by Angela Smith | May 11, 2016 | Guests
Dangerous Secrets by Abbie Zanders
Callaghan Brothers Series, Book 1
356 Pages
Published: November 20, 2014
Published by: Abbie Zanders
Blurb:
Two secret pasts… one passionate love story.
Taryn Malone is stranded, broke, and desperate for help. But even if the sexy bartender she’s been eyeing offers her a job for the evening… even if he seduces her with his impossibly intense blue eyes… even if every fiber of her heart tells her to stay with him… she can’t.
Because Taryn Malone doesn’t exist.
Jake Callaghan has been running the family’s Irish pub for years now. When he sees Taryn standing out alone in the rain, he does what he’s been trained to do as a SEAL – he rescues her. It has nothing to do with her full, firm curves, or her loose, golden-blonde hair, or the way she brushes against him that sends lightning bolts through his body. It’s just the right thing to do.
Really.
But both Taryn and Jake are hiding secrets from each other. Dangerous secrets. And neither one of them knows just how dangerous it can be to fall in love…
Purchase Links:
Excerpt:
Taryn felt instantly at home in the Pub. She’d spent most of the last eight years working in one just like it. Unofficially, of course, but no one ever questioned it and that kind of thing had never really mattered to Charlie.
It gave her an idea.
It took some effort to get to the bar, but not all of it was unpleasant. With the level of noise and density of the ebullient crowd, Taryn quickly discovered the most effective method for making forward progress was a well-placed hand in a strategic location. By the time the men turned to see who had taken such liberties, Taryn had disappeared once again.
It was the younger guy who spotted her first. A brief raise of his eyebrows and a flickering glance toward the window was followed by a dazzling smile. “So she is courageous as well as beautiful,” he said, handing two filled mugs to the man on her right. “What’s your pleasure?”
Taryn returned his smile with one equally devastating. It was a skill she had mastered years earlier. She also let her eyes linger on his lips just a second longer than necessary as she ran her tongue lightly across her lip. Ian’s eyes flashed. Gotcha.
God bless the male sex, they were so easily baited. “You’re very busy tonight.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, leaning against the bar as if there weren’t two dozen people around her vying for his attention. “A little.”
“Looks like you could use another bartender.”
Ian’s grin widened. “You offering?”
“Oi, Ian,” called Jake. “What the – ” Jake stopped when he saw who had captured his brother’s undivided attention.
“She says she can help out behind the bar,” Ian informed him with a grin.
“Is that right?” Jake walked over, gathering a few orders along the way. “You tend?”
She nodded, her smile fading a little. This was the man who had pinned her with his gaze through the window. He was much bigger close-up. Definitely related to the younger guy, but infinitely more intense. Harder. She suppressed a shiver. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
* * *
The closer Jake got to her, the stranger he felt. He likened it to an electrical current flowing through his body, which, unfortunately, he had experienced. Comparatively speaking, this instance was much more pleasant.
Who had eyes like that? Layered, like a custom paint job. If he had to guess, he’d say her eyes were purplish with a couple of clear coats of smoky gray on top, the exact hue of the sky moments before a summer thunderstorm. It had to be a trick of the lights, though, because no one could actually have eyes like that. Thankfully, there was no trace of the haunted look he’d seen earlier, making him think he might have imagined it.
“What was that last order?” he asked, locking his blue gaze with hers.
“Excuse me?”
“The last order I took. What was it?” He fixed her with a level gaze.
“Oh, come on, Jake,” began Ian, but Jake ignored him.
The woman took a breath. He knew, because his eyes were drawn to the subtle rise and fall of the nicely-endowed chest peeking through that jacket.
“Two pints of Killian, one Irish coffee, a Baileys and cream no ice, and two fingers of Grey Goose with a splash of lime.”
The corners of Jake’s mouth twitched. “What’s the secret to pulling a good draft?”
She appeared to consider his question for a moment, then leaned forward. Jake mimicked the movement, putting his ear within inches of her lips. Even with all the noise, Jake had no trouble hearing her low, quiet-toned answer. “Giving it just the right amount of head.”
The twitch became a full-fledged grin.
