Hi everyone – I’m sharing another snippet of my latest book “In the Shadows of a Lie” which will be released mid-June. The story is mainly set in New Zealand and currently on special for 99c release day. Enjoy ♥♥
Moving a strand of hair from her face, Lani pulled a piece of paper from her jacket pocket. She read the instructions from the bed and breakfast owner: Travel one and a half kilometres along the road before you come to a fork intersection. Follow the left for another kilometre. The property will be on your right.
She checked the road name once more although she knew it by heart, having checked it so many times during the bus ride, and stared at the gravel road in front of her. Apprehension trickled through her. She was alone, surrounded by nothing but the stunning scenery.
Two and a half kilometres. Lani did a quick calculation. It was going to take her another hour. Now she wished she had rented a car. She shook her head, because no matter how much she wished for a rental, she wouldn’t have been able to afford it. A wave of unease washed over her, and once again, she questioned her decision to come here.
BLURB
The discovery of her mother’s diaries unravels a secret which sends Lani on a journey to New Zealand … She lost her mother in an accident. Now, Lani Dekker is determined to meet the man who, according to her mother’s diaries, is her father. He’s not what she expected, a bit on the extravagant side, but she soon warms up to him, thanks no less to Dylan, her father’s neighbour. Despite her attraction to Dylan, she can’t figure out whether he’s a friend or foe. Dylan Harper is merely going through the daily motions after his wife died in a ski crash. That is, until his life is turned upside down by the arrival of his neighbour’s daughter. Their attraction is instant, even more so when they wake up in the same bed after an earthquake. However, it’s her accusation that his interest in her involves her father’s money rather than their mutual magnetism that derails their newfound bond. Will finding the truth about her parents be a chance for Lani and Dylan to overcome their differences?
Hi everyone – I’d like to introduce you to my latest book “In the Shadows of a Lie” which will be released mid-June. The story is mainly set in New Zealand and currently on special for 99c release day. Enjoy ♥♥
Lani Dekker adjusted her backpack as she watched the bus she had just exited drive off into the distance. She inhaled deeply, overcome for a moment by the stunning scenery in front of her with the snow-capped mountains and the striking royal blue Lake Tekapo in the distance. Melbourne, Australia, her hometown was a far cry from the view in front of her. Not a house in sight, no cars, just nature and chirping of birds in the distance. She could’ve enjoyed the panorama for a lot longer, but a quick glance at her watch told her she didn’t have much time left until the sun set. Still, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and took a few photos. The colours of the mountains, the lake, and the landscape were unlike anything she had seen before. The scenery in front of her was bright, intense, and so vibrant. She had never seen mountains like these before, being more used to the Victorian coastline, which was beautiful in its own rugged and raw kind of way, albeit different.
BLURB
The discovery of her mother’s diaries unravels a secret which sends Lani on a journey to New Zealand …
She lost her mother in an accident. Now, Lani Dekker is determined to meet the man who, according to her mother’s diaries, is her father. He’s not what she expected, a bit on the extravagant side, but she soon warms up to him, thanks no less to Dylan, her father’s neighbour. Despite her attraction to Dylan, she can’t figure out whether he’s a friend or foe.
Dylan Harper is merely going through the daily motions after his wife died in a ski crash. That is, until his life is turned upside down by the arrival of his neighbour’s daughter. Their attraction is instant, even more so when they wake up in the same bed after an earthquake. However, it’s her accusation that his interest in her involves her father’s money rather than their mutual magnetism that derails their newfound bond.
Will finding the truth about her parents be a chance for Lani and Dylan to overcome their differences?
Blurb: Tamsyn McKiernan thinks her dreams have come true. She’s engaged to a dashing Key West bachelor and finally in her widowed father’s good graces. But in her heart, she knows something’s wrong. She loves the ocean and the quiet pleasures of nature—so what does the aristocratic life she’ll lead truly hold for her?
Mercenary captain Drake Ashton is neck deep in preparations for the Spanish-American War, running guns and other supplies to Cuban natives who want out from under their Spanish masters. He and his brother Freddie risk their lives daily, focused on saving his friends on the island. Nothing else matters but his mission.
