Archive for the ‘Excerpt’ Category

Illusion Of Truth By James L’Etoile ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: January 16, 2026 in Excerpt, giveaways, thriller
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Illusion of Truth by James L'Etoile Banner

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ILLUSION OF TRUTH
by James L’Etoile
January 5 – 30, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
A Detective Emily Hunter Mystery

  Illusion of Truth takes Emily by the throat when her cop boyfriend, Brian Conner, responds to a disturbance only to be lured into a church bombing. Seriously wounded, Emily worries if he survives, will he be the man she knew? One-by-one, other officers linked to a crime years earlier are targeted. Was it covered up? Was Brian part of it? Emily discovers truth depends on who’s left to tell the story.

Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and Michael Connelly

 

Praise for Illusion of Truth:

“Illusion of Truth is a real deal police-eye view of the mean streets. Bosch and Ballard, make room for Emily Hunter. She’s brash, bold, but with a soul and a heart for justice.” ~ Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author “An absolutely relentless thriller… in ILLUSION OF TRUTH, we find Detective Emily Hunter at her very best: Smart, sharp, and willing to do whatever it takes to solve the case of a renegade bomber. With a frightening, ripped-from-the-headlines story of attacks on her fellow police, and a cast of characters with emotional depth, perseverance, and spouting the best cop talk, L’Etoile has penned another hit in this top-notch series.” ~ J.T. Ellison, NYT bestselling author of LAST SEEN “A high-voltage, high-stakes police procedural, ILLUSION OF TRUTH is crisp and fast-paced, as cinematic as a Michael Mann thriller. On full display here is the unique storytelling sensibility that’s made James L’Etoile’s books beloved among mystery readers: a badass, rock-solid investigation plot with precinct veracity, hostage negotiation expertise, and deep empathy. ILLUSION OF TRUTH is a remedy for cynicism, a throwdown to wake up and follow the clues, to pay attention, to believe in a better tomorrow. The world is unfair, yes, and it might feel broken sometimes, but, as Emily Hunter reminds us: ‘We’re all broken in one way or another. It’s how we put the pieces together that counts.'” ~ Margot Douaihy, bestselling author of Scorched Grace, Blessed Water, and Divine Ruin “Like the best of Michael Connelly, L’Etoile has created characters readers care about while also crafting a twisty and compelling story. Fans of police procedurals and heart-stopping thrillers should consider L’Etoile an essential addition to their reading pile.” ~ First Clue Reviews “Everything you read police stories for is here, and much, much more.” ~ STARRED Kirkus Review “Rich in character and full of humanity, James L’Etoile’s writing shimmers with authenticity, with what Raymond Chandler called the “tangled woof” of real life. These are the procedurals that last: gritty, suspenseful and deeply satisfying.” ~ Megan Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of El Dorado Drive

 

Book Details:

Genre: Police Procedural with a Thriller Edge

Published by: Oceanview Publishing Publication Date: January 6, 2026 Number of Pages: 366 ISBN: 978-1608096497 (1608096491) Series: A Detective Emily Hunter Mystery, #3

Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Oceanview

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The Detective Emily Hunter Mystery Series

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Face of Greed by James L'Etoile Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Oceanview   River of Lies by James L'Etoile Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Oceanview   Illusion of Truth by James L'Etoile Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Oceanview

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Enjoy this peek inside:

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Chapter One
“All available units, report of a large crowd and 459s in progress at the corner of Rio Linda and South Ave.,” the dispatcher’s voice called out over the radio. Sergeant Brian Conner clicked the microphone in his patrol unit. “1-Sam-12 responding.” “Hey, Tommy, isn’t there a church on South Ave.?” Conner asked. Tommy Robinson, a Black rookie officer assigned to Patrol District 1 in North Sacramento, turned in the passenger seat, checking for cross-traffic at the intersection. “Yeah. It’s one of those pop-up, God-in-a-box churches. You know—no denomination, takes all comers.” “Why would a church be a target for looting at midnight?” “It’s right on the edge of Tru Heights Bloods territory. Could be gangbangers after the food pantry and the donations the church’s brought in.” “Tommy, let me ask you something. You’ve been married a while, so you’ve got this whole relationship thing down. When Emily says she isn’t ready to move in together, what does that mean?” “Um, Sarge, you think I’m the one to answer that? Shouldn’t Emily—I mean Detective Hunter—tell you why?” “I mean, sure, but I thought everything was going great—and then, she’s not ready. You ever have anything like that?” “No. But then my Baptist momma would’ve slapped me into tomorrow if I thought about living in sin.” “That’s not helpful, Tommy.” Conner shot north on Rio Linda. The flashing blue lights from other patrol units ahead marked the location. As Conner pulled into the church parking lot, he expected a crowd spilling out of the church and into nearby businesses. There had been a rash of daylight attacks on retail establishments in the city, where mobs of thieves grabbed armfuls of whatever they could carry. Hitting a church in the middle of the night was a new direction. “Where are they? The looters?” Tommy said. Conner parked near the church entrance, ahead of another Sacramento Police Department SUV, and stepped from his vehicle. He couldn’t spot a single person near the church, except for the six police officers who had responded to the call. “Dispatch, 1-Sam-12, have a callback number on the RP? Looks like a false alarm.” “Negative, 1-Sam-12. Caller didn’t give their name.” An officer rounded the corner of the church building and approached Conner. “Nobody’s here, Sarge. What gives?” The hairs on the back of Conner’s neck pricked up. He swiveled around and surveyed the darkened windows on the street opposite. They were lured here. “Got movement across the street—second floor, left side,” an officer called out. His brass nameplate read TUCKER. Conner spotted the window and the flare of a cigarette. Someone watching the police respond to this snipe hunt? “We see any evidence of a break-in? Broken windows, open doors, anything?” “Nada. Simmons and I walked the perimeter. No sign of entry. No sign of anything,” Tucker said. “Someone wanted all the units in District 1 to respond. A report of a large crowd breaking into businesses would draw us out here.” “They needed a diversion so they could pull off whatever they were into somewhere else,” Tucker said. “Maybe. I haven’t heard anything new from dispatch. Why would we get a callout to the edge of Tru Heights territory?” “Westgate Crips are on the other side of the freeway. I could see them making a false report to push us to roust a couple of their rivals.” “Well, nothing going on here. Why don’t you and your partner hit the road. Let dispatch know this was a dry hole,” Conner said. “Got it, Sarge. You need Parker and Cortez in the other unit? They’re watching the back of the church.” “Nah, send them on their way, would you?” “You got it.” “Thanks, Tucker. Be careful out there. I’ve got an uneasy feeling about someone sending us here.” “I hear you.” Conner started back to his SUV, paused, and turned. “Hey, Tucker, anyone check the front door lock?” “Yeah, I shook it. Locked up tight.” Tucker and his partner got into their SUV, shut off the lights, and backed out of the church parking lot. Tommy Robinson wandered to the front entrance and peered through the smoked glass doors. “Place is empty. Nothing going on—hey, what’s up with this?” A metal donation bin sat to the right of the front door. Gang graffiti adorned the side of the four-foot-tall, repainted mailbox. Conner caught the glint from a thin wire attached to the donation box door. On the concrete below, a cut padlock lay in the shadow. Tommy reached for the bin. “Tommy! Wait!” Conner ran to the young officer as he tugged on the lid. “Stop,” Conner said. Tommy was focused on the unlocked donation bin and didn’t hear Conner. Conner shoved Tommy as a click echoed in the entry vestibule. A microsecond later, a fireball erupted from the donation bin. A pressure wave of heat and metal shards exploded. Conner caught the blast in the back as he pushed Tommy away. The force of the explosion picked Conner off his feet and threw him into the brick wall opposite the donation bin. Conner couldn’t hear anything through the ringing in his ears, and his vision was a blurred kaleidoscope of flames and smoke. From where he fell, he could see the parking lot and the window across the street. The glowing ember from the cigarette was gone, but he swore he spotted a flashing red strobe. Another explosion sounded to his right. A flash of orange shot from the parking lot. Conner squinted through his warped vision and saw a police SUV on fire. Tucker and his partner, Simmons. He couldn’t see them anywhere. He tried reaching for his shoulder-mounted radio microphone and his arm wouldn’t move. A quick glance down and Conner saw his broken arm pointing in the wrong direction. “Tommy. Tommy, you okay?” Conner couldn’t hear anything but the high-pitched ringing in his ears. He wasn’t even supposed to be working tonight. Conner swapped the shift with a buddy so his friend could go spend some time with his kids. Conner felt cold, and a heavy blanket of exhaustion fell over him. Emily. He wanted to tell Emily how much he loved her one more time. She’d wanted to take it slow, but now he felt regret. He should’ve told her how he felt when he had the chance. The sirens in the distance pierced through his muffled hearing. They would not be in time. “Emily” . . . *** Excerpt from Illusion of Truth by James L’Etoile. Copyright 2025 by James L’Etoile. Reproduced with permission from James L’Etoile. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author James E’Toile:

