Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Sandra Owens | Title Challenge: MOUNTAIN RESCUE
Author Guest / December 20, 2021

Operation K-9 Brothers is a three-book romantic suspense series about Navy SEAL heroes returning to civilian life. That’s not such an easy transition for these men, but the service dogs they work with calm their demons. These men are not looking for love, but when they find the one, they fall hard. They are hardwired to protect, and when danger threatens, they will protect the woman they love with their life. M is for MOUNTAIN RESCUE of course. O is for Operator. Dallas is a SEAL and SEALs are operators. U is for Universal because romance is universal. N is for Numb. How Dallas feels inside. T is for Tender. How Dallas feels toward Bella, the dog that has never known the kind touch of a human. A is for Asheville, the location of the story. I is for Incredible. What Dallas thinks of Rachel. N is for Nickname. Dallas’s nickname for Rachel is wildcat. * R is for Residence. The mountain cabin two strangers accidentally end up in together. E is for Extraordinary. What Dallas thinks of stunt double woman Rachel. S is for SEAL, and who doesn’t love a SEAL hero? C is for Cowboy. Yes, Dallas is…

Julie Ann Walker | Exclusive Excerpt: SHOT ACROSS THE BOW
Author Guest / November 29, 2021

“I love you.” He wasn’t sure who was more surprised by his outburst, him or her. Her. Definitely her, he decided a second later when her face blanched and the pulse beating in her throat went thready. Fuck. So much for living up to your nickname. Romeo was romantic. That was just…clumsy. “Breathe, Mia,” he instructed quietly and watched her suck in a ragged breath. He opened his mouth to add, he wasn’t sure what, but she beat him to the punch. “I love you too.” He blinked, not quite believing his ears. His heart believed them. And it couldn’t decide whether it wanted to burst with joy or fly out of his mouth on wings of happiness. Maybe both. Fly out of his mouth and then explode like a confetti cannon, leaving little paper hearts raining down around them. He had to make sure the pain meds weren’t making him hallucinate. “You do?” he asked cautiously. “Of course I do. You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met. The most amazing person I’ve ever met.” She shrugged. “How could I not love you?” With every word out of her mouth, his elation grew. In fact, it was so big…

Natalie Walters | Author-Reader Match: LIGHTS OUT
Author Guest / November 5, 2021

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 Natalie Walters! Writes: I write what I love to read. Intriguing suspense centered around intricate plots; memorable characters who make me laugh with them, love them, and root for them; and a storyline that speaks internal truths that stick with me long after the last page. Oh, and I unapologetically exploit my dear friends whose careers in the military, three-letter agencies, and law enforcement help me bring a level of authenticity to my stories! Proof of that exploitation is evident in my newest novel, LIGHTS OUT. When an Egyptian spy goes missing in America, CIA officer Elinor Mitchell is the only one to blame. In a race against an impending terror threat, Elinor must work with the last person she expected, Jack Hudson. Not only is he her ex-boyfriend, the man she betrayed, but also the team leader for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency—a private contract agency that keeps Americans obliviously unaware of the continuous threats against them and their country. Without Jack…

Elizabeth Goddard | 20 Questions: DEADLY TARGET
Author Guest / November 5, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? DEADLY TARGET 2–What is it about? Criminal psychologist Erin Larson is running a podcast and caring for her mother when her ex—Detective Nathan Campbell needs her help. Someone shoots his father who was investigating a cold case. Erin’s podcast focuses on cold cases, so they join forces to learn the truth. But someone is trying to stop them. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  I love the spectacular and stunning setting of the Rocky Mountains in Montana. Thick green forests and beautiful pristine rivers. 4–How did your main character(s) surprise you?  Erin’s secret past was unexpected, and I loved the twists and turns that arose as I wrote the story. 5–Why will readers relate to your characters?  My hope is always that my characters will be relatable. Erin’s character is complex and she’s relatable on many different levels. She has career dreams and goals but gives those up to help her mother. We can all relate to the fact that life is filled with hard choices, and we must choose our hard. She also wants to make sense of her past, but has no one she can truly…

Patricia Bradley | Exclusive Excerpt: CROSSHAIRS
Author Guest / November 1, 2021

Muggy air wrapped around Ainsley as they walked to the crime scene. Air so thick you could stir it with a spoon. She couldn’t wait to get back to the mountains in Tennessee where she’d lived for the past four years. Before that, it’d been a new park almost every year. As it was, she barely kept pace with the district ranger as they hiked to the old Methodist church. Right now Sam was a good thirty feet ahead of her and had barely broken a sweat, whereas perspiration rolled down Ainsley’s face. He stopped and waited for her. “Forgot you’re not used to the heat.” It wasn’t the heat that slowed her down. “I’ll have to get acclimated to breathing water again,” she said, catching her breath. He chuckled. “Yeah, it’s not the heat that kills you—it’s the humidity.” Standard joke in the South. “Absolutely. Has a time of death been established?” “Unofficially, the ME estimates Hannah died sometime between eleven and three. When I get the report, I’ll send it to you.” She was glad he used the girl’s name. Let her know he viewed her death on a personal level. They left the road for a narrow,…

Kat Martin | Exclusive Excerpt: THE LAST GOODNIGHT
Author Guest / October 24, 2021