A chance encounter with a spiny sea urchin brings the two together, and neither of their lives will ever be the same again.
Excerpt The wine would go straight to her head soon, she knew from previous, infrequent consumption, so she must sip it slowly. One of them had to keep their wits.
She felt the curious eyes of the crew, some shy, others bolder in their observation. Tamsyn smiled at them all. One broad, bullish man came forward with a blanket, which he spread on the deck. Drake clapped the man on the shoulder.
“Good thinking, Chaney. A picnic it will be!” He gestured to Tamsyn that she should seat herself, which she did without hesitation.
Within a few minutes, trays of food came up from belowdecks, chicken spit broiled with crispy skins, fruits and cheeses, Bahamian bread with a thick slab of butter. The men vied for the opportunity to serve her until Drake finally dismissed them with a laugh.
“Cook has enough for all below. Go take your supper. We may have some business awaiting us yet tonight.”
The men cheered and noisily went down to eat. The skinny cabin boy remained to serve his captain. Drake saw that the boy got a plate of food, then sent him away. “A few moments alone,” he whispered conspiratorially.
“Just a few,” she said with a sad smile. “Then I must—”
Drake held up a finger, silencing her. “Not a word of that now.”
Tamsyn started to argue, then realized he would just cut her off again. It was right. What might happen in a minute, in an hour, would not be changed if she took the time to immerse herself in the joy and comfort of this time with Drake.
The food smelled so good in the fresh night air, and Drake urged her to taste everything, from sweet melons to spicy chicken. It was simple fare, but it satisfied her more than any of the expensive delicacies that had been served at the Pickhams’ buffet. Surely it is the company which has improved my appetite. Drake’s dark eyes danced in the moonlight, and he often turned to her with a smile, perhaps wanting to say something but reluctant to break the spell they seemed to be under.
But not yet, Mamma, not yet…Can you see me, Mamma? Tamsyn wondered silently. Can you see how happy I am?
####
He said, “An old Cuban woman taught me one evening as we sat around a fire at a rebel camp, drums beating in the distance, smoke in the air. She leaned close to me and took my hand, just as I’m holding yours now, and told me my future, showing me how the lines of my palm intersected and moved apart.” He examined her face, more serious. “I never believed a word until now.”
Tamsyn was thoroughly intrigued, her curious streak in high gear. “What did she say?”
“She told me a time would come when a young woman would rescue me. That woman, she said, would be…” He stared at her, intently watching her face.
His deep gaze hypnotized her. She could almost smell the camp smoke, so taken was she. “Would be what?”
“Would be—” He shook his head. “It’s not important. Something about love.”
Tamsyn pulled her hand back sharply. “I’m sure it had nothing to do with me, then.” She turned and walked away in the direction of her carriage. But she lost one of her sandals in a sudden rush of water and stepped hard onto white coral rock. “Ow!”
“Allow me,” he said behind her. Before she could argue, he scooped her up in his arms. As she protested, he replied, “I told you I was in your debt. Please permit me to repay you.” Ashton’s boots easily traversed the rocks, his arms strong around her. He smelled of salt water and the ocean breeze, and she felt gentleness within him as he carried her.
It would be better if Drake was happy for Tamsyn’s good fortune. She’d not want for anything material as the wife of Winslow—no doubt, a beautiful house and gardens, a fine carriage, a husband whose future was financially secure.
His own fortunes lay along a much different path.
If Drake were to be caught by the Spaniards, it wasn’t likely he’d live to be tried for the crime back on the mainland. The Spanish were known for their quick tempers and sharp swords. The mercenary trade paid him well, for now, and if the buzzing rumors he’d heard on the Pickham veranda were true, war would come within the year. Guns were a prime commodity in time of war. He always carried rum when he returned from the islands, of course, and sugar and tropical fruits, to cover his real motives. He had not been interdicted yet. As young men often did, he played the odds and planned to beat them.
For the first time, however, that focus was shaken by thoughts of this woman.
