Friday, March 15, 2024

His last gasp became a wail of despair… #Fantasy #MMRomance #Giveaway

 Belega tour banner

Blurb

The Karthagans have regained their ancient powers of manipulating nature, but at the price of madness. In their lust for control, they've destroyed their island and most of their race. They come now to Belega, where one of them, Camron, seeks domination over the known world. The Mage has come from the northern continent of Sennia to bring peace but finding his strength no match for the coming struggle, he passes his abilities on to Natan, who only desires a simple life.

Now only Natan has the ability to stop Camron, but the personal cost is more than he imagines. It is only with the combined strength of his friends, his Karthagan lover, Kavi, and his deep desire to bring lasting peace to the earth, that he finds the courage to overcome Camron and restore balance to the world.

Belega book cover

Exclusive Excerpt

Kavi stood at the mouth of the tunnel and stared into the blackness of the cavern, stalling to let his pursuers catch up.

They were down there, all those bodies lying in the lake. Impressions of horror and pain and black despair swirled in the freezing air on the lake’s surface.

He dropped to his knees, covering his face with shaking hands. “I’m afraid, Gregor.”

His broken whisper echoed through the chamber. A low wail rose from the water in reply. Kavi searched for Gregor’s presence in his mind. The Mage wasn’t there, though their connection had been strong outside this terrible place. He was alone. The wail rose to a shrieking wind, and Kavi opened his arms to gather it in. Pain struck him first, confusion and a dawning horror as memories that weren’t his crashed into his mind…

Bodies lay beneath him, his limbs growing numb where they lay in the icy water of the lake. A heavy weight struck his back, and another, driving the wind from his lungs. Wait! He was still alive! But voices and gruff laughter drowned out his thoughts. Another body splashed in front of him, and he found himself staring into the unseeing eyes of Grahm, his dear friend, his broken body lying at an unnatural angle. Another weight fell on him, crushing his face against the body beneath him. He could no longer breathe, and his last gasp became a wail of despair…

The drowning man’s cry rose into the air and became part of the others in the shrieking wind around Kavi. It gathered force, then roared toward him. The small part of Kavi’s mind still lucid in the swirling chaos became aware of swift footsteps approaching down the passageway. It was time. He threw himself to the damp earth. The furious wind roared over his head and swept into the tunnel.

The pursuing men were plunged at once into the nightmare of decaying bodies and screaming wraiths. Some went mad and slew themselves. Others fled into the tunnels, babbling of dead faces trapped in their minds.

Kavi sobbed into his hands. Not all the grief was his. Anguished voices had ridden that wind, full of anger and sadness. But the voices had changed. A cry of such hope-filled gladness went up as the wind burst into the tunnels, and he found himself weeping in joy without knowing why. He rose shakily to his feet to mourn anew as the wisp of a lonely wail floated from the darkness over the lake. That of a soul left behind.

He sent a tentative thought out, searching, but exhaustion claimed him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered to the loneliness and turned away.

About the Author

Dianne Hartsock head shot

Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.

She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Blog: https://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock

FaceBook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsockbooks/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannehartsock/

Dianne Hartsock will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner during the tour.


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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

A perfectly honest line of work – #WomensHistoryMonth #Heroines #MFRWHooks

Exposure banner

I’m continuing my observance of Women’s History Month by focusing on some of my strongest and most assertive heroines. This week I have an excerpt from Exposure, an urban thriller with romantic elements. Stella Xanathakeos, the protagonist, is more than capable of standing up for herself. When I went looking for an excerpt, though, I realized I had one that featured two extraordinary women.

Enjoy!

Blurb

Sex, blood and betrayal: it's all in a day's work.

I strip for the fun of it. Don’t let anyone tell you different. It’s not the money. I could make nearly as much working at the mill and keep my clothes on, but then I’d have to suck up to the bosses. Up on stage, I’m the one in charge, and I like it that way.

Tony Pinelli hired me for a private dance. I was determined to give him his money’s worth. I didn’t expect to be caught in the cross-fire of a double murder. When his widow shows up at my door, I know I’m in way over my head. Now I’m everyone’s target. I can’t trust anyone – not even the police detective who was sweet on me in high school. My only chance at survival is to shift through the lies and expose the truth.

