Sunday, December 8, 2013

Giveaway! Come and get tangled in a captivating read!


Oh...the excitement of release day!!!
Over the past few weeks I have had the pleasure of reading wonderful reviews from advance readers of my next book. Tangling with the CEO should be live on Amazon and Barnes and Noble in about ... two minutes!
But who's counting down!
Eleven five star reviews in a couple of weeks. I am very happy that readers are loving this book as I so enjoyed writing the story.


  • "Sigh. That's how I feel after reading Annie Seaton's "Tangling with the CEO". 
  • "Captivating and romantic, it's sweet, low angst yet not without frustration, touching, heartfelt and is filled with wonderful endearing characters. And with five under eight's playing a huge part it's not short on the humour (and stress) that kids bring."
  • "Family and community, love and trust are the heart of this beautiful story by Annie Seaton. And the gorgeous West Coast around Half Moon Bay."
  • "This book is refreshing and captivating, it made me laugh."
  • "I loved Tangling with the CEO, I couldn't put it down until I finished it :)
A giveaway of an Annie Seaton book of your choice to each reader who reviews Tangling with the CEO on Amazon, or Barnes and Noble and leaves a comment below.
Out today!

Giveaway:My secret super surprise revealed finally!


I have known about this upcoming release for three months and today I am  excited to announce that the wonderful Entangled Publishing have bundled my three Affair Series books into a bundle which is about to be be released on Monday 9th December!

Romance Abroad

Three books for the price of two!
Holiday Affair
Book one in The Affair series! Staid professor Lissy McIntyre believes that choosing a mate should be based on common sense. And Lissy would certainly never pick a rolling stone like Nick Richards for long-term love. But a red-hot, tropical romance? Oh, yeah. He’s got a body made for sinning and his sizzling kisses leave her senseless. But what will happen when she discovers her new neighbor and co-worker is the same man she shared one night of forbidden island pleasure with?
Italian Affair
Free-spirited sex therapist Brianna Ballantine has four days to find a fiancĂ© so she can inherit her birth mother’s Italian villa. Commitment is not on the agenda. When finance guru Tomas Richards offers a marriage of convenience to help Brianna secure her inheritance, the sizzle between the sheets promises an affair to remember, despite family complications at every turn. Now Tom must convince her to stay, and make this Italian affair a lifelong commitment.
Outback Affair
Jessica Trent needs to land a one-on-one interview with the reclusive Alessandro Ricardo, a man hell-bent on staying out of the limelight. But she wants the ruggedly sexy fisherman taking her to Crocodile Springs—in the Outback--to get it. Alex Richards protects his privacy and his heart in equal measure, but the Yankee bombshell he’s helping cross the Australian wild threatens both. Their attraction ignites, but will his lie destroy them both?

A giveaway copy of my romantic suspense Dangerous Desire to the first five people who review this bundle and leave a comment below!

Buy links:

New Release! Giveaway, prize and Book Tour! TAMING A GENTLEMAN SPY

TAMING A GENTLEMAN SPY - The Spies of Mayfair Series, Book Two is released in e-book! Print book released in February.
AMAZONMAGGI ANDERSEN'S WEBSITE

Blurb: John Haldane, Earl of Strathairn, is on an urgent mission to find the killer of his fellow spy. Has the treasonous Frenchman, Count Forney, returned to England to wreak havoc? Or has someone new landed on English shores to stir up rebellion in the Midlands? After visiting the young widow of one of his agents, Strathairn strengthens his resolve. A spy should never marry. And most certainly not to Lady Sibella Winborne, with her romantic ideas of love and marriage. Unable to give Sibella up entirely, he has kept her close as a friend. And then weak fool that he is he kissed her... Lady Sibella Winborne has refused several offers of marriage since her first Season years ago -- when she first set eyes on the handsome Earl of Strathairn. Sibella's many siblings always rush to her aid to discourage an ardent suitor, but not this time. Her elder brother, Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth, has approved Lord Coombe's suit. Sibella yearns to set up her own household. She is known to be the sensible member of the family. But she doesn't feel at all sensible about Lord Strathairn. If only she could forget that kiss...

Enjoy an excerpt!


Summer, 1819

Chapter One



          A gunshot exploded into the quiet night. Strathairn dropped into a crouch as another ball whistled overhead, followed by a thud as lead bit into the wall above him, showering him with fragments of brick. A bead of sweat trickled into his brow. Hell’s teeth—not the first time he had been shot at, but he’d expected this to be a fool’s errand. The moon sailed free of the clouds. It cast the new dock in silver light, revealing it empty. Where was Nesbit?

