxury resort. She’s going to celebrate—with or without him. Brent didn’t have to work. He’d planned a second honeymoon to the luxury Cabana Resort. Janelle might have ruined his surprise, but he’s not going to let her ruin their anniversary, too. He has a little trick up his sleeve to take his errant wife in hand and get their marriage back on track. Rahm’s Way Before her military husband left for his tour of duty, Cadence Simmons relied on Rahm’s love, direction, and protection. His absence forced her to become more independent and make decisions for herself. After serving his country, he’s home for good and eager to resume their marriage as it was before. Only Cadence isn’t quite sure she wants things exactly as they were. Can domestic discipline guide this couple through some major changes?
EXCERPT
Could she call the States from Isla Island? Because Brent traveled so much they had a comprehensive cell plan. She powered up her phone. Seconds later a text message beeped through. Her hand shook as she recognized Brent’s number.
Can’t believe U did this. Where R U?
She texted him back. Cabana Resort, Isla Island. I’m sorry.
She widened her eyes when seconds later a response popped up. He must have been waiting for her message. She could imagine his fury. Fortunately she was hundreds of miles away. Of course, if she hadn’t been hundreds of miles away, he wouldn’t be mad. With any hope, he’d cool off some by the end of the week. Or would he be angrier by then?
U R in so much trouble. B there Thurs.
Did that mean what it sounded like? She gulped. U R coming here? Yes. We’ll talk.
Talk was often a euphemism, but of course she wanted him to join her. Her heartfelt wish had been for her and Brent to take the trip together. And she was ninety-nine percent sure he wouldn’t spank her at a resort.
A young couple bounded onto the van. They greeted her with a hello and settled into a seat near the front on her side. Two women, arm-in-arm, wheeled their suitcases to the curb and boarded. More hellos. Of course everyone would be paired up. Cabana Resort promoted itself as a couples’ getaway.
Can’t U come sooner? She texted Brent.
Got the mtg.
Oh, right. His meeting. This wasn’t all her fault. He’d provoked her by his cluelessness.
Fine! She punched in her response.
This was Saturday. She’d make the most of the next five days before Brent arrived and she gave him a piece of her mind.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
USA Today bestselling author Cara Bristol writes “nice and naughty” stories of love, romance, and humor featuring strong alpha heroes. She is a no. 1 bestseller in BDSM erotica, science fiction romance, and holiday fiction on Amazon. She is best known for her Rod and Cane Society domestic discipline series and her Breeder D/s sci-fi romance series. She lives in Missouri with her own alpha hero, her husband.
By day, Kathryn Wallace is a dowdy, introverted financial whiz whose sole focus is her career. But after hours, to protect her professional interests, she lets loose as Kat Grantham, a sexy, smart, incredibly sassy female dynamo unafraid to speak her mind. Whoever she is, it won’t matter if she’s in jail, indicted for insider trading at her family’s brokerage firm. But one thing’s clear, her heart is not part of the equation. Until a hot variable walks through the doors of her firm . . .
Ben Higgins is working undercover as Bernie “the nerd” Higgenbottom. Somehow he can’t quite believe the innocent “librarian” he’s been sent to investigate is at the bottom of a potentially huge SEC scandal. Until he discovers she’s not who or what she appears to be—and that she’s being set up by someone inside the firm. Now, as much as Ben wants to get Kat under the covers, he’ll have to stay undercover to protect her from a ruthless Wall Street bully . . .
EXCERPT:
Reflected in the bar mirror, chest out in a practiced pose, stood the man who’d been hitting on her the past couple of months. He was staring at her ass and licking his lips.
“Who does he think he is?” Kat flicked her thumb in his direction.
Jill shrugged and knocked back a shot of tequila. “Ignore him.”
“What an ass.” Kat took a deep breath, spun her chair around, tipped her head back, then stared down her nose at him. “Can I help you?”
From his sandy-blond hair, to his baby blues that matched his dress shirt, to his fancy Italian loafers, he was impeccably dressed. A beautifully tailored charcoal-grey pinstriped suit showcased his captivating physique, and the pants hugged his hips.
Big deal…so he was hot. His ignorance made her want to throw up.
“You heard me, Baby. I’m fighting the urge to make you the happiest woman on Earth tonight. How about we ditch this place and see what we can come up with?” He moved like a hula girl bobblehead, complete with swiveling eyebrows and hips. Then he had the nerve to wink while jingling the change in his pocket.
