Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Unpublished authors #OrangeRoseContest #amwriting #inspiration

Unpublished authors, get your manuscripts ready to enter The 2018 Orange Rose Contest.  Next year check the rules and deadlines at OCCRWA.org! Dream big. Enjoy success. Make every writing day count. This contest is coming in the spring of 2018. 


Dear writer, you have time; the deadline is April 30th, 2018. This storied contest has in its roster many finalists who are now published, such as Rita Winners Laura Drake and Tessa Dare and New York Times best-selling authors Allison Brennan, Judy Duarte, Susan Squires and Debra Holland to name just a few. Why has the ORC enjoyed this level of success? It’s in large part due to the exceptional judges, both first round published author and final editor/agent judges, and our comprehensive score sheets.
In 2018, not far away, I will chair the Orange Rose Contest for unpublished writers Orange County Romance Writers. A huge perk for all authors who enter are critiques from published authors who have been around the block and can help improve manuscripts.  Nowhere will authors receive such a quality resource to shape the plot and writing. Authors who final in the Orange Rose receive free promotion by having their book listed and announced in person at the Orange Chapter’s big bash in the fall.  Right here on this blog, I will interview finalists.  Finalists’ manuscripts are sent to editors of RWA approved publishers.  You know what that means—a win for publishers and authors.
FINAL ROUND WINNERS for 2017
1st Place and Winner of The Charlotte
Romantic Suspense
Leslie Marshman –
Goode Over Evil
2nd Place
Contemporary Romance
Sara L. Hudson –
Houston, We Have a Hottie
We had a tie for 3rd Place
3rd Place
Young Adult
Riley Darkes –
Serving Time
3rd Place
Historical Romance
Carolina Prentice –
The Moon and Stars
4th Place
Mainstream Fiction, with a central romance
Jenny Hansen –
A Sister In Need
Congratulations to you all!

From the 2017 contest coordinator, Jann.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Ghost #Bookhugs #paranormal #Romance with an inspiration from @#!/AuthorTinaGayle

Please welcome amazing and talented Tina Gayle who shares an inspirational thought – "Today is all we have so smile, laugh, and remember to spare a second for a friend.  (Mind are all awesome!)

Let me tell you about Summer's Growth by Tina Gayle.


In the spirit-haunted Winston estate in Ohio, rooted in time and occupied by the lingering ghosts of a great family, the torch is about to pass...

Mattie Winston, sober, sensible, and steady, has served as Keeper to the family for decades. Amber Harrison, hovering on the edge of flunking out of college, unsure what she wants out of life, has barely even heard of the Winston estate. The family, however, has decided that it's time for the changing of the guard. These two exceptional women soon find themselves dealing with violence, murder attempts, and old family mysteries while each finding the love of her life. Two romances and a growing friendship, all twined around a brooding family tragedy, make for an outstanding paranormal mystery offering depth and charm beyond the commonplace. The growing love of Amber and Carter and of Mattie and Quincy offer readers a tender and engaging first novel in a winning new paranormal series.

