Spotlight: See Her Run by A.K Leigh



See Her Run
by A.K. Leigh
Genre: NA Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 23rd 2018

Summary:


See Her Run blends elements of romance, suspense, and psychological thriller in an exploration of life after severe trauma.
Diana King arrives in Smithfield, North Carolina as part of her witness protection relocation. After six months of running from her crime boss ex-husband, she is looking forward to starting over in the quaint country town.
Jonathan Smith has no time for love. Not after the devastating relationships he has experienced. He prefers to focus on his Mixed Martial Arts business, his family farm, and the management of the town he owns.
That is, until he meets the mysterious newcomer. Something stirs in him; something familiar that remains elusive. This only serves to increase his curiosity – and attraction.
Though he is unaware of the important connection he has to her past, Diana realises immediately. Prevented from divulging the information, she struggles between the growing feelings she has for Jonathan and the freedom she fought so hard to obtain.
But, when secrets are exposed, and the past comes looking, will Diana and Jonathan’s new-found love survive? Or will they pay for it with their lives? 
In the end . . . you can run from everything except your past.




 Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo 

Excerpt:
Chapter 1

The reflection in the passenger side window irritated her. None of it had been her choice. Not the fake blue-framed glasses—they’ll bring out your eyes—and certainly not the boring, dyed brown bob with no bangs—it’ll help you blend in. Blend in? How did they expect her to do that? Her physical disabilities attracted attention whether she wanted them to or not. The fact she was going to be new in town was another factor swaying the ability for her to blend in to impossible. They’d made the lies sound so easy to speak.
          The driver’s voice distracted her, “Don’t be nervous.”
          She turned and noted the shadow of two-day growth on his chin. It had been a long journey, made longer by the necessity of caution.
          He smiled then shifted his gaze between her and the dusty road as he continued, “This is your chance at a new life. Maybe it’s not the one you wanted, but at least it’ll be yours.”
          Would it? Did he even realize one form of control had been substituted for another? She didn’t voice the question. Nothing would change even if she did. In the seven years since her ordeal had begun, only one person had bothered to ask what she wanted. His face formed in her mind. She concentrated on it, until it became as clear as a new photograph.
          “Diana?”
          The image clouded as she focused back on the driver. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
          “I said, you can have a new life now.”
          Intuition told her what he wanted to hear.
          She tugged on one of the long sleeves of her black shirt and forced a smile. “I know.”
          Before he could respond, she returned her attention to the window. He wouldn’t hassle her if she made it obvious she didn’t want to talk. As she stared out at the passing landscape, her mind recycled long held doubts. She could trust him, couldn’t she? He’d promised, hadn’t he?
          A lump balled at the back of her throat. Broken promises were the reason for this trip. Out of habit she swallowed, and ignored the bitter aftertaste. Unwanted memories came. She forced them away by concentrating on the flat tracts of fertile farmland and intermittent forest. The sight made her frown. Where were the mountains? Wasn’t this part of North Carolina supposed to have mountains?
          Fresh anxiety made her fumble with her fingers. The town they were headed to was small. Or so she’d been told. What would her life be like there? Would the nightmares finally stop? Would she have to keep looking over her shoulder? As the questions multiplied, the space inside the car compressed against her until she couldn’t breathe.
          Without thinking, she reached for the button on the car’s armrest and pressed it to lower the window … She was aware of her mistake in an instant. The breeze assaulted her with its full force and sent a reflexive hiss from her lips. She moved her face as her hand came up to shield the still bumpy scar she could feel across the entire length of her left cheek.
          The driver looked at her, his mouth crumpled in concern, as he asked, “Are you all right?”
          “I’m fine.”
          Avoiding eye contact, she dropped her hand back to her lap.
          “Diana—”
          “Chris, I didn’t mean to fuss. Please, let it go.”
          His low, resigned-sounding exhale told her he would. “All right. Get some rest, we’ll be there soon.”
          She nodded. When she angled her face back to the open window, she took care to hide her cheek. Settled, she thought once more about the promises Chris had made. They were realistic, weren’t they? She tried to convince herself they were, despite the niggle telling her they would come at a price.

About the Author
Sweet romance. Dangerous secrets. Uplifting endings.

A.K. Leigh is an international-selling romance author, identical triplet, amateur love guru, radical self-love advocate, unapologetic romantic, and hot chocolate addict. She uses her post-graduate degree in counselling as well as her COA’s (certificate of achievement) in Forensic Science and Forensic Anthropology to create believable characters and realistic crime elements in her stories. Hernovels are set in either America or Australia – one day, she hopes to write a book with both locations in it! When not writing novels or her blog, she can be found on You Tube, where she has a vlog discussing topics such as: publishing and writing, life as an identical triplet, love/dating/romance/ relationships, the importance of self-love, and trauma healing. She is also active on social media and encourages readers to interact with her on those platforms. She lives in Australia with her three gorgeous children and one grumpy cat.

