WISH FOR IT WEDNESDAY ~ Fix You by Carrie Elk

"Richard, we had a baby."

31st December 1999. Seventeen-year-old Brit, Hanna Vincent, meets New Yorker, Richard Larsen; a Columbia student and step-son of scion Leon Maxwell. Divided by wealth, distance and a common language, an unconventional friendship grows between the two.

From London to New York, from 1999 to 2012, Fix You follows the story of quirky, music-loving Hanna and handsome, driven Richard as they fall in love and are torn apart. Their tempestuous relationship leads to an explosive revelation that threatens to destroy them both.

Emotional and touching, this is a story of second chances. Is their shattered love beyond repair?

EXCERPT

Prologue

May 12^th 2012

Richard had filled out nicely since she had last seen him. The thin cotton of his shirt clung to his biceps, skimming his taut abdomen as it tucked into his dress pants. His hips were still lean and tight, and she closed her eyes as she tried not to remember how they had felt between her thighs, as he had moved inside her, breathing softly in her ear, as she had moaned and whimpered and—

She shook her head. She wasn't standing in his large, oak-panelled office just to take a trip down memory lane, as pleasant as that might be. She had flown here, over three thousand miles, to tell him what he deserved to know.

Inappropriate laughter bubbled up in her throat as she considered the ridiculous melodrama of the situation. Her 17-year-old self would be rolling her eyes, wondering how this 29-year-old woman had managed to turn a seemingly promising life into a soap opera.

She glanced up at his face, looking at his lips, which had turned down into a deep scowl. His eyes had narrowed beneath his brows, and his straight, patrician, nose was slightly crinkled in response to her presence.

The contempt he felt toward her was radiating from him.

Hanna tried to keep her breathing steady, reminding herself that although she was in his office, on the penthouse floor of his building, this was her show.

She was in control.

If he viewed her with contempt now, God only knew how he would feel once he'd heard what she had to say. He had been an integral part of her life for so long—as a friend, a confidante, even a lover—but never before did he have the power to break her.

"As nice as it is to see you," he drawled, the tone of his voice making it patently clear that her being in his office was anything but nice, "I have a meeting in five minutes. Exactly what is it that you want?"

He had no idea, but this was it. Time to open her mouth and tell him what he needed to hear. Her arms suddenly felt heavy, and her fingers trembled; a physical manifestation of her nervousness. Her laughter was replaced by something more unsettling, as she tried to take in a deep breath and form the words that she had travelled all this way to say.

Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. She watched his gaze move down to her mouth, staring at it with dark eyes, as her teeth drew in her bottom lip.

"Richard." Her voice was surprisingly strong. She could do this. She could tell him the truth, and then get the hell out of here.

Back on a plane.

Back home.

Back to him.

"Richard, we had a baby."

Carrie Elks lives near London, England and writes contemporary romance with a dash of intrigue. At the age of twenty-one she left college with a political science degree, a healthy overdraft and a soon-to-be husband. She loves to travel and meet new people, and has lived in the USA and Switzerland as well as the UK.

An avid social networker, she tries to limit her Facebook and Twitter time to stolen moments between writing chapters. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can usually be found baking, drinking wine or working out how to combine the two.

Links:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/carrieelks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/carrieelksauthor

GoodReads link for the book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19236365-fix-you

MUST READ MONDAYS ~ Salty by K.S. Thomas

Genre ~ Action/Adventure with a side of Romance ;-)

Release Date ~ February 19th

Blurb:

Tritonia ‘Salty’ Casavant has spent her entire life out at sea on her parents' sailboat. Raised by a marine biologist and her mother’s extended family of modern day pirates, her perception of the world isn’t exactly normal.

Now a single mother herself and living alone on the boat her parents left her, she enjoys her private paradise as she cruises back and forth between the Islands of Hawaii.

Everything changes when a local gang begins using her strip of ocean as a dumping ground for smuggled drugs and firearms. Soon Salty is in the middle of an all-out turf war she inadvertently started and the only way out is through Detective Finn Murphy.

Meet The Author:

Dog Lover who likes her pastries full of cream and sugar….oh…and I write some 

Aside from being an author, I am also a mom to a beautiful 5 year old little girl. I tell everyone I named her after my great-grandmother (because that’s the mature answer), but really, I named her after my favorite princess – just so happens I got lucky and they had the same name…If I wasn’t a writer, I would work on a horse ranch – I’m an animal lover (in addition to dogs, horses are at the top of my list). I wear flip-flops pretty much everywhere I go. I would rather stay awake until 5 am than get up at 5 am (years of bar tending have left their mark), if I can, I’m going to the beach AND I will always be nice to people who bring me chocolate…or coffee…if you bring me both, I’ll probably love you forever.

