Spotlight: A Home for Christmas by Katie Eagan Schenck

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Publication date: October 11th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Brad has just one wish this Christmas: to find a real home. Having lost his parents before joining the Marines, he misses that sense of belonging and family. When he meets an introverted flight attendant on his journey to start his civilian life, he wonders if this might be his chance.

After a messy divorce, Shelly has decided the only person allowed within the brittle walls of her broken heart is her daughter, Lilly. At least, until she meets a friendly man who hails from her hometown while working a routine flight. When she learns he needs a place to stay, she offers the apartment over her garage out of the kindness of her heart – and her desperate need for extra cash.

Even as Brad endears himself to Shelly by saving the town’s Christmas pageant, she attempts to keep her distance to protect the fragile stability she’s built since her divorce. But Brad’s willingness to walk the fine line between what Shelly’s heart wants and what her head allows slowly wears down her resolve. And when Brad receives a job offer near the only family he has left, Shelly must decide whether she’s willing to risk her heart again before he leaves her home, and her life, for good.

Excerpt

Lilly’s phone was still connected to the speaker and “I’ll be Home for Christmas” played. “I love this song, though it’s bittersweet.” 

“Because you haven’t had a home for Christmas?” 

“Well, yes,” he said, staring at the tree. “However, the lyrics aren’t really promising the singer will be home for Christmas. He mentions at the end how he’ll only be home in his dreams. For me, home isn’t about a specific place, but more about the people who make it a home.” He turned toward her. “My parents are gone and, as I told you before, my sister and I aren’t close. So my home for Christmas is truly in my dreams, because it doesn’t exist anymore.” 

Shelly’s eyes softened, and she took his hand. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.” 

“It’s not your fault, and I’m not surprised.” He gave her a half smile and patted her hand before letting go. “Leave it to me to turn a lovely Christmas song into something depressing.” 

“But you’re right, it is kind of a sad song.” 

“Perhaps we can make it happier.” He stood, then performed a slight bow and offered her his hand. “Would you like to dance?” 

She raised her eyebrows dubiously, but she accepted his hand and he pulled her to her feet. They faced each other, both unmoving, until Brad brought her closer to him and placed his free hand on her waist. Her hand rested on his shoulder as they swayed together to the beat. 

She was soft and warm in his arms and he detected the faint scent of cinnamon and something floral. As they turned in the limited space of the room, he was reminded of earlier that morning when he helped her into her coat. The way his fingers tingled when they touched her skin. He recalled how the look in her eyes made his heart stop. Now, his heart was pounding, and the air seemed to hum with electricity, just like that morning.  

He directed her to twirl, then caught her at the waist. This time, she was close enough to rest her head on his chest as they continued to sway. He tightened his arm around her and wished this could last forever. For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, it felt like they had known each other for years, instead of only one day. 

The song’s last notes played, and they stopped swaying in the sudden silence. When she gazed up at him, her emerald eyes were sparkling. She was absolutely radiant, the happiest he had seen her since they met. He released her waist, but he held onto her hand. 

With a smile, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it in what he hoped was a gentleman-like way.  

“Thank you for the dance.” 

Shelly averted her gaze. “You’re a wonderful dancer.”

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About the Author

Debut author, Katie Eagan Schenck, writes sweet romance that warms the heart and gives all the feels. When she's not writing fiction, she's either working on regulations for the federal government or binging Hallmark movies. She lives in Maryland with her husband, daughter, and their three cats.

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Spotlight: A Small Affair by Flora Collins

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A twisting novel of psychological suspense about a young woman whose life is torn apart when her wealthy ex-lover is found dead, along with his wife.

Vera is ruthlessly ambitious, beautiful by her own account, and knows how to get exactly what she wants--no matter who stands in the way. When she starts a relationship with a wealthy older man who tells her he’s separated from his wife, she thinks litte of it. After only a few dates, she ends things, but that’s only the beginning. Days later, the man and his wife are found dead in their home, leaving behind a note saying Vera’s rejection had driven him to the horrible act of violence.

Vera is immediately blamed for the couple’s deaths, demonized by the press, fired from her job, and when stalkers and paparazzi begin to haunt her apartment, she flees to her mother’s house upstate. A year later, emerging from a cocoon of self-pity, she tries to re-enter the world, to get her job back—or any job—but the specter of scandal still clings to her. Then she’s invited to a memorial for the wife of the man she had an affair with. As she learns more about the family, and about the couple and their friends, she begins to suspect there was much more to the story than a simple affair gone wrong. In a quest for redemption, Vera soon begins uncovering layers of lies and close-kept secrets held by an inner-circle of filthy rich tech millionaires who will go to any lengths to protect their reputations.

