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Archive for July, 2013

Today I have a spotlight on Lisa Kumar’s new historical time-travel An Earl in Time. Here is the cover.

AnEarlinTime_200x300

 

 

Here is an excerpt:

Lord Correlton, his face set in resolute lines, placed his hands flat on the desk’s surface and leaned over. “You won’t be going anywhere.”

Julia’s mouth worked wordlessly for several moments. “What… what did you say?” Surely, she’d heard him wrong, and he hadn’t told her what to do.

He stood from his leaning position and looked down his nose at her. “You heard quite clearly.”

Fire kindled in her chest, burning away any of the previous ache. She rose from her chair and graced him with her fiercest glower. “That was what I was afraid of. Who do you think you are, telling me what I can or can’t do?”

He stalked around the desk to loom over her. She held her ground, though it took every ounce of willpower. When had he gotten so tall? Thankfully, he made no effort to touch her, though some tiny portion of her traitorous body didn’t agree.

As he gazed at her, his eyes seemed to spit green flame. “I’m the man protecting you. I don’t care if you have all these gadgets that supposedly make you invincible. We saw how that went last time, didn’t we?”

His intensity shocked her into silence. When she didn’t answer, he lifted an arrogant brow. That broke her out of her stupor, and outright fury exploded at his arrogance. Oh, he wasn’t getting the best of her. No way.

She glared at him. “I think it has more to do with you pulling rank as an earl”— she curled her fingers in the air as she said the word earl— “than out of any true concern for me.”

“Forget my title. Right now, all I’m concerned about is an infuriating woman from the future who plans on prancing around places she doesn’t know.”

Her hands clenched. Prancing? She didn’t prance. Then his other words sank in. If she didn’t know better, it almost sounded like he was worried about her safety. But he’d barely met her, so his interest couldn’t be anything more than what he’d give any person in her place. Still, some nosey part of her prodded her to ask, “Why do you care?”

He raked a hand through his hair, frustration leaking out of every breath he took. “You’re different. I’ve been searching…. Gah! How do I explain this without sounding like a lunatic?”

“Just spit it out.”

and the buy links:

Astraea Press * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

About Lisa:

Lisa KumarLisa Kumar is a wife, mother, and romance writer who grew up in small-town Indiana. She now resides in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband and son, who are used to sharing her attention with her not-so-trusty computer. When not spinning tales of romance and fantasy, she can be found with her nose buried in a book, or more accurately, her e-reader. Her scholastic background is in psychology, which enabled her to get low-paying jobs in the human services sector. Needless to say, she’s now writing full-time.

Connect with Lisa on:

Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

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The lovely Maggi Andersen nominated me for this award. It comes with this lovely logo. Thank you so much, Maggi!!

sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-awa[2]

The Rules of the award are:

  • Post the logo on your blog
  • Thank the person who nominated you
  • Choose 10-12 other ladies who blog, as your nominees
  • Post  the links to the nominees’ blogs and notify them  on their blog

Here are my nominees:

Karen Y. Bynum

Collette Cameron

Gina Danna

Robin Delany

Susana Ellis

Nancy Goodman

Marie Higgins

Callie Hutton

Jenna Jaxon

Lauren Smith

 

 

 

 

 

Liza O’Connor

 

Angela Quarles

 

 

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Monday Excerpts is back!! There are four days to the pre-order release of The Temptation of Lady Serena, book #3 in The Marriage Game. Today, post your blurbs and buy links or contact information, alternatively post four sentences of your WIP.

The Temptation of Lady Serena

The Temptation of Lady Serena

Here is my back cover blurb from The Temptation of Lady Serena.
Ella Quinn’s bachelors in The Marriage Game series are charming and cunning when it comes to the ways of love—until the right woman captures their unsuspecting hearts…

Custom-made gowns…nights at the theater…and a host of eligible bachelors. Accustomed to living a quiet life in the Scottish Borderlands, Lady Serena Weir has never had any of these luxuries. But when Serena’s brother demands she finally have a Season in London, she’s thrust into a glamorous world she’s only dreamed of…

Robert, Viscount Beaumont remembers all too well what it feels like to be in love. That is why he must keep his distance from Serena. He’s only felt his pulse stir the way it does now when he made the mistake of loving the wrong woman once before. Yet the more he strives to resist his feelings, the nearer he is to falling under Serena’s seductive spell…

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Good afternoon!!

