Title: Finding Hope for Tomorrow (Tomorrows #2)
Author: Kathryn McNeill Crane
Release Date: April 26, 2016
Synopsis
Every person’s life tells a story. Some are uncomplicated, straightforward, and easy. Things fall into place with a simplicity that boggles the mind. Others twist and turn, and every day is centered on fighting and scraping, yet never finding victory. And then there are those who gain an inch only to be knocked back a foot. They love. They fight. They stumble. They fall. But through it all, they stagger to their feet, step back on life’s path, and push through until they win. For these people, happiness is not an illusion. It’s a truth, a promise, worth any effort, any scars, but just out of arm’s reach. It stands at the end of the path, taunting and teasing, tempting them to take one more blow. And in the end, the battles make victory sweeter. More valued. More precious than ever imagined. More than any one person could hope. This is Liam’s story. Loyal, protective, shoulders stronger than Atlas'. Broken, worn, battered. Win or lose, he’s ready to fight for what tomorrow brings. Life. Love. Healing. Hope.
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Excerpt
Annie’s eyes widened and filled with shame. Her lower lip trembled as she whispered her apology. “Sorry, Uncle Liam. That wasn’t very nice of me.” Her body curled into itself, and she grew smaller right before his eyes. Tears slipped down her cheeks as her tiny voice cracked. “Daddy wouldn’t be very proud of me, would he?”
“Aww, honey.” His heart melted. That her first thought was of what her father’s reaction might be didn’t surprise him. He longed for the day when she would accept that Tripp wasn’t coming back to them.
Though she tried to be strong for her younger sisters, the burden was too heavy for Annie to carry. Like her mother, she still struggled fiercely with her dad’s death. As the oldest of the three girls, her father’s memory whirled through her mind on constant repeat. Even though more than two years had passed, she sometimes waited beside the door, hoping Tripp would walk through and sweep her up in his arms. More than once, Liam had caught her carrying on a conversation with her dad, reminiscing about the time they’d spent together. The past Christmas had hit her hard, and her uncle had spent most of the day with her tiny body snuggled on his lap, attempting to soothe her and encouraging her to enjoy the day.
No child should need coaxing to open her gifts.
He leaned down and tipped her chin up, forcing her to look him in the eyes. “Baby girl, if your daddy were here, there wouldn’t be enough room to hold the pride he’d have for you.” The sight of her glistening eyes and wet face slammed against his heart. Pain shot through him, and a single tear traced a path down his cheek. His voice cracked under the weight of his grief. “He would see you growing up, being such a good big sister, and helping your momma all the time.” He thumbed the tear from his ruddy cheek, lifted her off the floor, and carried her to the couch.
“And he would snatch you right up and tell you just how proud he is of you, how much he loves you.” His arms tightened around her, trying to calm her shuddering sobs. “I know I’m not him, and I never will be, but I love you, and I’m so proud of you. You’re such an amazing little girl.” He chuckled quietly and tickled her side. “Or maybe not such a little girl, as I’ve been recently reminded.”
His joking words produced the result he wanted. Blinking her eyes at a rapid pace, she looked up at him and cracked a small smile.
“Thanks, Uncle Liam.” She settled back against his chest, her words coming out in choppy huffs. “I really am sorry I was mean to you. I just miss him so much.” Her breath hitched, and her petite body melted against him.
“Oh, sweetheart, I know you didn’t mean it.” He brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “And just remember, there’s nothing wrong with being sad or missing your daddy. We all miss him, every single day.”
He may not be their dad, but he loved those girls more than life, and his primary goal was to ensure their happiness and wellbeing.
Liam squeezed her close as his eyes drifted to the kitchen doorway. Wrynn leaned against the doorframe and mouthed thank you. Her mahogany hair was tangled and unkempt. Stains dotted her sweatshirt. Liam wouldn’t be surprised if those were the same clothes she’d slept in the night before. What he wouldn’t give to see her happy and carefree again. Because grief had a way of aging a person, she looked much older than their twenty-eight years. Her pale face flushed as she wept.
Glad I have Wrynn’s girls to fill the empty. Don’t know what I’d do without them.
His thought made him grimace. He tried not to dwell on his lack of family, but at times, when he was with Wrynn and his nieces, it became harder to fight back the desire to have his own. He often wondered if he was meant to live his life alone because he’d yet to meet the right woman he wanted to share in his life, his love, his family.
“Okay, guys and dolls, let’s eat.” His sister’s hoarse voice broke through his musings.
