Series: The Fighter Series #2
By: T.C. Matson
Publication Date: April 11, 2016
Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Paige Turns out he was everything I ever wanted—charming, loving, and super sexy. But I knew being with Levi, the gorgeous MMA fighter every woman wanted, was going to be difficult. Especially since he’s so far away training a beautiful up-and-coming female fighter, teaching the very thing he thrives on. I just didn’t realize how damaging and strenuous this would be to our relationship. With so many twists and turns, unfortunately, we both got blindsided by the unexpected. Levi I’m everything she wants and surprisingly, she was everything I needed. Quickly she became my very existence—my heartbeat. Everything around me faded as she became clear in view. And just because I’m affectionate toward her doesn’t mean I’ve changed. Don’t confuse my being in love with weakness. I’m still pretty damn perfect. I knew distance was going to be hard, but hell, this is agonizing.
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TC Matson loves to let her characters voices be heard. With a head full of stories, she puts her keyboard through a beating daily. Regularly, she visits the solidity of her writing cave, whether it be on the couch, at her desk, or in the corner hiding from her five-year-old. She’s an avid reader and is known to devour books within hours. As a romance junkie, Matson sets her sights to try to find stories that are relatable and real. She’s not a fan of vampires, fairies, or any other out of this world fiction. And understanding that love isn’t always instant and full of flowers…her writing mirrors it. She isn’t afraid to push the envelope and touch the bases of uncomfortable situations. Matson resides in the peaceful Piedmont area of North Carolina, where she stays hopped up on caffeine and chasing children. She has a relatively normal life managing her home, or as she calls it, her loony bin. Chaos is indefinite and a sense of humor is absolutely a must.
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Gifted
by J.A. George
Release Date: April 2016
Summary:
There is no chosen one in this story. Avery Gray was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and happened to make a decision that altered her future forever. It happens to all of us every day.
Avery is a size twelve young woman with a penchant for dry humour, and she’s as normal as they come. Up until now, the biggest choice she’s had to make was glasses or contacts? At the moment, it’s stay and save, or leave and be saved.
Allow me to explain. One rainy afternoon, Avery had to make a choice: go through the alleyway or around it. Two possible options; one would have had her future continue on as planned, the other would ensure that her future never remained the same again. She unknowingly went with the latter. But change is not always bad. Avery meets Theodore-James Connors, an enigmatic young man who takes her to Hayven, a city separated from the rest of the world, where only gifters – ordinary people with extra-ordinary gifts – can go. She soon finds herself in a close-knit group of friends she’d never have imagined herself in; friends who are diverse in every possible way, from their ethnic backgrounds, to their personalities, from their gifts, to their life stories. Friends who make her laugh, who make her cry, who make her think, who make her…her.
However, change is not always good. The beautiful, golden city of Hayven has its dark side: Cliders. Gifters turned rogue, aka, Cliders are determined to aid fallen Clider, Madrina, return to rule Hayven. They will stop at nothing to make that happen, including harming those Ava has grown to love. Again, Ava is faced with a choice: spend her days finding a way to inhibit Madrina’s return, or walk away. Or rig the future itself and make it work for her.
About the Author
Interested in the author behind the book? It's a bit of a long story but I'll shorten it as much as I can...
Whenever someone asked me what I wanted to be when I was older, I’d proudly tell them I wanted to be a doctor. This was a decade ago. Somewhere along the line I realised the thought of not being able to cure everyone who walked through my hospital’s doors was one that would probably haunt me for the rest of my career, so I decided I wanted to be a lawyer instead, specialising in family law. Then it came time to pick a course to study at university and again I realised that being a lawyer doesn’t always entail what TV shows made me think it does. Then I wanted to be a business woman, working in finance, so I studied International Business at Brunel University for a year. I HATED IT. What I’m hoping you’ve done by now is notice something all these careers have in common. You guessed correctly if you picked up on the fact that they are all well-paid, respected jobs. That’s the dream for everyone, isn’t it? To either be rich or at least well-off. To not have to worry about bills, to not have to struggle with a mortgage. Luckily, on one forty-five minute train ride home, I suddenly decided life was too short to spend the rest of my life in a job I wouldn’t enjoy simply because it paid my bills. The mantra, find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life became my adage and a phrase I say to myself when things look rather bleak concerning my now chosen future career. I didn’t want to get to a stage in my life when I would discover that actually, I really didn’t like my job but it was too late to do something different now, that I was too trapped to change career paths. Disclaimer: it’s never too late to change career path but I was younger when I had this rather long train of thought (Pun intended? Lucky accident.) and didn’t know much better. So, on the train ride home I made some big decisions. My first year at Brunel University studying International Business would be my last year and I asked myself, “Jess? What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to see yourself as one, two, three decades from this day? What job is out there for you that will never make you regret what you’re about to do?” And the only thing I was able to say to myself at that particular moment was, “I like to write.” But even then I couldn’t help remind myself that being an author was not a stable job – at all. I was always the girl with the life plan, the mapped out future that ensured, one way or another, stability. Within three minutes, I threw all of that away. I bought myself a mini laptop (an expensive purchase for a student) and set about using my forty-five minute journeys to university for my first novel – an MG spy novel highly resembling Ally Carter’s novels. The more I wrote, the quicker I fell in love with the idea of this being a career. A year after came my YA fantasy/romance novel, GIFTED. My greatest achievement so far. Literary agents may not think so (the more you read my blog, the more you’ll understand of that). Authors may tell me to give up and try writing something else. That’s not going to happen. I want to see Gifted published and available in bookshops around the world. Every author wants that for their book, and that’s what I am. An author.
