Emma Peel meets the Lord of the Rings.... #FemDom #Fantasy #NewRelease

By Lawrence Westerman (Guest Blogger)

Hi, Lisabet. Thanks for inviting me to introduce myself on your blog. It’s been a great pleasure getting to know you on ERWA. You’re an author whose work I greatly admire and very much enjoy reading.

I’m doing a happy dance, because I recently published my first piece of femdom smut on Amazon. It’s called Bootboy’s Baptism of Fire, and it’s the first book of The Bootboy Chronicles, a trilogy that blends femdom erotica and epic fantasy. The trilogy takes place in Ortheria, a matriarchy where women rule and men are slaves, and follows Commander Lenore and Bootboy over the course of their fifteen-year relationship. How did I end up writing this strange hybrid of femdom erotica and epic fantasy? I’ll do my best to connect the dots.

As an only child, I took refuge in my imagination. I grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the son of a commercial artist and a philosophy professor. Dad was an illustrator who worked for the Madison Avenue ad agencies during the “Mad Men” era and painted in his spare time. Mom earned her PHD in philosophy and taught at a college level during a time when not many women were doing that. Thus, I grew up in an artsy, intellectual household, with a mother who had a dominant personality. 

Attending my first school, I felt a bit out of place. I was an imaginative dreamer in an institution that groomed boys to attend Harvard. My third-grade teacher was a withholding shrew of a woman who tried to crush my spirit. She did one great thing though. She read The Hobbit out loud to us in class. I was immediately transported to a world of fantasy and adventure; freed from the confines of mundane reality. I picked up the Lord of the Rings on my own and discovered my favorite books of all time. I’ve read Tolkien’s trilogy more times than I can count, including to my son aloud when he was a small boy, starting with The Hobbit. Thus, my love of epic fantasy was imprinted on me at an early age and has followed me throughout my life. 

I discovered my kinky sexuality a bit later on. My second school was a church school and, oddly, a much better fit. Singing in that beautiful old cathedral was a revelatory experience. Talk about reverb. Around that time, I experienced my first sexual awakenings, partially inspired by television shows like Batman and the Avengers. How many boys did Catwoman and Mrs. Peel convert to the dark side? I have no idea, but to hear old perverts tell it, quite a few. While other pre-pubescent boys fixated on breasts, I found myself attracted to women who wore black leather boots and stilettos. When our choir master's accompanist took off her shoes and pumped the piano pedals with her stocking feet, I sat in my pew transfixed. 

There was no internet when I grew up. Smut was more difficult to find and it was mostly of the printed variety. On the cusp of puberty, I discovered The Pearl, a paperback compendium of issues from a Victorian magazine featuring tales of unbridled debauchery, including stories about corporal punishment and flagellation. I immediately found I gravitated toward the kinky stories, though I was still fascinated by vanilla sex. All of these disparate influences were jumbled together and swirling around in my head. I didn’t know enough to identify as being kinky yet, but I began to develop a vague notion that my sexuality might be a bit outside the norm.

At this point, I was still living in my imagination. I needed a play partner and was fortunate to find one in my high school girlfriend who was a gifted poet. We became fast friends and the relationship grew from there. We confessed our sexual fantasies to each other and discovered we were both kinky. Both being submissive, we set up a routine where we used to switch. It was a bit like trading backrubs, but a lot kinkier. We engaged in intricate role play scenarios, complete with character names and fantasy world backstories behind every session. I learned many things from her. By far the most important thing she taught me was to never be ashamed of my sexuality. 

In College, I met “Her Majesty,” my wife of thirty-five years. I did the same thing with her I'd done with other girlfriends, usually without success. I waited for a few months, then made the big confession about being kinky. To my delight, her reaction was quite a bit different than the other ladies I’d met. When I confessed my fantasies about being whipped, she insisted that I buy her a real whip. Needless to say, I enthusiastically obliged. We were married about a year later in 1986. In the early 2000s I started a blog called Her Majesty’s Plaything, in which I lovingly documented our sessions. D. L. King began following the blog and we became friends. Soon thereafter, she published my first short story in a collection titled Under Her Thumb: Tales of Female Domination. The story was called “Her Majesty’s Plaything,” and consisted of excerpts from my blog.