He wrapped Annie in one arm, grabbed six-year-old Bekah in the other, and turned sideways on the couch to help Maggie climb on his back. Satisfied all three were safe and secure, he stood to his feet and lurched toward the kitchen with giant, fumbling steps. Giggles rang out around him. He placed Annie and Bekah in their chairs, then leaned forward and flipped Maggie over his shoulder. Lifting her above his head, he nibbled on her toes. As her laughter increased, he blew raspberries on her belly before sitting her down and strapping her in her booster seat.
More In The Series
Searching for Tomorrow (#1) – Released Oct 13, 2013
Some people are blessed to find that one certain person who completes them. Wrynn’s yesterdays were what others only dream of having. She and Tripp were the best of friends before they even thought about love. They had the fairy tale life where ‘like’ turns into ‘love’, and ‘love’ becomes ‘happily ever after’... What happens when life conspires against you, and snatches your soul mate from your arms? … Only her forever love ended much too soon. Broken beyond her own ability to repair, Wrynn boxes up her grief and attempts to raise her three girls the best she can on her own. As time slowly passes, Wrynn relives her life with Tripp while struggling most days to get out of bed. She is reminded of him at every turn. How do you set your grief and anguish aside? How do you pick up the shattered pieces, put those pieces back together again, and try to move on? Wrynn tries to find the joy in life every single day through her daughters, family, and friends. Her twin brother Liam has dedicated himself to helping Wrynn put her life back together after losing his own love. On the other hand, her mother-in-law lives to torment her at every turn. Wrynn can't even find a chance to breathe, much less a desire to somehow search for her tomorrow.
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About The Author
Kathryn is a simple country girl who likes to spend time with her family. Born and raised in Eastern North Carolina, she loves to travel, but can't imagine ever leaving the mountains she's come to call home. She holds Jeremiah 29:11 very close to her heart and believes it with every fiber of her being. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
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HELL ON HEELS by Anne Jolin
Genre: Women's Fiction Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 26, 2016
— SYNOPSIS --
I use people. Not in a malicious way, but in the way an addict abuses their substance of choice. People are my vice—men specifically. I crave the emotional high they give me with a unique and reckless disregard for my own well-being—eagerly floating into an unsustainable euphoria, knowing full well that after every high comes an equal, if not more powerful, plummet into a devastating abyss. But like every junkie, I crawl willingly back into the arms of my demons.
Oh, the price we pay to feel loved. We’d all sell our souls to the devil himself for that. Perhaps I have already.
They say that acknowledging that you have a problem is one of the first steps to recovery. Well, in that case, my name is Charleston Smith and I have a fucking problem.
— PURCHASE --
✯✯✯ NOW LIVE! ✯✯✯
— ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ANNE JOLIN --
Hey y’all,
I was born and raised in Ladner, a small farm town just outside Vancouver, Canada. I grew up riding horses, shooting guns, and driving in trucks.
I never expected to be an author. A massage therapist? Yes. Take over the family construction company? Yes. But an author? No. Writing was something that snuck up on me and rooted itself into my life. It was beautiful to discover that love, and I’m truly grateful to say I’ve found my passion.
Since I’ve always been a creative person, it feels amazing to harness all of that energy and use it to tell a story I love. I enjoy incorporating bits of my real life into the stories I write. What parts are true? Hah. I’ll never tell—what would be the fun in that?
If I could leave y’all with one thing, it’s that life’s far too short to not live it out loud. Drown in your passions, hold on tight to the things that inspire you, and chase your dreams relentlessly. I can promise you without a doubt that you won’t regret it. I know I don’t.
Mad love,
Anne Jolin
xx
Title: Justice
Series: Bad Boys of X-Ops Book II
Author: Rie Warren
Genre: Erotic romance, humor, thriller, suspense, military, action/adventure
From the world of bad boys of Retribution MC comes a deliciously dangerous, scandalously sexy, four part series!
Good girl versus Bad boy. Southern charm comes head-to-head with military grit. They say opposites attract. That’s an understatement where Justice and Lawless are concerned. JUSTICE Let’s face it. I’ve got a bad rep with the ladies. I’m a rough-talking, smooth-loving, international playboy—yeah right, whatever—and an X-Ops specialist. Sure, I’m hiding a secret or two. Who isn’t? That’s the least of my concerns when I’m called in to lead an infiltrate-and-retrieve mission. I’ve got my head in the game—the one firmly attached to my shoulders. An American embassy overseas is under siege, and I’m expecting to rescue the ambassador and his daughter, a stereotypical geeky damsel in distress, Matilda Lawless. Caught in the crossfire between explosive danger and wild desire, I’m in for the shock of my life. TILLY I’m not looking for any man to save me. I’m pretty damn capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much. I have a successful career and was practically born and bred on a gun range, even if I can’t bake a perfect biscuit to save my life like a good southern woman should. But there’s just something about that hardcore operative called Justice. He’s haunted and lonely, and I know that pain inside and out. It doesn’t hurt one little bit he’s been blessed with more than his fair share of good looks, plus a body that would make any red-blooded woman drool. Barricaded inside the embassy, under my father’s shrewd eyes, I intend to have Justice no matter how many times he says he’s not good enough. I see the way he watches me. With dirty, sexy, hungry lust. Fighting is what Justice does. Now I need him to fight for me. Warning: Graphic sex, graphic action, graphic language. Triple X caution.