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The Hook

Francesca waits quietly while the media people rearrange themselves and adjust their equipment. Then, when they’ve settled down, she waits a moment longer, scanning the crowd, looking elegant and serious.

I have to admire her showmanship. By the time she begins to speak, she has the attention of everyone, even the technicians squatting in the doors of the mobile studio vans.

Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for taking the time to join us on this raw and stormy afternoon. I won’t keep you long.

As you all know, my husband Anthony Pinelli wanted to serve this city as its mayor. Pittsburgh was his birthplace. It nurtured him, educated him, made him wealthy and successful. It gave him opportunities and benefits that he could not have found anywhere else. Tony Pinelli wanted to give some of this back to the city he loved. That was his most cherished dream.

Tony’s tragic death has shocked us all.” Francesca allows a quaver into her voice. I’m impressed. She really knows how to work the crowd. She pauses and swallows hard, as if resisting tears. Her voice is calm and forceful when she continues. “As his wife and partner, I am determined not to allow his dream to die with him. That is why, today, I am announcing my own candidacy for the position of mayor. I am determined that, even though Tony has left us, the next person to preside over the administration of this fine city will be Mayor Pinelli.”

The crowd erupts in enthusiastic applause. I find that I’m clapping myself. The hubbub continues for quite a while. Francesca holds up her hand, asking for quiet.

During the remaining weeks of the campaign, I will be sharing with you my vision—Tony’s vision—for this city. Assisting me with this task will be my press secretary, Ms. Stella Xanathakeos. Like Tony and me, Stella was born here. She knows the problems and the aspirations of the ordinary people of Pittsburgh. She will help me to explain why a vote for me is a vote for a bright, secure and prosperous future—for all of us.”

Francesca turns to me. “Stella, would you like to say a few words?” Expectantly, the cameras and microphones swing in my direction.

I’m not entirely unprepared. It was reasonable that Francesca would want me to speak. Still, I have a moment of panic. I’m a performer, but words are not my usual instrument.

I pause for a moment, take a deep breath and survey my audience. They are mostly male, though I recognize the blonde bob and creamy complexion of Teresa Kelly, the Channel 5 news anchor. I remind myself that in this situation, my sexuality is a liability. Just in time, I remember not to lick my lips. I clasp my hands in front of me to keep them out of trouble.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to be standing here today, next to this brave woman. When you lose someone you love, your first impulse is to just give up. You want to crawl into a hole and die yourself. I know this, from my own experience.” I pause, looking out over the attentive faces. I hope that they’re not just paying attention to my tits.

Francesca Pinelli isn’t giving up, though. That’s not the sort of person she is. She was her husband’s closest aide. She understands his goals and his plans for Pittsburgh. And she’s determined to turn those plans into reality, regardless of her personal pain.

As for me, I’m just an ordinary person. My mother died when I was six. My father was an immigrant who worked hard all his life to support me. He had to fight against discrimination, and sleazy bosses, and government by the rich for the rich. I’ve worked hard, too. It’s an uphill battle for most of us in this city. I believe that Francesca Pinelli wants to make that battle easier. What’s more important, I believe that she can.”

I am startled when people begin to applaud. Francesca face wears a broad smile as she steps forward and reclaims the attention of the crowd.

A few questions, Ms. Pinelli!” shouts someone from the crowd. “Don’t go yet!” echoes another voice. “Give us a chance!”

The crowd presses toward us, waving microphones in our faces and effectively trapping us on the stairs. Somebody opens an oversized umbrella and holds it over our heads.

Very well, we can take a few questions. No more than five minutes, though, or we’ll all be drenched.” A few more umbrellas open. The media people push closer to hear us against the wind.

Ms. Pinelli.” The question comes from Terry Kelly. “Pittsburgh has a reputation as a rough city. We’ve got the unions, the old industry barons, the mob. Do you really think it can be run by a woman?”

Francesca stands erect, looking taller than usual. “Don’t you think, Ms. Kelly, that it is time a woman had the chance to show what she can do?” There is scattered applause. “You probably know that Tony was a tough guy. He wouldn’t have chosen me as his partner if I couldn’t be just as tough, when the need arose.”