It was a crazy idea. Jake didn’t tolerate just anybody behind his bar. But he was desperate. Plus, for some strange reason, he liked the idea of having her back with him instead of out in the rowdy crowd. Quite a few of the men were already looking at her as if she was a tasty snack. He rationalized the impulse by telling himself he wasn’t doing it for her or even him, for that matter; having someone like that behind the bar was simply good for business.
“Right,” he said. “You’re hired. Get your ass back here.”
The smile she gave him lit up the entire room, but it quickly faded when she tried to move. He understood the problem immediately: to get where he was, she would have to cross the length of the long bar and around the other end, which, given the current mob, would take about half an hour. She looked at him helplessly.
“Oi, Big John!” Jake barked. “A little help for my new barmaid, please.”
A huge, bearded man shifted next to her; plate-sized hands circled her waist and she was suddenly suspended over the bar. A host of cheers and catcalls went up in the immediate vicinity as Jake grabbed her out of the air and brought her down on the other side.
Jake was stricken by yet another strange sensation as his hands closed around her waist. It was like hitting the sweet spot on a baseball bat, or releasing the perfect three-point shot, knowing it was going to be a total swish without even having to look. And his thumbs didn’t skim the underside of her breasts. They didn’t. Because if they did, he’d have to think about how full and firm they were against his fingers, and that would be bad…
Meet Abbie Zanders~
Abbie Zanders was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, USA. With degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics, she has worked for more than twenty-five years as a software engineer, designing and writing financial applications, though she has also held second jobs as a deli clerk, pub waitress, restaurant baker, and secretary. She has been crafting stories since elementary school, though she has only recently decided to start sharing them with others. She is a very busy wife, mother of three teenagers (including a set of identical twins). Besides being an avid reader and writer, she also loves animals (especially big dogs), classic muscle cars, and 80’s hair bands.
Connect with Abbie~
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by Angela Smith | May 10, 2016 | Guests
Her SEALed Fate by Lori Ryan
Sutton Capital Series; Book 7
217 Pages
Published: September 14, 2015
Published by: Cara Shannon
Blurb:
He thought he left the battlefield behind.
Logan Stone should be happy. More than happy, in fact. He’s Sutton Capital’s newest executive, working side-by-side with Samantha Page, the sexy, brilliant woman of his dreams. He’s no longer overseas in the line of fire fighting for his country and his brothers-in-arms as a Navy SEAL. But Logan is fighting a different kind of battle; one no one realizes he’s in. While he’s focused on managing his PTSD, something much more sinister enters his world and he must battle to save Samantha’s life and their growing love.
With all the heart stopping action and heartwarming romance NY Times bestselling author Lori Ryan has come to be known for, this stand-alone installment to the Sutton Capital Series won’t disappoint romantic suspense readers and fans!
Her SEALed Fate is book seven in the Sutton Capital Series, but it can be read as a stand alone novel.
Purchase Links:
Excerpt:
“You know I like you, right?”
Okaaaaay. Not exactly what Logan expected to hear from Chad Thompson, head of Sutton Capital Security and Jack’s best friend and cousin. Logan glanced over at the big man standing next to him and frowned. They’d gotten to know each other over the past few months, since Chad and Zach were friends, but he had no interest in talking about Chad’s feelings. And, Chad hadn’t really struck him as the touchy feely type. The man had been an Army Ranger and he was built like a tank. He didn’t scream big giant teddy-bear.
“Uh, sure.” Logan took a step to the side, inching away from Chad. There was an odd glint to the man’s eyes.
“I’m just saying, I like you,” Chad said and then let his gaze move to where Logan’s had been moments before. Across the room, Sam stood talking to some of the other women who worked at Sutton. “But, it needs to be said, if you mess with Sam, I won’t hesitate to implement a few of the more interesting techniques for dismembering bodies I’ve got tucked away.”
Andrew Weston, Sutton Capital’s Chief Financial Officer, and the third in the trio of best friends who ran Sutton and owned the majority of its shares, sidled up on the other side of Logan. He sipped what looked to be whiskey or bourbon of some kind from a glass.
“Here, here,” he said quietly, raising his glass in a toast.