Dark Heart Series
Book Two
Pat Esden
Genre: new adult paranormal
Publisher: Kensington
Date of Publication: August 30, 2016
ASIN: B0190HGU52
ISBN: 9781496700070
ISBN-10: 1496700074
Number of pages: 320
Word Count: 85k
Book Description:
She wants more than he can promise.
His desires could lead to betrayal.
But without each other, neither can survive the dangers ahead.
Annie Freemont knows this isnât the right time to get involved with a man like Chase. After years of distrust, sheâs finally drawing close to her estranged family, and heâs an employee on their estate in Maine. Though she never intended to stay on the estate for long, her fatherâs illness and the mysteries surrounding her family made leaving impossible. And now with the newfound hope of rescuing her long-missing mother, Annieâs determined to be involved with the familyâs plans one way or another.
If only she could keep her mind off Chase and focus on the impending rescue. But thereâs something about the enigmatic Chase that she canât resist. And sheâs not the only woman. Annie fears a seductive stranger who is key to safely freeing her mother is also obsessed with him. As plans transform into action and time for a treacherous journey into a strange world draws near, every move Annie makes will test the one bond sheâs trusted with her secrets, her desiresâand her heart.
About the Author:
PAT ESDEN is an antique-dealing florist by trade. Sheâs also a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and the League of Vermont Writers. Her short stories have appeared in a number of publications, including Orson Scott Cardâs Intergalactic Medicine Show, the Mythopoeic Societyâs Mythic Circle literary magazine, and George H. Scitherâs anthology Cat Tales.
Her new adult paranormal novel, A HOLD ON ME (book #1 in the Dark Heart series) is available from Kensington Books. BEYOND YOUR TOUCH (book #2 Dark Heart series) will be released August 30th.
Website: http://patesden.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatEsdenAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patesden
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/patesden/
Desperate to prevent an abusive arranged marriage, Princess Araya flees to a neighboring kingdom, only to land at the mercy of the impulsive Crown Prince Thoredmund, who provides refuge in a secluded forest and teaches her survival skills. Her surprise at the unexpected hold the prince has on her heart mirrors his shock at falling for the one girl he canât have.
As the young coupleâs feelings for each other grow, the fragile alliance between the two kingdoms threatens to break apart. With a vengeful duke and an enraged king fast on their trail, Thor and Araya must decide how much theyâre willing to risk for love. Even if staying together means starting a war.
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Sway â Companion song to Under the Trees!
Excerpt:
The dark horse tore through the underbrush, bringing her close enough I could make out a pale face and a tangle of long hair. A black cloak billowed behind her. Men on horseback gave chase, darting through the trees, clearly in pursuit. All those men after one girl? Who could she be? My instincts screamed against them catching her. She could be a decoy, and they could all be spiesâbut what if she was in real danger?
It wouldnât be so difficult to apprehend her, only one rider, later â¦
âLet her pass,â I ordered, staring my men down until they stepped aside.
The girl raced past, glancing over her shoulder for a brief momentâher eyes flashing emerald in the light of the fireâbefore looking ahead and leaning low on her horseâs neck.
My men gaped at me, gripping weapons with white-knuckled hands. With a jerk of my head in the direction of the riders almost upon us, I raised the bow and nocked an arrow.
âHold the line,â I commanded. âThese men stop here.â
--Prince Thoredmund from UNDER THE TREES
About the Author
Under the Trees is Ashley Makerâs debut novel. When sheâs not working on her next book, Ashley spends much of her time procrastinating on social media, relaxing with her husband and two daughters, and writing companion songs on her acoustic guitar. She has a bachelorâs degree in English, worked a short stint as a book editor, and lives in a small town in Oklahoma.
"Sway" --the first companion song to UNDER THE TREES--is available to listen to and download for free at: ashleymaker.com
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by Kyrian Lyndon Genre: YA Dark Suspense Release Date: January 6th 2016 Summary from Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Danielle DeCorso watches in fear for two men in a dusty black sedan who keep circling the house and harassing her with phone calls. The old house in Glastonbury was an eerie place to grow up. Danielle would lie in her bed at night, listening to the sounds of darkness. But those predators in the black sedanâthey had drugged her, along with her cousin, Angie, and held them captive in their home for hours. Angie will not share her truth of that horrendous day, and Danielle's credibility is in question. Danielle remains guarded, obsessed, and withdrawn in her now tumultuous world. She finds herself in a position of needing to sort out her confusion while dealing with her troubled family. She craves normalcy in an ongoing fight for her sanity. Grief and guilt spiral her to an even darker place until startling revelations awaken her newfound spirit, inspiring a once naive girl to grow into a woman of defiance and courage.