A gypsy at heart, I write the way I live, following the story wherever it may lead, always ready to start the next one. This is clearly reflected in my body of work which to date includes everything from Children’s Lit to Thrillers.

I happily reside in sunny Florida (for now) and can be contacted via Facebook or Twitter as well as my Blog and Website.

Sign up Here to stay up to date with all of K.S. Thomas's upcoming releases!

FRIDAY FEATURE ~ Fields Of Summer

Book Title:

Fields of Summer

Book Author:

Toni G. Sinns

Book Genre:

Light Romance, Young Adult

Book Blurb: It is amazing how many truths and lies can come out in just a summer. Daniel thought he was going to have a normal summer with his grandparents fixing up an old truck. However, when Tiffany needs a place to stay after her brother’s death Daniels summer plans change.

Get your own copy HERE :-)

My Thoughts:

This sweet story had it all! A little drama, a beautiful country setting, summer romance and a cast of characters to fall in love with! Maybe it's the country girl in me that makes me think this story so special, or the romantic in me that still believes in first loves...either way this novelette had all the makings of a great story that kept me entertained from beginning to the "happily ever after" end!

About the Author:

Toni Sinns was born and raised in Western North Carolina before moving to Central Florida in 2011. She is an author with a mind in multiple genres of novels and stories. She is currently working on multiple novels that you can read about on her website:http://gracietfranklin.wix.com/tonigsinns also you can catch her random thoughts on her blog at: http://lilgracielou.blogspot.com/

WISH FOR IT WEDNESDAY ~ Deception In Denali by JJ Ellis

Deception in Denali - Jackson’s Story

SYNOPSIS:

Jackson Mannon’s first love, Deborah, left him heartbroken when she disappeared without a trace. They were just sixteen and his life plan changed in the blink of an eye. Eight years later he learns she’s still alive and that she gave birth to his son.

Deborah Sharpe loved Jackson with all her heart, but with her life in danger she ran as far as she could go. Pregnant with his child, she wanted nothing more than to be with him. But to protect their baby she accepted her fate; she absolutely had to stay in hiding.

On a mission to reunite Deborah with her dying mother Jackson tracks her down, slowly uncovering all of her secrets. He finally makes her feel safe again, and in the process he starts to dream of the future they were denied so long ago.  But there is so much they must overcome to be together again; guilt, death and the ultimate deception.

Is their past strong enough to allow a future? Can they revive the love they once had to become a family?

EXCERPT:

     “Oh Jack, thank you so much,” she cried, throwing herself into his arms. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

Oh how he loved holding her. She still felt so perfect in his arms. All he wanted, right at that very moment, was to be able to do this again on a regular basis. “Deb,” he whispered. “Look at me.”

She moved back and looked into his eyes. A smile spread across her face.

“Did you miss me?” he asked softly. “All these years, did you ever miss me for even one moment?” His heart ached, waiting for the answer he hoped would come.

“Every minute of every day,” she murmured. “It’s hard not to miss the father of your…your child, when you still love him.”

Jackson leaned in to kiss her, gently and quickly. “Jesus I missed kissing you.”

“Why did you stop there? Kiss me Jack, really kiss me and make me forget the pain I feel.”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He put one hand on each side of her face and pulled her in for a sweet, slow, exploring kiss. They needed to get to know each other again, in every way, to remember every stroke and every movement of the lips. They were breathless when they simultaneously pulled back.

“I missed it too,” Deborah sighed. “So much.”

“Right now, I feel like you never left me.” He loved her as much right then as he had the day she disappeared, he was sure of it.

“Me too,” she whispered. “But nothing changes the fact that I did leave you and that you probably hate me for it.

“I don’t hate you,” he murmured. “I had to be rude, to show you I meant business. But I still love you sweetheart, I never stopped.” Hate was the last thing he could ever imagine feeling for her.

“So much time has gone by Jack, so much has changed, including us.”

“I know. That’s bound to happen with almost nine years passing in the blink of an eye. But I know the basics are still there. I have to believe that.” Should they take a chance and build on that? He was afraid to push her though because she was still so raw, so vulnerable.

“For me they are exactly the same, but I don’t know how to deal with what I’m feeling.”

“Me either,” he mumbled. “Let’s just take it one moment at a time. Okay?”

They agreed with a kiss.