Logan rolled his eyes. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the sentiment, gentlemen, and let me assure you, I have no intention of messing with her, but please. Don’t delude yourselves into thinking you can take me. Need I remind you of the fact that you’ve been out of the action for, what, ten years Chad?”
Logan had to admit, the conversation might have turned a tad juvenile after that, with he and Chad throwing insults at one another under their breath. Andrew cheered one side or the other on as the mood seemed to strike him. It didn’t have to be said that Logan had heard the warning and respected it. They loved Sam like a kid sister. Logan might be unreasonably attracted to her, but he was very well aware that his head was in the wrong damn place to be starting anything with a woman. Especially a woman like Sam. One who mattered. Given the fact that he wasn’t even sure he should be walking around civilized people instead of locked up in a hospital somewhere talking about his feelings, he wasn’t relationship material.
Jack joined the men where they stood still debating the training and prowess of the SEALs teams versus that of the Army Rangers. All three men laughed when Jack opened with: “So, Logan, you know I like you right?” as his eyes cut across the room to Sam.
Logan shook his head. “Yeah, yeah. I got it. You’ll kill me in new and interesting ways. We’ve covered it. Chad’s most recent plan includes fileting me from head to toe and Andrew has promised to bring salt to the party.”
“Hey, I said salt and margaritas,” Andrew said with a grin.
Jack laughed. “I thought we’d take you out on the boat, chum the waters, and see if a SEAL could swim faster than a shark.”
Logan had to grin at the creativity of the men who stood laughing around him. He saw Sam glance toward their group and his smile stilled. What the hell. He might as well be honest with these guys and let them know they had nothing to worry about.
“Listen, Samantha Page may very well be one of the sexiest creatures to walk the earth, but I’m not planning on dating her. You guys don’t have to—” And, that’s where he broke off, because he’d just watched Sam’s eyes go wide and round with surprise, as though she’d understood every word he’d said. Every damn word.
“Jack. Would Samantha by any chance happen to read lips?” Logan didn’t take his eyes off Sam as he asked the question, and she seemed to choke on her drink as he asked the question.
Jack could hardly speak and Andrew and Chad seemed to be completely useless as they laughed at his blunder.
“Sure does,” Jack finally said as Logan continued to stare at a now red Sam across the room. “Why do you think she sits in on every negotiation I go to? Real handy trick.”
Of course it is.
Meet Lori Ryan~
Lori Ryan is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She lives with an extremely understanding husband, three wonderful children, and two mostly-behaved dogs in Austin, Texas. It’s a bit of a zoo, but she wouldn’t change a thing.
Lori published her first novel in April of 2013 and has loved every bit of the crazy adventure this career has taken her on since then. She is a hybrid author, publishing both as an indie author and through SilverHart Publishing. She also has a new side hobby of creating coloring books for adults! Lori loves to connect with her readers.
Follow her on Facebook or Twitter or subscribe to her blog. Oh, and if you’ve read Lori’s books and loved them, please consider leaving a review with the retailer of your choice to help other readers find her work as well! It’s a tremendous honor to have her work recommended to others or written up in reviews. Lori promises to do a happy dance around her office every time you write one!
You can join Lori’s newsletter and get a FREE starter pack of her books on her website and follow her on Facebook and on Twitter.
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by Angela Smith | May 9, 2016 | Guests
Wed to a SEAL by Cat Johnson
Hot SEALs Series
180 Pages
Published: April 12, 2016
Published by: Cat Johnson
Blurb:
In his career as a Navy SEAL, Rocky Mangiano has been called a Jersey boy, and a Yankee, and a few other choice names he shouldn’t repeat in mixed company, but never in his life has anyone called him daddy.
If the bundle of joy he finds on the doorstep is any indication, things are about to change and he has no clue what to do about it.
When the baby’s single mother enters the picture things get even more crazy, but given the fringe benefits that come along with the complications of their marriage of convenience, Rocky’s not complaining. Not one little bit.
Purchase Links:
Excerpt:
The distant sound of the doorbell ringing filtered out to the deck. Rick leaned forward in his chair and peered through the sliding glass door. “Who the hell could that be? Chris and Brody couldn’t be back in town yet, and everybody else is already here.”
