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On Tour: The Sight of Heather by Ally Stirling @authorAllyS #HistoricalFiction #WomensFiction #ScottishFolklore #BlogTour #CPBC #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Book Information

Book Title: The Sight of Heather
Author: Ally Stirling
Publication Date: September 15th, 2023
Publisher: Author Ally Stirling
Page Length: 338
Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction / Scottish Folklore

Blurb:

For centuries, the fae folk and spae women of Scotland were feared – and persecuted.

Life in the 1800s countryside, with its unforgiving climate, was both magnificent and harsh – testing cultures, beliefs and the loyalties of crofters.

The first in this series, The Sight of Heather, begins a journey of allegiance, sacrifice, and fortitude in a land of bold, resilient women.

Jessie’s ideal life spirals when she learns she is a first daughter in a biological line of ‘spaes’ endowed with unique gifts of spiritual sight and healing, aided by powerful ancestral stones.

Backed by a vindictive priest intent on charging Jessie with murder and witchcraft, the new owner of the Cruachan Manor plots to rout the spaes and destroy their beloved forest.

Despite grave warnings and family conflict, Jessie determinedly pursues her skills and powers, plunging her family and village into danger.

Resolute in uplifting her fellow women, Jessie consults her stones.

Faced with those who deem her evil, she must choose to relinquish her craft, or sacrifice herself to protect her culture and kin – and Lily, the next first daughter – the future of the spaes.

Excerpt

Charles folded his arms and a smirk crept out from under his moustache. He cocked his head. “Why do people live here if they struggle to make a living?”

The vice returned, squeezing the strength from Angus’s voice. “We’ve lived here for centuries … we have no desire to live anywhere else, this is our home.”

The words floated over Charles’s head, missing his ears by a country mile. “Why would the previous owners be happy with such an unprofitable arrangement?”

The words escaped from Angus’s mouth before he could arrest them. “Because they were Scottish.”

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://mybook.to/The_Sight_Of_Heather
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144046886?ean=2940167577664
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/fr/en/ebook/the-sight-of-heather
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/fr/book/the-sight-of-heather/id6465249946

Author Bio:

Ally Stirling is a Fiction writer of Scottish origin, currently living in Cape Town with her Braveheart husband, awesome children, the happiest dog in the world, and her menacing cat (aka ‘Devil Cat’).

An unexpected gift resulting in a prophetic message prompted Ally to give her passion for writing the time it demanded, and in 2018 she joined Cathy Eden’s Working with Words writers group. She credits the love, support, and inspiration of this group of talented women, her ‘writing tribe,’ for encouraging her to put words on paper. She also joined (ROSA,) and while Romance is not her genre, this association has been an invaluable source of knowledge and insight into the indie publishing world.

Allowing her imagination freedom to roam resulted in various short stories, before one in particular rooted itself, evolving into her first full-length novel. This book has now become first in a series, with the second and third ready to follow, four and five in the planning stage. Who knew her characters would be so demanding?

Her love of writing fiction stems from her belief that it transports us to magical places when life gets too real.

Addicted to her friends, coffee, every colour of wine, and any type of chocolate, she describes her clan as the family and friends who have built her castle and keep her sane, without whom she’d be short on humour and drinking games.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.authorallystirling.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorAllyS
Facebook: https://facebook.com/authorallystirling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorallystirling
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-sight-of-heather-a-journey-of-loyalty-sacrifice-and-fortitude-in-the-face-of-persecution-by-ally-stirling
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ally-Stirling/author/B0CG6TJT5T?
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3P9HmWl

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She was the sexiest woman in the room… Embracing Passion #NewRelease #EroticRomance #Polyamory #MFRWHooks

A single wrong assumption can be costly…

I’m so excited for this new release! Embracing Passion been a long labor of love – the finale to the Passion series, set in a fictional center for sex studies and sexuality.

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers
share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more.
Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

EXCERPT

Set Up: Having checked out the Center’s website from Rosanne’s business card, the detective has decided to drop in on a lecture at a college campus… 

New York, New York 2014

Sitting in the back row of the small lecture hall, Tom Walker had a difficult time believing that the conservatively dressed, articulate, non-threatening woman explaining the hazards of sexually transmitted diseases was the same provocative woman he’d confronted at the rest area parking lot.

The hall was half-filled, with possibly two thirds of the audience female. Initially it had held a distinct air of tension, but Rosanne Falcon’s quick wit and sense of humor had helped relax the mood of the crowd. Clearly, Falcon and her co-presenter, Anna Jackson, were quite experienced at working a crowd. Jackson, with a nursing background, had been reassuring about how women and men could protect themselves and obtain treatment if they failed to do so. She came across very matter-of-fact, almost motherly.

He figured Jackson had to be in her forties. Taller than Falcon, the brunette was somewhat larger in build—not overweight, but leaning that way a little. She looked like money. The rings on her fingers reflected in the light, and he knew enough about women’s fashion to be aware the pantsuit she wore was probably tailored. All in all, pleasant looking, and knew how to dress for her size.

But Anna Jackson didn’t catch his imagination like Rosanne Falcon did. Hardly anything about Rosanne’s simple one-piece blue dress was sexy, yet she was the sexiest woman in the room. Was it her poise? It wasn’t her oversized loop earrings. Maybe it was her confident smile. She knew she had everyone’s attention.

