Spotlight: The Renegade Akseli Cyborg by Dianne Duvall

Aldebarian Alliance #5

by Dianne Duvall

Release Date: January 23, 2024

𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙔𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹’𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Too many years of hunting psychotic vampires night after night have left Rachel with a desperate need for change. So when the opportunity to travel across the galaxy aboard a Lasaran warship to a utopian planet arises, the powerful Immortal Guardian jumps at the chance. Rachel eagerly looks forward to making a fresh start… until an enemy attacks and she ends up alone in an escape pod so far from alliance-occupied space that no one can hear her communications. No one except a renegade cyborg who shouldn’t exist.

After a grueling, hard-fought rebellion, Wonick and his cyborg brethren settled on a distant planet, where they’ve finally carved out a peaceful existence. The Aldebarian Alliance believes every Akseli cyborg died long ago. And battle-weary cyborg leader Wonick is determined to prevent anyone from discovering otherwise, knowing such would spark the fiercest manhunt in the galaxy. Yet when he hears Rachel’s communications, temptation drives him to speak to her, sparking friendship and a longing for a very different future.

Rachel finds Wonick even more appealing when she meets him in person, and the friendship they’ve formed soon deepens into love as the cyborgs—no more immune to her fun-loving, laughter-inducing nature than Wonick—cautiously welcome her into the fold. But the warriors’ unbridled ability to collect intel uncovers a secret the enemy has guarded for decades, one that compels them to embark upon a mission fraught with danger.

If they succeed, they may end the enemy’s attempts to conquer the galaxy once and for all.

If they fail, it could cost Wonick and Rachel everything.

Excerpt

“The escape pod has landed,” Savaas announced via the private comm channel the Akseli military had embedded in every cyborg’s brain. It operated much like the Lasarans’ telepathy, enabling the cyborgs to communicate with each other on the battlefield without the enemy’s knowledge. “It’s in the meadow at the base of Mount Shojaa.”

The tallest mountain on the planet’s only continent, Mount Shojaa allowed anyone in the watchtower they had constructed in its peak to see clearly in all directions. Savaas and his team currently perched up there, ready to launch heavy artillery if this situation got out of control.

Wonick led his crew from the armory. “And the Gathendien ship?”

“Stationary outside our atmosphere. But they launched a G-27 dropship that followed the escape pod.”

Boom.

Birds burst from the trees and fluttered away.

“It just cleared a large enough swath of forest to land near the pod.”

Activating the cybernetic implants in his head, Wonick projected a translucent map on his visor and began searching for heat signatures.

“The female left the pod,” Benwa announced. Wonick and Savaas had positioned a team near every large clearing that would be visible from the projected atmospheric entry point of Rachel’s escape pod. Benwa and his team were dug in at the base of Mount Shojaa. “She looks Lasaran,” he said, curiosity tingeing his mental voice. A snort of laughter carried across comms. “She just made a gesture toward the Gathendien craft that I’m certain must be obscene on her planet and took off.”

Wonick nearly laughed and wished he could’ve seen it.

“What the srul?” Benwa continued. “You have to hear this.”

Moments later, a female voice carried over the channel. “What’s taking you so bloody long? Come and get me, motherdrekkers!”

Laughter erupted on the channel.

Her heat signature appeared on Wonick’s map, a small red splotch that stood out starkly against the cool jungle she ran through.

He frowned. Her gait was odd. She didn’t run like he and his men did, with smooth precision. She ran with her arms straight out to the sides and seemed to drag her feet.

“Why is she running like that?” Jovan asked.

“Unknown,” Wonick answered. “Stay focused.” Rachel headed toward a much smaller clearing a third of the way to the cyborg settlement. He veered in that direction to intercept her.

“Gathendiens have powered down engines,” Benwa told them. “The first unit is disembarking.”

“How many?” Wonick asked.

“Twenty. And two sedapas.”

Swears erupted.

Sedapas were vicious reptiles with two spiked tails, multiple rows of sharp teeth, and an incredible sense of smell. They would have to be dealt with swiftly to keep the Gathendiens from locating the cyborg settlement.

“Have they posted guards?” Wonick asked.

“Not yet.”

