Spotlight: Watch Your Back by Stacy Claflin

(Ariana Jones, #1)

Publication date: May 22nd 2022

Genres: Adult, Thriller

Synopsis:

Even perfect neighborhoods have deadly secrets.

Ariana and Damon moved to the gated neighborhood of Rosy Hills to leave behind their traumatic pasts. Now they have their dream jobs and are part of a tight group of friends. All of that crumbles when their neighbor Rita disappears without a trace.

Now it looks like one of their own could be a killer. Ariana and Damon must figure out who it is, or they risk never finding Rita alive. If they don’t reach her in time, they could all end up dead…

Excerpt

“Rita, where are you?” he called.

She readied herself to run again.

His footsteps sounded close. “Ready or not, here I come.”

She held her breath. Waited.

Had to get the shoes off.

“Rita…”

A shiver shot down her spine.

“You can’t hide forever,” he said, now sounding farther away.

Stomach lurching, she peeked around the corner.

He neared the swings, his back to her.

She loosened the buckle on her right pump. It stuck. Resisted.

Footsteps grew closer.

Now he was heading her way.

She froze. Tried to fix her buckle. Fumbled.

“There you are!”

Heart nearly giving out, she turned.

He stood halfway between the playground and her.

Rita leaped to her feet and ran. Her right shoe clung to her foot loosely, the buckle not fully undone. Made it hard to remain steady. She kicked, trying to free herself from it.

Finally lost it as she darted between bushes. Rough bark dug into her bare foot. Then concrete as she reached the sidewalk. Her hips protested the three-inch difference between her two feet, one shoed and the other not.

“Gotcha!” His arms wrapped around her middle. He squeezed.

She struggled and kicked, barely able to breathe. “Help! I’m being—”

He covered her mouth.

She bit his finger.

He swore at her. Didn’t let go. Pulled her back toward the park.

Rita squirmed and flailed. Scratched at him.

She wasn’t going down without a fight.

They flew to the ground.

She landed with a hard thud.

He crashed on top of her.

She pushed and strained to get out from under him.

“This could’ve all been avoided,” he grunted. “I only wanted to talk.”

“Could’ve fooled me.” She tried to push him off.

“Don’t you see we’re meant for each other?”

Rita almost laughed at the irony of his words. “This is your way of winning me back?”

“You have to see the obvious.”

The truth was clearer now than before. But pointing that out wouldn’t do any good. Just needed to get away. Get her phone back and call the cops.

Had to think fast.

“You think we can work things out?” she asked, and stopped resisting.

“If you’re willing to change.” He loosened his hold.

She bit back a sarcastic retort. Needed to get him to move off her. “What do you want me to do?”

“You have to stop flirting with guys at the bar, for starters,” he said, giving her more space.

Not enough to run.

“Let’s talk about that,” she said.

He rolled off her and started to say something.

Rita jumped up and ran.

He called after her.

She raced to the park. Through it.

He screamed profanities at her, getting closer.

She yelled for help. For all the good that would do.

Her restaurant came into view.

All she needed was to get to her car. Her fingerprint would start it. Thank God for technology. She’d lost her keys and purse somewhere along the way. Hadn’t even noticed when.

She reached her property.

Something hard struck the back of her head.

Rita flew forward. Landed hard on the ground, her car just out of reach.

Another hit to the head.

Everything went black.

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About the Author

Stacy Claflin is a USA Today bestselling thriller author who has published more than 75 novels, including Girl in Trouble and The Perfect Death. She has always been curious about the human mind, and in her quest to learn more, she earned a degree in Psychology. Her favorite course was Abnormal Behavior, which has been useful in writing fiction.

Her love for thrillers goes back to her early childhood when she fell in love with Unsolved Mysteries and America’s Most Wanted. When Stacy was five, she got mad at a babysitter who wouldn’t let her watch the evening news. These days, she spends her free time listening to true crime podcasts or watching documentaries on the subject.

She has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, and as child would often get into trouble for trying to convince friends her wild tales were true. Now she puts her creativity to better use by writing page-turning stories that leave readers begging for more.

Stacy occasionally dabbles in other genres, so as you peruse her library of works, you’ll find some romance and paranormal tales, all with strong suspense elements.

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Connect:

https://stacyclaflin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/stacy.claflin.author

https://twitter.com/growwithstacy

https://www.instagram.com/stacy.claflin/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6591338.Stacy_Claflin

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Spotlight: Just a Little Secret by Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde

Release Date: July 25

He’s not just a bachelor up for auction …

He’s her sexy birthday gift for the weekend.

But will she be able to forgive him when she finds out he’s hiding more than a little secret?

