~ LOVE, VENGEANCE, AND BROADWAY MUSICALS ~

Thank you so much, M.J. for sharing your place with me! I truly appreciate it and I'd love to share a little but about the inspiration for the villain in FOR LOVE OR VENGEANCE.

Yep, you read that right: the villain. He's a sick kind of guy. Totally twisted, but also totally in love with Broadway and that's the part I want to share with you!

You might be wondering why Broadway plays such a big role in the suspense story in FOR LOVE OR VENGEANCE.

Well, many ages ago I used to play the bassoon. That’s the thing that looks like a bazooka and sounds like a foghorn. If you’ve ever heard THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE, it’s that instrument you hear with the main melody. Here’s what it looks like:

Photo Credit: Gregory F. Maxwell@en.wikipedia.com

Not a very common instrument so as a kid, I was always being asked to play in various orchestras, bands and the one thing I loved the most: pit orchestras for musicals.

I was lucky to be involved in dozens of productions through high school and even in college, where I played my absolute for my absolute favorite Broadway musical – West Side Story. My other favorite is The Sound of Music, but unfortunately I never got to do that one.

But I did do some classics, like South Pacific, The King and I, and too many others to count!

Those musicals and my love for them inspired the villain and the how and why of his deciding to target aspiring young actors and actresses.

I also walk through Times Square and the Broadway area on a regular basis both on my way to work and as a tourist.

I hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes look at FOR LOVE OR VENGEANCE. Now I’d love to hear from you on whether or not you like musicals or have been to Broadway or a local venue to see one!

About For Love or Vengeance~

FBI Special Agent Helene Alexander is a goddess. An actual frickin’ goddess. And her mission is clear, see that justice is served at all times or her days as a goddess are numbered.

Helene’s new FBI partner defines good-looking, but Miguel Sanchez, wants nothing to do with her ends-justify-the-means attitude. He knows through experience the type of guilt her actions can bring and Miguel wants nothing to do with Helene’s careless ways. Even if she’s so damned hot she makes him burn with the need.

When the serial killer they’re tracking strikes again, Helene and Miguel are drawn into a case that will challenge their most fundamental beliefs about justice and vengeance. But it’s the passion between them that forces a goddess to choose: eternal life with all her powers…or death—to save the man she loves.

Excerpt~

It was crazy. Certifiably so.





Dangerous.



Thrilling.



Helene and Miguel had made it to her Chelsea apartment in record time and now they stood in her living room, barely a hand’s breadth apart. Anticipation charged the air around them. She couldn’t remember ever wanting a man quite this much. The evening had been romantic, he was gorgeous, and her body was pulsing with need. She felt warm despite the slight chill of the air.



Miguel gently stroked his fingers over her hair and she almost felt the blast of heat from the contact. He smoothed the curls and laid his hand at the crook of her neck.



“So soft,” he murmured, brushing his fingertips over her skin.



She worried her lower lip, even as she savored his touch.



This was a dangerous step they were taking.



Dangerous both emotionally and physically.



“Are you sure?” he asked. He reached up with his thumb, soothed the spot on her lip that she had been biting.



She didn’t delude himself that the night would lead to anything more permanent. She almost wondered what had possessed her to make the invitation in the first place. No good could come of a relationship with her partner.



Then again, they weren’t talking about a relationship. They were two consenting adults doing what consenting adults did. She smiled. “I’m sure we’ll enjoy this. And no, I won’t regret it.”



Relief washed over his features, but it was tinged with apology, and she understood. He was a man for whom sleeping together was a prelude to something deeper. Something more profound. But for her, sex was just sex.



So she took the next logical step. Literally.



She closed the distance between them until her body was pressed to his and then combed through the strands of his hair. Dipped her hand down to cradle the back of his head and urge him forward, her gaze locked with his until that moment when their lips finally touched and desire dragged their eyes shut.



She was no stranger to his kiss, having experienced it the other day, but that didn’t make it any less
enticing.

He was an amazing kisser. He moved his lips against hers, urged her to open her mouth with a slight tug of her lower lip with his teeth. That gentle nip pulled a shudder from her. And a stab of desire to feel his mouth elsewhere on her body.



Without breaking away from his kiss, she eased her hands beneath his suit jacket and slipped it off his shoulders. Did the same with his holster, which thudded against the wood floor. She undid the buttons on his shirt, parted it, and covered his chest with her hands.



“Princess, are you in a rush? Because I’m not,” he said against her lips, breaking away from the kiss.



“You’re not?” she asked, puzzled by his restraint.



He skimmed his large hands across her shoulders, down her arms and to her hands. Twining his fingers with hers, he said, “All good things take time.”

About Caridad Pineiro

New York Times and USA Today bestselling paranormal and romantic suspense author Caridad Pineiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project – to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word and in 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released. Over a decade later, Caridad is the author of more than thirty published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is an attorney, wife and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista.

Find Caridad:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find For Love or Vengeance:

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

~ THE SUSPENSE OF SWEET TREASON ~

Today I have the great honor of handing over my blog to author Gail Ranstrom.

WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN THEN

Hindsight, they say, is 20/20. I’m inclined to agree. But how can we benefit from it if we don’t get it until it’s too late? Well, we just have to believe it’s never too late. Whether we’re 19 or 90, we can still learn from our past and adjust our sails for the future.

I think we see traces of this in the old women who sit in their rockers and say outrageous things. They’ve finally learned, or decided, to say what’s on their minds. Sometimes it slips out in unexpected ways and we all giggle and think what an eccentric old granny is. Or was she just sitting there and suddenly thought, What the heck. If I don’t say it now, I never will. And what can I say but, Keep it coming, granny! and give her a high five?

So now I’m somewhere in the middle and wondering what advice I wish my mother had given me, and what advice I’m going to give my grandchildren when they’re old enough to hear it.

I think I’m going to say, Be brave! Be fierce! Be kind. Be who you are and stay true to yourself. Live and love intensely. Stand up for what you believe in and never cower to a bully. Never give up and never give in. Be proud but never so proud that you cannot admit when you’re wrong. In that order.

Good advice? Or a recipe for disaster? I don’t know. But I intend to live the rest of my life that way. And if experience teaches me anything different, I’ll adjust my sails yet again.

So what do you know now that you wish you knew then? What advice will you, or have you, given your own children or grandchildren?

BLURB~

Passion and deadly secrets…

On the run from British troops, American Revolutionary War spy Ryan Straughn forces Emily Nevins to hide him on her English farm. But Emily already keeps secrets that could mean her demise if discovered. Nevertheless as the long night wears on, attraction sizzles and they give in to unexpected passion, sure they’ll never see each other again…

Deception and desire…

A chance encounter in London society stirs heated memories of their sensual night together. They begin a heady dance of suspicion and desire. Though sympathetic to the struggling Colonists, Emily cannot trust a traitorous spy who may expose her dangerous intrigues. And Ryan risks his very life by trusting a woman privy to his true loyalties. But they are unable to deny their need for one another, even as Emily’s secrets are about to be exposed, and the noose around Ryan’s neck grows tighter.

