Spotlight: Crossroads of Innocence by Danielle M Haas

Release Date: May 18

An Innocent Mistake Just Might End Her Life.

Pine Valley, Tennessee’s biggest flirt, Wade McKenzie, has devoted himself to keeping his family’s legacy alive. A decision that cost him the love of his life when he refused to abandon the restaurant that means so much to him. When Jude breezes back into Pine Valley years later, one look at her has him second guessing everything.

Photographer Jude Metcalf had no intention of ever returning to her hometown, but when she accidentally captures a drug-deal gone bad on film, she has nowhere else to run. Her troubled past makes trusting anyone impossible—even the police. So she swallows her pride and asks for help from the one person she’s ever depended on. The man she left broken hearted when she had no choice but to leave Pine Valley and her abusive father behind.

When Jude’s attacked, Wade secures protection for her at Crossroads Mountain Retreat—a place for wounded law enforcement and veterans to heal. People are in town looking for Jude, and Wade knows one wrong move will blow her cover. He left her side once before, and he won’t make the same mistake again. Even if it costs him his life.

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About the Author

Danielle grew up with a love of reading, partly due to her namesake – Danielle Steele. It seemed as though she was born to put pen to paper and write out the same love stories she devoured while growing up.

She attended Bowling Green State University with a dream of studying creative writing, but the thought of sharing her work in front of a group of strangers was enough to make her change her major…seven times. After a semester studying abroad in Spain, Danielle’s eyes were opened to a new love of travel, as well as a passion for studying Political Science.

After college, she moved across the state of Ohio with her soon-to-be husband. Once they married and had babies, she decided to stay home and raise her children. Her young daughter and son, along with her fur babies and husband, are the loves of her life, but some days her sanity slipped further across the line to crazy town. She decided to open up her laptop and brush off her rusty writing chops and see what happened.

What happened was rediscovering her passion for writing. Danielle now spends her days running kids around, playing with her Shar-Pei/Pit Bull love bug, and typing as fast as she can to get the stories in her head written down. She loves to write contemporary romances with relatable characters that make her readers’ hearts happy, as well as fast-paced romantic suspense that leaves them on the edge of their seats. Her story ideas are as varied and unpredictable as her everyday life.

When she isn’t writing, Danielle is daydreaming about her next travel adventure. Whether across the state, country, or world, she loves to go where ever she’s lucky enough to escape to for a brief moment of time. Luckily, her family has the same passion for adventure and they can gallop across the world together.

To learn more about Danielle, please follow her blog or connect with her on social media. She always has a new story to tell or an all-too-relatable mom moment to share.

To find out about Danielle M. Haas’ upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter here

For more information on Danielle and her books visit: https://daniellemhaas.com/

Connect with Danielle M. Haas: https://daniellemhaas.com/contact/

Spotlight: Stormless by Nick Stitle

Release date: May 17,2023

Publisher: Blazecrest Publishing

The story takes place in Auris, a world of storms and chaos where seven violent Tempests rule the land, wreaking havoc across the continent. This first book in the series follows three heroes who walk the threads of fate, weaving an epic tale of magic, war, love, and loss. Together these individuals will forever change Auris’ future. Empires will shatter and Tempests will be Unbound, but destiny will prevail as the protagonists face their fated ends.

Castien Varic is a soldier and a Stormless – someone without magic – on an expedition for the King. He battles with intense anxiety and panic attacks while striving to complete his mission. Prince Faelyn Titansworn disagrees with his father, the King, about the dangers Auris is facing and must decide where his loyalty lies. Meanwhile, two years in the past, Asteros Silverglade is uncovering secrets behind the mysterious Vanishing that wiped out the Ancient Sects and created the Tempests. The paths of the three protagonists converge in an exciting cliffhanger, setting the stage for the next book in the series.

