With a distinctive voice, K.D. Rose illuminates and embraces the songs of our lives. Revelatory and urgent, her poetry combines fearless beauty with the strangeness of an other, watching and bearing witness to the exquisite and heartbreaking world while embroiled in the intensity and passion of life's dynamics. In turns ethereal, haunting, and brazen, Dream Poem invites the reader to the trance of what it means to be living today. For the first time K.D. Rose's literary published poetry and hidden gems are gathered together in this bold collection. Includes a bonus section with The Essay "I Have No Voice and I Must Write", and the short story "The Empath"! Amazon Link https://www.amazon.com/DreamPoem-K-D-Rose/dp/1545164738 About the author: K. D. Rose is a poet, essayist, and author. K.D. was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in poetry for "There are Species of Stars Yet to be Seen." K. D.’s book, Inside Sorrow, won Readers Favorite Silver Medal for Poetry. She has written books in multiple genres. Her poetry, essays, and short stories have been published in Word Riot, Chicago Literati, Poetry Breakfast, BlazeVOX Journal, Ink in Thirds, Northern Virginia Review, The Nuclear Impact Anthology, Stray Branch Magazine, Literary Orphans, Maintenant Contemporary Dada Magazine, Lunch Ticket Arts and Literary Magazine, The 2016 Paragram Press Anthology, Eastern Iowa Review, Bop Dead City, Santa Fe Literary Magazine, Hermes Poetry Magazine, Slipstream, Wild Women's Medicine Circle Journal and The Offbeat Literary Magazine. Twitter – https://twitter.com/KDRose1 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorkdrose/ Website: http://authorkdrose.net/ Tumbler http://kdrose1.tumblr.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?locale=en_US&trk=profile-preview Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/102870988804959230001/about/p/pub
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History branded him a coward. Prophecy labeled her his destruction. Some legends are born of lies. Others begin when the lies end. And not everything remains myth... "If you could live forever, what would you choose to live for? I chose power..." Born of darkness and raised on revenge, Mordred Lothian spent an eternity fighting for the honor of a woman who had none. Free of her hatred, his only goal is to pick up the pieces of betrayal and attempt to forge a new life in a world that never wanted him. Raised by one of Hollywood's most scandalous actresses, Jenalyn Rhodes knows true illusion begins when the end credits roll. Damaged by the one person who should have protected her most, she is determined to have no master and only one mistress: Herself. Thrown together to stop an ancient evil hell bent on vengeance, can the sacrifice of one be the salvation of the other? TIMELESS SURRENDER BUY LINKS: Books2Read Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/49PqWY Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078WMLZS5 Excerpt: “Stop being a baby. Let me help you,” Jennie chided, rounding the bathroom doorway and standing stock still as Mordred studied the sizable chunk of flesh missing from the seeping bite wound centered on his left hip. Even wounded, he was magnificent. Honed, deadly muscles which flexed and coiled as she drew nearer distracted her for a moment. But only for a moment. Because the thing brought actual tears to her eyes were all the old scars and puckered wounds decorating his back; thick and rigid, the skin drawn up in patchwork manner and covering his entire torso as well. She'd noticed them the other night when they'd been in the kitchen talking. He'd only worn a towel then. She'd felt them last night under her questing fingers. Yet, today, now, this moment, it took her breath away. She met his ocean blue eyes in the mirror’s reflection, her long fingers reaching out to lightly trace above a curving scar along his tailbone, its length unknown as it dipped below the waistband of his jeans. “Go away, Jenalyn. I don’t need your help. It’s not my first rodeo.” His voice, rugged and sensual made her ache in places she'd never felt before. Everything about Mordred either fascinated or annoyed her and she couldn’t say it to be necessarily a bad thing. Yes, he oozed arrogance, he embodied chauvinism, he came off demanding and bossy. He underestimated her, provoked her and habitually patronized her. She liked it, twisted, fucked up ball of yarn she knew herself to be. Again, she let her fingers trace the air above a long, thin jagged scar stretching from his nape down to the middle of his back. Ignoring his dismissal, she met his gaze in the glass again. "How did you get this?" He swallowed, she watched the tendons in his neck stretch taut before he answered. "My stepfather, Lot. I didn't fetch his food fast enough." "And this one?" She touched a puckered