Jon shrugged. “Maybe Darci or Ali asked somebody from work.”
“Or maybe it’s Grant. You said you called him too, right?” Thom reminded Rick.
“Yeah, I did. But he was having trouble getting the wife onboard with the plan.” Rick hoisted his large frame from the chair and stood. “I guess we’ll soon find out.”
“Rick!” Darci’s shout came from inside the house. “Get in here. Now!”
“What the hell is wrong with her?” Rick drew his brows low as he moved to open the door.
Rocky watched Rick go into the house, curious but not enough to get him out of his chair. It seemed the other guys felt the same. Jon and Thom stayed put as well.
“What the hell?” That exclamation from Rick propelled the men into action.
They all stood at once. Jon was the first to get to the door. He stopped dead, blocking Thom and Rocky’s entry and their view.
“Holy shit. Whose is that?” At Jon’s question, Rocky couldn’t take it any longer.
He edged past the blockage and finally got a look past Jon at what all the cursing was about.
A car seat containing a baby sat in the center of the dining room table. And surrounding the table were three very unhappy looking women.
Darci crossed her arms. “That’s exactly what I’d like to know.”
“Zane’s maybe?” Rick lifted one shoulder. “He was a real dog before he got together with Missy.”
The usually lovely and perfectly composed Sierra Cox, who’d Rocky had never seen up close and personal before, didn’t look as if she was buying it.
“One problem with that theory. Zane doesn’t live here,” Sierra pointed out.
Darci nodded. “But you do, Rick.”
Uh oh. It looked like Rick was in big trouble as both his girlfriend and his sister presented a united front against him.
Rick stood his ground and leveled a gaze at his girlfriend. “The problem with that circumstantial evidence is that before you I lived like a monk. So no, it’s not mine.”
Darci glanced at Sierra. “That is true. He like never dated. Ever.”
Rick scowled. “Thanks, Sis. And might I remind you that you live here too? Maybe this is about you.”
Darci lifted a brow. “I think I’d know if I had a baby, Rick.”
“I didn’t mean you. I’m talking about Chris.”
Rocky watched wide-eyed as Rick threw Chris Cassidy, Darci’s boyfriend, under the bus.
He’d worked with Chris on this last op in Nigeria. He was a good man and all evidence indicated he’d been a good SEAL before he’d retired and joined Jon’s team on GAPS.
Darci visibly paled at her brother’s accusation. Meanwhile the baby, already squirming in the seat, began to wail. The noise only seemed to ramp up the tension in the room.
Rocky didn’t feel right standing by silently. If Chris’s friends and former teammates didn’t defend him, he would. “Hey, now. Let’s not make any assumptions. Chris isn’t here to defend himself.”
No one made a move toward the baby and the screaming went on. It probably went on for less than a minute but it felt like an eternity. A crying baby was one of those sounds that grated on the nerves pretty fast.
Finally Jon’s girlfriend Ali stepped forward. “For goodness sake. If no one is going to pick up the poor child, I will.”
Instinct and training kicked in for Rocky. The enemy wouldn’t think twice about wiring a baby seat to explode.
He took one step forward. “No!”
Almost simultaneously, Jon shouted, “Ali, don’t!”
Rick ran for Sierra and shoved both her and Darci into the kitchen as Thom threw both forearms up to shield his own face.
All of them had to be thinking the same thing.
They’d all been in too many hellholes in the world where US forces would go to investigate a body or help a person, only to be blown to bits when they got close.
Heart pounding, Rocky watched Ali release the buckle and slide her hands beneath the crying baby’s arms.
The whole scene seemed to move in slow motion. She lifted the baby from the car seat before Jon got to her.
Seconds ticked by in the surreal way they do when adrenaline is pounding through the bloodstream during a crisis. But the explosion never came.
Ali frowned at Jon. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Get into the other room.” Jon shoved Ali and the baby toward the kitchen doorway, where Rick had already pushed Sierra and Darci.
Once she was clear of the immediate area, Jon bent low to peer beneath the car seat on the table. Rocky stepped forward to join him.