Breath held against the stench of low tide, he listened. Nothing but the surge of waves and the creak of ships moored out in the middle of London Pool waiting to unload their wares. The faint voices of the sailors aboard carried over the water.

At the slap of running feet echoing into the distance, Strathairn gripped his pistol. Keeping low, he rushed forward, leapt a pile of crates, then flattened himself against a wall. He edged around the corner, his pulse a drumbeat in his ears. Nesbit lay spread-eagled on his back. Strathairn stumbled toward his stricken friend, fell to his knees and groaned. Blood seeped from his partner’s head gleaming black in the dim light. Nesbit’s wide-open eyes, lively brown only moments before, looked blank. A prickle of foreboding climbed his spine. Had Nesbit been as surprised as he was by this attack, or had he recognized his killer?

Knowing it to be futile, he placed his fingers against Nesbit’s throat searching for a pulse, and cursed effusively under his breath when he found none. He had witnessed the death of too many good men. He rose to his feet determined not to let emotions weaken him now. His mind focused on the business at hand, he went to confirm whoever had done this had gone, moving stealthily through the shadows.

Apart from the scamper of rats, the rest of the dock stood empty. The moonlight picked out something shiny on the ground. Strathairn stooped to pick up a finely wrought gold cravat pin in the shape of an eagle just like the one Count Forney favored. A familiar restless energy and heightened alertness caused blood to pump through his veins.

A calling card? Word had come that Forney was dead. But was he? A flowery scent lingered in the air. Strathairn held the pin to his nose. Parisian, and a lady’s fragrance, if he was any judge.

AND UNLIKELY ANGELS FALL IN LOVE… (+ $10 GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY)



HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  from Genie Gabriel 
At the end of this party,
I'll be drawing the name of one commenter to receive 
a $10 gift card from Amazon.com.


AND UNLIKELY ANGELS FALL IN LOVE…

***EXCERPT from UNLIKELY ANGEL***

Two weeks before Christmas, Mitch decided he had waited long enough. 

“Come on, mutt.” Mitch grabbed his coat and a pair of work gloves. “Let’s go find the twins.” 

Gabe bounded to his feet and bumped the doorknob with his nose. He sniffed and marked around the yard while Mitch pulled the Ferrari out of the garage. As soon as the dog jumped into the car, Mitch drove to a lot selling Christmas trees. He selected one that would fit nicely in Julia’s small apartment and strapped it to the top of the car. 

The mutt hung his head out the window, riding in silent watchfulness until the apartment building was in sight. “Woof!” 

“You have to be quiet or we’ll get caught smuggling you in.” Under cover of the falling twilight and a bushy evergreen tree, Mitch and the dog walked quickly toward Julia’s apartment. 

As soon as Julia opened the door, the dog pushed inside and sniffed out the twins, quickly falling back into their game of hide and seek. Within seconds, the twins’ giggles let Julia know the dog had found the children. 

“I brought a tree.” Mitch stood the evergreen upright. 

“I see that.” Julia bit her lip as she walked around the tree. “Nice choice. Bushy all around.” 

“I had three picky sisters who trained me in the fine art of Christmas tree selection.” 

Julia smiled. “They trained you well.” 

“I thought we could decorate it tonight and maybe have cookies and hot chocolate.” 

The wistful look on Mitch’s face tugged at Julia’s heart. She didn’t want to disappoint him--or miss the chance to spend time with him. “That would be great. Except...” 

“Except?” 

“All the decorations were left behind.” 

Understanding dawned in Mitch’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Julia. I didn’t think--I’ll go buy some.” 

“Wait--” Julia didn’t want to owe Mitch anything more, and she couldn’t afford to buy decorations for an entire tree right now. “Let’s make decorations. We have construction paper for paper chains and snowflakes, and we can pop corn to string together. I haven’t done that in years. It will be fun.” 

“How about the angel for the top?” Mitch asked. 

Julia tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Origami. We can do a fancy folded paper one.” She hoped. 

“Sounds great to me.” Mitch took off his jacket. “I did remember a stand.” 

