Blitz: See Her Run by A.K. Leigh

Son of a Pitch Finalist: Accounting for it All

Title: Accounting for it All
Category and Genre: Adult, Romantic Suspense
Word count: 89,000


Query:
When porn-star-turned-accountant Robin Whethers becomes the target of an IRS audit, she figures things can’t get any worse. She’s unwittingly been at the center of a vast money laundering scheme, and to top it off, she has no real accounting knowledge.
Still, somehow the audit is the least of her problems.
Hanging over her is the impending death of her terminally ill mother from whom Robin is estranged. Then there’s the accounting instructor she enlists to help her survive the audit: against her better judgement, she can’t manage to contain her blossoming feelings for him.
Oh, and the woman Robin considers to be the love of her life? She’s back in town, finally ready to try to make things work.
Robin may think she can survive her greatest challenge by learning to juggle numbers, but if she’s to ever be whole, she’ll have to juggle much more than that… before she winds up in jail, her mother passes without the two of them reconciling their differences, and the woman she loves disappears from her life for good.

First 250 Words:
Thursdays are my favorite days at Pornucopia.
For starters, it’s payday. Seconds, it’s in-house filming day, which means after a whole week of waiting I finally get to work as a talent consultant.
It really is the simplest of things that make Thursdays the best of days, and there isn’t anything more predictable than the Thursday morning safe-looting operation.
I keep quiet and enter the back office—my office, technically—and plop to my knees at the base of the filing cabinet. The bottom drawer slides out with a terrible squeak—Jerry still hasn’t lubed it up with that WD40 like he promised—and I remove the tiny, half-rusted safe from it, turning its cool steel over in my hands.
As the combination flows from my fingertips, I imagine the conversation I’ll have with Jerry once I empty the safe and round the corner from my own office and into his.
“Hey, Jer?” I’ll say.
“Yeah, Robin?”
“Only got a few thousand in the safe this week. Still want me to—?”
He’ll throw his hands up, looking all exasperated. “Always. Go. To. The. Bank. Every Thursday. No matter how much or how little is in there. Always. Go. To. The. Bank.”
I’ll repeat “always go to the bank” with him as he says it for the second time. “Right. How could I forget?”
“Never forget.”
Back in the real world where I’m kneeling in my office, the safe beeps open and I get to counting the fat stack of cash inside.

Son of a Pitch Finalist: Salvation

Title: Salvation
Category and Genre: Adult, Suspense/Thriller (Psych.)
Word Count: 75,000

Query:
Small town journalist Tom Coster is chasing a story 30 years in the making. The story: The untold events that went on behind the doors of now-shuttered Salvation Home for Wayward Children. Tom, however, has a hidden motive behind the article he wants to print. He hope the story draws out his cousin, Dianna Lane, who disappeared from the troubled teen home those 30 long years ago, or the man he suspects kidnapped her; The former owner of the compound, Marcus Taylor, who went off the grid around the same time.

The further Tom digs the more attention he gains, and from those who would rather Salvation Home’s past remain there. Whether it’s phoned threats, arson, or attempted murder, it becomes clear to Tom just how far these people will be willing to go to keep the public-at-large from finding out the horrific history of Salvation Home. He must decide if he is willing to sacrifice everything knowing this, even his life, in order to expose the past, bring justice to its survivors, and bring his cousin home.

First 250 Words:
At first, the icy steel floor was a welcome reprieve. Then her bleeding welts began to scream.
“Esther, get off th’ floor,” the man standing over her demanded. “Y’ain’t gon’ bleed t’ death. B’sides, y’got ten mo’ah swat comin’.”
She looked up at him, taking in the terrifying image of him. The man’s beige button-down and undershirt soaked was soaked in sweat, and dotted with small spots of her blood from the beatings. It, mixed with the unemptied pail she used as a makeshift toilet, filled the room with the horrific scent of damnation. Marcus, his face pale, had a look as cold as the floor and as clear of remorse to bore a hefty void into her soul.
“Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling, almost a whine. “please…Brother M-Marcus…no more…”
“Shut it, girl.” Marcus growled, combing his fingers through his once-cropped hair. “Assume th’ position, an’ repeat Proverbs 23:13.” “Esther” did as told, taking her skirt up and over her buttocks while trying to keep her legs from collapsing beneath her as she bent over ever so slightly.
“W-withhold not c-cor–agh!” she screamed as the cane came down on one of her already open wounds. The wood, jagged and tattered from years use, cut into the back of her legs. One more swipe, and she doubled over, doing her best not to vomit from the pain.
“Don’ you get sick all ovah, child,” Marcus growled, his voice more fierce than before. “Eight mo’ah, then we git you all nice an’ cleaned up.” He chuckled, sending shivers down her spine.
But “Esther” couldn’t manage it. Her body wouldn’t obey.

