Dating Rules by Keeley Holmes
Give a warm welcome to Keeley Holmes, author of Dating Rules – Book two in Serendipity Series.
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Keeley Holmes and her Dating Rules.
Are you ready for this?” Daniel asked as he handed me a gun. He was grinning
like an idiot, the green of his eyes twinkling.
passed me a gun? Did they seriously believe I would take part in this?
Parker looked at me only once and then addressed all of my friends.
shocked to see her here.
so it should be fun.”
why would a date include everyone else? Unless he didn’t want to be alone with
me? And, importantly, why would a date include the pain from getting shot?
up, men against the women and see who are the strongest.”
the ground.”
them. I was surprised to see Frank here; I was shocked that he could get away
from Daniel’s evil aunt long enough to be here. I didn’t know the other man in
the group but his eyes were as red as rubies as he focused on Parker. His
purple hair was already squashed under the helmet. Strange colours for eyes and
hair, but it suited him.
throwing a helmet my way.
and I guess the one rule is to try and aim above the groin.”
at Malcolm. I’d seen Lacey flirt of course, but not like this. There was an
anger behind that smile. Some flirt. More anger. Who was this man, and what had
he done to my friend? He was the man crisis she was going through. “And you are?” I asked.
family friend,” Daniel informed me.
Lacey?
groin if you agree not to hit my tits,” Lacey told him.
could get quite hard.”
it did get hard…” Lacey mocked.
Cock talk, already… Jesus.
but he didn’t say anything.
tits take up half your body, where are we going to hit?”
Learn to cover it otherwise you won’t be using it.”
sheepishly.
all you get. I know you, you’ll continue to fire at my dick because you love it
so much.” He aimed that comment at me.
and shuddered.
Agreed?”
“Watch me kick arse out there.”
finger and turned to them. “Right, they might be stronger than us physically,
but we’re more cunning… we could use that…but then, this is shooting and
men can shoot and they’re stronger… Shit.”
at anything and everything that moves,” I hissed.
whistle. It blew, and the shooting started.
area. Balls whizzed past my head. A thought that should never enter one’s mind,
but it made me grin.
on the floor holding her leg and rocking back and forth trying to throw off the
pain. If it hurt that bad, I wasn’t going to get hit.
obstacle I’d hidden behind. I could see a leg near a pile of tires. How did I know
who those legs belonged to? It could be one of the girls… I breathed deeply, my
eyes surveying the area. Red showed as the leg moved. Red coat. That meant it
was Mark.
pulled the trigger.
from her hiding spot.
duck and run for cover behind a tree.
actually made my legs feel numb. How the hell did you run on jelly legs?
fucking terrifying…and strangely exhilarating.
my gun at a very open Jake. I fired. It hit the mark, dead centre in his chest.
“Sweet Jesus!”
hid behind the tree, grinning as Lacey and Jake left the area.
screamed and then seconds later, Malcolm cursed. They were dropping like flies
and this meant I had a chance of winning.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Dating Rules!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Dating Rules, Keeley Holmes, Romantic Comedy, Serendipity Series by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Kathryn Knight Author of Dangerous Currents
Give a warm welcome to Kathryn Knight author of Dangerous Currents a romantic suspense, available for pre-order, release date May 3. 2018!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Kathryn Knights and her Dangerous Currents.
Tell us a little about your new release Dangerous currents.
When a costly mistake ends Malorie Montgomery’s career, she returns to Cape Cod in search of a fresh start. But her plans for a new—and quiet—life are quickly derailed when she makes a grisly discovery in the woods, and her screams bring the one person from her past she’d hoped to avoid. Dean Slater, the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart in high school, now lives in the beachfront community that was supposed to be her haven…and he’s just as hot as he was six years ago.
With his rough background, Dean always knew he wasn’t good enough for the kind, intelligent beauty who claimed his heart, but somehow he’d believed their love was strong enough to survive anything—until the tragic night she turned her back on him when he needed her trust the most. Despite their painful history, Dean can’t resist the instinct to protect her, especially when it becomes apparent there’s a killer in their town.
Their former chemistry soon reignites, but Malorie has long accepted that her dark family secret has destined her to a life alone. And when she uncovers evidence that makes her the killer’s target, a deadly confrontation threatens to destroy any possibility of a second chance.
How about a sneak peek between the page of Dangerous Currents?