Sad but true, the innocent-looking baby seat could be wired with explosives. The fact they were standing in Rick’s dining room in Virginia in the good old United States didn’t matter. ISIS was here in America. That was a proven fact.
“What do you think?” Rocky asked Jon.
“Hell if I know.” Jon glanced up to Thom. “Get over here. You have kids. You’re the only one who knows what this thing is supposed to look like.”
Thom stepped forward and bent low too, the three of them squinting at a contraption that looked innocuous enough—to a person who hadn’t spent the last decade of their life searching for threats around every turn and beneath every rock.
Darci peeked past Rick’s bulk as he blocked the women in the kitchen. “You guys are ridiculous.”
Rick scowled. “Darci, be quiet and let us figure out what’s going on.”
“How about you read that note that fell out of the blanket when Ali picked up the baby? Maybe it will give you men folk a clue while us helpless women hide in the kitchen.”
Darci’s statement about a note had Rocky tearing his gaze away from the seat. He searched the area beneath the table. Sure enough a paper was resting on the carpet by Jon’s feet.
Jon bent to pick it up. He lifted a brow and then glanced up. “Rocky?”
“Yeah?”
“It seems this delivery is for you.”
Rocky’s eyes flew wide. “What?”
Thom leaned closer to Jon to inspect the paper. “Yup. Says Rocky right there on it, plain as day. Dude, what have you been doing?”
Meet Cat Johnson~
It all started in first grade when Cat Johnson won the essay contest at Hawthorne Elementary School and got to ride in the Chief of Police’s car in the Memorial Day Parade…and the rest, as they say, is history.
As an adult, Cat generally tries to stay out of police cars and is thrilled to be writing for a living. She has been published under a different name in the Young Adult genre, but released her first romance in 2006.
Today, she is a NY Times & USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of contemporary romance and contracted with Kensington and Samhain Publishing. She’s also sponsored real live bull riding cowboys.
Connect with Cat~
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by Angela Smith | May 8, 2016 | Guests
Embrace the Night by Caridad Pineiro
Take A Chance Series; Book 6
56 Pages
Published: November 11, 2015
Published by: Caridad Pineiro
Blurb:
For the first time in nearly two years he felt normal again . . .
Army brat Zack Taylor had spent his early life going from one place to the next, losing his home and friends with every move until he decided it was just easier to be alone. Despite that, Zack has no hesitation in following in his father’s footsteps and going the ROTC route for college. He has no hesitation in going back for his wounded team members after they are attacked during a mission. His dedication to his men nearly cost him his life when a nearby explosion wounds him and shears off part of his leg. For the last two years, Zack has been rebuilding his life and finding out that being a loner is no fun. Especially not when he’s caught the eye of sexy Samantha Whittaker whose gaze is filled with passion, laughter, and the shadows of pain.
She is fighting hard to ignore the obvious invitation in his determined gaze . . .
Lieutenant Commander Samantha Whittaker is just not interested in getting involved. At least not until she can deal with the wounds left behind by her stint as a prisoner of war. Physically and mentally abused, it has taken her years to find some stability and independence in her life. Giving in to the much younger and enticing Army vet will
challenge that hard won freedom. But Zack’s persistence and caring are wearing her down until she considers that maybe it’s time to embrace all that he can offer, even if it’s only for one night of passion.
Buy Links:
Excerpt:
Chapter 1
Zack Taylor sped across the waves, fighting for balance atop the surfboard. Awkward at first, but gaining stability as he adjusted his legs into a wider stance and bent his knees.
He rode the wave as far as he could and then kicked out, sending the board flying in one direction while he sank into the cool water. As he rose to the surface, the familiar pull of the leash registered on his leg and he swam toward the board so he could climb back on.
Grabbing the rails of the board, he slid across the surface, but thumped one edge with his prosthetic leg as he struggled to get on. The surfboard swayed side-to-side with the sudden imbalance before he steadied it.
A little shaky, but it felt awesome to finally be able to go surfing again.
It almost felt like flying, he thought as he paddled out to wait for another set of waves.
Surfing was one of the few things he’d missed when his family had moved from place to place during his dad’s Army service. He had picked up the sport when his dad had been stationed close to the Delaware beaches and he’d kept surfing any time that their latest deployment had been near the ocean.