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James L'Etoile

James L’Etoile uses his twenty-nine years behind bars as an influence in his award-winning novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is a former associate warden in a maximum-security prison, a hostage negotiator, and director of California’s state parole system. His novels have been shortlisted or awarded the Lefty, Anthony, Silver Falchion, Macavity, and the Public Safety Writers Award. River of Lies and Sins of the Father are his most recent novels. Look for Illusion of Truth coming in 2026. James also serves as the Executive Vice President of Mystery Writers of America.

Catch Up With James L’Etoile:

www.jamesletoile.com Prison to the Page Newsletter Amazon Author Profile Goodreads BookBub – @crimewriter Instagram – @authorjamesletoile Threads -@authorjamesletoile X – @JamesLEtoile BlueSky – @jamesletoile.bsky.social Facebook – @AuthorJamesLetoile

 

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Find Me At The Disco By Diahanna Aurora Hampton ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: January 13, 2026 in Excerpt, giveaways, Romance
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Find Me At The Disco

By Diahanna Aurora Hampton

 

Publication date: January 8th 2026
Genres: Action, Romance

New York, 1977. Liza Collins is struggling to reconcile her relationship with her father, Will, after a lifetime of secrets and betrayal. Upon graduating from boarding school in London, Liza returns to her hometown of New York City seeking answers about her childhood that Will has largely left unanswered. Instead of answers, Liza unearths a series of illicit affairs, sham marriages, and financial troubles her father has tried to keep buried.

As Liza struggles with these findings and navigates adulthood, she meets Jennifer Blake-a woman who introduces her to a world of drugs, alcohol, and disco. In the midst of it all, Liza then discovers something about her family that she never could have imagined, clouding her judgment and sense of self. Consequently, Will is forced to either confess his mistakes or give up on his relationship with his daughter entirely.

Goodreads / Purchase

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Jennifer grabbed Liza’s arm. “Let’s go boogie!”

“I don’t know. It’s kind of crowded.”

Liza stood awkwardly, watching people bump into each other. “That’s the best though, people moving their bodies against you. No one cares if you can’t dance, you just move to the beat and have fun.”

Before Liza could respond, a different song came on, Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love,” making people cheer and dance faster than before.

“Oh my God! I love this song, come on!” Jennifer squealed.

Liza let Jennifer pull her onto the dance floor. At first, she wasn’t really dancing. She kept getting shoved and pushed as she stood in front of Jennifer, who automatically moved to the beat. She tried to mimic her friend’s movements, but she felt unsure of herself as she struggled to get the right rhythm. Jennifer must have noticed Liza’s efforts, as she turned Liza around and placed her hands on her hips to help guide her. The song’s beat got easier for Liza to follow as she heard Donna Summer’s voice hum from the speakers.

Liza relaxed as the alcohol coursed through her veins. She let her body move under Jennifer’s direction and stopped overthinking. Jennifer turned Liza back around to face her, moving their bodies closer. Jennifer reached into her pocket to show Liza a few pills in a small plastic bag. She still moved to the beat when she popped one in her mouth and then promptly kissed Liza, transfer-ring a piece of the pill from her tongue to Liza’s. When Jennifer pulled away, she smirked.

After a few moments, Liza threw her head back as she felt the drug take hold. She saw the disco ball spinning above her, and the multicolored lights flashing around the club. Her vision blurred, coming in and out of focus like a kaleidoscope. Jennifer was behind her again bumping and grinding, leaving no room between them. Liza’s heart rate sped up, and she felt sweat drip down her neck. It was hot on the dance floor. Although she was breathing heavily, she continued to dance, letting the beat take over her movements.

They danced for several more songs, each one faster than the last. Liza’s skin was slick from sweat.

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About Author Diahanna Aurora Hampton:

Diahanna Aurora Hampton is a Boston based writer with a B.A. in Art Studies. Find Me At The Disco is her first novel.

Goodreads / Instagram

 

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Forrest House By E.M. Hamill ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: January 11, 2026 in Excerpt, Fantasy, giveaways
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Forrest House

By E.M. Hamill

 

Publication date: January 11th 2026
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Ander Forrest renounced blood magic to become a nurse-healer in his rural hometown, far from the drama of wizardry and espionage his sister Kate craved. When Kate goes missing in action, Ander finds himself the legal guardian of her gifted twins and receives a cryptic warning from Kate’s husband to protect them before he, too, disappears.