AUTHOR BIO:

JJ Ellis is first and foremost a mom to five kids, four girls and one boy, ranging in age from 3-18. After that, she is a physically limited wife, blogger and now an author. She holds a degree in Communication Studies (Public Relations) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas but never thought she would chose writing as a career, especially at the age of 42. She once wanted to be a publicist in the entertainment industry, but never a writer. Then one day when she was in her mid thirties she was going through what can only be described as an early 'midlife crisis' and ideas just started to come to her and she felt compelled to write them down. She finished her first book relatively quickly, but life got in the way and it took her eight years to revisit it and then publish her first novel. She can honestly say that now she is finally right where she wants to be.

JJ has been married to her college sweetheart (and romance novel hero) for nineteen years and they reside in Casper, WY with their kids and one crazy mutt named Kreuger. She enjoys reading, writing, blogging, computing, and graphic design. She will try anything that will allow her creativity to be released.

LINKS:

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/writerjjellis

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/mommyof5crazies

TUMBLR: http://brokenhousewife.tumblr.com/

GOOGLE+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JJEllis/posts

KINDLE BUY LINK: Paperback coming soon! http://www.amazon.com/Deception-Denali-Jacksons-Destiny-Romance-ebook/dp/B00I4ZZ846

MUST READ MONDAYS ~ Eternal Night by Jade Kerrion

"What makes Kerrion’s writing so compelling is the beautifully flawed characters that find themselves in unexpected relationships...these kind of character level conflicts make Kerrion’s writing so deliciously addictive."—Noor A Jahangir, Author of The Changeling King

“Everything you want in a great story. Love, intrigue, action, betrayal, and understanding.”—Ch’kara Silverwolf, Author of Daughter of Light and Dark

Alone for a millennium, since a human murdered her beloved consort, Ashra, the immortal icrathari queen, rules over Aeternae Noctis, the domed city of eternal night. Her loneliness appears to be at an end when her consort’s soul is reborn in a human, Jaden Hunter, but their reunion will not be easy. Icrathari are born, not made. If Ashra infuses Jaden with her immortal blood, he will be a vampire, a lesser creature of the night, a blood-drinker rather than a soul-drinker. Furthermore, Jaden is sworn to protect his half-sister, five-year-old Khiarra. She is the child of prophecy, destined to end the eternal night and the dominion of the Night Terrors—the icrathari and the vampires. As Ashra struggles to sustain her crumbling kingdom in the face of enemies without and treachery within, Jaden fights to defend his sister and unravel a greater mystery: what is the city of eternal night, and how did it come to be? E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