Even his presence had only caused a momentary blip. He’d purposely come into the hall after he heard her begin to introduce herself and Anna. She hadn’t appeared shocked when he took his seat. By then she was already on cruise control. She had no doubt put him aside as a problem to deal with later.

Along with everyone else, he’d laughed when she’d informed them that the slide presentation was PG rated; if they’d been expecting X-rated materials, they’d be disappointed. She and Jackson shared several slides loaded with data on sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. There’d been a brief overview of the Center and its mission with a few slides of staff sitting around tables and working at computers. A couple slides of instructional DVD covers were at least suggestive. The slide that brought the biggest gasp of surprise, then titters and whispers, showed a table with a vast array of sex toys.

Clearly amused by the audience’s response, Falcon had quipped, “Don’t laugh. Some of those can be a woman or man’s second-best friend. Ladies, how many of you own at least one vibrator?”

A few hands went up, then many more. She’d laughed and clapped her hands. “Our research data suggests that the percentage is probably a little higher than that. Sorry if I embarrassed anyone.”

BLURB

Now in her late twenties, Rosanne Falcon’s life has finally come together—a Ph.D., a prestigious research job, and two exquisite lovers, one of each gender, to complete the package. The intense bond she shares with Simone Stone was augmented rather than broken when Simone met and married Boyd Roberts, and the three have forged a fulfilling polyamory relationship. More would only be trouble.

Widowed by a tragic accident several years earlier, Detective Thomas Walker is nearing retirement after twenty years on the police force and ready to change careers. Fully convinced the hot redhead who meets truckers at the rest area he’s staked out is a prostitute, he sets out to build his case against her. He is dead wrong, but each layer he uncovers of what she really does for a living challenges long held assumptions. Can he overcome his deep-seated bias to make room for what’s possible?

BUY LINK

Now available at all ebook stores!

UNIVERSAL LINK

https://books2read.com/u/bpYaYX

Be sure to click on the links to travel to the rest of today’s exciting excerpts!

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Release Blitz: A Duke’s Introduction to Courtship by Sophie Barnes @BarnesSophie #Regency #Romance #NewRelease

 

The Gentlemen Authors, Book 2

Historical Romance, Regency Romance

Date Published: September 26, 2023

 

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Love caught him completely off guard and forced him to question
everything…

When Brody Evans, Duke of Corwin, goes incognito at a printing press, he
doesn’t anticipate meeting Mr. Michaels, a charming young man with
whom he shares an instant connection. Soon he’s questioning everything
he believed to be true of himself, while losing his heart in the process.
Accepting the way he feels is not only hard, it’s also illegal and
downright dangerous. Until he learns the truth and is forced to wonder
whether or not the person he fell for is real, or just an illusion.

Dressed as a boy, Harriet Michaels acquires a job at a printing press so
she can support herself and her younger sister. It seems like a good idea
until she meets Mr. Evans, the new assistant editor. Her attraction toward
him cannot be denied, but it must be concealed if she’s to avoid
detection and the risk of losing her job. The more time she spends with him,
however, the closer she comes to heartache and ruin. For as it turns out,
Mr. Evans is not who he claims to be either.

The Gentlemen Authors Series:

A Duke’s Guide to Romance

The Gentlemen Authors, Book One

A Duke’s Introduction to Courtship

The Gentlemen Authors, Book 2

A Duke’s Lesson in Charm

The Gentlemen Authors, Book 2

Coming October 24, 2023

Available on Amazon

About the Author

USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her books have been published internationally in eight languages.
With a fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents, and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

Twitter

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

KOBO

Apple Books

Google Play

 

RABT Book Tours & PR

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“And you met me.” #SnippetSunday #SnipSun #WeekendWritingWarriors #EroticRomance #LGBGTQ #Sale #99cents #MFRWAuthor @IHeartLesFic

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to write – and read!
Click on the graphics to travel to the other snippets.

                                        

Picking up where we left off last Sunday from the opening scene, at their 20th college reunion; the last sentence was Janet shrugged, but didn’t withdraw her hand.

EXCERPT

She wasn’t pleased Brenda could still read her thoughts so well. “Why did you come this year? Do you come every year?”

“Not really – I’ve been to a few. I decided to come at the last minute, on a whim, really. I didn’t have anything else to do. Now that I live in New York, it’s not that hard to get here. A lot easier than when I was on the west coast.” Her mouth curved into a warm smile. “I hoped I might meet someone interesting.”

“And you met me. That must’ve been a downer.”

BLURB

Janet Baxter keeps her post-divorce life neatly compartmentalized: Secure job, spacious Westchester County home, successful adult children, dependable community volunteer activities. Why is she drawn—for the first time ever—to attend her twenty-year college reunion in New York City?

Always a free spirit, Brenda Cassidy is comfortably bisexual and has no plans to ever settle down. But a fling? The reappearance of svelte, reserved Janet Baxter in Brenda’s life is nothing less than a gift, worthy of every enticement Brenda can conjure up. Can Brenda seduce Janet into an endless night of the lovemaking they enjoyed too briefly as college roommates? What if the lady wants more?