patch of skin on his hip. "Lot's wife, Dilys. She poured hot water on me for daring to touch her newborn son, my brother." Jennie's jaw dropped. She pointed to a nasty looking section of discolored skin on his back left shoulder. "What about this one?" "I said no to one of Lot's knights. He didn't take it kindly and bit me." "Jesus, Mordred. How did you endure this?' "I didn't have any other choice." "I thought you told me you were invincible?" She bit off a light laugh, nearly strangling on the knot in her throat imagining the things he told her. "I am. Still here aren’t I?" "Why didn't you Wolverine yourself?" "What?" "Heal yourself? I thought you could." "At the time, I couldn't. And when I could, these scars remained." Shadows danced over his hard, handsome face before he turned to face her, wrapping his hands around her upper forearms. Dear Gods, she wanted to give his chest a repeated tongue bath. Despite the grievous wounds blanketing the marbled flesh, she found it mouthwatering. The heat from his touch raced through her and she had to bite her own tongue to keep from moaning when the sight of one scar, in particular, caught her attention. Right over his heart, it looked like someone had tried to cut him open once. A vicious wound, angry looking despite the passage of time. Raising her fingers again she touched the air above it, traced it gently, tenderly. “This one? What happened?” He dipped his head low, warm breath washing over her ear as his grip on her tightened. “Jenalyn. Go. Away.” Despite the words, he made no move to release her, she heard his harsh breathing kick up a notch, saw his fangs punch down, peeking from under those lips she knew she wanted to kiss. “Tell me what happened and I’ll bail.” His lips brushed her temple, dipping lower along her right cheek. “I got it because I don’t listen well at times. I'd a rather harsh teacher back in the day. I admitted a weakness and an attempt to purge it followed. Warriors can’t have weaknesses. Let alone the son of Morgan Le Faye.” Jennie's eyes fluttered shut when his warm mouth brushed the outside of hers, hovering. “W-what weakness?” She felt her lower belly constrict, moisture flooding her thighs at the slight contact with him. He pushed her away gently. “I confessed my love for someone. So she tried to remove my heart.” A sharp pang of jealousy hit Jennie in the gut at his admission. “That's ...what? I'm glad it didn’t work." “The procedure? No. The lesson? Yeah. It worked. I'd turned ten years old that day.” Jennie stiffened, rage washing through her at the admission. A child, a little boy! She looked into his eyes. “Where the fuck was your mother?” “With me.” Mordred bit off a dark laugh and stepped further back, leaving a good three feet of space between them. Jennie watched as the hazy lust smearing his face hardened back into battle mode. “And she didn’t stop it?” He shrugged, reaching around her to turn on the shower. Steam instantly filled the bathroom. "Who do you think taught the lesson?" Author Bio: Born on the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous,I am the illegitimate love child of Han Solo and Daenerys Targaryen. Rescued by Gandalf shortly before my home planet was destroyed in the last days of the Clone Wars, I was raised in relative obscurity by my foster parents, Severus Snape and Pippi Longstocking. At the tender age of 113, I inherited the best little whorehouse in Texas and it's been rumored that I am bringing Sexy Back. A self- confessed chocoholic, I've been engaged to Willy Wonka for several years despite gossip surrounding millionaire Bruce Wayne and myself. And clearly, I practice delusion on a daily basis. Fact is nowhere as fun as fiction! Growing up, I could be found nearby falling down rabbit holes, catching second stars to the right, and stepping through wardrobes into mysterious lands and countless adventures. When those stories ended, I made up her own and kept going. This later on translated into a strong passion for writing that has helped keep my feet on the ground while my head stayed firmly in the clouds. My first brush with romance novels came at the tender age of 8 when I filched a Barbara Cartland dog eared paperback from my unassuming aunt and fell into a world of magic, wonder and entirely innocent G rated writing. (Seriously, the farthest Dame Cartland ever took any romantic scene was a chaste kiss and that generally didn’t occur until the very end.) I went on to greedily consume Johanna Lindsey, Jude Devereaux and Anne Rice when older. Now, I'm a middle aged woman with moxie, no shame and a vivid imagination who loves to write and share her crazy with the world. Her future plans include, hopefully, buying a lovely Scottish castle and convincing Queen Elizabeth I that I'd make a fab addition to the Royal Family. I live in Southern California, a stone's throw