Guest Post:
IN THE DIMMEST LIGHT
I wake up at four a.m. every day, including weekends and holidays, and write for hours. It starts with nothing more than a 40-watt amber-shade lamp lit in the darkest hours, where I can see the moon outside my window. The focus is intense. It is light before long.
Creating characters and the worlds they live in began as a childhood obsession. I wrote down names then added descriptions, developing their stories by continuing to add details. I had no idea why I did this at the time. My parents worried for a while. They relaxed a bit as I went on to write fairy tales and poems. When I wrote my first novel at 16, I used parts of those descriptions.
I held many jobs since then â secretary, assistant book manufacturing representative, assistant to the casting director, computer system administrator, and paralegal/legal assistant. One summer, I was shooting photos for a modelâs portfolio. Another day Iâd be chatting with musicians about putting a band together. My ego was insatiable, so I was all over the place, wanting to do everything. I told myself, all I want to do is write while being sidetracked at every turn.
Life went on, rife with challenges, full of adventures. I roamed the darkest corners to learn about the world and myself. Setbacks knocked me down. I would get up eventually and find my way again.
More and more so, I began telling my story in the novels I wrote. I became so immersed in the reality of it, I would not steer off its course long enough to let my imagination truly come alive. I started over several times until I realized I didnât sign on for this to tell my story. A storyteller can tell any story she wants, and so I was back on track.
To be fair, I learned about the book publishing process working in publishing. I chased down literary agents, got a press kit, and formed a writerâs club. I continued to educate myself about writing. I subscribed to the relevant publications. I contributed to an anthology, had letters published. There were assignments and proposals I turned down wanting to be true to myself and the integrity of my work. I was devoted to mastering my craft.
I realize, too, Iâd been busy healing. It was necessary for me to find the courage to free myself of belief systems that kept me in bondage. Until we fully heal, we remain in bondage to something or another and prone to all kinds of obsession. Disentangling from all that is a painful process and a lot of work but well worth it. Past turmoil is the baggage we can carry forever or make lighter and less cumbersome by checking it.
Perhaps itâs different for everyone, but the process is the same. It is discovering what you do not want nor want to be; who or what impedes you; who and what strengthens you. Learning to trust your instincts is essential. If I couldnât do that as a human being, I surely could not do it as a writer.
In the healing process, I got a much-needed downsizing of ego. I went from âneedingâ attention to shying away from it with a reluctance to put myself out there. I am a firm believer that when it comes to extremes, neither extreme is right. It had to be somewhere in the middle. Itâs been all about balance for me.
Becoming a parent along the way helped. It is a rare and unconditional love, and love of that magnitude motivates you to be the best person you can ever hope to be. It lifts you out of victimhood and allows you to live as the empowered hero in your own heart and to set the example.
Today I feel the greatest gift I have to give anyone is a true and genuine heart. That means questioning my intentions and, if necessary, correcting my steps.
Now, with a clear view of the story I want to tell, Iâve been busy incorporating my past novels into a series that could be six to eight books and possibly more. I have outlined and drafted the series and am in the process of finalizing.
Iâm grateful to have a passion, something I love to do, and get to spend time doing every day â a joy that saves me, always.
About the Author
Kyrian Lyndon is the author of Provenance of Bondage, the first book in her Deadly Veils series. She has also published two poetry collections, A Dark Rose Blooms, andRemnants of Severed Chains. Kyrian began writing short stories and fairy tales when she was just eight years old. In her adolescence, she moved on to poetry. At sixteen, while working as an editor for her high school newspaper, she wrote her first novel, and then completed two more novels at the ages of nineteen and twenty-five.
Title: Learning to Breathe Again
Author: Kelli Heneghan
Series: Texas Learning Book 2 (but Read as a Standalone)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: April 6 2016
Edition/Formats: eBook & Print on Demand via Amazon
Blurb/Synopsis:
Bayleigh Morrow just wants to hide from the world for a little while, recover from all the knocks sheâs been taking lately. What better place than small-town Texas, where she can reconnect with her brother, meet her new sister-in-law, and just be left alone?
Jack Williams has no intention of ever falling in love again. One betrayal was enough for him. But when Bayleigh almost collapses in his office, heâs determined to help her and keep her safe.
Stranded by an ice storm, Jack is the only one there to pick up the pieces when she has a panic attack. Sparks begin to fly and flames ignite as these two love-wary souls find their way out of the darkness and learn to breathe again.