BUY LINK

ON SALE NOW FOR 99¢

https://books2read.com/u/bzn6RL

REVIEW

Five Stars at Goodreads: “Building up the sexual tension between these two is the heart of this book. When they finally give in, I was right there with them. They are HOT! … a quick read but so well written I did not want it to end.”

HUGE SALE OF SAPPHIC FICTION

GOING ON NOW!

250+ BOOKS

Book Bargain Bonanza

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It’s Here! the Fall Into A Book Giveaway! Prizes – Swag – Free books – don’t miss it! #Giveaway #Fiction #FreeBooks #MFRWAuthor

Are you signed up for the Facebook Group yet? Don’t miss this amazing giveaway! More than 350 authors are participating with marvelous giveaways, but you have to be in the group to cruise the offerings! Here’s the link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/isntitromanticbookclub

I’m giving away the four books in the graphic above – all four to one lucky winner, and one each (winner’s choice) to four more winners. Drop by the group any time today or tomorrow and answer my question in a comment – lots more ways to enter as well. And of course while you’re there, you’ll want to cruise the other authors and comment to enter their giveaways, too!

Here’s a hint – to stay out of FB jail, spend maybe twenty minutes commenting in a single sitting, then take a brief break. FB thinks too many comments all at once is an indicator of spam, and you don’t want to get banned!

All four of my giveaway books are steamy MF Romantic Suspense full length novels:

The Heist

A simple art heist?

A murder?

It’s villain’s choice.

The Unmasking

Whose mask will crumble first—
the enigmatic professor of Celtic Studies,
the undercover cop masquerading as a co-ed,
or the campus stalker,
biding his time to strike again?

The Painter is a Lady

Secrets. Trust. Courage.

Who will knuckle under first―the war hero? The spirited single mom?

Or the high school bully who still hates them both?

I am Not for Sale

The feisty owner of a new espresso café, a franchise rep scheming to take over her business, and the seamy underbelly of a ploy to lure a new casino to town are on a collision course…

 

 

 

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Pre-Order Blitz: Wild Asses of the Mojave Desert by @LisAnnaLangston #WomensFiction #RABT

[Note from your host – when I saw this brilliant title, I couldn’t resist picking up the blog post to host. I live in the desert and have been to where the actual wild asses (more often referred to as burros) roam and RVers feed them and dodge them if they want to organize any activities. I’m also a fan of women’s fiction and self-discovery journeys. It looks like the perfect package. ~ Adriana]

New Adult – Literary – Contemporary fiction –
Women’s fiction

Date Published:10-20-2023

Publisher: Mapleton Press

 

photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png

 

This novel about friendship, nostalgia, and finding oneself is funny and
tender, moving and poetic, while standing firmly in hope and love. The
characters are thinkers, overthinkers really, who are trying to find their
way by asking the deep questions of life with wide-eyed wonder and talking
through life’s uncertainties. They fearlessly confront the choices they’ve
made, examining their desires and their mistakes. The result is a smart,
engaging novel depicting a young woman’s search for the people and place she
will call home.

A RECOMMENDED read by the US Review

 

Excerpt

The inside of the White Tavern was dark and smelled like stale cigarettes
and grease. A server came over, wearing tight black skinny jeans and an old
Van Halen concert tee.

Dylan turned sideways in the booth to stretch his legs out. “Tell me
about this beer that’s cheaper than gas.”

“Dollar eighty-four,” the server said, which was, in fact,
cheaper than gas.

“Do you have any fries to go with those competitive beer
prices?”

It had been a long time since I’d had my favorite sandwich. Pimiento
cheese. Pickles. Ham. I sunk my teeth into a yummy bite of teenage years and
moaned out loud.

Dylan looked up from his double order of fries and raised an eyebrow.
“Do you and that sandwich need to be alone?”

I ignored his comment. “Was there anything else in that car? Anything
that might indicate a drug deal gone bad?”

“Nope. Just the cooler and the rock.”

“Huh.”

Dylan locked eyes with me. “That rock means something,
Skye.”

The dining area was empty except for us, and one other table near the back
with kitchen staff. Still, Dylan leaned across the table and whispered
urgently, “It’s like that scene in Pulp Fiction with the
briefcase in the diner.”

I furrowed my brow and gagged on a sesame seed. “With Honey
Bunny?”

“And Pumpkin.”

“What?”

Dylan leaned back and shrugged. “The guy’s name was Pumpkin.
Honey Bunny and…”

“I know. I’ve seen it thirteen times. I’m just wondering
why we’re out here in the middle of the desert with you drawing
comparisons of your life to a film that came out when you were seven years
old.”

“You—you, you mock me, Skye, but there’s a
connection.”

“Between a film and that glowing rock?”

“Yes.” He clasped his hands together firmly and laid them on
the table.

“There’s no rock in Pulp Fiction.”

“It’s implied.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yeah, it is. It’s in the briefcase.”

“We never see what’s in the briefcase.”

Dylan squirmed in an exaggerated way and said, “God, use your
imagination, Skye. It’s a glowing rock.”

“Okay. Say it is a glowing rock. What does that have to do with
us?”