Betrayal and love…

And now someone has discovered both their secrets. The price of silence? Betrayal. Of their causes, their love, their futures. In the end, lives will be lost and sacrifices made. Their choice is impossible. Which will they surrender—their lives…or their hearts?

EXCERPT~

The stranger lowered his head further to leave a path of soft insistent kisses from her earlobe to the well of her shoulder blade. The sensation was like nothing she’d felt before—intimate, urging, almost desperate. Heaven help her, Emily wanted more. He slipped his hand down her back, molding her against him. The hot, hard bulge pressing against her belly ignited an answering heat in hers. Naughty. Wicked. Exciting…

He asked a question, his voice a deep vibration that reached to her toes. Her very flesh tingled, sending shivers of delight through her. Her breasts ached and became exquisitely tender. She gasped as he drew her even closer, his large hands moving along her spine.

“Yes…,” she sighed, affirming her suspicion that this man’s arms would be heaven.

“Sweet…” His voice was hoarse with desire as he lifted his head to speak as he brushed across her lips. “Are you the most courageous woman I know…or the most reckless?”

Reckless. Unconscionably reckless…

He nudged her robe open with his chin and lowered his mouth to the slope of one aching breast. She caught her breath and choked back another gasp when he captured one tingling crown with his lips and tugged gently. She tangled her fingers through his dark hair to hold him close. The sensation was so foreign, yet so completely delicious, that she wanted it to go on forever. She sighed. “Tell me your…name, sir, that I…may know who my dreams…”

“You mock me?” he growled.

She gave a soft, husky laugh at his pretended outrage.

The deep vibration of his voice against her skin sent shock waves along her spine.

“By all that is holy…I must be mad! Were it any night but tonight, I’d sweep this desk clear and take you here and now.”

Emily fervently wished it were any other night. She’d have yielded him anything—everything—when he nibbled a greedy path back up her neck and cherished the tender flesh at the hollow of her throat before lifting his head.

He brushed tendrils of hair back from her cheeks with this thumbs. “Now that you’ve seen my face, my only safety—and yours—lies in the fact that you do not know who I am.”

She did not bother to deny his accusation. But betrayal had been the furthest thing from her mind. She caught her breath on a gasp as he slipped his hand up her bare thigh, exposed in the gap of her robe.

She struggled free of his arms and moved away, fighting to regain her composure and recall the true nature of this man.

Blood-red splotches on his shirt sleeve reminded her that this man had murdered someone this very night. She would be fortunate if she escaped with her life. She pushed him away to gather her robe more closely around her. This had to end before she forgot herself again. She was breathless when she spoke. “Your ten minutes are up, sir. If you are a man of your word, you will leave.”

ABOUT  GAIL RANSTROM~

Gail has been a seamstress making waitress uniforms for a German Beer Garden, Inventory Clerk at the UofM, an Advertising Account Coordinator and PR writer in a crazy high pressure office, and a Commercial Property Manager in the Los Angeles area. In between, she’s partnered in an Antique business—don’t ask her about Antique Auctions.

Finally, she was tempted by a vocation where she was in control of the next crisis, and could solve it, too—writing. She is the author of ten novels, three novellas and a brand new release, SWEET TREASON, from Entangled Publishing.

You can find Gail at:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

You can find SWEET TREASON at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~ YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO SINK YOUR TEETH INTO THIS BOOK! LIBERTY AWAKENED~

Today I have the privilege to have on a friend of mine, author Alicia Dean. She has a background in editing, but what she has taught me the most about is marketing. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, Alicia. So let's not waste any time! When did your love for writing start?

When I was a child, maybe ten or eleven. I wrote a romance when I was about eleven that I still have, hand written in pencil, and probably nearly impossible to read. My penmanship sucks now, so you can imagine how bad it was before I got all this practice. Not to mention, the pencil is probably faded.

I started out young, too. Second grade! Mine was in pen but has been lost along the way. Tell us, what is the best thing you’ve learned about writing and/or the publishing business?

That the writing world is a close knit community and other authors are amazingly giving and supportive.

I think that was my answer to that question, too. Do you have a job outside of writing? What is it and how does it mesh with your writing?

Yes, I am a legal assistant in a family law firm. It meshes very well, other than being a full-time job. My bosses are very understanding when I need to take time off, and with the crazy world of divorce and custody battles, I am gathering tons of material for future books.

I bet. Can you share with us where you live? Where would you love to live?

I live in Edmond, Oklahoma. I lived in Kansas City for three years, from 2006 to 2009, and I loved it. I would love to live there again—it’s an awesome place--but I would miss my friends and family. I have friends there that I miss too, though, so…I guess I’m just hard to please. I would also love to live somewhere really cold and wintery. Ideally, I would like to be a multi-millionaire and have homes scattered all over the place. I love to travel, so that would be amazing!

What about family? Married? Kids? Pets?

Divorced, three grown kids who are like my best friends—Lana, Lacey, and my son, Presley. No pets.

Now, just for fun, when trick-or-treating as a kid, was there any kind of candy that you didn’t like to get?

I hated those black and orange wrapped brown square chewy candies, peanut butter maybe? I only see them at Halloween, but I always seemed to get a ton of them.

I think they may have been maple, and you're right, they were AWFUL! What CD is in your CD player right now?

Elvis Presley’s Prince from Another Planet

Ahh, The King. I wouldn't have guessed that. Name your favorite children's story.

The Little Match Girl. It was so sad…haunting. (Yes, I was twisted, even as a child)

That is pretty twisted! Well, this has been a lot of fun! Thank you for visiting with us today. Now let's find out a little bit about one of Alicia's books.

BLURB~

Evil lurks beneath the surface in the beauty of the tropics…

After graduation from her small, Oklahoma high school, Liberty Delacort is looking forward to a fun-filled summer before college. But when the people she trusts the most betray her, and a letter arrives claiming her deceased father is still alive, she jumps at the chance to travel to an exotic island to meet him.

But her excitement is short-lived. Her father is dying, and he doesn’t want her around. And, in spite of its outward tranquility, the island is filled with danger and ominous secrets. The secrets soon begin to unravel, and she discovers she is a descendant of Van Helsing, the vampire hunter.

The one up side is her budding romance with the sweet and sexy Ryan Kelly. But even that is threatened when—in spite of her fear of him—she finds herself attracted to an insolent, formidable vampire. Her plan to stay away from him fails when she learns he is the only one with the ability to train her to fulfill her destiny—to save humans from a faction of vicious vampires.

Will her inexperience lead to her death—and the death of others—or will she rise to the challenge and realize her full potential as a Hunter?