A skinny reporter in dark-rimmed glasses steps forward with his tape recorder. “Graham White, your opponent, has headed the City Council for more than five years. You have no political experience. Why should the voters choose a novice like you, over a seasoned politician like Mr. White?”

Francesca laughs. “No political experience? I was married to Tony Pinelli for more than ten years, including his two terms on the council. Believe me, I know about politics!” The audience chuckles. “On the other hand, I don’t think this city needs a politician, as much as we need a leader.”

Ms. Xanathakeos!” I’m startled to hear my name. It’s coming from a chubby, balding guy with an unpleasant grin. “I’m sure that we all appreciated your homily to the working class. But isn’t it true that for the past six years your primary employment has been as an exotic dancer?”

Gasps and snickers come from the audience. The questioner looks pleased with himself. So there it is. I glance over at Francesca. She looks perfectly calm and untroubled. I straighten my back, so that my tits thrust out a bit, and look the bald guy in the eye. I know what you like, I think to myself. You like to dress up in your wife’s lingerie when she’s working the late shift. That’s what I see, though it might be my own imagination. Still, as I stare at him, he begins to squirm and finally has to look away.

Quite true, Mister...?”

Rostropovitch,” he answers reluctantly.

You’ve done your research, Mr. Rostropovitch. I am indeed an exotic dancer, as you put it. A perfectly honest line of work, and believe me, not an easy one. Do you have some problem with that?”

Well, it hardly seems appropriate for a mayoral candidate to be associating with hookers.”

Now I am really annoyed. “A stripper is not a hooker, Mr. Rostropovitch. In any case, I am what I said I am, a woman born and bred in this city, who knows the problems working people here, particularly women, face. I’m also a voter. I am definitely qualified to give Ms. Pinelli advice and insight into these issues.”

I give him a long cold stare that I hope makes him feel naked. “In Francesca Pinelli’s Pittsburgh, everyone will be entitled to fair treatment and respect—even reporters!”

Exposure book cover

Buy Links (Ebook)

Kinky Literature: https://www.kinkyliterature.com/book/100-exposure-urban-erotic-noir/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V19MLDR

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09V19MLDR

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exposure-lisabet-sarai/1141122670?ean=2940165803093

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1136224

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/exposure-urban-erotic-noir

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60574045-exposure

Buy Links (Audio Book)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Exposure-An-Erotic-Murder-Mystery/dp/B079K627T3

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Exposure-Audiobook/B079K2828J

Be sure to visit the other authors participating in today's Book Hooks!

 


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Is escape even an option? #SciFi #AlternateReality #Giveaway @bl98

 

Blurb

How did it come to this? My life used to be so simple. Back then, I hated it; I found it boring. Let me tell you: boring’s good. Boring’s great! I should’ve been thankful…

It was supposed to be a date like any other for James Hunter, a simple convenience store clerk. Nothing more than watching a movie in the town of Moncton. A place as unknown and unimportant as he considered his own existence to be. And yet, while walking to a cinema, James teleports to another world. There, a hostile crowd surrounds him, including various mutants with strange deformities.

Before he can even gather his wits or make a dash for it, a lone ally presents herself in the form of a winged woman named Rose. An important cultural figure in the country where James appeared, she offers him both protection and a home.

Soon, James learns that this new world is divided by a cold war. On one side is Nirnivia, home to Rose. The other, Ostark, led by a mysterious cyborg. James is unaware that the cyborg has him in his crosshairs, thinking of him as the Deus Ex Machina that will end the war in his favor.

But, the cyborg is far from the only potential threat to James. Soon after his arrival, BRR, a terrorist organisation, kidnaps him.

What would a rogue group out for revenge seeking to turn the cold war hot want with someone like James? Is there anyone also aware of this other world who will try to find him? Or is he on his own? If so, how is he supposed to escape? If that's even an option...