Six months later, his former lover crash lands in the kids’ bedroom via a spell only Ander’s sister could have cast. Druid Cai Piper doesn’t remember how he got there, but he knows he never stopped loving Ander, and that he was sent to protect him and the twins. Cai is strangely drawn to Forrest House and the land it stands upon.

With the secrets of a clandestine wizards’ order hanging between them, Cai and Ander must remember how to trust each other as sinister forces move against the Forrest family—magical terrorists who want to exploit their rare sorcery and bring the world to its knees.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Cai cleared his throat. “You said I’m in America?”

“Yeah.”

“And if I was sent by a bloodspell, does that mean Remy and Raven are here?”

“Well, of course.” Ander blinked as Cai closed his eyes and sighed. He wasn’t sure if it was relief or defeat. “You didn’t know,” he said.

“No. Edwyn kept it a secret, even from me.” His fingers touched the blood-matted knot at the back of his head in tentative exploration. “I must have been out. I would never have let him send me otherwise. He was bleeding badly.” His hand tapped an area high and to the outside on his left leg. “Shot in the thigh.”

Ander thought of all the major blood vessels there and breathed a plea to the Goddess that none were severed. “I didn’t think the Fellowship used bullets.”

“We don’t. We were on a joint mission with intelligence agents. Someone started lobbing spells at us and our allies turned and shot each other. He was hit in the crossfire.”

“A Judas spell?” Ander frowned.

“I think so.”

“Were you working with British intelligence?”

Cai opened his mouth to answer, then flinched and rubbed both sides of his head. “Some of my memories are missing. It’s painful to think about.”

“I think you might have a concussion.”

“Maybe. But this feels more like it was blocked by a spell.”

“By Edwyn?”

“I don’t think he would have had time. Not surrounded by guns and magic.” His breath became uneven again, and he sat unsteadily on the bed. “The harder I try to think about it, the more it hurts.”

“Don’t try right now.” Ander came closer and put his fingers under Cai’s jaw, forcing him to look up so he could peer into his eyes. Still no signs of a more serious head injury, but he wasn’t satisfied until he ran his fingers under Cai’s clotted hair to cradle the bruised lump beneath his palm, his senses open for new bleeding. He didn’t discover any.

Cai stared at him as he pulled away, his face inches from Ander’s. They both became aware at the same time of how close he was standing, his hands gentle on the back of Cai’s head as if he were going to draw him into a kiss. Ander slowly stepped back.

“I have to find a way to get back to…” Cai frowned. “To…damn it! They took that, too. I don’t know where we were.” He looked to Ander with a desolate gaze. “I don’t even know if Edwyn’s alive.”

“You can’t ask the Fellowship?”

He stiffened. “No, I can’t.”

“I’d feel better if I could get you to a hospital.”

“I’ll be fine. I think it’s clear I’m meant to protect you and the twins.”

“Protect us from what?” He sat on the bed next to him. “What’s going on, Cai? Why wouldn’t Ed tell you where the kids were?”

He didn’t answer, his gaze slipping sideways.

Ander had not missed this infuriating silence. Kate had pushed Ander away with it, Edwyn maintained it, and Cai had used it to shut down questions when they were together.

He’d left Wales and come home because the people he loved most in the world could barely talk to him unless he was inducted into the Fellowship.

Fury rose in scarlet floods with Cai’s refusal to speak. Ander let it crest. “That’s fantastic. Of course you can’t say anything. Then tell me how to protect them and get the fuck out.”

“You don’t—”

“They’re all I have left of Kate! I need to know how to protect them!”

“If you’re going to shout at me, then I will take that paracetamol now.” His voice was soft, defeated. A crease furrowed the skin between his brows, and the tight lines of his body spoke of more pain than a headache. Ander didn’t have to imagine the grief of not knowing if his brother was dead or alive. He knew only too well.

“I’m sorry.” Ander exhaled, forcing himself to calm. “We aren’t done,” he said in a less strident tone. “You will tell me what’s going on. Fuck the Fellowship and your code of secrecy! Those kids are my priority now. They’ve already lost their mother, and now maybe their father. No more.”

To his surprise, Cai nodded. “I promise I will tell you what I know.”

Disconcerted by his unexpected victory, Ander reluctantly let his anger drain away.

“Are you hungry? I’m making dinner.”

“Starving. I can’t recall when I last ate anything.”

“It’ll be ready in half an hour. Make sure you drink the rest of that water.” He turned to go.

“Ander.” Cai’s expression was gentle as Ander looked back over his shoulder. “It’s good to see you.”

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About Author E.M. Hamill:

E.M. (Elisabeth) Hamill writes adult science fiction and fantasy somewhere in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas. A nurse by day, wordsmith by night, she is happy to give her geeky imagination free rein and has sworn never to grow up and get boring.

She lives with her family, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Newsletter

 

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Forrest House Blitz

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Exile By AK Nevermore ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: January 10, 2026 in Dystopian, Excerpt, giveaways, Romance
Tags: ,
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Together or not at all.

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Exile

The Price of Talent Book 5

by AK Nevermore

Genre: Spicy Dystopian Romance

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Together or not at all.

 

On an
alternate earth, a cataclysm has altered a subset of the population. Talents
are persecuted for their psychic and physical mutations, giving rise to two
conflicting societies based upon maintaining genetic purity. And the Source, a
shadowy corporate entity dependent upon the exploitation of captive Talents, is
hunting them…

 

Flynn
Scot is spiraling.

 

After a
cataclysmic chain of events and devastating loss, Flynn’s grasp on reality is
slipping. Backed into a corner by the Assembly and his sanity called into
question, the threat of exile and having his talent stripped endangers not only
him, but any chance he might have of getting his family back…if they’re not
already past saving.

 

Deep
in stasis, Kara’s fate is uncertain.

 

Stolen
away and in the clutches of a madman, Kara’s future depends solely upon Titus’s
sufferance. With unfettered access to her genome, his attention is fixated upon
the next iteration of Talents—especially after events in the North change her
status from prize to bait.

 

Because Flynn is coming
for her, and he’s not coming alone.

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Cal grimaced and climbed to his feet as Glynfyls stopped shaking. He
clutched his breast, groping for the ward Miriam had set some thirty-odd years
ago that tied Flynn back to him. Please, God… Cal exhaled, his knees buckling in relief. Still there. Felt
different, but the boy wasn’t dead.

Not yet at least.

His gaze slid from the calamity outside the window to the blood
spattered across the wall and the gore-soaked carpet. In the unlikely event
House Scot survived the next seventy-two hours, the whole damned room would
have to be gutted. He dropped the last of his cigarette and ground it out beside Cordelia
Kerns’s corpse.

And if they didn’t survive, screw the resale value. What a goddamned mess.