Book Links
Author Information
Kelli grew up all over the East Coast but her family finally settled in Cincinnati long enough for her to finish high school and college. She has always loved to read books and write her own stories. In high school, she used to pass around the latest chapter of the story she was writing for her friends to read. There is more than one high school teacher out there that can probably remember telling her to put the book down and pay attention to the lectures.Graduating from the University of Cincinnati with her BS in Nursing, she left Ohio for Texas and the U.S. Army. She received a medical discharge for a knee injury, but was able to meet the man she'd one day call her husband first--thanks to some mutual friends who insisted they would perfect together. And what do you know--they are!
She continued to read books by the dozens and write her own stories. And then one day, a friend dared her to enter a contest. She didnât win, but the feedback she received from the judges convinced her that maybe people were interested in the stories she wanted to tell.
She still lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two children and 2 dogs.
Author Links
by Camellia Hart Genre: Adult Contemporary Fiction/Romance Release Date: April 5th 2016 Summary from Goodreads: Author Camellia Hartâs debut contemporary romance novel about a man and a woman whose lives are about to get sizzling hot⦠After living through her share of disloyal relationships, Evangeline Avery will be damned if she lets another man cheat her. A beautiful and confident woman, Eva is the owner of an interior design firm at the brink of collapse. She swears to bring her company back to its past glory, even if it involves sweet talking the one man who caused this turmoil in the first place â Clive Stanton. Notorious playboy Clive Stanton is a powerful businessman and a formidable enemy of many. He doesnât do love, or at least not until he meets her again, fifteen years after he saw her last. Eva, his crush from teenage years, the one that got away, is back in his world and he is determined to do anything to make her his. Will passion and lust bring them together or conflict and the unforgettable scars from their pasts forever tear them apart?
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Excerpt:
Chapter 1
Downtown San Francisco
âYou look happy.â
Evaâs gaze darted to the tabloid vendor standing by her side. Despite the
numerous times her best friend, Izzy, made her and her other best friend, Ali, visit the
book stand outside of the subway station in the past two months, this was the first time
the vendor had spoken to Eva. Maybe because she hadnât been his ideal customerâ
tabloid obsession was Izzyâs thing.
âHeâs one lucky guy.â The vendor smiled.
Her eyes widened. Was it that evident sheâd been thinking about Daniel? She
wasnât sure how to respond to his remark. And to her relief, the vendor reverted his
attention back to Izzy.
Daniel Neeson. The six foot two, blond, blue-eyed, investment banker sheâd
recently met at a birthday party for a common friend. Daniel seemed witty, charming and
confident. She liked confidence. It would be their first date tonight. It would also be her
first date in more than a year, since saying goodbye to her ex, Jake, the cheater.
Although sheâd looked forward to meeting Daniel again, emotional scars from
her past relationship still haunted her heart. Her palms turned clammy, sheâd never felt
this nervous about a date before.
Sheâd set an alarm on her phone to leave from work on time; sheâd laid out a little
black dress along with other accessories on her bed; sheâd also brushed up on her list of
things she liked to do so sheâd have something to talk about. Maybe she should rehearse
that list one more time? She ran through it silently. And as she did, she realized the
general theme of the things she liked to do all somehow concluded in loathing Jake.
One: running, as in away from Jake.
Two: hanging out with her friends, as in to forget Jake.
Three: cooking, as in to poison Jake.
She cringed. How did her thoughts get so morbid? Moreover, where had her
insecurities around dating stemmed from? Had Jakeâs betrayal been entirely to blame or
was it also because she could never forgive her father for cheating on her mother?
âThis one just came in, and itâs selling out fast.â The vendorâs voice brought her
back to the present.
âAnd thatâs the one she wants, right Izzy?â Ali hurried Izzy with an impatient
glare.
âYes, this is the one I want,â Izzy said. Without letting her eyes wander off the
cover, she handed over a few bills and thanked the vendor.
âI canât believe you get paid to read this junk,â Eva said as they walked into their
office building.
âIâm with Eva on that. Is this weekly ritual of yours really necessary to be a good
fashion editor?â
âThis oneâs not for work ladies, itâs for pleasure.â Izzy pointed to the magazine
cover.
âHoly smokesâ¦heâs hot!â Ali ogled at the picture of a drop dead gorgeous man,
sun bathing on a beach. In the nude.
The picture showed everything, from his unruly hair, to his strong chiseled jaw, to
the toned muscles in his arms; his broad chest dusted with just the right amount of hair,
his six-pack abs and his long legs. And that line of fuzz that tapered from his navel down
to hisâblurry round circle?
AwâBoo!
âWhoâs that?â Based on his looks, the guy was a model, or an actor, or maybe
even an athlete.
âSeriously?â Izzy glared at her. âHeâs the owner of Stanton Enterprises.â
âNo way. Thatâs Clive Stanton? The Clive Stanton?â
âYes. The Clive Stanton. They have an office here, top floor. And he owns this
building and the one next to it. How can you not know Clive Stanton?â
âWell, I know the name. Weâve worked with the Stantons for years. I met Cliveâs
father once, butâ¦â Eva glanced back to the magazine cover. âIâve never actually met
Clive.â She should look him up on the Internet later. Because it was good to know all
about oneâs clients. She had no other intention whatsoever.
Right.