Son of a Pitch Entry: Lucid

****Only editors/agents and the writer of the entry can comment on this post.

Title: Lucid 

Category and Genre: YA/Psychological Suspense

Word Count: 98,000

Query: 

The Diana Banesbury School for Exceptional Young Women is one of the last of its kind—a rigorous ivy and brick institution intended to propel its few lucky, wealthy students straight to the Ivy Leagues. When Marlowe decides to stop sleeping, she ends up in the school infirmary, where she crosses paths with Gwyn, Sloane, and Ellie, a student volunteer who offers an unconventional solution to the problems that led them to where they are: lucid dreaming. By learning to control her dreams, Gwyn hopes to find a way to obtain closure from her dead brother. Sloane wants the freedom to spend her nights in a world more exciting than her waking one could ever be. But what Marlowe sees is an opportunity to recover the control she was afraid of losing to sleep by taking control of every aspect of the other three girls’ lives.

Together, the girls form a club in the pursuit of lucid dreaming, and at Marlowe’s insistence, move into an abandoned classroom in the woods around the school where they can dream undisturbed. But as the other girls grow closer, Marlowe’s true self remains a mystery, and her behavior becomes stranger and more restrictive. She starts to demand more of them, isolating them from each other and fostering their dependence on her until the three girls find themselves questioning their identities, their realities, and the lies she’s bound them with. 

Through gaslighting and manipulation, Marlowe renders the others incapable of discerning reality from dream. Gwyn, Sloane, and Ellie must find a way to wake themselves from Marlowe’s influence or risk becoming compliant followers of the path of physical and psychological destruction she’s planned for them.

First 250: 

Marlowe Brady lay awake at three in the morning in the fourth bed in the first of two rows in the Goldfinch dormitory of The Diana Banesbury School for Exceptional Young Women. It was November ninth. She was wearing silk pajamas, and doing fairly well, considering she’d been awake since November sixth.

In the first fifty hours, nothing very interesting had happened. But during the fifty-sixth, a fly landed on the bulb of the green shaded lamp on her bedside table.

At first, Marlowe tried to watch it without turning her head, by shifting her eyes as far in its direction as they’d go. But this gave her a headache, so eventually she resigned to face it, pressing her cheek against the pillow, her dark hair falling over darker eyes.

People didn’t tend to believe that insects had free will, or made decisions, but Marlowe had never doubted. Sometimes she would mentally urge the fly to move in one direction or the other, and most of the time it wouldn’t. But on the rare occasion that it did, she became re-invigorated by the illusion that her will had been so strong that it’d been unable to resist, that it was the sheer force of her own thoughts that had pushed it back onto the heat of the glass bulb when it wandered off. She indulged in the idea that this small living thing would burn itself alive if she wanted it.

Not that she did.

Review: Who Is Mr. Plutin? by Rebecca Strong

From Goodreads:
Yesterday Vika Serkova was in New York, eating takeout alone in her closet-sized apartment. Today she wakes up with a wedding ring on her finger, next to a man who claims to be her husband. In a designer flat in St Petersburg, Russia. Huh?

Her new reality is full of surprises. She owns only stilettos but can’t take a step in them without falling. People around her seem to think she’s lived in Russia her entire life. Her daily routine includes thousand-dollar spa visits with caviar and Dom Pérignon. And her husband is a handsome oligarch who buys her jewelry without any occasion. This new Russian life seems to be as different from the old American life as two countries’ views on Crimea. 