Good. Wonick’s heartbeat picked up. Not from running at such high speeds. His augmented heart could easily sustain such for hours. But because he was nearing Rachel’s position and would finally see her for the first time.

He and his brothers arrived at the clearing seconds before she did. Stay back, he ordered and strode forward a few paces to stand in front of them. He didn’t want her first glimpse to be of armored warriors bearing weapons. He wanted her to see an apparently unarmed male.

With that in mind, he adjusted the strap of his O-rifle, ensuring the long weapon dangled down his back, out of sight.

“Wooooooooohooo!” Rachel cried.

He winced at that and at the sound of her clomping through the forest. What was she doing? Did she know nothing of stealth? If she didn’t—

“I’m waaai-ting!” she called merrily.

Seconds later, a figure burst from the trees.

He gawked. She ran with both arms extended, a long sword clutched in each hand, cutting a swathe through the foliage that even a complete imbecile could follow. And she was intentionally scuffing her feet!

“Come and get me, boy—oh sh**!”

Skidding to a halt, she regarded them with astonishment.

Wonick thought his heart would pound right out of his chest. This was Rachel?

Like Janwar’s lifemate, she had a slender build and was small enough that he didn’t think her head would even reach his shoulder. Her skin was paler than his and lacked the ruddy bronze hues common among Akselis. Her long dark hair was drawn back from her face in a wavy bunch that fell to her waist. And perhaps most surprising, her clothing closely mirrored his own: black pants with many pockets, a long-sleeved black shirt that hugged a narrow waist and full breasts, and sturdy-looking black boots.

She was absolutely beautiful.

“There are people on this planet?” she blurted. Before he could untie his tongue and find his voice, her eyes widened. “Oh no.” Sheathing her swords, she strode toward them. Her brown eyes locked with his. “I am so sorry. I didn’t know anyone lived here.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “There are some really bad aliens after me, and they’ll be here any moment. You need to go. Now.” Grabbing his arm, she spun him around and gave him a push toward the others. “Run. Find somewhere to hide. I’ll lead them away from you. And once I’ve dealt with them, I’ll return and let you know it’s safe.”

Wonick dug in his heels, finding it surprisingly hard to keep her from pushing him farther.

His men stared at them with flabbergasted expressions behind their helmets’ visors.

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About the Author

Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series, the Aldebarian Alliance sci‐fi romance series, and The Gifted Ones medieval and time‐travel romance series.  The Lasaran, the first book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a #1 Audible Mover & Shaker. The Segonian, the second book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a Barnes&Noble Top Indie Favorite. Audible chose Awaken the Darkness as one of the Top 5 Best Paranormal Romance Audiobooks of 2018. Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), “extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Dianne's books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards. And her audiobooks have been awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence. 

Dianne's books have all appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and/or Kobo Bestseller lists.  The first book in Dianne's The Gifted Ones series, A Sorceress of His Own, is a prequel of sorts to Darkness Dawns. A USA Today bestseller, A Sorceress of His Own is a medieval romance with paranormal elements that was awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence and was an Audie Finalist. The second book in the series, Rendezvous With Yesterday, is a time travel romance that won the GraveTells Readers' Choice Award for Best Historical Romance. 

In addition to writing romance, Dianne has completed a one-act play (comedy) and teamed up with an award-winning screenwriter to write a spec script for a new situation comedy. Several of her poems have also been published in anthologies. 

When she isn't writing, Dianne is very active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the psychotic vampires she creates in her books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit DianneDuvall.com or sign up for her Newsletter. You can also find Dianne online . . .

Blog — https://dianneduvall.com/blog

Facebook — facebook.com/DianneDuvallAuthor

Twitter — twitter.com/DianneDuvall

YouTube — youtube.com/channel/UCVcJ9xnm_i2ZKV7jM8dqAgA?feature=mhee

Pinterest — pinterest.com/dianneduvall

Goodreads — goodreads.com/Dianne_Duvall 

Book Bub — https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dianne-duvall

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/dianne.duvall/

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Spotlight: Just a Kiss by J.H Croix

Release Date: January 22

A swoony billionaire romance from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix!

Brainy brings bossy to his knees.

Jessica Slater is brilliant. When she was my intern, she was off limits and waaaay too tempting.

She’s even more delectable now and wins every battle of wits she faces. A chance encounter ignites a fire between us.