from Disneyland, with my family and the most ridiculously spoiled pets anyone could imagine. My goals are simple: Keep reading, keep writing and never lose the determination to make life as random, quirky and beautiful as it can be. Blog and Website: http://torienjames2.wixsite.com/thetoriezone FB: https://www.facebook.com/WriterGurl216 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Writergurl216 Instagram: @queenofsquee Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7054839.Torie_N_James Amazon Author: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CTBYH0M Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/torienjames We romance readers know that tropes are king, and it’s the author’s job to bring something fresh and spicy to the proverbial royal table. Breaking The Rules was my first attempt at the oft reimagined Older Brother’s Best Friend story line, set in the competitive world of MMA fighting and bodybuilding in LA. I never had an older brother growing up, and I ALWAYS wished I had one! (Probably so that I could woo his best friend and piss my brother off, let’s be real. I was boy crazy in high school!) Even without that touchstone in my real life, there’s something incredibly appealing about the forbidden aspect of your older brother’s best buddy. It does feel like a mixing of worlds that would be better left untouched. But when true love steps in…there’s no negotiating. And in this book, Amara falls HARD for Travis, even though there’s plenty more than just her older brother Eddie’s disapproving gaze following them around. I wanted to explore the juxtaposition of the fighting world with social services. What would it look like if a nonprofit, sort of ‘social justice warrior’ fell for a guy who makes his living beating the shit out of people? It was too tempting to NOT delve into…and I hope this fresh, spicy take on the forbidden romance is as tasty to you as it was for me writing it! Excerpt: “So what are you gonna do to me?” She cocked a hip, eyes brimming with mischief. His fingers twitched as he thought about snagging her at the waist, knocking that hip against his own. “Have you ever been at the club and some douchebag wouldn’t leave you alone?” She scoffed. “What girl hasn’t?” “I can show you what to do if he starts creeping.” “Oh yeah?” Travis nodded, heart rate kicking up a notch. “Let’s say we’re at the club. This insanely quiet, bright club at the back of my gym. I’ve been creeping on you, and I’m drunk and not taking a hint, and probably not nearly as ripped as I actually am.” She smirked, nodding. “Okay.” “It doesn’t even matter if it’s the club or not. It can be anywhere. It’s any unwanted advances.” Travis wrapped his arm around her waist, spinning her around and snagging her close. Her body formed a delicious seal with him. “So a guy bear-hugs you. What do you do from here?” She sighed, squinting. “I thought you said unwanted advances.” He tightened his arm around her, mind growing cloudy. “I said we’re pretending. Act like you don’t want to secretly get into my bed.” So maybe you could be not Eddie’s sister, and it would be totally fine if I pinned you against the wall and had my way with you. She giggled, cheeks flushing. “Okay, fine. I bite. What do I do?” His eyes fluttered shut, relishing the feel of her warmth against him, the softness of her belly under his arm, the nearness of her scent. “With your right leg, step to the outside, and then backstop my knee.” She put her leg out and behind him, connecting with the back of his knee. “Good. That’ll knock me off balance. Then you bring your left elbow up, straight toward my face.” She brought her elbow up, stopping before actually clocking him. He loosened his grip, stepping back. “Great. That’ll get me away and off you, so then you can get the fuck out of there, or call the police, or text Eddie, or whatever.” She nodded, tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear, looking flushed. “Sweet. That’s a good one. Though I might actually call you instead of Eddie.” He bit back a grin. “I’d be okay with that.” A heavy moment shivered between them. When she spoke again, her voice was softer. “I liked the bear-hug part. Maybe we should practice that again.” He cocked a brow. “You need a hug?” He’d give her all the hugs she wanted. She shrugged, looking him up and down. “Maybe I appreciate you helping me.” He grinned and pulled her into a hug, this time from the front, every point of his body touching hers, alive and on fire. He squeezed her tightly, brow furrowing as he fought to savor every last millisecond. She sighed deeply in his embrace, arms tightening around his waist. When they broke, Amara looked up at him lazily, eyes drifting open and shut. “Damn, Travis. You give good hugs.” She had given him a good hug…and half a boner. “No, I think you give good hugs.” They shared a private