Spotlight: Sips & Strokes by Sarah Skye

Publication date: April 20th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Lily Maldonado is screwed. The people-pleasing art professor has been roped into attending her ex’s wedding by her overbearing, image-obsessed parents. Even worse? The woman her ex is marrying is Lily’s childhood bully. She can’t back out, but she’s not sure she can face this nightmare solo.

Enter Calder Ross. The sexy Scot’s abs have graced the cover of many romance novel bestsellers, but the reformed playboy needs a more serious image if he wants to land his dream job as the spokesman for Sonce Whisky. Modeling for Lily’s figure drawing class is step one in the right direction.

After their very adorable—and very naked—meet-cute, Lily and Calder realize that they can be each other’s saving grace. Lily can bring Calder to the wedding as her fake boyfriend to ward off pitying stares. Calder can bring Lily to Sonce events as his fake girlfriend to show he’s the responsible, relationship-minded guy that execs want as the face of their brand.

But the longer Lily and Calder play pretend, the harder it becomes to deny the very real chemistry between them. Will they play it safe and stick to their fake roles? Or will they throw out the playbook completely and risk it all for love?

Excerpt

I enter the classroom expecting to find Ms. Maldonado already there but stumble to a stop as soon as I’m inside. There is no middle-aged professor dressed in a long skirt and cardigan. Instead, there’s a young woman seated on the pedestal in the center of the room. Her legs swing idly as she stares up at the sunlight streaming in from the windows close to the ceiling. An overstuffed blue velvet armchair sits on the pedestal, providing an interesting backdrop for her.

Her serenity, the graceful ease of her posture, and the faraway expression on her face make me wish I had my camera. It’s a moment, absolutely beautiful in its simplicity. Shame no one’s capturing this.

She blinks and hops to her feet when the door shuts, her gaze focusing in on me. Her dark eyes give me a full-body scan, brows rising as she goes for round two. She shakes her head and swallows hard. “Oh, hi. Sorry, I was just having a moment.”

“I hate to interrupt. Are you modeling for this class too?”

Her lips curve as a blush sweeps her cheeks. My attention snags on her mouth. Her full, pink lips are fucking lush. She’s got the kind of mouth that women kill for and men daydream about. I’m not above daydreaming a bit myself, and with the way that blush makes her skin glow—

“I’m sorry, what?” I shake my head, sure that I was too distracted to hear her correctly.

“I said no, Mr. Ross, I’ll save everyone from that horror and stick to teaching, thanks.”

Well, fuck me running. This stunner in blue jeans and a white t-shirt is Ms. Lily? Where is my buttoned-up professor?

I look around, taking in the space. The linoleum is there, sure, but this room is a proper studio. The walls are draped in warm cloth to enhance the soft lamps glowing in the corners. Easels are at attention around the dais with a teacher’s desk off to the side, but everything about this place has been set up with creativity in mind. Impressive.

I stick out my hand and abandon all presumptions I’d had about this gig. “It’s Calder, please. And I am sorry to interrupt, but I’m also sorry I’m a bit late, Ms—”

“Lily.”

“Ms. Lily.”

She laughs as her hand slips into mine. I’m hit with a double whammy of sensation. First, the warmth of her soft skin sliding across my palm and then the muted sound of her mirth, which she hides with her free hand.

Her eyes squint as she shakes her head. “Just Lily. If that’s what you’re comfortable with.”

“I could be very comfortable with it.”

The words I’d meant to keep in my head tumble out without warning. What the fuck is with you? Is this amateur hour? Pull your shit together and be a professional for a second.

Lily’s blush deepens, so I release her hand and flash an easy grin. “No need for formality in my opinion,” I clarify.

She exhales and nods, and I take that as a decent recovery. I watch her go to her desk, shuffling a stack of papers as she says, “We’ll start with some short gesture poses if that’s good for you?”

“Of course.” I tug off my tee as I head to the pedestal. Once I hop up, I drop my sweatpants and toss everything on the armchair.

“Great, so if you need any suggest—oh!” The papers flutter to the floor as she turns and looks at me. “Oh my god, you’re already naked.”

My brows knit. “Just getting comfortable. Was I meant to wait for a specific moment?”

“Well, I just, I mean class hasn’t started and we—or, no, but it’s just that you’re… so naked.”