“It’s our time to finally make sense of our lives.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing.”

“No, you haven’t.”

I grabbed the ketchup bottle and whacked the bottom. “How do you
know?”

“Because you’re here. Right back where you started. Look,
don’t get me wrong, I love sitting out in the desert drinking Miller
High Life, listening to the coyotes howl, playing charades in the firelight
with your sister, but I’m glad you’re home.”

“You played charades with my sister?”

“Sure. Isn’t that what you were doing back east? Playing
charades? Sounds like? Feels like? Rhymes with?

“You saying those six years were nothing more than a
game?”

“We were all playing a game. It’s okay to admit the truth, even
if it’s hard.”

His answer was so simple and earnest, I didn’t know whether to kill
him or cry. I looked down at my plate with a strange mixture of surrender
and hunger. “What do you think I was doing on the East
Coast?”

Dylan inhaled and shrugged, “Trying to escape this place and burn
Trevor out of your mind with hot yoga and gluten-free buns.” He
touched my greasy hand and said, “It’s not a judgment. Look, I
don’t know what you were doing out there. You didn’t exactly
call. But you’re here now, and so am I, and I believe this is some
kind of strange gift.”

“If the rock is so important, why haven’t you moved
it?”

“It’s really heavy. I’m going to have to dig it out.
That’s where you come in.”

Dylan was always a crazy trailblazer adjusting his tinfoil hat, but
he’d leveled up the weird while I was gone.

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

If I stood perfectly still in the stall, I could hear the sound of the end
coming. A sharp chapter break pushing forward. Tracks winding into a new
future. One I couldn’t see, because I was still stuck in the backseat
of my past life. I sat on the toilet and thought about escape. The problem
was I’d been escaping my entire life. Running from everything.
Destiny. Relationships. Myself. I looked down at my jeans bunched up around
my knees. I’d already managed to get stuck in a hole, might as well
grab a shovel and dig.

About the Author

Lis Anna-Langston was raised along the winding current of the Mississippi River on a steady diet of dog-eared books. She attended a Creative and
Performing Arts School from middle school until graduation and went on to study Literature at Webster University. Her novels have won the Parents’ Choice Gold, Moonbeam Book Award, Independent Press Award, Benjamin Franklin Book Award and NYC Big Book Awards. A three-time Pushcart award nominee and Finalist in the Brighthorse Book Prize, William Faulkner Fiction Contest, George Garrett Fiction Prize and Thomas Wolfe Fiction Award, her work has been published in The Literary Review, Emerson Review, The Merrimack Review, Emrys Journal, The MacGuffin, Sand Hill Review and dozens of other literary journals.

Hailed as “an author with a genuine flair for originality” by Midwest Book Review and “a loveable, engaging, original voice…” by Publishers Weekly, you can find her in the wilds of South Carolina plucking stories out of thin air.

Contact Links

Website

Twitter @LisAnnaLangston

Goodreads

Instagram

 

Preorder Links

Universal

Amazon

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“You’re his puzzle piece… for the moment.” Embracing Passion #NewRelease #EroticRomance #Polyamory #MFRWHooks

A single wrong assumption can be costly…

I’m so excited for this new release! Embracing Passion been a long labor of love – the finale to the Passion series, set in a fictional center for sex studies and sexuality.

Welcome to MFRW Hooks, where the authors of Marketing for Romance Writers
share snippets from their stories to entice you into wanting more.
Be sure to click on the links at the end to travel!

EXCERPT

Set Up: Rosanne has shared her concern about the detective’s investigation with the Center staff.

New York, New York 2014

“I don’t care what you say,” Center Co-Director Harry Gage grumbled, “I don’t like the idea of a cop nosing around. Nothing good comes from that.”

Melissa Hopkins-Gage, the other co-director, shook her head at her husband, who sat on the opposite side of the office round table, with Simone Stone and Rosanne on either side of her. She knew he was only expressing his concern for their staff.

She was pleased that Anna Jackson, the Center’s part-time community education director and board member, had been able to join them this morning. In her early forties, Anna brought a certain wisdom to the Center as well as strong commitment to the Center’s broad educational mission. That she probably colored her raven hair and that her body had matured with age, displaying a slightly thicker waist and wider hips than Anna preferred, made her an asset, particularly in fantasy videos depicting a middle-aged woman’s role. Her enthusiasm in front of the camera rivaled that of her younger colleagues.

“We don’t have anything to hide, Harry,” Melissa reminded her husband. “You know that.”

Melissa glanced at Rosanne, who was uncharacteristically antsy. She’d seldom seen her friend so out of sorts. This detective must’ve shaken her up more than she was admitting. “If your detective comes to the Center, we’ll show him around. If he thinks we’re trying to hide something, then he’ll probably hang around a lot longer.”

Rosanne nodded, looking less than convinced.

“I haven’t liked this damn project you two are working on from the beginning.” Harry raked his graying hair. “It’s not safe. And it makes you look like…”

“Harry,” Rosanne interrupted, “we’ve discussed this ad nauseum. Simone and I are careful. We back each other up. We’ve nearly completed our sample selection. Simone’s already finished with her part of the data collection.”