“Here’s a spot, there’s a spot…” he muttered to himself, bastardizing lines from his brief stint in
community theater. Seemed appropriate. He couldn’t clearly remember his last wife’s smile or the faces of any of the children he’d buried, but every goddamned line from that play, every goddamned
moment he’d spent with her, was seared into his memory in high goddamned definition.

Her. Elize. Lizzy. His Lilith.

Cal ran a shaking hand down his face. Squatted. Knees cracking, he leaned forward to lower Kerns’s lids and cover the look of surprise in her grayed-over baby blues, his gaze locking on the imprint of a
bloody crescent between her brows—

A flash of memory—the same mark on his second wife—hit him hard.

He stumbled into a chair and pulled out his pouch of tobacco, cursing
the tremor in his hands. Fingers fumbling, he threw aside the botched attempt.
Deep breath. Rolled another. It was passible, barely. He lit it. Blew out a
frenetic puff of smoke and spat tobacco from his lip.

His gaze drifted back to Kerns’s corpse. Another woman with her throat slit. Wasn’t related to Julia’s earlier demise, but that wouldn’t stop Crandall and the city’s rumor mill from having a goddamned field day with it.

Christ. Between that and Flynn’s tantrum destroying everything as far as the eye could see, House Scot was on
borrowed time.

And when the press caught wind of Kara’s abduction, it would be worse.

What a clusterfuck. If there’d been any place to go, Cal would’ve started packing his bags, but this time, there wasn’t. Jane—Mother—had made sure of that.

He blew out a ragged stream of smoke and glanced at the couch as he
brought the sad excuse for a cigarette to his lips again. Kara’s cat glared back. Miserable animal was wrapped around Fitz’s throat with its green eyes narrowed. Cal frowned at the rise and fall
of the boy’s chest. Looked like taking pity on fuck ups was still part of Elize’s MO.

Not that the boy was losing any sleep over his brush with death. He was
sawing wood like he didn’t have a care in the world thanks to Nora’s induced coma. Must be nice.

Cal took another drag, cursing himself and the lingering scent of Elize’s perfume. The barest hint of bergamot dragging his mind back to that
first summer they’d met. To the stolen kisses during rehearsals. To the way the lighting had hit the curve of
her cheek and the look she’d throw over her shoulder as she sauntered into the wings. Christ, that
still got his dick hard.

Too bad her seduction had been as much of a role as the one she’d played on stage.

He’d hauled sets around the whole damned summer for that shit, podunk
production to be close to her. Senator Dashell’s daughter. What she’d seen in the son of a pig farmer—Christ. In retrospect, he knew exactly what she’d seen. Or rather, what her father had. Man hadn’t blinked twice at pimping her out for twelve hundred acres just
outside of town where the Corporation could build their research facility.

And damn them, but they’d gotten it.

Why her and her brother had stuck around after, slumming with the five
of them—

Cal shook his head, staring at the blood pooling beneath Kerns. What
was done, was done, and his hands had never been clean. No. He’d been up to his goddamned elbows in this shit from the get-go, but
this right here? This was gonna sink him and everything he’d worked for since.

As intended.

He fished the slip of paper Elize had left on Kara’s pillow from his breast pocket, his fingers shying from the braid
coiled beside it. Entwined E’s on the letterhead and beneath the monogram, a set of coordinates with
four damning words.

 

40°49’26.99” N-73°55’20.99” W

Queen takes pawn.

Check.

 

Elize…Enoch…the twins were just pieces, not who he’d been playing against. Cal stroked a heavy hand over his mustache.
Knowing the message for the invitation it was.

Jane had made her move, and now it was his. For better or worse, the
endgame had begun.

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**Don’t miss the rest of the series!**

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Find out more at the Author’s Website!

https://aknevermore.com/books/

 

**FREEBIE
ALERT! – Get the prequel- Breeder FREE!!**

https://aknevermore.com/books/breaker/breeder/

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AK Nevermore enjoys
operating heavy machinery, freebases coffee, and gives up sarcasm for Lent
every year. A Jane-of-all-trades, she’s a certified chef, restores antiques,
and dabbles in beekeeping when she’s not reading voraciously or running down
the dream in her beat-up camo Chucks.

Unable to ignore the
voices in her head, and unwilling to become medicated, she writes Science
Fiction and Fantasy full time.

She pays the bills
editing, wielding a wicked hot pink pen and writing a column on SFF. She also
belongs to the Authors Guild, is a chapter treasurer for the RWA, teaches
creative writing, and on the rare occasion, sleeps.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky  * Tiktok

YouTube *  Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Titus And The Christian Coin By Dennis Conrad ~ Guest Post and Giveaway

Posted: January 9, 2026 in Excerpt, giveaways, Guest Post, Historical
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Book Details:

Titus and the Christian Coin: An Adventure of Faith and Freedom

by Dennis Conrad

Category:  Teen and Young Adult Fiction (Ages 12-18),  132 pages
Genre:  Christian Teen and Young Adult Ancient Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Write4Christ Publishing
Release date:   November 3, 2025
Format available for review:  print-softback (USA only), ebook (EPUB), audiobook (audible-download)
Tour dates: Jan 6 to Feb 2, 2025
Content Rating:  G. This Christian book is for teens and young adult.

Real. Raw. Riveting. A true story of redemption.

​Dennis does an excellent job stirring up the heart and imagination of his reader. A must read for all Christians, both young and old. — Derek Singer, Pastor, Canyon Lake Community Church, Canyon Lake, California
Dennis Conrad crafts an entertaining and enduring tale in Titus and the Christian Coin. He does not sidestep the difficult, real-life questions that Christians still ask today, but rather masterfully interweaves the context of an ancient setting with relatable and timeless struggles. A great read for anyone, especially in the young adult genre. — David Finnern, award-winning novelist/journalist and author of the Lost Tales and Sunken Mysteries series.
Titus and the Christian Coin, by Dennis Conrad is a wonderful story of faith and God’s sovereignty. The story is gripping and inspiring while telling the story of Christian history during the time of Constantine. It also shows the importance of hope, hard work, and forgiveness. This book should be on every middle young adult’s reading list. — Terrie Hellard-Brown, award-winning author and podcaster

Book Description:

​When Titus refuses to deny his Christian faith, Roman persecution destroys his family and condemns him to a brutal life in the copper mines of northern Italy.

​Underground, surrounded by despair and danger, he must choose between hatred and hope, revenge and redemption.

From a mine collapse to an emperor’s audience hall, Titus’s journey spans the Roman Empire during Constantine’s transformative reign. Alongside Tribune Felix, he discovers that true freedom comes through forgiveness, not force. Authentic historical details bring ancient Rome to life while timeless themes of faith, friendship, and courage inspire modern readers.