smile, one that made him feel as if they’d been together for years. He kept his grip tight around her, liked the feel of her against him, the warmth of her seeping into him. Time shuddered to a stop as he gazed into her eyes, breath shriveling in his throat as something sprang to life between them. Travis cinched her closer and dipped down, smoothing his lips against hers. She shivered in his arms and welcomed the kiss, tipping her head back to greet him. Her fragrance was divine from so close, velvety lips a sinful treat that he’d been imagining for far too long. And it was better than he’d imagined. They kissed until he needed to break for air. And then they only paused, foreheads pressed together, before he dived back in, tongue pressing into her mouth, hungry and probing. Their kisses were fervent and desperate, the intensity surprising but not unexpected. This is what you were afraid of. After a few moments his warning bells went off. He could be here all night making out with her, and that wouldn’t be good for anyone. Even worse if someone came back here and discovered them. “Is this part of the self-defense training?” Amara smiled weakly, her breath coming out in short puffs. “I guess,” he said, loosening his arms, shrugging with a laugh. “Part of my new approach.” “I like it.” She squeezed his arm, biting her lower lip. Those fuck-me eyes back in full form. Exactly the type of look that made his already wavering willpower fade into nothingness. And with Amara, he needed a lot more than willpower if he was going to keep his shit together. BUY IT HERE: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Rules-Ember-Leigh-ebook/dp/B075KR1J87/ Loose Id: www.loose-id.com/breaking-the-rules.html Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/breaking-the-rules-50 Google Books: https://books.google.com/books/about/Breaking_the_Rules.html?id=7vI0DwAAQBAJ ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ember Leigh has been writing erotic romance novels since she was far too young. A native of northern Ohio, she currently resides near Lake Erie with her Argentinean husband, where they run an Argentinian-American food truck. In addition to romance novels, Ember also writes travel memoirs and occasionally updates a couple of blogs. In her free time, she practices Ashtanga yoga, hops around the world, and eats lots of vegetables. Find Ember Leigh at her website, on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or by joining the infrequent yet jubilant gathering of updates known as her newsletter. No matter how hard Kelsey Martin tried, she couldn’t shake the deliciously sinful Tucker Peters out of her mind. He’s everything she wanted in a man and more. There’s only one problem—he’s also her best friend. Tucker is a bear shifter, and being thrust into his world without warning didn’t deter her feelings in the least. From the moment Tucker Peters laid eyes on Kelsey he knew he’d do anything to be with her. After what seemed like forever, she finally agreed to give him a chance, but of course, nothing is ever that easy. Danger and secrecy is the name of the game, and it hits close to home. Kelsey falls victim to an experiment gone wrong, and accepting her fate may be impossible. Something Tucker may never forgive himself for… Release date: April 17th, 2018 Preorder: 99 cents until Feb 2nd (price will increase to $3.99 after that) Unbearable: https://books2read.com/u/bwWOkG Operation Wildcat: https://books2read.com/u/49xEqd Cherry Bomb: https://books2read.com/u/baP8Xq Author bio Megan lives on seven acres of land in rural Alberta, Canada and enjoys the simple country life. Paranormal romance allows her to create the places and characters she has always wanted to read about. She enjoys bringing her stories to life every chance she gets. When she isn’t writing she’s spending time with her husband and daughter whether it’s camping, riding ATV’s or just hanging out at home. Her family is the most important thing to her. Contact info Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeganmichelau/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeganMichelau Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
Title: Complicated Relationships
A Southern Devotions Series Standalone
Author: Amy K. McClung
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 2, 2017
Blurb
Tristan Jacobâs life is full of complicated relationships. Having been hurt by love and loss, and with his focus on taking care of his younger sister, Macy, for the past five years, it was safer to put his romantic life on hold.
But he's finally ready to find the girl of his dreams.
When an auburn-haired beauty captures his attention, Tristan doesn't realize she has a connection to the woman who broke his heart. Will he get his happily ever after? Or will the complications prove to be too difficult to overcome?