Excerpt

The world whirled around James. Soon, all distinct shapes vanished, superseded by a haze of colors. Shades of green, red and blue filled his vision. An agonizing pain flared across his body, and James screamed. His stomach floated up to his throat, while his intestines… he preferred not to think about them. Then, at last, the forms returned, though muddled. The sensation lasted only a few seconds, but it brought James to his knees as he gagged and vomited on the pavement. Once done, he wiped his mouth and coughed. Revolted screams erupted around him.

James almost mumbled an apology for the mess, but then he realized: who was yelling? He and Nadia stood alone and yet… wait, those dark figures surrounding him on the ground… shadows? And over there, feet and legs… where had these people come from?

Perplexed, James tried getting up, but he wobbled and fell. His new position gave him a view of the trees he had scrutinized before the incident, except they had morphed into a yellow brick building. James’s heart raced and his body tensed. Trying to relax, he took a few deep breaths through his nose and scowled. That stench, a mix of decayed food, feces, and puke, permeated the air. Of course, his own actions explained the last odor, but still, Moncton never smelled so bad. No wonder, with all the garbage littering the street. However, the road he’d strolled along had been so clean just moments ago.

As he pondered the change in scenery, James’s vision cleared. He took it as a good sign and attempted to stand up again. Though he swayed, he remained on his feet. Perhaps because of his movement, the confused chatter around him intensified. Bronze-skinned people glanced at each other and recoiled, a few pointing at him. James scanned the crowd in search of Nadia. Unable to locate his lover, he found his attention drawn to a stranger in the distance instead. The man held a leash, but without a dog at the end. A pink glob of goo replaced the expected canine. The horror waved its many tentacles, sometimes caressing passersby. James gasped. Covered in perspiration and shaking, he averted his gaze and spotted a young boy with a miniature leg sticking out of his belly through a hole in his shirt.

About the Author

So, my name is Benoit Lanteigne and I’m a French Canadian (outside of Quebec) who’s trying to write in English. That can be tricky. I’m a computer programmer and I enjoy it. I see many inspiring writers who hate their jobs and hope to quit someday, but that’s not my case. Mostly, I’ve worked on websites and web applications.

Back in school, I enjoyed writing and according to my teachers and classmates; I had a talent for it. Well, not so much for grammar and spelling, but they liked my stories. Once I went to university, I dropped writing as a hobby. There were other things I wanted to focus on, such as my career. Then, in the early 2000s, around 2006 I’d say, I had a flash of inspiration. At first, it was a single character: a winged woman with red hair. I didn’t even know who she was, but the image stuck with me. From there, I began figuring out details about her origins and her world, but I only started writing for real in 2009.

It’s been roughly 10 years now, and it’s not yet finished. That’s in part because I write in my spare time, and in part because the scope of the project is huge. Maybe too much so. Still, I’m getting close to the point where I could release something. The question is what’s next? Self-publishing? Attempt traditional publishing? Nothing? I don’t know the answer yet, I’m trying to figure it out. Frankly, sharing my writing is difficult for me, and whatever I end up doing, as long as I make it available to people I consider the experience a victory no matter what comes out of it.

Website: https://thecyborgscrusade.com/

Newsletter: https://thecyborgscrusade.com/fanclub.html

Social Media Link Hub: https://thecyborgscrusade.com/hub.html

https://www.facebook.com/people/My-Skeptical-Angel/100055656492122/

https://twitter.com/bl98

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS80WvrsYaBCOKBVgYwsXTA

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Buy Link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cyborgs-Crusade-Day-Deux-Machina-ebook/dp/B0CBZZRDZ4/ref=sr_1_1

One randomly chosen winner will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.


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Friday, March 8, 2024

Strange what desire will make foolish people do – #MFRWsteam #BisexualErotica #99Cents

Hot Brides in Vegas sale banner

For today’s MFRW Steam Hop, I’m featuring a sizzling excerpt from Hot Brides in Vegas, Book 1 of my outrageous Vegas Babes series. Warning: although these books include romantic subplots, most readers would consider them to be bisexual erotica. Since I’m not a fan of labels, I’ll just tell you that they are imaginative, varied, humorous and very, very hot! And for the next two weeks, this series starter is on sale for only 99 cents at all outlets!