This gripping adventure combines accurate historical research with compelling storytelling. Readers will witness early Christian persecution, experience Roman culture, and walk through Constantine’s palace while following Titus’s transformation from broken slave to Roman citizen.

An unforgettable tale where archaeological accuracy meets heart-pounding adventure, proving that faith can triumph over the darkest circumstances and that God’s love never abandons His people.

​Buy the Book
Amazon ~ Audible
add to goodreads
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Guest Post
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Left on the Cutting Room Floor

Titus’s story was edited and reedited several times. The final edit makes the story come alive and allows readers to become emersed in the world of 312 A.D. Rome.

“Outtakes” are scenes of movies that are cut and do not show up in the final version of the film. The same happens while editing a book. Some deleted facts and scenes were cut or rewritten prior to the final published version.

Titus, the main character, and Felix, a high-ranking Roman official, ride horses on their adventure from northern Italy to Rome.

Before the final rewrite Titus’s feet were in stirrups and he was holding on to the saddle’s pommel for grip and stability. The question: Was this accurate for Italy in 312 A.D.?

After further study, I learned that although stirrups were used in China as early as 300 B.C., they were not used in Europe until the 600s. Pommels did not exist in Italy in 312 A.D. Rather, saddles had horns at the corners of the saddle for holding on and to attach supplies.

Additionally, before editing, several pages detailed the construction of the Arch of Constantine. My coauthor artfully used less than a page of dialogue to explain how artists repurposed sections of other existing arches to complete Constantine’s arch on schedule.

Blessings to you and yours,

Dennis Conrad

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Meet Author Dennis Conrad:

Dennis Conrad began writing stories for children in 2007. Over the years, he and his wife, Diane, have enterained their 11 nieces and nephews. He has taught high school through univeristy and around the world. He’s helped many to see God in their lives.
As a former coin collector of fifty years, Dennis combines his love of Jesus, the Bible, children’s literature, and writing stories about coins.
He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators and a Fellow of the National Writing Project.
connect with the authors: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads

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TITUS AND THE EMPERORS COIN Series Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Spirit Bear Conspiracy By Anne Kane ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: January 1, 2026 in Excerpt, giveaways, Romance, suspense
Tags: , ,
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My mission: Save my woman, guard the secret of the Spirit
Bear, and take down the poachers.

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Spirit Bear Conspiracy

Brotherhood of the Wild #1

by Anne Kane

Genre: MC Romantic Suspense

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My mission: Save my woman, guard the secret of the rare
spirit bear, and take down the poachers.

Ryland — I was tailing a gang of poachers, certain they’d
lead me straight to their kingpin, when a stray arrow from a crossbow slammed
into me. Pain lanced through me and everything faded to black. In that blur of
unconsciousness, I could have sworn a pure white bear stood over me, calm as
can be. When I opened my eyes again, a woman — curvy and impossibly beautiful
— was watching me with the cutest look of mixed concern and distrust on her
face.

Kimberly — I thought I was alone on a tiny island off the
coast of British Columbia until an arrow from a crossbow barely missed
skewering me. With my dog Diego at my heels, I ran to hide in a maze of caves,
my heart pounding. Crouched down in the dark, I listened in terror as voices
and footsteps floated to me from outside. I prayed the shooters wouldn’t find
the spirit bear that inhabited this place. When I finally crept back out into
the daylight, I found I wasn’t the only target — but the unconscious man lying
in a pool of his own blood wasn’t talking. Victim or one of them?

WARNING: This Riptide action-adventure romance includes
violence, abuse, coarse language, vigilante justice, and adult situations. No
cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Enjoy!

What readers
are saying:

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.

Diego Rules Poachers Drool !

Loved the start of The Brotherhood series !! It has loose
ties to the Author’s other series called Riptide MC ! The characters Kimberly
and Ryland are well written and a lot of fun to read. The storyline has real
world implications in the animal poaching and for animals living in shelters,
so please be careful if such stories cause you any emotional distress. The book
has a lot of action both in and out of the “bedroom”. I can’t wait to read book
2. 5✨’s for an action packed read !. · Dianna Rule TX

 

Amazon * Apple
* B&N
* Changeling
Press * Kobo
* Books2Read * Bookbub
* Goodreads

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Spirit Bears

Spirit bears (aka Kermode bears — Ursus americanus
kermodei) are a subspecies of the North American black bear with a rare
recessive gene that makes their fur white or cream. Spirit bears are found only
in the Great Bear Rainforest, the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest.
Estimated spirit bear population numbers no more than 400 individuals. The
First Nations communities who have lived in the region for thousands of years
call the spirit bear moskgm’ol, or “white bear,” and view the animal as
sacred.

Many thanks to BBC Wildlife for their Spirit Bear Guide.

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 Kimberly

I heard sounds to my left, louder this time. Definitely
voices.

Well, that sucked. After a stressful week at work, the last
thing I wanted to do was talk to strangers. Still, protocol demanded that I
make my presence known for safety’s sake. No point in having some trigger-happy
guide catch a glimpse of movement and decide I was something worth shooting at.

I stopped walking and cupped my hands to my mouth. “Hello?”

Total silence answered me. Even the birds stopped chirping.
Not a single blade of grass rustled.

Maybe the dumb tourists had gone off in another direction
and didn’t hear me. Sound could become muffled in the heavily treed rainforest
environment. My heart lifted as I considered the possibility.

Maybe my day wasn’t ruined after all.

Diego came dashing back to my side, head held high and ears
tilted forward in that oddly off-balance way he had when he concentrated. I
frowned. The dog obviously heard or saw something that he felt needed watching.
I opened my mouth to holler again, when something swished past my head so fast
all I saw was a blur. A loud thunk told me the object had hit one of the
trees behind me.

I turned and blinked, unable at first to grasp the
significance of what I was looking at.

An arrow, the kind used for hunting bigger game such as deer
or moose, was imbedded in one of the ancient trees. The plastic vanes on the
end of the shaft quivered with the force of the impact.

Someone had taken a shot at me. Seriously? There was no way
they could have mistaken my shouted greeting for an animal.

Diego whined softly, nudging my hand with his muzzle. I
patted his head absently, still mesmerized by the sight of the arrow rooted in
the tree.

Diego stiffened, whirling to face the direction the arrow
had come from. A low growl came from his throat.

A shiver slid down my spine. Diego didn’t growl. Not at
anybody. He was the mellowest dog on the face of the planet. If he thought
whoever shot that arrow warranted a growl, then they must be bad. Real bad.

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Award winning author Anne Kane lives in the beautiful
Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue mutt(Merlin the Wonder Dog), a
slightly larger rescue dog (Lexi the Aussie Shepherd) a cantankerous Himalayan
cat, and too many fish to count. She has two handsome sons and seven adorable
grandchildren. She’s always been fascinated by science fiction and fantasy so
of course when she writes, she lets her imagination take over. The one thing
the reader can always count on is that the main characters will live happily
ever after, even if they have to defeat a few nasty aliens first.