Her eyes dart around the room, landing on me at regular intervals as a blush paints her cheeks all the way down her neck now.

I bite the inside of my lip, glad I’m not the only one off their game today. “You could get me a robe.”

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About the Author

Sarah Skye is the nom de plume of romance authors Sarah Smith and Skye McDonald. Sarah and Skye met on Twitter as fledgling authors seeking critique partners. That turned into a brilliant friendship, a joint podcast (Quick & Dirty Romance Podcast), and now a novel.

Sarah Smith (Faker; If You Never Come Back; Simmer Down) is a copywriter-turned-author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie's stash of romance novels. She's been hooked ever since. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her lumpia recipe. She lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband and adorable cat Salem.

Skye McDonald (The Anti-Belle Series) is an author and personal development coach. Skye's Anti-Belle series feature sassy GRITS (Girls Raised In the South) learning to love themselves before they can claim their happily ever after. (Spoiler: they always do!) Her coaching method uses fitness and life skills to teach individuals to do the same. When not writing sexy books or cheering for you to live your best life, Skye can be found out on a new adventure, usually with her pup at her side.

Connect:

https://twitter.com/quickndirtyrom

https://www.instagram.com/quickndirtyromance/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21206854.Sarah_Skye

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Spotlight: His To Protect by Sharon C. Cooper

Genre: Romantic Suspense

She looked a criminal in the eye...

...and now she's a target.

When Connie Shaw witnesses a bank robbery gone horribly wrong, security specialist Trace Halstead makes himself her personal protection detail. Days and nights together make it impossible for Connie and Trace to resist the attraction burning between them. But Connie doesn’t know which she fears more…the threat from the man who wants to end her life or the love of the man trying to save it.

From Harlequin Romantic Suspense: Danger. Passion. Drama.

Excerpt

“So how are you really?” Trace asked when he finished eating. He leaned back and stretched his arm on the back of the sofa. “Be honest.”

Connie curled her legs beneath her as she thought about his question.

“Honestly, I’m better now that you’re here.”

That lopsided grin that she adored tilted the left corner of his tempting lips. It should be against the law for any man to be so good-looking. The way his full lips curled a little too perfectly and the way his eyes twinkled with mischief, even in the dim lighting, made her heart thump a tad bit faster.

Connie lifted her hand when he started to speak. “Before your head explodes with that big ego of yours, let me finish. You’re a good distraction. Before you arrived, every few minutes my mind drifted back to what took place at the bank. It seems surreal. Even though the incident went by fast, in my head it plays out in slow motion.”

Trace lightly brushed a strand of her hair out of her face. “Did you remember anything else?”

“No. I think I told them everything, except for what I told you about the man’s eyes seeming familiar. Right now, though, I’m just praying Richard will pull through.”

“Yeah, hopefully he will.”

“I can’t help wondering how long it will take for me to put the whole incident behind me.”

“It’ll probably take a while.”

“Is that how it was when you left the navy?” He had done two tours in Afghanistan and spent a few years in Japan, but rarely discussed his military days.

The only sound in the room was the television as the silence between them grew. Connie wasn’t sure if discussing that time in his life was off-limits. But that only made her more curious about his experience.

“It will take a lifetime to forget what I went through…what I experienced and what I saw. Each day that I’m away from the military gets easier, though. But occasionally, someone will say something or something will happen that will trigger a memory.”

“What happens when you’re triggered?” she asked, truly curious.

Again, seconds of silence ticked by without Trace responding. He leaned forward and grabbed his water, guzzling half of it before setting it back on the table. Still he said nothing.

“Want to talk about something else?”

“Yeah, that would be good.”

“Okay, well, I was planning to find another comedy show or movie to watch. I figured laughing would do me good. You interested?”

His left eyebrow lifted skyward. “You already know I’m interested,” he said suggestively.

Connie punched him in the arm. “I’m talking about the show. Nothing else.”

Trace chuckled and reached over her, giving her a whiff of his enticing cologne before he grabbed the remote. “In that case, let’s see what’s on.”

He pulled up the channel guide and scrolled through the list.

“I’mma run to the bathroom real quick. Be right back.” Connie hurried down the hall and once she finished, she went to the kitchen. “I’m grabbing a cookie. Do you—?”

A large boom sounded from outside, and Connie jumped. A second later the lights and television went out. She stood frozen in place as panic bubbled inside of her. Had the robbers found her? Had they cut her power?