READ AN EXCERPT

With Tera beside her, Ashra strode forward. A wall of vampires parted to reveal the other two icrathari, Siri and Elsker. A dark-haired human slumped at Elsker’s feet, his wrists cuffed behind his back. Ashra stifled a chuckle. Surely Tera was overreacting; the human was by far the weakest creature in the chamber. Tera knelt down, wrapped her fingers into the human’s hair, and pulled his head back. The human’s face was handsome enough—the slash of his cheekbones accentuated his perfectly proportioned, sculptured features—but taken as a whole, he was not compelling enough to justify the fuss. Ashra shrugged. “You’re wasting my time, Tera.” Apparently undeterred, the icrathari warlord shook the human hard. His eyes flashed open. They were brilliant green, the exact color of the emerald ring Ashra wore on the index finger of her right hand. His gaze was unfocused, and the reflexive narrowing of his eyes matched the clenching of his jaw, hinting of wrenching pain. Tera looked up and met Ashra’s gaze. “Taste his soul.” Ashra recoiled, her upper lip curling in disgust. She had no desire to taste a human’s soul. Over the centuries, humans had grown weak, their small lives consumed by superstition and fear. It was better to live on the edge of perpetual starvation than fill her hunger with the pitiful excuse humans called a soul. “Go deep,” Tera said. But why? Ashra’s brow furrowed. She glanced at Siri and Elsker, but the two icrathari shrugged, apparently no more clued in than she was. She looked back at Tera. The icrathari warlord known as Ashra’s Blade was the epitome of calm understatement. If she was so insistent, she must have had a reason. Ashra knelt beside the human. Without flinching, she placed her hand against his muscled abdomen. It was bloody, his flesh ripped by a vampire’s talons. The man tensed at her touch, and his eyes flared wide with agony when her soul-sucking powers leeched into him. His breath came hard and fast, his chest heaving with the effort as he twisted in Tera’s unyielding grip, trying to break free. Ashra’s eyes narrowed. The human was weakened—tapped into his life source, she waded through his dazed thoughts and shivered from the echo of each spasm of pain that wracked his body—but still, he fought Tera on the physical plane and Ashra on the psychic dimension, denying her access to his memories and to his soul. She frowned and slammed her will against his, tearing an anguished scream from his throat, but still, his will did not crumble. Askance, Ashra looked at Tera. “Did you taste him?” Tera nodded. “It wasn’t hard the first time; he didn’t know what to expect, but apparently, he does now and is doing a fine job of fighting back.” Was that grudging respect she heard in Tera’s voice? “Does his soul really matter?” The icrathari nodded again. Ashra’s shoulders shifted with the motion of a silent sigh. His resistance left her with little choice. She leaned forward and glided her lips over his in a whisper of a kiss. Human myths spoke of succubi and incubi—demons that, with a touch, could stir lust in their unwilling victims. All myths were based in reality. The maddening beauty and soul-sucking powers of the icrathari had spawned the legends of succubi and incubi. With a touch, the icrathari could lure their victims into a state of sexual ecstasy, bending the will and baring the soul. The human tensed against Ashra, resisting the intimate contact. She almost recoiled. Had the centuries dulled her innate powers? Surely she had not forgotten how to lure a man. She closed her eyes and remembered love. As always, Rohkeus’s fine-featured face—those beautiful gold-flecked green eyes, so unusual for an icrathari, and teasing smile—came to the fore. With a dreamy half-smile, she deepened the kiss, driving the memory of love before her like a sharpened stake. At last, the man relaxed, succumbing to the kiss. She leaned into him, heedless of his crimson blood staining her white gown. He was warm, feverish even. Just skimming over six feet, he had more than twelve inches on her, but his physical strength, compared to hers, was puny. She was well aged; over four millennia old, she was the oldest of the icrathari and the strongest. She could have broken his neck with as little effort as a human child snapping a twig. Her hand trailed across his muscled torso. He made it easy for her to be gentle. His body trembled as if he longed for her. His mouth was hungry for her kiss. He arched up against her, as if craving more. His need was like a living creature, wild and aching for her touch. Eyes closed, Ashra shivered. Only one other person had desired her as much. And he was dead. She forced her way through the memories of pale bodies tangled upon cool silk sheets. When her soul-sucking power leeched out, it found no opposition. Images of the human’s life rewound in a blaze of vivid sights, sounds, and sensations. Ashra looked up at Tera, her smile little more than a barely perceptible curve of her lips. “He fancies himself the protector of the child of prophecy. Was she among those taken tonight?” Tera nodded. Ashra chuckled, the sound without humor. “It’s a pity her genetic heritage wasn’t sufficiently superior to prevent her from being culled.” “There’s more. Go deep.” She pushed past the blackness at the start of his memories, expecting deeper darkness. Instead, the colors shifted into shades of ochre and gray. Memories, older than his body, resided in his soul; memories of an Earth long since lost to them—a planet surrounded and nourished by water; images of tall buildings glistening beneath a benevolent sun, and of thriving cities filled with the bustle of humans; memories of quiet and intimate conversations beneath a silver moon, the same silver moon that now graced Malum Turris with its light, though a thousand years older and viewed only from beneath the protection of the dome. She saw herself as he must have seen her, a much-younger icrathari, still hopeful for the future, never realizing that the Earth they had all known and loved was irretrievably lost. Had she ever looked that vulnerable? Had her smile ever been so beautiful, so filled with love as she looked upon— “Rohkeus?” Oh, blessed Creator, was that stricken whisper her voice?

~*~

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository Connect with Jade Kerrion at: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

FRIDAY FEATURE ~ A Tattered Love By Nickie Seidler

Title: A Tattered Love

Author: Nickie Seidler

Genre: Suspenseful Romance

Synopsis:

Riley Miller wants nothing more than to leave her past behind and never speak of it again. The damage caused by what has happened has made her build walls keeping people out. Starting over isn't easy. After a move to Cape Cod to escape the dark and haunting secrets, she meets Abby and Evan. Instantly becoming best friends, shy and quiet Riley tries to break out of her shell with the help from her new friends. Just as she begins to settle into a comfortable routine, Riley meets Evan's friend Dustin.

Life as Riley knows it will never be the same.

Looking for love is the last thing on Dustin’s to do list, if it’s even on there at all. Living with some significant secrets of his own, Dustin tries to keep from getting in too deep with anyone. But, he finds himself drawn to the timid, yet stunning Riley. Can they both accept the past and develop a relationship? Or will the skeletons in both of their closets keep them from ever moving on?

Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18275408-a-tattered-love

Purchase Links

AMAZON USA: http://www.amazon.com/A-Tattered-Love-ebook/dp/B00FLA81KA

AMAZON UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Tattered-Love-ebook/dp/B00FLA81KA

Meet The Author

Born and raised in the Chicago-land area, Nickie Seidler is an up and coming young author. Her new-found dream of being a writer has led to the completion of her first book "A Lucky Second Chance". Nickie is married, and when not writing, enjoys cooking new recipes for them to try, water aerobics, car racing and spending quality time with family and friends. She is currently writing her third book to be released early 2014.

Author Links

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7073035.Nickie_Seidler

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/N.M.Seidler

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorNSeidler

Blog: http://authornickieseidler.blogspot.com/

Excerpts

Dream Cast:

Praise from others

"A Tattered Love is captivating! The love Riley and Dustin share is
indescribable. They have to decide if going off feelings, attraction, and love will work when everything else doesn't..." Author B. E. Laine

"A Tattered Love is a raw emotional journey of love and passion.  Riley loves Dustin but feels like the challenges they face could destroy them both.  Dustin knows his life includes Riley but has demons that must be faced.  Together these two personify the belief that love and faith conquer all." Author Brandy Dorsch

"I never knew what would happen next. When I thought I had it figured
out,  the author would surprise me with another twist. If you love angst and tension filled books then this is a must read." Author Glenna Maynard

WISH FOR IT WEDNESDAY ~ Love & Deception by Chantel Rhondeau

Love & Deception (Agents in Love ~ Book 1)

Author: Chantel Rhondeau

Genre: Romantic Suspense

What if everything you believed in was a lie?

In hiding for six years, Carlie Hollis is tired of running. All she wants is to stay in Sayle, Washington and make a success of her struggling delicatessen. Because of her past, she’s suspicious of anyone who takes an interest in her.Nick Kendall works as a spy in a top-secret government operation, protecting innocent people from danger. Sent to Sayle on a mission to infiltrate a suspected terrorist organization, Nick finds himself attracted to Carlie, an alleged key player of the group.

Despite her misgivings, Carlie develops feelings for the handsome stranger, believing he is there to help her. But when Nick finds evidence of her guilt, he’s given orders to do the unthinkable—eliminate the target, one he's fallen hopelessly in love with. Will he follow orders...or become hunted himself?

CONTENT WARNING: Violence, language, sizzling love scenes.
Agents in Love Series:
Book 1 - Love & Deception (October 2013)
Book 2 - Love & Redemption (Spring 2014)
Book 3 - Love & Compromise (Fall 2014)
More to come...

Buy it now:

Kindle Edition:
Amazon: US | UK | 
Apple iStore:  US | UK | AU | CA
Barnes & Noble

Kobo 
Smashwords

All Romance eBooks 

Print Edition: 
CreateSpace
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Mark it as "to read" on Goodreads

Excerpt:

Silence rushed to fill the space between them. Desperate to keep the conversation moving, Carlie jerked her chin in the direction of the chandelier. “I love how big that is.”

“Really?” Nick lifted one eyebrow and his lips quirked at the corners. “I’ve heard size is important.”

Embarrassment burned all the way up her neck and face. “I meant the chandelier. I wasn’t saying...” Holy crap. She was supposed to flirt. Another woman would have come up with a witty comeback, but Carlie had nothing.

He laughed and reached across the table, patting her hand. “Relax. I figured that’s what you meant. Just trying to lighten the mood.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so nervous.”

“It’s okay, but you really don’t need to be. I don’t bite. Well,” he glanced at the tablecloth briefly before looking at her again, heat in his gaze, “not on the first date.”

“I...you...” Carlie gasped for a few seconds and then sighed. Shelley would be so disappointed in her. “I’m not good at this.”

“You’re not trying to tell me you don’t date much, are you?”

“Well, actually, I don’t.” She took a sip of water. The truth was the wrong path to take here. Guys wanted worldly, experienced girls who knew how to have a good time.

Flirt!

She winked at him, hoping it didn’t look like she had something in her eye. “At least, not men as sexy as you.”

He winked back. “And big, don’t forget big.”

Author Bio

Chantel once thought a great mystery or fantasy book with strong romantic themes was the highest level of reading bliss. After reading her first romantic suspense novel, she never looked back. Before long, the need to create her own stories took over. She spend her days in the clinical profession of medical transcriptionist, but her passion is in the hours spent with her characters in the evenings.

She live in the western United States, and when she's not writing she love playing cards with her family, bowling on leagues, and snuggling with her lazy kitties.

Want to contact Chantel?
Website: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com
Cyber Stalk on Facebook
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Check out all Chantel's available titles: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com/p/my-available-titles.html