I discovered I loved writing and I loved writing specifically about BDSM, but my early attempts at writing fiction left something to be desired. I had a burning desire to write, but I didn’t know what I didn’t know. It was D.L. King who recommended I join ERWA, which I did in 2018. In ERWA, I found a group of authors who were supportive of each other and would critique my work honestly, point out the good bits and call my attention to areas that needed improvement, without being snarky or unkind. I enthusiastically recommend ERWA to anyone writing erotica, regardless of experience or skill level. They’re a talented group of extremely kind people and they’ve taught me a lot.

Bootboy’s Baptism of Fire is the first book I’ve published on Kindle, though other books will soon follow. The Bootboy Chronicles are my debut writing femdom erotica that’s purely fiction. In retrospect, it makes sense that my early Tolkien influences came through, especially in the last book; “Curse of the Spider Queen.” I had a lot of fun writing about the spiders, quite apart from anything having to do with femdom or BDSM. I hope your readers take a gander at the first book. Books two and three will be released over the next few months and will be considerably longer. “Curse of the Spider Queen” is novella length.

Thanks for asking me to write something, Lisabet. As it happens, today is my birthday, which made strolling down memory lane even more fun than it would have been otherwise. Thanks for allowing me to share my story with you and your readers.

Blurb

Bootboy’s Baptism of Fire is the first book of The Bootboy Chronicles, a trilogy that blends femdom erotica with sword and sorcery-style fantasy. The trilogy take place in the land of Ortheria, a matriarchy where women rule and men are slaves. The stories follow Commander Lenore and Bootboy over the course of their fifteen-year relationship, as they defend Ortheria against rebel bandits and other dark forces that seek to destroy it. In Bootboy’s Baptism of Fire, Bootboy is accused of violating his oath of service by Commander Lenore and must prove his innocence before the High Court, or be forever banished from House Anais.

Snippet

“The High Court is gathered to hear a case brought by Commander Lenore of House Anais. Commander, are you in the courtroom?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

The reply came from the gallery, where Commander Lenore stood. She wore a short, black leather tunic and her hair fell past her shoulders in lustrous, midnight waves. Violet eyes fixed the judge with piercing intensity and a look of grim determination was written on her heart-shaped face. As I gazed at her through the peephole, my eyes filled with tears.

Why have you forsaken me, Commander?

Exclusively at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0987PNN2Z

Free on Kindle Unlimited!

About the Author

Lawrence Westerman has long had an abiding interest in femdom and all things kinky. His story, "Her Majesty's Plaything,” appeared in Under Her Thumb: Erotic Stories of Female Domination, edited by D.L. King, Cleis Press, 2013. "Dreams Made Flesh," appeared in On Fire, edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, Cleis Press, 2017. Originally from New York City, Lawrence now resides in Philadelphia with his wife and two cats.

Review Tuesday: The Other Americans by Laila Lalami - #Immigrants #Mystery #ReviewTuesday

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami

Vintage Books, 2019

Nora Guerraoui thought she’d left her hometown in the Mojave Desert for good. A talented but as yet unknown jazz composer, single in her thirties and working as a teacher to make ends meet, she knows she’ll never satisfy her mother Maryam – never live up to the example of her sister Salma, with her marriage, kids and respectable profession as a dentist. When Nora’s father Driss is killed by a hit-and-run driver right outside his restaurant, however, she can’t dodge her family responsibilities, even if it means revisiting painful memories. Her mother is convinced the death was no accident, and as Nora investigates, she tends to agree. With no witnesses, though, the police have little to go on.

Jeremy Gorecki has been haunted by darkness since he returned from his deployment in Iraq. His physical scars are nothing compared to the psychic damage. Cursed with insomnia, he exercises compulsively, studies for the degree he never managed to finish, and works for the sheriff’s office. He and Nora were schoolmates, both shy and bullied, both musical. Meeting as adults, they find common ground in their shared history as well as their grief. Gradually their childhood friendship grows into something deeper and more intense.

Efraín Mendez was riding his bike past Driss’s diner when the big car slammed into the old man, then raced away, but as an illegal immigrant he’s terrified of going to the authorities. His wife keeps nagging him to do the right thing, though, and he starts to feel haunted by the ghost of the murder victim.