What distinguished Tamsyn MacKiernan from the other women he’d met in a hundred different ports? Drake couldn’t put his finger on it. He just knew she appealed to his heart in a way that possessed him. She held an intriguing blend of strength and vulnerability, stomach ironclad in the face of blood yet timid as a lost waif left alone in the midst of the ball. He wanted to know her better.
But she was to be married. Even if he had been able to marry her, even though he had a proper home with a hired woman to maintain it, it was nothing compared with the empire Winslow would command in a few years. Drake knew he had no business thinking Tamsyn might prefer a lonely pirate to the golden boy.
Damnation!
Author Bio Alana Lorens has been a published writer for more than forty years. Currently a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, the aging hippie loves her time in the smoky blue mountains. One of her novellas, THAT GIRL’S THE ONE I LOVE, is set in the city of Asheville during the old Bele Chere festival. She lives with her daughter on the autism spectrum, who is the youngest of her seven children, and she is ruled by three crotchety old cats, and six kittens of various ages.
War correspondent Kate Tessler has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home?
Injured in a bombing, Kate returns to her hometown in Arizona to recover. For the first time in her life, she’s starting to feel her age (49), even though she’s living like a teenager again: staying with her father, trying to understand why her sister resents her so much, and running into people who still think of her as Kitty.
Seeing her mother in an Alzheimer’s unit is the hardest part – until an old friend asks her to investigate suspicious deaths at that nursing home. Is a self-appointed “Angel of Mercy” killing patients to end their suffering? Are family members hastening their inheritance? Is an employee extorting money and removing the witnesses? Kate uses her journalism skills to track clues, but the puzzle pieces simply won’t fit.
If Kate can’t uncover the truth, her mother could be next on the killer’s list.
Get a free short storyplus bonus material when you sign up for Kris Bock’s newsletter. This free collection starts with a ten-page mystery short story, “The Case of the Missing Monkey,”set in the world of The Accidental Detective series. That is followed by information about the first books in the series, Something Shady at Sunshine Haven and Something Deadly on Desert Drive, plus the first chapter of book 1. After that are three fun, short stories originally written for children.
Praise for Something Shady at Sunshine Haven
I just LOVE your protagonist and the cast of characters that you built.” – Sinclair Jayne, author
“A really fun read and the perfect set up for a great series.” – Lisa Honeycutt, author/illustrator
“Book one was a good read, and I’m looking forward to a series with Kate Tessler.” – Teresa Fannin, writer
“So much fun! Her wry notes always make me laugh. The mystery seems so impossible to solve. You have so many details and such a limited ability for the heroine to get answers, which makes the story even more engaging. I love her dry sense of humor.” – Emma J. Wallace, author
My childhood home had faded in the harsh Arizona sun and now showed its age—rather like me. I’d never dreamed of living here again after thirty years of traveling the world.
This is temporary. You’ll find a way out.
“Do you need help?” My sister’s tone made it clear the correct answer was no. She’d already hinted that picking me up at the airport had been one more burden in her busy life.
“I got it.” I eased out of the car and limped to the trunk to retrieve my travel backpack, still getting used to my new cane. My thigh throbbed where the doctors had dug out the shrapnel and stitched it back together with Frankenstein scars. My usual fast stride was an awkward hobble up the walkway. My luggage might have been “light,” considering it held everything I owned, but it still nudged the airline’s weight limit.
The front door opened, and I forced a smile. Jen disappeared inside, and Dad and I stood face-to-face.
Our smiles faltered. I dropped the backpack and stumbled into his arms. Tension drained out of my body. I blinked back tears and felt his frailty, the tremor in his hands. He smelled like Dad with a hint of a newer scent, something that only seemed to come from old men.
“Welcome home,” he whispered.
“It’s good to be home.” I needed to rest and heal, and where better to do that than in my parents’ house? In a few weeks—I promised myself weeks, not months, and definitely not years—I would be well enough to return to journalism. “How’s Mom?”
“Good. Well, you know. She’s settled in. She can’t wait to see you.”
I didn’t ask if she’d remember me. I hadn’t noticed signs of Alzheimer’s on my last visit, but that had been a year ago, and Jen assured me Mom had faded fast. She also made it clear that since I was home with no job, it was my turn to take care of our parents.