Amy McClung was born in Nashville, TN. She is the second oldest of four girls and occasionally suffers from middle child syndrome. She met the love of her life online in August of 2004, on his birthday of all days, and married him in September 2005. Currently they have no human children only the room full of colorful robots that transform into vehicles and the large headed Pop Funkoâs who represent their favorite characters. Collecting movies, shotglasses, Pop Funkos, and dust bunnies are some of her favorite pastimes. She began writing in September of 2011 and independently published her first YA novel called Cascades of Moonlight, Book one of the Parker Harris Series the following May. Her first book was a means of therapy for her as it enabled her to escape reality for a while during a difficult transition in her life.
Author Links
Title: Spirited Away
A Resort Romances Novel
Author: Mary Billiter
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing Release Date: October 31, 2017
Blurb
What happens when the legend of the old west becomes the new reality? In Mary Billiterâs fun novel of investigating the unknown and navigating love, a drop-dead sexy cop and a fiery redhead are linked by a mysterious haunting and the unsolved crime of passion behind it all.
When Reese Pemberton relocates from the Golden State to the Cowboy State for a corporate promotion, she discovers a different state of mind. From the hustle and bustle mayhem of the Bay Area to the slow and easy meanderings of Wyoming, Reese welcomes the change in pace as the hotelâs new general manager. However, she shuts the door on the notion that her hotel is haunted.
But when a series of mishaps introduces the fiery redhead to the hotelâs legendary cowboy ghost, she begins to question the events surrounding his demise.
Reese and Cheyenne police detective Cody Pring join forces to put to rest the spirit that haunts the hotel. In the process, they discover long-buried secrets. Can the two solve a decades-old mystery or are some things better left with the dead?
Purchase Links
$1.99 for a limited time
Also Available
Do Not Disturb & Escape Clause
are free in Kindle Unlimited
Author Bio
Mary Billiter is a weekly newspaper columnist and fiction author. She also has novels published under the pen name, âPumpkin Spice.â
Mary resides in the Cowboy State with her unabashedly bald husband, her four amazing children, two fantastic step-kids, and their runaway dog. She does her best writing (in her head) on her daily runs in wild, romantic, beautiful Wyoming.
Author Links
I am so happy to welcome one of my favorite authors, Jessica Bayliss, to my blog with her new release Broken Chords! So excited for her and to read this one!
BOOK LINKS: BROKEN CHORDS on Amazon BROKEN CHORDS on Kobo BROKEN CHORDS on SmashWords BROKEN CHORDS on Goodreads
GIVEAWAY: One free copy of BROKEN CHORDS
EMBED CODE: a Rafflecopter giveaway
What was your inspiration for writing this book?
The inspiration really came because I had to pee in the middle of the night. Not what you were expecting, right? So, there I was, camping on Martha’s Vineyard with my husband, and I had to pee in the middle of the night. For anyone who’s ever camped, you know that the bathrooms are never conveniently located. To reach it, I had a bit of a walk, and the fastest route was through a playground. So, there I am, wee hours of the night (no pun intended), and it’s all cold and misty. And I’m in this playground, and I think: If those swings start moving right now, I’m so out of here. Lucky for me, that didn’t happen, but once I was safely back in my tent, I decided I’d write a story about a haunted playground someday. The other major inspiration is a blue grass festival we like to attend. The layout, the campgrounds, the pirate truck, even the creek behind the clearing in the woods—it’s all inspired by that festival. As for the astral projection, that came from the fact that I read and enjoyed a YA about astral projection back in my teen-aged days. I often start my books with the question: what would I want to read? (Or, what did I like to read back in the day?) Put that all together, add in a little romance, and you’ve got BROKEN CHORDS. What about your musical inspiration? Ah, yes. Many bands show up in BROKEN CHORDS, including some of my favorites: The Greencards, Nikel Creek, and Crooked Still. Fans of these folks will definitely pick up on some references in the book. One traditional folk song, in particular, was a huge inspiration. It’s called Wind and Rain. I did some research on this song, and it turns out, there have been versions of this—in song and in poem form—for hundreds of years. It dates back to mid-seventeenth century and its origins are the UK. It’s had different names, including The Two Sisters and Twa Sisters, but every version includes the story about how one sister killed the other. In most versions, including the one in my book, the older sister kills her younger and yellow-haired sister out of jealousy over her having landed beau. Creepy for sure. And, in all versions—creepiest of all—the murdered sister’s body is turned into a fiddle! I can’t remember if I decided to use this song first OR if I decided Lenny was a fiddle player first, but needless to say, it all came together so beautifully (or, perhaps the best words is horrifyingly). Why horror? That’s one of those questions I can’t exactly answer. I just love it. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been totally fascinated by scary stuff. I do believe that my very first short story was about a haunted house. I wrote that in 2nd grade for a classroom assignment. Needless to say, my mother received a call. My relationship with the frightening, creepy, and macabre was quite love-hate in those early days. In other words, I was a chicken. I’d read scary stories (SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK comes to mind), but I was totally afraid to watch scary movies until I was around twelve. But, once I did, I was hooked. And paranormal horror is my favorite. I like to describe BROKEN CHORDS as POLTERGEIST meets INSIDIOUS at a music festival. Maybe that comes from some of the ghost stories told by members of my family (I still have nightmares about my grandmother’s attic and that house has been out of the family for seven years). How do you meld the supernatural with the human? Lenny’s story is not only one of surviving a paranormal/demonic attack, it’s also about facing fear and trust and so many other things? Ah, yes. But that’s what I love the most about really good horror, fantasy too. These kinds of books allow us to explore all sorts of things but under the guise of other. I will be honest, I’m not much of a drama fan. Partly, that’s because my work as a psychologist is drama enough, but also because it’s just too much in your face. But, when you throw in horror or a speculative element, now I can go to those deep emotional places without feeling swamped. It’s like how I hide my dog’s pill in some sliced turkey. You can hide the tough human experiences within stories with speculative elements. In BROKEN CHORDS, we get to see Lenny face all sorts of things: fear and phobia (like, legit stage fright), she learns how to trust others, and, perhaps her biggest journey, she learns to trust herself.
Excerpt:
Jeb’s voice ebbed and flowed, his fear growing and sending out seedlings of dread to take root in my own chest. He must have woken the entire camp by now. I fumbled open my tent flap, stumbled outside, and zipped the flap shut with trembling hands. When I turned around, I knew immediately why no one put a stop to Jeb’s calls. He wasn’t in the normal world anymore. Neither was I. Despite not asking for it, something twisted and bitter in this universe had bestowed it anyway. We’d been transported to the astral plane. The world was bathed in dark beauty, like velvety gauze or some tranquil digital camera filter, making everything hazy and wavery with dim blue-white light. I could actually see the air – or matter or ether or whatever it was – that made up the world around me. When I waved my hand, contrails showed its swishing progress long after I’d ceased movement. Like, whatever I was made of in this form could interact with the very construction material holding this universe together. Or, maybe whatever I was made of in this form was the very construction material of this universe. “Oh God,” I whispered. That meant, behind me, within the tent I’d just fled, my body lay prone. Not in sleep, and not a trance. Not dead, but not really alive either. An empty shell. I stared at the dark green vinyl before finally getting up the nerve to look inside. My body lay on my air mattress, curled up as if I were merely sleeping. My chest rose and fell as my organs responded to signals from the most primitive part of my brain, which kept the basic functions of human life online even though the system user had abandoned the controls. I breathed in time with my body. I wasn’t sure if I was really moving air around in my spectral form, but the reflex to carry out the action was strong, and it still felt soothing when I blew what might be nothing out of lungs that probably weren’t there anyway. I took another deep, fake breath and closed my eyes. My brain attempted to point out the ridiculousness of this – how I still felt normal even though I was nothing but a ghost now. A spasm of laughter escaped my throat, but I swallowed it down. If I let my mind think too hard about things like where? and what? and how?, I’d crack. Game over. Instead, I chanted Jeb’s mantra: “Just go with it.” Then I turned to face the astral plane.
Jessica Bayliss is a clinical psychologist by day and a writer all the time. She has been a lover ghost tales and horror since her days scanning VHS rental shelves—admittedly with eyes half-averted from the gory covers. She also loves to eat, cook, and exercise—in that order—and is a firm believer that coffee makes the world a better place.