Even during his tours of duty, he would find a way to surf if a beach was nearby. There was something about the ocean and its vastness with which he identified. Sitting there, in that great aloneness, waiting for just the right wave, suited him.
As an Army brat, he’d been alone for most of his life. Except for family, of course.
It had just been too difficult to make friends and then lose them every time his dad transferred to a different base.
Surfing had gifted him with something else: Patience.
He’d learned it was far better to bide his time to earn a perfect ride then hurry up and wipe out in a bad wave.
When he reached the spot where a few other surfers waited for the next set, he sat up and straddled the board, his legs dangling over the edge. Well, his one leg and three quarters of his left with the durable prosthetic. He floated there, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the wash of the water all around him.
Enjoying life and appreciating just how fragile it could be.
It had taken him a long time to get to this point. To get past the pain and anger at his loss and be thankful that it hadn’t been worse. To be grateful for the path on which he’d been set that had brought him here.
He gazed back toward the shore and to the growing crowd of people on the beach. He could make out his boss and friend Mark Smith and his wife Bridget as Mark hauled the volleyball equipment down to the sand. Following them like baby ducks chasing after their mother were another group of his friends. His work buddy and former Navy Seal Rafe Castillo and his wife Elena. Marine Lieutenant Trevor Mason and Maggie Sullivan, Bridget’s younger sister, visiting again from New York City.
His friends.
It was weird to say that after the many years that he hadn’t had any.
And he knew that chances were that Samantha would be joining them soon.
Lieutenant Commander Samantha Whittaker.
She’d snared his attention the very first time he’d joined Mark and his wife at one of these gatherings and later again at the other parties held by the many veterans who lived along this stretch of the Jersey Shore.
He’d be lying if he said that it had been anything other than a rockin’ hot bod and stunning face that had made him take notice the first time. But it hadn’t taken him long to see past her beauty to the strong and smart woman inside. One who laughed often, but whose gaze was shadowed by pain.
He wondered a lot about what had put the darkness there and what would drive it away.
He also wondered if he’d misread something else in that gaze: Desire.
He thought he’d seen it after the first couple of times that they’d talked. A hesitant half glance and that look that said she maybe wanted more, but was afraid to say so.
Which puzzled him considering the kind of woman she was.
Independent. Determined. Capable.
Ex-Navy, she was now in the Coast Guard and used to dealing with men on all levels.
He’d thought she’d be a little more direct about what she wanted.
But then again, maybe he could be a little more direct as well.
He wanted to get to know her better. Emotionally. Physically.
The latter thought made his gut twist painfully.
He glanced down at lefty and wondered what she would think when she realized. How she would handle the revelation. Would she not care or shy away?
Fuck that, he thought.
Today was going to be a day for firsts.
His first time surfing in two years.
His first time asking a woman out since he’d been wounded.
Maybe even another first if they hit it off.
A man could dream after all, he thought and as the ocean surged beneath him, he flattened onto the board and paddled into the wave.
As he caught it just right, he popped to his feet and flew toward shore, smiling all the way.
Meet Caridad Pineiro~
NY Times and USA Today Bestseller Caridad Pineiro is a Jersey Girl who writes romantic suspense, military romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, and vampire suspense.
Caridad loves to travel, cook, and spend time with family & friends. Caridad is the author of nearly 50 novels/novellas. Caridad writes dark and sexy novels and novellas for those who live to love on the edge. Her sweet, but still naughty side, Charity Pineiro, writes contemporary romances packed with emotion and humor.
You can also find her here:
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by Angela Smith | Apr 26, 2016 | Guests
Sean Muldoon knows trouble when he sees it, and he sees it in Laney Murphy the minute she passes out in his arms. He thinks she’s a con artist, and she thinks he’s just like everyone else, arrogant and judgmental. Much to Sean’s dismay his family is determined to help Laney and he just doesn’t understand why. That is until he gets to know her and realize under her tough exterior beats a heart of gold.
Excerpt:
“Move, Ace. You’re in my way.”