He took a step closer, eliminating the small distance between them. “I wasn’t about to let him hurt you.” He paused, his strained expression revealing an internal struggle. Clenching his jaw, he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, their green depths flashed with something like defiance, and he cursed under his breath. “The thing is,” he finally continued, his tone rough with barely harnessed emotion, “I still feel…protective of you. I want to keep you safe.”
Her lungs stopped working. Alarm bells jangled in a distant part of her mind as he leaned over her. This was dangerous. She was dangerous. Swallowing past the knot in her throat, she forced the words out. “You don’t need to feel that way.”
His hands gripped her shoulders, setting her skin on fire. He lowered his head, bringing his lips inches from hers. “I don’t think I can control it.”
She couldn’t move. She simply didn’t have the willpower—or the desire—to stop this from happening. Every cell in her body was clamoring with need for him; it was a force of its own. All coherent thought fled as the moment stretched out in an agonizing slide toward the inevitable.
You can find Dangerous Currents at Amazon Barnes and Noble itunes Kobo
About the author
Kathryn Knight spends a great deal of time in her fictional world, where mundane chores don’t exist and daily life involves steamy romance, dangerous secrets, and spooky suspense. Her novels are award-winning #1 Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestsellers and RomCon Reader-Rated picks. When she’s not reading or writing, Kathryn spends her time catching up on those mundane chores, driving kids around, and teaching fitness classes. She lives on beautiful Cape Cod with her husband, their two sons, and a number of rescued pets. Please visit her at www.kathrynknightbooks.blogspot.com.
Author Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathrynKnightbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/k_knightbooks
Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/dmzSs1
Blog: http://kathrynknightbooks.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6477115.Kathryn_Knight
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Knight/e/B00919ENJA
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathryn-knight
It was wonderful having you with us today. I just finished Gull Harbor, it was wonderful, and look forward to reading your latest release Dangerous Currents! Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Dangerous Currents, Kathryn Knight, romantic suspense by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Avenged by a Highland Laird by Sky Purington
Click on cover to read more or purchase.
A sneak peek between the pages of Avenged by a Highland Laird.
She didn’t miss the flash of disappointment in his eyes before he managed a small nod and held out his hand. “Aye then, lass, step around me.”
Jessie clenched her teeth, disappointed that the small bridge they had built was so swiftly knocked down. That he was so quick to dislike her again. But that wasn’t to be worried about right now.
Well aware time was running out, she carefully turned, so she was facing the wall, took his hand, and began moving. Step by step, she made her way along the ledge to the point where they would have to share a space.
She met his pale golden eyes and tried to ignore the flustered way they made her feel. “Are you ready for me to pass?”
“I am,” he lied.
She could tell by his guarded expression he was nowhere near ready. Not because he was a coward but because he was aware of his effect on her. More so, how much he liked it. His wariness had nothing to do with plummeting to their death but allowing her close enough that she could pass. Feeling the heat of her skin.
So a bridge might have been knocked down, but something else was taking its place. She worked to steady her breathing at the quickly escalating attraction between them. Now was most certainly not the time.
Yet she had known this would likely happen, didn’t she? That it would be unavoidable. At least for her. How else could it be considering the secrets she still kept? Secrets she was foolish enough to have thought she could keep from him for his own safety. But then she had very little real-life practice when it came to attraction. Especially the sort she felt being so close to Bryce. He was the real thing and far more then she anticipated.
However, now definitely wasn’t the time for a chat about deep dark secrets that would only upset him further.
They needed to keep moving.
Though tempted to close her eyes so she didn’t drown in those piercing golden orbs of his again, she kept them open and made her move. With her hand braced on the left side of his waist, she began moving along the front of him. She was halfway across and directly in front of him when he touched the side of her waist, lowered his lips close to her ear and whispered, “Dinnae move, lass.”
His words floated through her mind. “There is a stranger standing across the way.”
“I feel him,” she responded as her eyes rose to his. “He doesn’t see us yet.”
Though she thought it was her breath that caught when they’re eyes met, it might have been his. Alarmed by the impact of being this close, she nearly teetered back, but his arm slipped around and pulled her even closer.
Unable to breathe at all now, she didn’t look away. She couldn’t if she wanted to. “Let me go, and I’ll hide us without him knowing.”
Unmistakable heat gathered in his eyes. Heat and desire he warred to contain, but she saw it…then she felt it as his arm tightened. The pale gold flecks in his thickly lashed eyes only grew brighter with curiosity. While she could tell herself that he simply wondered how she would get them out of this, she knew better. His curiosity was entirely focused on the strong chemistry between them.