Author Links:
     

Spotlight: Wicked Charm by Amber Hart

Nothing good comes from living in the Devil's swamp.

Willow Bell thinks moving to the Okefenokee area isn't half bad, but nothing prepares her for what awaits in the shadows of the bog.

Girls are showing up dead in the swamp. And she could be next.

Everyone warns Willow to stay away from Beau Cadwell—the bad boy at the top of their suspect list as the serial killer tormenting the small town.

But beneath his wicked, depthless eyes, there's something else that draws Willow to him.

When yet another girl he knew dies, though, Willow questions whether she can trust her instincts…or if they're leading to her own death.

Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Amber Hart resides on the Florida coastline with family and a plethora of animals she affectionately refers to as her urban farm. When unable to find a book, she can be found writing, daydreaming, or with her toes in the sand. She's the author of several novels for teens and adults, including Wicked Charm, the Before & After series, and the Untamed series. Rep'd by Stacey Donaghy of Donaghy Literary Group.

Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

Spotlight: The Schemer by Avery Flynn

Tyler Jacobson has a plan for everything—except how to handle his completely annoying, utterly frustrating, and totally sexy upstairs neighbor. He couldn’t care less if Everly Ribinski thinks he’s equally irritating—until he discovers she’s the only one who can help him land a business deal that will finally make him feel like he’s more than just a guy from the wrong side of the tracks.

Color him shocked when Everly refuses to help, insisting she should have run him over in the parking garage when she had the chance. Harsh. But possibly deserved. Tyler may have spent the last few months reveling in annoying the fiery gallery owner with a dark past, but he’s got secret leverage she can’t refuse.

If only one meeting didn’t turn into a fake date that turned into more. Way more. Like naked and hot as hell more.

The last thing either of them wants is to catch feelings for someone who is so obviously not their type. Good thing that will never happen. Right?

Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

USA Today bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staffs knew her by name.

Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Spotlight: The Inheritance by Mika Lane

The Inheritance
Mika Lane
Publication date: February 6th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance

Life was good. I was tending bar, making enough to get by, paying my rent, and enjoying the occasional cocktail with my best friend gay boyfriend, Matty. And then I got the call. One of my customers had passed. The one who we nicknamed “Grandpa,” who’d watch us for hours from his seat at the bar, sucking on the same beer, never leaving a tip.

For some reason the old coot left me his estate. Huh? He looked like the last person in the world to have an “estate.” Well, did your mother ever tell you not to judge a book by its cover?

And thanks to good old Grandpa, it looks like I may never have to work again.

But of course there’s a catch. There’s always a catch. I only get Grandpa’s money if I’m 25 years old (check), and married (not checked; not by a landslide). And–I only have 30 days to pull this off.

I didn’t see how I could make it happen, until four eligible bachelors waltzed into my life. Then, I had a whole different set of problems…

Goodreads / Amazon

SNEAK PEEKS:

God, they were both gorgeous—Nat with his preppy, chiseled looks, and Linc with his short ponytail and facial scruff—each of them bringing their own unique brand of sexy to the table. But there was something about the two of them together, as if they were feeding off one another. Their combined sensuality was way more intense than merely taking each’s lust and adding it together; it was as if two plus two equaled way more than four.

I wrapped my fingers in a fistful of her hair and drew her toward me, touching lips that were as delicious as I knew they’d be. I let my fingers trail down the front of her blouse, where they landed on a magnificent breast topped with a very hard nipple. Shit, if I wasn’t careful, I was going to explode right there in my pants.

Those damn pillow-soft lips seared into mine, and when my tongue sought entrance into her mouth, she whimpered like she’d not been properly kissed in a long, long time. Strangely, time both stood still and sped up as we got lost in a kiss before we pulled apart, both gasping for air as the boat rocked lightly in its slip.

Author Bio:

Writing has been a passion of Mika’s since a young age (her first book was "The Day I Ate the Milkyway"), but erotic romance is now what gives purpose to her days and nights. She lives in magical Northern California with her own handsome alpha dude, sometimes known as Mr. Mika Lane, and an evil cat named Bill. A devotee of the intelligent and beautiful, and lover of shiny things, she’s a yogi, hiker, traveler, thinker, observer, and book worm. She has been known to drink cheap champagne and has way too many shoes.

A National Reader's Choice Awards finalist, Mika always deliver a hot, sexy romp, often with imperfect characters, and a promised happily ever after (or at least happy for now).

She LOVES to hear from readers, and can be found at www.mikalane.com, and facebook.com/mikalaneauthor, when she's not dreaming up naughty tales to share.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


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Spotlight: Love Game by Maggie Wells

These successful professionals may know something about sex...but discover they’re clueless about love.