Has reality blown a fuse? Vika won’t worry about it now that she is a living Cinderella story. At least not until her husband drops an ultimate bomb about why she’s forgotten everything, about the work she does with her father, and about her current assignment for the Russian President. The assignment, which, as she discovers a day later, sets her against her husband in a conspiracy big enough to cost them not only their Breguets but very possibly their lives. To save herself and the family she is beginning to remember Vika needs to fool them into defecting. A perfect plan but only if she can manage it with her Russian memory MIA and her opponents set on destroying each other even before Vika’s manicure dries.

Fun and fast-paced, WHO IS MR. PLUTIN? is set in modern day St. Petersburg, Russia where your chances in life are only as good as the car you drive, the clothes you wear, and the people you stay away from.

My Thoughts:
What a fantastic book! From the very first page I was completely hooked. Vika has such a wonderful voice, and as a reader, following her discovery of who she is after the hypnosis wiped her memories is mesmerizing. There are so many twists and turns, intrigues, complications, the book kept me turning page after page to find out what was going on.
Each character has their own agendas, and their personal twists and interactions with Vika are fantastic. Vika's conflict between her husband and father is truly a difficult one, and shows her strength and courage.
I loved this book so much that when it ended I literally said "no!" out loud, and flicked through for just a hint of more. I just Loved it!

Son of a Pitch Entry: Forbidden

Title: Forbidden

Age and Genre: Adult, Suspense / Romance

Word Count: 100,000

Query:

Screams of terror and gunfire echo within the walls of a compound. The horrific massacre of fifteen Americans forces two government officials of The Republic of Islamic Provinces and Territories to plot a cover-up. The secret is thrust into the hands of a ruthless police captain, Hashim Sharif. Frustrated with his corrupt superiors, he covertly searches for forensic evidence. If his loyalty is questioned, an unmarked grave awaits him in the desert.

The gates of hell crash down on Sharif when he is ordered to execute the one witness – Eliza MacKay. It’s unthinkable to become the same gutter vermin he hunts in Samarra’s dark streets. Placing MacKay out of sight inside his apartment, he risks the wrath of Allah.

Hit men, the CIA, and his government have Sharif and MacKay in their cross hairs. Justice may never be served. Even so, he cannot commit an act most forbidden – treason. His family’s honor would be forever lost. With his Muslim morals and his life on the line, Sharif becomes the beast his enemies dread.

In spite of her struggle with PTSD, Sharif admires Mackay’s tenacity. He’s tortured by his deepening passion. If escape is possible, love will only get in the way. Or will it save them?

First 250 words:

*The Republic of Islamic Provinces & Territories, Year 2047 (introduced in prologue)

Eliza’s intuition begged her to leave RIPT*. She stepped up to the window overlooking the airport’s tarmac. The tower’s search beacon sliced through the ebony sky like a knife’s sharp blade. She shuddered. Her cold hands fidgeted with her head scarf. Jet engines roared as Air Arabia 267 reached takeoff speed. In seconds, the 747 disappeared into Samarra’s night sky like a homesick angel.

Her PTSD erupted with a child’s shriek. A ragging inferno and twisted metal flashed before her. Get out, hurry. Wide eyed and gasping for air, she darted through the crowd.

“Stop,” shouted a security guard. He grabbed her arm and yanked her aside. His painful grip instantly cleared her mind. A second guard pushed her forward. “Move,” he commanded in Arabic.

The officers shoved her into an office where a heavy-set man sat behind a desk. His tan colored military uniform barely fit his broad shoulders. A sign on his desk read ‘Sergeant Muntazar’. He merely glanced in her direction while thrusting his sidearm into his shoulder holster.

Oh God. She swallowed the last of her saliva. Who the hell knows I’m in Samarra? Eliza struggled to take a deep breath. What if he – Stop it. You’re a MacKay. She wrestled her panic into submission.

“Sergeant, why have I been treated like a criminal?” Her Arabic was passable.

“You’ve been here five hours, miss. Nervous. Explain, please.” His voice sounded casual, almost sultry. But his shoulders said, ‘Don’t fuck with me.’