Blurb

Never underestimate the power of a horny bride.

Francesca Torelli’s tycoon father is throwing a lavish Las Vegas wedding for his only child. Her fiancé Jake and his buddies set out for a stag night, exploring the fleshpots of Sin City. Meanwhile, Fran and her bridesmaids Laura and Chantal are stuck at the resort under the watchful eye of her stern Aunt Giulia, who has promised her brother that Franny will come to the altar a virgin.

Frustrated and annoyed by these double standards, the young women hatch a plan to escape their chaperone and have some fun of their own. With the help of a susceptible concierge, a butch ex-cop limo driver and a scandalous French couturiere, they find their way to The Fox’s Den, the most exclusive—and outrageous—gentlemen’s club in the city. Owner Larry Archer and his crew of strippers, bouncers, voyeurs and sluts are more than happy to welcome the delectable trio as contestants performing at the club’s famous Amateur Night.

The gleeful permissiveness of the Den challenges the women’s assumptions and undermines their inhibitions. Complications ensue when Jake and his groomsmen arrive to find Fran in the midst of her strip act. Then Aunt Giulia crashes the party, determined to save her virgin niece, and things get really sticky—both figuratively and literally.

Will love triumph? Will Francesca be drawn over to the dark side? Is there a difference?

Excerpt

Larry beamed at the customers, waiting for the hubbub to die down. “And now,” he said, “I’d like to introduce our first contestant. Put your hands together and give a big Vegas welcome to the lovely Laura!”

The first bars of her chosen music filtered through the din. “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak, a song that always made her feel sexy. Laura stepped out of the shadows, into the pool of light on the stage.

The applause hit her like a physical blow. She would have stumbled on her sky-high heels, but the music held her.

The world was on fire, and no one could save me but you…

Like fire, lust raced through her. She raised her arms above her head in a luxurious stretch, then pivoted so her back was to the crowd. Ever so slowly, she bent at the waist, walking her hands down her legs to her ankles.

It’s strange what desire will make foolish people do…

She felt her clinging, skimpy dress ride up the back of her thighs before completely baring her ass. Her thong tightened between her cheeks, adding delicious pressure against both her rear hole and her pussy. Laura swung her hips in a figure eight, in perfect time with the music. The audience was silent—hypnotized by her slow, sensual moves—but she felt their eyes on her.

What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way…

She twirled on her high heels, until she once more faced the crowd. At the same time, she grabbed the hem of her costume and eased the garment up to her waist, showing off her flat stomach, her shadowy navel and the lace-sheathed plumpness of her pussy. A guy sitting at the bar leaned toward her, holding out a ten dollar bill. With a smile she hoped was enticing, she crouched down in front of him, holding his gaze. He stuck the cash into the elastic waistband of her thong. In a flash of wickedness, she pushed the bill under the triangle of fabric that barely covered her sex, then palmed her pussy and rubbed hard.

The spectators burst into wild applause. Meanwhile, Laura went rigid as a mini-climax raced through her. The spotlights dimmed and the room whirled as she struggled to remain standing.

Did the people watching know? Of course they did. But maybe it was common for dancers at The Fox’s Den to come on stage. She wouldn’t be surprised.

The song died away, haunting and erotic. Laura pulled the stretchy dress over her head and shook her blonde curls free, as Donna Summer picked up the beat.

Sittin' here, eatin' my heart out waitin'

Waitin' for some lover to call…

Laura strutted around the stage, shimmying her shoulders so that her breasts swung back and forth. People were clapping in time with the music as she bent once more and shook her ass in their faces. She felt high from the lust that washed over her. They wanted her, every single one of them.

Take it all off,” yelled someone in the back.

She obliged, teasing the thong down over her hips little by little, until everyone could see her shaved pussy. The drenched Alexander Hamilton fluttered to the floor. Oh God!

A voluptuous brunette at the bar pumped her fingers in and out of her month, then made a come-hither gesture. Laura sank to the stage directly in front of the woman, knees spread wide, swollen cunt lips gaping. Her eyes locked to Laura’s, the dark-haired lady slid her fingers bit by bit into Laura’s weeping slit. Drawing them out, equally slowly, she dragged them over Laura’s clit.