She’s earned her position
Kate Snyder is at the top of her game. She scored her first national championship at Wolcott University in her undergrad days, and now she’s the coaching legend of the #1 college women’s basketball team. No one knows the meaning of the phrase “work your way up” better than Kate. So when the university hires a football coach trying to escape scandal—paying him a lot more than she earns—Kate is more than annoyed.

He just sailed into his
Danny McMillan had hoped for a smooth transition at Wolcott, but fiery Coach Snyder made that impossible. Every time he and Kate are in a room together, snark and sparks fly. Danny gets her frustration, but her pay grade isn’t his problem, right? When Kate and Danny finally see eye to eye, their sparks turn into something even hotter…and they need to figure out if this is more than just a game.

Excerpt

“Afternoon, Coach Snyder,” Danny called as Kate crossed to the edge of the practice field. “What brings you here?”

“I was just driving by on my way home, and I saw you boys out here.”

She made one of those flirty, fluttery gestures meant to deflect and distract. It wasn’t until Danny caught himself staring at those graceful fingers that he realized how powerful a weapon it truly was. Giving himself an internal shake, he forced himself to step forward rather than retreat. This was his turf, damn it. Literally.

What little action he had happening on the field ground to a halt. The players who were pulling cell phones out of he didn’t want to know where and snapping photos. As if her appearance marked the start of coffee break time.

He nodded to the milling players and raised his voice. “As you can see, we have our work cut out for us. Don’t we, fellas?”

The phones disappeared, and his team snapped back into action. After all, they had an audience to impress now.

“Nice of you to stop by.” He managed a smile he hoped wasn’t as dorky as it felt. He couldn’t make a bigger fool of himself than the gaggle of man-children showboating up and down the field. “I can’t wait to crash one of your practices.”

A hint of color appeared in her cheeks, and she lowered her gaze, shuttering the flash of annoyance that flared in those mesmerizing eyes. She swayed slightly, and his body followed, leaning into her as if they were connected by an invisible string.

A string their esteemed athletic director seemed to be determined to snap.

Mike executed an expert pivot and inserted his shoulder between them, effectively drawing Danny’s attention. “Other than the Green/Gold game, Coach Snyder doesn’t hold open practice sessions.”

Glancing from the AD to the glorious woman across from him, Danny forced a tight smile. “Yeah, I never did either, but I guess there’s no way to block the lookie-loos out here.”

Kate’s eyebrows rose. “Lookie-loos?” Her smile was syrupy sweet. She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “If that’s the case, I hope you can find some soon.” She made a point of scanning the nonexistent sidelines for equally nonexistent fans. “Seems kind of…sad out here.”

Kate glanced down, and her smile widened as she backed away. “The Sentinel is looking for an interview,” she announced, darting a glance at Mike.

Danny frowned, confused by the swift change in topic. “The Sentinel? Why are you telling us this? You the new secretary or something?”

Mike nearly cracked one of Danny’s ribs with his pointy elbow. Kate, of course, caught the not-so-subtle warning. Her eyes narrowed, and her jaw tightened. But when she spoke, her drawl was as thick as molasses.

“Or something. I’m pretty booked up with the filming for NSN, but I figured I’d mention this to you.” She fixed him with a disconcertingly direct stare. “Hey, they did a profile on you once, didn’t they?”

They did a hatchet job on him just after the debacle, but he saw no need to acknowledge what they all knew.

“Caught it on a replay last week.”

She flashed her championship smile again, but there was no warmth behind it. As a matter of fact, it felt a helluva lot like a shank of cold steel piercing his gut.

“Anyhow, I was thinking maybe you’d want a shot at a more friendly news outlet, so I thought I’d pass it along. I’m nothing if not a team player.”

Message delivered, she turned on her heel and started back toward her car. Ice queen or not, he watched her walk away. He couldn’t help himself. Hell, there wasn’t a man alive who wouldn’t be drawn in by the subtle sway of her hips.

“Don’t even think it, man,” Mike said, his voice low and ominous.

Danny shot him a glance. “Think about what?”

“You know what.”

The edge in Mike’s tone barely registered. Another male voice called, “Hey, Coach! Heads up!”

Danny jerked his head up, but once again, no one was looking at him. They were all focused on Kate.

A young man in a cropped practice jersey cocked his arm and let the ball fly. The high, tight spiral arced nearly the width of the field. A gust of spring wind pinned Kate’s shirt to her lithe frame. She stepped into the pass, her palms open and her fingers spread wide and welcoming. Her low, throaty laugh rippled across the field as she secured the ball and feinted to her left. The players on the field erupted into whoops and catcalls, and she grinned as she brushed the hair from her face. She tossed the ball underhand to a nearby assistant and then waved to the boys before starting for her car.