Blog Tour: Russian Tattoos by Kat Shehata

Russian Tattoos – Obsession by Kat Shehata
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: January 12th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense

Synopsis:

Falling in love isn’t a crime—but falling in love with a Russian mob boss could be deadly.
Competitive tennis player Carter Cook wants a taste of freedom. Her overprotective father monitors every aspect of her life, so when he becomes employed by Vladimir Ivanov –a sexy Russian with an array of tattoos and an accent that weakens her knees—a taste of danger is within Carter’s grasp. Behind her father’s back, she enjoys spending time with Vladimir at his lavish estate. But is he really the upstanding businessman she believes him to be?
Vladimir Ivanov—godfather of a Russian mafia crime ring.
Vladimir spent five years of his life in a Siberian prison camp and has earned every tattoo inked into his skin. He is a powerful man who gets what he wants, and after stalking the gorgeous tennis player for years—he wants Carter. A little charm melts her heart, and behind the scenes, he orders his henchman to track her every move.
He’s a tattooed stick of dynamite ready to blow at the slightest spark.
As their romance reaches deadly levels, Carter senses something’s not right. When she’s lured into a compromising position at the hands of a shady European drug dealer, she calls in Boris, Vladimir’s right hand man, to rescue her—without telling Vladimir. With his authority questioned, he sets out to teach Carter a lesson about loyalty she’ll never forget.
When Carter realizes she’s in too deep, she must fight for her freedom before the attraction turns fatal. But the Russian mafia plays for keeps, and Vladimir’s fierce lust to possess her spirals their romance out of control.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27775715-russian-tattoos

Purchase:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018RVC5YM?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=B018RVC5YM&linkCode=shr&tag=hebosh-20&linkId=UHT2WEE33JDITWBT&qid=1448949755&sr=8-1&keywords=Russian+Tattoos+Obsession

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/russian-tattoos-obsession-kat-shehata/1123224226?ean=9781680584455

Author's Favorite Scene:

First, I want to thank you for interviewing me about my new release, Russian Tattoos. It is an honor to be featured on your blog.

Being an author is the best job in the world. I love what I do, and I am grateful for every single person who chooses to read my work. I love writing the intense and dramatic scenes where Vladimir unleashes his dark side, and the scenes where he lets his guard down and makes Carter feel like the most important person in the universe. My favorite gritty scene is the one that was most difficult to write: Chapter Twelve—Filthy.

Up until this point, Vladimir has displayed his sexy, suave, and charismatic side to Carter, a young woman he hired to work at his private estate. She is enamored by his charms and looks up to him, especially after he hires her father and rescues her family from financial hell. In this chapter however, she has lied to Vladimir and is about to meet his dark side—the pakhan. Vladimir dishes out a verbal lashing to Carter that reveals there is more to his personality than simply the charming businessman she has grown to adore.

Vladimir is a bad guy in some respects, but he’s not all bad.

Their relationship is tumultuous, but there are many tender and romantic moments as well. Vladimir is guarded with his feelings and when he reveals his sensitive side to Carter, their relationship blossoms into a romance. My favorite sexy scene is Chapter Forty-Five—An Imaginary Line.

The scene takes place in Miami, Florida and Vladimir is doing everything in his power to show Carter how much she means to him. It’s not the expensive hotel suite, the flowers, or fancy food—it’s the moment when Vladimir reveals his feelings and shows Carter how much he cares for her. He’s playful, loving and sexy, but underneath the surface, the pakhan is waiting to make his entrance. Will Vladimir prevail or will the pakhan? Russian Tattoos is full of twists and turns until the very last page.

AUTHOR BIO:

Kat Shehata went to school with a bunch of animals–literally. She is a graduate of the Cincinnati Zoo’s Animal Conservation and Care Program. Her first career involved caring for exotic, dangerous, and adorable animals as a zookeeper. She has had her shirt ripped off by a jealous orangutan, hand-fed grapes to fruit bats, played tug-o-war with a three-toed sloth, and escorted an elephant down Pete Rose Way in the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Parade. As an author, Kat weaves her love of animals into her work. She is the co-author of New York Times bestseller Animals on the Other Side.