It was just a kiss. Just. It nearly brought me to my knees. She’s off limits no more, and I’m not about to let this chance slip by.

I’m accustomed to getting what I want. Except Jessica doesn’t care. She’s going to make me earn her.

Jessica & Hayes story is perfect for readers who love a grumpy hero who gets bested by a brilliant, independent heroine, slow burn, emotional romance with a dash of angst, oodles of swoon, and a billionaire protective hero who will do anything to win the woman he loves.

*A standalone novella.

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About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. She writes swoony contemporary romance with sassy women and 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. When she’s not writing, you can find her cooking, counting the turtles in her backyard pond, and running with her dogs, which is when her best plotting happens. 

Keep up with J.H. Croix and subscribe to her newsletter: https://jhcroixauthor.com/subscribe/

To learn more about J.H. Croix & her books, visit here!

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Spotlight: If I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfe

If you’re reading this, I’ve gone missing.

I close the binder I’ve been writing in, and walk into the living room. As I stare out of the window at your house next door, I think about all the things I stand to lose if someone comes for me. My handsome, loving husband, who has no idea what I’ve done. My family, who have supported me no matter what. This beautiful home near the ocean, where I thought I would be safe.

Everyone says that I’m paranoid, but I just think I’m prepared. My secrets have placed me in terrible danger.

So if the worst happens, this binder contains everything you’ll need to find me, hidden in a place only you could guess. You’ve always known me best of everyone, ever since we were girls. You’ll be able to put the pieces together and uncover the truth.

Only you can find me. But you’ll need to do it fast.

Because if you don’t, all your lies will come to light too…

From the no.1 Kindle bestselling author of The Surgeon, comes an outrageously twisty and compelling psychological thriller that you simply won’t be able to put down! Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Gillian Flynn and Freida McFadden.

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About the Author

Meet Leslie Wolfe, bestselling author and mastermind behind gripping thrillers that have won the hearts of over a million readers worldwide. She brings a fresh and invigorating touch to the thriller genre, crafting compelling narratives around unforgettable, powerhouse women. 

Her books are not only an adrenaline-packed ride, but they're also sprinkled with psychological insights, offering readers an immersive, authentic experience that goes beyond conventional suspense.

You might know her from the Detective Kay Sharp series or have been hooked by Tess Winnett's relentless pursuit of justice. Maybe you've followed the dynamic duo Baxter & Holt through the gritty streets of Las Vegas or plunged into political intrigue with Alex Hoffmann.

Recently, Leslie published The Girl You Killed, a psychological thriller that's pure, unputdownable suspense. This standalone novel will have fans of The Undoing, The Silent Patient, and Little Fires Everywhere on the edge of their seats.

Whether you're into the mind games of Criminal Minds, love crime thrillers like James Patterson's, or enjoy the heart-pounding tension in Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni's mysteries, Leslie's got a thriller series for you. Fans of action-packed writers like Tom Clancy or Lee Child will find plenty to love in her Alex Hoffmann series.

Wolfe’s latest psychological thriller, The Surgeon, will have you racing through the pages gasping for breath until the final jaw-dropping twist, delighting fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

Discover all of Leslie's works on Amazon.com/LeslieWolfe. Want a sneak peek at what's next? Become an insider for early access to previews of her new novels, each a thrilling ride you won't want to miss. 

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Spotlight: Cowboy Kind of Hooked by Becca Turner

Only An Okie Will Do, Book 8

Contemporary Western

Date Published: 01-16-2024

The moment Chance Nash bumps into a sassy blonde at the local bar, he knows she's The One. She might play hard to get, but he gradually wears her down and even learns her name on their first date.

Isla Michaels has come to Oklahoma under false pretenses. Sort of. Although she grew up with privilege, her family life lacked warmth. She recently learned she has a half-brother she never knew about. In order to meet him, she pretends to be interested in one of his horses. Maybe if it goes well, she'll tell him who she is. What she doesn't expect is to be charmed by Chance. He's cute, he's caring, and he immediately breaks through the walls she's erected to keep her heart safe.