Georgia Brooks had no intention of bidding on a bachelor at the charity auction, but her sister has other ideas and gifts her with a man for her birthday weekend. But not just any man . . . Drew Daniels. A hot, gorgeous lawyer who makes her want to shed her good-girl image and learn all sorts of new and risqué things.

Attorney Drew Daniels is more than willing to introduce the beautiful Georgia to her naughtier side. Their weekend together is steamy and romantic . . . and it doesn’t hurt that a rival of Drew’s has his eye on Georgia, too. Stirring the other man’s jealousy is a fun side benefit.

Their tryst should have been just about pleasure, but Drew finds he’s attracted to more than Georgia’s outer beauty and he wants to keep her as his own. When Drew suggests they continue their affair, Georgia is too smitten to say no. Even if her parents expect her to marry her lawyer father’s right-hand man.

Georgia finds herself falling for Drew harder and faster than she could have imagined. Until she discovers he’s keeping a secret that has the potential to break her heart.

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About the Authors

Carly Phillips is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty sexy contemporary romances featuring hot men, strong women, and emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and lives in Westchester County, NY. She is the mother of two adult daughters and three crazy dogs who star on her Facebook and Instagram pages. She loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. Way back in 2002, Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa and was the first romance on a nationally televised book club. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. For more information on upcoming releases, sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive two free books!

https://www.carlyphillips.com/subscribe-newsletter/

To learn more about Carly Phillips & her books, visit here!

Connect with Carly Phillips: https://www.carlyphillips.com/ 

Erika Wilde is a Bestselling author and is best known for her super sexy Marriage Diaries series and The Players Club series, and has also co-written multiple series with Carly Phillips, her best friend and writing buddy for the past twenty years. She lives in Oregon with her husband, and when she's not writing you can find her exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. For more information on her upcoming releases, please sign up for her newsletter (below).

Newsletter: https://erikawilde.com/

To learn more about Erika Wilde & her books, visit here!

Connect with Erika Wilde: http://www.erikawilde.comcontact@erikawilde.com

Spotlight: Taming the White Wolf by N.J. Walters

Lone Wolf Legacy Book 1

Genre: Paranormal Romance

The lone wolf answers to no alpha or pack. From his first transformation, he knows his destiny: to be both judge and executioner for rogue werewolves. Welcome to the spellbinding first book in New York Times bestselling author N.J. Walters intense new werewolf series.

White wolf Devlin Moore has spent nearly the last century following his destiny: hunting rogue werewolves. His fate is to be the only one of his kind—hardened, feared, and brutally ruthless. Only now, Devlin’s not alone. There are two others. And if that wasn’t unsettling enough, Devlin is drawn to New York City for what appears to be a human…

As far as Devlin can tell, vibrant artist Zoe Galvani is no threat. But there’s something about her— from her unusual eyes that look similar to the same shocking hue as his own, to his growing need to mark her as his that suggests magical forces may be at play.

Now there’s no escaping each other, or the attraction that grows stronger by the second. But no one, especially a human woman, should have this effect on a lone wolf. And just when he’s sure that having her could be his undoing…the truth steps out of the shadows.

Excerpt

Whoever this woman was, she was pure temptation, a dangerous distraction he didn’t need. If anything, he needed to keep his guard up until he discovered why he’d been drawn to her.

She licked her lips again. Unable to resist, he leaned toward her. When she didn’t object, he brushed his mouth against hers. Lust roared through him like a runaway freight train. He almost staggered under the onslaught. Every muscle in his chest rippled as her hand skimmed over it before settling on his shoulder.

Mine! The possessive impulse caught him off guard. Wolves mated for life, but not lone wolves. As the name implied, they were solitary creatures by necessity.

Inhaling sharply, he sorted through myriad scents. Beneath the layers of sweat, liquor, and artificial fragrance lay a richer one—sweet with a hint of arousal—hers. It went straight to his dick, making it throb. Then he caught a darker, musky scent mixed with a hint of blood.

A low growl escaped him before he could swallow it back. Everything inside him stilled as he scented his quarry. Needing to be sure, he buried his face against her neck and shoulder. It was stronger near her back. There was no mistaking it. This was no mere brush from someone passing by. The rogue had marked her with several drops of his blood.

Either she was involved with the rogue he was hunting, or the male had watched him save her life earlier and decided to draw her into their deadly game of hide-and-seek. Whatever the reason, she’d been marked. Rogues chose their victims at random to leave no pattern to track, but this was deliberate.

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About the Author

Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.

One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first romance novel and life would never be the same.

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks--all vie for her attention. It's a tough life, but someone's got to live it. 

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Spotlight: Mine to Take by Natasha Madison

Release Date: July 24

FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED

From Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author Natasha Madison comes a stand-alone small-town, second-chance sports romance.