“Sweetheart, I haven’t even begun to be in your way.” He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “I will not allow you to hurt Tommy or Molly, so why don’t you pack up your schemes and dreams and hit the road. You won’t get a penny from them. I’ll see to that.”
I have never been known for having an even temper but I’ve worked hard to keep it under control, but not this time.
“Look, asshole, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. You’re delusional if you think I have any intention of taking a dime from Tommy that I haven’t earned. I pay my way!”
“Sure you do. I ran your fingerprints, darlin’, right off your juice glass from this morning. You’ve got a nice background there, Laney. Pandering? Breaking and entering? Those are great
ways to pay your way, huh? You got a scam to bilk Tommy, but you might as well hit the road running, babe,” He smiled, acting quite pleased with himself. “Tommy and Molly all too often
fall for the sob story and feel sorry for the strays that come along.”
I felt that to my core. Stray? Felt sorry for me? The last thing I needed was anyone’s pity.
But right at the moment the only thing I felt was the need to strike back at Sean. “Stray, huh? “Weren’t you a stray too? They feel sorry for you then? Take you in on pity?” I saw his jaw
tighten and knew I’d scored.
“Leave now and I won’t tell them your plans to take them for a ride,” he growled.
“My plans? You’re so sure about my plans, huh? Wow, you sure are smart, Sean Michael Muldoon. You ran my fingerprints and so now you know my whole life story in one fell swoop? Look, you arrogant ass, you have no idea what my life has been like and a couple of knocks on a police sheet only tells you what your narrow-minded brain wants to hear. But for your parents’ sake, I’ll go and save you the trouble of making a fool out of yourself.”
I tossed the case of champagne at him. He let out a curse, as he lunged to catch the box and I shoved him hard when I went through the doorway. I heard him hit the shelves, rattling bottles and swearing a blue streak. I heard the case of champagne hit the floor with a thud and the sound of breaking glass.
I know I could have done worse and to this day I still have no idea why I didn’t kick him in the nuts, or flat out deck him. I should have done something other than leave. I wanted to do
anything other than leave, but I couldn’t bear having to own up to some of the missteps I had made long ago.
Author Bio:
Galen Rose lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains and is an avid cook, gardener and traveler. Over the years, she has repaired bikes, been a telephone solicitor, a day care aide, managed the order department of a family law publishing firm and for nine years ran her own on-line Celtic jewelry and gifts store. Oh, and you can add in wife and stay-at-home-mom too. A Jill of many trades but not one true color for her parachute, until the day she really sat down to write and kept on writing and hasn’t stopped.
BUY LINKS:
Amazon
Amazon UK
Blog – http://www.galenrose.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GalenRose/Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/galnrose/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/GalenRose1
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6423084.Galen_Rose
by Angela Smith | Apr 5, 2016 | Guests
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card below!
Thanks for inviting me to your blog today, Angela.
Thanks for stopping by! I can’t wait to hear about The Cavanaugh House. What intrigues you most about this story?
What most intrigues me about The Cavanaugh House is how the idea for the book came to me. The first sentence scrolled through my head as I drove along a busy urban highway on a road trip with my husband Rich. Other sentences followed and I knew a book was being conceived. Along with the sentences came the clear image of a house which I knew would play a major role in the story and was based on a childhood memory. I felt panicky because I was driving and couldn’t write my ideas down. When Rich woke up, I told him about the story in great detail hoping between the two of us we could remember. But those details were etched in my brain and stayed with me until I could commit them to paper. The next day, I saw the exact house I had imagined sitting desolate and deserted by the highway. My husband took photos of it, and one of them became my book cover. Add to that the tale of a ghost in a haunted winery we visited, and voilà, The Cavanaugh House was born.
Wow, that’s awesome. And the fact you actually saw the house while on your trip makes it more so. What was your favorite part of writing The Cavanaugh House?
I’m a pantser, that is someone who writes by the seat of my pants. My favorite part of writing all of my books is when I am surprised by a turn of events that I didn’t see coming, or some synchronicity that occurs and I don’t realize it until the book is complete. For example, in my first book, Love’s Destiny, someone knocks on the front door. I didn’t know who it was until my protagonist, Emily, opened the door and discovered that with me. I love that kind of stuff! Another is a connection between two names in The Cavanaugh House. I can’t reveal the connection because it gives away the ending, but it was pretty cool when I realized it. I thought, how the heck did that happen?
