The Time Wine Shot Out My Nose 2 years before Smack in the middle of an otherwise normal Wine Wednesday, Liddy blurts out, “Jack is having an affair. No, make that affairs.” For a moment, nobody speaks. I swallow a weird knee-jerk desire to giggle. Max recovers first. “What are you talking about?” “I got a phone call yesterday from a woman who says she’s been sleeping with Jack for years. And the only reason she wanted to tell me now was that…” Her voice breaks. She looks at the ground. Nobody moves or breathes. When she raises her head to speak again, she is transformed. Her long, ropy curls quiver with contained energy, her nostrils are flared, her cheeks are pink and bright. She is a freaking warrior. “Was that he’s cheating on her with someone else.” “Jesus, what did you say?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. “I said, ‘That must be hard. I hope you can get some professional help.’ Then I hung up and threw Jack’s Rolex in the toilet.” “And what condition was the water in the toilet?” asks Feeney, like she’s talking to a wild caged animal. Liddy takes a big…
Stealing the Bride by Alexa Riley Worth Waiting For, Book 1, The Worth Series by Matilda Madison Fireball by Abbi Glines An Orphan Bride, Book 1, Western Fates Series by Blythe Carver Roman’s War, Book 3, Riot MC Biloxi Series by Karen Renee Little Mate, Book 2, Fate’s Bite Series by Elena M. Reyes The Endless Mountain Series by Elle E. Kay The Score, Book 3, Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy Monica’s Secret, Book 1, Erogenous Zones Series by Saskia Walker One by Mari Arden Craving His Virgin Mate, Book 2, Poison Wolves MC Series by Sam Crescent Sweet Dreams Box Set Part Two by Sarah Peis The Meratis Trilogy by Krista Walsh Wickedly Trapped, Book 1, The Wicked Series by A.E. Nalle Winter’s List, Book 1, Melting Hearts Series by Jordyn Kross The Starseed Universe by Ashley McLeo Forevermore, Book 13, Crossbreed Series, by Dannika Dark Raising Hell, Book 2, In Fire and Ash Series by Melissa Haag If Only You, Book 6, Bergman Brothers Series by Chloe Liese Desire Unbound, Book 4, The Dufort Dynasty Series by Juliette N Banks Each Friday the Smashwords store reports the bestselling indie fiction titles based on the previous week’s sales….
1–What is the title of your latest release? THE GARNETT GIRLS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Three very different sisters and their charismatic mother Margo tackle life and long-held family secrets. Set on the beautiful beaches of the Isle of Wight, The Sunday Times best-selling debut novel by Georgina Moore explores whether children can ever truly be free of the mistakes their parents make. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? We are lucky enough to own a houseboat in the sea on the Isle of Wight. We use it when we can and also rent it out as a holiday rental. It’s our happy place as a family and we have many lovely memories of the children when they were little on the beautiful island beaches. One day when we were there, I saw a huge family coming out of an old, ramshackle house on the beach. They were all going sailing together. As a Londoner born & bred the close community on the island – the way everyone knows your business – fascinated me. It was so different to the anonymity of London, and I wondered what it would be…
1–What is the title of your latest release? TEXAS ROSE HAPPILY EVER-AFTER This is the 5th installment of my Texas Rose Ranch series. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? It’s The Princess Diaries meets Yellowstone. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The Texas Rose Ranch is the second largest ranch in Texas. It’s in the Texas Hill Country. It’s been in the Rose family since before the civil war. The first Rose to own the ranch was Carlton Rose. He was the bastard son of Santa Anna and Emily Morgan. Yes, that Santa Anna of the Alamo fame. After the Alamo, Santa Anna was intent on showing those pesky Texans that he was in charge. He marched his thousands of troops across Texas in a show of force. He camped on the San Jacinto river near the town of New Washington. That’s where he met Emily Morgan who was a member of household staff of James Morgan a large Texas Landowner. It’s a tale as old as time. Santa Anna was a horny dictator and Emily was a beautiful servant girl. So, instead of marching into San Jacinto and crushing the Texas…
Chapter 3 “Slow down!” Deena had been attempting to match her pace to Luis’s angry, fast one since they’d left the bookstore, but keeping up was impossible and she was tired of trying. He didn’t listen. So, as they got out of the commercial district, headed toward her neighborhood, she stopped and crossed her arms. When he realized she wasn’t beside him, he finally stopped and walked back to her. “What’s wrong?” “I can’t keep up with you, and you just made a wrong turn. Why are you so angry?” She started walking again, in the right direction, at a much slower pace. He fell into step beside her. “I don’t understand why you didn’t seek an official diagnosis.” Deena felt guilty about that, but she also didn’t appreciate the way he’d immediately started criticizing her care of the child she loved. “I’ve been in charge of her for two months, ever since Tammalee…” She swallowed. “Ever since the accident. It’s been a little hectic.” “Of course. I’m sorry.” He took a deep breath and moved his shoulders like his neck hurt. Obviously trying to calm himself. “What makes you think she has FAS?” Interesting that he knew…