But pressure to return home is mounting and Isla's still not sure she wants to spill the truth about her family history. Her deepening feelings for Chance complicate everything she planned for her future. And even though he promises to follow her anywhere, she knows it's wrong to take him away from his family legacy. Isla's decisions will either lead her away from the cowboy she's hooked on or back home to the austere life she built before Chance.

Excerpt

Isla smiled. “My brother’s going to worry if I don’t come home.”

“It’s not like I’m trying to kidnap you. I’m inviting you to an event. That’s all.” She sighed and leaned back onto her palms. “Maybe I should let you kidnap me. I could live the life of luxury as a rodeo clown’s wife.”

“Hey! I’m not a clown.”

“You look pretty funny to me.”

She laughed as she met his gaze. In her denim and plaid, she looked at home in the back of his truck. Like she belonged there with him. Bonus that she loved horses. And he loved her wicked sense of humor. She kept him on his toes.

He ducked his head. “I know you’ve gotta go home. I just wish you didn’t.” The river rippled past them slowly pulling at the banks. A few crickets chirped among the grass and weeds. He couldn’t have asked for a more perfect evening. “A little bit of me wishes I didn’t have to either.” She rubbed at a smudge of dirt on his tailgate. “Maybe I’ll call Rhett and tell him you did kidnap me, but I’m cool with it.” A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I ain’t even kissed you yet.” Her icy blue gaze met his. “What’s stopping you?”

Isla inched closer to him until their thighs touched.

Chance twisted toward her. “You sure about this? Because once you kiss me, if you leave, you’re gonna regret every minute you spend away from me.”

“Oh my God, you’re cocky.” For a second, her teeth sank into her lower lip. Then she leaned into him.

He gripped her waist as their mouths met. Isla pressed against his chest as her hands slid up to cup his face.

She kissed like a lazy summer day—hot and slow, promising more. Adventure and excitement. She took her time, exploring his mouth, stroking her thumbs over his cheekbones. The tips of her fingers brushed into the hair right above his neck. Lightning zagged through his veins. Every bit as addicting as the thrill of dodging the blow of a bull.

Chance sucked in a breath when her hand fell on his belt buckle. “Isla…” She looked up at him, blue eyes sparkling. “Yes?”

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

Her head tilted and she traced the embossed letters on the buckle. “I’m not in the habit of doing things I don’t want to do.”

He swallowed as her fingers dropped below the warm metal. “Damn, girl. You’re making it hard to be a gentleman.”

“Maybe I’m trying to make sure you want to follow me back to Arizona.” Her tongue slid over her lower lip. “Because in spite of common sense, I really like you.”

“That’s kind of obvious. I don’t want you thinking I set it up this way. I didn’t bring you out here to seduce you.” He stroked a hand over her hair. “I wanted to talk. Get to know you. You’re funny and smart. Smart enough to know you don’t have to hook up with me if you don’t want to.”

The smile edged toward a frown. “Are you trying to turn me off?”

That was the last thing he wanted to do. “No, ma’am.”

“Are you shy or something?”

In front of this beautiful woman who was way out of his league? Hell, yes. “Um…” She continued to watch him through thick lashes, but she drew her hands back. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I’m not usually the type who throws herself at a man right after meeting him.”

“But there’s something between us that clicks.” He pulled her hands into his. “You feel it?”

She nodded. “As much as I tried to pretend I didn’t.”

“I think you’re beautiful.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to her neck. “I want you real bad.”

More than he’d wanted a woman in a while. As Isla tipped her head back and closed her eyes, he breathed in the citrusy scent of her hair. “Sunshine.”

One of her eyes opened. “What?”

“You remind me of sunshine.”

“Oh. Thanks, I guess?” The familiar smile returned. “You remind me of a wild horse. A little mysterious, all untamed.”

He shook his head. “Nope. That’s you. Ain’t no way anyone could tame you. And if they tried, it would be a tragedy.”

She laughed before she kissed him again.

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About the Author

"The West isn't won until a cowboy claims your heart."

Becca Turner was raised in Missouri except for a couple of formative years in SW Oklahoma that left her with an Okie accent. One day she was reading cowboy romance novels and wondered why they're all set in Texas. Then she set out to do something about it.

She lives in Missouri with her husband and two dogs.