EXCERPT ~

At the Van Helsing house, Eli climbed out and opened the passenger door. Sliding one arm beneath Liberty’s knees and one behind her back, he gently lifted her from the car. Her head lolled against his shoulder. His chest tightened at the soft feel of her against him. He tilted his head, the urge to rub his cheek along the silky hair more powerful than any craving for blood he’d ever had. He gritted his teeth and forced the thought away. Get a grip, man. She’s not for you. Not in a million years.

Favreau opened the door as soon as Eli stepped onto the porch. He moved back and gestured for Eli to enter, then followed him up the stairs.

Antoine turned the knob to her bedroom, and Eli went inside and lowered her onto the mattress. She didn’t move. Her thick lashes cast a shadow against her pale cheeks. Her breasts rose and fell with her steady breathing. That same tightening came back to his chest, moving up to his throat.

“I can take it from here,” Antoine said. “How did she do?”

Eli curled his lip. “She’s getting better,” he whispered. “But she’s not a warrior.”

“She must learn to be.” Antoine put a hand on Eli’s arm, and he turned to face the older man. “She cannot be your Grande Amour.”

“I know that,” he snapped, still whispering.

“Does she?”

“She is with Ryan.”

“A woman, especially a young woman her age, can have many loves. Does she know why she can never be yours?”

A whoosh of air escaped Eli’s lungs. He didn’t want to discuss this with Antoine—or anyone else for that matter. He knew Liberty had to mate with a human. She had to continue the Van Helsing line…have babies with another man. He couldn’t give her that. Not ever. He damn sure didn’t need Antoine reminding him.

He shook his head, then spun and stalked from the room.


BIO ~

I live in Edmond, Oklahoma. I have three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. I have dreamed of being an author since I was a young child. There is no feeling in the world like seeing your dreams fulfilled, and I couldn't be happier. I wrote my first romance at age 11, and my hero looked just like Elvis Presley (which I plainly stated in the story as my description :)). I still have that story, but I hope I have learned and grown as a writer over the years.

I write suspense and paranormal, among a few other random genres from time to time. I am a launch author for Amazon Kindle Worlds, with two Vampire Diaries stories and one Gossip Girl story.

Other than reading and writing, my passions are MLB, NFL, and watching my favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Justified, and Dexter (Until I get caught up, now that it has gone away…forever..boohooo). My favorite authors, and this is only a small sampling, are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Jonathan Kellerman... I could go on and on. Oh yeah, and I am still an avid Elvis Presley fan.

Find LIBERTY AWAKENED at:  http://amzn.com/B00B3N6PMA 

Please visit my website/blog at: www.AliciaDean.com

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

~ WON'T YOU TIME TRAVEL WITH ME TODAY? COME ALONG TO THE ROARING TWENTIES AND TO A SPEAKEASY CALLED THE BLUE LUTE!~

Today we have a very special visit with Brandon and Lilly from Eryn LaPlant's THE BLUE LUTE. 

So Brandon, tell the folks back home about yourself? What is your occupation? Why? What are your strengths & weaknesses?

Well, my name is Brandon Crowley and I’m a musician. I learned a great deal about reading music and playing instruments growing up in New York City. I found I have a knack for creating both song and lyric and it doesn’t take long for me to learn a new piece. I play stringed instruments, mostly the stand-up bass and guitar, but I can also play piano and bass guitar as well. Jazz was my first love, musically and even though I listen to more modern tunes now, I still try to incorporate a bit of the old sound in my work.

How did you and Lilly meet? What was your first impression of her?

The first time I “met” Lilly I was being arrested outside her apartment building. I was being shoved into the police car for trespassing--it’s a long story--and there she was, standing on the stairs in a gray skirt and black shirt with her blonde hair curling around her face. She was exquisite and looked at me with curiosity rather than disgust or pity. I couldn’t help but nod in her direction, despite being taken away.

[MJ leans closer.] So what is it that you really like about her?

What do I like about Lilly? Everything! {laughs} She’s smart, beautiful, cunning…and just a tad stubborn but I love it. The more I get to know her the more I find myself in love with her. She’s the kind of woman who doesn’t give up on anything, especially if it regards something having to do with history. Loving history is a big part of her life, so when she goes off on her tangents about Paul Revere or Abraham Lincoln, I’ve learned just to go with it. It can be just a tad irritating but still, it’s one of the reasons I love her.

I understand. My husband's habit of roughhousing with our boys is irritating, yet cute at the same time. Has life handed you any major disappointments, Brandon?


Of course. The 1920s were a very rough time period. It wasn’t uncommon to be dodging the law week in and week out. But, hey, how else was I supposed to make a living? But unfortunately having such a dicey career does lend itself to disappointments. We lose people we love, we can’t trust people we should, and yet life still goes on. But I do tend to like focusing on the positive side of life though. I have a wonderful girlfriend and friends who care for me – nothing is better than that.

You're absolutely right. And that's a great outlook by the way. Speaking of positive things, if you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

Spend it with my love, Lilly. We could take it slow and gradually make our way out to Central Park for a walk. Maybe we could grab a hot dog from a vendor cart and people-watch from our perch on the Alice in Wonderland fountain. Afterwards, we could meet up with our good friends Eliza and Matthew and have a dinner out somewhere. Knowing Lilly, chocolate would be on the dessert plate. I digress from what else we’d do for the rest of the evening but please use your imagination. We do have a vivid love story. {winks}

What CD is in your CD player right now?


CD Players – ha! Right, those tiny silver records. Let’s see…I have a Johnny Coltrane in there. He’s just the embodiment of cool. No one can play a sax like he can.

I'm more a Nickelback girl myself, but I'll take your word on that. [Laughs.] Well now it's Lilly's turn. Tell us about yourself Lilly. What is your occupation? Strengths, weaknesses?

Hi everyone, I’m Lilly Charles, doctoral student at New York University. My strengths? Hmm…well, I have about a million history facts roaming around in my head at any given moment. I have this uncanny knack for soaking up my favorite subject like a sponge. It should come in handy for when I intern in the curator’s office at the Natural History Museum next year. My weaknesses are pretty much in the same arena. No matter what the subject, I have to learn everything about it. It’s a blessing and a curse.

I can understand that! So what’s your family like, and how does your upbringing affect you now?

My family was a dear one. Full of love and kindness, but notice I said “was.” It seems as though tragedy has been with me since before I was born. My father never made it home from the Vietnam War, my grandparents died of elderly diseases and I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was seventeen. It’s been a rough road, but it’s made me who I am. Someday I’ll see them again, and when I do, they’ll see that they raised a strong, independent woman who could change the world in her own way. {wipes away a tear}

That's very touching. Lilly, if you could pick any object, what tangible object would you pick to symbolize you?

That’s an easy one: my great-grandmother’s ballerina statuette. It’s been in our family for 70-something years and has been passed down from generation to generation. My mother gave it to me shortly before she passed and I’ll treasure it until I can give it to a daughter I may have in the future.