She is a competitive tennis player and spends her free time smashing tennis balls, cheering on her teammates, and playing matches in a recreational league. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, three kids, and an enthusiastic poodle. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Wilmington College, a professional writing certificate from the University of Cincinnati, and a master’s degree in creative writing from Spalding University.

Author links:

http://www.katshehata.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/64088.Kat_Shehata

https://www.facebook.com/katshehatafans

https://twitter.com/katshehata

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Review: INFORMANT by Ava Archer Payne

Publication date: July 10th 2015

Synopsis:
I’m Kylie Porter, a nineteen-year-old biology major at San Francisco State. I’m a part-time waitress, full-time smart ass, straight A student. I’m also an informant the DEA hired to infiltrate the Cuban mob.

I’m being paid to seduce Ricco Diaz, the sexy son of a sociopathic drug lord. Maybe I should have said no. But I needed the cash and the  pay was good–real good. The kind of money someone from my neighborhood would never turn down. I thought it’d be easy.

But there was one problem. Beckett—the smoldering hot undercover DEA agent who lured me into helping him trap Diaz. I never meant to fall in love with him.

And I definitely didn’t mean to hurt him… I just didn’t have a choice.

INFORMANT is a complete standalone novel. No cliffhangers!

Find it on Amazon and Goodreads

My Thoughts:
What a fantastic read! From the first chapter, Kylie's voice is strong, smart, and sharp. She's the kind of girl who's not going to get taken for a ride.
The story is fast paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the pages turning. The characters are vivid, and often surprising. I could never quite tell which way any of them were going to turn next.
Beckett makes for a great hero. He's strong and smart and has Kylie's back from the beginning. Together, they make the perfect team.
There is strong language and sexual content, as a warning, but considering the subject manner, that is to be expected.
All up, this is a book that's full of suspense, fantastic characters, and a great story line to boot. Definitely a must read.

Blog Tour: Rhapsody (The Teplo Trilogy #2) by Ayden K. Morgen

Title: Rhapsody (The Teplo Trilogy #2)

Author: Ayden K. Morgen 

Genre: Erotic Romance Suspense

Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

Release Date: October 19, 2015

Join the Release Party

After Anton Vetrov brutally murders a young girl as a warning to Tristan Riley, the broken DEA agent believes the best thing for Lillian Maddox to do would be to stay far, far away from him. But Lillian knows a thing or two about fear, and she's not willing to let the man she loves push her away that easily. If he won't fight for them, she will... even if that means risking her life to prove she's strong enough to live in his world.

Her plan ends in disaster when she's dragged out of Teplo at gunpoint, forcing Tristan onto a collision course with the Vetrov family and Pedro Francisco. With nothing left to lose except the only woman who has ever mattered to him, he will do whatever it takes to stop Vetrov and Francisco from ever hurting her again.

But he doesn't know they've been waiting for him to make his move. When he does, all hell breaks loose, and his life is on the line. It's up to Lillian and the DEA to save him, and she's terrified they won't make it in time.

Thrust headlong into a violent, bloody confrontation with the Vetrov family, Lillian comes face to the face with the heartbreaking realization that maybe she doesn't belong in Tristan's world, after all. When the smoke clears, will he be able to convince his ballerina that she's the best thing for him, or will he lose her and the chance at a real future once and for all?

Amazon ~ Smashwords

"What's so funny?" he demanded softly.

"Sometimes life just fucking sucks," she said, giggling again. "I think your mouth is rubbing off on me."

"Mmm," he growled playfully and flipped her over until she was lying beneath him. He grinned down at her, the shadows that'd crept into his eyes during their conversation gone, replaced with happiness, softness. "I noticed that. You called me baby."

"I did," she murmured, staring up at him.

His grin widened. "You called me baby once before, you know."

"Did I?"

"Mmhmm." He nuzzled his face against her throat. "When I fucked you against the front door. I think I like hearing you call me baby almost as much as I like hearing you scream my name, beautiful. You sound so good screaming my name." He nipped her throat.

"Tristan," she whimpered, writhing beneath him as his wicked words sent heat through her all over again.