Alarm bells sounded off in her head as dread seeped into her body. The house was pitch-black, and a dense silence as thick and heavy as San Francisco fog filled the space. Disoriented, her heart practically pounding out of her chest, she fumbled around the kitchen until she bumped into the counter.

“Tr-Trace?”

“I’m right here,” he said calmly, but his voice still made her jump and she gripped the counter tighter.

“I ca-can’t see you.”

Suddenly, the space was illuminated by his cell-phone flashlight. The room was still dimly lit, but at least she could see him. He moved closer and glided the back of his fingers down her cheek. The tenderness of his touch sent heat coursing through her body like warm honey and almost made her whimper. How could someone so big, strong and powerful also be so sensitive and gentle?

“You all right?” he asked, standing close enough for her to see concern in his eyes.

Connie gave a small laugh as her insides quivered. She wasn’t sure if she was feeling anxious because they’d been plunged into darkness. Or if it was because of his closeness. “I’ve been better,” she said.

Trace moved in even closer and lowered his head. His lips brushed over hers in a soothing manner, and Connie immediately felt more at ease. The kiss was like a whisper over her mouth, but just as powerful, as if he’d slipped her some tongue.

“How do you feel now?” he crooned, still standing close enough for them to kiss again.

A smile spread across Connie’s face. “Better. Much better.”

“Good. Now let’s figure out what’s going on with the lights.”

“Do you think they found me?” Connie asked, but wasn’t sure she was ready for the answer.

“If they had, they probably would’ve revealed themselves by now. Give me your hand.” She grabbed hold tight enough to cause pain, but all he said was, “Let’s look outside.”

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About the Author

Award-winning and bestselling author, Sharon C. Cooper loves anything that involves romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. Sharon writes contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She’s been nominated for numerous awards and is the recipient of an Emma Award for Romantic Suspense of the Year 2015 (Truth or Consequences), Emma Award - Interracial Romance of the Year 2015 (All You’ll Ever Need), and BRAB (book club) Award -Breakout Author of the Year 2014. When Sharon is not writing or working, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Spotlight: Breaking the Cowboy by Mina Beckett

(Coldiron Cowboys, #3)
Publication date: March 29th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Rescuing love is never easy…
​
Veterinarian Dr. Louisa Coldiron comes from a long line of hardworking, rough riding, straight-shooting cowboys. Her father and brothers are cowboys and nearly every male in the small town of Santa Camino, Texas, is, was, or will be a cowboy. And experience has taught her that when a cowboy gets thrown into the mix, something gets broken.
​
Falling in love with the horses she helps to rescue is easy. Pretending she isn’t falling for the sexy cowboy who teaches them to trust again…?
​
Not so much.
​
After years of roaming, Brody Vance feels he’s finally found a home at the Promise Point Horse Rescue Ranch and a woman he could easily love. But he knows a wounded heart when he sees one. Louisa has more in common with her patients than she’s willing to admit.
​
Coaxing Louisa’s skittish heart into letting him take the reins of passion will take Brody’s tender expertise.

Excerpt

More guests had filtered into the ballroom. Tom McCallister, the local postmaster and his wife, Ruth, were standing close by. Several other couples also had their eyes and ears trained on him and Louisa. Did he want to do drastic now, in front of all these people? 

Hell, yes. If this was their dreaded goodbye, Brody wasn’t going to leave anything unsaid. Gawking eyes and gossiping whispers be damned. He answered as truthfully as he knew how.  “That depends on you, Lou.”

“Brody – I…” The smooth lines of her neck contracted with a quick swallow. “I don’t know where you’re going with this. But now isn’t the time ─”

“Yes, it is.”  Sliding his hand down to her wrist, he gently pulled her to him. “You have to know how I feel about you. I’m in ─” 

“Don’t do this,” she interjected, softly. Holding back tears, her eyes pleaded with him to stop. “Please, Brody. Walk away and let me go.”

Her stark request shook him. Couldn’t she see that he couldn’t do that? He could walk away from his friends, his job at the Rescue, and his ranch for a life in Colorado with his son, but he’d never to be able to let her go. Not like this. Not without her knowing how he felt about her. 