[MJ slides a quick look at Brandon.] Describe Brandon. What was your first impression of him and did it change over time?

Mmm Brandon. {smiles} He’s probably the most handsome, well-round, gentlemanly man I’ve ever met. Think debonair old movie star with a musical flair. I think I was drawn to him from the very beginning. I met him being taken away by the police outside my apartment building, you know? So you would think my first impression would be fright or disappointment in the criminal I saw, but it wasn’t. I saw a sadness in his eyes that I couldn’t place, and it bugged me to no end. When we finally did meet, I learned why he was so despondent and helped him in his plight to find the truth to his many questions. Then slowly he changed into the loving, vibrant man I know and love today. Isn’t it amazing how time can change a person?

It is indeed! Is there anything about Brandon that you would consider a flaw?

Brandon’s only flaw is that he trusts too much. Sometimes he can’t see that people are taking advantage of him and it makes me so angry, because I know he deserves better. But then again, if he never trusted me to believe his odd tale, we would have never been brought together. So with the bad comes the good.

Just one more question, and this one's a fun one. If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?


Probably curled up with a book, listening to Brandon play some guitar. Mmm there’s nothing better than spending the day with him. Well, not unless there’s a box of old letters to go through and research! Ooh and maybe there’d be a mystery uncovered in there and we’d have to rush over to the library and find out what was going on and…

Brandon: Honey… you’re doing it again.

Lilly: {laughs} The crazy historian thing?

Brandon: Uh huh, I don’t think the readers want to think of us spending the day together in a dusty, moldy library. And neither do I, for that matter.

Lilly: Would they rather hear about us snuggled up in bed all day then?

Brandon: Well…{slowly grins} I don’t know about them, but I sure as heck wouldn’t mind. Good-bye MJ. I’m taking her up on her idea before something historic comes around. Thanks for the interview!

[Clears throat.] Uhh, yes. Well, then. Uhh...thank you both for joining me today. And now, here's more about THE BLUE LUTE:

A doctoral candidate in history, Lilly Charles lives in a modern-day treasure trove of 1920s architecture—Manhattan’s St. Jean Apartments. The former hotel was once in the center of New York City’s jazz scene, and holds secrets Lilly is only beginning to discover.

A musical star in his own time, Brandon Crowley lived in an age of prohibition and gangsters, surrounded by the glamour of old Hollywood and the comfort of true friendships. As co-owner of the notorious speakeasy, The Blue Lute, he poured his life and love into his business—as a storm fueled by passion, liquor, murder and money was unleashed. And in the midst of it all, Brandon simply … disappeared.

When Lilly sees Brandon in a nearly 80-year-old photograph from the basement of the St. Jean, her reality comes undone. Could he be the same man she just saw arrested for breaking into the building? As Lilly is drawn deeper into the mysteries of Brandon’s life, a new storm of desire and danger begins to brew. Beneath the silvery moon and glitter of Times Square, an epic love story across the decades is about to unfold.

EXCERPT ~

Minutes later, the train stopped and Lilly exited, making her way to her new apartment. But as she turned the corner of 28th and 7th Street, there were two police cars parked in front of the building.

“Great,” she said with dismay. Her last apartment was in a bad neighborhood and in constant threat of crime. She’d specifically chosen this area for peace, quiet and a door that didn’t require five locks. She’d only moved in two days ago. This was not a good start. Standing back, she watched the action emerging from the front door. Her superintendent, Mr. Crooker, a large balding man eating a sandwich, stood off to the side as the two policemen were escorted a man out in handcuffs.
She inched up the steps and over to the super. 

“What’s going on?"

"Ehh, I found this creep snoopin’ around the basement.”

The police each had a hand on their captive’s elbows, leading him down to the car. Lilly stared at the man walking by. He was tall but hunched forward and when he turned his head, his dark, wavy hair to blew away from his face, revealing two pained blue eyes. Not a physical pain, but an emotional longing, deep and relentless. Something she knew all too well. She felt her chest rise in a gasp. His gaze locked onto hers and sympathy washed over her like a wave. Who was this man and what was troubling him so much that
his stare made her want to cry?

He was placed in the patrol car and through the window he gave her a gracious nod. Without thinking, Lilly raised her hand in a slow wave. The corner of his mouth lifted into a sort of smile, and the car drove away. She shivered and curled her fingers into her palm, wrapping her arms around her torso.

“Do you know him?” Mr. Crooker asked.

She shook her head. “I’ve never seen before in my life.”

"Huh. Could’ve fooled me.”

Author Bio:

Eryn LaPlant grew up wishing she could have lived in another time, so now she writes her own romances and lives through her characters. When not writing, she spends time with her loving husband, and their handsome son in the land of Lincoln. If she can't live in the past, she figures she can at least live amongst it!

* * *

Hello to the world! I am a former slave for the working world and presently a woman of many trades. I am a wife, a mother, an antiques collector, a painter, a baker, a gardener, a photographer, a historian and my favorite by far a novelist (well except the first two in my list)! Thanks for checking me out!

You can find Eryn at: http://novelisterynlaplant.wordpress.com/ and on Facebook and Twitter.

You can purchase THE BLUE LUTE at: Amazon, Black Lion Publishing

GIVEAWAY!

Eryn would also like to give away a prize, some wonderful Blue Lute swag! Just be sure to ask Brandon or Lilly a question in the comments field and she will pick one winner at random. Please include your email address so that we can contact you about your prize.

Thanks for reading!

~ YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE, BUT HAVE YOU HEARD OF AN ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE? ~

Today I am happy to be entertaining Leanne from Jessica Subject's ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE. What a great title! So Leanne, why don't you start out by telling us a little about yourself? What is your occupation? Strengths, weaknesses?

Hello MJ! I’m Leanne Declan and I’m twenty-two. I work at my family’s dairy farm, or at least I used to, until I got my hand caught in a grain auger and had to have it amputated. Now, I’m just trying to adjust to having no right hand, doing basic things like getting dressed. Strengths? I’m not sure I have many anymore. But, after some encouragement from our farmhand, Jake, I’m going to try and do some things around the farm. Weaknesses? Well, you try going a day without the use of your dominant hand. I have to go a lifetime.

What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

My parents are wonderful. They taught me the value of hard work. I feel like I’ve disappointed them now after the accident. I should have been more careful.

Accidents happen, Leanne. Even at my day job, as a lunch lady, I have gotten cut, and burned, and smashed fingers, etc. Now tell me about your earliest childhood memory?

I remember being in the barn with my father, him teaching me how to milk the cows. He used to take me out in the tractor to plow the fields as well. Sometimes I’d fall asleep in the tractor with him. Now I can do it all myself. Or, I used to, before I lost my hand. Maybe someday I’ll be out there doing it all again.

You talked about Jake. Is he your hero?Describe him. What was your first impression of him and did it change over time?