"You sound good whimpering it, too," he murmured. "Fuck, Lillian, everything you do drives me crazy." He pressed a soft kiss to her temple before dropping back down beside her and dragged her into his arms once more. "Every time I'm near you, I'm turned on."

"It's the same for me," she whispered.

"Is it?"

"Yes, all the time. When you look at me or touch me… I don't know, it's like an addiction, I think. I crave more and more of you every time." Her brow furrowed as she traced the line of his abs with one finger. "Is it really like that for you, too?"

"All the time, sweetheart," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "I can't get enough of you." He reached out and grabbed her hand, dragging it down his body and placing it over his crotch. He was hard again, his cock like steel in her palm. "You keep me like this, Lillian."

She smiled and curled her hand around his length, stroking softly. "I like knowing that."

"Fuck." He arched his hips into her hand before wrapping his own hand around hers and gliding it up and down his erection. Far too soon, he stilled her hand and pulled away, causing her to groan in protest. He chuckled and twined their fingers together again, placing them on his chest, over his heart. "Rest, beautiful. I've been all over you tonight."

"I like having you all over me," she grumbled. She loved having him all over her.

"I like being all over you," he answered with another soft chuckle at her petulant tone. "But you need a break or you'll be too sore to move, and there's no fucking way I'm going to be able to keep from sinking myself into you at least once tomorrow."

Well, she couldn't very well argue with that, now could she?

"Fine, but only for the rest of the night," she warned him, not willing to go any longer than that before feeling him again. The things he did to her… he could do them every day of forever and she'd die happy. She wanted him to do them to her every day of forever.

God. Forever. Was it too soon to want that?

Tristan and Lillian's Netflix Watch List

Tristan and Lillian don't spend a lot of time in front of the television, but when they do have time, they love to snuggle up and watch their favorite shows and movies... or not watch them as the case may be! Here's what's on their lists and why.

Tristan

·         Narcos – This is a new series, but it's surprisingly good. It captures the messed up reality of drug trafficking, while humanizing the people behind the scenes.

·         Arrow – A man with a past? A man on a mission? That's not familiar at all!

·         From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series – Because it's a cartel of vampires. Which is basically every cartel ever. Tristan can relate.

·         Three Kings – Risking everything to screw a bad guy and save a life? Tristan is down with that.

·         Without a Paddle – Even the most ridiculous of missions can have value.

·         Beowulf – Lillian is slowly showing Tristan the value of literature and the classics.

·         Gangland – Gangs piss Tristan off. It never hurts to spend a little time getting to know them better, especially in his line of work.

·         Inside Cocaine Wars – Another docu-series about the job. Getting to know some of the other agents with the same mission is always helpful.

Lillian

·         Phantom of the Opera – What isn't to love about Phantom of the Opera? The story is haunting, beautiful, and timeless.

·         Center Stage – If anyone can relate to being told they aren't good enough, Lillian can. Jody is so much like her.

·         Cyberbully – Another one that hits close to home for Lillian. Bullies are everywhere, and they are brutal.

·         Dollhouse – Echo is a total badass. And she's not what anyone expects.

·         The Originals – Two words: Joseph Morgan. Does she really need another reason?

·         Being Human (U.K.) – The original U.K. version is the way to go with this one. It's got a little bit of everything, and is so good.

·         Ballet 422 – She may no longer be in the world, but she misses performing. This documentary lets her relive those moments she loved.

·         Half the Sky – Lillian has traveled the world and seen oppression firsthand. This documentary tells the story well, and gives her hope for the future.

Ayden lives in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart/husband of eleven years, and their five furry minions. When not writing, she spends her time hiking, reading, volunteering, causing mischief, and building a Spork army. Ayden graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology in 2009 before going on to complete her graduate degree in CJ and Law. She currently puts her education to use in the social services and CJ field. 

Ayden also writes Young and New Adult fantasy under the penname A.K. Morgen.

 

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Ravished (The Teplo Trilogy #1)

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Souls Estranged by Anne B. Cole Available for Pre-Order!

I read book one, Souls Entwined earlier this year (Find my review here) so I'm excited to get my hands on and read the next installment to this story! So here are the details for Souls Estranged.

"She fled to save him from the curse. Now she must flee to save herself."