Excerpt
Standing by the bay window in the front room, Mattie watched the car approach. She wanted to run, but instead glanced at the kindhearted spirit of Opal, her distant grandmother. Dressed in her best early American gown, the many layers of her petticoat swished with a soft hiss when she moved.
“There’s no reason to be nervous. Once you meet Amber, you’ll see she caps the climax,” Opal voiced in a soothing tone. “Your Aunt Rachel is absolutely thrilled to have a descendant from her branch of the family as keeper.”
Looking beyond her at the rest of the room, Mattie searched for the other members of the family council. They always offered her their support when she faced a big decision. Yet, today they were conspicuously absent.
“Don’t worry. The whole family is behind you. We just thought it better if we didn’t all hover.”      
Shifting from foot to foot, she wrung her hands together. A simple process of a changing of the guard for them, Amber’s arrival marked the end of the life Mattie loved.
The beautiful spirits around her didn’t understand how cruel humans could be to each other. What if she screwed up and the girl left? Or the girl hated living with a house full of spirits?
Unease pricked at Mattie’s mind. She had no experience in dealing with strangers. All her business associates understood her likes and didn’t force her to attend any social events.
A quick glance out the window, and a car rounded the fountain. She wasn’t prepared to entertain Amber. How could she be? She never invited guests to the estate.
“Now, Pumpkin, there’s no need to worry. It’s time another branch of the family realize what a pain it is to be keeper.” Opal smiled, offering her special form of reassurance. “We’re all here to help with the transition.”
The high notes of Beethoven’s Fifth sprang from the piano. Mattie jumped in surprise at the sudden noise. She whipped around to see Uncle Samuel, the artist of the family, standing next to the piano.
“The game is afoot.” He arched his eyebrows and grinned, then disappeared.
“I’d better leave.” Her aunt patted Mattie’s shoulder. “Just remember, the girl is uneasy too.”
Opal disappeared.
With a deep breath, Mattie turned and gripped the cold metal knob in her hand.
Soon her home would belong to a stranger, and then what would she do?

Read the 1st Chapter of Summer’s Growth at www.tinagayle.net/sgchapter.html

Buy Link -

Tina Gayle--


Tina Gayle grew up a dreamer and loved to escape into the world of books. After a number of different jobs, she decided to try her hand at writing. Her romantic novels touch the heart and explore the heartaches of falling in love and being a woman.        
Married thirty years, she and her husband love to travel and play golf.  If you’d like to read the 1st chapter of her books visit her website.
Find Tina Gayle everywhere

Home - www.tinagayle.net
Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle
Google + - https://plus.google.com

Linkin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759


Wednesday, October 25, 2017

#BookQW is finger, a peek at #Tirgearrpublishing One Night in Havana

Here I come with #BookQW's word, finger, with an excerpt from my upcoming release, One Night in Havana, scheduled for a release in January 2018 in Tirgearr Publishing's City Night Series.


Veronica couldn’t put a finger on her anxiety when she spotted her cruise ship docked with many others in Havana Bay. The giant vessel stood out in dark silhouette. Seagulls shrieked from where they nested on reefs. Like a bird sensing danger, she tensed. Nausea crawled up her throat, and she pressed a fist to her nervous belly. Staring at her cruise ship plunged her into a troubled state. Throughout the busy week her thoughts about the goings-on remained nebulous.  Vague fears were swallowed up and forgotten. Until this moment, facing departure tomorrow night, she hadn’t fully processed what she’d seen onboard. She’d looked the other way when young women had padded the bras of their bikinis with white chalky powder in packets and brown powder in toy balloons. Who would she tell anyway, the Cuban military police? She hoped to heck no one put anything in her luggage. How would a drug bust work out in a communist country?

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Today's #BookQW word is light from #Tirgearrpublishing Unholy Alliance #romanticsuspense

Book Quote Wednesday (#BookQW) is here, and today's word is light.  The excerpt below follows (Unholy Alliance) attorney Grady Fletcher on his way to Gladstone Prison where he will pick up his client, Tori Morningstar, released from a decade-long prison sentence for a murder she didn't commit.