When she’s not busy writing the next great novel, she likes
to kayak, hike, ride motorcycles, swim, skate, practice karate, play her
guitar, sing and of course, read.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Bluesky * Pinterest * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

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Enter the Spirit Bear Conspiracy Giveaway Here

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Resort, Two, Murder By Joanna Campbell Slan ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 30, 2025 in Cozy Mystery, Excerpt, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Resort, Two, Murder organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Joanna Campbell Slan will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Genre: Cozy Mystery

Synopsis

Kiki Lowenstein heads to Florida for sand, sunshine, and family time—until a shocking death pulls her into a mystery simmering beneath the resort’s perfect surface. With craftiness and heart, she dives into a dangerous tangle of lies that only she can unravel.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The scream ripped through the dawn and straight into my spine. I didn’t breathe until I reached the balcony.

Seven floors below, a housekeeper stood frozen at the pool’s edge, hands over her mouth. The turquoise water rippled around hair the color of fire.

Copper hair.

Floating.

Still.

My blood turned to ice.

“Mom?” Sixteen-year-old Anya whispered behind me. Pale. Too pale. “What happened?”

“I don’t know yet. Stay back. Keep your brothers inside.” My voice didn’t tremble, but everything inside me did.

I yanked the curtains closed, but not before my mind captured every detail: the purple satin gown billowing under the water, the bare feet, the drifting red hair like a drowning sunrise.

Then Brawny — my fierce, loyal Scot nanny — sprinted into the courtyard and dove in, shoes and all. She flipped the girl over, started mouth-to-mouth, refusing to accept what the water already knew.

Could this be real?

Sirens wailed in the distance. And I stood frozen on the balcony, one hand pressed to my heart, silently begging for a miracle.

It didn’t come.

The red-haired model from last night’s fashion show was gone.

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About Author Joanna Campbell Slan:

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Joanna Campbell Slan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author known for her engaging women’s fiction and mystery novels. With nearly 80 books to her credit, including contributions to the original Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Joanna specializes in stories featuring strong female protagonists and the power of women’s friendships. Her tagline, “Creating a better world one story at a time” perfectly captures the spirit of her work, as she has a keen interest in presenting all sides of social issues. Joanna is best known for her Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series, which spans 19 books and 42 short works, chronicling the growth of a widowed mother who finds new purpose through crafting and sleuthing.

Living on a nearly deserted island off the coast of Florida, Joanna draws inspiration from her surroundings and her love for various crafts, including Zentangle®, crochet, and upcycling. Her accomplishments include winning the Daphne du Maurier Award for Literary Excellence for her continuation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. Contact her at JCSlan@JoannaSlan.com

Newsletter / Website / Facebook / Facebook Group / Twitter/X

Amazon / Instagram / Goodreads / BookBub / LinkedIn / Pinterest

 

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The Love Of A Dog By Jo McCauley Prouty ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 27, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Memoir
Tags: ,
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A Chronicle of a Remarkable Retriever

 

Memoir/Love, Black Lab, Dog

 

Date Published: 02-14-2023

 

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The decision to get a dog becomes a journey from high expectations
through the reality of care giving and the fun of companionship to enduring
love and finally loss. Dog lovers will see themselves and remember their
beloved canine friends. They will wish they had known Tasha as they read about
this quirky dog and her love of family and fun. Readers can applaud the
transforming power of love.
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Enjoy this peek inside:
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Typically, I put mulch down in the spring, but I also use mulch to prepare for winter. However, not all mulch is equal when it comes to dogs.
I am the queen of mulch. I used it abundantly to discourage weeds and hold moisture in the soil, and to protect roots during winter. I had a preference for cocoa bean mulch, which had a delectable aroma. A neighbor at our previous home came out one day while I was spreading it and said, “Oh, I thought you were baking brownies.” That’s how good it smells!
I had been thoughtless. The cocoa bean is just as toxic for dogs as chocolate. Mulch covered the flower beds in the backyard where Tasha played. “Tasha,” I lectured, “you are not to touch this mulch under any circumstance. Never, never, never touch the mulch.”
 You’re overreacting, Mom.
 I’m not sure how she interpreted “mulch,” but not only did she never touch the mulch, she never put a paw in any flower bed or touch even a petunia or marigold. She kept me company when I worked in the yard, and much later, I found it difficult to garden without my furry assistant.

 

About Author Jo McCouley Prouty:
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Jo McCauley Prouty spent her formative years in West Virginia and
Virginia, where she attended the College of William and Mary. She is a former
educator and now applies her nurturing skills to flower gardening and
entertaining her grandchildren. She resides in Minnesota with her orange
tabby, Cooper. Her work has appeared in “The Journal of The Braxton Historical
Society” and the “Journal of Opinions, Ideas and Essays.”

 

Contact Links

 

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

 

Purchase Links

 


https://mybook.to/TheLoveofaDog

Amazon

Author Site

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RABT Book Tours & PR

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

A Peek Inside Cole For Christmas By Treva Harte

Posted: December 22, 2025 in Excerpt, Holidays, Romance
Tags: , ,
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A Friends to Lovers BDSM Ménage

 

Christmas / Romance / Comedy

 

Date Published: December 23, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press

 

 

 

Sarah has a secret — she wants her best friend Cole. Cole wants Jeff.
And Jeff? Surprise! He wants them both.

Cole is wild, funny, impulsive, and Sarah’s best friend. She doesn’t
understand what he gets out of submission, but she’s not going to let Cole get
hurt the way he has in the past. So when she discovers his new dom is Jeff,
the jerk who helped kick her out of her undergraduate program, she knows she
has to intervene.

But when she sees Jeff again, she’s confused. He says he wants Sarah to be
Cole’s Christmas present, and she’s stunned. She and Cole are just friends,
aren’t they? Amazingly, Cole seems to want her as much as she secretly has
wanted him. The even bigger surprise? She realizes she wants Jeff too.

Even if she could have them both, this is supposed to be temporary. It’s too
bad she’s only allowed to have Cole for Christmas.

 

 

Excerpt

Copyright ©2025 Treva Harte

 

“What’s wrong with you, Cole?” Sarah stared at her friend over the flimsy
coffee container. “You have to go pee pee? You’ve been twitchy ever since we
got here.”

Cole laughed and gave her the finger. He opened his mouth as if to give a
smart-ass answer but then bent over his latte instead. Not looking at her, he
carefully blew on it and took a sip.

Sarah settled back. Cole was obviously dying to tell her something, and she
knew from experience all she needed to do was sit. If he waited more than ten
minutes before spilling everything, he’d probably keel over from the strain.