Connect:

Website: http://beccaturnerbooks.weebly.com

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18341351.Becca_Turner

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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/becca-turner

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Spotlight: Never Blow a Kiss by Lindsay Lovise

In this delightfully witty Victorian romance, a governess spy running away from her past falls for an ex-soldier turned railroad magnate—perfect for fans of Manda Collins and Bridgerton!

The utterly charming Emily Leverton has a dark past and is determined to leave it behind in her respectable new role as a governess. But when she is recruited by a secret network of governesses who spy on the ton, it may just be a way to redeem the dark secrets of her past.

Straddling the worlds of the ton and the working class, as an ex-solider turned railroad magnate, Zach hunts killers for the Metropolitan Police by day and dutifully attends balls at night. In neither world has he met a woman with the brazenness to mock him. So when a saucy governess blows him a kiss he is determined to catch her, never expecting that when he does he will find an intelligent, quirky woman hiding more than her true name. As Zach peels back the layers of Emily’s lies, he falls for the street-wise woman who handles a dagger like a pro and kisses like a mistress. But when his affair with Emily intertwines with his hunt for a killer, he discovers Emily is hiding an explosive secret—one that could destroy them both.

Excerpt

May 1838

Emily Leverton was a hopeless governess. She played the pianoforte with the grace of an elephant, her arithmetic was appalling, and the last time she’d read The Ladies’ Guide to Etiquette and Manners her eyes had nearly crossed with boredom. The only thing at which she excelled was something no gently bred woman should know.

Alas, Emily was no gently bred woman.

Emily handed her youngest pupil a sheet of stationary. Although it was true that Emily’s ability to teach accomplishments such as needlework and dancing was nearly nonexistent, she was an expert in deceit.

“The first rule of spying,” she instructed, “is to act as if you are entirely uninterested in the conversation around you. Jot that down, Morris. You will never best your twin sisters if you do not take this seriously.”

The seven-year-old neatly wrote the first rule at the top of the stationary. Late-afternoon sunlight slanted through the schoolroom window and caught in his hair as if it were a halo and he an angel. Morris truly was the dearest child, which made him an easy target for his conniving older sisters. Fortunately, Emily’s true talents were . . . unconventional.

When he finished he lifted earnest brown eyes. “What is rule number two, Miss Leverton?”

Emily crouched beside him and touched his shoulder. “Rule number two is that you must never base your worth on what others think of you. None of us are perfect. Some of us are not even what we seem.”

The dinner gong rang, and Morris smiled shyly before tucking the paper in his trouser pocket. “Thank you, Miss Leverton.”

“We will finish tomorrow!” she called at his departing back.

Emily spent a few minutes tidying the schoolroom before she set off for the Mottersheads’ library. As the governess of the house she was neither servant nor nobility, which made dinner arrangements awkward. She had solved the problem early in her assignment by retreating to the library until the Mottersheads had finished their repast, and then taking her supper alone in the breakfast room.

Emily stilled in the hallway and cocked her head, her baser instincts buzzing. Had she heard a sound? Everyone should be dressing for dinner, including the latest addition to the household—the children’s uncle, Viscount Charlsburn. The tyrant had arrived the week before and his sour demeanor had the entire estate on edge. Unhappy with everything from the state of the silverware to the architecture of the stables, he lorded over the house as if he owned it himself, his hooked nose sniffing out Cook’s imperfections and his crafty eyes appraising the value of each object. No anomaly escaped his scrutiny, and that included Emily.

Satisfied she was alone, Emily continued toward the library. She rounded the corner and shrieked with dismay when she nearly collided with the viscount, who had to have been walking silently on purpose.

“What is the hurry, Miss Leverton?” he asked, his fingers clawing into her upper arms even though she was in no danger of falling. His oily voice reminded her of her former husband’s.

“No hurry.” Emily’s tone was light as she stepped back, forcing him to release her. “Is there something I can help you with, my lord?”

Shrewd gray eyes fell on her mouth. “Indeed. Remind me from where you hail, Miss Leverton?”

“Monmouth.”

“Yes, that is what I thought. I have a dear friend in Monmouth. I wrote to him within a few days of my arrival. To his knowledge, no Leverton family resides in the township. Odd, would you not say?”

Emily had suspected Charlsburn knew she was not what she seemed, and this confirmed it. She was experienced enough to know when a con had gone south.