He turned off Highway 5 and onto the stark, industrial City Drive of Orange, California. Sun reflected off a homeless man’s shopping cart and the broken glass in the gutter. A jaywalker lunged across the street. Grady swung the steering wheel to miss him, tires squealing over the concrete. Ahead at the red stoplight, three kids, about the age of his son, crossed the street on their way to school. They jabbered in Spanish but giggled just like his son. A sharp-edged thought boiled up.
Grady’s rancorous custody battle continued post-divorce, and he’d relocated to be closer to seven-year-old Shane. How long would his job-hopping ex-wife stay in Long Beach? He stuffed a wishful dream to coach soccer into the caverns of his mind.
Ahead, a sign marked the penitentiary run by the most hard-hearted Godzillas of the human race. A shrill hiss grew to an ear-piercing whistle. At its command, prisoners rose at sunrise and appeared at their cell doors. Doors opened, and they stood on the threshold. “Right face.” All wheeled to the right. “March!” Without energy, the inmates zombied along for two hours of labor before breakfast. They made license plates, jeans, jackets, T-shirts, and hats. They worked in the laundry room, kitchen, or in the sewing room where they cut, basted, and stitched.
Color televisions, said to be available for viewing by those who earned the privilege, amounted to one set per eighty offenders. In the dayroom, they watched a nine-inch screen while seated on metal benches bolted to the floor. Correctional officers held remote controls and flipped through basic networks, sports, and educational channels. From there prisoners marched to dinner, out in the yard, and then back to cramped stone cells.
On the bright side, according to his cousin Finn, Tori took college classes. She’d spent her college years in prison but earned a degree in restaurant management and planned to run a food truck.


Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Ghost #Bookhugs #newrelease Yesterday, Today, and Always @RobertsoKing

Today I have my spotlight on Yesterday, Today, and Always by Melanie Robertson-King. Her book, just released, is available in paperback.  

Will a reckless moment from her past come back to haunt her?
Devastated by the death of her husband, Colin, in the London bombings on July 7, 2005, Katherine Murphy-Whithorn builds a wall around her heart determined to never let anyone in again. Settling in to a comfortable routine, her life becomes mundane, until five years later when someone from her rebellious past returns to the city and begins stalking her.
As the curtain falls on 2010 her first love, Jared Martin, walks back into Katherine´s life. Despite him being her first love, he must tear down the barrier she´s created to protect herself. Finally seeing a second chance of a life with him, Katherine couldn´t be happier until another cruel twist of fate strikes. The helicopter returning from the Alpha Ecosse platform, on which Jared is a passenger, ditches in the North Sea. Can he survive the ordeal? Will they get their chance for happiness? Or is fate still not done its dirty deeds? Katherine’s stalker may have his own agenda.

Prologue
1st December 2010
The ScotRail service to Aberdeen pulled away from the platform at Stonehaven. The next stop would be his destination. As the train accelerated, the carriage swayed from side to side. The action reminded him of his mum rocking him after a bad dream. He drifted into a light slumber. When the compartment he was in crossed through a switch, it lurched waking him.
Less than thirty minutes to go. He settled back but was too excited to relax. When the Girdle Ness Lighthouse came into view, he knew he was almost back to the place he was born.
New, to him, construction dotted the landscape. Fresh graffiti adorned the stone parapets of the bridge over the River Dee. The Mitchell Tower at Marischal College, the clock tower of the Aberdeen Town House and the Salvation Army Citadel, vied for attention over the tops of the cluster of newer buildings.
He fooled the medical staff at the secure forensic unit in the south of England. After feigning rehabilitation, they released him into the community but he didn’t stay there long. He did a runner. He had unfinished business in the north east of Scotland.
Adrenalin coursed through him. Giddy with excitement, it was hard for him to remain calm. He shook his hands to try to stem some of the fidgetiness. Now, he was back in Aberdeen where it all began. How much of the city would he recognize? What changed since his departure?
Were the authorities looking for him yet? He would have to act normal so as not to attract attention. Stepping off, he adjusted his Fedora and strode across the concourse to the exit. Diesel fumes hung in the air and caught in the back of his throat. He coughed.
With the exception of the Union Square shopping complex adjacent to the railway station, Guild Street stayed more or less unchanged. Some of the storefronts in the granite buildings transformed, but overall, not a huge difference since he left.
The pavement ended at Market Street forcing him to cross over the road. He continued eastward. The location he sought should be nearby. He stopped for a breather – pressed his back against the building. The ships that supplied and supported the offshore oil industry occupied the available berths on this side of the harbour. Through a gap, the ferry to Lerwick and the terminal were visible on the far side.
The familiar Maritime Museum dominated the head of Shore Brae. Beyond that, the artery curved and became Shiprow. The cobbled road surface and pavement were difficult to traverse. Even the larger stones nearer the buildings were uneven. When he rounded the corner at Provost Ross’s House, another well-known building peeked out. He had come so far now, he couldn’t go back. He strode with purpose up the hill.
The Aberdeen Town House clock tower stretched above the roofline but that was the place he sought. Nestled between Henry’s Bar and the pedestrianized portion of Shiprow stood the As the Pages Turn bookshop.
When a customer exited holding a carrier bag emblazoned with the same signage as over the door, his heart skipped a beat. He hoped the establishment’s ownership hadn’t changed. That would defeat the purpose of his returning to Aberdeen.
The voices in his head only told him to come back. He had unfinished business with the woman with ginger hair – the one with no soul – who ran the retail outlet in front of him.
Now, to find a suitable place to wait and watch and bide his time until the moment was right.