While Mitch set the tree in the stand, Julia gathered supplies for ornaments and explained to the twins what they were going to do. The twins were delighted, as they hadn’t been allowed to touch the fussy tinsel and glass ornaments on the tree in the West Hills house. Just one more reminder of how suppressed her children’s joy had been. Julia much preferred this homemade Christmas tree. 

The tiny apartment soon became littered with scraps of paper, as loops of red and green chains took shape. The popping of corn rattled a cheerful accompaniment to the giggles of the twins as Julia brought another bowl of popcorn for Mitch to add to the string the dog snitched pieces from. 

“Why don’t you just give him some popcorn?” Julia asked. 

“He won’t eat it except off the string.” Mitch threw a disgusted look toward the dog. “It must be a new game.” 

Julia turned away to hide her smile. The tree was shaping up beautifully, even if Angelina insisted on hanging all her handmade ornaments on the same three branches. “Anyone want refills on hot chocolate?” 

When Julia returned from the kitchen, the room had grown quiet. 

“Your helpers are asleep,” Mitch said. 

The twins lay curled like cherubs next to the dog beneath the spreading limbs of the now decorated tree. 

“Do you want to move them to bed?” Mitch asked. 

Julia nodded. Soon the twins were settled in their beds for the night. 

“Sometimes I just want to watch my children.” Julia’s heart swelled with joy as she gazed at Abraham and Angelina. “If I could have one thing for Christmas, I’d ask for my children to be safe.” 

Julia and Mitch lapsed into silence for a moment, absorbing the innocence of the twins as they slept. “What would you ask for, Mitch?” 

Mitch stared at Julia for a moment longer. His gaze caressed every inch of her face and finally settled on her mouth. “A kiss from you.” 

***

You can buy UNLIKELY ANGEL from Amazon.com, where the ebook version (under the title, THE BODYGUARD) is also on sale for just 99 cents! For more excerpts, information about this book and others I've written, as well as buy links, please visit my web site at <www.GenieGabriel.com>.


Happy holidays to all of you!

More Praise for Jax’s bravery…..



One print copy of Fateful Waters will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter from this post and the 1/5/14 Pavilion Party. Names from all Party posts, including 2/2/14, will be eligible for a $25. Gift Certificate from Barnes & Noble.

Blurb: Jax runs for her life and is apprehended by the police. She’s sentenced to a juvenile detention facility, at the tender age of twelve. Lockup becomes an unexpected sanctuary for the traumatized child. It affords a safe harbor from her abuser, but she’s plagued by nightmares well into adulthood. Fate and her Grandmother step in to successfully reduce her sentence, and she’s paroled into a distant cousin’s custody, and relocated to a cattle ranch in Wyoming. The young parolee finds the transition difficult at first. She spends the next nine years learning the ropes, making friends, and a couple of powerful enemies.

She’s been on her own since the age of ten and has of necessity become a fighter, but her aggressive in your face attitude hides a fragile, mistrustful soul. She’s unnerved when instead of her long time friend, a dark imposing stranger shows up at the Denver airport to fly her home.

Garrett left home to attend college under a cloud of suspicion for a brutal crime. He returned more than a decade later wounded from a chopper crash in Vietnam. At odds with his father, he jumps at the chance to get away. His agreement to do a friend a favor changes his life.

Jax discovers that Garrett is the sheriff’s prime suspect for the multiple attacks on her. She confronts him with the lawman’s accusation. Garrett turns on her, but he refuses to confirm or deny the law officer’s charge. The sheriff calls in the FBI to assist with the case. Bodies are unearthed, and the hunt is on to apprehend a murderer.

Harper Blackelk is in the minority among the residents of the Wind River Valley. He doesn’t think that Jax is mentally unbalanced. She’s troubled, but he also believes her to be brave, resourceful, and loyal. He alone knows that she will need all of her bravery and resourcefulness to navigate the dark pathways of the spirit world.

Review by: Reynold Bowen  5 Stars on smashwords.com July 18, 2013 :
Review of Wind River Refuge
by J. M. Anton
©2013 J. M. Anton
Smashwords Edition
Cover photo by Kellie
Anton
Graphic design by S. Shipley

Thesis: This book is a story about Jax, a young woman who is about to graduate from a university in North Carolina, but decides to go home to her step parent’s ranch in Wyoming for Christmas break. It takes place in the 1970s when the Vietnam War was the basis of many family hardships.