It was time to move on.

He closed the distance between them and reached for a dark curl that had fallen from her pins. Emily dodged his hand, but he advanced again. “Stay still, my pet. Do you know how I have dreamt of this moment?”

Emily’s stomach clenched.

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About the Author

Lindsay writes historical and contemporary romances with quirky heroines and happily ever afters. When she’s not writing, Lindsay is reading (probably romance), drinking coffee, and avoiding laundry. Although she lives in New York, she was born and raised in Maine, which is probably why she likes snow so much.

Spotlight: Trusting Love by Julie Navickas

Genre: Contemporary Romance

What does a s’more, a tent, and a campfire have in common? For Ryan Prescott, it’s a typical weekend camping trip. But for Tess Browning… it’s a recipe for the truth.

Tess Browning earned the nickname Little Vixen for a reason. And she has no incentive to play by the rules anymore. Because why bother? All it ever did was trap her in a loveless marriage. Tossing faithfulness out the window, the only thing she is committed to now is her new code: keeping it fun, flirty, and deliciously sultry.

That is, until Ryan Prescott walks in and charms his way into her heart with a leather tool belt strapped around his waist. He’s sexy, smart, and as emotionally damaged as they come. And Ryan seemingly wants nothing more than to have Tess pick up the pieces of his broken heart.

But there’s one thing he doesn’t know about her.

When the details of Ryan’s past heartache come to light, Tess digs her hot pink heels into the ground and will stop at nothing to hide her past indiscretions from the man who stole her heart. Because if there’s one thing Ryan won’t tolerate—it’s dishonesty.

Will Tess manage to keep the truth hidden? Or, will the secrets of a lifetime shatter her one true chance at love?

Best-selling and award-winning author Julie Navickas brings back fan favorite, Tess Browning for her own shot at love. Readers of the Trading Heartbeats trilogy will recognize the flawed heroine but may not recognize the woman she’s become. After all, no one is above redemption. Fans of Lynn Painter’s Mr. Wrong Number and Katie Cotugno’s Birds of California will find a swoon-worthy and engaging romance in TRUSTING LOVE.

Excerpt

Beside him, she released a heavy breath and lifted her gaze. The deep hues of blue sparkled, each eye coated in a thin layer of tears.

“Wait, is something wrong?” Ryan frowned and propped his body up on an elbow.

She shook her head and smiled. Dragging a hand down the side of his face, she paused on his cheek. “This happened really fast, didn't it?”

You’re not wrong.

Ryan gripped her hand and pressed a kiss on her palm. “It did,” he muttered.

“One minute we’re picking out a paint color and the next we’re sleeping together beneath the stars.”

Their relationship flashed before his eyes, each smile on her lips gripping his heart as affection and desire built within his soul.

“It may have been fast, but that doesn’t make it any less real for me.”

A single tear slid down her cheek and dripped onto his arm. It rolled, falling to the blankets and dissolving into the material.

“It’s real for me, too.” She sniffled. “Maybe too real.”

A twinge gripped his gut. “What’s that mean?”

“Like, when is the other shoe going to drop?” She snorted. “When does the dream end, or the bubble burst?”

Just as cynical as me. You’ve been hurt just as bad, haven’t you?

Ryan sat up and reached for her sandals in the corner of the tent.

“What’re you doing?”

He pressed the first shoe into his chest. “I promise, I won’t drop it.” Holding the second sandal out to her, he placed it in her hands and guided it to her chest. “If you won’t.”

Her smile melted his heart. Eyeing a blonde curl falling in her face, he tucked it behind her ear as a shiver zipped along his spine—inspiration striking once more. “How about another adventure this morning, Ms. Browning?”

“Clothes on or off?”

With a wink, he pressed a kiss on her forehead. “That’ll be your choice.”

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About the Author

Julie Navickas is an award-winning, nationally recognized contemporary romance novelist, known for her keen ability to tell heart-wrenching, second-chance love stories through relatable characters with humility, humor, and heroism. She is also an award-winning university instructor and serves as the executive director of The Writing Champions Project. Julie earned master’s degrees in both organizational communication and English studies with an emphasis in book history, as well as a bachelor’s degree in public relations, graduating cum laude from Illinois State University. 

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