Back from their adventures in Souls Entwined, Sam Daggett begins a new relationship with Gretta Dobbs, whose memories of their time traveling experience have been erased. Determined to never leave her again, Sam vows to help Gretta, despite the bad luck curse on her heirloom ring. Within hours of their return, tragedy strikes. As Sam becomes the third victim of the bad luck curse, Gretta’s memories of her time spent in the past begin to return. Unable to remember more than snippets, she realizes that anyone close to her is in grave danger. In order to keep Sam and her family safe, she flees in the middle of the night. Finding the perfect summer job in the back hills of Virginia, Gretta unknowingly crosses paths with a serial killer. With guidance from their ancestral spirits, Roxana and Katarina, Sam desperately attempts to find Gretta before the curse strikes again.

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

Souls Entwined:  Amazon.com   Barnes and Noble.com

 Souls Estranged: Amazon.com

Souls Estranged Excerpt:

Prologue

Sunday

Sam

In the dim morning light of the hospital room, Sam Daggett watched the little cat stretch its front paws before zeroing intense green eyes on him.

“Roxana?” He scrutinized the feline for the slightest twitch of recognition.

Nothing.

Doubting Roxana’s spirit remained entwined within the gray and white cat, he moved his focus to Gretta Dobbs. She slept peacefully with her hand nestled in his. Neither of their families had returned to the hospital. Her garnet ring caught his attention and immediately a sense of foreboding crept up his spine.

His heart sped as images of his time traveling, out-of-body adventure with Gretta flashed through his mind. Roxana, Gretta’s long-dead ancestor, enabled their souls to entwine within nineteenth-century lovers in order to gather information on the cursed ring. Pride, determination, and fear filled him.

“I’m so sorry we didn’t find all of the answers we needed,” Sam whispered as he lifted her hand to his lips. He watched her eyes and listened for the beep of the heart monitor to quicken, satisfied she remained in dreamland. “I know you don’t remember our time together or what we’ve been through.”

He shuddered at the memories. His gaze fell back to the ring. Frustration filled him. The urge to rip it off her hand pounded through him, but he remembered she remained cursed with or without the ring.

Control. I must control my emotions.

He refocused his thoughts on the present and relished in the gratitude of simply being in the same room with her.

A soft sigh escaped her lips and she squeezed his hand before slipping into a deeper slumber.

“With you, nothing is impossible.” Careful not to bump his broken collarbone, Sam leaned closer and murmured, inches from her ear, “Brave and beautiful. Ready and willing to face pirates, spirits, and the horrors of the purgatories to end the family curse.” His heart hammered in his chest as memories of seeking treasure, falling in love, and losing it all flashed within his mind.

“I love you, Gretta. I’ll do everything in my power to earn your love.”

Tracing his fingers over the back of her hand, he touched the face of the ring’s oval red stone. He remembered every moment of their time together, while Gretta’s memories had been erased. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t prevent his thoughts from wandering. Concern prickled his skin as he recalled their quest to understand the ring’s curses.

The most dangerous one, a curse of bad luck, remained a mystery.

He inhaled and pushed his failures away. “Katarina told me to keep my distance from you because of potential tragedy. Nothing will keep me away. I vow to protect and love you forever.”

Gretta’s grip on his fingers tightened. With her hand remaining in his, he brushed a stray lock of hair off her cheek. She released his fingers and nuzzled into his palm with a tiny sigh. He closed his eyes, content to be back in his own body and time with her.

Yet uneasiness crept deep within and the dreadful feeling of impending tragedy grew stronger with every passing minute.

AUTHOR BIO

Anne B. Cole is a genre bending author who enjoys combining supernatural suspense, time travel, and sweet romance with a touch of magical realism in her books.

Anne lives in Indiana with her husband and three teenage children. She teaches preschool and makes time to run so she can eat ice cream and doughnuts. Anne is currently working on Souls Endure, The Final Book of The Souls Trilogy.

Website:

www.annebcole.com

BLOG: www.annebcole.com/blog

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/AnneBCole

                  @annebcole

FACEBOOK: Anne B. Cole, Author

Souls Entwined Book Trailer