Spotlight: Heroes with Heat and Heart: A 9/11 Charity Anthology

Publication date: September 1st 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Heal your heart with stories of love and heroism!

In honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, some of your favorite romance authors joined forces to create a charity anthology to raise funds to honor the memories of the heroes we lost that day. Starting in September, every single dollar without exception goes to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

So grab a fan for some heat and tissues for some tears, and fall in love with the men and women first responders in this collection of heroic romances.

Featuring stories by
Carina Alyce
EmKay Connor
Karigan Hale
Lolo Paige
LC Taylor
Samantha Thomas

To keep up to date on the progress of our donations, join our newsletter at https://carinaalyce.com/911-charity-newsletter/

Excerpt

The universe had decided it did not want Fabian to kiss Cassie. In fact, the universe wanted to make things as difficult as possible and drive him absolutely crazy horny.

First, the fire chief’s wife, Caroline, had welcomed them home and put them in charge of playing with her toddler. The kiddo had taken to Fabian and insisted on climbing on him to pull his hair. This game was great for the kid, not so great for Fabian’s hair.

Meanwhile, Cassie and Caroline stacked and passed out food to a steady stream of neighbors that passed by. The fire chief hated attention and parties, which made the entire clandestine operation even funnier. He’d be polite while it happened, but a grumpy bear if he caught wind of it. 

After another clump of his hair got pulled out, Caroline let Fabian in on the secret. They’d skipped the nap today so the toddler would sleep through his father’s party. 

Sleep finally won out right after six, and upstairs went the tired toddler. They were relaxing with Caroline in the living room when someone opened the front door.

“He’s early!” Caroline shoved Fabian and Cassie into a corner by the kitchen and opened the door to block them from sight. 

Fabian was very aware of Cassie pressed up against him. He placed his finger over her lips, rather than kiss her like he wanted to. The dim light made him notice the slight sheen of sweat over her arms and into the valley of her breasts.

They waited as quietly as possible, but it was so cramped, Fabian was having difficulty thinking straight. Her dress was thin, and he tried not to imagine touching her everywhere. 

She wasn’t making it easy, either. She laid a hand on his shoulder and rubbed the sinew in his neck, right next to his pulse.

Footsteps approached their door and Fabian wondered wildly if his fire chief could hear the throb in his pulse through the door.

The door creaked. Cassie and Fabian tensed. 

Then Caroline saved them from discovery. Whatever she said made her husband release the door and not spoil his own surprise party. 

They exhaled quietly and waited.

While Fabian had no idea what Caroline had said, it was more than effective because the talking stopped to be replaced by the unmistakable moans and groans of his chief making love to his wife. 

While it was great to know the couple was in love and very happy together, it was inappropriately erotic to witness the breathy sounds of pleasure.

He wasn’t alone in being affected. Cassie bucked slightly against him, her pupils wide with arousal. 

Fabian carefully placed his hand on her face, running his thumb over her lips. She opened her mouth and bit down with blunted teeth. He controlled his exhalation while he plucked at the front of her dress with the other hand. . ..

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback

About the Author

Carina Alyce is a full-time practicing physician who moonlights as a steamy romance writer and mother of six. Her MetroGen Downtown series is described as Grey’s Anatomy + Chicago Fire+steam+actual medicine. She joined the anthology because she worked for years in the ER side-by-side with many firefighters and EMTs.

EmKay Connor is the author of contemporary romantic fiction infused with quirky humor and engaging characters. Her bright and breezy romances are set in small towns, tropical locations, and glamorous destinations where her heroes and heroines discover passion and fall in love. As a former Navy wife who lived on a military base in Washington, DC, during the 9/ll attacks and aftermath, she believes in honoring those serve and sacrifice for the USA.

Karigan Hale is a wife, mother, high school teacher, and photographer who is highly allergic to poison ivy and early mornings and highly addicted to fountain sodas and true crime. She writes steamy, slow-burn romantic comedies full of sarcastic females and the hot males trying to keep up with them. She chose to participate in this anthology to honor the amazing first responders that not only were heroes during the attacks on September 11th, but also during the recent pandemic.

LoLo Paige is an award-winning author who lives in Alaska and writes full time. Her Blazing Hearts Wildfire Series are action-adventure, romantic suspense stories set in the dangerous and exciting world of wildland firefighting loosely based on her experiences as a wildland firefighter in Montana, California, and Alaska. She joined the anthology because she supports all firefighters who put their lives on the line daily. 

LC Taylor is a full-time educator that moonlights as a romance author. Starting out as a paranormal romance author, LC found she loved writing about Alpha Male Heroes. Which led her to writing about first responders. As a former police officer and married to one, LC found her niche in writing. Most of her recent books have a police, fire, military, or EMS undertone. And everyone gets their happily-ever-after. The reason LC chose to participate in the anthology because she worked alongside police officers and firemen for several years.  