Jake? I never expected him to be my hero. He’s always been there by my side, annoying the crap out of me. Now, I don’t know how I could get through the day without him. He’s still always there, but he won’t let me give up on my dreams. He keeps pushing, more so than my parents.

Is there anything about Jake that you would consider a flaw?

He doesn’t give up. On anything. Sure, sometimes I need the encouragement, but sometimes I need a break, too.

What is it that you want out of life?

I’ve always wanted to take over the farm. I never remember wanting to do anything else. And if Jake doesn’t give up on me along the way, maybe we can have a future together.

With all this talk about work, let's take the discussion in another direction. After all, it's almost the weekend! If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

A free day? What’s that? If in the summer, I’d love to go to the beach, walk through the sand, have a campfire, and catch a movie. In the winter, I would go tobogganing. I always loved that as a kid.

What songs are you listening to on your mp3 player lately?

Jake sent me a bunch that he thought would be encouraging. I guess they are. The one I listen to the most is What Doesn’t Kill You by Kelly Clarkson.
 

That is a valuable lesson to learn. Well, that's all I have. Thanks for joining us today!

Now let's hear a little bit about ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE:

At twenty-two, Leanne Declan has graduated from college and hopes to take over the family farm until a tragic accident changes her life forever. Unable to do the simplest everyday chores, she must depend on her family and friends as she learns to face life’s challenges. But when her fears threaten to destroy her future, can an unexpected love be strong enough to help her dreams come true? 
The Challenge series 

By Jessica E. Subject 

Contemporary Western New Adult Romance 

ISBN: 978-1613334607 

Buy Links: 

Amazon (Canada/US/UK) | Decadent Publishing | All Romance | Barnes&Noble | more

EXCERPT~ 

A million needles pierced her wrist. She had to get away from the fire. Leanne flicked open her eyes, screaming, longing for the agony to stop.

White walls surrounded her. Machines beeped. Taking in the new scenery, she closed her mouth, the pain forgotten. Bags filled with clear liquids as well as blood hung from a metal pole. She followed the tubes from the bags into her left hand. Was that where the burn came from? She glanced at the other arm, the end of which was wrapped in thick bandages. The image of spinning blades and her mangled flesh flashed before her eyes. She screamed again, tears falling down her cheeks. This can’t be happening.

Bodies rushed into the room, many in scrubs. With her vision blurred, she didn’t recognize anyone. All strangers. She was in the foreign place by herself. A nightmare. Has to be.

“Shh, calm down, sweetie. You’ll be okay.”

A familiar voice. She glanced to her other side to see her mom standing beside her, her eyes glassy. She held her hand, but Leanne couldn’t feel it, only the throbbing which had returned to her other one, the one that was…gone? She groaned, turning on her side, and pulled her knees up to her chest.

“Mom, is it really…?”

She brushed her fingers over her forehead. “Don’t worry about it right now. You need to rest.”

“It hurts so bad.”

“I know.” Her mother stroked her face again. “But the nurses will help it go away.”

“Leanne,” one of the nurses hovering around her said. “I want you to take deep breaths and count backward from ten.”

“Ten.” She sucked in air and cried out in agony.

Between clenched teeth, she continued. Anything to stop the pain. “Nine.”

Ice traveled through her veins. “Eight.”

The throbbing slowly ebbed away. Seven.

Darkness swept over her and pulled her down with it.

Bio: 

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

Jessica has been kind enough to offer one lucky commentor an e-copy of ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE. She will draw the winner's name on the 21st, so be sure to comment below. Good luck!

SIGN OF THE THRONE ~ WHERE DREAMS DO COME TRUE...AND SO DO NIGHTMARES!

I'd like to welcome today the hero from SIGN OF THE THRONE! Welcome, David! Let's start off easy. Tell me about yourself? What is your occupation? Why? What are your strengths & weaknesses?

Hello. My name is David Corbin. I just graduated from college with a degree in business and will soon be joining the London branch of my father’s firm, Corbin Industries. That’s the plan, but…I’m no longer sure I want to leave Newcastle Beach. I’ve met someone, and it’s made me rethink some things. I’ve realized that my biggest weakness is that I’ve allowed other people to direct my life. But I’m starting to question things, to rebel and try to find out what I want for myself.

So what is your family like? And how does your upbringing affect you now?


Don’t get me wrong. My parents are great, in spite of the pressure I feel to go along with their plan for my career. They adopted me as an infant, and I’m grateful for the wonderful life they’ve given me. I’m really close to my mom, Margaret Corbin. When I was away at college we used to talk on the phone almost every day. I admire my dad, Philip, for working so hard to build his company. He’s taught me a lot about how to be a leader. I hope I can live up to his expectations and follow the example he’s set for me.

I'm certain you will. What is your earliest childhood memory, David?

My earliest childhood memory? I don’t know—sometimes it’s hard to remember things. I remember something weird that happened, and I’m still not sure if it was real or just a nightmare. There was this monster in my room—some kind of black beast with red eyes. The memory is kind of foggy, but in the morning I found a silver seashell under my pillow. It wasn’t there when I went to sleep. Does that sound crazy?

Dreams can be weird. What tangible object would symbolize you?

Well, I guess the seashell might symbolize me since it’s so mysterious. I feel like there are things about my life I don’t understand, that are a mystery to me. Sometimes I’m not even sure my life is real—it feels like a dream. But some things feel more real than others—that seashell for instance, and Abby. I can’t explain it, but I feel a strong connection to her.

How did you two meet? And what was your first impression of Abby?

When I first saw Abby I had the strangest feeling we’d met before. It was like deja vu. Maybe it was just because I thought she was cute and I wanted to find a way to connect with her. She has the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. Maybe that’s why I feel this way.

What do you like about Abby, besides her eyes?

I like that she banters with me. She’s smart and easy to talk to—my sort-of girlfriend, Amelia, is also smart, but sometimes I feel like we don’t have that much in common. Plus, Amelia won’t go anywhere near my 1961 Harley. I like that Abby was adventurous enough to let me drive her home on my bike. I think we could have a lot of fun together.

So David, and here's where the questions get hard, what is it that you want out of life?


That’s the problem. I know what my parents want my life to be like, but I’ve never really thought about what I want my life to be like. I’m twenty-two years old. You would think I’d have thought about this before now, but I haven’t. Since I was a kid, the plan was always that I would go to college and then work for my dad’s company. It never occurred to me to want something different, until I met Abby. And I don’t know how she fits with this plan. Could a long-distance relationship with her even work?

Hmm...that's a toughie! Switching gears, tell us if life has ever handed you any major disappointments. 


No. And I’m starting to think maybe that’s not normal. I’ve never been sick, never gotten hurt, never wanted for anything. Aside from my bad dream, I can’t remember anything bad happening to me. But bad things do happen to people. All the time. So what makes me so special?