A black woman, Detective Coleman knows she has to be twice as good at her job as a white man to get the same recognition. Her intuition tells her that Driss Guerraoui was targeted deliberately, perhaps for being a successful businessman despite his immigrant roots. But how can she prove it?

From the descriptions above, you might think that The Other Americans was a mystery. Or, focusing on Nora’s and Jeremy’s relationship, you might consider it to be a romance. The inter-generational conflicts might lead you to believe the book was a family drama. In fact, the novel is all of these and more. Above all, The Other Americans explores the experience of being an immigrant – of always being seen as “other” and “alien” no matter how long you’ve lived in the country or how deeply you’re embedded in your community. Nora, Driss, Maryam, Efraín, Coleman, even the seemingly perfect Salma, are all “other”. Indeed, Jeremy is an outcast as well, despite having been born and raised in the United States. His stint in the killing fields of the Gulf War is a chasm his neighbors aren’t willing to cross.

Laila Lalani gives voices to all these people. Each chapter is an intimate, first person narration by one of these characters. They reveal their history, their feelings, in some cases their secrets. And as we read each chapter – including chapters told from the perspective of Driss’s killer – we come to understand each person a bit more and to judge a bit less.

The Other Americans is an emotional roller coaster, a dozen entwined stories narrated in elegant, evocative prose. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award, a nomination well-deserved. It takes great skill to balance so many different views of reality and to seamlessly weave together the threads of multiple genres. The theme of being “other” does not overwhelm the plot, but it never fades into the background, either.

There’s a lot of emotional pain exposed in this novel. Rest assured, however, that you’ll find joy and healing as well. This isn’t an easy book to read – but it is well worth the effort.

I didn’t think we had a future – #Preorder #MCRomance #AgeGap @HarleyW_Writer

About the Book

Danica -- I followed in my dad’s footsteps, chasing the rodeo. It’s been my life, other than friends and family with the Dixie Reapers. Until now, no one’s really noticed me. I’ve barely dated, and at twenty-three, I’m still a virgin. Then he walks in. Ranger. A Reckless King, and so far out of my league. But one kiss, and I know I’ll remember him forever… even after he walks away.

I didn’t think we had a future. Thought he’d forget I exist. But I was wrong. He wants me, every bit as much as I want him.

Ranger -- I saw her ride in a rodeo a year ago, and she held me spellbound. Running into her again at the Dixie Reapers, I’m not sure I can keep my hands to myself. She’s Cowboy’s daughter, and I should keep my distance. Too bad I’ve never been all that great at following the rules.

Only one thing is standing in my way. There’s someone stalking her. A man who thinks she’s his. He’s wrong. Danica will be mine, one way or another. Anyone who stands in the way will wish they’d never heard of me.

WARNING: Ranger is recommended for adult readers. It has coarse language, adult situations, and discusses events, like stalking and assault, that may trigger some readers. There is no cheating, a guaranteed happily-ever-after, and no cliffhanger!

Preorder for July 16, 2021

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3wN8grl

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3wWroDz

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3gM4vvF

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3xFtBDh

B&N Nook: https://bit.ly/3gE0D0J

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3j8glmE

Kobo: https://bit.ly/35MOy2Z

Available July 9^th at Changeling Press

https://bit.ly/3zCZ2jg

Add to Goodreads or BookBub

 

ARC Review Quotes

“An exquisitely captivating, sweet, endearing and thrilling ride to go on…This story had so many great scenes that made me tear up, laugh, swoon, fan myself, and gasp.” – BookBub Review by DreaFernandez

“Oh Ranger!!! I absolutely loved Ranger and Danica!! … by far one of my favorites!” – BookBub Review by TeamlittleMama

“Ranger and Danica are absolutely amazing together!” – BookBub Review, lstaffey

“Ranger is a yummy little age gap read and positively perfect… This is a really great read.” – BookBub Review by Gpowe

Excerpt

“Why did I let you talk me into this?” I asked.

Scott grinned. “You’ll like it. First time a bull stomps some poor cowboy, you’ll be just as into it as the rest of the crowd.”

“Your idea of entertainment is fucked up.”

He ignored me and led us farther through the crowd. We ended up on bleachers halfway up, which gave us a decent view of the arena. I should have told him to fuck off and gone to a bar. Instead, I’d let him talk me into going to a rodeo. In my cut and motorcycle boots, I stuck out like a sore thumb. Scott had on his cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, which made sense seeing as how he worked on a horse farm outside Atlanta. My cowboy days were over. Long over.