“Right,” Harry huffed. “Because Boyd finally put his foot down. At least her husband has some sense.”

Simone thrust out her chin defiantly. “I agreed to quit because I didn’t have any more data to gain. My preliminary analysis suggests we’re developing a fairly complete picture of the trucker who seeks a liaison while on the road. Don’t make it sound like Boyd has me on a leash.”

Melissa smiled at the spunky woman, who was only two years older than Rosanne. Both women had their doctorates. Both were avid advocates for the Center and its mission. And both could twist Harry Gage around their fingers. She should know. She’d been doing that since before they married. “You know they’re not going to be satisfied until their research is done, Harry. If things were reversed, you’d feel just as strongly.”

Giving up, Harry scrunched his mouth. “That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“No, I suppose it doesn’t. So,” Melissa said, taking charge, “if this detective shows up, we’ll be nice to him, answer his questions, and show him around.”

“You won’t show him around,” Rosanne protested, “if we’re working on camera.”

“Of course not,” Melissa agreed. “We can show him the stages and sets when they’re not in use, which is most of the time. Do you really think he’ll track you down?”

Rosanne took a long time to respond.

Melissa knew Max’s granddaughter better than most. That flicker of emotion wasn’t exactly fear. So she was more than a little curious about the man who’d apparently stalked her from the rest area to the rental car agency. Melissa smiled to herself. She’d tuck that bit of information away, just in case.

Rosanne flexed her fingers and wet her lips. “I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t,” she said at last. “Detective Walker strikes me as a man who won’t be satisfied until he has all the pieces of the puzzle in place.”

“And you’re his puzzle for the moment.”

BLURB

Now in her late twenties, Rosanne Falcon’s life has finally come together—a Ph.D., a prestigious research job, and two exquisite lovers, one of each gender, to complete the package. The intense bond she shares with Simone Stone was augmented rather than broken when Simone met and married Boyd Roberts, and the three have forged a fulfilling polyamory relationship. More would only be trouble.

Widowed by a tragic accident several years earlier, Detective Thomas Walker is nearing retirement after twenty years on the police force and ready to change careers. Fully convinced the hot redhead who meets truckers at the rest area he’s staked out is a prostitute, he sets out to build his case against her. He is dead wrong, but each layer he uncovers of what she really does for a living challenges long held assumptions. Can he overcome his deep-seated bias to make room for what’s possible?

BUY LINK

Now available at all ebook stores!

UNIVERSAL LINK

https://books2read.com/u/bpYaYX

Be sure to click on the links to travel to the rest of today’s exciting excerpts!

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Tall Dark and Rich ~ Billionaire Romance Anthology #PreOrder

Tall Dark and Rich: A Billionaire Romance Anthology at an Incredible Price!

I hope this finds you in high spirits and eager for an exciting new reading adventure! I love writing billionaire romance novels, and sharing them with new readers, but there is nothing like an anthology to get the blood stirring. Think about it: more hot heroes, more steamy sex, more clever plot twists, more obscenely over-the top luxury.

I think one of the biggest challenge readers have is determining where to spend their limited reading dollars. This is especially true for mystery and romance readers who are particularly voracious. Readers return to the same authors again and again because they don’t want to throw their money away on disappointing novels. To be honest, I have participated in anthologies before, only to be disappointed by many of the participating authors.

Not this time. As a romance reader myself, I find immense joy in sharing stories to make your heart race and your imagination soar. That’s why I am thrilled to be part of Tall Dark and Rich, an upcoming billionaire romance anthology I feel confident will captivate your senses and fulfill your deepest romantic fantasies.

As of this writing, Tall Dark and Rich features thirty billionaire romances from sweet to scorching, novella to full length read, all written by talented authors. One third of the contributing writers are USA Today or NY Times Bestselling authors. One third! These gifted writers have poured their hearts and souls into crafting tales to transport you to a world of wealth, passion, and desire.

My own entry, A Crazy Rich Dilemma, is a full length, steamy contemporary romance about Leah, studying art and drowning in debt. Leah is still reeling from an out-of-character one night stand with Van when she is offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Renowned art collector, and disgustingly rich, Fletcher Donovan makes his own out-of-character move, loaning Leah his mansion for six months. Missing Van and their sizzling chemistry, Leah bonds with Fletcher over their shared love of art, soothing her battered heart by beginning a long-distance correspondence with Fletcher. Can the billionaire do more than lick her wounds?

Here’s an excerpt from my new book, an All’s Crazy in Love adjacent story and my entry for Tall Dark and Rich.

EXCERPT

Stanton approached, saving me from further discussion, and I watched with relief as Constance meandered away without a backward glance. She’d taken my advice and was hunting. God help the man she snared.

“Still trying?” We shook hands, happy to see one another. Stanton’s grasp was powerful.

“Afraid so. I just want to have some fun, you know.”

 “I didn’t see you sneak in.” Stanton surveyed the ballroom, looking past the Christmas trees decked in gold and silver that complemented the traditional styling and made the Drake a classic. “Plenty of fun here tonight.”

 “Yes, there is. In fact, there is a woman I curious about—” I pointed to the back of the woman in the green dress.

 “Leah Rhodes.  She’s staying with my sister while she finishes Art School. Interested?