Excerpt

1

One year ago

We met on an app, one of those achingly boring, exclusive ones. White text on a black background. Where you have to work in a certain industry, have a certain type of education, a pedigree to differentiate yourself from the riffraff.

Oddly, or perhaps not oddly at all, I remember the exact moment we matched. I was on my couch under a heavy knit green blanket, my legs splayed across my best friend and roommate’s legs. We were watching Real Housewives—though which franchise, I can’t recall—ignoring each other, ignoring the TV. Classic millennials on our phones, doom scrolling.

I wish with all my might I could do that again. Sit next to Quinn on that olive green couch we’d found in a West Village Housing Works and ignore each other without these ghosts separating us, sitting on my chest. Incapacitating me. Incapacitating all my relationships.

“Ugh, can you move your legs? Mine are asleep,” Quinn whined, throwing his end of the blanket in my face and getting up on unsteady feet, stretching. He padded across to our small kitchen and took out a beer, watched me on my phone, my face lit by the glare of the TV.

I looked up. “Want to help? I’m back on the apps.” Quinn set his beer down and clapped his hands. Quinn didn’t date much. He’d been on and off with his partner, Sam, for seven years now, since we were sophomores in college. Right then they were off, had been off for the past six months or so. I knew it would only be so long until they got back together; they rarely dated other people. It was like they were actually meant for each other.

But he loved to live vicariously through me. Loved to vet and interrogate all the guys who had come home with me over the years, commenting on their clothes, their hair, their smell, to their faces, forcing me to tell every minute detail about the sex, the morning after, whether they snuggled me up close at night. Whether they followed my instructions in bed, asked what I wanted, needed.

So I wasn’t surprised when he plopped back down on the couch, grabbed my phone away from me and began to swipe. 

“All these people have liked you?” he asked, eyes roving over the screen. I nodded. “Damn, Vera, you haven’t been on this app in ages, have you? You have like fifty likes.” I nodded again. I hadn’t gone out with anyone in a few months, mostly because of new responsibilities at work. It wasn’t even like I felt incapacitated by those responsibilities; I just had no wish to spread my enthusiasm for work thin. Dating forced me to spread it thin, and if I were being honest, the whole process of dating made me utterly exhausted.

But now I had a handle on everything. I was ready to start anew, begin the process yet again like every other mad straight woman always assuming the next man will be different. And I was bored. I hate that most of all, that I was bored. My whole life in pieces because I didn’t buy a good enough vibrator.

“So you get to ‘like’ them back? And that’s a match?”

“Yes. If you gave me my phone, I could show you.” But it was no use; he was already at it. “You know, we have different tastes. You keep swiping no on people I think are cute.”

But Quinn kept the phone. “Babe, I have better taste than you. Just trust me.” And I did.

In a few minutes he passed back my phone. He’d only “liked” three people back: a tall, built guy with too many selfies. A dweeby-looking dude with excellent education credentials, but barely any neck.

And Him. Tom Newburn. Older, the oldest end of the spectrum I’d set. Thirty-seven—ten years older than I was then. Square jaw. Slicked back, dark hair. Shapely lips. One child. Liberal.

Within minutes, he’d messaged me. And it occurred to me, as my phone buzzed with a notification, that there was no way to tell when he’d “liked” me first, that he could have been waiting for months, since the moment I’d first logged off the app. And just like that, he pounced the moment I “liked” him back.

Are you a fan of Eyes Wide Shut?

And that made me smile, because that was my answer to the prompt “What’s one thing you can never stop talking about?” And I’d said: “Nicole Kidman’s poison green Galliano for Dior dress from the 1997 Oscars.” It was a cheeky answer for a straight woman to give; it easily filtered out the men who would automatically dismiss me as a “fashion chick” and swipe left.

I typed out a reply. Then deleted it. Typed it out again. Quinn wasn’t paying attention to me anymore; he was back on his own phone. I didn’t want his opinion, anyway.

Yes, but I prefer To Die For if you really want vintage Kidman.

That was the beginning of the end, I guess. 

Excerpted from A Small Affair by Flora Collins, Copyright © 2022 by Flora Collins. Published by MIRA Books.

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About the Author

Flora Collins was born and raised in New York City and has never left, except for a four-year stint at Vassar College. When she's not writing, she can be found watching reality shows that were canceled after one season or attempting to eat soft-serve ice cream in bed (sometimes simultaneously). Nanny Dearest was her first novel.