Why did the gorgeous ones have to act like they think they’re a gift to women? “You’re joking, right?” An indelicate chuckle escaped her lips.
The grin slipped from his face. She wouldn’t have been surprised to look down only to find that bulge in the front of his pants drop to his ankles like a rolled up sock. Guys like him would try anything.
“Hmm.” She spun her chair back around to the bar. Frustrated at the audacity of some men, she leaned over to Jill. “What is it with guys these days? They meet an interesting woman and instead of trying to sweep her off her feet with a bit of romance, they have to go and show you how disgusting they are when they open their mouths.” It was turning out to be one hell of a lousy night.
“Serves you right for being so damn beautiful. They can’t keep a civilized tongue in their mouths.” Jill’s shoulders shook as she snorted with laughter.
Kat did her best impression of Jill’s heartthrob, The Rock, giving her The People’s Eyebrow, a lone highly arched eyebrow that shut a person up instantaneously.
Jill continued to laugh, not the least bit intimidated.
“Some days I just hate coming here. Too bad it’s my favorite place in town. If only I didn’t like to dance so much. Guess it’s one of the pitfalls I’ll have to learn to live with because I certainly don’t plan on letting guys ruin my downtime.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
As a long-time member of both Romance Writers of America (RWA) and her local RWA Chapter, the Sacramento Valley Roses, Deb Julienne fills the hours she’s not writing romantic comedy and romantic suspense with her day job at a Silicon Valley Corporation and playing in the kitchen concocting her award-winning jams, jellies, preserves, and sauces (with alcohol of course). Deb resides in the Tahoe National Forest Basin and you can visit her at debjulienne.com.
From the high desert of New Mexico comes a tale of mystery, murder and redemption. When journalist Kevin Pitcairn receives a disturbing letter from a serial killer, he is drawn into a compelling journey with profound psychological and spiritual implications, not just for the murderer, but for himself and society as a whole. As he tries to investigate and then tell the story, he finds himself battling his own inner demons and sordid history. Events conspire to propel an isolated matter to a national stage and audiences that are increasingly hostile. Forced to explore the roots of human psychology and sanity, Pitcairn must navigate moral and philosophical realms. What is the nature of evil? What powers of choice do humans actually possess? How may we be redeemed? And in the end, how do we reconcile with ourselves?
MY NAME IS WONDER Blurb:
My Name is Wonder chronicles the transcendent adventures of a little goat with big dreams. Join Wonder and his wisecracking guide, the mysterious crow Mac Craack, on a journey through the scenic landscapes of the American Southwest and into the heart of a mindful presence. Along the way, you’ll meet an unforgettable cast of creatures, each with an important lesson to teach.
EXCERPT (A Killer’s Grace)
As a freelance journalist and columnist for the local afternoon newspaper, the Albuquerque Chronicle, Pitcairn often received unsolicited mail. In this case, he immediately recognized the name of Daniel Davidson. He knew all about the case. Davidson was convicted for the murder of four of his six Texas victims after protracted delays for psychiatric evaluation. During that time, the state of Oklahoma had opted not to prosecute him for the murder of a seventh victim. But after those many lengthy delays, he was remanded to the custody of the state of New Mexico for trial in the murder of a seventeen-year-old Santa Fe high school girl.
That final proceeding was notorious for ending without a conviction two weeks before. Unlike the Texans, this jury had bought the psychological evidence. Their decision was greeted with derision and accusations of racism from the northern New Mexican, Hispanic community to which the young woman belonged. The police had to quell a near riot. Now Davidson was to be returned to Texas to await execution.
Davidson’s case was unusual. Despite the efforts of anti-death penalty agitators to appeal his case in Texas on psychiatric grounds, especially in light of the New Mexican decision, the murderer requested that his sentence be carried out as soon as possible. It was reported that he understood he had broken society’s covenants and actively sought his own death.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ronald Chapman is owner of an international speaking and consulting company, Magnetic North LLC. In addition to international accreditation as a speaker and national awards for radio commentary, he is the author of two novels, My Name is Wonder (Terra Nova Publishing, 2016) and A Killer’s Grace (Terra Nova Publishing, 2016 and 2012), two works of non-fiction, Seeing True: Ninety Contemplations in Ninety Days (Ozark Mountain Publishing, 2008) and What a Wonderful World: Seeing Through New Eyes (Page Free Publishing, 2004) and the producer of three audio sets, Seeing True: The Way of Spirit (Ozark Mountain Publishing, 2016, 2005), Breathing, Releasing and Breaking Through: Practices for Seeing True (Ozark Mountain Publishing, 2015), and Seeing True – The Way of Success in Leadership (Magnetic North Audio, 2005). Ron provides a wide array of social media content at www.SeeingTrue.com, content for people in substance abuse recovery at www.ProgressiveRecovery.org, and other content from his master site, www.RonaldChapman.com. He holds a Masters in Social Welfare from The University at Albany (New York.) Prior to his relocation to Atlanta, Georgia in 2008, he was a long-time resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Note: A Killer’s Grace is one of two novels by Chapman being released simultaneously by Terra Nova Publishing, the other being My Name is Wonder. The publisher commented, ““It is remarkable that these two books can be so very different but somehow speak to the same messages.”