“We just have to make it through the bronc riders and barrel racers before the bulls come out,” Scott said. “Some of the barrel racers are good eye candy, though. A few of them compete all over the country.”

Why did it not surprise me he’d be checking out the women, even the ones in the rodeo? The ladies had always loved Scott. Back when I’d served with him in the Army, I’d seen him walk out of a bar with two or three women hanging off him. I’d been leery of being with random women, unless I used a condom I’d brought with me. Even then, nothing was foolproof.

“Next up is Danica Adler on Windstorm,” the announcer said.

“Oh, this will be good.” Scott rubbed his hands on his thighs. “She’s one of the favorites.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Her dad is a champion rodeo rider. Last I heard, he was like you… a biker. They live down someplace in Alabama. Both his kids are following in his footsteps. Danica runs barrels and his son rides bulls. They’re both damn good too.”

I focused on the arena when a horse shot out of the gate. The slim rider on his back clung to him as he raced around the barrels. I couldn’t see much of her, except long honey-colored hair and curves that made my mouth water. When she finished her run, the announcer whooped with excitement.

“She did good?” I asked Scott. I might have lived around horses most of my life, but I’d never really cared about going to a rodeo. I damn sure hadn’t had a reason to watch anyone run barrels.

“Hell yeah! I bet she wins tonight.” He smiled and nudged me with his shoulder. “Told you this would be fun.”

Beast had sent me to Atlanta for a drop-off, so I’d thought I’d hang at a bar tonight before heading home. Nope. I’d decided to look up my old buddy Scott, and he’d nixed that idea almost immediately, so here I was at a rodeo. A rodeo. Although, I had to admit, watching Danica had been pretty exciting, even if it had ended quickly.

I spotted Danica making her way through the crowd. The smile on her face made my heart slam against my ribs. Fuck but she was pretty. Not gorgeous, but a sweet girl-next-door type. She just happened to be exactly the sort of woman I went for. Knowing she was a biker’s daughter, and from Alabama, made me think she was most likely Cowboy’s daughter and therefore the property of the Dixie Reapers. Which meant she was hands-off. Didn’t stop me from wanting her.

One night of fun was one thing, but forever? I knew if I put my hands on her, one of two things would happen. Either her daddy would demand I claim her, or he’d make sure no one ever found my body. Hell, he’d probably string me up for even looking at her the way I was right now. If he was like the others, and like Beast, then I had no doubt he was overprotective of his daughter.

Scott jammed his elbow into my ribs. “Don’t stare too hard. You know damn well her dad would have your balls.”

Right. I scanned the crowd, wondering if there might be a willing woman, and soon realized they were all about the cowboys and boots and wouldn’t want a damn thing to do with a biker. I may have grown up on a horse farm in Middle Tennessee, but those days were a thing of the past. I hadn’t been on a horse in years and didn’t plan to start now. Why the fuck did I let Scott talk me into shit like this? It wasn’t the first time I’d listened to him instead of doing what I’d originally planned, and it always came back to bite me in the ass in one way or another.

“You owe me,” I said.

“Oh, please. You may not be able to touch, but you can’t tell me Danica won’t be in your spank bank for a long while. The girl has legs for days, even if she is on the petite side. I’m not blind. I can appreciate all she has to offer. Doesn’t mean I’m stupid enough to try and go there.”

“I had plans for tonight. None of which included going to bed alone, so thanks for nothing.”

Scott sighed. “We’ll hit up a bar on the way back to the motel. You can find some easy pussy.”

“Like you plan on abstaining?” I asked.

He shrugged and looked off in the direction Danica had just disappeared. I narrowed my eyes at him and had the sudden urge to beat the shit out of Scott. Did he have a thing for the Reaper’s daughter? I hadn’t even spoken to her, and yet part of me wanted to blind any fucker who dared look her way. Scott included. What the fuck was wrong with me?

I definitely needed to get laid and put Danica out of my mind. No fucking way I’d ever be able to go there. Scott was right about one thing, though. She’d be starring in my fantasies for a long while.

About the Author

Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil's Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.

When Harley's writing, her motto is the hotter the better -- off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can't deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you've come to the right place. She doesn't shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.