âShouldnât he be in Time Magazine or Forbes and not some junky magazine?â
Ali asked.
She had a good point. Stanton Enterprises owned several businesses, from spas to
night clubs, restaurants to charities and much more. It was unusual to see a man of his
standing making an appearance in a weekly gossip journal.
âWell, thatâs because heâs with Silvia. Sheâs the Sports Illustrated cover this
season.â Izzy referred to the beautiful woman lying next to Clive in the picture. âHeâs
been linked with several elite models in the past. Heâs quite the mix, you know,
billionaire, philanthropist, and playboy.â
Eva trusted Izzyâs knowledge on these matters. As the editor of In Trend
magazine, Izzy always had all the dirt on the celebrity circles.
The way Izzy said that word, playboy, churned Evaâs insides. She didnât like
playboys just as much as she didnât like cheaters. And now, she didnât like Clive. Yet,
she glanced back at the magazine cover, and imagined herself next to him on the beach in
place of the super-hot blonde. Sheâd never get tired of looking at this man. The sex would
be mind-blowing. No harm in fantasizing, right?
âIsnât he delicious?â Izzy sighed as the elevator doors opened.
They stilled. And they stared.
There he was, the tabloid hottie, clothed in a dark gray suit, a crisp, white shirt
with the top few buttons undone, hair ruffled, and looking straight at them from inside the
elevator car.
He glanced at the magazine in Izzyâs hand and a slow, sexy grin appeared on his
handsome face. Eva grew weak in her knees.
He looked at them one by one, first at Izzy, then at Ali and then his gaze met hers
and lingered. The unexpected attention from the man she had only moments ago been
fantasizing about made her tense. A thrill of attraction zinged all over her as his gaze
traveled her length. She almost forgot to breathe, as the same way she almost forgot he
was a playboy. And she most definitely forgot Daniel.
Delicious.
Her brain commanded her to get into the car, but the rest of her body stayed still.
She worried her lower lip with her teeth, hoping the pain would shake her awake. Could
he possibly know what she had been thinking right then? His lips curled into an alluring
smile. Evidently he did. She swallowed hard, but managed to smile back.
âAhem.â A harsh wake-up-call came from one of the many others waiting to get
past them and into the elevator.
Izzy shoved the magazine into her leather tote as they hurried in. Eva turned her
back to Clive as soon as possible, but as the crowd shuffled in, she had no choice except
to move toward him. She took a step backward, then anotherâ¦and by the time the car
was full, she stood pressed close to him. His breath fanned her hair and he smelled of
something fresh and divinely male.
Ali shot Eva a sideways glance. Her expression was one of contained amusement,
and brought Eva back to the hilarity of the moment. After what felt like eternity, the
doors opened and Eva, Izzy, and Ali rushed out. And as soon as the doors closed they
burst out into laughter.
âOh. My. God. What were the chances of that happening?â Izzy pressed her hand
to her chest, clearly flustered by the unlikely encounter.
âRight? And Eva, he was totally checking you out,â Ali said.
âHe so was,â Izzy chimed in.
A quick shiver zipped up Evaâs spine as she was still energized from Cliveâs
silent attention. But remembering Izzyâs opinion of him raised an immediate red flag she
wouldnât ignore. Moreover, this had been the first time sheâd seen him in the two months
sheâd worked in the building. A fluke. She doubted she would see him again anytime
soon.
âWhatever, not interested.â
âNot interested?â Izzy looked shocked. âDo you know how many women want
him to look at them the way he did at you?â
âUh-huh. And how many women has he already looked at, the way he did at me?â
âWellâ¦thereâs that,â Izzy said.
âSo yes, not interested. But, for the record, he isâ¦wow.â They giggled.
After a moment of composure they said their goodbyes, and they each walked to
their respective offices.
âMorning, Tina,â Eva greeted.
âMiss Avery, good morning,â Evaâs secretary greeted back, her voice chirpy and
upbeat. The young woman followed her into Evaâs spacious office.
âAny messages for me yet?â Eva shed her coat, hung it on the rack, and walked to
her desk.
âYes, Mr. Avery stopped by. He wants to see you as soon as possible.â
It had been two months since Eva had taken over her late-fatherâs business. If not
forced by his will, never in a million years would she have agreed to be the sole owner of
S. F. Designs. After all, she was trained to be a Chef, not a CEO, and had no experience
leading a company. None especially in leading one of the top Interior Design firms in the
nation.
After graduating from culinary school, Eva had spent several years committed to
grueling hours of work as she climbed up the chef ladder. And then finally, about a year
ago, sheâd been made the Executive Chef at a starred restaurantâ a title she had worked
hard to achieve and that made her, and her father too, quite proud. Sheâd been so close to
making her long-aspired dream a reality. A vision to own a restaurant, one that would
gain critical acclaim by delighting with food set precisely in place, like artwork.
Yet here she was at S. F. Designs, following a path she had never wanted to
pursue, in a field in which she had no experience, shelving her creativity for a future day
that may or may not come her way. Why? Because of that last, unforgettable
conversation sheâd had with her father.