“That’s the bitch of it, sweetheart.” He stroked her jaw with his thumb and felt her shudder beneath his touch. “I’m in too deep to just walk away because of some half-ass cowboy rule. I need a good reason to leave.”

Licking her lips, she nodded. “Okay, then. I…”

He waited. “You what?”

“I, ah…” The frantic movements of her eyes mimicked a caged cat. “I’m… in love with another man.”

Louisa’s confession was Brody’s greatest fear. “With Chris.”

The mention of Chris’s name whipped her eyes to a sharp focus. “What? No!”

He hadn’t expected that harsh reaction, but her denial didn’t help quell his need to know. “If it’s not Chris, then who is it?”

As if cued by the question, Cord let out a laugh from across the room. Louisa glanced his way then quickly pulled her focus back to Brody. 

Brody let out a scoffing laugh. “Don’t tell me you’re in love with Boot Boy.”

She neither acknowledged nor denied her interest in Cord. Instead, red blotches had colored her cheeks as tears pooled and threatened to spill over her bottom lids. “Who told you about Chris?”

Realizing he hadn’t accomplished a damn thing except make her cry, Brody knew he should have dropped the subject and walked away. But the cold determination in her eyes told him that Louisa wouldn’t let him off that easily. She’d be hot on his heels, demanding he name his source. “Ah, hell,” he sighed. “This town is too small for secrets, Lou.”

“That’s not an answer.”

 He didn’t want to lie, but he also wasn’t going to give her a reason to tear into the groom, so he went out on a logical limb. “Shorty dropped his name before I threatened to kick his ass.”

Her willpower succumbed to tears and with a trembling bottom lip she let out a shallow curse.

Brody had never dug a grave, but right now, he felt like he was shoveling his way farther and farther into a hole he might never be able to climb out of. “Sweetheart,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to hurt−” 

“Don’t,” she bit out, glaring as more tears flowed, “mistake these tears for hurt. Just say what you have to say and let’s get this over with.”

Brody had never been good with words and bringing Chris’s name into the conversation had made matters worse. Pushing up the brim of his Stetson, he rubbed his forehead and tried a new approach. “I can throw a saddle on the meanest, most stubborn horses on the planet and ride them until they break. I just dig my spurs in and hang on. I’m that damn persistent when I want something.”

She promptly skimmed a forefinger under her eyes and swiped her face with the back of her hand. “And just what is it you want, Brody?” 

That was a complicated question and to answer it properly, he’d need more than a few seconds on a crowded dancefloor. But the music had started, and more people were gathering around. Time wasn’t on his side, so he had to muster the testicular fortitude to answer her right here in front of the whole damn town. 

Any fool could see that this conversation was going to end badly. But he’d started it. And it didn’t matter if it was now, when half the town was watching, tomorrow at church or Monday morning at work, the question of what it was he wanted had to be answered. “I want a beginning or an ending.”

 “To what?”

 “To us, Louisa. Let’s fuel the fire under those rumors about us being lovers and commit to pursuing that endeavor or…” He paused. “Or douse ’em out cold.” 

She struggled to swallow. “And just how do we do that?”

His heart did a nosedive. He’d been digging a hole, alright, and he’d just hit the bottom. This was it. The beginning of the end. There was nothing but rocky ground beneath his feet and there was no going back. No climbing out, walking away, or waiting. 

He took her small hand and fashioned her fingers and thumb into a fist. “Hit me.”

Aghast, her bottom jaw dropped. 

“Rattle my teeth so hard there’s not a doubt in any man’s mind that we’re over and done with.”

“You want me to hit you?” she asked, incredulously. 

“No,” he said, praying this didn’t go the way his gut was telling him it would go. “But if you do, men will start knocking on your door and you’ll be rid of me.” 

Her eyes went wide. “You’ve gone loco.”

He thought maybe he had lost his mind. What sane man would ask a woman to hit him?

A desperate one. 

“One punch right in the kisser and I’m out of the picture. Forever. I’ll take the job in Colorado and you never have to see me again or,” he said, knowing the words he was about to say could end it all, “give us that beginning. Give me a chance. Kiss me, here in front of the whole town, and let’s really give them something to talk about.”

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About the Author

Mina is the author of the Coldiron Cowboys series and the Rough Creek series (2020 IMADJINN AWARDS FINALISTS).