Note: My Name is Wonder is one of two novels by Chapman being released simultaneously by Terra Nova Publishing, the other being A Killer’s Grace. The publisher commented, ““It is remarkable that these two books can be so very different but somehow speak to the same messages.”
In 1897, a young cockney nursemaid takes her first train ride, leaving London for the lush and sprawling Sandringham Estate, private home to Britain’s royal family. Hired by the Duke and Duchess of York to help rear their royal children, Charlotte Bill is about to become privy to all the secrets families hide, and caught between the upstairs and downstairs worlds.
EXCERPT:
Of course I’d been out on the for-hire steam launch on the Thames my father captained, but in the railway carriage, I felt I was flying. It was noisy too, here in third class with the huge engine just ahead, huffing and blowing smoky steam which dashed past the windows. . Where I sat was quite plain with the leather seats a bit worn and cracked, but I felt I was in a magic cart to the moon anyway. My father had said the tracks would be well-kept since this was the route the royals themselves used to get to their Norfolk estate where I was headed. But when he’d put me on the train, he’d been disappointed that none of the royal carriages were on this run.
As I was sent for to become undernurse to the royals at York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate, it was the first time I’d been in a railway carriage and the first time so far from home. I was going one-hundred-and-twenty miles from London, and didn’t have to pay for the passage ticket either! Maybe that would be one of the grand things being in service to the royals, because Mama said they were all rich, rich, rich. Honestly, I didn’t care a whit about that, just that I could better my station and send some money home in these tough times, but how I missed my former and now grown toddlekins from Dr. Lockwood’s family in London. They didn’t need a nurse anymore, all grown up to only need their new stepmother.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author Karen Harper is a former university (Ohio State) and high school English teacher. Published since 1982, she writes contemporary suspense and historical novels about real British women. Two of her recent Tudor era books were bestsellers in the UK and Russia. A rabid Anglophile, she likes nothing more than to research her novels on site in the British Isles. Harper won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for DARK ANGEL, and her novel SHATTERED SECRETS was judged one of the Best Books of 2014 by Suspense Magazine. The author and her husband divide their time between Ohio and Florida. For more information please visit: http://www.karenharperauthor.com
So controversial she was erased from history. She was the first women to run for President; campaigning before women could vote. So feared by the powerful, she was thrown in jail on Election Day. Her social revolution attracted the outcasts who were left out of the new wealth in New York; the immigrants, the freed slaves, the prostitutes, and the radicals. Who was she? This is the true story of Victoria Woodhull.
Excerpt:
I was conceived in a whore’s tent at a Methodist revival. I know this because my father recounted the story often and with some pride. In those days, a meeting was not in a big tent but rather in an empty field surrounded by small tents. Prostitutes, hawkers, and every unsavory fool who had something to sell to the downtrodden camped out in tents, perching themselves like hawks ready to scoop up feeble mice. The preacher man encouraged them to stay, wanting to turn each one into a tick mark indicating a saved soul. Mama, who would weep uncontrollably for the world’s sins and dry her tears with the most stomachchurning stream of never-ending underworld profanity, begged Father to attend the revivals. Once Father realized that fancy ladies would be surrounding the meeting, Mama didn’t have to beg no more. He always said both the preacher and the whores had a way of saving men. The preacher kept a tally in his Bible, and the whore kept a tally by counting the cash in her hand. Father, a smooth talker who could convince Saint Peter to open his gates for the devil, always made friends with the whores. Without the money to make a tent of their own, Father wormed his way into the whores’ hearts, all the while keeping his eye on the prized dirty canvas. It didn’t take long before a boyish wink won the tent, if only for an hour.