Only after his death had those few moments sheâd spent with him come to mean
so much to her. The ambience of the coffee shop, the aroma, what her father had worn
that day, his every gesture, every grimace, every wordâ¦all now ingrained in her mind
forever.
âIâve put you down in my will as the next owner of the company.â
âWhat? Why?â
âWhy not?â
She laughed. He didnât. Was he serious? âYouâre not kidding.â
âDave will train you in no time.â
She laughed again. This had to be a joke. âWhy? Are you going somewhere?â
âSo youâre willing to take over then?â
âIâm neither willing, nor ready, nor even remotely capable of working in any
other business that isnât in the food-industry. Iâm a chef, Dad. I want to own a restaurant
some day. Thatâs what I want to do. Not run an interior design firm.â
âWhy? Is it because I was a bad father? Because I was never around?â
âOh, câmon. This is emotional blackmail.â
âIs it? Did you not choose a career path completely different from mine because
you imagine that means you wonât have to live the life Iâve lived? Yes, I was consumed
by work. But I did it all for you, damn it. For your brother. For your mother.â
âI know that. We know that. Youâre wonderful, you always were.â
âThen donât refuse this, Evie. Youâre perfect for this role. No one else can lead
this company like you can. In only a matter of months youâll be as good, maybe even
better at this job than I ever was. This company needs a fighter, this company needs you.â
âIâ¦â She shook her head, âIâm sorryâ¦I-I canâtâ¦I just canât. Why wonât you let
Uncle Dave take over?â
âHeâs excellent, no doubt. But heâs not you, he can never be what you can to this
company.â
His explanation and insistence made no sense to her then; it made no sense to her
now. Whatever the reason behind him choosing her to lead the company after him, she
might never know. But she loved her father and missed him terribly. S. F. Designs had
been a huge part of his life and was all that was left of him. She couldnât forgo his last
wishes, she couldnât let him down.
Eva sighed, set her bag on her desk, and walked over to find out why Uncle Dave
wanted to see her so urgently.
âHey,â she greeted her uncle as she walked into his attractive corner office. Uncle
Dave sat behind a large, mahogany desk. The silver in his hair shined in the morning sun
that gleamed through the huge windows. A familiar expression of affection lit up his face,
but quickly reverted back to contagious worry. Her stomach tightened. âIs everything
OK?â
âIâm not sure.â He handed her a paper marked with the Stanton Enterprises logo.
She scanned through the document, rushing to find the words that might explain
his discomfort.
â¦We cherish our unwavering partnershipâ¦blah, blah, blahâ¦we regret to inform
you that we are terminating our contract with S. F Designs⦠Thank you for your
exceptional serviceâ¦
âBut why?â Confused, she looked at her uncle.
âThey donât say.â
She brought her gaze back to the paper she held in her now shaky hand. Her
father had launched S. F. Designs the same year she was born. Through the years, the
company had progressed from a meager garage start-up into a high-end corporation. She
thought back to the day the company set up shop on this thirty-seventh floor. Sheâd only
been five years old then; cars and people had looked like moving toys from the windows
of her fatherâs office.
Several years later, her dad had met Cliveâs father, then owner of Stanton
Enterprises. Sharing similar stories of struggles in the initial years of their businesses,
they took an immediate liking to each other. Their companies had been in partnership
ever since.
Her father had a contract to design all of Stantonâs spas. The tone of the contract
was informal, allowing each company the freedom to terminate at any time without any
legally binding implications.
Stanton Enterprises had benefitted hugely from this partnership. Their Spa
interiors, designed by her fatherâs firm, provided unparalleled tranquility and privacy, and
had become hot spots for celebrities.
The partnership had positively propelled her fatherâs firm into the public eye.
Within a year of designing their first spa, his team had been featured in several magazines
for their superior and innovative renderings. Soon his was the number one firm in the
state for designing luxurious living.
Sheâd imagined this streak of good luck would go on forever. Although there had
been recent rumors of aggressive changes to Stantonâs business strategy, that they would
end their partnership with S. F. Designs had never crossed her mind.
It wasnât even nine in the morning. How could things have gone so wrong
already?
Stanton Enterprises was the fifth company pushing to sever ties with them this
month. Her firm had committed to providing services to Stanton and only a few other
firms for the rest of this year. Unless they were able to find another viable customer,
losing this contract would plummet her firmâs projected yearly profits.
Eva called Tina on the intercom and asked to set up an immediate meeting with
Bryan Austin, the Director of Design at Stanton.
Her first impression of Bryan Austin had been that of a man who was trying too
hard. He was a tall, athletic man with dark hair, each and every strand painstakingly set to
perfection. He was relatively young-looking for a corporate executive, and could almost
second as an owner of a swanky night club. With that came a moody attitude, his face
mostly expressionless and a pre-meditated response of rejection toward any offerings her
firm made to Stanton.
Except on one occasion last week, when Evaâs team had suggested Stanton should
switch to environmentally friendly options while staying along the lines of their signature
designs.