Connect:

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Spotlight: Dear Holden by Kathleen Maree

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Publication date: December 15th 2022
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

It all started with a letter.

This letter I am now holding in shaky hands that I must have read at least a dozen times already. A letter I felt compelled to retrieve from the public trashcan after that woman all but tossed it away. I know it was none of my business. It was wrong, and I know that. But after suffering through the kinds of loss that I had, my gut insisted that whoever took the time to write down their words didn’t deserve them to be left in the trash like they didn’t matter.

Because they should matter.

What’s the big deal right? It’s just a letter…

But the problem was, my name wasn’t Daphne.

And I wrote a letter back.

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About the Author

Kathleen grew up in the south-western suburbs of Sydney, where family holidays by the beach and tormenting her two younger brothers, was how she spent her early years. But at the young age of 11, when she submitted a short story to a talented writing competition through the NSW schools program, not only did she win it, but she quickly found a love for it as well.

Throughout her schooling, writing was a hobby, along with sketching and various sports. But fast forward to her adult years when she moved to Europe to follow her husbands field hockey dream, and her love for writing surged to the surface.

Her debut story, Cut, was penned over two years where her hobby seemed to lead to the completion of Pennys' world. The rest of the series came the following year.

Kathleen enjoys writing stories full of self-discovery, emotional journeys and of course, love.

Something else she loves is hearing from her readers, so feel free to follow her blog or drop her an email.

For signed copies of her novels, more information about upcoming stories, or to follow her blog, please visit her website www.kathleenmaree.weebly.com

Dream often. Believe always.

Kathleen xo

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Spotlight: Only Mine by Laura Pavlov

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Wolf Wayburn is the devil in an Armani suit. Most women would drop to their knees at just the sight of him. Lucky for me—I’m not most women.

The first time we met, he cut me off at a gas station.

So, I flashed him the bird and mocked his family jewels.

The second time we met, he tried to get me fired.

He took his shot—and he missed.

At least for now.

Wolf Wayburn was an ex-Navy SEAL with an attitude.

But it would take a lot more than the big, bad Wolf to scare me off.

I had ninety days to win the man over.

To convince him that I was the right person for the job.

But spending endless amounts of time with him proved more challenging than I’d expected.

He was stubborn and broody and charming and sexy—all at the same time.

I despised him as much as I craved him.

We taunted and teased and terrorized one another for weeks.

The first time he dropped to his knees, it was to search me for a weapon.

The second time… it was an altogether different story.

I never planned to fall for the enemy.

Because I knew it was easier to hate Wolf Wayburn than to love him.

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Meet Laura

Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost-grown kids, and dog-whisperer to one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after. Be sure to sign up for updates on new releases. Laura loves to hear from readers!

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Website: https://www.laurapavlov.com/

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Spotlight: Wrapped Around My Heart by Kelly Collins

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Publication date: October 16th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Mark Cantwell has a life most men can only dream of—he’s rich, respected, and ripped. There’s only one thing he wants—to regain control of his grandfather’s company. When the chance finally pops up, he jumps at it even though it means ruining Christmas for his executive assistant, Jess Stone.

Jess Stone will do anything for her handsome boss. He’s everything she wants in a man so when he needs her during her family’s annual Colorado Christmas celebration, she doesn’t hesitate to adjust her plans.

What should have been a simple flight and a quick meeting turns into a road trip from hell, leaving the pair stranded in a motel room together in the middle of a snowstorm.

Will Mark take the first chance he can to just get on with his business, or will he realize all he wants for Christmas is Jess?

Excerpt

His eyes focused on mine for a minute, then focused on a paper clip on the floor. “How much is a day worth to you, Jess?” 

“I’m not very good at valuing myself.” 

He chuckled and walked forward to rest a hand on my shoulder. “You’re priceless. You told me you would be when I hired you, and you were right.” He let go and made his way back to his chair. “But we’ll have to put a price on your time and inconvenience. It means spending time with me outside of normal work hours.” 

“That’s a real hardship.” My pulse raced at the thought. Maybe I should offer to pay him. That would certainly satisfy my desire to spend more time with Mark, but it wouldn’t solve my financial problems. 

He gripped the desk. He leaned toward me, with his blue eyes pinning me in place. “This is my offer. Two thousand a day, first-class travel, and the nicest hotel you can book.” 

“Why would you pay me that much?” Two thousand a day was insane. I was thinking he’d come up with five hundred dollars maximum. 