More than one character in Stormless struggles with mental health issues, and Stitle does not shy away from the subjects of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. He hopes his readers can see themselves in his characters and realize they are not alone. Stitle’s heroes are not perfect, implausible personalities but complex, flawed individuals.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Injuries forced Nicklas Stitle to stop playing tennis after his freshman year of high school, and he realized that was an opportunity to begin working on the story he had been carefully putting together in his head. Stitle began writing Stormless at the age of 15 and woke up early every day to work on the story before school, creating a new fantasy world and crafting characters he could relate to. Incorporating valuable advice from industry experts wanting to help a young author, Stitle completed Stormless at the age of 17.

Stitle has nearly finished book two, The Fire King, and is currently planning books three and four in the series. He hopes to inspire other young writers to chase after their dreams. Stitle lives in Indiana with his mom, dad, older brother, and two dogs.

Connect:

Author website: NickStitle.com

Facebook (nickstitleauthor)

Instagram (nickstitle_author)

Twitter (nickstitle)

Spotlight: Her Bodyguard in Bliss by Freda Ann

(A Bliss Cay Novella, #5)
Publication date: May 16th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Chance McNally is a former Navy Seal and a hot-headed Irishman who’s at the end of his rope trying to balance a new job while raising a difficult teenage daughter alone.

Along comes Riley Cole, a feisty event planner running a successful business, whose carefully curated life is changed by the constant threat of a dangerous stalker. Afraid for her life, she hires the best bodyguard in Bliss Cay…who happens to be Chance.

With Chance assigned to protect Riley, he must assume the role of her boyfriend in order to keep her safe from danger at all times—a feat easier said than done. When the two are together they’re oil and water, leading to explosive situations as they are forced to tolerate each other’s presence.

With Riley’s world turned upside down over the ever-constant threat of danger, the safety this fake relationship offers is something she realizes she’s been missing in her life. For Chance, Riley may be the spark of fire he needs to finally heal from past traumas.

Will the one person Chance never wanted in his life be the one to persuade him to face a tortured past, and will this relationship stay fiction—or can their growing feelings turn it into fact?

(Book 5 of a standalone series; can be read in any order.)

Excerpt

Hearing the gentle waves rolling ashore in the distance, a relaxing breath escapes me. I pull Taylor snugly under my arm, enjoying the rare moment of closeness we get to share while we’re both home for a short leave.

I remember the day we met and smile knowing it’ll forever be etched in my brain. This woman had some serious attitude, and was on a mission to prove herself amongst the all-male team she is now a part of; a team working alongside my own on one of many top secret missions we’d work together on in the years to come.

My fiancé leans forward, looking at me. “What are you smiling about?”

Kissing the top of her head I squeeze her saying, “You.”

“What’d I do?”

Chuckling when she squints, I admit, “I was thinking about our first meeting, you know…when you tried to put me in my place.”

“What do you mean tried? As I recall, your teammates razzed you to no end once I left.”

“Okay, okay, let’s just say we put each other in our places and leave it at that.” She elbows me as we bust out laughing.

Having ‘Type A’ personalities, it was inevitable that we’d clash, and we most definitely did. Little did we know our pig-headedness would force us closer together instead of pushing us apart.

After our commanding officers made us work scenarios together to keep us from arguing, one thing led to another and we couldn’t imagine our lives without each other.

Once our daughter, Emilee, was born a few years later, Taylor requested to be reassigned to another team. She wanted more time in the United States to be a bigger part of our little girl’s life, especially with me frequently getting deployed overseas at a moment’s notice.

It meant a lot to her to try and give our girl as normal a life as possible in between top secret missions and on the job training while in the Navy.

Taylor struggles at times since she no longer has her family around to make memories with. Her grandparents died one year apart before I met her, and three years before our daughter was born, her parents died in a multi-vehicle crash during a bad snow storm. Being close to each of them, she had a hard time managing so much grief in a short time.

When Emilee was eleven, she started acting out in school causing added stress for my parents. Taylor said it was time to change careers to give our daughter stability and to take pressure off mom and dad.

Putting feelers out for a job in neighboring communities, she was offered, and happily accepted, an investigative position with the State Attorney’s Office. She couldn’t wait to have a regular mother-daughter relationship with Em without being pulled away at the drop of a hat.