YESTERDAY TODAY ALWAYS is available at amazon for pre-order for the kindle at myBook.to/yesterday-today-always


“Don’t let the fear of success hold you back...”
MELANIE ROBERTSON-KING






Melanie Robertson-King has always been a fan of the written word. Growing up as an only child, her face was almost always buried in a book from the time she could read. Her father was one of the thousands of Home Children sent to Canada through the auspices of The Orphan Homes of Scotland, and she has been fortunate to be able to visit her father’s homeland many times and even met the Princess Royal (Princess Anne) at the orphanage where he was raised.


Wednesday, October 11, 2017

#BookQW is DAY #Tirgearr #RomanticSuspence spotlight on Unholy Alliance

The BookQW is DAY.  On Wednesday authors share a captivating moment.  The word day shows up twice in the scene below between lawyer, Grady Fletcher, when he picks up his client, Tori Morningstar who had been framed for a murder she did not commit. 

From Unholy Alliance:

On this day Grady’s clean-shaven face meant he’d head to court soon, and she left him to his thinking. If he had stubble, as he sometimes did during prison consultations, it’d match his reddish-brown hair, parted and combed back. Between them, his Brooks Brothers suit jacket had been folded lengthwise, then horizontally. As a public defender, he made an immaculate appearance without spending a lot of money. He defended those who couldn’t defend themselves. He obtained grants and federal funding with his spotless reputation.

Reputation? Growing up, Tori defended her mob family. One day at boarding school, a kid taunted her, saying his parents thought her father was a mobster. Tori beat the crap out of the kid. Afterward she’d looked up the word, and truth unraveled. Many things came into focus. Charm, ruthlessness, and a win-at-all-costs mentality defined mobsters. Psychopathy was more like a wide rainbow than black and white. She didn’t think her first cousin, Vivienne, was high on the scale. Nausea swirled in her stomach whenever she thought of Vivienne.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Huge #BookHugs for #syfy #alphahero Banished Hero – Book 1 in Banished Series by @anitaphilmar

The spotlight is shining on mega-talent author Anita Philmar and her shapeshifter syfi romance, Banished Hero.


Can a lost princess find her way home?
Can a sexy wolf save her or is he out to eat her alive?
Shapeshifters need love too!

Blurb:

With no memory of her past, Faye Lynn Berton clings to a father who curses her ability to shape-shift, then uses her special skill to scam local villagers. The only freedom she knows comes as she soars through the sky in falcon form. A chance meeting with another changling turns her world upside down. Beyond satisfying the powerful sexual cravings that follow transformation, he reveals a surprising dimension of sex between their kind…one to unlock the secrets of her soul.