Eva liked the proposal from her team; to her, any concept that benefitted the
planet had a nice ring to it. The thought that her firm could be a part of a green world
made her feel at peace, as if she were in an organic garden, picking fragrant herbs for her
next entrée invention.
To her surprise, at first Bryan was on board with the idea. However, his
enthusiasm seemed to have waned within the last two days. His team had returned with a
strong no, weâre sticking to tried and tested methods for now response. Eva had further
questioned Bryan, but heâd responded with minimal substance and candor, leaving her
baffled about this matter more than before. Worry about your own company, Miss Avery.
Leave the worrying about Stanton to me.
As she stared at the notice she held, she began to suspect he had known about the
contract termination all along. Whatever the reasoning behind his decision to send them
the termination letter, convincing him to reverse his decision would be quite a feat.
Burdened by a heavy, sinking feeling, she slumped down into the empty chair across
from her uncle.
Silence ensued for several long moments as Eva contemplated the repercussions
this change would bring upon her firm. And then she heard a slight knock on the door. It
was Tina.
âMiss Avery, the earliest the Stanton team can meet is at two oâclock tomorrow.â
Eva sighed. And so it begins, the countdown toward impending war. She took one
last look at the letter in her hand. She had a day and a half to prepare for the brunt of the
discussions that would follow when she met with Stanton. And sheâd be ready. Bring it
on.
Camellia Hart, a techie turned author of romance, lives in San Francisco with her husband, the love of her life. Other than writing her next romance novel, her hobbies include traveling, lazing on a beach with a good read, watching movies with happy endings while gorging on endless buckets of popcorn, red wine, and champagne truffles.
Author Links:
I am so excited that THE GLITTERING COURT by Richelle Mead releases today and that I get to share the news, along with a special giveaway!
If you havenât yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Richelle Mead, be sure to check out all the details below.
About The Book:
Title: THE GLITTERING COURT
Author: Richelle Mead
Pub. Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook
Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads
The Selection meets Reign in this dazzling trilogy of interwoven novels about three girls on a quest for freedom and true love from #1 internationally bestselling author Richelle Mead.
"Brilliant and original, Meadâs new series starts off with a bang and will leave readers on the edge of their seats until the very end."
âSchool Library Journal
For a select group of girls, the Glittering Court offers a shot at a life theyâve only ever dreamed of, one of luxury, glamour, and leisure. To high-born Adelaide, whose wealthy family is forcing her into a loveless marriage, the Glittering Court represents something else: the chance to chart her own destiny, and adventure in an unspoiled, prosperous new land across the sea. After a chance meeting with the dazzling Cedric Thorn, Adelaide poses as a servant to join the crop of impoverished girls he promises to transform into proper ladies. But her familiarity with upper class life comes with a price: she must hide her identity from her new friends, mysterious refugee Mira and fiery former laundress Tamsin, and most importantly, from Cedric himselfâeven though sheâs falling in love with him. Everything begins to crumble when Cedric discovers Adelaideâs ruse, and she catches the eye of a powerful young governor, who wants her for a wife. She didnât leave the gilded cage of her old life behind just to become someone else's property. But nothing is as dauntingâor as wonderfulâas the potent, forbidden attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. One that, if acted on, would make them both outcasts in a wild, dangerous, uncharted world, and possibly lead them to their deaths. Exclusive Excerpt:
About Richelle:
Richelle Mead has written over twenty-five novels for teens and adults. She is the author of the international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series and its spinoff series,Bloodlines. Her recent standalone novel, Soundless, draws upon Chinese mythology and history, and her forthcoming series, The Glittering Court, follows the adventures of girls destined for arranged marriages in a fantasy world inspired by colonial America. A lifelong reader, Richelle has always had a particular fascination with mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses to wear on tour. She is a self-professed coffee addict, works in her pajamas, and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a hardcover of THE GLITTERING COURT & a $25 Sephora Gift Card. US Only.
Ends on April 15th at Midnight EST!