 “Just curious,” I deflected as convincingly as possible.

 “In fact—” Oh no, Stanton wanted something from me. I needed to escape.

 I didn’t need more. I had her name and a tidbit of information with which to open the conversation. I waved off Stanton, started to make my move. But my host was still talking to me and I never learned how to be rude. Tuning him out but nodding at appropriate times, I watched as my beauty stepped from the room, my stomach plummeting at the idea that she would leave before I had my chance.

 I finally caught wind of what Stanton was saying. This woman needed a place to stay. He was suggesting my house. That was a monumentally bad idea, but—

  I scanned for Leah, hoping she would return. She was a standout, with that body, that sweetness about her mouth, and wonder in her eyes. It was a lethal combination. She was mesmerized in that crowd of jaded, rich bitches, fresh-faced and trying not to gape at the splendor. Or maybe she was trying not to judge the expense.

 It was the uniqueness of her that attracted me, but those curves draped in emerald green held my interest and notched up my temperature more than a few degrees. I felt the zing of electricity burgeoning with promise and sexual tension. I’d sensed it the moment we made eye contact. I couldn’t lose her now.

 “I don’t think it will work,” I told Stanton, understatement of the century. I felt sick simply at the idea. But it was Leah. “Now’s not a good time, and I’m really not good with people in my house. But maybe I could find some other way to assist.”

 Certainly, the woman was a beauty, although not in the traditional sense. Her gown, obviously designer, was barely there, cut low, hugging her as I wished to, offering me a glimpse of cleavage that made my mouth water. All of which was icing on the cake, not the tasty confection that was this woman. I sensed much more to her, a depth I couldn’t explain.

 Stanton continued talking until I wanted to punch him. The man had never been so loquacious. My expression must have signaled my impatience, because he wound down to the end of a speech, advocating hard for Leah. Who was she to him? Finally, Stanton quit yakking.

 “Like I said, I’m not really comfortable with the idea. Don’t get her hopes up, but maybe—maybe I will think about it. Rhodes? Is she related to Melanie Rhodes? She was part of my legal team once or twice, so like I said, maybe I can help some other way.”

 That was enough to placate my host so I said my goodnights, eager to find  Leah before anyone else could corner me or Stanford could gauge my level of interest.  One night with this angel was exactly what I needed to cleanse myself of women like Constance and start Paris with a fresh perspective. Having her my bed tonight. Definitely. Having her live in my house, not a chance.

 I found her resting in a traditional upholstered chair not far from the ballroom entrance, fingering through something on her phone. An urn behind her created the illusion she wore a flower crown. She resembled a goddess of Greek mythology.

 I wasn’t wrong. Leah had no idea who I was. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. For once a woman looked at me without dollar signs in her eyes. Leah was clueless about my family and I wanted to keep it that way as long as possible. I would be gone tomorrow, and she would be none the wiser while  I had the rare opportunity to spend one lovely night with a beautiful woman who wasn’t after a Donovan, and what we could give her. This woman, this goddess, wanted me. I had a chance at an honest relationship, but only if I was dishonest. I appreciated the irony, and didn’t think twice.

 “Van,” I said, extending a hand toward hers, using my college nickname. It slid out of my mouth with ease. Her chin lifted to my face. She was more beautiful up close.

 Her eyes grew wide, obviously surprised to see me but not unhappy about it. I reached for a handshake and wound up engulfing her fingers, clasping them like fragile glass. She shook and not a limp handshake, mind you; more like she was proving a point. I resisted the urge to press a kiss on the inside of her wrist, wanting to leave my mark on her. “You’re Leah, right?”

 She didn’t hide her shock, rubbing a finger along her bottom lip. Was she checking her lipstick or wiping drool? Her expression didn’t make it clear. 

 “I asked Stanton,” I offered by way of explanation. “Dance?”

 I wasn’t wordy, nor elegant, but my movements were swift and smooth, wrapping her in my embrace before she could refuse. I wasn’t willing to risk no and it was obvious her feet were killing her.

 She was already halfway out of  the chair when she nodded yes,  her head barely reaching my nose. Hiding us from prying eyes, I kept us away from the ballroom but close enough to hear the music. She was tiny and soft in my arms and didn’t question my choice of location.

 Leah fingered the fabric of my tux, then rested her hand like a whisper on my shoulder. Maybe I held her a little closer than appropriate, but she smelled sweet and felt breakable.

 “I’m not much of a dancer,” she warned, her voice low and unconsciously seductive.

 “I promise not to step on your toes.” Thanks to my years of dance lessons and decades of experience, I spun her to the edge of the lobby, lights and colors speeding past my view. A strong pine aroma emanated from the ballroom, but her floral scent rose above it as I twirled us around the groupings of lobby chairs.  I bent my head closer to inhale deeper. Whatever the perfume, it was a definite aphrodisiac.

 “How have we managed to miss each other before this? I think I’ve made most of Stanton’s parties.”

 “This is my first. I’m staying with his sister, Huntley.”

 “Visiting from out of town?” I knew the answer but wanted to hear her version. “Where is home?”