“Sit,” Dad said. “You need to rest that leg.”
Behind him, Jen sighed loudly. “Don’t coddle her. She needs to stay active.” You wouldn’t know from the way she acted that Jen was younger by two years.
Dad winked at me. “Come and sit anyway.”
Jen hustled outside. She glanced back through the open door. “Welcome home.” She sped down the path without waiting for an answer.
I closed the door and looked at Dad. “I guess I caught her on a bad day.”
“No, just a day. Hey, a friend of yours runs the care home. She gave me a message for you. Said it was urgent.” He shuffled through the mail on the little table by the door.
I couldn’t think of any friends in Arizona. I hadn’t had any here since my childhood. My friends were scattered around the world, wherever news was happening. If she ran the nursing home, she might hope I’d write a story on the facility to promote it, or do some free PR work. Drat. Were people going to treat me like I had nothing better to do than give away my time?
Double drat. I did not, in fact, have anything better to do. And I wanted a nap.
Dad handed me an envelope. I leaned on the door and propped my cane against the table so I had two hands to tear open the envelope. The handwritten message inside was brief:
Kitty—Please come see me ASAP. I need your help.
—Heather Garcia
“She sounded. . .” Dad hesitated. “She asked about your journalism and begged me to bring you in as soon as possible.”
Begged? This could be interesting after all. But who was Heather Garcia? Someone I knew in high school, given her use of my old nickname. Maybe I’d recognize her when I saw her. Or maybe not. I hadn’t changed a bit, of course, but other people sure looked different after thirty years.
Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. She has lived in ten states and one foreign country but is now firmly planted in the Southwest, where many of her books are set. Learn more at www.krisbock.com. Kris’s cat café series is lighthearted sweet romance. Readers call it heartwarming, fun, and delightful. Visit the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series page on Amazon US or Amazon UK.
Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Follow the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for our romantic comedy newsletter and get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. These first two chapters from the novel Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium stand alone as a short story. In the future, you’ll get fun content about upcoming Felony Melanie novels and other romantic comedy news and links. Or find book 1 at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.
Sara Whitney is returning to her
Cinnamon Roll Alpha Series
with a new second chance romcom. TEMPTING FATE
Title: Tempting Fate Author: Sara Whitney Genre: Second Chance Rom Com Release Date: March 11th
About Tempting Fate:
Leo Morales never forgot his first love, but he never quite forgave her either.
When a twist of fate puts Leo in charge of a grant that could save Faith Fox’s struggling non-profit, his desire to assist her worthwhile cause barely wins out over his need to stay the hell away from her.
Faith swallowed her pride to request funds for her after-school tutoring center, but she had no idea her old boyfriend would be the one holding the purse strings. Now he’s insisting on a hands-on partnership—one that has her wanting even more hands-on attention.
With years of history between them, Faith and Leo will need to learn from the lessons of their past if they want to fall in love as the people they are today.
The award-winning Cinnamon Roll Alphas series continues with Tempting Fate, featuring the playful banter, steamy encounters, and sunny outlook that Sara Whitney’s readers have come to love.
Sara Whitney writes sassy, sexy contemporary romance novels packed with wit, heat, and heart. A 2019 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award finalist, Sara worked as a newspaper reporter and film critic before she earned her Ph.D. and landed in academia. She’s a good pinball player, a so-so karaoke singer, and an expert TV opinion-haver.
In a funny twist of fate, Sara’s married to a divorce attorney, and she likes to think that her happily-ever-afters help keep their household in balance. She and her husband live in the Midwest surrounded by books, cats, and half-empty coffee cups. Keep up with Sara by subscribing to her mailing list here.
Happy Sunday This will be my last snippet of my latest release ENTANGLED MOMENTS – book 3 in the Australian Sports Romance series . If you bought a copy – THANK YOU … if not, the book is still only 99c.
ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
His mouth curved into a smile. “Baby, no you don’t. The only person deserving something is Timmy. And that’s a big fist connecting with his face.”
She laughed, but regretted it straight away. “Oh, my God, Marky. Don’t make me laugh, please. I have the worst hangover ever. The last glass of the red wine last night didn’t agree with me.”