Havyn Westmore has questions…Faye Lynn holds the answers. Determined to unravel her secrets, he must strives to gain her freedom and trust. Teaching her the finer techniques of transformation keeps her close while sex strengthens their bond. But on the trail of discovery, Havyn must confront his own past. Accused of a heinous crime, he was banned from his homeland. Now, he must choose between returning to face certain execution—or robbing Faye Lynn of her birthright and a life in Paradise.

Read a  Long Excerpt

Available at
Amazon UK CA AU Smashwords B&N Kobo Apple


“So tell me, how did you get onto my property?” He leaned against the rock where she’d transformed.
His nostrils flared. He turned his head. His dark hair caught the light of the falling sun and sparked with the same red highlights from the night beast. The fabric across his chest expanded, displaying strong, well-defined muscles.
“What?”
He turned and nailed her with a piercing black stare. “You’re a shape-shifter, aren’t you?”
Uncertain if she should speak the truth, Faye Lynn shook her head. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“Because I can smell you.” He stepped forward. His rubber boots splashed in the shallow waters of the river. Each step drew him closer.
If she knew how to swim, she would’ve turned and swam away, but alas, she didn’t. “What? What smell?”
A lustful smile passed over his lips. His white sharp teeth looked ready to feed on her flesh. He licked his lips and stopped a few paces from her. “An alluring scent of a shape-shifter. After changing form, they burn with a hunger that can only be satisfied in one way.”
Her heart jumped into high speed at idea of this excellent example of a man knowing her desires. She studied him again, taking in his narrow hips and powerful legs.
Oh, what a superior lover he’d be.
Faye Lynn swallowed her yearning to mate and denied his claim. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I just decided to take a quick dip in the lake so I could cool off after the walk I took through the forest.”
His gaze examined her, and she shifted lower into the lake, wondering if he could see her naked body under the clear water.
A flame lit his eyes. “Then where are your clothes?”


Other Books in the Banished Series
Banished Scoundrel
Banished Witch
Banished – 3 books in one

Some of Anita’s other Titles
Black Dragon’s Blood
In Deep Water
In Too Deep
Duty's Bride
More Than Ready
A Cowboy's Pleasure
The Country Doctor's Bride


Bio for Anita Philmar

Anita Philmar likes to create stories that push the limit. A writer by day and a dreamer by night she wants her readers to see the world in a new way.

Influenced by old movies, she likes to develop places where anything can happen and where special moments come to life in a great read.

Naughty or Nice?

Read her books and decide.




Email: anitaphilmar@yahoo.com






Sunday, October 8, 2017

Ghost #BookHugs #Paranormal #Romance: Legacy of Evil: The Hotel LaBelle Series, Book 2 by Sharon Buchbinder @sbuchbinder

Today I have my spotlight on Legacy of Evil: The Hotel LaBelle Series, Book 2
by Sharon Buchbinder  
Release date: October 13, 2017


Do you love mystery with a touch of paranormal with a Native American heroine and Biker Hero. You will when you read Legacy of Evil. 