Samantha Thomas is an author who loves to write sweet, clean books, filled with lots of fun banter, good-hearted men, and the happiest of ever afters. Participating in this anthology is a privilege that allows me to honor the New York community, as well as my family and friends that work as first responders, in all capacities, every day

Connect:

Carina Alyce on Facebook | BookBub | Goodreads

EmKay Connor on Facebook | BookBub | Goodreads

Karigan Hale on Facebook | BookBub | Goodreads

LoLo Paige on Facebook | BookBub | Goodreads

LC Taylor on Facebook | BookBub | Goodreads

Samantha Thomas on Facebook | BookBub | Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Finding His Redemption: An Enemies to Lovers Rock Star Romance by Melanie A. Smith

Publication date: November 2nd 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

From award-winning and international best-selling author Melanie A. Smith comes a standalone steamy contemporary romance about a rock star, a former fan, and the real meaning of redemption.

Kristoffer “West” Westberg is just out of rehab and ready to reclaim his rock-god status. But when his return to fame is threatened by a former fan turned rock magazine writer — and huge critic of him and his band — West is forced to reckon with the reality that he’ll need to prove himself before earning his redemption.

Max Marshall is feisty, a little too honest for her own good, and so not here to babysit a fallen rock star. And nobody has fallen farther in her mind that Kristoffer Westberg. So when she’s forced to catalog his so-called “apology tour,” she has little hope that it’ll be anything but a headache dealing with the entitled, washed-up rock star she used to worship before she knew better.

If West hopes to have a snowball’s chance in hell of changing Max’s — and his fans’ — minds, he’s got some serious groveling to do. Will he manage to fake it till he makes it, or will he be exposed as the lost cause everyone is convinced he is? And will he learn the real meaning of redemption in time to win Max’s trust and her heart?

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

Melanie A. Smith is an award-winning and international best-selling author of steamy contemporary romance fiction. Originally from upstate New York, she spent most of her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Los Angeles for college. After that, she spent almost fifteen years in the Seattle Area, and now lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas with her family.

​A voracious reader and lifelong writer, Melanie’s writing began at a young age with short stories and poetry. Having completed a bachelor of science in electrical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s in business administration at the University of Washington, her writing abilities were mainly utilized for technical documents as a lead engineer for the Boeing Company, where she worked for ten years.

After shifting careers to domestic engineering and property management in 2015, she eventually found a balance where she was able to return to writing fiction.

​Melanie is also a Mensan and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and driving with the windows down and the stereo cranked up loud.

Connect:

Website www.melanieasmithauthor.com
Instagram https://instagram.com/melanieasmithauthor
Facebook https://facebook.com/MelanieASmithAuthor
Twitter https://twitter.com/MelASmithAuthor
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18088778.Melanie_A_Smith?from_search=true
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/melanie-a-smith

Cover Reveal: All I Want For Christmas is the Girl Next Door by Chelsea Bobulski

(All I Want For Christmas, #1)
Publication date: October 28th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Holiday, Young Adult

Synopsis:

It’s a Wonderful Life meets Wish Upon A Star in this Christmas-themed young adult contemporary romance.  

Graham Wallace has been in love with the girl next door for a decade. Unfortunately, she’s been dating his best friend for the past two years. Out of sheer desperation, Graham makes a wish on a shooting star—all he wants for Christmas is Sarah Clarke.

When Graham wakes up the next morning, everything has changed, and he’s the one who’s been dating Sarah for the past two years, not his best friend. Graham assumes the wish would have only come true if he and Sarah were meant to be together, but as it becomes clear that he and Sarah bring out the worst in each other, not the best, and as he starts to fall for the new girl in town, Graham wonders if some wishes come true in order to show us what’s not meant to be.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

Chelsea Bobulski was born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised on Disney movies, classic musicals, and Buckeye pride. She’s always had a penchant for the fantastical, the stories that teach us there is more to this world than meets the eye. She has a soft spot for characters with broken pasts, strange talents, and a dash of destiny in their bones. After graduating from The Ohio State University with a degree in history, she promptly married her high school sweetheart and settled down in Northwest Ohio with her notebooks and daydreams and copious amounts of chocolate. THE WOOD is her debut novel.

Connect:

https://chelseabobulski.com/

https://www.facebook.com/chelseabobulskibooks/

https://www.instagram.com/chelseabobulski/

https://www.pinterest.ca/cbobulski/_saved/

https://twitter.com/chelseabobulski
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14554651.Chelsea_Bobulski

Spotlight: Wild With You by J.H. Croix

Release Date: August 31

A brand new firefighter series from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix!

All bets are off when a hotshot firefighter and a homecoming queen whose crown slipped off meet in the wilds of Alaska.

I don’t have time for romance, much less for prissy Madison Glen. The first time I meet her, I kiss her. The second time I meet her, she's breaking into my neighbor's house. She swears up and down she’s not a criminal. Maybe not, but she is definitely a distraction I don’t need. 

I’ve got my hands full with my mouthy daughter and an insanely busy life as a hotshot firefighter. It doesn’t surprise me at all to learn Madison was homecoming queen in high school. 