Look for her upcoming release, TEN AFTER CLOSING (Sky Pony Press, spring 2018). For more information about Jessica and about PsychWRITE, her series of courses and workshops for writers, visit: www.JessicaBaylissWrites.com. AUTHOR LINKS: Website PsychWRITE resources, workshops, and coaching for writers Blog Goodreads Amazon Sign up for Jessica’s Newsletter (all subscribers get automatically entered for a monthly drawing to win a free first chapter critique)
Title: Beautiful Torment
Author: Gen Ryan
Series: Thin Red Lines #3 (Standalone)
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller, Crime
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Desiree Garcia always runs from her problems. But escaping memories and tragedy is impossible, no matter the distance. When her last FBI case pushes Desiree to her limits, she knows it’s time to move once more. This time, she heads back home and returns to her family and to her best friend she abandoned so long ago.
Hunter Collins was there for Desiree from the day they met at just twelve years old. He stood by her and waited for her, even when she joined the FBI, leaving him and all she loved behind. Now she’s back, he’s determined to not let her go again. When faced with a police case that she can’t say no to, Desiree and Hunter navigate through the investigation as she faces the horrors of her past. As they struggle to solve the case, it’s up to Hunter to keep her tethered. Will love and friendship be enough to save Desiree from herself and all that is tormenting her?
by Gen Ryan
Beautiful Torment was such a difficult book for me to write and yet, it is probably my
favorite out of all the books in the Thin Red Lines Series (Sorry Liam, I will love you always). I
remember when I was about 25,000 words in and I scrapped the entire thing and started over.
que my tears of frustration. It was so hard to figure out how I wanted it to end and since I’m a
pantser, outlining wasn’t helping me, it just made me more frustrated.
The series itself is dark with bits of hope and love sprinkled throughout. Beautiful
Torment, while dark I wanted to focus on redemption and how not all those who make bad
choices, have mental illness, or suffer loss will be beholden to those things for the rest of their
lives.
This story took itself on a totally different route (yes, I don’t outline that extensively so
things just happen as I write) and I have gotten such amazing feedback and comments that this
book was so many people’s favorite. The “villain” is different and I love her like she was my
own kid. I cried writing her and it scared me how easily her POV flowed. So, while this book
started out being the hardest for me to write, I ended up finishing it in less than a month once all
the pieces fell into place.
I hope that Beautiful Torment rounds out the series nicely and you all love Sydney,
Desiree and Hunter as much as I do.
LIMITED TIME SALE
Other Books in the Thin Red Lines Standalone Series You can find Genevieve curled up reading paranormal romance and romantic thrillers, or frantically typing her stories on her laptop. Psychology is her trade by day, teaching and molding the minds of college students. Her interest in psychology can be seen in her books, each including many psychological undertones. Although she loves teaching, her passion, her true love, lies in the stories that roam around in her head. Yes, they all come from her mind-the good, the bad, and the totally insane. She lives in Massachusetts-no, not Boston-with her husband, daughter, and American Eskimo dog. With each story, she shares, she hopes her love for writing and storytelling seeps through, encompassing the reader and leaving them wanting more. a Rafflecopter giveaway http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ea80a6ed254/
"My favorite in the Thin Red Lines series."
Title: Beautiful Torment
Author: Gen Ryan
Series: Thin Red Lines #3 (Standalone)
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller, Crime
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Desiree Garcia always runs from her problems. But escaping memories and tragedy is impossible, no matter the distance. When her last FBI case pushes Desiree to her limits, she knows it’s time to move once more. This time, she heads back home and returns to her family and to her best friend she abandoned so long ago.
Hunter Collins was there for Desiree from the day they met at just twelve years old. He stood by her and waited for her, even when she joined the FBI, leaving him and all she loved behind. Now she’s back, he’s determined to not let her go again. When faced with a police case that she can’t say no to, Desiree and Hunter navigate through the investigation as she faces the horrors of her past. As they struggle to solve the case, it’s up to Hunter to keep her tethered. Will love and friendship be enough to save Desiree from herself and all that is tormenting her?
Book 1
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Book 2
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ADVANCED REVIEW
Renee Mccleary rated it it was amazing
This is my favorite out of the Thin Red Lines Series! Even though it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. I loved Hunter and Desiree! This book is suspenseful, funny, heartbreaking and beautiful!! The story kept me pulled in reading as fast as I could, I had to know what was going to happen!! I loved the twists and turns! There are parts in there that had me saying "What in the world just happened?" Hunter and Desiree had amazing chemistry and I loved the banter between them! I hope everyone gets to find thier hero like Desiree does. If you are looking for a romantic thriller with some laughs I highly recommend this book.