 “Oh no,” she clarified, meeting my eyes and holding me spellbound. “I live here, but a few months ago, I broke up with my boyfriend and he got custody of the apartment. It’s been difficult finding a place since then.”

 “Too busy nursing a broken heart?” I held my breath awaiting her response.

She laughed, a soft sound, and I finally got a glimpse of that wide smile in earnest. It transformed girl-next-door Leah into a force majeure. She was magnificent.

 “Hardly. More a question of affordability and proximity. I go to school downtown, and housing near the loop is pricey.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. No attachment preventing me from pursuit. “I wish I could help, but I am living in a hotel room at the moment. Upstairs.” Her blush was a giveaway. We were both thinking of that room, easily reached for a night of— “I leave in the morning, but if you are desperate, I could extend it a few days.”

 “Leaving or the room?”

 “The room.” I felt disappointed, surprisingly so. I was more intrigued than I’d expected.

If you’re intrigued, now is the perfect time to preorder your copy of Tall Dark and Rich to ensure you don’t miss out on this unforgettable reading experience. And the best part? For a limited time, the anthology is priced at only 99¢! That’s dozens of captivating billionaire romances bundled together in one explosive collection, for less than a dollar! It won’t last forever.

To reserve your copy, simply click https://books2read.com/TallDarkRich

You won’t be disappointed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Madison Michael is the author of more than a dozen romance novels. She loves to create sassy heroines who know who they are and what they want. Add a hero who is every women’s fantasy come true and watch the chemistry sizzle. Proud of her smart romances, Maddy tries to create flawed but loveable characters readers want to know, situate them in wonderful settings and then add a plot that allows them to flourish and fall madly in love. A smattering of mystery, humor, or meddling friends usually helps things along.

Madison lives in Chicago, close to her roots, friends, family and the best pizza anywhere.

She loves cats, cat jokes and cat videos, Hello Kitty, anything with too much sugar, and everything about being an author. She enjoys writing, learning about writing, promoting writing and writing while eating sugar, surrounded by cats.

Discover her Beguiling Bachelor or All’s Crazy in Love series at www.madisonmichael.net/books

LINKS

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Recent Release: The Earl’s Awakening, by Joy Lynn Fielding #LGBTQ #GayRomance #Regency #Review #Giveaway

RECENT RELEASE

Book Title: The Earl’s Awakening

Author: Joy Lynn Fielding

Publisher: Extasy Books

Cover Artist: Martine Jardin

Release Date: September 8, 2023

Genre: Regency M/M romance

Tropes: Rake/bad boy romance

Themes: Learning to live, self-discovery.

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Length: 55 000 words/ 198 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

Extasy Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

One glance, and his past life was history.

Blurb

Leander Talbot’s life changed forever when his wife died. He is now reluctantly venturing back into society, knowing that, as the Earl of Ockley, he must marry again to produce an heir. But he can’t bring himself to the sticking point. Instead, he spends his time evading the matchmaking mamas of the ton.

The dark and dangerous Duke of Arden is an infamous libertine. It is said that he seduces innocents, and there are even more sinister tales whispered of his predilections. Only the wild young blades who form his retinue know the truth, but he is shunned by all save those wishing to court notoriety.

A chance meeting brings Leander into Arden’s orbit. Ignoring the warnings about Arden’s intentions, Leander is drawn into a seductive world of sexual indulgence. There, he finds the freedom he craves from his overbearing family. By the time he suspects Arden might have ulterior motives, it may be too late to save his reputation—and his heart.

Excerpt

Leander sighed slightly. He had immersed himself in work and duty since Bella’s death, but it was only now he understood how removed from his contemporaries he had become. Most faces here were unfamiliar to him. Take the character in the corner—a dark complexion, his dress rich but careless in a way that proclaimed he cared little for the opinion of society. Leander was certain he had never set eyes on him, though the deference with which his circle of friends was treating him indicated that he was a man of some standing. He took the opportunity to ask the servant who brought him a glass of champagne.

“His Grace the Duke of Arden, my lord,” the man informed him.

The name was one with which Leander was familiar. It was a name with which all of London and some of the more enlightened provinces were familiar. Arden represented all that was decadent in the ton, his philandering ways extending far beyond opera dancers and actresses to ladies of quality. And it was not only widows or liaisons with married ladies, for it was said of him that he had ruined more than one young maiden. The number of duels that he had fought and won, the drunken orgies at which he presided, and his losses and gains at the gaming table had all assumed the proportions of legend. There were still darker things whispered about him. Only the coterie of wild young blades who formed his retinue knew the truth of these, but the intimations were there, and Arden remained unrecognised by all save those wishing to court notoriety.

Leander became aware that Arden was returning his gaze, his heavy-lidded eyes holding what appeared to be a gleam of amusement. As Leander watched, Arden raised his glass in a mocking salute before putting it to his lips and tossing back the contents.

Perhaps it was the champagne, perhaps it was the shock of realising that his acquaintances now viewed him as a prig. Whatever the reason, some demon prompted Leander to his feet. In defiance of all proper behaviour, he crossed the room to Arden and introduced himself.

Those dark eyebrows raised briefly, a noble head was inclined, and one of the young men clustered around Arden was moving from his seat, offering it to Leander.