Kade Logan stood on the bank watching the sheriff and his deputies haul the mud-covered vehicle out of the lake.  The crane groaned as the automobile tilted upward, the rear end lifting into the air, the front wheels dragging across the spongy earth.  Brackish lake water poured out through the open windows. For eight long years Kade had been haunted by the mystery of what had happened to the dark green Subaru that belonged to his dead wife.  Her body had been found in a shallow depression in the hills at the base of the mountains outside Denver, but until now, eight years later, her car had never been found. And her killer had never been caught. “You okay?”  Sam Bridger, Kade’s best friend, stood beside him, a tall blond man Kade had known for years. “She’s been dead eight years, Sam.  So yeah, I’m okay.”  But the rage he felt had never lessened.  It should have.  At the time of her death, their marriage was already on the rocks.  The second time Kade had caught Heather cheating, he had filed for divorce. “Maybe they’ll find something in the car that’ll give them a reason to reopen the case,” Sam…

Irene Hannon | Exclusive Excerpt: LABYRINTH OF LIES
Author Guest / October 4, 2021

“That wraps up the tour.” Richard Tucker opened the door that led from the school’s main corridor to the Ivy Hill administrative offices. “I’m sorry more staff members weren’t around for you to meet, but this place is a ghost town over Christmas break.” “Understandable.” Zeke Sloan followed the president into the office suite, giving it another discreet perusal. The place was functional, but the original artwork, mahogany furniture, and custom rugs on the polished hardwood floor spoke of a solid financial base. Not a luxury many private schools had these days. “I’ll introduce you to the rest of the faculty at our staff meeting next Friday and—” A door to the right opened, and Richard swung toward it. “Will! I thought you’d left for the day.” A uniformed, fiftyish balding man who could use a few extra trips to the gym paused. “I decided to make one more circuit.” Richard smiled. “I’ve been raving to our new Spanish teacher here about the dedication of our faculty and staff. Thank you for giving witness to that. Zeke, meet Will Fischer, Ivy Hill’s director of security. Will, this is Zeke Martinez, who’ll be filling in for Teresa while she recovers from…

Tee O’Fallon | Title Challenge: SERVE ‘N’ PROTECT
Author Guest / September 20, 2021

Hi Everyone! I’m TEE O’FALLON, a romantic suspense writer bringing you hunky heroes, feisty heroines, and courageous dogs. It’s great to be here with you today and to share some fun tidbits about my new book, SERVE ’N’ PROTECT, book 5 in the Federal K-9 series. U.S. Secret Service Officer Markus York doesn’t want or need anyone muddling up his life. Until he’s seriously injured and left for dead. The only help around is his way too cheery, way too enticing next door neighbor. If they can stay one step ahead of whoever’s trying to kill him, they just might have a shot at falling in love! Get ready… S is for surly. When Cassidy Morgan first meets Markus York, she thinks he’s the stereotypical surly cop. Until she discovers the warm, caring, and sensitive side of his personality. E is for eventually. No worries here, eventually Cassidy and Markus will find their HEA. R is for recovery. Both Markus and Cassidy are recovering not only from physical injuries but from emotional wounds, as well. V is for villain. This book’s got plenty of villains to keep the hero and heroine busy. E is for evil. The forces after Markus…

DiAnn Mills | Read! Add Power to Your Life + Giveaway!
Author Guest / September 7, 2021

People who read add power to their lives. I’ve read since I was old enough to put letters into words. Soon I discovered the library was my source of adventure and a means of exploring new people and worlds. The desire to write suspense developed with series featuring Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden, Donna Parker, Cherry Ames, and many more. Nonfiction books that explored other countries, cultures, and biographies inspired me to dream about what I wanted to be when I grew up. Books added power to my life and they can for you too. With all the techy ways to entertain ourselves, why do leaders and successful people spend hours reading or listening to fiction, nonfiction, articles, and blog posts? Gain Knowledge The more we learn about people and the world, the wiser we become. When we study topics and become proficient in understanding concepts, we can speak with authority. “Knowledge is power.” Many historians believe Sir Francis Bacon coined this phrase in 1597. Thomas Jefferson was known to use the phrase in his writings. How Does Reading Add Power to Our Lives? Improves Communication Skills Adding words to our vocabulary and learning their meanings helps us…

Adriana Anders | 20 Questions: UNCHARTED
Author Guest / August 30, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release? UNCHARTED  2–What is it about? In this follow-up to WHITEOUT, Leo—a hotshot pilot—is on a race to find a man and a virus when she crash lands in Alaska… and finds a man. She’s just not sure if he’s the right one. The two team up in order to survive and discovery that maybe, they have, indeed, found the right one. 3–What do you love about the setting of your book?  Writing and researching these Survival Instincts books has been an absolute adventure because the setting—in this case, the remote Alaskan forest—is more than a place. It’s a character. Leo and Elias have to work with their surroundings in order to survive. But of course, that’s never easy, especially while the ice is breaking up and the elements are working against them. But there’s so much beauty everywhere and that’s what I loved the most… this setting is pristine and wild and it forces the characters to go back to their most basic selves.  4–How did your heroine surprise you?  The biggest surprise with Leo was her unexpected soft bits. She’s a tough, accomplished woman who has gotten where she is through intelligence…