The times Harley isn't writing, she's thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She's also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980's, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990's to today, even though she'd much rather be reading or writing.

You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you're there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!

"Her characters are phenomenal and have a lot of depth to them. She is absolutely fantastic at writing an engaging sexy story. Harley Wylde keeps the words flowing so that you have to turn the page to see what happens next."

-- All Author

Find Harley Online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub

Sizzling Sunday: Special for the Fourth of July! #Erotica #Humor #CheapBooks

Happy Fourth of July!

For today’s Sizzling Sunday, I’m serving up a heaping portion of All American smut from my light-hearted erotica novel More Brides in Vegas – Book 2 of my Vegas Babes series.

Annie and Ted from Book 1 are getting married. They’ve organized a Stag Night gathering for their open-minded friends at a vintage 1980’s motel with a courtyard and a pool. In this scene, Annie’s brother, who happens to be rock legend Rod Rampart, has arrived at the party and is checking out the bevy of naked ladies lounging around the pool. Rod hones in on Annie’s close friend Laura – even though she’s married to hunky security guard Steve.

More Brides in Vegas is half off (only $1.49) at Smashwords, throughout July. Why not snag yourself a copy?

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/844220

Exclusive Excerpt

“You want to check in to your room?” Annie asked her sibling.

“Actually, I think I’ll take a swim first.” Rod was already pulling his shirt over his head to bare his smooth chest and flat stomach. His torso was the same luscious sun-browned hue as his arms. His ass was equally tanned, Laura noted, when he kicked off his boots and peeled away the tight jeans.

She swallowed the saliva that pooled in her mouth. He stood at an angle, so she couldn’t quite see his cock, just a mass of dark hair at the junction of his corded thighs.

“I’ve always enjoyed skinny dipping,” he added. He turned to face Laura, holding out his hand. “Care to join me, babe?”

She gulped. His meaty cock swung back and forth as he moved, like a hypnotist’s watch. She couldn’t look away. He wasn’t erect, or at least only slightly, but he was big—bigger than Steve, maybe even bigger than the legendary Larry Archer. Laura licked her lips, tempted to sink to her knees right there and swallow him. I’d have him hard in no time, she thought. And then maybe I could persuade him to use that monster on me…”

“Babe?” Rod chuckled at her confusion. “Earth to Laura?” He grabbed by the wrist, pulled her to her feet and led her to the edge of the water. “Come on! In you go!”

Laura jumped as the lanky stranger landed a swat on her bare butt. It caught her off guard. She teetered for a moment on the rim of the pool, then tumbled into the water with a huge splash.

Water filled her ears and her nose. Laura hardly noticed. What held her attention was the hot sting that lingered where he’d spanked her. It spread like wildfire through her body. Her clit burned. Her nipples smoldered.

As she spluttered and gasped, another splash rained down on her. Rod’s dark head broke the surface. He shook his shaggy hair, sending droplets everywhere, then gave her one of his rock star grins. “Sorry! You okay?”

She just nodded, horniness stealing the power of speech.

“I’ll race you, then.” He reached out under the water to tweak one of her swollen nipples. Laura yelped at the sudden, sweet pain. “Last one to the other end of the pool gets a spanking!”

Oh my god. She wanted to give in right there, no contest, to climb onto his lap and feel the fierce heat of his palm battering her bum.

Don’t make it so easy for him, came a voice from some corner of her brain still immune to the hormones flooding her body. Make him work for it.

Without answering, she launched herself toward the far end, falling by instinct into the powerful crawl that had won her so many championships. She sliced through the water, determined to give her opponent a serious challenge. He paced her, stroke for stroke. She poured more energy into her limbs and pulled ahead for an instant.

Their fingers brushed the tiled wall at the deep end at exactly the same moment. Together, they clung to the side, trying to catch their breath.

“You’re good.” There was genuine admiration in his voice as he sidled up to her.

“I swam varsity in college.” A solid rod of flesh bumped against her thigh, triggering a gasp that had nothing to do with their exertion. Damn, he was hot! “Harvard,” she added, determined not to succumb too easily.

“Wow. Athletic, beautiful, and brainy, too!” He pulled her into his arms, keeping them both afloat with his powerful kicks and rubbing his massive cock against her swollen pussy lips.