Ya know what? I wouldn't worry myself about it too much. Normal is WAY over-rated. Let's lighten this up a little bit. If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

I’d probably be at the beach with friends, or working on my bike. Maybe I’d track down Abby and invite her to dinner.

Aside from Abby, tell me about your best friend.

It’s funny. I have a lot of friends from high school and college, but nobody I would consider a best friend. Can you be surrounded by people and still be alone? I feel like that sometimes, but I know I’m not totally alone. I’m probably closest to my mom and Moira Buchan, a friend of our family. They seem to know me better than anyone.

If you owned a CB radio what would your "handle" be? What would your heroine’s be?

Probably “Thrill-seeker” since I like driving fast and cage-diving with sharks. Or maybe “Shark-bait” since Abby thinks I’m crazy for doing that. I’d call Abby “Ocean Eyes” because her blue eyes change color depending on what she’s wearing, like how the color of the ocean changes with the weather.

What CD is in your CD player right now?


“Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash (London Calling).

That's one of my husband's favorites! Well, thank you for being so open, David. Now it's Abby's turn to be in the hot seat! Tell me about yourself, girl? What is your occupation? Your strengths and weaknesses?

Hey there. My name is Abby Brown. I’m a senior in high school and right now I have two jobs—working at the Guest Services Cabana by the pool at the Newcastle Beach Inn, and working as a babysitter for the Buchan family. I’m trying to save up for college. I would say my greatest strength is my determination. When I make up my mind to do something, I follow through, no matter the cost. I’m also really good at reading people—I can tell when people are lying. My biggest weakness is that I’m easily affected by emotional negativity. I find people with abrasive personalities draining, and I have to get away from them so I can recharge. That’s the tough thing about being introverted, but I’m slowly learning to deal with it.

What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

I think my family is pretty average. My dad is an accountant, and my mom teaches middle-school. I have a younger brother who annoys me, but who can also be a sweet kid. We’re not super exciting, but we love each other, and I know my family will always be there for me. My parents taught me to work hard to get what I want, so that’s what I’m trying to do.

What is your earliest childhood memory?

Seems like I was always bringing home stray animals. I found a kitten once, and begged my parents to let me keep her. Unfortunately, my mom is allergic to pet dander, so it didn’t work out. But, my best friend Jon lives next door, and luckily, his mom said he could keep Cookie. At least I still had visitation rights. It seems like Jon is in almost all of my memories—we do everything together.

What tangible object would symbolize you? 

The queen of Cai Terenmare recently gave me a pendant in the shape of a silver nautilus. It’s an object of power called the Sign of the Throne. Apparently David has the other half. I’m hoping that if he sees my half of the pendant, it will jog his memory. Maybe then I can help him find his way home so he can become the person he’s meant to be, the Solas Beir of Cai Terenmare. The Sign of the Throne is a key to another world, and maybe it will be a key for me too, in unlocking my own destiny.

Describe David. What was your first impression of him and did it change over time?

David Corbin…okay, I admit, I have a bit of a crush on Mr. Corbin. He’s easy on the eyes. It’s not just that though. It sounds crazy, but I dreamed about him before I met him in real life. I felt like we had a connection, and the queen confirmed that our paths are intertwined. That’s all well and good, but how am I supposed to tell David about all this? If I tell him he’s the heir to the throne in a magical parallel realm, he’s going to freak out and run away. What am I going to do?

Yeah. I think that would freak me out, too. Is there anything about David you would consider a flaw?


He can be a little cocky. That’s okay—I like the challenge of taking him down a notch. It seems like we always end up teasing each other when we talk, which makes me like him so much more. Never mind all this destiny stuff—we do have a real connection, and I wish I could find a way to have an actual relationship with him. But I can’t lose focus—what I want doesn’t matter. What matters is getting him home, because if I fail him, the Kruorumbrae will kill him. And if he dies, what will happen to Cai Terenmare? This is not just about me and David—there is an entire kingdom depending on us. If Tynan Tierney wins, Cai Terenmare will suffer. People I care about will die.

So, what is it that you want out of life?

Right now I just want to find a way to get David back to Cai Terenmare without him thinking I’m crazy. Worst case scenario I could kidnap him, but somehow I don’t think the Sign of the Throne will work if David doesn’t come with me willingly. Assuming I survive this, I can figure out what I want out of life later.

Has life handed you any major disappointments?


Sure—who hasn’t had major disappointments in their life? I was hoping to get a scholarship to go to college, and my grades are good, just not as good as the top students in my class. So, I’m working two jobs to save money, and my parents have been trying to help out as much as they can. But we’ve had to make sacrifices. I had to quit all of my extracurriculars to pick up more hours, and I really loved painting sets for Drama Club. I hoped I’d be able to afford a car, but that’s not going to happen. Even the hideous clunker our neighbor was selling was too much money and needed a new engine. On the bright side, I get to take a nice long walk to my jobs in Newcastle Beach, so exercise is not a problem. And another plus—if I manage to get David back to Cai Terenmare without getting mauled by a monster, college is going to be a cakewalk.

If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

A free day is a rarity for me, so I’d want to make the most of it, spending time with my family or Jon, maybe hanging out at the beach. I’d love to spend the day with David, but I’m not sure he’d feel the same. We flirt with each other, but I don’t know what I would call our relationship just yet.

Okay, last question. What CD is in your CD player right now?

Sunset Empire by The Well-Meaning Sociopaths.

Never heard of them. Well, thank you for joining us today. And now let's find out more about your story.

About Sign of the Throne~

Abby is an ordinary girl haunted by dreams of an ivory castle, blood-thirsty monsters, and a striking stranger. Working as a babysitter for a family of mythology lovers in wealthy Newcastle Beach, California, she struggles to define herself among the elite class while trying to make sense of her strange visions. Upon meeting David, the doppelgänger of the mysterious young man in her dreams, Abby’s life is changed forever.

Encountering the queen of Cai Terenmare, a magical kingdom in a parallel world, Abby learns of an evil lord hell-bent on usurping the throne, the murder of Cai Terenmare’s king, the Solas Beir, and the kidnapping of the Solas Beir’s infant son.

As the kingdom struggles to endure, the queen shows Abby the full extent of her destiny. She must convince her mysterious crush, David, that he is the lost heir. While braving attacks from the dark lord’s sadistic minions, David must realize his true identity and return to Cai Terenmare to claim his throne before time runs out, lest the evil that was temporarily locked away be unleashed, threatening to destroy both the kingdom and all of humanity.

The Excerpt~

Abby spent the next evening babysitting for Cassandra and Riordan. She put the kids to bed and laid out her homework on the coffee table downstairs. She was immersed in her work when she realized—the house was quiet. Eerily quiet.

