Spotlight: Call Sign: King by Livia Grant

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Publication date: May 8th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

He got cocky. Let his guard down.

Now the love of his life is paying the price.

For a moment he’d forgotten there were men who wanted him dead. Men who lived their lives in the dark, who could reach out of the shadows he used to live in, and he’d been naive to think the light inside her would keep her safe.

She was too bright to hide away though, made for the spotlight, and he’d felt warmer just by being near her… then everything went cold so fast.

In a breath she was gone, in the hands of his enemies, and he’d seen first hand what happened to women who crossed paths with the Volkov Bratva. They’d touch her, hurt her. She’d be afraid, suffering.

All because of him. All in the name of vengeance.

But that was their mistake, because in the maddening darkness her absence has put him in, a beast was sleeping… and they woke him up. Now everyone will pay.

Black Sky Ops – Danger for Hire

This network of global mercenaries stay in the shadows, going on the impossible missions no one else will take. The elite soldiers of Black Sky Ops aren’t afraid to break the rules as long as it’s for the greater good — and the paycheck is high enough. But sometimes the line between right and wrong gets blurry, especially when protecting the people they love.

Note: The Black Sky Ops series is made up of full length novels with no cliffhangers and guaranteed happily-ever-afters. Each book is a standalone and the series can be read in any order.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Livia Grant lives in Chicago with her husband and furry rescue dog named Max. She is fortunate to have been able to travel extensively and as much as she loves to visit places around the globe, the Midwest and its changing seasons will always be home. Livia's readers appreciate her riveting stories filled with deep, character driven plots, often spiced with elements of BDSM.

Connect:

https://liviagrant.com/

https://twitter.com/lbgrantauthor

https://www.facebook.com/LiviaGrantAuthor/

https://www.instagram.com/liviagrantauthor/

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/livia-grant

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8474605.Livia_Grant

Spotlight: I Chose You, Imperfectly Perfect Rescue Dogs and Their Humans by Carmen Leal

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For every pet parent who knows there's no such thing as 'just a dog,' this collection of uplifting glimpses into the lives of ordinary-turned-extraordinary dogs and the people who love them is a tail-wagging good read.

Thanks to the rescue dog who saved her life after a traumatic brain injury, Carmen Leal went from saying she'd never have a dog to becoming an advocate for man's best friend. Carmen volunteered at the local rescue shelter by writing bios and social media posts, applying for grants, and helping to save and re-home over 6,500 dogs from a high-kill shelter. This endearing anthology includes stories that celebrate the bond between canines and humans including:

Buddy the beagle who went from living chained under a porch to becoming the town's only therapy dog

Heavenly Joy, the frightened Chihuahua who changed the life of a grumpy old man

Bogey, an abandoned mixed-breed trained by prison inmates and adopted by his forever family

I Chose You is a collection of memorable, beautifully written stories of dogs rescued by people and, ultimately, people rescued by dogs. If you like four-legged friends and happy endings, you'll love Carmen Leal's touching collection of heart-warming stories.

Fetch a copy of I Chose You, the feel-good book that resonates with anyone who has ever loved a dog. 

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Carmen Leal is a storyteller and the author of multiple books, articles, devotionals, and human-interest stories. Carmen relocated from Hawaii to Oshkosh, yes, there is a story behind the move, and has become an awesome dog mom. Carmen and her husband have become reluctant gardeners and know a crazy amount about Wisconsin weeds. She is the mother of two sons, two incredible grandsons, and Coconut, the best imperfectly perfect rescue dog in the world. Learn more about Carmen and Coconut by visiting carmenleal.com. 