“And married,” Laura added, even as she tried to maneuver their bodies to get him inside her.

“I’ll bet that doesn’t stop you, babe.”

Somehow still keeping their heads above water, he reached between her legs and found her clit. It was as though he’d flipped a switch. The need that had simmered since her first sight of him boiled up and spilled over. She came hard, biting her lip to keep from screaming. Still, she knew her friends at the other end of the pool could not have missed her trashing.

“You devil,” she told him when she’d recovered enough to speak.

He sank three fingers into her still-trembling cunt, making her come again.

“Guilty as charged.” He licked his fingers, though they must have tasted as much of chlorine as of pussy juice. “And speaking of guilty, I think a wandering wife like you really needs to be punished, don’t you?”

Laura blushed, knowing she’d have to tell Steve about this interlude. He’d probably be okay with it—he knew she loved him, even if she played with someone else—but the thought still scared her. And aroused her. Maybe Steve would chastise her.

Or maybe both of them would do so.

Rod released her and hoisted himself out of the pool to sit on the edge like some bronzed satyr, his erection pointing up at the open dome. His hair clung to his well-shaped skull. His dark eyes skewered her. For once, he wasn’t grinning.

“You may have won this round, babe, but I’m going to spank you before this weekend is done. I swear it.”

 

I watched him... longer than I should have. #FriendsToLovers #SmallTownRomance #SecondChanceRomance

 

Love and secrets are a tricky combination

For Emily, going home isn’t easy, especially when her small town never felt like home in the Have you ever had a best friend you loved? But never pursued them because you knew they had a better life to live?

Emily and Luke were those best friends. When Emily returns home to care for her estranged father, their attraction can no longer be denied. Self-control dissipates. One kiss turns into two…

After all these years, destiny will bring them together but secrets could tear them apart.

**This is a standalone romance with medium heat**

Universal Link – https://books2read.com/u/3n7nPK

US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Q2YD2DC/

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08Q2YD2DC/

Aust - https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08Q2YD2DC/

Canada - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08Q2YD2DC/

Excerpt - Emily

Luke had been strange all morning. It was weird. Up until our visit to Brodsky’s he’d been fine. His normal Luke self. He seemed to change after he’d held my hand. Maybe he’d read my thoughts when I’d looked at him. He’d always known what I was thinking, sometimes before I did and at that moment, in that store, in front of Callum, I’d thought about kissing him.

I was so stupid. Luke had never shown any interest in me other than being friends even though he was always there for me. Always. I enjoyed spending time with him more than anyone else in the world. Had he read my mind and freaked out?

Filling the kettle, I shook my head. I kept busy, getting the cups out of the overhead cupboard while I waited for the kettle to boil. My thoughts strayed to Luke’s lips, his strong arms, his hands—so much bigger than mine but so gentle, roaming across my body. I dragged my thoughts away. There was no point ruining our friendship for a kiss.

The kitchen door creaked as it opened. Luke came in, running his hand through his hair. He was nervous. What had I done? One stupid slip had led to this. Not even a kiss. A dream of a kiss.

“Need a hand?” he asked, coming over to where the cups were sitting.

“My saviour,” I said, giving him a hip bump. I wanted the old Luke back. I handed him the plate of Tim Tams and started pouring the cups of tea. He grabbed one and took it outside. I watched him leaving, longer than I should have, but damn his arse filled his shorts nicely.

About the Author

Cynthia Terelst is an emerging Australian author based in regional Queensland, where the sun shines 283 days a year. She is a project officer by day and a writer by night. Cynthia’s mother introduced her to a lifelong love of reading, for which she will be forever grateful. With love for the written word instilled in her, she wrote her first picture book at the age of 8, about her lost cat, Fluffy.

Cynthia writes contemporary romance and has four books published in her Love Down Under series. She refers to her writing style as ‘heat with heart'. In her novels, she likes to share a little bit of history, some Australian scenery and a whole lotta love. Her novels do not shy away from difficult topics, as she feels that they should not be ignored.

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Dreams for the future #Thriller #Immigrants #Giveaway @DavidPeredaAVL

Blurb

THOMAS BERTRAM is an American living in San Salvador with his fiancée CECILIA. They own a popular neighborhood restaurant and plan to wed soon. Thomas's dream is to obtain a resident visa for Cecilia and return to the United States.