“I think you’d best get some rest, Matilda.” My voice came out low but razor sharp, my words blunt and unmuffled.
If I had to be an asshole to her to maintain the necessary distance I would, because the suddenness of wanting her so damn much was painful.
And futile.
And stupid beyond belief.
“Tsk.” She waltzed into the room all bare, tan legs and warm, soft scent.
Her fingers flicked at my forehead, and I reared back in surprise.
“Tilly, Ah told you. Only my grandmother has ever called me Matilda, and she’s so stiff I think she was molded into the apron she put on after she got married in 1948. I am not a Matilda.”
First of all, I couldn’t believe she’d flicked me. Me! A goddamn ex-marine and special operative.
And second, a grin crept up one side of my mouth, but I swallowed down the laugh that wanted to follow.
“What’s that?” Tilly pointed at the notebook resting in my lap.
“Uh.” Fuck. I’d completely forgotten about the damn thing. “Nothing.” I quickly rolled it up and stashed it in my pocket. “Bullshit on pages. Gonna make a bonfire out of it later.”
I pulled out a throwing star I always flipped back and forth between my fingers. It flashed like lightning, throwing sparks of light across the room.
A much more manly pursuit.
Jesus. I am losing it.
Maybe I need some sleep after all.
I groaned.
Tilly plopped right down beside me with upraised legs, leaning the back of her head against the wall. “God, but it’s hot in here.”
Plucking at her shirt that ballooned before settling back against the firm round hills of her tits, she rolled her head toward me. “Justin, right?”
I met her eyes for a moment to see the twinkle in her irises.
“Justice.” I growled.
“Justice? Hmm. Justice what?”
“I’m not giving out that information.” I made my frown as formidable as ever, but I could tell she didn’t give a shit.
She leaned close enough her warm breath caressed my ear. “Who would I tell?”
“Chase . . . Justice Chase.” The words tumbled from my mouth.
She clapped a hand over her mouth to withhold a giggle. “Well, that’s not so bad, is it? Imagine if it was Chase Justice.”
“It’s not that.” Maybe a little. “No one’s supposed to know . . . who I really am.”
“Lawless and Justice, huh?” Her hand found my forearm, and her fingers squeezed the steel cable muscles. “Sounds like an outlaw movie. The next big blockbuster. I promise to keep your secret, Justice Chase.”
Spunky Tilly somehow lifted all the fatigue from my body, and I aimed a feral grin at her.
Her eyelashes fluttered. Her smile became a softer curve of her lips.
Her fingers traced all the way down to my wrist where a pulse pounded a heavy beat before she skimmed her hand to my thigh and down to the floor between us.
She made my body thump and my blood race. She made sensations fire like a network of heat to the center of my groin.
Maybe it was just the day, the night, the adrenaline rush that hadn't worn off and probably wouldn't. The same thing happened with every op—unleashed energy I usually slaked afterward by fucking. Fucking hard. Randomly. Anonymously.
Here there was no one to screw. Except Tilly.
There was no escaping her presence either, and, man, did I want to fuck the living daylights out of her.
I lifted one knee and casually—oh so casually—crossed a forearm over it so my hand nearly dangled in my lap, obscuring my growing hard-on from view.
“You should stay in your quarters, Matilda.” My voice sounded like gravel, and I shifted again.
“Is that a direct order, sir?”
Rie is the badass, sassafras author of Sugar Daddy and the Don’t Tell series–a breakthrough trilogy that crosses traditional publishing boundaries beginning with In His Command. Her latest endeavors include the Carolina Bad Boys, a fun, hot, and southern-sexy series.
A Yankee transplant who has traveled the world, Rie started out a writer—causing her college professor to blush over her erotic poetry without one ounce of shame. Not much has changed. She swapped pen for paintbrushes and followed her other love during her twenties. From art school to marriage to children and many a wild and wonderful journey in between, Rie has come home to her calling. Her work has been called edgy, daring, and some of the sexiest smut around.
You can connect with Rie via the social media hangouts listed on her website https://www.riewarren.com. She is represented by Saritza Hernandez, Corvisiero Literary Agency. http://www.corvisieroagency.com/Saritza_Hernandez.html
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