The Story: The prologue begins the book by telling the short story about Cindy, a high school cheerleader who decided not to take a ride home from her new boyfriend. Her old boy friend's cousin stepped in and offered her a ride, but as she would not do the things he was expecting her to do, she escaped his clutches, and ran from the car. As she tried to find her coat in the falling snow, she thought of ways that she would make him pay for his ill manners when she saw him again. Unfortunately, she never made it home.

The actual book begins when Jax, the heroine, is on her way home from Raleigh, North Carolina, to the Double D ranch in Wyoming. Dexter’s ill-mannered cousin Garret McBride, now back from Vietnam after being badly wounded, has been sent to Denver to pick her up for the final leg of the journey, and he has been told that there is a very angry step mother with a shotgun waiting for Jax, so she had better arrive in perfect health.

Jax, and Garrett start off on the wrong foot, and their non-relationship goes downhill from there. This becomes even more worrying as Jax returns again in the spring after graduating, and someone attempts to murder her.

How Jax finds out who her assailant really is, and how she resolves the problem keeps the reader occupied, and on the edge of his or her seat throughout the story. It is well written, and the realistic characters have the right dialog to keep the story going while the narrative constantly reminds the reader that the author’s heart lives out in the west. The author describes winter, and spring in the Rocky Mountains so well, and with so much enthusiasm, that it is difficult not to want to move there instantly.

J. M. Anton’s last book used Texas as a background, while this book moves a few states north, and makes the reader want to read her next adventure not only to follow the exciting story, but also to see where she will go next. Finally, this adventure takes place towards the end of the Vietnam War, and again lets everyone know just how many problems the soldiers of that era brought back with them.

This book is a good story, with a plot that always keeps the reader on track until the climax. J.M. Anton, please keep this quality of work coming in your future books.
RB


Author Links:
Writing Blog: http://jackieanton.com/
FB Adult Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/authorjmanton?ref=hl Stop by and give us a like.
Wind River Refuge book teaser: http://youtu.be/ig3jvBzFKsE

Email: talesbyjackie@gmail.com

Here is a direct link to Wind River Refuge, and a free coupon for checkout. (RW22M) : http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/328170
“Wind River Refuge” is only available as an e-book; the print edition will be available January of 2014: Two free copies will be awarded to randomly drawn reviewers. (US Only) Every review post receives an entry; review on smashwords = 1 entry, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and LibraryThing earn an extra point= 6 entries for all five review postings.
Note: This coupon is only being promoted on this site, and it expires on December 10,2013.

Happy Holidays everyone. I look forward to visiting with you in the new year.

Feeling Blessed ~Giveaway

Every year, I find a new reason to feel blessed. This year is no different. First and foremost, my family comes before everything. That never changes. They are my heart and soul. But this yearmy dream came true. I went from writing for me to writing a series for my favorite publisher—Ellora’s Cave.
I can’t express what a wonderful feeling it was to get ‘the call’ for my debut, Unexpected Find. Excited, scared, disbelieving but above allblessed. They pulled my novel out of the slush pile and gave a newbie author a chance. I’ll forever be grateful for that.
I hope everyone has something or someone to cherish this holiday season too.
Happy holidays!

About Me
I've always been an avid reader and encourage everyone to escape the hectic daily grind with a few minutes a day in your favorite book. 
I'm lucky enough to share my cat's home with my three wonderful children, husband, dog and snake. When not writing, I work as a chemist in a pharmaceutical lab. 
My passions beyond reading and family include music, classic cars, tattoos and animals (all of which have found their way into my writing in one form or another).
So that's a little bit about me...
Nancy