Blurb: When a wild mustang is shot in Montana, renowned horse whisperer and telepath, Emma Horserider, is called in to calm the herd and find out what happened. Once on scene she is almost killed by a bullet-spewing drone, and calls her black ops brother for back-up.
Emma's help roars into her life covered in tattoos and riding a Harley. Remote viewer Bronco Winchester takes the assignment because he is ordered to, but he wonders what type of assistance, his boss's sister needs. That is until he sees Emma, a valiant Warrior Woman proud of her Crow heritage.
Posing as a married couple, Emma and Bronco go undercover to infiltrate and stop a hate group. Both are anxious enough without the now growing attachment they feel for one another. When the lives of many are on the line, they are not sure if they will live or die—let alone have a chance at love. One battle, one outcome. Who will win? Good or evil?
Excerpt:
Bronco now stood squinting in the late afternoon sun, knocking at a door with no bell,  and  waiting  for  a  response.  Dogs  barked  and a window  curtain  twitched.  Good.  Someone  was home. He adjusted his pack, leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and said, “Any time now.” As the words slid out of  his  mouth,  he  heard  the  unmistakable  sound  of a shotgun being pumped.
Uh. Oh.
He raised his hands. “Don’t shoot. I’m unarmed.”
Turning slowly to face his fate, his jaw fell open, and his  heart  rate  kicked  up  a  notch  from  being  on  thewrong end of a shotgun or from the weapon holder’s looks, he wasn’t sure. A raven haired Amazon in a tank top,  jeans,  and  metal  tipped  cowboy  boots  held  the Mossberg 500 in a perfect military stance. Long strands of hair blew across her face in the hot breeze. A large purple  bruise  bloomed  on  her left cheek. She squinted her dark brown eyes and gave him a laser-beam once over from his dusty black boots to his sweat soaked do-rag.
“Who are you, and what do you want?”
If he hadn’t been so intent on not getting killed, he would  have  spent  more  time  staring  at  those  full, luscious,  kissable  lips  and  thinking  about  how  she would taste. As it was, he guessed he had less than a minute to respond before getting blasted into the next county.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/qBbgsW_GiMI
BUYLINKS:
The Wild Rose Press https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/5290-legacy-of-evil.html
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0755RFJFG


Sharon Buchbinder has been writing fiction since middle school and has the rejection slips to prove it. An RN, she provided health care delivery, became a researcher, association executive, and obtained a PhD in Public Health. When not teaching or writing, she can be found fishing, walking her dogs, or breaking bread and laughing with family and friends in Baltimore, MD and Punta Gorda, FL.

Author Links
Facebook: Sharon Buchbinder Romance Author https://www.facebook.com/sharon.buchbinder.romanceauthor
Twitter ID @sbuchbinder https://twitter.com/sbuchbinder

A Message from the Author
One of the things I have learned in my life as an author, professor, wife, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-aunt, and pet lover is that we are more alike than not. For me, romance is not only about the story of people falling in love, but also about connecting with readers and their lives. We are living in challenging times and at times those challenges can feel overwhelming. I call on each of us to take a moment to reach out and connect with other people. Let someone know they matter. It only takes a few words of kindness to life someone up. You may be the one person who helps someone get through a rough patch.  

Hugs,

Sharon

Saturday, October 7, 2017

New: Tova’s Dragon Ghost #Bookhugs #paranormal romance by @LyndiLamont

It is such a pleasure to spotlight talented Lyndi Lamont today.  Before we get to her book, Tova's Dragon, which is available for pre-order, Lyndi will share an inspirational message: I believe love is a powerful force in this world. It brings lovers together, creates families and lives on after death in the hearts of those left behind. It may not make the world go 'round, but love makes the world a better place.


Tova’s Dragon
Steamy Paranormal Romance
By Lyndi Lamont

Blurb:


Seek help of the Lord of Drakkenberg. Only he can aid you. You must fly with the dragon.

Tova Svensdottir, an earth mage, is on a mission to save her homeland, the Kingdom of Velosia from the evil wizard Bruno of Grimmdorn. Her grandmother tells her to seek help of the Lord of Drakkenberg, but the old lord is dead. In his castle, high on a mountaintop, she instead encounters his son, the Outlaw Kane.

Kane fled Velosia after a futile attempt to rescue his father and his mate from Bruno's cruel prison, killing the head guard in the process. Now that Bruno has been banished, Kane has returned to clear his name, but his purpose changes when he meets Tova.  Tova's warmth stirs his passions and her courage touches his heart, but he dreads telling her of his true nature, certain she will recoil. But Tova is made of sterner stuff.

Together, Kane and Tova have the power to save Velosia. If they survive the coming battle. But can an earth mage find happiness with a dragonshifter?