The clatter of students milling around the student union coffee shop made the
silence less noticeable. They continued drinking.

Two minutes of just downing caffeine. Impressive. Cole was hanging tough.

He shifted again in his seat and shut his eyes, grimacing. Sarah frowned,
suddenly a little concerned. Cole was a genius — a real, measured-by-testing
genius — but that didn’t mean his emotional IQ always matched his
intelligence. She was sure it was a challenge to be five to ten years younger
than his academic peers, and Cole didn’t always meet that challenge. In fact,
Cole could be kind of a pain in the ass. Right now he was acting like he had a
literal pain there.


Oh. Ohhhh, boy. He might actually have one. Please God, no. She might have to
venture into TMI territory to find out.

Cole had been more than forthcoming about his sex life in the two years they’d
been in grad school together. That was a problem for him. Younger and smarter
in some things had made him vulnerable in others, especially since he was open
about his sexual preferences and desires. Gay at the university was one thing;
gay and dedicated to BDSM was another.

“Has someone hurt you?” She hoped that question would get the job done. Sarah
could be more direct, if need be, but she also probably didn’t want to know
all the particulars.

“No.” His prompt answer was a relief. Of course, he had to add, “Not any more
than I want to be.”

“Ooookay.” Sarah set down her cup. Sometimes a friend had a duty to ask more
even if she’d so much rather not. “Have you met some new dom?”

“You know I have. I told you about him.” Cole didn’t look up from his latte,
but he didn’t sound reluctant to answer.

“You mentioned you’d met someone new at a club a few weeks ago, but you didn’t
say anything more.” That wasn’t like her Cole at all now that she thought
about it. “Is that the guy?”

“Fuck yeah. I was incredibly lucky that night. He hardly ever goes to clubs.
Says they’re too fake for his tastes.” Cole squirmed again. “He isn’t into
scenes. Not public ones.”

“So you’ve been — um — doing things outside of clubs?” Sarah wasn’t sure
which sounded more dangerous. Cole wouldn’t know danger if it bit him on the
butt. Especially if it bit him on the butt.

“At his place. Sarah, it’s… intense. And really sexy.” Cole grinned at her.
“That’s all I’ll say unless you want me to go on. I know how you get.”

“And I know how you get, so thanks for shutting up.” She grinned back at him,
and Cole shifted his weight again. Sarah sighed. “All right, Cole. Why are you
acting this way? Something is going on.”

Cole leaned over, then glanced around to make sure no one was listening. Oh
God. He felt the need to keep something private. This was going to be a doozy.

“Because I have a butt plug in me. A big one. It’s driving me crazy.
Especially because it’s pressing on my fucking prostate.”

Sarah made a faint protesting noise and covered her eyes. “I don’t want to
know.”

“When I see Jeff after work, he’s going to take it out and replace it with –”

“Don’t want to know, don’t want to know. Don’t. Wanna. Know.” Sarah covered
her ears instead.

Cole pushed down one of her hands and whispered, “Unless you want to pull it
out for me. Jeff might get mad, but it would be worth it if your dainty,
lily-white fingers would take care of things for me right now. It might even
be fun.”

Sarah clenched her dainty, lily-white fingers and smacked him on the shoulder
with her plastic spoon.

Cole leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Stunned, Sarah dropped the
spoon on the table. For such a demonstrative guy, Cole pretty much kept his
hands and lips to himself. Well, at least around women. She’d seen guys pass
him around like an appetizer at parties. Obviously that kind of touching was
different for him.

Oh, shit. After remembering some of those party images, she felt a sudden pang
of lust. She took a deep breath. Now she could see herself testing that butt
plug, imagine what Cole’s tight ass looked like holding it. His gasp when it
moved. Damn it, she didn’t need to have that thought in her head. Talk about
waste of time! Cole was completely off-limits. He’d never be her appetizer.
Friends. They were friends. She’d gotten over her stupid crush long ago. That
didn’t mean she couldn’t admit to herself he was sexy. In an off-limits way.
She didn’t need to start thinking he was available after working so hard to
forget he was hot.

“I knew I’d make you do that, but you did ask.” Cole sounded a little too
smug.

Sarah looked up. Oh Lord, how could he know about her completely inappropriate
thoughts?

Cole rubbed his shoulder, grimacing as if she’d really hurt him. Then he
stopped and winked.


Oh. Right. Very funny. She’d hit him. They had a standing joke about his smart
mouth and his need for punishment.

“Actually, what I really wanted to ask was what you had planned for
Christmas.” She didn’t care if it was an obvious change of subject. Cole could
go on pushing her buttons for hours. Besides, she did want to ask.

Last year Cole went with her to see her parents. Cole had way too many
experiences with judgmental families like his own, and he’d been apprehensive
about the whole thing, especially meeting her officer father. But Dad had been
Dad, and Cole had been Cole, and everyone had a great time, just the way
Sarah’d expected. This year Mom and Dad had shipped out to Japan, so neither
she nor Cole would be seeing their families. She’d hoped they could hang out
together for the two weeks while the grad dorms closed during winter break.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you! I’m planning on a trip to a ski lodge in
Wyoming all during break.”

“You don’t ski.” Sarah skied but couldn’t afford a weekend, much less weeks at
a resort. Life was so unfair.

“I like skiers. And cowboys. Jeff owns a place there.” Cole crumpled his cup
and tossed it into the garbage.

“Oh. Jackson Hole?” Sarah snickered. “I could see you headed there just for
the name.”

So now she knew this Jeff had money, was a skier, and maybe was a little
pretentious. Two out of three wasn’t bad. Especially if he had a ski lodge.

“Grand Targhee. Jeff says it’s even better than Jackson Hole, although not as
many people have heard of it.”

So unfair. Sarah had heard of it, and everything she’d heard agreed with what
Cole — who was obviously clueless — had said. The place wasn’t even that
pretentious. If Cole’s new man turned out to be perfect, she’d have to be
happy Cole was going away with him on the kind of holiday break she’d want.

And that was so unfair double time. It also meant she had no one to share
Christmas with. She didn’t need another reminder that she’d worked too hard,
frozen too many people out, had no life. Cole, who bubbled over with curiosity
and energy, always made even the bleakest times fun. She’d been counting on
him to carry her through this first really big holiday without her parents.

Well, she’d have to get over it. A military brat got used to being around
strangers. Maybe she could scrounge up enough money to take a little road trip
by herself or get a fancier hotel than she’d planned. It didn’t sound like fun
now, but she would work on it.

“You wanna come along?”

 

About Author Treva Harte

Treva Harte has always been an overachiever. She also collects things. First
it was degrees. First a B.A. in English, then she decided to go back for a
Master’s degree. Not content with that, she added a J.D. Since then she’s
added a husband, also an attorney, and two children to her collection. She’s
continuing her ways as an overachiever, writing her wonderfully offbeat tales
of passion and possibilities — in her spare time.