That’s always a great feeling, and I love it when we as writers are surprised by our stories. Do you have a specific writing style?
Writing The Cavanaugh House was very different from writing my two historical romances. In my first two books, I kept the language and dialogue more formal as it would have been in the 18th century. I even searched my manuscript for apostrophes to eliminate any contraction like can’t or don’t. I wanted the language elevated to keep the atmosphere of formality. One editor caught a character saying, “Hello” and cut it because that word wasn’t used until the invention of the telephone. I had to use “Good morning” or “Good day.” It was a relief to set The Cavanaugh House in 1968 where I could use contractions, idioms, even slang if I wanted to. So my writing style for The Cavanaugh House was much more contemporary.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one book with you, what would you take?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Even though I taught that book for years, I’ve never tired of it.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one song with you, what would you take?
“Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey
Both great choices! Are you working on any projects right now?
I have two projects in the works right now. I’ve completed a rough draft of Buried Secrets, the sequel to The Cavanaugh House. I put it away for a while because I needed distance from it so I could come back and revise it with fresh eyes. I’ve also started the third book in my Passionate Patriots series, Love’s Courage. I love the plot line in this book, so it will be fun to research.
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes. I retired from teaching early so I could pursue writing full time. I work at my craft everyday, though as a hybrid author (both traditionally and self-published) I see marketing as a career as well LOL.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Start writing earlier in life. Don’t wait until you have time—make time.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
William Shakespeare. I love words, and many of the words and phrases we commonly use today were invented by Shakespeare. For example, arouse, blushing, undress (I see a pattern here) gnarled, varied, zany. Sometimes when I’m writing I want to make up words because I can’t find the exact word I need. In The Cavanaugh House, I thought I’d made up the word “scritch” for the sound Jesse hears when the ghost appears. I didn’t want to use “scratch” because it has too many connotations, so “scritch” was what I settled on—a softer sound, a haunting sound. But I discovered it’s been used before. Hey, Will, I gave it a try.
The Cavanaugh House excerpt:
This house held secrets. Secrets that wafted through rotting window sashes on the winter wind. Secrets that spiders wove into webs anchored between the ceiling and walls. Secrets that scuttled on the feet of cockroaches across stained kitchen linoleum and scurried into its cracks. Secrets that peered from holes in the baseboard from glinting mouse eyes. This house held the secrets close to its bosom where they had slept for decades. No one had disturbed these secrets in all the years the house sat decaying from neglect. There was no reason to, and there was no desire.
The Cavanaugh House blurb:
When Jesse Graham unlocks the door to the deserted house she inherited from her Aunt Helen, she doesn’t realize she’s unlocking secrets that had lain dormant for years. Reeling from a broken engagement to acclaimed musician Robert Cronmiller, Jesse wants to leave the city where her name is linked to his in all the society pages. Her best friend Maggie, aka Sister Angelina, convinces her to take a job at a private girls’ school in the pastoral Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Anticipating a quiet, revitalizing life in her aunt’s deserted house, Jesse is instead thrown into a maze of danger. Questions about her aunt’s death lead Jesse to investigate events surrounding it and the people involved, but she uncovers a web of deceit that reaches far beyond the occurrences of over two decades earlier. Still dejected from her broken engagement, Jesse finds it difficult to trust anyone, even her self-absorbed mother. Joe Riley is irresistible, but secrets obstruct involvement with him until Jesse can solve the secrets of the Cavanaugh House. Someone doesn’t want those secrets unearthed and will stop at nothing, even murder, to keep them hidden.
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.
Thank you for hosting me today, Angela.
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
My audiobook is now available and I am celebrating with a giveaway on my website. You can enter it below!
My books are available Amazon, and my audiobook is available on:
Audible
Amazon
iTunes
Visit me at:
Website: www.elizabethmeyette.com
Blog: www.elizabethmeyette.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethfmeyette/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/efmeyette
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6153760.Elizabeth_Meyette
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bettymeyette/
Enter the Giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Click here: GIVEAWAY