Available at Amazon for pre-order:


Excerpt 1: (PG)


CHAPTER 1


Seek help of the Lord of Drakkenberg. Only he can aid you. You must fly with the dragon.
Her grandmother’s words rang in Tova’s head as she climbed the path into the mountains. Why had Mutti Zee sent her out of her way on a fool’s errand? Everyone knew the dragonfolk had fled Velosia years ago, driven away by Bruno of Grimmdorn’s crusade against them. Until he’d been driven from power. Now Bruno had returned at the head of a mercenary army, if Mutti Zee’s vision could be believed. And Tova had no doubts. She’d felt the vibrations in the earth.
And somehow she was supposed to save the kingdom?
She raised her gaze to the sky and asked, “Why me? I’m no hero.” The heavens gave no answer, though she saw clouds form to her left. She shook her head. Now she was talking to herself, like mad Magnus, the village idiot.
She stopped to catch her breath and rest her tired legs in a level area. The path ahead grew steeper and narrower the higher it wound into the mountains. She groaned. After walking all day, her legs ached. She was glad she’d worn men’s breeches and a tunic with her sturdy boots. A gown and petticoats would be but a hindrance.
After a deep breath, she started to climb again. Dusk came early in autumn, and she needed to find shelter before dark. Castle Drakkenberg, abandoned and forlorn, perched high above on a cliff, its turrets silhouetted against the leaden sky. Almost as if mocking her with its remoteness. Too much was at stake and her chances of reaching the capital in time to warn the king were slim at best. Even without this detour, she estimated the journey to Castle Novita would take three days or more.
For centuries, the dragon lords had resided in the castle, ruling the isolated mountain communities. People in this area were known as dragonfolk, though Tova knew not why. A great puzzle, but one she had no time to ponder. With luck, she had but to find the dragonlord, and he would take charge of the quest.
A shadow blocked the sun, and she looked up at an enormous bird silhouetted against the sky. Goddess, she’d never seen such a large raptor. It turned and the sun’s rays glinted on its shiny red-gold wings and barbed tail. She stopped and stared after it, shaken to the core of her being.
No, impossible. Dragons didn’t exist. They couldn’t.

Excerpt 2: (PG-13)

Tova awoke to find herself on a soft bed wrapped in the embrace of a very hot, very aroused man. She opened her eyes to look around the dimly lit chamber, and everything came back to her—the climb up the mountain, the lightning storm, being guided to the cave, and the fall in the tunnel.
She squirmed around to stare at the man. “Where am I? And who you are?”
He flashed a reassuring smile. “I am Kane and this is my cave. You fell and hit your head.”
She studied the face just inches from her own. He was older than she, perhaps in his third decade. Long black hair hung down to his shoulders, and his eyes were a warm shade of amber under straight black brows. Her gaze dropped to sensual lips above a cleft chin. He was handsome as sin and naked to the waist. A shiver traveled up her spine and her heartbeat increased. Why did his name sound familiar?
Around his neck he wore a heavy gold chain with a large, luminous pearl dangling from it. When she reached out to touch the pearl, she sensed power radiating from it, from him. “You guided me to the cave, did you not? I thank you.”
“You are welcome, daughter of earth.”
She smiled at the apt nickname. “I am called Tova Svensdottir.”
He nodded in acknowledgement. “How are you feeling, Mistress Tova?”
She assessed the situation. Though warmer, her head still hurt and her energy was depleted. Self-healing would take a long time in this state. “Better, but still weak.”
“I am not surprised, given your ordeal. Where were you headed in such a hurry, and what on earth brought you to my mountain? Are you lost?”
She hesitated, uncertain whether to trust him. Mutti Zee’s instructions echoed in her head and she plunged ahead. “I seek the Lord of Drakkenberg.”
Kane raised his brows. “You have come to the right place, though the old lord is dead.”
Suddenly, she realized who he was and scooted away from him. ’Twas just her luck to be rescued by the most feared outlaw in the land. “Please do not hurt me, Kane of Drakkenberg.”
With a sigh, he rose from the bed, clad only in his breeches and hose. He stared down at her, an earnest look on his face. “I would never hurt you, Mistress Tova. I am not the monster legend depicts me.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Well, not entirely.”