Book Title: VALKYRIE, The Avian Clone Chronicles – Book 1 Character Name: Valkyrie How would you describe your family or your childhood? My early childhood was reasonably happy. I was brought up on Orpheseus Prime by the human female who gave birth to me. Things went seriously downhill after I was separated from her. You see, I am not a normal human man. I am a genetically manipulated avian clone. I have wings and can fly, and I also have extraordinarily keen hearing and eyesight. My memory could be described as photographic. I do not forget anything, the good experiences or the bad. What was your greatest talent? I can hack into all but the most highly encrypted databases and computer systems. Significant other? That would hopefully be the outcome of this story, would it not? Zia, a lovely Mordrial woman who was once a resident of the Palace Orphanage and is now one of the caregivers there, has come to me for help in solving her sister’s murder. I find myself strongly attracted to Zia, who affects me in a way that no female ever has. Biggest challenge in relationships? Trust, which is possibly the…
Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Lisa Kessler! Writes: A paranormal romance series set in Savannah, Georgia that features a crew of immortal pirates, who now recover magical artifacts and relics for the government. The Captain’s Curse has Captain Ian Flynn facing off with a rival from lifetimes ago. The Spear of Destiny, capable of killing an immortal, is missing, and could be pointed right at the only woman Flynn has ever loved. About: Multi-Award-Winning author, Lisa Kessler is a sucker for a tortured hero and heroines who can save themselves. Her plots tend to have high stakes and her catnip trope is enemies to lovers. When she’s not writing, Lisa is probably reading tarot cards and binge watching paranormal tv shows like Stranger Things, Umbrella Academy, Interview with a Vampire, Grim, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Andor, and The Mandalorian. My ideal reader match for my latest book, The Captain’s Curse, must love: A brooding wounded hero A feisty heroine who is determined not to give him a second chance A…
1–What is the title of your latest release? STORMLESS is the title of my latest – and first – release! 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Stormless takes place in the world of Auris, where seven violent Tempests rule the world, wreaking havoc across the continent. This high fantasy epic has three storylines. The first follows Castien Varic as he embarks on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth behind a rising threat. The second follows Faelyn Titansworn, prince of the capital city and heir to the throne, as he uncovers his own conspiracy. Finally, the third follows Asteros Silverglade as he uncovers ancient secrets two years in the past. All these storylines intertwine, of course, and come together in an exciting climax. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I created the world of Auris specifically for Stormless. This world ended up being the perfect setting for Stormless because Auris is dangerous, magical, and unique, matching the tone of the story. There were several changes that I made to the story because of something I wanted to add to the world and vice versa. I like to think that the setting of…
1–What is the title of your latest release? CONQUERED BETRAYAL, Book 3 of the Goldenlach Ridge Shifters Trilogy 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Searching for answers about stolen secrets from his tech company, a grizzly shifter is forced to work with the lost love of his life, a human who betrayed him like no other, to stop her brother’s malicious plans or all shifters will pay the price. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This is the finale of Goldenlach Ridge Shifters trilogy, so it seemed only natural to set it in the place where it all started, Detroit, Michigan, where two bobcat shifters were abducted by a human with unknown motives. This book explores those motives. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! To both of them. Landon might be a CEO of a tech company, but he’s also really down to earth and has a dry sense of humor. Jolyn, a human, is military trained and has great survival instincts. She and her two best friends, who we meet in the book, would be a blast to hang out with. 5–What are three words that…
1–What is the title of your latest release? THE ENCHANTED HACIENDA 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A young woman finds herself grappling with a broken life and returns home to her family’s magical flower farm only to find that there is no short cut to discovering her worth and who she truly is. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Most of my books come to me with a first scene, but this one was the only one that’s come to me in setting. The first image was this expansive majestic flower farm bathed in a golden light and I wanted to know who tended the flowers, who lived here, and why the flowers felt so enchanting. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? A resounding yes. Although I prefer who she becomes more than who she begins as 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? The first word that came to mind was “lost.” But I’d also add tenacious, creative, and generous 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That romantic scenes are about more than romance. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until…