Find the author online:

http://carmenleal.com/blog

https://wagawaypublishing.com

https://wagawaypublishing.com/interviews

https://www.facebook.com/Rescuemoredogs

https://www.facebook.com/carmen.leal.794

Spotlight: The Lost Man by A.S. Kelly

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(From Connemara With Love, #6)
Publication date: May 3rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

I left at dawn on a rainy day.
I left as he slept, believing that he’d still find me in his arms when he woke up. I left, taking everything I’d promised him. I took it all, and neither of us would ever have it again.
I left, turning my back on everything I knew, believing I could never be part of it.
I left the man who loved me, the family who raised me. I left my home, my roots, my dreams. I left my whole life behind in search of a past that was never mine. I hurt everyone who loved me, and broke him into so many pieces that I know I’ll never deserve his forgiveness.
But I’m here, now, trying to rebuild everything I’ve destroyed. I’m trying to find what I thought I’d lost. And although he says that he’ll never be the same, though he says that there’s nothing left of him, I can’t abandon him again. I can’t say goodbye to us.
They say that you always find your way back to happiness, but I’ve found my way back to the only place I’ve ever felt at home.
I’ve found my way back to him.

Excerpt

“What are you watching?”
Noel turns his head slowly. I’m glad I thought to bring a set of keys out with me – he wouldn’t have heard me knocking, didn’t even hear me come into the room.
“You’re back.”
I walk over to him and sit beside him. “Of course I came back. Did you think I wouldn’t?”
He shakes his head a little, his eyes roaming back to the TV.
“Have you eaten?”
“I can’t remember… I think so…”
I force myself to smile, stroking his beard.
“Do you want me to make you something?”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“How about tea and biscuits? I’m going to make some for myself.”
He looks at me and flashes me a weak smile, which feels a little like hope; like the sun peeking through thick cloud.
“There are still some shortbread biscuits in the tin on the counter. I made them this morning.”
“You sure know how to make a woman happy,” I say, pressing my lips lightly against his before heading through to the kitchen to make us both some tea.
When I come back into the living room, I place the tray of tea and biscuits down on the coffee table and sink onto the sofa beside Noel. I drape the blanket over us both and squeeze him, my hand on his arm and my head on his shoulder.
You can’t abandon someone you love just because they’re not the same person you met a long time ago.
You can’t abandon someone you love just because they can’t find the way back home.
You can’t abandon someone you love just because they no longer love themselves.
“You have no idea how glad I am that you’re here,” he whispers, his voice uncertain, emotion caught up in his words, his breath.
“I’m home, Noel. With you.”
He lifts his arm and wraps it around me; I snuggle against his body and inhale his familiar scent. It reminds me that, in spite of everything, he’s still here, with me.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

A. S. Kelly writes Rom-Com, Romantic Fiction and Family Saga.
Avid reader, hopeless romantic, lover of yoga, knitting and home baking.
She was born in Italy but lives in Ireland with her husband, two children and a cat named Oscar.

Connect:
https://www.authoraskelly.com/
https://www.instagram.com/authoraskelly/
https://www.facebook.com/authoraskelly
https://twitter.com/askelly_writes
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21195166.A_S_Kelly
Newsletter: authoraskelly.com

Cover Reveal: A Guise of the Sea by Jenna Mandarino

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Publication date: August 1st 2023
Genres: Adult, Historical, Women’s Fiction

Synopsis:

Embark on a High-Stakes Adventure in "A Guise of the Sea" - A Swashbuckling Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Redemption

In a world of deception and danger, Emme Clark must unravel the mysteries of her past and navigate the treacherous waters of love, all while facing a deadly adversary with secrets of his own.

A Desperate Quest for the Truth

When Emme Clark's husband mysteriously vanishes, she must obtain proof of his death to secure her future. But with no record of his demise, she has no choice but to follow him across the ocean by joining the crew of the privateering ship, the Bluebell. Under the command of the enigmatic Highlander-turned-privateer Captain Xander Lock, Emme must disguise herself as a man to avoid attracting attention from the British Crown.