When two worlds crossover. From the This Is Series and The Southern Series.

Things are supposed to go smoothly on your wedding day.
Aren't they?

Sofia Barnes
I’ve always loved to play dress-up.
Creating fake weddings was my childhood pastime.
Now it is my dream come true.

I’ve finally been handed my first client.
But nothing could prepare me for who greeted me when I walked in.

He was my first kiss, my first everything, including my first and only heartbreak.
Now I have to plan his wedding.

Matthew Petrov
My family is filled with hockey royalty.
From my grandfather to my uncle to my father.
Now it is my turn to work my way up the leaderboard.
I had everything that I’ve ever wanted in my life.
Or so I thought.
Nothing could prepare me for coming face-to-face with Sofia.
I knew her inside and out.
She knew my inner secrets.
Two years ago, I let her go, and now she’s planning my wedding to someone else.
They say time heals old wounds. They lied.
Maybe she was just mine to take.

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About the Author

When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…

Keep up with Natasha Madison and subscribe to her newsletter https://www.natashamadisonauthor.com/

To learn more about Natasha Madison & her books, visit here!

Connect with Natasha Madison: https://www.natashamadisonauthor.com/contact-me

Spotlight: Chopped by Dale Pollock

James Winchell Stone, a 23-year-old upwardly mobile physician in 1850 Boston finds himself called in as an expert medical witness in the most notorious murder trial up to that point in American history. Boston’s richest man, George Parkman, mysteriously vanishes, until his chopped-up remains are discovered in the privy of a diminutive Harvard Medical School chemistry professor, John Webster. For the first time in its history, Harvard sees a faculty member indicted for first degree murder, a capital offense.

Using the new science of stenography, James Stone uses his skills in taking down all the testimony in the sensational trial, which garnered worldwide press thanks to the recent introduction of the telegraph. Stone in effect becomes the first court reporter in American history, and publishes his account soon after the trial’s conclusion. This contravenes legal practice and leads to Stone being blackballed by Boston society.

Throughout the trial, Stone has conducted a passionate relationship with a young Irish immigrant, Ellen O’Keeffe. Together, they solve the mystery of how a meek and mild man like Webster could have killed Parkman, a foot taller and in excellent physical condition. Their doomed romance takes a tragic turn, and shows Stone how elusive the truth can be.

Excerpt

James’s head felt muddled. There were too many possibilities in this bizarre circumstance for the kind of clear thinking expected of him. Harvard men do not commit murder, James thought. He could not erase from his memory the images of that bloody torso with its half-detached leg hanging in the privy, and the horrible viscera in the tea chest. Someone had been brutally killed and hacked into the pieces that were found in the rooms of Dr. John Webster at the Medical College. What other explanation could suffice, other than it was at the hand of the man who sat humming and smiling on the way to his killing ground?

As they chatted, James noticed Webster calmly reach into his coat pocket, then saw him cough. He coughed again, covering his mouth with his hand; the next thing James saw was the professor downing the contents of a small phial of liquid he had concealed in his hand. Webster immediately looked pained. James was horrified. Webster had poisoned himself. Seeing James’s reaction, the police finally noticed that something was amiss. Webster’s hand at his mouth had blocked them from seeing anything.

“Professor Webster!” James exclaimed. “What have you done?” To the shocked constables, he shouted, “The man has poisoned himself, he has just swallowed poison!”

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About the Author

Dale M. Pollock is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He was head film critic for Daily Variety in Hollywood, and chief entertainment correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. He wrote SKYWALKING: THE LIFE AND FILMS OF GEORGE LUCAS in 1983, which remains in print, having sold more than 150,000 copies. Pollock produced 13 films including BLAZE with Paul Newman, MRS. WINTERBOURNE with Shirley MacLaine and Brendan Fraser, and THE MIGHTY QUINN with Denzel Washington. Pollock also produced the box-office hit SET IT OFF, which is now regarded as a classic Black female empowerment movie.

Pollock served as the Dean of the School of Filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and then as a professor of cinema studies. He is an Emeritus Faculty member, and teaches and lectures throughout North Carolina. CHOPPED is his first novel.

Cover Reveal: When Cardinals Appear by Katie Eagan Schenck

The Love Birds Book 1

Genre: Women's Romance Fiction

She has a promise to keep. But when her plans are thrown into a tailspin, will a persistent red bird show her how to let her dreams take flight?

Lanie McAllister is ready to move on. Wrestling with her mom’s death, the young woman just wants to settle the estate and soar off for good to her boyfriend in California—far away from painful memories. But she suspects the lucky cardinal she keeps seeing is trying to send a message when a flat tire puts her back in the path of the man who broke her heart.