“So why did you agree to do one last mission before coming home for good?” I ask her. “You know Emilee can hardly contain her excitement about having her mom in Bliss Cay full-time, not to mention how thrilled my family is.”

Settling against my chest, the regret in her words is obvious. “They all but guilted me into it. I was reminded of how some of their missions were put on hold since they’re short staffed, and if we can’t pull this one off next week, some bad things are going to happen. When I explained that my new job starts in a few weeks, they assured me it’ll be a short trip.”

As her hand caresses my chest, I grin. “It better be. I think our daughter told the entire staff at school you’re moving back. Practically everyone I’ve seen the last few days said they’re happy for her to have you home again.”

“That sounds like our girl,” she beams. I kiss her beautiful lips savoring our time together, knowing I’ll be leaving tomorrow to prepare for my next mission.

“I’m really excited about this new chapter in our lives, Tay. My plan is to take leave more often so we can make more memories as a family before our daughter thinks it’s not cool to spend time with her parents anymore.”

She giggles while placing her head against my shoulder and admitting, “There’s nothing I’d like more, babe.”

Resting my head on hers, I close my eyes when gunshots ring out. I reach for Taylor to pull her onto the ground and out of harm’s way but all too suddenly—she’s gone. Stretching my arms as far as they’ll go to find her, I realize I’m not on the porch anymore, but lying next to the bed in our room with blood covering my hands.

“Noooo!” I yell out, the word vibrating through me as if in slow motion. Hearing the bedroom door open, I scurry onto my knees to the side table and search for my weapon. I have to protect her, I have to protect Taylor!

But before I can find it, the light comes on and I hear my little girl say, “Dad, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

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About the Author

Freda was born in southern New Jersey but grew up in Florida. She has loved writing her entire life. After retiring from a career in law enforcement, she knew it was time to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a published author.

She's the author of The Hawaii Series, proudly named from her love of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. It's a three-book series with all of them written as standalone books.

Freda loves her large family, horses, dogs, cat, and close friends. She hosts monthly family dinners at her home in the country, which she shares with her husband.

She loves baking (she owned and operated a cupcake business for years), cooking, yoga, crocheting, nature and traveling with the love of her life.

What helps her write? Music makes her happy! If music doesn't give her the right motivation, she puts on a romantic movie, usually from the Hallmark Channel, which she can't get enough of!

Freda speaks her mind and pushes perfection to its limit. She strives to be her best, most positive self she can be in life. With time, determination, and practice, she believes anything is possible.

Connect:
https://www.instagram.com/fredaannwriter/
https://www.facebook.com/fredaannwriter/
https://fredaannwriter.com/
https://www.pinterest.ca/fredaannwriter/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17264005.Freda_Ann

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Spotlight: Protege King by Lisa Renee Jones

Release Date: May 16

Damion West was the boy who stole my young heart and then broke it. That was a long time ago though and I’m not a girl susceptible to hot boys with big egos who just happen to kiss well anymore. Nor have I kept up with Damion West. Okay, I have. Everyone has. He's the heir to West Enterprises, and notoriously loud on social media.

Everyone knows Damion West.

Just not like I do.

But that's another story better left untold.

It’s hard sometimes to remember that I’m no slouch myself. Confidence isn't exactly my forte but I fake it well. I’ve worked with my parents’ real estate firm catering to the rich and famous for years and I'm now one of the top agents in the country. Blue Enterprises is the name of our firm, which is also my name. Blue. Alana Blue. And now I'm on TV, the star of Selling in New York.

But every family has secrets. Damion's does and mine does as well.

That's why I have the TV show I didn't really want.

Nothing is real.

Except him. Damion. He's real. So is my past with him. But it's the past.

Then one day I get called to a meeting by the studio head, it's all very secretive.

Because it's not the studio at all, or actually, it is. Because his family owns everything.

That's right.

The meeting is with him. It's with Damion West.