“You’ve done well fooling everyone today if that’s the case.”
She stared at him. “Do you have any idea what Katie would’ve done to me if I hadn’t performed?”
He laughed, because he probably did. Katie was kind and petite, but knew what she wanted. “How about I take you home? I’m sure this wedding party is near its end and will possibly survive without you.”
“Promise me a hot chocolate?”
His body shook slightly as he held back his laughter. His soft snicker told her he was thinking of their holidays in the Swiss Alps as well.
Let me take you to New Zealand I’m happy to share with you another story which is set in NZ. If you love Australian / New Zealand romance, be sure to get your copy today!
The discovery of her mother’s diaries unravels a secret which sends Lani on a journey to New Zealand …
She lost her mother in an accident. Now, Lani Dekker is determined to meet the man who, according to her mother’s diaries, is her father. He’s not what she expected, a bit on the extravagant side, but she soon warms up to him, thanks no less to Dylan, her father’s neighbour. Despite her attraction to Dylan, she can’t figure out whether he’s a friend or foe.
Dylan Harper is merely going through the daily motions after his wife died in a ski crash. That is, until his life is turned upside down by the arrival of his neighbour’s daughter. Their attraction is instant, even more so when they wake up in the same bed after an earthquake. However, it’s her accusation that his interest in her involves her father’s money rather than their mutual magnetism that derails their newfound bond.
Will finding the truth about her parents be a chance for Lani and Dylan to overcome their differences?
Happy Sunday I continue today with my latest release ENTANGLED MOMENTS – book 3 in the Australian Sports Romance series
ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
“I walked in on Timmy being with another woman yesterday afternoon. In his bed … you know…” Her words were barely audible. She was more embarrassed now than hurt.
Markus leaned back and met her gaze. Like so often, his beautiful blue eyes conveyed such warmth and understanding. “Ouch!” he whispered.
“C’mon, say it,” she coaxed.
“Say what?”
“You know what. The I told you so.”
The words stung like acid in her stomach. Yes, Markus had told her more than a couple of times that he thought there’d been something iffy about Timmy. Even Ty and Oliver had voiced their concerns, but she’d been happy the last four months. She hadn’t expected that one. Not at all. So last night she’d drowned her sorrows in that one glass of red wine too many and was now paying for it.
Markus gently pulled her a little bit closer again. “I’m not going to say any such thing.”
Markus and Sarah’s lives couldn’t be more different…
After three years away as a goalkeeper for an English soccer club, Markus DeLeon is happy to be back in Melbourne, back with his family and friends, including Sarah. He has known her since childhood, and has often provided her with a safe place from the teasing of other children and the troubles of a broken home. Yet, events after attending their friends’ wedding set off a shift in their relationship and questions, which neither Markus nor Sarah know how to approach.
Sarah Winter caught her boyfriend cheating on her, and not for the first time Markus offers her a much-needed shoulder to cry on. This time, however, an attraction between them intensifies, ending in a passionate afternoon, and Markus doesn’t know how to handle this new side of their friendship and flees to the coast. Sarah, unsure as well about the recent events, is surprised by his sudden departure, but is soon sidetracked by misunderstandings and a family emergency.
But sometimes risking what you have means you might lose everything…
Happy Sunday I continue today with my upcoming release ENTANGLED MOMENTS – book 3 in the Australian Sports Romance series which has its release day on the 15 FEBRUARY 2022
ENJOY ♥
Today’s Snippet
In all fairness, it’d hadn’t been their first kiss, but they had been about five years old when their mouths had accidentally met for the first time, and Markus had given her a wet, sloppy kiss in kindergarten as well when she’d fallen off the slide.
So why was her body betraying her today?
“I have to take a raincheck, Marky,” she told him. “But thanks, anyway.”
“Want to tell me what’s up with you?” He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You’re usually the first one on the dance floor and the last one to leave.”
Sarah let out another sigh before she decided what to tell him, if anything at all.
Markus had always been a good friend. More than that. He’d always been there for her, during good and bad times.
To celebrate its release 