Fireworks shot through Laura’s body. Juices gushed from her, puddling on the stage. It was lucky she was already kneeling; in this onslaught of sensation, her legs would not have held her.

Hot stuff!” came a call from the audience, audible even above the thunderous applause. She recognized the deep voice. Steve!

Mingled shame and lust triggered another climax. Still shaking, she rolled onto her hip and somehow made it to a standing position. The music had ended, or at least she thought it had. The clapping made it hard to tell.

Hot Brides in Vegas book cover

Buy Links

Ebook - ON SALE FOR ONLY 99 CENTS

Kinky Literature – http://kinkyliterature.com/book/1692-hot-brides-in-vegas/

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077JRMGJF/

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077JRMGJF/

Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/758698

Barnes and Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hot-brides-in-vegas-lisabet-sarai/1127452565?ean=2940154622568

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hot-brides-in-vegas

Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1312757773

Add on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36588255-hot-brides-in-vegas

Audio book

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Brides-Vegas-Babes-Book/dp/B086L645JD

Audible - https://www.audible.com/pd/Hot-Brides-in-Vegas-Audiobook/B086L6ZJL1

Be sure to visit the other authors joining today’s Steam Hop.


Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Smart, independent, kick-ass heroines – #WomensHistoryMonth #EroticRomance #MFRWHooks

The Heart of the Deal book cover

Where did the week go? It’s Wednesday again, time for another MFRW Book Hooks blog hop.

March is Women’s History Month, and this coming Friday is International Women’s Day. I’m observing these occasions by featuring books with smart, independent, kick-ass heroines. Okay, this description applies to most of my heroines, but some of my female protagonists take this to extremes. Ruby Maxwell Chen from The Heart of the Deal is a prime example.

Blurb

All's fair in lust and business

Ruby Maxwell Chen, the lovely and ruthless CEO of a sprawling British business empire, has no qualms about playing dirty – very dirty. She’s happy to use sex to help her close a deal, especially when she’s the one on top. Ruby loves the game, and she expects to win. When she encounters the inexplicably charismatic American entrepreneur Rick Martell, though, she wonders if she hasn't finally met her match.

From the trendy clubs of London to the Hollywood Hills, Ruby and Rick compete for ownership of a strategic factory in Malaysia. As their struggle for dominance escalates and their mutual lust flares, they draw their employees and associates into their outrageous power games. The stakes could scarcely be higher, as Ruby and Rick play for the ultimate prize: a night of total physical surrender.

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The Hook

Rick,” I bark, and he jumps visibly. “Come over here.” He complies, coming to stand next to the guest chair across the desk from me. He moves to seat himself, but I stop him. “I didn’t tell you to sit, did I?” He looks at me, amazed, annoyed, and obviously increasingly excited. He shakes his head. “Then don’t.

You’re a scoundrel, Rick. A scoundrel and a traitor. Why didn’t you tell me that you knew my father? That you had him convinced you were his friend?”

I was his friend,” Rick begins. I cut him short with a baleful glare.

Some friend! Friends don’t take advantage of each other. Friends don’t lie to each other. Friends keep each other’s confidences.”

What are you talking about?” He sounds confused and defensive.

The foundry, of course. It was my father who brought it to your attention, showed you its potential. He intended to acquire it for The Maxwell Companies. Then you turn around and stab him in the back by stealing the deal away from him.”

How…?”

Never mind. I should have realized a lot sooner that you had inside information, and put two and two together.”

Liu and I planned to go into business together. The foundry was going to be a joint project.”

Oh? Why should I believe you?”

Because it’s true. I can show you the preliminary documents, if you want. Then came the accident, and everything got put on hold. The next thing that I know, you’re talking to Baktar and I’m completely out of the picture. I guess I was pissed off to find myself being ignored. I decided that I needed the fab for myself.”

Why didn’t my father tell me that he had a partner in the deal? He never even mentioned you.”