Despite the waterfall’s intense spray and the fact an enemy could very well be staring at them right now, she was human enough to get caught up in what was happening between them. How it felt to finally be pressed against his long, hard body.
To finally lay her hands on the physical form of someone she had known for so long.
“No,” she whispered, suddenly frightened as heat swept through her. “Not now. Not yet.” She swallowed hard and shook her head, suddenly lost in memories. No matter how real this might be, she had long trained herself that she couldn’t trust lustful feelings when it came to him. That she should not indulge in them. “Let me go. Please.”
Though her response could simply be that of a woman choosing to reject what flared between them, he seemed to sense there was more to it. His arousal turned to protectiveness as his brow furrowed in determination and his grip tightened ever so slightly. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was inherently responding to her past. To those moments he was so much a part of without ever knowing.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Avenged by a Highland Laird!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Avenged by a Highland Laird, fantasy, MacLonain Series, Romance, Sky Purington, Time travel by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview Abigail Drake -The Enchanted Garden Cafe
My youngest son is a singer. He was once invited to perform at an acoustic night being held in a smoothie bar in an area of Pittsburgh called the South Side. A funky little place called “The Enchanted Garden,” it was basically an old house that had been converted into a shop and smoothie bar. A small garden containing a few benches and plants, was located in the back, hence the name. It has since closed, and I only spent a few hours in this place, but as soon as I stepped inside, the wheels started turning in my head. I could imagine the characters so clearly, and felt compelled to tell their story. Several are based on actual people I met that night at the smoothie bar. Others were inspired by people I met at various places and times in my life, and some have elements of people I consider to be close personal friends. The location was pivotal, however, so much so that I feel it’s kind of a character in my book. What an impact one night spent listening to music in a smoothie bar made in my life! That proves you just never know when the muse will strike.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
I’m going to tell you a little secret. I don’t believe in writer’s block. There are always times when a writer struggles with something – be it plot, or a character arc, or even the name of a book. With the right tools and the right attitude, however, these problems can be easily over come.
How? Well, let me tell you.
First of all, if I’m ever having trouble with something in my writing, I meditate. I have guided meditations for writers created by my very dear friend, Madhu Wangu. When I’m stuck, I listen to one of Madhu’s meditations, and then I get back to work. Somehow, during the meditation, everything becomes clear, and the problems are solved.
The other option? I go for a long walk in the woods with my dog. He’s a Labrador retriever, which is the opposite of a Zen experience, but the quiet of the forest has a soothing affect on me. Also, physical activity is good for the body, good for the brain, and very good for a person’s mental health.
Another tip: If you’re stressed about starting a new chapter, focus instead on reviewing and editing the last chapter you worked on. When I take the pressure off, and try to do something as basic as just rereading and editing, I usually figure out what to do in the next chapter with very little pressure, and less time wasted.
For really big issues, call upon your friends (especially your writer friends) to help you. Sometimes, just the act of talking about the problem helps you figure out the solution. It’s like magic.
Do you find it easier to write from a male or female point of view? Why?
Most of my books are in first person, and from a female point of view. I like getting into the head of my characters, and figuring out what makes them tick. It feels more personal to me, and it gives me a better connection to what I’m writing. That being said, often it’s helpful, especially in romance to be able to have the perspective of both main characters. One of my young adult books, “The Bodyguard” (published under the name Wende Dikec), is in third person with alternating perspectives. One of my new adults books, “Sophie and Jake” (published under my pen name, Abigail Drake), is in first person with alternating perspectives. It’s interesting for me to experiment with this, and who knows? Maybe I’ll write from the male point of view eventually. I do have three sons. I kind of know how men think at this point!
If writing is your first passion, what is your second?
I studied Japanese and Economics in college, and lived abroad for many years. I lived in Nagoya, Japan for three years, and then in Istanbul, Turkey for three years (my husband is Turkish). I love to travel and explore other cultures, and I love learning new languages. I speak three (Japanese, Turkish, and English). My husband speaks four, and we love exploring new places together.
Other things I enjoy – as I said above, we have a Labrador retriever named Capone. I blog about him, and he’s become a bit of a local celebrity. My blog is on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/caponethewonderdog/ ), and it’s been a fun way to talk about the crazy things my dog did as a puppy. Lately, however, it’s become something else as well. I’ve been working with our local humane society to post twice a week about dogs and cats available for adoption at our local shelter. Quite a few animals have found a permanent home because of it, and that makes me very proud.