She was used to the familiar creaks and groans of the old house, and night ushered in the occasional chirp of a cricket or flutter of moth wings around the antique sconces lighting the room. Tonight she heard nothing—there was only dead silence. She felt a prickle at the back of her neck and realized she was shivering. The room had gone unnaturally cold, and she had the distinct sense that she was not alone.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shadowy presence, someone standing still, watching her. She turned to look, but there was no one there. She felt a terrible unease twisting in her gut. Something was wrong.

Responding to her intuition, she got up and climbed the stairs to check on the children. Ciaran was snoring, perfectly at peace. He had wriggled out of his covers in his sleep. Abby tucked him back in.

Leaving his room, she walked down the hall to the twins’ room. The nightlight in the hallway began blinking erratically. She entered the room and froze. Perched monkey-like on the corner of Rowan’s crib was a shadowed figure the size of a small boy, leaning over the sleeping child. Sensing Abby, it turned its head, blood-red eyes meeting hers.

Abby gasped with horror as the creature leapt with unnatural agility from the crib and crouched like a spider high on the wall, staring down at her. Slowly, it smiled, revealing rows of pointed narrow teeth, sharp as razors. And then…it pounced.

Abby raised her arms to shield herself, scrunched her eyes shut, and screamed. But there was nothing. She heard a low chuckle behind her and saw the creature near the door. The shadow boy laughed and ran out. The smoky form changed into a large black house cat before disappearing through the hallway wall.

Abby ran to the twins’ light switch and turned on the lights. She checked to make sure Rowan and Siobhan were unharmed, and then hurried to Ciaran’s room, flicking on lights as she ran. Ciaran was still fast asleep—her scream had not disturbed him at all.

She jerked open his closet door and found his aluminum baseball bat. Then, scooping him and the quilt up from his bed, she ran back to Rowan and Siobhan’s room. She shut the door and nestled the five year old into a make-shift bed on the floor. Sitting against the dresser next to him, she hummed, trying to reassure herself. Armed with the bat and the adrenaline coursing through her body, she waited.

About Melissa Eskue Ousley~

Melissa Eskue Ousley is the author of The Solas Beir Trilogy. “Sign of the Throne,” the first book of this young adult fantasy series, will be released on September 14. She is currently working on the second and third novels in the trilogy, “The Rabbit and the Raven” and “The Sower Comes.”

Melissa lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and their Kelpie, Gryphon. When she’s not writing, Melissa can be found swimming, hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, or walking along the beach, poking dead things with a stick.

Before she became a writer, she had a number of educational jobs, ranging from a summer spent scraping roadkill off a molten desert highway to years spent conducting research with an amazing team of educators at the University of Arizona.

You can find Melissa here:

Melissa’s Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

You can buy SIGN OF THE THRONE here:

Sign of the Throne Amazon {Paperback} | Amazon {Kindle} | Redroom

GIVEAWAY!

~TODAY WE'LL DISCOVER WHAT LIES IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL!~

Detective Jared McNeil talks about his role in Nancy C. Weeks’s romantic suspense, IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL from Crimson Romance:

M. J: [I wish I had a photo of Jared McNeil I could share, but he’s camera shy. Here is a brief description for you to envision as you read his interview.
Lieutenant Jared McNeil carries himself like a soldier, stands proud with muscular shoulders, chest, and a lean waist. He is a good six foot two inches tall and has the most gorgeous, piercing cobalt blue eyes and short, wavy brown hair. Today, he’s wearing a dark, navy blue sports coat with a pair of black denim jeans. He’s the kind of man that doesn’t like to draw attention to himself. Who can’t check this guy out?]

M. J.: Thank you for being here on my blog today, Detective McNeil. You don’t look very comfortable. Is there anything I can do to make this easier on you? 

Jared: Please call me Jared. [He runs a hand through his hair then wipes his palm on his slacks.] I’m not comfortable talking about myself or the job. But, Nancy and Jennie asked me to be here so here I am.

M.J.: I promise to make this as painless as possible. If you don’t feel comfortable with a question, just let me know and I’ll move on. [He nods but I can tell he doesn’t believe me.] So, in In the Shadow of Evil, you play the hero, right?

Jared: Yes, but if there is a hero to this story it’s Jennie, not me. 

M.J.: Would you like to explain that statement? I know who Jennie is but our readers may not. Who is Jennie to you?

Jared: Jennie McKenzie McNeil is the bravest woman I have ever known. She is my hero― my everything. You might refer to her as my love interest. I can tell you right now, that label doesn’t even come close to doing Jennie justice.

M.J.: I agree with you, Jared. Jennie McKenzie is an amazing woman. But before we get to her, can you tell us a little about yourself.

Jared: I’m thirty-one years old and a detective with the Maryland’s Special Crime Unit.

M.J.: (Smiling) And…

Jared: What do you want to know about me?

M.J.: Why don’t you tell us about your family?

Jared: [A low groan escapes from the back of his throat] 

I’m the oldest son of a large family. My father is Thomas McNeil and he’s a retired police detective. My mom, Mary, is a surgeon, but these days, she only works part-time. I have a twin brother named Noah. Most people can’t tell us apart and we have spent a lifetime making use of that little advantage. Mac, or Luke McNeil is the next sibling and he lives in Austin, Texas. Mac is a special agent for the FBI as is my youngest brother, Jason. Jason’s wife, Sarah now teaches physics at the University of Texas when she is not working as a consultant to the FBI. She’s kind of this math genius. My sister, Emma is Jason’s twin. She is married to Jason’s childhood best friend, Aiden and has two six year old twin boys, David and Ethan.

M.J.: I have heard how similar you and Noah are to each other. Has Jennie ever had trouble telling you apart? Has she ever kissed the wrong brother?

Jared: HELL NO! [He squirms a little in his seat] Sorry. Jennie can tell me apart from Noah. In fact, she doesn’t think Noah and I look anything alike.

M.J: So lets talk about Jennie. How did you two meet?

Jared: [His eyes darken from a deep blue to almost black and he tenses up.] 

I met Jennie while on my first undercover assignment. I was working my way up the chain in Elías Mendoza’s organization. She was only sixteen at the time. Her foster brother, Nick and her were living with Mendoza.

M.J: How in the world did Jennie come to live with a man like Mendoza?

Jared: I really can’t go into that. Nancy asked me not to give out any spoilers from In the Shadow of Evil. Your readers will have to read that part of the story which I think is in chapter one. What I can tell you is that it was my job to not only gather information about Mendoza, but to protect Jennie and Nick. I failed miserably and will never forgive myself for underestimating Mendoza.

M.J: You’re being too hard on yourself, Jared. I know what incident you are not talking about and that was not your fault. [I raise my hand to keep him from arguing with me] Can you talk about Mendoza?

Jared: The only thing I’m willing to say about that basta … Elías Mendoza is that I hate him with every fiber of my being. He will never come near Jennie again. 

M.J: I think we need to return this interview to something a little more pleasant. Tell us how you see Jennie.

Jared: [His eyes lit up and his tense features relax instantly] What do your readers want to know about my wife? She told me not to hold back. 