A Dangerous Alliance

As Emme bears witness to a brutal murder committed by the ruthless Commodore Cobbe, she learns that Captain Lock has been hunted by Cobbe ever since the Battle of Culloden. In a daring gamble, Emme and Lock form an uneasy alliance, posing as betrothed lovers to get close to their common enemy. But their plans take an unexpected turn when Cobbe forces them into a marriage, leaving Emme with her proof of death but a new husband in tow.

A Love Unforeseen

As Emme and Lock navigate their unexpected union, they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they never imagined. But their newfound love is tested when they uncover a sinister plot involving missing soldiers from Emme's late husband's ship and the enigmatic Oak Island. As dark secrets come to light, Emme must solve the mystery of Oak Island or risk losing the love of her life forever.

Set sail with "A Guise of the Sea" and join Emme and Lock on a thrilling journey filled with danger, intrigue, and the power of unexpected love.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

Jenna Mandarino (JM) is a historical and fantasy women's fiction writer usually incorporating romance and your favorite tropes. She is a freelance content editor having formerly worked at small publishing houses. By day, she is a Teacher on Assignment and specializes in behavior interventions and is attending school for her Doctorate in Education. She lives in Southern California where she can often be found drinking champagne, cooking, speaking French, trying a new TikTok organization method, and with her husband chasing after her two sons.

Connect:

https://www.facebook.com/authorjmjinks/

https://www.instagram.com/authorjennamandarino/

https://twitter.com/jennamandarino?lang=en

https://sites.google.com/authorjennamandarino.com/authorjennamandarino/home

Spotlight: Over the Fence by Debbie Schrack

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Publication date: May 2nd 2023
Genres: Suspense, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Kidnapped from her front yard in Oklahoma eleven years ago, seventeen-year old Eve Anderson lives a wretched existence in Bell Meade, Minnesota with her abductor, “Papa,” his common-law wife “Mama,” and Honey, Eve’s four-year-old daughter with Papa. Papa keeps the family hidden behind locked doors, boarded-up windows, and an eight-foot tall fence that surrounds their backyard.

Emma Love, also seventeen, recently moved to Bell Meade with her Aunt Vi to take care of her big sister Noelle, who’s in a vegetative state after being savagely beaten by her boyfriend, Jack Armstrong. He is charged with grievous bodily harm, but Emma worries that the popularity and influence of the Armstrong family will keep Noelle from getting the justice she deserves.

When Eve and Emma start talking through the fence that adjoins their backyards, they soon form a connection. Emma finds it comforting to talk to Eve about Noelle, and Eve sees parallels between Noelle’s situation and her own. She acts as Emma’s confidant, but does not reveal her own secrets, for fear of Papa’s wrath if he finds out.

But when Papa decides to marry Eve and move the family to an isolated farmhouse, Eve must risk everything to save herself and Honey. Will she have the courage to escape from Papa before it’s too late? And will Emma have the strength to help her new friend, even as she struggles to save her own sister? 

Excerpt

Emma

Noelle is on the fifth floor, in the Traumatic Brain Injury Unit. Before we enter her room, I close my eyes and say a little prayer. Please, God, bring Noelle back to me today…But it takes less than a second for the hope in my heart to sputter out like the air in a deflating balloon. Because today is no different than yesterday or the day before. Noelle’s lying on her back in bed, propped up by pillows, in exactly the same position she was when we left last night. Her eyes are open and fixed on the ceiling.

Aunt Vi goes to her first, murmuring in her ear and fussing with the blankets on the bed. She picks up Noelle’s chart. Her eyes skim over the top page, like maybe she’s an MD and not an archeologist. 

“I’ll just find a vase for these flowers,” she says, setting down the chart and brushing past me, tears in her eyes.

I take a deep breath and approach the bed.

“Hi, Sis,” I say. I do my best to make my voice cheery and bright, but the bile in my throat adds a sharpness to it. I take Noelle’s hands and squeeze them, wishing with all my heart that she would squeeze back. But her hands, the ones that used to fly across piano keys like they were possessed by Mozart’s spirit, are lifeless.