And Lord help me, he's now sexier, and more arrogant than ever.

Also it turns out that what Damion wants from me isn't as simple as a real estate contract.

But it's a contract all right.

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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy – a modern girl we all can identify with. 

In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists.

​Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

To find out about Lisa Renee Jones’ upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter here

For more information on Lisa Renee Jones  and her books visit: https://www.lisareneejones.com/

Connect with Lisa Renee Jones: https://www.lisareneejones.com/contact.html

Spotlight: One and Only by Karla Sorensen

Release Date: May 16

You are cordially invited to my fake wedding.

Marrying Beckett Coleman is the best idea I've had in years. I can grant my sick dad’s wish to walk one of his daughters down the aisle, and Beckett has my help solving a custody situation with his daughter. Our plan is to spend a year together, then part ways. Easy, especially since I'm not his type, and he's not mine either.

He’s too quiet and too serious. And while he’s distractingly gorgeous, he’s also my brother’s teammate. Beckett is fake husband material, not the real deal. I just have to remember that. 

Until I move in with him. Get to know him. Share a bed with him. Turns out, the line between fake and real isn't just blurry, it's almost impossible to uphold when he looks at me the way he does. 

This marriage is a whole lot more complicated than we bargained for. We’re threatening to destroy everything we’ve built, something neither of us can risk.

Marrying Beckett might’ve been the best idea in years. But falling in love with him would be the worst.

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About the Author

Karla Sorensen is an Amazon top 20 bestselling author who refuses to read or write anything without a happily ever after. When she's not devouring historical romance or avoiding the laundry, you can find her watching football (British AND American), HGTV or listening to Enneagram podcasts so she can psychoanalyze everyone in her life, in no particular order of importance. With a degree in Advertising and Public Relations from Grand Valley State University, she made her living in senior healthcare prior to writing full-time. Karla lives in Michigan with her husband, two boys and a big, shaggy rescue dog named Bear.

Keep up with Karla Sorensen and subscribe to her newsletter: http://www.karlasorensen.com/newsletter

To learn more about Karla Sorensen & her books, visit here!

Connect with Karla Sorensen: http://www.karlasorensen.com/message 

Spotlight: Guidance to Death by Daniel Meier

Frank Adams Series, Book One

Murder/Mystery Thriller

Date Published: 05-16-2023

Publisher: BQB Publishing

It was cold and rainy, with low visibility. A perfect morning for sabotage. The company jet carrying a Senior VP mysteriously crashes shortly after taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says it was an accident. The victim’s wife says it was murder. Frank Adams, an independent aviation accident investigator has been hired to find out. Mounting evidence and an additional murder convince Adams that there was indeed foul play. 

As what seemed to be disparate events become increasingly linked, Frank reveals a crime of international dimensions. Accustomed to working independently, Frank is forced to call on the help of an old girlfriend as well as a retired DC cop. But unraveling the truth could cost him his life as well as the lives of his friends.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

A retired Aviation Safety Inspector for the FAA, Daniel V. Meier, Jr. has always had a passion for writing. During his college years, he studied History at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW) and American Literature at The University of Maryland Graduate School.  In 1980 he published an Action/Thriller, Mendosa’s Treasure with Leisure Books under the pen name of Vince Daniels.

He worked briefly for the Washington Business Journal as a journalist and has been a contributing writer/editor for several aviation magazines. Guidance to Death is a return to a favorite genre of his, Action/Thriller/with the added intrigue of Murder/Mystery.

Other books by Dan are Blood Before Dawn, the sequel to the award-winning novel, The Dung Beetles of Liberia. Bloodroot, also an Historical novel is about the Jamestown settlement in the early 1600’s and No Birds Sing Here, is a work of Satirical Literary Fiction.

Dan and his wife live in Owings, Maryland, about twenty miles south of Annapolis and when he's not writing, they spend their summers sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.

Connect:

Website: https://danielmeierauthor.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMeier

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/53590968-daniel-meier-jr

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-meier-68000016a/