a Rafflecopter giveaway The Matchmaker’s Playbook
Read Chapter 1: The tea? Cinnamon. The coffee shop? Secluded. Dark. Inviting. The girl? Late. And not just fashionably late, but the type of late that had me thinking she was going to be a no-show, which was common for a first meeting. At least 15 percent of our clients were no-shows. It was nerves. And fear that our system wouldn’t work for them and they’d be in worse shape than before. The wood chair creaked as I leaned back and examined the small shop. A year ago people would have asked for my autograph. Then again, a year ago I had just been drafted by the Seattle Seahawks. I rubbed my knee self-consciously as the aching pain returned, causing a raw edge of irritation to burn through my chest. I checked my watch again, biting my cheek in annoyance. Twenty-three minutes late. With a sigh, I reached for my tea one last time, drawing out the sip as I peered over the cup. Two more minutes and I was leaving. The glass door shot open, the bell nearly clanging to the floor as it slammed against a nearby chair. A small mousy girl with plain brown hair stumbled through; her pale skin turned crimson as she touched her cheeks and nervously glanced around the room. Most would give her a passing glance. But I wasn’t most. I stared. Hard. When her fidgety eyes finally settled on me, she blushed even deeper. It wasn’t unattractive, just very telling. I pushed my chair back and stood. I had a feeling she wanted to run. They were always nervous. Which was expected. Besides, I knew what I looked like. I wasn’t being vain, just drawing a logical mathematical conclusion after adding how many times I’d gotten laid to how many times I’d been asked if I was an underwear model. Chiseled? Check. Caramel-blond hair that somehow managed to look wavy and thick all the damn time? Check. One dimple on the right side of my cheek? Check. Sexy crooked smile? Check. Rugged badass-looking scar near my chin? Check. Smoldering hazel eyes? Check. And don’t even get me started on penis size. Really, it just gets better the farther south your eyes go—trust me. She took a faulty step backward, colliding with the magazine rack. Several copies of the Seattle Weekly went flying across the floor. With a flutter of busyness, she bent down. Her jeans ripped at the knees. Yeah, I was going to have to rescue her. She was already a danger to herself. With a patient sigh, I slowly walked from my seat and approached her. Lowering to her level, I peered over at the newspapers, calmly collected every last one, and stood. She was frozen.It happened. Often. And unfortunately, it was a huge time-waster. Because my business? It was flourishing, and time was my currency. She was late. Meaning she was wasting not just my time, but my money. Typically, I met my clients elsewhere, but I was short on time and wanted to see her in action. I was having some serious second thoughts as she grabbed one of the paper napkins and proceeded to blow her nose before stuffing the napkin in her front pocket. “Stand,” I instructed, trying to keep the scowl from my face. She gaped up at me, her mouth ajar, her eyes widening as her skin went from pink to white, all within a few seconds. “Or,” I whispered, pinning her like a bug with my stare, “you can sit. But I highly doubt that’s the way to get on the good side of that barista you’ve been trying not to check out ever since you walked in that door.”
99c Sale
Experience The Magical Beanstalk For 99c
Jack and the Magical Beanstalk
by
author Pablo Michaels
(Yellow Silk Dreams)
"This piece really reflects Pablo Michaels’ creativity. His string of word choices is clever and wraps the scene in vivid visuals. The imagery is sublime. Who is the old man, the stranger, and what does he have to do with Jack and his mother? Pablo has cleverly added poignant character depth by infusing some of Jack's genesis, his family, parents and farm life, even expanded upon it to describe the hardship which was the reason the cow was traded in the first place. We have a strumming and artful gold harp—delightful—a young man running into forest. When they run into the thicket, do they meet all the other naked men? Are they slaves of the Giant? The panic and fright caused by the Giant was wonderfully underscored in his careful descriptions. I love these, 'rumbles of thunder', 'like a fox on a hunt', 'where daylight became dimmer'. Also his use of the 'thump, crunch' and the cackling hen really added an element of tension and heart pounding pursuit that was so tangible. This was a cleverly layered piece that I think was a bang on perfect tie-in for the original fairytale story. Pablo adds depth to their situation and tragedy, multiple layers of tension and understanding. I loved the fairytale as a child. I love this story as an adult; just love it. It is a well-crafted, beautifully developed, very sensuous taste of adventurous youth that just kept getting better. To the hilt: delicious, decadent and delectable."
~ Muffy Wilson
In this adult fairy tale young, awkward, young Jack sells their prize cow Pearly White for magical beans to a strange man in a red bikini. Little does Jack’s mother, Lorene, know that the beans grow into a giant, magical beanstalk, high above the clouds?
Jack ascends the beanstalk to a land where a Giant Slave serves his larger Master, Jack begs Slave for food to satisfy his hunger from his long journey. But Jack finds Master hoarding treasures. Attempting to escape the wrath of Master and Slave with the treasures, Jack encounters a handsome, engaging normal sized human man. Sam lives with others that live naturally without clothing deep in the forest. As Jack ages he becomes a handsome man, just like his father, attracting many men, including the two farmhands, Zeke and Adam. Even though Jack has enabled the farm to prosper with the treasures he stole from Master and is met with increasing danger, he climbs the magical beanstalk again and again to find more treasures and pursue Sam.
Now available on a wider network!!!
Get Your eBook for 99c while you can!!! Jack and The Magical Beanstalk is available at:Smashwords/Ganxy/Amazon/Kobo/iTunes/Barnes & Noble/Inktera/24 Symbols/Bookline.hu/BookShout/CasadelibroSee The Character Series"Who Is Jack?""Who Is Lorene?"
"Who Is Adam?""Who Is Zeke?""Who Is Sam?" About The Author
|
Author Pablo Michaels |
He wrote poetry and stories since third grade. When he turned twenty-one, he moved to San Francisco to work and write, experiencing more of gay life. In the 1980's he wrote every chance he had, trying and failing miserably at publishing mainstream fiction. He published his first story in 1986 in a literary magazine. read more...
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