Falling in love is like baking.
Results may vary with experience.
~Aunt Francesca~
Chapter One
I opened the box and stepped back, tripping over a pile of Himalayan wind chimes I’d left lying behind me on the floor of the shop. They clanked in a discordant melody as I untangled them from my feet.
“What the heck?” I asked, ignoring the chimes and focusing on the parcel that had arrived in the mail earlier that morning. Tiny stone phalluses in various shades of gray filled the container to the brim. Checking the return address, I noticed the shipping cost and wanted to cry. Most of our inventory budget for the entire month had been used to mail this one small box halfway around the world.
“Mom, what exactly did you order from Inuyama, Japan?”
My mother popped her head around the corner, a bright smile on her face. “Did they finally arrive, Fiona? I’ve been waiting for ages.”
“For stone penises?”
Why was I even surprised? This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. My mother, Claire de Lune Campbell, had never been the master of impulse control, and she had a history of making very poor decisions. She’d been born Claire Campbell and added the “de Lune” in, what I can only guess, was a moment of pot-induced inspiration. The pot no longer played a part in her life, but the total inability to make common-sense decisions remained.
Mom picked up one of the stone penises, a happy twinkle in her eye. “Aren’t they lovely?”
On the outside, Mom and I looked alike. The same blonde hair, the same blue eyes, the same stubborn tilt to our chins, but there the resemblance ended. Mom was as happy and bright as a butterfly landing on a flower, and she had the same level of fiscal responsibility. I stressed about everything, especially money, but I had good cause.
My mom owned and operated the Enchanted Garden Café, where we served food, coffee, and specially blended teas and sold unusual items in our small gift shop. Nestled in the middle of the South Side, the funky hippie district of Pittsburgh, it was the perfect spot for my mom but a constant source of anxiety for me.
I wiped sweat from my face and brushed off my clothing. Dust covered my T-shirt and shorts, and some kind of stone powder had fallen out of the box from Inuyama onto my tennis shoes. Mom, glowing in a dress made from recycled saris, didn’t have a speck of dust on her, but she hadn’t handled the phalluses.
Kate, the girl who worked behind the counter, came over to us, her blue eyes alight with curiosity. “I want to see them,” she said. Mom handed her one, and she studied it closely, peering at it through the thick black frames of her retro hipster glasses. Her ebony hair was pulled off to the side in a low ponytail, and her colorful tattoos peeked through the crocheted black cardigan covering her pale skin. “At least they are anatomically correct. Look at those veins.”
My cheeks grew warm, and Mom smiled, putting a cool hand against my face. “Aww, Fiona is blushing.”
“No, I’m not. It’s hot in here.”
“Of course it is,” she said, making me feel twelve instead of twenty-five, but it was hot for early June, and the air-conditioning was broken. Again. Even with all the windows open, it still felt stuffy.
I ignored her and picked up a penis. “What are these things anyway?”
She beamed at me with pure, unfiltered happiness. “Fertility charms from a little shrine in the mountains of Japan. They have a big festival there every year. I went once.”
She sighed, most likely remembering happy times at the fertility festival, and went back to the kitchen. I looked at Kate and rolled my eyes, making her snicker, before getting back to work. The fertility charms came in all sizes and seemed handmade. I just wasn’t sure how to sell them or where to display them in our shop.
A Victorian eyesore, the café was painted on the outside in what once had been a mix of bright pink and various shades of green. The pink had faded to a dull rose, and the green looked like the color of old limes just before they rotted. It needed work and a fresh coat of paint, but instead of doing so, we spent our money on phalluses from Japan. That was how things worked with my mother. No planning. No rhyme or reason. No logic. No rational thought.
The bell above the door tinkled, and I turned, a penis in each hand, as a stranger walked into the shop. I couldn’t see his face at first because the sun was at his back, but he carried a guitar case. A sure sign of trouble.
“Hello,” he said as he came closer.
He had straight dark hair that brushed his shoulders, brown eyes, and a goatee. He reminded me of a sexy, naughty French pirate, and I knew his kind well. Close to my age, he was definitely one of the artsy, flighty types who always hung out around my mom. I could spot them a mile away.
“Holy guacamole, if he were any hotter, I’d need new underwear,” whispered Kate, taking off to the back of the shop and leaving me alone to greet the stranger.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Abigail Drake, South Side Stories, The Enchanted Garden Cafe, Women's Fiction by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