About the Author, Lyndi Lamont--

Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of romance author Linda McLaughlin. Writing sexy stories gives her a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of her books! She has written several full-length novels plus numerous short stories and novellas, ranging from historical to futuristic. She believes that love is unending and universal, and enjoys transporting her readers into a different world where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward.
Connect online:

Twitter: @LyndiLamont

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Giving #BookHugs to Banished Hero – Book 1 in Banished Series #shapeshifter @anitaphilmar

Please welcome talented author Anita Philmar and her Shapeshifter Syfy Romance, Banished Hero. 
Book 1 of her Banished series has all the elements that make us swoon:  #shapeshifter #changling #syfy #alphahero #princessromance #bookseries



Can a lost princess find her way home?
Can a sexy wolf save her or is he out to eat her alive?
Shapeshifters need love too!


Blurb:

With no memory of her past, Faye Lynn Berton clings to a father who curses her ability to shape-shift, then uses her special skill to scam local villagers. The only freedom she knows comes as she soars through the sky in falcon form. A chance meeting with another changling turns her world upside down. Beyond satisfying the powerful sexual cravings that follow transformation, he reveals a surprising dimension of sex between their kind…one to unlock the secrets of her soul.

Havyn Westmore has questions…Faye Lynn holds the answers. Determined to unravel her secrets, he must strives to gain her freedom and trust. Teaching her the finer techniques of transformation keeps her close while sex strengthens their bond. But on the trail of discovery, Havyn must confront his own past. Accused of a heinous crime, he was banned from his homeland. Now, he must choose between returning to face certain execution—or robbing Faye Lynn of her birthright and a life in Paradise.

Read a  Long Excerpt

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Excerpt  (PG)
“So tell me, how did you get onto my property?” He leaned against the rock where she’d transformed.
His nostrils flared. He turned his head. His dark hair caught the light of the falling sun and sparked with the same red highlights from the night beast. The fabric across his chest expanded, displaying strong, well-defined muscles.
“What?”
He turned and nailed her with a piercing black stare. “You’re a shape-shifter, aren’t you?”
Uncertain if she should speak the truth, Faye Lynn shook her head. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“Because I can smell you.” He stepped forward. His rubber boots splashed in the shallow waters of the river. Each step drew him closer.
If she knew how to swim, she would’ve turned and swam away, but alas, she didn’t. “What? What smell?”
A lustful smile passed over his lips. His white sharp teeth looked ready to feed on her flesh. He licked his lips and stopped a few paces from her. “An alluring scent of a shape-shifter. After changing form, they burn with a hunger that can only be satisfied in one way.”
Her heart jumped into high speed at idea of this excellent example of a man knowing her desires. She studied him again, taking in his narrow hips and powerful legs.
Oh, what a superior lover he’d be.
Faye Lynn swallowed her yearning to mate and denied his claim. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I just decided to take a quick dip in the lake so I could cool off after the walk I took through the forest.”
His gaze examined her, and she shifted lower into the lake, wondering if he could see her naked body under the clear water.
A flame lit his eyes. “Then where are your clothes?”




Other Books in the Banished Series
Banished Scoundrel
Banished Witch
Banished – 3 books in one

Some of Anita’s other Titles
Black Dragon’s Blood
In Deep Water
In Too Deep
Duty's Bride
More Than Ready
A Cowboy's Pleasure
The Country Doctor's Bride




Bio for Anita Philmar

Anita Philmar likes to create stories that push the limit. A writer by day and a dreamer by night she wants her readers to see the world in a new way.

Influenced by old movies, she likes to develop places where anything can happen and where special moments come to life in a great read.

Naughty or Nice?

Read her books and decide.




Email: anitaphilmar@yahoo.com








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