Rick gives me a harried look. “I don’t know, Ruby. He talked a lot about you. He planned to send you to Malaysia to do a final inspection of the plant. He wanted me to join you there, to give you a technical briefing.” This, at least, was confirmed by the email I had read. “Maybe he wanted you to form your own conclusions about me. Maybe he thought you’d be jealous, if you knew that he was mentoring me.” A ghost of a grin flits across his irregular features. “He did say that you were hot-blooded, and had a fierce temper…”

Did he indeed?” I say ironically, trying to keep the misery out of my voice. I’d thought that I knew my father so well, that I was privy to all his secrets. The revelation that he kept things from me, that he had other confidants, is painful. I lean forward, deliberately allowing Martell a glimpse of my cleavage, and look him in the eye. He licks his lips nervously. “So, was he right about me, Rick?”

I don’t know, Ruby,” he replies softly. “I don’t know you well enough to say.” He pauses, raises his eyes to mine. “But I’d like to.”

I can’t comprehend how it happens. One moment he is standing there across from me, with the desk safely between us. The next, he’s beside me, pulling me to my feet. Kissing me. His wiry arms snake around me, pulling me to his chest. His lips are firm on mine, exploring rather than demanding. His scent swirls around me, dizzying me. The embers smoldering in my sex leap into flame.

Rick…” I begin, but the taste and texture and presence of him overwhelm me. My objection melts into an inarticulate murmur of pleasure.

Available in Ebook and Audio formats

Ebook

Kinky Literature

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Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Two lonely souls at the edge of the world – #HistoricalRomance #ReviewTuesday #Giveaway

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Blurb

Unsure of his real past or name, Finn O’Connor thinks he was born in Ireland and taken from his mother as a baby by a gypsy woman. As a toddler, an English woman then took him to London. About ten he fled to join a gang of boys who survived by their wits on the streets. Five years later, he was arrested for a minor crime and transported to The Colony of New South Wales for a 10-year term. In 1846 as transporting of criminals neared an end in NSW, he was moved to the infamous penitentiary at Port Arthur in Van Diemen’s Land.

On the day Finn received his papers of freedom an accidental meeting brought him into contact with 20-year-old Esther Blythe. Born in Surrey, England, genteel Esther is kind and caring. As a 4-year-old her parents brought her to Van Diemen’s Land where her Papa, a doctor, took on the task of providing medical aid to the prisoners at the Port Arthur Penitentiary and its surrounding area. Sadly, both parents were killed in an accident, leaving Esther with no option but to work as a governess/nursemaid.

For reasons that even she did not comprehend, Esther took the ex-convict under her wing when they met outside the penitentiary hospital. Could be she saw a fellow lonely soul who simply wanted someone to have faith in him. Life seems to take a turn for perhaps the better from then on, but will these two lonely people overcome many obstacles to find the happiness they seek together as they face an uncertain future.

Excerpt

Pleased to meet you, Esther.” With a feeling he had drifted into some strange other world, he added, “I go by Finn O’Connor.” The Finn part was probably fact. As for his surname, he had no idea who had called him that somewhere along the way in his growing years, but he kept it as a way to prove that he was born in Ireland. As the horse began to trot, he asked, “You said your Pa was a medical man—is he not one anymore?”

Sadly, for me, my dear Papa, along with my Mama, was killed just last year when the carriage they were in overturned after hitting a rock.”

Oh, I am sorry to hear that. It must have been awful for you. Are you alone now or do you have siblings?”

After a deep sigh, she admitted, “It was the worst time of my life—and no I have no brothers or sisters. That of course is why I am employed as companion of sorts to the girl in need of the medication I was sent to collect. It’s a shame, but she is currently a sickly child and has a nasty cough.”

So, you not only lost your parents, you also lost your home?” Although he had never known what it was to have a real family, nonetheless a place somewhere near Finn’s heart ached for this young girl who had hers snatched away so cruelly.

Without answering that, she gestured ahead to where a cottage surrounded by a few trees sat atop a slight knoll. “We have arrived,” she said as she pulled up a short distance from a gate in the fence surrounding the garden. “Say little to my mistress, but let me explain to her that you are looking for employment.” Finn nodded, still feeling as if he was in the middle of some strange dream. “Please wait here while I go and fetch you something more presentable to wear. I suppose you realise that you look far worse than a farmer’s scarecrow in those filthy rags.” The look of scorn she sent to his trousers made him realise such if her words had not.