“Because you’re worth it.” Warmth flushed my skin. “We have to stay the night?” 

“You know I like to be prepared for my meetings, and I don’t want to take any chances on canceled flights, so getting there a day early is important. We can go over what I need on the plane and then have a relaxing evening. You can pick any place for dinner.” 

“You’re taking me to dinner?” A couple days with Mark, dinner, a hotel, first-class flight, and badly needed cash ... could it get any better? 

“Of course I’ll feed you. I don’t like my wom—er, my employees to starve.” 

“Deal.” I offered my hand to shake. 

He pulled it between his warm palms. “You failed at negotiations, Jess. You’re not supposed to take the first deal that comes your way. I would have paid you more.” 

My hand was completely covered by his. “I would have taken less.” Feeling a band of heat travel from his body to mine, I pulled my hand back like it was on fire and regretted the move when the loss of his touch was felt so profoundly throughout my body.

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About the Author

Like FREEBIES? Join the VIP readers at http://bit.ly/KellyCollinsFreeBook for members-only exclusives!

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International bestselling author of more than thirty novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again.

Kelly has sold more than a quarter of a million books worldwide, and in 2021 she was awarded a Readers' Favorite Award Gold Medal in the Contemporary Romance category for A Tablespoon of Temptation.

You can learn more about Kelly at www.authorkellycollins.com.

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Spotlight: Servant of the Gods Series by Luciana Cavallaro

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Search For the Golden Serpent

Servant of the Gods Book 1

Genre: Historical Fantasy Fiction 

A true page-turner, in a similar vein to Wilbur Smith and David Gemmell, is an action-packed adventure story catapulting a reluctant hero from one dangerous encounter to another.

Evan has been having some very strange dreams.

The Perth-based architect dismissed an unexpected phone call from an entrepreneur in Greece, asking him to restore his family home, as the ravings of a crank. Until, that is, the dreams begin, each more vivid than the last. A dream encounter with a mysterious character called Zeus sees him catapulted back in time to 500 years before the birth of Christ. 

Evan finds himself quickly embroiled in a plot to prevent the birth of Christianity, an unwilling player in an epic struggle between the old gods and the new, fighting for his life.

The Labyrinthine Journey 

Servant of the Gods Book 2 

A mysterious message. A mission from the gods. Can he turn back the clock to prevent his family’s extinction?

Evan’s new life is in ancient Greece, and he fears he’ll never see his home again. Ripped from his 21st century world, his only way to return to the present is to collect god-saving sacred relics for his father Zeus. But to locate them means braving perilous seas and staring down death in search of a legendary oracle.

During their voyage, Evan and his companions come face-to-face with mythical creatures, fabled warriors, and treacherous sorcery. But despite the dangers all around them, Evan’s deadliest threat may be bound to him by blood…

Can Evan complete his quest before he and the gods are lost to history?

The Labyrinthine Journey is the second book in the fast-paced Servant of the Gods historical fiction series. If you like well-researched landscapes, suspenseful twists and turns, and mythic battles, then you’ll love Luciana Cavallaro’s heroic odyssey.

Buy The Labyrinthine Journey to sail into a Greek legend today!

Categories

  • Gods and goddesses

  • Greek Mythology

  • Time travel history

  • Greek folktales

  • Greek heroes

  • Shield and sword

  • Mythical creatures

Minotaur's Lair 

Servant of the Gods Book 3 

The Minotaur stirs. Evan is drugged to forget the gods' quest.

Evan and his companions are entrapped by the Amazon Queen Antioche and her warriors. Memories and allegiances are tested. The Dark Master's victorious revenge over the gods is almost complete. The plight of the High Priestess is precarious, her health ailing, and unable to rescue her brother and fellow Atlanteans.

The last sacred relic, secreted in the lair of the Minotaur, must be recovered or the Dark Master's succession plans of a new god are complete. The mystical lands of Krete, the final stage of Evan's journey, are within his grasp. He must succeed so his father, Zeus, fulfills his promise. Then there is Queen Antioche, and the precious gifts she presents him.
Will Evan return home, and what will become of his future?

Minotaur's Lair is the third and final book in the action-packed Servant of the Gods historical fiction series. If you enjoy well-researched landscapes, historic characters, excitement, mythical creatures and unique settings, then you'll love Luciana Cavallaro's heroic odyssey. 