You can find Genevieve curled up reading paranormal romance and romantic thrillers, or frantically typing her stories on her laptop. Psychology is her trade by day, teaching and molding the minds of college students. Her interest in psychology can be seen in her books, each including many psychological undertones. Although she loves teaching, her passion, her true love, lies in the stories that roam around in her head. Yes, they all come from her mind-the good, the bad, and the totally insane. She lives in Massachusetts-no, not Boston-with her husband, daughter, and American Eskimo dog. With each story, she shares, she hopes her love for writing and storytelling seeps through, encompassing the reader and leaving them wanting more. a Rafflecopter giveaway http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ea80a6ed254/ Today I am happy to welcome author D.F. Krieger here to the blog! She has a super sexy new release coming out in a couple of weeks and is here to tease and tantalize us a little. Warning, the excerpt is 18+, but hey if you have read some of my stories you will be okay. Surrender Agreement--Mistress May I Book 2 D. F. Krieger LGBT (Lesbian) BDSM Romance Amazon Pre-order - https://www.amazon.com/dp/ B071NWDBDZ Release Date: June 12, 2017 http://dfkrieger.com "Teresa?"
I froze and I could swear that my heart stopped beating for a moment at the sound of my name. When I finally found the courage to turn and face her, she took my breath away in a new way. The fading sunlight slanting into the doorway of the barn highlighted her hair in a burnished halo. My own personal angel. I swallowed, chasing away the sandy coating that enveloped my tongue and throat. "Yes?" She reached out and her fingertips brushed my cheek in a tender caress. "Are you scared? You've seemed...withdrawn since I said I wanted a scene. If you aren't ready yet." Her question and everything she left unsaid hung in the air between us. I weighed my emotions as I chewed on my lip in contemplation. "I'd like to try," I finally answered. "But what if I get to scared, or go into one of those waking nightmares?" The serious expression in her eyes helped reassure me that she took my fears seriously. "Easy enough. That's what a safe word is for." "Safe word? But those are a joke." I gave a soft snort. "Why bother if all it gets me is told I am a big baby?" Mistress sighed while shaking her head. "If I didn't already hate Bryce, I would now. What a jack ass." I stared at her in shock. Hate sounded like such a strong description of emotion coming from her. I had a feeling the word didn't cross her lips often. "Why do you hate him?" Her eyes went wide and she opened her mouth, then shut it for a moment. "I...knew him...through my husband. Let's just say he's always been an asshole." It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out she was hiding something. I couldn’t find it in my heart to press her, try as I might. Curiosity weighed heavy in my chest, as well as a keen sense of betrayal that didn’t make sense. She knew him all along. Probably had sex with him at some point. Bryce is into that. Charlie probably was too. “Come back to me. I don’t know what’s goin’ on in that head of yours, but I have a pretty good idea. Whatever you’re thinkin’ is probably wrong. I won’t ask much of you in the way of blind trust, but on this I do. Please?” The heart-wrenching sadness that crept in her voice pulled at me, making me emotionally double back. Come on, Teresa. More than likely, if she hates Bryce, because he hurt her the same way he hurt you. Can you blame her for that? No. I couldn’t. If anything, I admired her strength to put herself back together. I’d only been out of his clutches—what, a week?—and still felt like I’d never be able to glue myself back together. He not only broke me, he tore apart the very core of who I was and recomposed it to his liking. A part of me feared I’d always be a creature of his making. Never myself again. But here, now, a woman stood in front of me offering her hand. Offering a whole new life. Offering the ticket to teach me how to be myself…or at least a new invention of myself. All I had to do was trust her and serve her. The two things in the world that terrified me the most. “Faith,” I said on a mere whisper. She tilted her head and studied me. “Faith?” “Can that be my safe word?” I swallowed hard, hoping to calm the butterflies in my stomach. It seemed they’d taken up permanent residence considering how much I experienced them in the past few days. “Of course it can,” she responded with that beaming smile of hers. That one that said, with her, everything would be right in the world. |
AuthorAuthor, artist, jewelry maker and all around creative person. I write in many genres and have a lot of fun doing so. Please take a look around and enjoy! Archives
January 2022
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