Danny stood transfixed until she reached the driver’s door, willing her to look up once more. But he got no sneaking peeks or coy smiles from Kate Snyder. No, when she looked up, she stared directly at him, her chin lifted, her hair dancing in the spring breeze. They stood there, locked in silent challenge, and all the sounds of the drills being run on the scrubby field faded away. Then she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, “Hey, Coach, get your head in the game!”

Danny had to laugh. At last, he’d met a worthy opponent. And all the warnings in the world couldn’t stop him from getting in the game. He lifted a hand in a half wave.

“Get crossways with her, and there’s nothing I can do to save you,” Mike reminded him.

He spared his friend a glance. “I thought you and your pal Millie wanted us to get crossways.”

“You know what I’m saying.”

Danny nodded once and turned his attention back to the field. “Who threw that?”

“Kilgorn. Wide receiver,” Mike answered without missing a beat.

“He’s our new quarterback.”

Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

By day, MAGGIE WELLS is buried in spreadsheets. At night she pens tales of people tangling up the sheets. The product of a charming rogue and a shameless flirt, you only have to scratch the surface of this mild-mannered married lady to find a naughty streak a mile wide. She has a passion for college football, processed cheese foods, and happy endings. Not necessarily in that order. She lives in Arkansas.

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter: @MaggieWells1 | Goodreads

Spotlight: Italian Billionaire’s Stubborn Lover by Leslie North

Italian Billionaire’s Stubborn Lover
Leslie North
(Romano Brothers, #1)
Publication date: February 1st 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Luxury real estate agent Adeline Peluso came to Italy in search of adventure. Inheriting an apartment with a view of the coast in Sicily sounded like something out of a movie, but after two years watching a resort she’d always loved fall to pieces she’s ready to throw in the proverbial towel…that is until one of the owners finally walked into her office. Tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome, the man would drive her crazy with his arguments if he didn’t set her aflame with his kisses.

Billionaire Nicolo Romano is a global citizen. He’s the kind of guy who skis in the Alps, snorkels in the caribbean, and enjoys the lights of the Vegas strip on a whim. He has no desire to be tied down anytime soon. So when he and his brothers inherit the family resort, Nicolo has one goal: Sell it and sell it fast. But coming back to the place he loved as a child to find a woman who feels just as passionately about the crumbling hotel throws him. Instead of using his business savvy to sell fast, Nicolo is wooing this woman with his island, slowly falling back in love with the place himself.

When whip smart arguments turn into stolen kisses and stolen kisses turn into steamy nights, Adeline and Nicolo will realize that they’re fighting for more than the fate of a historic hotel. They’re fighting for the chance of life’s greatest adventure: True Love.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Adeline Peluso tapped her stiletto heel nervously on the rust colored terracotta tile floor as she traced her perfectly manicured fingernail over her plump bottom lip. Blinking, she contemplated the choice before her. She could stay in Sicily or let go of her dreams and move on.

“Poo,” she said, frowning at her laptop where it lay open atop an ancient walnut desk that was large enough and heavy enough to double as a raft on choppy seas. Between her eyes was a small, pinched crease of consternation that had plagued her with compliments of “adorable” and “sweet” ever since she’d been a young girl. Now at twenty-nine it was no less cute, but in truth, she was actually quite frustrated.

The beauty of her surroundings, which normally worked wonders to lighten her mood, did nothing for her today. From outside the tall, open windows of her real estate office, the calming sound of waves lapping against the Sicilian shore reached her ears. But instead of making her thankful for the life she lived as it usually did, it made her wistful for the adventures she was missing by remaining on the island of Sicily.

Moving to Sicily had been a dream come true for Adeline. Its history and heritage were more diverse than even the home she’d left behind in America. It was in Sicily that she had learned how to live with gusto and verve, and she had treasured the summers she’d spent there with her grandparents. Though they were gone now, it was through their happy marriage in this beautiful place that she’d learned what life-long love looked like.

She had thought that she could capture some of the magic of their lives by moving to Sicily. It had been her childhood dream. She’d thought that she would find love and adventure. Instead, she had an empty apartment to go home to at night and her life was filled with the same bored routine that she’d left behind in America.

She needed adventure. She needed more from life. It was too amazing to sleepwalk through.

“I could find love in Spain,” she said. Crossing her legs, she tapped her toe silently in the air as she contemplated her choices.


Author Bio:

Leslie North is the pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.

The truth of the matter is she loves her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her normal, day-to-day persona! Her bestselling books focus on strong characters and particularly women who aren't afraid to challenge an alpha male. Inspired after years of travel, her stories are set all over the world, from the tough streets of Russia to the beautiful beaches of the middle east.

Leslie fell in love with romance when she first picked up a scrappy, dog-eared romance book from her local library. She began writing soon after and the rest, as they say, was history. She now lives in a cozy cottage on the British coast and enjoys taking long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.

She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don't hesitate to contact her via e-mail: leslie@leslienorthbooks.com.

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