She and her husband live on a farm in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Along with reading and writing, she enjoys painting, photography, baking, and spending time with her rescue dogs, miniature horses, and donkeys. https://www.instagram.com/minabeckett/

Life in her corner of the world consists of long winter nights curled up by the fire, cheering on her favorite football teams in the fall, enduring March Madness in the spring and walking barefoot through her garden with a cold jar of tea in the summer ─ fireflies at sunset accompanied by a serenade of crickets and frogs, and lazy nights in the porch swing.

Find out more about her books and sign up for her newsletter on her website: https://www.minabeckett.com/
Goodreads booklist: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/18400454.Mina_Beckett
BookBub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mina-beckett

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Spotlight: Unwritten by Alicia J. Novo

Publication date: May 8th 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Books whisper to Beatrix Alba. But they aren’t the reason she has never fit in. Bullied at home and school, she keeps a secret—a power of violence and darkness.

When the spell that keeps her hidden fails, she’s catapulted into the Zweeshen, a realm where all tales live, and her dream of meeting her favorite characters comes true. But wishes are tricky, and behind its wonder and whimsy, the Zweeshen is under attack. A character is burning bookworlds in pursuit of a weapon to rule both stories and storytellers. To succeed, he needs a riddle in Beatrix’s possession.

Now he’s hunting her down.

Joining forces with William, a cursed conjurer, Beatrix must face an enemy who knows her every weakness in a realm where witches play with time, Egyptian gods roam, and Regency heroines lead covert operations. And with her darkness as the only weapon, she may have to sacrifice everything to save a world that rejects her. 

Excerpt

The books lied to Beatrix that morning. Their whispers failed to reveal the end. Instead of warning her, when she stepped into her home library, they greeted her with commonplace chatter.

Through the paneled windows, the morning light fused the spines lining the walls into a multicolored tapestry.

“I need something for Grandpa,” Beatrix told the books. Her voice soared, stretching the way it always did in this room. In response, the whispers broke into an animated debate, their voices hushed but brimming with excitement.

Their conversation surrounded her in an embrace more solid than any she’d received from her father. Not that she cared about his signs of affection anymore. But she had, years back.

Grandpa had been the only person to hug her. Less often since she’d grown up, and he’d been forced into a nursing home. Her body tensed up at the thought, the temperature in her blood rising. If she’d been eighteen—not even two full years older—she might have been able to prevent Grandpa’s move. As it was, the decision had fallen to her father. The unfairness of it made her ball her hands. She had tried everything short of legal action. But she’d been prevented from taking responsibility for her grandfather. Even if she knew better than anyone how to care for him, when his meds were due, and how to calm him when he got agitated. Beatrix slid her hands in the pockets of her jeans—the feeling that she’d failed Grandpa, a weight that made everything else twice as hard. He had always been there when she’d needed him. The worst night of her life, he’d come to help. But once their roles reversed, and it became her job to look out for him, she hadn’t managed to keep him home.

And last week Grandpa had been lost, his old light all but gone. 

“Make it special,” Beatrix told the room. “A fun story. We all need a laugh.”

The library was small and sparse. Aside from an armchair weathered from hours of sitting and a red-gold rug infused with paper must, there was nothing else except for books. No paneling or drywall peeked through. From the baseboard to the twelve-foot ceiling, walls of spines. Thick, thin, gilded, and plain, they gleamed in the sun, cutting off this room from the rest of the house and opening Beatrix’s life to a million worlds. Because Beatrix had learned that books made inadequate boundaries. In her library, she sat in the middle of infinity.

Her eyes fixed on the center shelf, she tapped her foot on the wooden floor. “Come on. Show me, guys.”

With a swish and a rustle, followed by the rubbing of leather on wood, the books began to shift. She smiled, a bit of the old joy seeping in, as if she were still a kid and her mother had just shown her this trick. La guitarra encantada de Sevilla had been the first tale chosen, and even to this day, Beatrix remembered the story of the musician whose tunes traveled through Spain to the girl meant to save him. It was so long ago that Mom’s presence felt discolored and insubstantial. But in the library, the nine years since her death shortened, her mother’s voice growing more vivid and the memories brighter.

Around Beatrix, the light changed, the sun coalescing into a shaft of orange that highlighted a title halfway down the north shelf. With the reverence of an acolyte, she grabbed the book, its warmth transferring to her fingers, up her palm and arm. The power inside her tingled with recognition, and her skin crackled, turning yellowed and porous like paper.