M.J: That was very kind of her. [Ladies and gents, the tough Jared McNeil is actually blushing] 

Jared: Jennie is my life, my heart. I’m nothing without her. [His focus is on the wall above me] 
Jennie isn’t like anyone I have ever met. She is more than just beautiful and sexy as hell. Her strength comes from a spiritual source deep within her. She is an amazing teacher too. I’ve seen her in action and her fifth grade students are just damn lucky to have her. I guess you just have to meet her for yourself to know what I’m talking about.

M.J.: You and Jennie really had a hard time finding your way to each other. Why?

Jared: I’m just stupid like that. I was waiting for everything to be just right. I almost lost her. 

M.J: You had a very unusual wedding? Would you tell us about it?

Jared: Nancy would kill me if I told you about our wedding. But what I can tell you is that it was an experience I will never forget. The evening Jennie and I married changed how I look at the world and how I see myself. There are no words to explain what happen, but the man I was when I walked into St. Luke’s wasn’t the man who walked out.

M.J: Can you elaborate a little on what changed you so dramatically?

Jared: When you are on the job, you see the worst mankind has to offer. Your days are surrounded by men and women like Mendoza and it affects you, warps your soul until you can see only the evil that exist. That all changed the evening I married Jennie McKenzie. [His gaze drops to his feet. He is silent for a long time before he faces me again.] There are mysteries in life that can’t be explained. What happened in the church… all I can say is that my life has been altered for the better because I was smart enough to fall madly in love with Jennifer Marie McKenzie. 

M.J: I understand that Jennie is also the youth choir director for St. Luke’s Catholic Church. She’s a busy woman. How do you two find time together with such demanding jobs?

Jared: Now M.J., you should know from reading In the Shadow of Evil that nothing gets in my way when I want to be with Jennie. 

M.J: [Ladies and gents, there is no way I can describe the hungry look in Jared’s eyes, but I almost swallowed my tongue. LOL] 
How do you like having a priest as Jennie’s best friend? Do you find yourself watching what you say in front of Father Anthony? 

Jared: Father Anthony is a great guy. As for watching what I say in front of him, it just isn’t necessary. The man was a Special Forces soldier for years before entering the priesthood. There isn’t anything he hasn’t said, done or heard before.

M.J.: Would you mind telling us a little about him? Father Anthony sounds like a fascinating person.

Jared: I think if you want to know Father Anthony’s story, you are going to have to invite him on your blog. His story is his to tell.

M.J.: I guess that’s fair. I see you glancing at your watch. I know we are running out of time so just one more question.

Jared: Ask away.

M.J.: You and Jennie are now married, living your happy-ever-after. What’s next for the two of you?

Jared: According to Jennie’s dear friend and landlord, Mrs. Cunningham, we can expect babies, lots of babies. And before you ask, I can’t wait to hold the children Jennie gives me in my arms. [He stands and holds out his hand.] M.J., it was a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for having me here today. I have left a short excerpt for your readers to enjoy. I hope they enjoy our story.

Blurb for IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL:

Elías Mendoza’s personal vendetta against the McKenzie family rests on Jennie’s shoulders. As she cradles the bullet ridden body of her ten-year old student, she knows Mendoza is responsible. Quinton’s death is a message. Jennie’s life belongs to only Mendoza. But she has her own message. No one else dies. Her life means nothing as long as Mendoza is free.

Jared McNeil has spent ten years with Maryland’s Special Crime Unit and very little rattles him. When the haunted teenager he once tried to protect walks into his precinct now a beautiful woman, he wants nothing more than to wrap her in his arms and never let her go. But he soon realizes she is there only to settle her debts before she goes after his nemesis, Mendoza. Jared’s vow to stay away from Jennie until the task force destroys Mendoza now means nothing.What Jared and Jennie don't understand is there are forces at play greater than the evil shadowing them, but time is running out. United, they can do anything. Alone, they will fail.

An excerpt from IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL that Jared brought with him. Enjoy!

“The shooter just left Jennie . . .” 

Jared raised his hand. He didn’t need Noah’s words for his mind to conjured the image of a man lying on top of her with a knife, carving thin slices across her beautiful throat like it was butter. The fury grew until his breathing came in short, uneven breaths. 

He felt Noah’s hand resting on his shoulder and he could hear Jennie speaking softly to Emma behind the curtain. Her voice calmed him. Turning, he shoved the camera into Noah’s hands and yanked up a corner of the curtain. He had to see her, touch her, feel her. Before Emma could protest, he drew Jennie half dressed into his arms, plastering her body up against his. 

Jennie just clung to him saying, “I’m okay, Jared,” over and over again. 

No one was ever going to hurt her again. “Please give us a minute,” he said to Emma without looking up at her. He lifted Jennie then eased down on the bed, drawing her into his lap. Jennie’s arms circled his shoulders and pulled him tight against her. 

“Jared, what’s wrong? What did Noah say to you?”

A hurt like he never experienced clogged his throat as a tear slid down his face. He drew her to him, cradling her head against his chest. She was now safe, but it didn’t ease the guilt that churned in the pit of his stomach. He raised his head and ran his finger over the bandage. “I should have stopped that bastard. He never should have had a chance to go after you.” 

“Jared, don’t,” Jennie said as she wiped the tear with her thumb. Her hand went to his cheek. “Please don’t do this to yourself.”

Resting his head on her forehead, he took in a deep, shaky breath. “God, Jennie, why don’t you hate me?” 

“I could never hate you.”

It took a long time for him to form the words. “You better be ready for me in your life, Jennie because I’m not leaving you alone until this nightmare is over—maybe never again.”

The corners of her mouth curled up in a smile as she traced her finger along his hairline. “Now why doesn’t that sound like a threat?” 

“I’m serious, Jennie.”

Her eyes bore into him. “Bring it, big guy. I’m damn tired of being alone.” 

Bio:

Nancy C. Weeks has loved happy-ever-after romances since she was in her early teens. While still in college, she met and married her hero and spent the next several years honeymooning and working overseas. Today, she lives in suburban Maryland with her husband of more than thirty years. Her two children are in college and she spends her days out on her deck writing as the local bird population keeps her company. She loves to hear from her readers.

Link where you can find out more about Nancy C. Weeks:http://nancycweeks.com

http://nancycweeksauthor.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/NancyCWeeksAuthor

@NancyCWeeks

Buy links for IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL and IN THE SHADOW OF GREED:

IN THE SHADOW OF EVIL:
AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1fgBXl7

BARNES AND NOBLE: http://bit.ly/17hjfco

CRIMSON ROMANCE: http://www.crimsonromance.com/

IN THE SHADOW OF GREED

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/16ZTUl3

BARNES AND NOBLE: http://bit.ly/16GHb6I

iTUNES: http://bit.ly/17JKTvi

CRIMSON ROMANCE:: http://www.crimsonromance.com/