**Releases on Dec 13th! PreOrder Now for Only $1.99!**

Excerpt

The sun filtered through the small window, brightening the otherwise dingy room, the beams of light falling across a motionless body that lay in a bed. The shallow sounds of inhalation and exhalation broke the unnatural silence. The woman’s shrivelled and fragile frame, covered by a grey woollen blanket, exacerbated the pallor of her face and her long, limp, dull locks. Her eyelids quivered as the sun’s rays caressed her face.

‘Alexina, wake up,’ whispered a gentle voice.

The High Priestess’ fingers twitched under the covers.

‘My dearest daughter, you must awaken. Your brother and companions need you—they are in trouble. But you cannot help them if you do not waken.’ The speaker paused and then in a firmer, deeper tone said, ‘Alexina! Open your eyes. Now.’

A thickset body blocked the sun’s light and cast a shadow over the reposed form of the High Priestess. Her eyelids fluttered open, sensing a familiar presence. She was oblivious to her surroundings, her ice-blue gaze transfixed by the dark timber slats of the ceiling. Her mind was awash with strange images, random pictures that she could not comprehend.

‘Whe …’ she began, but no words came out. She tried to swallow, her mouth and throat as dry as the woollen-spun coverlet. She opened and closed her mouth, as a baby did when hungry. ‘Wh … where … am I?’ she breathed.

The older woman spun around, startled.

‘Goodness, you are awake.’ She moved closer to the bed and gawked at Alexina, dumbfounded.

‘Where … am … I?’ Alexina repeated, voice hoarse yet clear.

‘You are in the palace of Queen Antioche,’ the woman replied, laying a hand on her forehead.

‘Who are you?’ Alexina asked, the words coming out in breathless spurts, as if she had just sprinted the one hundred stades.

‘I am the queen’s physician.’ The healer stepped back to the table, her hands moving, though Alexina could not see what she was doing.

‘Why … am I … here?’

‘Do you remember anything?’ the healer asked, glancing back at her.

Alexina’s ice-blue eyes clouded. ‘No.’

‘Your ship capsized during a storm and you struck your head, which left you unconscious. The damage to the ship made it impossible to sail, and the winds brought you here to the Isle of Hephaistos.’

‘How … long … have I … been here?’ Alexina asked, her stomach twisting. The odd pictures were now making sense—they were fragments of memories of what had happened since she’d left Atlantis, and of their errand as set by the gods.

‘You have been a guest of the queen for five full moons.’

‘What?’ She tried to sit up but collapsed back onto the bed, puffing. ‘It is imperative I see my brother and companions.’

‘That is not possible.’ The healer moved to the bedside with haste. She shook her head at Alexina and took her slender, pale hand. ‘You are unwell, and if you were to stand, you will fall. First, we must build your strength, and when you are stronger, then you may see your brother.’

‘Bring my brother here,’ Alexina said, her lips trembling. ‘I must speak to him.’

The healer smiled and patted her hand. ‘There, there, my dear, please calm yourself, I will summon your brother.’ She placed Alexina’s hand on the bed, moved to the table and grabbed an earthenware cup. ‘Drink this, it will help you get better.’

With the woman’s aid, the High Priestess drank the bitter-tasting liquid and sank back onto the bed, exhausted.

‘I shall return with food and news of your brother,’ she said, setting the cup back on the table behind her. ‘But for now, I want you to rest.’

Alexina’s eyelids were getting heavier, and she tried to resist the drowsiness that threatened to overcome her.

‘What was … in that b … b … beverage?’ she asked, slurring her words, her tongue thickening and sticking to the roof of her mouth.

‘It’s a draught to help you sleep.’ The older woman’s voice sounded far away. ‘It will aid your recovery.’

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About the Author 

  • Award-winning author of The Labyrinthine Journey

  • Nominated for book awards in the Action/Adventure and Historical Fiction genres

  • Drove her first car at the age of three

Luciana Cavallaro’s alter ego is a high school teacher where she plugs away educating teenagers the merits of reading and ancient history. She often looks for a brick wall to bang her head when faced with disinterested looks from her students. She’s also a historical fantasy and thriller/suspense author, who creates fast-paced, action-packed series for her readers.

Born and raised in Western Australia, residing in Perth, Luciana loves to travel and since getting her passport at the ripe old age of twenty-four has toured parts of Europe, a legacy of her Italian heritage. She enjoys being active, going out with friends, reading and tries to grow her own vegetables. She dreams of travelling again and visiting the ancient sites that inspired her stories, that is when she’s not spending time being an unofficial stunt person and knocking herself out in the process. Visit her website at https://luccav.me/ 

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