DOMINGO JIMENEZ and his wife BLANCA own a small repair shop across the street. Domingo's dream is to move to America as well so that his seven-year-old daughter NANCY can grow up speaking English and having a good education and a better life than he and Blanca had.

When armed gang members invade their neighborhood to demand "protection" money and threaten them with death if they don't pay, Thomas and Domingo's dreams for the future take on a new perspective. They decide to flee the country with their families through Guatemala and Mexico to seek asylum in the United States.

But their journey is more challenging than expected, and they face a myriad of difficulties and must overcome multiple obstacles that put not only their dreams but also their lives at risk.

Excerpt

Thomas was in a bad mood and amid closing his restaurant on what had been a busy Saturday night when Juan and José showed up accompanied by two muscular young men in black jackets.

It was nearly three o’clock in the morning. Cecilia had left hours ago, accompanied by Carlos, the busboy, and Thomas was tired. He had to persuade three male customers celebrating a birthday to take their party elsewhere because he needed to catch some sleep so he could take his wife to church the following day. It hadn’t been easy; the friends had been enjoying the evening and were at that point in their drunkenness when they laughed at the silliest of jokes. When they ordered a third bottle of rum, Thomas presented them with their bill and politely marched them out of the restaurant and onto the street. He could hear them outside now telling lies to each other about all the women they had known and singing romantic songs off-key.

And now what?

“Buenas noches, amigo,” Juan said. “We stopped by for a drink.”

“You guys never sleep?”

Thomas’s comment prompted loud laughter from Juan and José, but not from the other two gorillas, who remained fish-eyed and impassive.

“I want you to meet Moro and Campi.” Juan pointed to the two black-jacketed men without looking at them. “They just joined the organization, and I wanted to introduce them to you.”

“Organization?”

“Yes, we’re growing. Business is good.”

“I bet.”

Juan gazed at the men and nodded toward Thomas. “Say hello.”

The men grunted something unintelligible, which could have been a greeting or a curse. Thomas wasn’t sure.

“Hola,” Thomas said to the men, who stared at him with the same effusiveness of a blank wall. He turned to Juan, who was smiling at him. “What happened to the other Black Jacket? The one who came with you the first time?”

“King Kong? We used to call him that because he was so big and had a face like a gorilla.” Juan stuck his tongue out and ran his hand from one side of his neck to the other, causing everyone at the table to break out in loud laughter as if he had told a great joke. “He was processed by the Mara 18. He was seeing a woman on their turf. The 18s caught him one night and beat him to a pulp with steel rods—you know cabillas used in construction? They broke every bone in his body. Even his mother couldn’t make a positive identification to the police.”

“That’s terrible.”

“It was his fault.” Juan shrugged. “We told him. There are plenty of pretty women in our territory. You got one. That guy with the big muscles in the shop across the street got another one. Isn’t that right, José?”

José gave a big grin. “Si, Jefe.”

Thomas wasn’t happy with the way the conversation was going. The mention of Ceci made his stomach muscles tighten. He felt his face getting hot and his heart beating faster. He tried hard to keep his composure.

“Well, aren’t you going to invite us to have something to drink, amigo?” Juan asked.

“I was about to go home.”

“Ah, amigo. Stay a while. Share a moment with your friends and business associates.”

Friends and business associates, my ass. Gangsters and murderers.

Thomas swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth and tried to keep his voice steady. This was not the time to start a confrontation. He had to wait for the right moment.

About the Author

David Pereda is the award-winning author of eleven thrillers and mainstream novels. His books have won the Lighthouse Book Awards twice, the Royal Palm Awards, the National Indie Excellence Awards, and the Readers Favorite Awards twice. He has traveled to more than thirty countries around the world and speaks four languages.

Before devoting his time solely to writing and teaching, Pereda had a successful international consulting career with global giant Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, and Qatar, among others.

A member of MENSA, Pereda earned his MBA from Pepperdine University in California. He earned BA degrees in English literature and mathematics at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He loves sports and has won many prizes competing in track and show-jumping equestrian events.

Pereda lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he teaches mathematics and English at the Asheville-Buncombe Community College.

Visit him online at:

www.davidpereda.com

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Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/David-Pereda/e/B002BML17Q

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Wall-David-Pereda/dp/193597050X

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