Her vision blurred, the result of a shift in the invisible cloak that shielded her magic from everyone’s eyes. It lasted a moment. When she opened the volume, both her magic and her skin were once again settled, the spell obscuring her power now back in place.

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About the Author

Alicia has a weak spot for happy endings and transformative journeys. She spent her teenage years
in Argentina and Europe, speaks several languages and loves to travel.

An eclectic reader, she grew up on a diet ranging from Lucy M. Montgomery and Jane Austen to Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Raymond Chandler, Hermann Hesse, Jorge Luis Borges, and many classics. She's never been cured of reading a bit of everything and is as likely to geek out about Mr. Darcy as Dr. Who.
​
She is a history and astronomy aficionado, who walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain, completed her Masters in the Netherlands and worked for Google in Ireland. She decided to become a writer at six but took a full, winding road here. Along the way, she learned if there’s one thing that cuts across cultures, one unifying thread that pulls everyone together, it's a good story.

A big-city girl, she now lives in the Midwest, where she occasionally picks apples and pretends witches exist.

Connect:

https://www.alicianovo.com/

https://www.instagram.com/authoraliciajnovo/

https://twitter.com/aliciajnovo

https://www.facebook.com/aliciajnovo

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20323098.Alicia_J_Novo

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Spotlight: The Other Prince by Alice Dolman

(Royal Connections, #1)

Publication date: April 19th 2021

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

After moving to London, Amelia Glendale landed her dream job as a lawyer at the Queen’s Charitable Foundation. But when the queen dies, Amelia finds herself working for her longtime royal crush, Prince Leo – and his stuffy older brother Prince Edmund.

Charismatic Prince Leo was once known for his hard-partying ways, but has settled down and thrown himself into a life of philanthropy. He’s Amelia’s perfect man and she’s sure they’d get along if she wasn’t too star-struck to speak to him.

Prince Edmund has always been the sensible brother and dutiful heir, until a scandal of epic proportions leaves his reputation in tatters. With his comfortable existence disrupted, he sees a chance to build a life and relationship where he is more than just his position.

Thrown into the princes’ orbit, Amelia discover that maybe the perfect man for her isn’t the prince she expected. Will Amelia get her fairytale ending, or will the pressures of life in the spotlight be too much to bear?

This feel-good romantic comedy about love, friendship and tiaras is perfect for fans of American Royals and The Royal We.

Excerpt

“I know it’s been a long day, but would you like to come back with me for dinner? Lucy and Emma are coming over for a post-trip debrief, and I’m sure they’d like to see you.”

“I’d love to, but I promised Penny I’d have dinner with her. She’ll disown me for sure if I stand her up.”

“Are you sure? Am I going to have to get down on my knees and beg?”

Now that’s an image. How am I meant to say no to that?

“Alright, I’ll come for dinner. But I’m going to have to leave early—eight p.m. at the latest. Don’t let me lose track of time.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Walters is standing squinting out the window as the flight attendant disarms the door. He turns around and walks towards us. 

“Excuse me, Your Highness. It seems we have an issue.”

“What’s the matter?”

“There are photographers on the runway. We’ve called airport security, but it may take a while to clear them.”

“Are the cars ready to go outside?”

“Yes, sir.”

“In that case, let’s just get to the cars quickly and head out.”

“Are you sure, sir?”

“Yes, quite sure. I don’t want to spend an hour waiting for airport security to deal with it.”

“As you wish, sir,” Walters responds. He strides back to the door and nods to the flight attendant who opens the door. 

With the door open, Walters walks towards the stairs with Edmund and me following behind. 

“What are we having for dinner then? Have you got your chef on standby?”

“I’ll have you know that I don’t have a chef.”

“But you can order food from the kitchens at the other apartments, right?”

“Well, yes, Helena has extra kitchen staff, so they can cater for the rest of us. But that’s not the same as having my own dedicated chef.”

“Oh, of course not, Your Highness. You’re the picture of the everyman. The public would never question the cost of the monarchy again if they knew you were here sharing chefs,” I say, rolling my eyes. 

No response. Eddie is frozen at the door with his back to me. Oops, maybe that one went too far.

“Hey, I’m sorry. It was just a joke…”

“It’s not you,” Eddie says stiffly. “It’s them.” 