She’s stubborn, impractical, and she’d win the contest for least-likely to survive in small town Alaska. She’s also sultry and sassy. She’s everything I don’t need. It doesn’t matter what I tell myself though. I can’t keep my hands to myself when she’s around, and she kisses like a dream.

Graham & Madison’s story is perfect for readers who love small town romance, hotshot firefighters, alpha heroes, sassy heroines, frenemies to lovers, hate to love, opposites attract, slow burn, emotional romance with a dash of angst, plenty of steam and swoon, and a deeply protective grumpy hero.

*A full-length, standalone romance.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!

Connect with J.H. Croix:

Website: https://jhcroixauthor.com/

Newsletter: https://jhcroixauthor.com/subscribe/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jhcroix

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhcroix/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHCroix

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3mCNoye

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9972333.J_H_Croix 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-h-croix 

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CroixCrew

Spotlight: Unsettled Scores by Kel O’Connor

A Black Ops agent seeking vengeance...

And the secretive man who loves her.

For three years, Amy Stuart has blamed herself for the death of her sister, and it’s caused an estrangement with her family. She vows to get revenge on the vicious drug lord. The Data Acquisition Group’s newest mission will put her right in the crosshairs of her nemesis. Hired by Hugh Bainbridge IV to discover how drugs are being smuggled into his mother’s charity, Amy vows to not only gather intelligence, but to kill the drug dealer who so brutally destroyed her family.

Yet when she starts investigating, it’s Hugh who holds her captivated, not her quest for justice. A lawyer who wears sweats instead of suits, Hugh has carved out a new life for himself outside of the expectations of his father. Amy is just his type: smart, feisty, and lethally gorgeous. But can she handle all his secrets?

As Amy gets closer to the cold-blooded murderer from her past, she’ll have to choose between revenge and love—for time is running out.

About the Author

Kel O'Connor lives with her husband in the mountains of North Carolina. They have two young-adult offspring and many animals- both wild and tame. In addition to reading and writing, she adores coffee, loud rock music, the smell of old books, and subversive humor. You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook and at keloconnor.com.

Connect:

Website: http://keloconnor.com

Spotlight: Have You Seen Me? by Alexandrea Weis

Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication date: August 17th 2021
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Lindsey Gillett is missing.

And she’s not the first girl at Waverly Prep to vanish without a trace.

To help cope with the tragedy, new history teacher Aubrey LaRoux organizes a small student investigation team. But when the members start turning up dead across campus, Aubrey suspects there’s more going on than anyone is willing to admit.

The murdered students all had something in common with Lindsey. They shared a secret. And what they uncovered could threaten the future of the historic school.

At Waverly Prep, someone wants to keep the past buried—along with anyone who gets in their way.

Excerpt

“Don’t let the students bully you,” Sara advised as they walked past a group of girls, their heads bent in avid whispering. “I know you were prone to that when you were here as a student.”

“That was a long time ago, Ms. Probst. I’ve worked for East Baton Rouge Parish Public School system for a year. No one bullies me anymore.”

Sara cocked her head. “You’re still an inexperienced teacher, and this is your first assignment at a private institution. These kids aren’t like the ones you encountered before. Sons and daughters of the wealthy sometimes have larger chips on their shoulders to knock off. Be careful how you approach them.”

Hot anger stirred in Aubrey’s chest. “Is that how you saw me when I came here?”

Sara glanced ahead to the red brick buildings surrounding The Quad. “You came here thanks to a scholarship. The Creole Catholic Society, if I remember correctly.”

Aubrey held her head high. “My parents worked hard to get me here, even with that scholarship.”

Sara nodded. “Your parents were good people. I heard of their passing.”

The mention of the most horrible day of Aubrey’s life tore through her like a blowtorch. The drunk driver who had taken out her father’s car on the way back from an anniversary dinner still sat in Angola Jail, serving out his twenty years. The memory of the remorseful father of two dragged from the courtroom in chains always roused a bitter taste in her mouth. No one had won, as her lawyer had promised. Now she not only mourned her parents but the life of the man who had killed them.

“I didn’t realize you knew.”

Sara sized her up. “I read about the trial in the Baton Rouge newspaper. That must have been difficult for you.”

Aubrey knew that formidable gaze. She’d encountered it numerous times during her four years at the school. It was another facet of Sara Probst that remained fresh in her memory. The school director’s lack of compassion and her intolerance for emotional outbursts were legendary.

“I survived,” she said in a deadpan voice.

“We all survive, Ms. LaRoux. It’s the scars that get us in the end.” She motioned to one of the red brick buildings. “I will show you to your room in the dorms first. We’ve added a wing since you were here.”

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Hardcover

About the Author

Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, PhD, is a multi-award-winning author, screenwriter, advanced practice registered nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable. A member of the Horror Writers Association and International Thriller Writers Association, Weis writes supernatural, horror, mystery, and thrillers. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans where she is a permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and rescues orphaned and injured animals.

Connect:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1211671.Alexandrea_Weis

https://www.facebook.com/authoralexandreaweis

http://www.alexandreaweis.com/

https://twitter.com/alexandreaweis

https://www.instagram.com/alexandreaweis/