Excerpt
Rafe waited for Josh to leave then stepped behind Jasmine and slipped an arm around her waist, locking her to him. She molded against him, softness to hardness, and was short enough to tuck under his arm. She leaned into his embrace as if she’d done so for a lifetime, head tipped back to rest against his chest. The easy way she accepted him pushed him to take more. With a palm on her hip, he tugged her closer, pressed his engorged shaft to her body. She stiffened and spun, blonde hair very similar in shade to his whipping with the move. Wide-eyed, she stared at him. He loosened his grip but didn’t release her.
Gods, she was beautiful. Gray eyes, dilated at the moment, a few freckles on the tip of a slightly crooked nose and a mouth made for kissing. Her rounded face with its finely sloped forehead lent her an angelic quality, but the desire stamped on it ensured she’d be the wicked kind of angel, given the proper encouragement. And he had every confidence in his ability to bring out the vixen hidden behind her sweet exterior.
He thought about all the ways he could urge the siren out and a grin spread. Oh, the unveiling would be fun.
She shoved at his chest, didn’t move him, and huffed. “Let go, buddy. We’re done.”
Her husky voice wrapped around him and the bite of irritation in it appealed to him as well. He enjoyed feisty females—in bed and out.
“But you didn’t answer me,” he replied, enjoying the confusion making her brows scrunch. Tiny crinkles appeared by the corner of her almond-shaped eyes. He liked how they looked there.
“What did you ask?”
“Am I hot enough for you?”
Her jaw dropped, but the evidence of her desire drifted to his nose.
“Good. I’m glad I fit your needs.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” He took her hand, linking their fingers, and led her away from her human friend and the other males’ appreciative glances. He wanted her aloneto talk.
She hesitated at the entrance to the employee hallway. “What a sec, buddy. I am not going anywhere with you.”
He tipped her chin up, met those hypnotizing gray eyes. “Name’s Rafe. Rafe Alexander.”
She licked her lips. “Rafe,” she said.
Damn, his name sounded good in her breathless voice.
“Jasmine.” He tried the name out. It rolled nicely on his tongue. “Walk with me.”
Connect with me


Giveaway: Fancy a tropical affair to escape the winter blues?


Holiday Affair is a sexy romance set in the wonderful South Pacific and is the first book in the Affair series. Ocean breezes, sapphire waters provide the backdrop for a couple falling in love, albeit reluctantly!
A one night fling –no strings attached. Matters get complicated when he turns out to be her new boss and her neighbor!
I am a true romantic at heart. I love happy endings, big happy families and romance that flourish in gorgeous settings. I love describing a setting so vividly so that the reader can see, hear and smell the exotic locations I place my characters in. I love hearing from readers who say that reading my romantic stories has lifted them and placed them in that setting for a short time.
Nick and Lissy’s story came to me on a vacation...

Most winters, we go sailing in the Whitsunday Islands and wander along the beaches at the islands

Of course, romance is always in the air and the characters of Nick and Lissy were inspired as I watched tanned backpackers stroll hand in hand along the beach. I started to wonder about romances which begin in exotic locations and how that relationship would survive once transplanted into a mundane work environment. My background of working in an academic environment and my study of Pacific history in my undergraduate history studies was the inspiration for Lissy’s role in the history faculty in the University.

Buy links
Holiday Affair is a sexy romance set in the wonderful South Pacific and is the first book in the Affair series. Ocean breezes, sapphire waters provide the backdrop for a couple falling in love, albeit reluctantly!
A one night fling –no strings attached. Matters get complicated when he turns out to be her new boss and her neighbor!
I am a true romantic at heart. I love happy endings, big happy families and romance that flourish in gorgeous settings. I love describing a setting so vividly so that the reader can see, hear and smell the exotic locations I place my characters in. I love hearing from readers who say that reading my romantic stories has lifted them and placed them in that setting for a short time.
Nick and Lissy’s story came to me on a vacation...

Most winters, we go sailing in the Whitsunday Islands and wander along the beaches at the islands
Of course, romance is always in the air and the characters of Nick and Lissy were inspired as I watched tanned backpackers stroll hand in hand along the beach. I started to wonder about romances which begin in exotic locations and how that relationship would survive once transplanted into a mundane work environment. My background of working in an academic environment and my study of Pacific history in my undergraduate history studies was the inspiration for Lissy’s role in the history faculty in the University.
For a copy of Italian Affair...the second book in the series, comment below and tell me what is your favorite romantic location.
And watch my blog for  some super news about this series  in a couple of hours from now!

Buy Links:

Defeat Writer's Block

Writer's block can be detrimental to the writing process, but it doesn't have to be. I have a few techniques that helped me write Rising Flame, the first book in my series entitled the Jhetan Chronicles.

1.) Write.
Write about anything. If it pops into your mind, write it down even if it makes no sense and has no place in your story. During that jumble of words and situations ideas might just pop into your head that you never even considered before.

2.) Take it easy
It's okay to not write some days or to only write for 30 minutes or to get 50 words down. And who knows, a break might be just what you need to get your creative juices flowing.

3.) Don't think of writing as a task.
When you think of writing as something you get to do rather than something you have to do, it really helps. Writing should be fun.

Rising Flame
Lily’s life changes forever the night a dark stranger shows up at her door. When she has to rely on him to find her missing sister, Lily discovers a secret that could mean life or death. 