My gaze follows Eddie’s hand as he gestures out the door to the runway. On the ground is a pack of at least forty people with cameras and microphones. There are flashbulbs going off everywhere and photographers and reporters jostling and yelling over each other, trying to get our attention. This is not what I pictured when Walters said there were photographers here. 

Watching the scene down on the ground, I try to figure out how so many people got here so fast. Is this what it’s always like when Eddie goes out? There were reporters following us around in Kenya, but it was nothing like this. They were a small group of pre-approved professionals. Something about this pack is far rougher and more volatile. 

“What do we do?”

“They’ve already seen us, so I say we keep our heads down and get to the cars as fast as possible. You’d better head back to your flat. If they get photos of us going into KP together, things are going to escalate quickly.”

“Right, of course. Okay, I guess I’ll head home.”

Eddie walks down the steep stairs and I follow, watching my feet and trying to pretend that this is a totally normal experience that I am completely fine with. The facade doesn’t last long. 

Halfway down the stairs, the wind dies down and I’m hit by a wall of sound. Everyone on the ground is yelling. Reporters are shouting questions, airport security officers are screaming at the reporters to move back and Walters and the PPOs are urging Eddie and me to move faster and get to the cars. Making my way across the tarmac to the car, I keep my head down and catch bits and pieces of the questions being hurled at Eddie through the chaos.

“Why did you cheat, Edmund?”

“What did Sibella say?”

“Give us a kiss!”

“How long have you been seeing her?”

After what seems like an hour, I make it to the car, and a PPO opens the door and starts pushing me in. As he does, I look up and see a lone reporter with floppy brown hair and tortoise-shell glasses staring at me. Not Eddie, me. “Oi, Amelia! How does it feel to finally catch a prince?” Before he can say anything else, I’m shoved into the backseat and the door slams shut next to me. 

“Camden, is it, ma’am?” the driver asks, looking at me in the rear-view mirror. 

“Pardon?”

“We’re headed to an address in Camden?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am,” he says, his eyes softening. “You’ll get used to it.”

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About the Author

Hi! I'm Alice. I'm so glad you're here.

I write funny stories about people falling in love. Mainly princes and princesses because I'm a bit of a royal family tragic. Also because writing about royalty is the closest I'll ever come to wearing a tiara that isn't made of plastic.

I live in Australia with my husband and three small humans. In my seventeen seconds of free time each day I love reading romantic comedies, watching cheesy Netflix movies and baking cakes which I absolutely do not eat most of myself.

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Spotlight: Over the Moon by K.K. Allen

Release Date: April 22

“My secrets have always kept me safe… until he saw my truth.”

Kingston Scott is the most eligible bachelor in professional football, a charming rebel on and off the field. He’s also in desperate need of an attitude adjustment.

After a reckless night on the town puts him behind bars, he’s sentenced to coach football at a sleepaway camp in the middle of nowhere. He’s not sure he’ll survive an entire month of torture… until he sees her. The intoxicating woman with the silver moon eyes, the reserved smile, and the past she’s determined to keep hidden.

Silver Livingston is the resident nurse at Camp Dakota, a beautiful temptress on and off the clock. She’s also a forbidden mystery to all who know her.

After a decade of living in the shadows of the safe haven she’s created, she receives news that threatens her perfect façade. Silver isn’t sure what to do next… and then she sees him. The new arrival with the body of a god, a flashy smile, and evergreen eyes that burn straight through to her core.

Now, Silver isn’t sure which threat to fear most—the irresistible man she knows she must deny or the inevitable head-on collision with her past.

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Meet K.K. Allen

K.K. Allen is the USA TODAY Bestselling and award-winning contemporary romance author of sweet, sexy, and inspiring stories that evoke emotion at every turn. 

K.K.'s debut romance novel, Up in the Treehouse, was named the Best New Adult Book of the Year by RT Book Reviews, an honor beyond belief. And she continues to take reader’s emotions on an epic ride every single time with real, layered, coming of age romance stories that will make you fall in love over and over again. 

Born in Hawaii, raised in Washington, and currently residing in Florida, K.K. lives for laughs with her little dude, the great outdoors, watching football, dancing the night away, and her eclectic taste in music. 

K.K. also loves connecting with her readers and attends signings when she can! You can find upcoming event dates and other information at: www.kkallen.com.

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