As she walked off, he scratched at his head, knowing at least his hair and body were now clean after the nights’ stay in the infirmary. Was there no end to the oddness of this female? Where on earth would she find clothing for him? Surely not from her employer’s wardrobe?

Review by Lisabet Sarai

He calls himself Finn O’Connor, but that’s just because he’s been told he came from Ireland. Orphaned, abandoned, abused, thrown onto the streets of London to make his way as part of a gang of child thieves, Finn was eventually arrested and sent to the Port Arthur prison colony in Tasmania. Now he has completed his ten year sentence, but his future looks dark. Barely educated, with no money and no connections, how will he survive?

Lovely and genteel, Esther Blythe is also alone in the world. Still dealing with the pain of losing her beloved parents in an accident, she has more financial resources than Finn as well as a kind heart and an independent spirit. When Finn assists her after a fall in the street, she offers him a lifeline in the form of possible employment with the family for whom she works as a nanny. Common sense suggests she shouldn’t trust an ex-convict about whom she knows nothing. However, her intuition urges her to give the strong, good-looking young man a chance to prove his worth.

To Finn, she seems an angel sent to rescue him from impending disaster. He’s powerfully drawn to her, but how can he expect a cultured young woman like Esther to care for a piece of Irish trash?

A Troubled Heart chronicles the efforts and misadventures of Finn and Esther as they try to build a life in mid-nineteenth-century Tasmania. From a murderous mad woman to a corrupt gold-digging dandy, the two deal with a variety of challenges. As they grow closer, they come to value, respect and love one another, eventually deciding to marry. Even as a societally-sanctioned couple, however, they must battle against forces that could easily tear them apart.

I enjoyed A Troubled Heart, due to its unusual setting and background as well as its sympathetic characters. I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel set in historical Tasmania. Ms. McGill paints a picture of a fairly harsh life in a society on the frontiers of the contemporary world. I don’t have enough background to evaluate whether her portrayal is accurate, but it felt real.

Meanwhile, Esther and Finn are such fundamentally good people that you can’t help hoping for them to succeed together. They’re not without flaws: Esther is overly trusting, which Finn can be a bit of a hot-head. At one point in the book, even after they’ve wed, they are forced apart by their weaknesses. Of course since this is a romance, you know they’ll find one another and reconcile, but the situation is quite tense for a while.

I found the pacing and prose in A Troubled Heart less satisfactory. Though the plot includes a number of negative occurrences, the tone felt too even. The exposition is very direct and matter-of-fact, with little in the way of artfulness, suspense or conflict. I did not get a strong sense of a narrative arc, events building toward a crisis and resolution.

Finn’s and Esther’s relationship, likewise, seems to lack passion. Their decision to wed (at Esther’s suggestion) is more of a practical step than driven by intense emotion. They’re attracted to one another, but that attraction is secondary. One tends to read romance at least partially to experience the breathless excitement of new love. This book was a bit disappointing for me in that regard.

All in all, though, A Troubled Heart is worth reading. In a genre rife with cookie-cutter plots and brazenly manipulative tropes, it offers originality and sincerity.

A Troubled Heart book cover

About the Author

Award winning author Tricia McGill spent her early days in London, England, and moved to Australia many years ago, settling near Melbourne. The youngest in a large, loving family she was surrounded by avid readers, who encouraged her to read from an early age. Is it any wonder she became a writer. Although her published works cross sub-genres, romance is always at their heart.

Tricia’s love of animals has always shown up in her books. Tricia devotes as much time and money as she can spare to supporting worldwide conservation groups and is passionate about supporting those who do all they can to preserve our wildlife for future generations. She also volunteers for a local community group that helps disabled adults and children to connect to the internet with provided computer equipment.

A Troubled Heart Purchase link : https://books2read.com/A-Troubled-Heart

Tricia McGill Website: http://www.triciamcgill.com

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Australian-Author-Tricia-McGill-192885847937078/

Tricia McGill will be awarding a randomly drawn winner a $10 Amazon/BN GC.

 


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