Dex travels to Earth after his planet is destroyed. He quickly grows attracted to Lily after she takes him in. But when danger threatens those he loves, Dex must try to stop it before it’s too late.

Purchase links: Barnes and NobleAmazonSmashwordsKobo

Welcome to Durran Castle where Ghost Lover by Liza O'Connor takes place

Welcome to Durran Castle
where Ghost Lover takes place.
 

It's Christmas time and the house if full of ghosts.
 Most just float about as orbs,
 giving the room a festive look.
Only one of the ghosts can fully materialize
into what appears to be a living breathing man.
And that is the Ghost Lover, Lassier
Here is Lassier floating around the castle
Probably worrying about how
he can get matters in the castle untangled.
 
Right now it's a mess.
This is Senna. She's kind of sad
because she's engage to Brendon,
but has fallen in love with his older brother Gar.
 
 
This is Gar. He's fallen in love with Senna,
but he cannot tell her because she is his brother's fiancé.
 
 
This is Brendon. He loves Senna because she likes him
and has promised to stay with him always.
However, he's recently fallen in love with
a playful young artist, named Cat..
Only he refuses to release Senna from their engagement.
He intends to marry Senna and keep Cat as his mistress.
 
 This is the artist, Cat.
She loves Brendon
and has become great friends with Senna
 whom she resembles when she isn't wearing strange makeup.
 
And this is Mr. Finch, Lassier's Ocelot.
 
You should follow my tour to discover how
Mr. Finch became to be a ghost cat.
(It's not in the book,
You can only read it in my blogs.)
AND  LEARN
HOW LASSIER UNRAVELS THIS MESS.
My delightful characters all await you in
 
 
(Updated Daily)
and increase your chances of
winning $50 gift card tour prize
 
Choose among these buy links to go directly to my fabulous book
BUY LINKS
And leave a comment and your email and I'll send you a copy of the ebook Worst Week Ever.

MY FIRST ENGLISH EDITION

"A Shadow on Merrimack River" is my first English edition. My books have had success here in Italy and I would like to create English editions for all of them, but it will take time. My first book was "Nessun segno sulla neve" (Transl. "No Footprints in the snow") it has won an important National Literary Award called Circe and was presented in the main books fair today. During summer 2012 it was presented in St. Angel Castle gardens.  The books I wrote next were "Il Bimbo di Rachele" (Transl. "Rachel's child") and "Un'Ombra sul Fiume Merrimack" which is now "A Shadow on Merrimack River". They were presented in Tv and radio broadcasts. My peculiarity is to write involving thrillers, full of suspense, set in particular contemporary historical and social periods. If you want to know something more about me, just enter the next link http://www.danielaalibrandi.joomlafree.it  or my public page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniela-Alibrandi-Autore/108488582556510 I wait for you!!!

His Perfect Game Excerpt

His Perfect Game by Jenn Langston will be available on Amazon on December 18th. Here is a sneak preview:

“Willimena,” her father snapped, drawing her attention back to him. “I have found a husband for you.”

Abigail gaped at her father. Shock robbed her of the ability to speak. After years of avoiding the fate she would suffer with a husband, in one instant, all her efforts had been rendered useless.

Her head spun. Surely this was a bad dream, or at the very least a misunderstanding. Sliding her eyes to the unknown man, she hoped he would refute her father’s words. Unfortunately, his unblinking stare only served to confirm it.

As she surveyed him, steely grey eyes assessed her from under dark lashes. His black hair was cropped short around a masculine face. A dusting of hair shaded his cheeks as if he had forgotten to shave that morning. Standing taller than her father, she found him to be quite an imposing figure.

“I-I don’t understand,” Abigail sputtered.

“This is Viscount Merrick, and, as of right now, you two are betrothed.”

Merrick. The name sounded familiar, but she could not place it. Although she realized she must have met him at some point, she couldn’t recall having ever seen him before.

Eyes still focused upon him, she tried to recall a memory. She would not call him handsome by any typical definition of the word, but there was something striking about him, something not easily forgotten.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Viscount Merrick said, as he bowed to her. “Please excuse me.”

Without another word, he left.
Abigail stared after him, unable to process what was happening, particularly at such a late hour. Was she still betrothed? Had he taken one look at her and changed his mind? She secretly hoped so. 

I hope you enjoyed the preview. If you would like any additional information about me or His Perfect Game, please visit me at my website: www.jennlangston.com
Thank you!