My review:
“The Renegade queen” is an amazing story about a woman’s struggles in a world of men. Showing a glimpse into American history, the book covers some real facts, the author managing to combine a real event with a touch of fiction. While struggling to understand the first pages, as I initially considered the beginning to be a bit dull, I came to understand why our heroine acted the way she did later in the book and from where came her resolution to change something for the women.
I do believe this book is not for the ones not willing to go beyond our current days. It may be difficult to understand why women were so willing to submit themselves to rough treatments and humiliation. Myself being one, I felt enraged even. Still, going back in time, in a world in which only men were powerful, smart, able to think and do business, when a woman decides to take actions into her own hands it shifts the balance of power.
I do believe that even if the man was the strong image of that time and a woman starts to gain courage and power, the book’s message is that only standing together as equals we can make our lives easier. This is not about who’s the smart one or about a female’s charm. This is about a fight fo equity and place in society.
Very interesting, with a very good message. Loved it and recommend it – if you are looking of an intelligent book.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Eva was raised on bedtime stories of feminists (the tooth fairy even brought Susan B. Anthony dollars) and daytime lessons on American politics. On one fateful day she discovered two paragraphs about Victoria Woodhull in the WXYZ volume of the World Book Encyclopedia. When she realized that neither of her brilliant parents (a political science professor and a feminist) had never heard of her, it was the beginning of a lifelong fascination not only with Victoria Woodhull but in discovering the stories that the history books do not tell.
Eva was born and raised in Tennessee, earned her B.A. in Political Science from DePauw in Greencastle, Indiana and still lives in Indiana. Eva enjoys reading, classic movies, and travelling. She loves to hear from readers, you may reach her at eva@rebellioustimes.com.
IndieLove Magazine is a new publication showcasing Indie Everything!!! From Independent Authors, Musicians, Film makers, Actors, Art, Etsy Crafters. With Bonus features such as content articles, recipes, DIY, not for profit and travel.
Excerpt:
Artist Sarah Sculley – IndieLove Magazine Article
NYT bestselling Author Nashoda Rose Interview with IndieLove Magazine
When was it that you decided that being an artist was your calling?
Yesterday. True! I graduated from the Queensland College of Art in 2002 as one of many fresh-faced graphic designers. As the years went on, the briefs came in, the changes, and changes, and late nights, and more changes, and the all-nighters, more changes and then having my creative ideas smooshed, I decided that maybe being a graphic designer was a bit soul destroying. So I painted and created as an outlet.
I showed my work when I lived in China and had sell-out shows. When I moved home to Brisbane I thought I had to become a grown-up. Buy a house, settle down, procreate – all those picket-fence, 2.5 kids ideals. Silly me. I worked my tail off as a designer for a company that ended up making me redundant, one week before I was due back from maternity leave. It was an amazing blessing. It gave me the time, creativity and freedom to put everything I had into a solo show at Jugglers earlier this year. In my eyes, it was a massive success. I am entirely proud.
Since that show I’ve had so many opportunities become available for me to truly do what I believe is my calling – art. Yesterday was the first spare second I’ve had to sit down and think ‘oh my, everything is falling into place. I’m entirely happy, grateful and I feel like the real me. The universe is working with me and right here and now is where I am meant to be.’ This is that happiness that everyone has been talking about! Huh!
Sarah, Lady Strathford is ready for a little harmless frivolity with a man of her own age and her own appetites…surely that’s not too much to ask! After the death of her beloved husband years before Sarah is ready for an adventure… Enter the dashing, roguish – and baffling – Mr Cornelius Ravenhill.
Ravenhill, however, is not the gentleman he seems, and soon Sarah finds herself battling against the corrupt and harsh world around her as it threatens to destroy all she holds dear. The question is, will her seduction at the hands of Mr Ravenhill prove to be her saviour or her downfall?
Excerpt:
“This excerpt is from an unedited ARC and there may be small changes in the final book.”
“I have a favor to ask, Amelia.” Sarah rolled her cigar between her fingers. “It has come to my attention that perhaps someone connected to Edward’s accident was at your party a few weeks ago. Would it be possible for you to make a list of all present? And could you please include the servants and anyone else who might have arrived late, guest or not.”
“Oh, my, Sarah! Whom do you suspect?”
“I’m not sure. It’s for an acquaintance who thought they briefly saw someone there.”
Amelia’s face lit up. “This is all so mysterious. Who is this acquaintance?”
Sarah bit her lower lip and tasted rich Cuban tobacco. Yesterday’s image of Mr. Ravenhill in his revealing work smock appeared in her mind. She probably should have nothing more to do with him. Handsome males had always brought trouble. The very first boy she’d admired had teased her into breaking her leg. Its weakness would probably forever plague her.