Visit her website at www.trevaharte.com.

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

 

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15

 

 

 

RABT Book Tours & PR

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Tea For Two By Bianca White ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 19, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, historical romance
Tags: ,
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An Austen-inspired Short Story Duet

Enjoy two tea
parties, two romances and two characters from one of the world’s most beloved
authors.

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Tea for Two:

An Austen-Inspired
Short Story Duet

by Bianca White

Genre: Historical Romance

Jane Austen and tea.
What more could one ask for?

Enjoy two tea parties, two romances and
two characters from one of the world’s most beloved authors.

In this historical romance short story duet gossip-loving Mrs Jennings meddles
in affairs of the heart, and scandalous Henry Crawford turns heads once again!

Be swept away by the amusements of the Regency tea party in
these Austen-inspired short stories. Delight in the sweet romance, dancing,
gossip and, of course, tea.

“But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea.”
― Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

 

Tea
for Two comprises two short stories:

 

Jilted

Lord Asher Mandeville is heartbroken when his childhood
love, Miss Tabitha Rowe, jilts him only weeks before their wedding.

Asher refuses to accept Tabitha’s rejection and chases after
his betrothed to demand an explanation.

Tabitha is determined to escape him, but Asher’s shattered
heart will accept nothing other than her return.

 

Wooing
Miss Woodforde

Jasper Trevethan loves Miss Sophie Woodforde, but he is a
penniless rake. Sophie would never marry him, even if he were rich.

As an impoverished companion, Sophie serves the whims of
others while pining for her employer’s scandalous nephew.

When an unexpected inheritance transforms Sophie’s life, she
becomes the target of fortune hunters.

Before another scoundrel steals his love, Jasper must prove
his devotion and woo Miss Woodforde. But Sophie would rather become an old maid
than marry a man who only wants her for her money, especially Mr Trevethan.

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Excerpt from Wooing Miss Woodforde

 

He headed to the drawing room.

While Sophie continued to hold his heart,
he could not bring himself to marry another. Yes, he had wasted his days living
off his brother while indulging in a life of idleness and pleasure-seeking. Now
he had no option but to pray his aunt left him her fortune. Perhaps then he
could offer for Sophie. She will never
marry a rake, you fool. As usual, he tamped down the bitter truth, but the
tiny flicker of hope that one day she may be his was the only thing that
prevented him from sinking further.

His aunt dropped onto the sofa before the
crackling hearth. “It does not help your cause that you continue to associate
with that scoundrel, Mr Crawford.”

Sophie carried out her duties in efficient
silence, pretending not to hear the details of his scandalous associations. How
he longed to take her away from this life of servitude. Someone so good, kind
and selfless deserved better.

After pouring the tea, she handed her
employer a cup.

Without a word of thanks to her companion,
his aunt continued, “There is still talk about his scandalous affair with Mrs
Rushworth. You should end the connection, for it will only sully your name
further. Your reputation as a rake does not help matters, but being associated
with an adulterer will not earn you a respectable bride. What must my dear
sister think of her favourite now?”

He accepted his cup from Sophie with his
head down and muttered his thanks. Shame gnawed at his insides. If his mother
had not died of typhus before he reached his tenth year, she would have been
sorely disappointed in him.

Why could he not be a better man? He should
have sought a profession after university. If he had done something useful,
perhaps, he may have earned Sophie’s good opinion and won her heart. Instead,
he had wasted his life. He was a hopeless rake beyond salvage, in love with a
woman far above him in noble character. Even if he were rich, she would always
be too good for him.

Sophie sat on the sofa next to his aunt and
twiddled with a delicate curl at her nape.

He had to ask again. “Are you certain you
are well, Miss Woodforde?”

“Stop trying to misdirect the attention
from yourself, Trevethan.” Aunt Hammond sipped at her tea.

Wispy tendrils of steam rose from the beige
liquid in his cup, and he tamped down the urge to ask for something stronger.
Liquor would have to wait. Even though nothing eased the painful longing within
him lately.

He could not resist being drawn to the
source of his yearning while she stared at the flickering flames in the hearth.
What had happened to the woman who enjoyed lecturing him about the latest
philanthropic project she wished to support or teased him following the gossip
surrounding his misadventures? Not that he had many these days unless one
counted spending the evenings drinking brandy with Crawford while they both
pined for the women they loved but could not possess.

“Trevethan!” he jerked his head towards his
aunt. Her narrowed gaze bore into him. Had he given himself away?

She glowered, then said, “Miss Woodforde
has received some surprising news today that has unsettled her.”

Sophie’s head shot up; her wide gaze
directed towards her employer.

“I hope it is nothing serious?” My God, she
was ill. “Is there anything I can
do?”

Aunt Hammond scoffed. “It is not unwelcome
news—well, not for Miss Woodforde.”

“Mrs Hammond.” Sophie pleaded, but as
usual, his aunt could not be silenced.

“Miss Woodforde is now an heiress with
twenty thousand.”

His breath stuttered.

On the opposite sofa, Sophie’s head lolled
forward, and she ran a palm across her forehead.

Sophie was a wealthy woman—a single,
wealthy woman. That meant she no longer needed to work for his aunt. He would
not see her when he visited.

Aunt Hammond asked, “Will you not offer
your congratulations?”

He glanced at his aunt before returning his
attention to Sophie, whose shoulders slumped.

A burning sensation spread down his gullet,
and he swallowed. “Congratulations, Miss Woodforde.”

His aunt sniffed. “She is almost maudlin;
anyone would think a beloved family member had died.”

Sophie continued to stare into the teacup
in her lap. She would leave, and he would never see her again.

Aunt Hammond prattled on. “Heaven knows
why, but she wishes to keep it a secret. She should marry, yet she insists she
will remain in my employment.”

Of course, her sense of duty would not
allow her to abandon his aunt. Selfish thoughts about her leaving had
distracted him from the more pressing issue. Another man would steal her from
him. His heart skipped a beat. He could not allow it.

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Bianca White writes passionate and spicy historical romance.

Bianca loves history and has a degree in history and history of art. The word
“research” is often used as an excuse to drag members of her family
around every stately home and castle wherever they go. Nothing, not even
the grumbling of said family, will keep her away from a historical fashion
exhibition.

When she’s not writing, Bianca feeds her addiction to romance novels. She also loves
baking and watching movies. Thanks to her love of baking (and eating), she
feels the need to balance it with a little activity and enjoys tai chi,
aerobics and swimming.

Bianca lives in West Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two children.

To receive all the latest news from Bianca White, and a bit of history in your inbox, sign
up for her mailing list at Bianca White Writes.

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