“So you’re Ockley.” The duke’s aristocratic fingers curved elegantly around the stem of his glass and his dark eyes surveyed Leander as he sat. “I didn’t think this to be your sort of place. I’d thought you more of a White’s man.”

The provocation was there. It was well known that Arden had been pre-emptively blackballed by the respectable club lest any member lose their faculties and propose him for membership.

“Indeed?” Leander said stiffly, his somewhat lamentable temper aroused by Arden’s dismissal of him as a priggish bore. “And I thought you a legend, sir. A cautionary tale used by protective parents to keep young cubs in line.”

Reaction rippled through the assembled ranks, but Leander’s gaze was on Arden’s face. A smile touched his lips as he looked at Leander. “A palpable hit, Ockley,” he murmured. His voice was rich and soft, with a hint of steel that intrigued Leander.

“Lea.” Henry’s voice broke in. He was not precisely floored, but he was foxed enough to ignore all dictates of manners as he tugged insistently at his brother’s arm. Knowing that if he resisted, Henry would only become more forceful, Leander allowed himself to be raised to his feet. His brother had been the same since nursery days—when he wanted something, he wanted it now, and it was usually attention he craved. Leander directed a small bow towards Arden, whose smile had widened at the spectacle Henry was making of them both, before following his brother’s urgent strictures to leave immediately.

Review

I’m always eager to pick up a new LGBTQ romance set in the regency era, where we know such relationships had to be clandestine, deeply hidden, highly cloaked. Having read (and re-read, more times than I can count) all of Jane Austen’s groundbreaking novels from the era, I’m already steeped in what such a novel should look like, and The Earl’s Awakening did not disappoint.

Where the novel departs from the period regency, of course, is in its open bedroom – or ballroom, or card room, or wherever the participants engage in their flaming debauchery and wild orgies.

The novel maintains a single point of view throughout, that of Leander, Earl of Ockley. As the novel opens, his behavior in every aspect conforms with what is expected from an upstanding and desirable male member of the Ton. Having recently lost his beloved wife, he honors the needs of his lady mother and plans to re-marry to provide her with the required heir – just not at present.

Seeds of his dramatic transformation are sown in Chapter Two when he first meets the Duke of Arden at a London gaming salon and notices, in spite of himself, that “his voice was rich and soft, with a hint of steel that intrigued Leander.”

Leander’s internal struggle to deny his urgings and prevent himself from acting upon them is richly and authentically conveyed. At nearly every turning point, he responds with action – powerless to resist that hint of steel – then tries to deny that what has occurred satisfies his deepest desires. The many explicit scenes that propel his journey forward are crafted with superb eroticism.

Is he being played for a fool by a rake who intends merely to ruin him? As he comes to recognize and claim what he truly wants, will he find himself rejected? Afficionados of gay erotic romance will relish the journey and find its conclusion highly satisfying.

Five Stars.

About the Author

Joy Lynn Fielding lives in a small English market town, where she indulges her passions for vintage aircraft, horse riding and gardening (though not all at the same time).

Joy tends to wax lyrical about the fascinating facts she discovers during her research for books. Thankfully, she has a very patient Labrador who has a gift for looking interested in what she’s saying while he waits for the food to arrive.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website | Facebook | Newsletter Sign-up

 

Giveaway

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“You look like you’re miles away…” #SnippetSunday #SnipSun #WeekendWritingWarriors #EroticRomance #LGBGTQ #Sale #99cents #MFRWAuthor

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to write – and read!
Click on the graphics to travel to the other snippets.

                                        

EXCERPT

Picking up where we left off last Sunday from the opening scene, at their 20th college reunion:

Janet remembered how much Brenda used to admire her long legs and hid a smile. Janet was a good head and a half taller than her old roomie. They used to get kidded a lot about being a feminine Mutt and Jeff duo. She’d always blushed and resented that comment—did any of their friends know they’d experimented with each other sexually?

Janet swallowed hard. It hadn’t happened often—not often enough for Brenda. But…Janet raised her eyes from her drink to meet Brenda’s intense gaze.

“You look like you’re miles away, or maybe years in the past.” Brenda reached across the tiny round table to clutch Janet’s hand again. “Hey, it’s okay. Isn’t that part of what reunions are about?”

Janet shrugged, but didn’t withdraw her hand.

BLURB

Janet Baxter keeps her post-divorce life neatly compartmentalized: Secure job, spacious Westchester County home, successful adult children, dependable community volunteer activities. Why is she drawn—for the first time ever—to attend her twenty-year college reunion in New York City?

Always a free spirit, Brenda Cassidy is comfortably bisexual and has no plans to ever settle down. But a fling? The reappearance of svelte, reserved Janet Baxter in Brenda’s life is nothing less than a gift, worthy of every enticement Brenda can conjure up. Can Brenda seduce Janet into an endless night of the lovemaking they enjoyed too briefly as college roommates? What if the lady wants more?

BUY LINK

ON SALE NOW FOR 99¢

https://books2read.com/u/bzn6RL

REVIEW

Five Stars at Goodreads: “Building up the sexual tension between these two is the heart of this book. When they finally give in, I was right there with them. They are HOT! … a quick read but so well written I did not want it to end.”

 

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