She shouldn’t reveal he was the one who wanted the list, but she hated lying, and especially to her friends. “This acquaintance believes they have found a connection between the fire that killed Edward and the men who attacked…him.”
“It’s Mr. Ravenhill!” Amelia clapped excitedly.
Calista’s dimple twitched, and she shoved her cigar into her mouth.
Sarah wanted to make herself very small and slink away. This was exactly what she’d been afraid of, and these were her friends. She and Ravenhill were such a chestnut – a wealthy widow befriending a handsome rake, the younger son of a peer. “You purposely misunderstand the situation. There is nothing between us and that is the way it will stay.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Award winning, historical romance author, VICTORIA HANLEN, has worked at a wide range of jobs, from fashion, to corporate business, to treading the boards of stage and professional opera. A lifelong writer, she once put her skills to use in PR and advertising. But her favorite form of writing is stories with happily ever afters. Her first book, The Trouble With Misbehaving, was published in February 2016. Victoria and her husband live in rural New England surrounded by a host of wildlife.
Fire and Frost; no two nations have ever been so divided. Only two bridges across the great River Gora connects them and their long standing hatred. When spring comes early, the Frost Nation looks upon the Fire Nation with suspicion. Soon they will discover that the rising rivers, warmer temperatures, and the earthquakes are all a result of something far more terrifying then each other. When the world seems to turn against them they will only have each other to look to. Can they put their differences aside long enough to fix their planet? They must or face extinction.
EXCERPT:
Thea’s heart raced. She’d heard of this terror, but she’d never actually seen it with her own eyes. She doubted the kraken even existed, to be honest. The disturbance of the planet must have woken it from whatever slumber it had been in, sending it into waters it had never known before.
The tentacles that Thea and Kirill could see began to tremble around the icy peaks, and the entire iceberg jolted again from the incredible power of the massive creature tugging on it. Thea and Kirill grabbed on to each other to keep their balance as the island sloshed around under them. Thea could only assume more tentacles were wrapped around different peaks out of view. When the ice beneath them settled again, Thea and Kirill glanced at each other in wide-eyed horror. Then, as if by silent command, both of them continued running full speed north.
By the time they reached the northern edge and the ocean was in view, the sun had set and several more tentacles were stretching from the sea, wrapping around the tall peaks of the iceberg. There had to be thirteen visible tentacles, thousands of feet long or more, reaching from the depths of the ocean to those high columns and peaks. Ocean water dripped like a steady rain where the appendages stretched overhead.
Thea watched the tentacles begin to tremble again. With a deafening crack and a roar from the creature that sounded more like a loud moan from deep underneath the sea, the ice peaks gave way, breaking where they had been yanked. Kirill tackled Thea to the ice again while the island jostled violently, shielding her from the flying ice shards. His cold burned, but Thea wasn’t going to complain; she knew her heat was burning him as well.
Peeking over Kirill’s arm, Thea saw a ripple of waves disturb the surface of the ocean, and her eyes went wide. Just beneath the water she could see the kraken’s head, or at least one massive eye—its left eye, which had to be five hundred feet long from one corner to the other. The eye took up nearly her entire view—which meant the kraken’s head alone had to be about a mile long. Its tentacles? Six times that length, easily.
The Knight slowly pushed himself up until he was just hovering over her. He was already sweating and looking exhausted. “That thing,” he said, panting with his eyes closed, “is going to tear the iceberg apart.” He swallowed heavily and looked down at her. “I’m barely holding it together.”
Seeing him so exhausted, knowing the effort he’d already put into traveling this far, and recalling the fact that everyone she loved and cared about would die if they didn’t get this iceberg to Rask intact, Thea’s resolved hardened in a way it never had before. The stakes had never been so high.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
K.T. Munson is an independent author who enjoys creating worlds with words. First published at 5 years old in the young writers conference, she has pursued writing ever since. She maintains a blog creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com that is about writing and her novels. She was born and raised in the last frontier, the great state of Alaska.
Nichelle Rae was born and raised in Massachusetts. Her love for writing began when she was fourteen years old. Through the years she has gotten much praise from peers, professors, and professional author’s she has had a chance to work with on her writing and her ability to put emotions into text and fantastic action scenes.
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Independent Authors, Musicians, Film makers, Actors, Art, Etsy Crafters. With Bonus features such as content articles, recipes, DIY, not for profit and travel.
Lilly's Book World 