With fate constantly throwing the man her mother always hated in her way, Lanie can’t seem to shake the wounds of the past. And when her current love makes a serious misstep and she discovers her ex harbors a secret, she starts to rethink what will make her truly happy.

Questioning her vow to her mother to never look back, is the cardinal a clue Lanie’s true happiness is hiding in plain sight?

Excerpt

“What changed your mind?”

His words brought me back to the present, and I worked to keep my face neutral while my shoulders sagged in relief. Curiosity danced in his eyes, along with another emotion I couldn’t place, but at least he didn’t seem angry or upset.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” I laughed, shaking my head. “Let’s just say a little bird told me I should.”

He rubbed his chin, and a slow smile broke over his face, stealing my breath. But he still hadn’t said what he thought, and that worried me.

I frowned. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“I’m a little speechless,” Nate admitted. He slid his hand across the table, and I tentatively placed mine in it. “And I’m not sure what’s... safe to say.”

I cocked my head. “Safe? What do you mean?”

“Just that, well, the other day, you wouldn’t even consider applying, and now, you’ve applied and interviewed.” He pulled away and ran his hand through his hair. “I guess I’m trying to understand what changed.”

The oven timer beeped, and I jumped up to toss the rolls in the oven, grateful for the interruption. I wasn’t sure how I should answer him. To blame it on James and the apartment felt childish and reckless. Besides, I wasn’t even sure if Nate knew about James. We’d never talked about him.

And I couldn’t very well tell him that my neighbor thought my mother’s spirit was trying to communicate with me through a bird. My joke about it earlier had been more for my benefit than his.

When I returned to him, he stared at me with that same intensity again, and it was all I could do not to fidget. I decided that a half-truth was better than nothing.

“My dad is dead set on me staying in Cedar Haven,” I said, forcing a smile. “And I feel like I owe it to him, as the only parent I have left, to at least see how that would work. I’m not making any promises, but it might get him off my back for a while.”

“Did they say when they would make their decision?” Nate asked, and I breathed a little easier.

“As soon as possible.” I shrugged. “But you know the government. I’m sure there are levels of approval they’d need to go through. It went well, though.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Nate said. “If you stay, do you think you’ll still sell the house?”

“Probably. I can’t afford to buy Steven out of his share of the estate, and I don’t know that I’ll ever feel comfortable here without her.” I took another sip of wine. “I haven’t really thought about that. It was an impulse decision, and I hadn’t expected to be interviewed so soon.”

“I don’t think they’ve had a lot of applicants,” Nate said. “Not many people looking for small-town life these days. I’m glad you applied. It’s good to have options.”

I spun around at his words, and he gave me a wary look. Swallowing, I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry, it’s... I… I, er, that’s something my mom would say.”

Nate sat perfectly still, and I had the distinct impression that he was choosing his next words carefully. All the air seemed to leave the room as I waited, wondering if he was about to reveal whatever secret he’d been keeping from me.

“Perhaps I heard her say it once or twice,” Nate finally replied, his voice strained. “But it’s a common saying.”

I nodded, choosing not to force the issue. The oven timer went off behind me, and I bent to check dinner.

Nate stood and got plates and silverware while I set out the shepherd’s pie and rolls on the table. I refilled our wineglasses, though the last thing I needed right then was more alcohol, and took a seat, gesturing for him to serve himself. After spooning out a healthy portion, he passed the spoon, grazing my fingers. His eyes met mine briefly before looking away.

“This is delicious.” He scooped up a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

“Better than a TV dinner?” I teased.

“Not even in the same neighborhood.”

“You never learned to cook?”

He shook his head. “I’m afraid the most I do is grill.”

A laugh bubbled up in my throat. “Cooking is just grilling indoors.”

“I disagree,” he said as he reached for his wine. “There’s something about burning something over an open flame that brings out the caveman in all of us.”

I snorted. “‘Burning something’? So what you’re saying is, you’re not good at grilling either?”

“Hey now, I said I grill. I never said how the food turned out!”

“Did you learn your skills from Max McAllister? He never met a hamburger he couldn’t turn into a hockey puck.”

“I don’t believe I ever had the pleasure of your dad’s, er, culinary experiments.” His mouth twisted as he stumbled over the words, and I laughed again.

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About the Author

Katie Eagan Schenck writes sweet romance and women’s fiction that warms the heart and gives all the feels. She has an MFA in creative writing from Queens University of Charlotte and her debut novel, A Home for Christmas, was released in October of 2022. When she's not writing she's either drafting regulations for the federal government, baking delicious treats, or binging Hallmark movies. She lives in Maryland with her husband, daughter, and their three cats.

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