I sit down in a chair close to the bed and start strumming my guitar. If anything can wake Noelle, it’s music. I watch her face as I play, searching for awakening in her eyes, a hint of something besides blankness. She’s still so beautiful. The bruises have faded away. On the outside, she’s herself again, just less alive, like someone put her in a copy machine. The blonde highlights in her hair are almost grown out now. Her sun-freckled skin has gone pale. She has the same brown eyes with the same thick lashes. I’ve always envied those lashes. Now I just wish those eyes would look at me again, that she would smile or laugh…

“How can I ever say goodbye to you…”

Aunt Vi comes back in the room, followed by Dr. Massey. I stop playing.

“They did another MRI this morning,” she says.

My eyes raise to Dr. Massey’s. He’s an older man with sharp but kind eyes, cropped white hair and a beard that goes halfway down his chest. He reminds me of a skinny Santa Claus, except he brings devastating news instead of presents. He shakes his head. Disappointment punches me in the gut, but I ignore it. Noelle needs me to be strong for her. For us.

I stand up and face Dr. Massey, hands on hips. “Okay,” I say. “What now?”

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Debbie Schrack is the author of SAVING SOPHIE, a young adult contemporary romance, which won the 2022 Paris Book Award for young adult fiction. She is also the winner of the SCBWI Haunted States of America contest for the state of Virginia. A former teacher, she lives in Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. When she’s not conjuring dark and twisty plots or hanging out with her family, you can find her riding her horse or poring over travel brochures, ready to check off another box on her bucket list of travel adventures. You can follow Debbie on Facebook or Twitter @debbie_schrack or contact her through her website debbieschrackbooks.com.

Connect:

https://www.debbieschrackbooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/debbie.schrack.7

https://twitter.com/debbie_schrack

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22379775.Debbie_Schrack

Spotlight: Hacker In Love by Lauren Rowe

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Release Date: May 5

Secrets. Everybody’s got ‘em, including me. Especially me.

The difference is mine will never be revealed, whereas I can easily get yours, assuming the price offered by your enemy is right and the scales of justice appeal to my personal standards of ethics. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. The thing that’s not so easy for a shy guy like me? Finding Ms. Right and locking her down.

Speaking of Ms. Right, the very night I was set up with Hannah Milliken by our mutual friend, I knew I’d one day kneel before her with a ring in hand. Hannah’s the kind of girl who’ll gleefully dance like a gorilla with me in the coolest nightclub or belt out a karaoke duet from Grease like her very life depends on it. She’s gorgeous, too. Funny and smart. And she even wears librarian glasses. See? Perfect.

I don’t doubt Hannah’s the one for me. Indubitably, she is. I only wonder how a dork like me could possibly land a goddess like her.

Unfortunately, when catastrophe strikes, all my questions are rendered moot. Now that Hannah knows the truth about me not actually working in cybersecurity—as well as the questionable things I’ve done to win her over—will I lose my dream girl forever, or is there still a chance for us to chase our happily ever after?

Hacker in Love is a steamy, funny, heart-pounding, standalone contemporary romance with a whole lot of feels, laughs, spice, and swoons by USA Today and internationally bestselling romance author Lauren Rowe.

Buy on Amazon | Audible

About the Author

Lauren Rowe is the USA Today and international #1 best-selling author of bestselling Standalone Smitten, The Reed Rivers Trilogy, as well as The Club Trilogy, The Josh & Kat Trilogy, The Morgan Brothers Series, Countdown to Killing Kurtis, and select standalone Misadventures. 

Lauren's books are full of feels, humor, heat, and heart. Besides writing novels, Lauren is the singer in a party/wedding band in her hometown of San Diego, an audio book narrator, and award-winning songwriter. She is thrilled to connect with readers all over the world. 

To find out about Lauren’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for Lauren’s emails here!

To learn more about Lauren Rowe & her books, visit here!

Connect with Lauren Rowe: lrowebooks@gmail.com