A SHADOW ON MERRIMACK RIVER

A Shadow on Merrimack River is an involving thriller that in its Italian edition has had very good reviews from literary critics. The story of this book is very particular, because I decided to translate it in English after I got in touch with my school friends I didn't hear for more than 40 years. They told me that  Brown Avenue
buildings, including the church of St. Francis as well as the school of St. Francis where we studied, had been demolished to enlarge the airport area. So I thought it would be nice for who had loved that place like I did to read a book set there, full of descriptions of how the place was before and of natural landscapes. Last november two of my friends came to Italy and ours was the longest hug you could ever imagine. I'll try to download a video where I explain the book story as well as my literary career. I hope you'll enjoy. If you want to get in touch with me you can write to daniela.alibrandi@gmail.com

Wind River Refuge Preview....



One print copy of Fateful Waters will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter from this post and the 1/5/14 Pavilion Party. Names from all Party posts, including 2/2/14, will be eligible for a $25. Gift Certificate from Barnes & Noble.

Excerpt 2:

     She gazed up at him and asked; “Is that the plane?”
          “Yep.” He grinned at her.
     She looked at him skeptically, surveyed the plane again, her complexion turned more pale, though Garrett was not sure how that was even possible. She shook her head in the negative, turned, and started back the way they had just come. He caught her by the upper arm. “Whoa.” To his utter amazement she looked at his hand like it was a rattler. He quickly removed it, but stepped in front of her.
     “Please move.” She requested in a weak voice that scared the hell out of him.
     “Where are you going?”
     “To rent a car and drive home.”
     “NO!”
     “What do you mean, no?” She demanded in a belligerent tone.
     He wondered if this was what Maggie meant when she warned him the girl could be testy. “No” He repeated. “You aren’t driving anywhere, in your condition. I promised Maggie I would get you back to her safely, and in one piece.”
     “Stop, shouting at me!” She yelled at him.
     He hadn’t really shouted at her. He’d just enunciated every syllable, in a commanding voice.
     “I am not going over the mountains in that, that, that puddle jumper!”
     Garrett exercised considerable self-control to avoid laughing at her obvious skepticism regarding the flight worthiness of his plane. “I thought you’d flown, with Dexter?”
     “Why do you think I want to drive?”
     For the second time in a matter of seconds he suppressed the long forgotten urge to laugh. His mirth was brought on by the disgust in her voice, and he made an attempt to reassure her. “I’m not Dexter.”
     “No shit, Sherlock. That still doesn’t mean you’re any better of a pilot.”
     “Why don’t we find out, Jax?” He relieved her of the carry on placing it under his left arm, and picked up the piece of luggage she’d been towing behind her. Then he placed his right hand on her upper arm, and guided her to the plane. Garrett assisted her into the passenger seat. Once she was seated he continued to load and secure the luggage while keeping an eye on her, in case she decided to make another run for it.
     Jax was not able to stage an escape should her very life depend on it. She was exhausted and could barely keep her eyes open. However, they flipped up, like and old fashioned roller shade wound to tightly, when he got into the plane filling the small cockpit with the overwhelming aura of a self-assured, dominate male. Ingrained mistrust and self-preservation welled up threatening to break through the fragile barriers she’d painstakingly erected to hold them at bay. She kept a suspicious eye on him while he went through the preflight requirements with the controllers in the tower. Now, he was waiting for further instructions. She was entranced by his dark good looks, even though his powerful build and equally powerful presence unnerved her. She’d noticed when first locating him in the terminal that his eyes were so dark they appeared black. A trick of the lighting she’d figured and wondered what color they really were. Now that he’d replaced the wide brimmed hat he’d been wearing, tipped low on his brow, with the headset she could see his hair was pitch black and wavy. His beard was just as black, close cropped and neat. It flitted through her foggy mind that he sure didn’t look like any of the McBride clan that she knew. A strange out of body experience overtook her; head buzzing, she was finding it difficult to concentrate. Then she felt him touch her and panicked! Jax slapped at his hands with what strength she could gather.
     “Calm down. I’m only checking to make sure you’re fastened in correctly.” He turned away from her, said something into the radio, then they were moving. Eyes scrunched closed, she began to recite a string of Hail Marys.
     “You can open your eyes now, we’re up.”
     She looked over at him, alarm in her eves, “Do you supply barf bags on this flight?”

 
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