CongratulationsLet’s begin with winners!! As you know, I took part in the History Lovers Grand Tour & Scavenger Hunt. The Grand Tour winner is Jessica Deluna
The Grand Tour winner for my blog is Màiri Norris
Linda Thum won Mageela’s book

I spent most of the week catching up from RWA Nationals. Then my publisher sent me the copy edits for The Temptation of Lady Serena which goes on pre-order on Thursday. I’ll be on another mini-blog tour with giveaways to promote the pre-order. Check back during the week to see where I’ll be.  Tomorrow I’ll post an excerpt.

The Temptation of Lady Serena

The Temptation of Lady Serena

I also have to get the next book, currently titled, Pursuing Miss Eugénie Villaret, to my editor next week. So I’ve been in the editing cave for the past few days.

The forth book in The Marriage Game, Desiring Lady Caro, now has an April 2014 release date.

Other than that, life has been pretty quite around here.

I saw a baby lemon shark swimming along the shore at Magen’s beach, where I walk.Lemon Shark

I took this picture of the sunset last night. Sunset 001 fixed2

What have you been up to?

Ella

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Aughor Mageela Troche

Aughor Mageela Troche

Please help me welcome Regency author Mageela Troche. Mageela is here to promote her debut novel, The Marriage Alliance. To celebrate, she’ll be giving a copy of the book to one lucky commenter. All you have to do is say you want the book. I’ll post the winner on Sunday News.

Ella: Mageela, welcome. I’m so glad you could visit.

 

Mageela: Thanks for having me.

Ella: Oh, fun. I majored in International Relations as well and Stephanie Laurens!!

Mageela: I’ve been writing since I first learned my alphabet however when I went to college, Syracuse University (Go ‘Cuse!) I majored in International Relations thinking I needed a career once I graduated. That changed and a friend gave me Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens and my passion for writing returned.

Ella: What drew you to historicals?

Mageela: I love history. The research is so fun, discovering lives forgotten.

Ella: Tell us how long you’ve been writing and what it was like to receive the “call.”

Mageela:  The “Call” came last year, my local RWA chapter, RWA/NYC, held their annual Golden Apple Awards and the Publisher of the Year was Secret Craving Publishing. The publisher held a contest to publish one book. I placed second but they still wanted my book. It’s the headiest feeling in the word and the validation and sweetness of accomplishing a goal—it’s dizzying in the best way and your whole world changes and becomes brighter.

Ella: Is this book part of a series?

Mageela: I’m writing two more novels with characters meet in The Marriage Alliance and a novella.

Ella: I love related books, as I know many of my readers do. Congratulations on your release!!

 

The Marriage Alliance

The Marriage Alliance

Blurb:
Her hand in marriage could secure peace.
Lady Ailsa Cameron has slept through a few masses. She isn’t the most patient of souls. However, the gentle lass never did anything wicked enough for her father, Laird Cameron to demand she wed Black Duncan, the Laird of Clan MacLean.

The leader of the Spartans of the North, Duncan MacLean inspires many gruesome tales in the majestic highlands and beyond. Duncan accepts Laird Cameron’s offer of his daughter’s hand in marriage to war against their shared enemy, Clan MacKinnon. Wed to the ravishing woman, he aches to possess her even as he vows never to lower his defenses, again.
Can past enemies become lovers?

As love blooms between them, a betrayal incites a war, endangering his clan, and jeopardizing Ailsa and Duncan’s lives and their chance to love ever after.
Excerpt:

Scottish Highlands, 1256

Surely, Ailsa Cameron never managed anything in her score of a lifetime so wicked to deserve this cruel punishment. She never took the life of another. Admittedly, she dozed through a few masses in her lifetime. Others were guilty of such sin and never punished so harshly. Maybe, it was the many times she took the Lord’s name in vain. That vile curse hadn’t passed her lips for some time, not since her last penance forbade her from speaking for a sennight. Although Ailsa remained silent until the noon meal, her guilt lingered. That did not warrant her wedding the dreaded Duncan MacLean.
Nay, she journeyed along this stone-littered tract to the MacLean fortress because of men and one in particular, her father—Laird Cameron. His fierce desire to merge with the Spartans of the North appointed Ailsa the maiden sacrifice to appease the ferocious dragon. Who was the dragon—her father or her husband-to-be?

Either way, Saint Peter would throw open the pearly gates for her since Ailsa behaved as the dutiful daughter, pledging the rest of her days to Laird MacLean.

Not that she had many days to live.

MacLeans would rather kill a Cameron than share the air…of course after they cut out her tongue.

Especially since bloodthirsty MacLeans enjoyed a savory meal of human flesh.
Would her tongue be roasted before consumed or eaten raw?

No doubt raw.

That meal probably accounted for the clan’s immense proportions. Few men towered over highland men yet most highlanders struggled to stand shoulder to shoulder with MacLean men. Muscular forms of others appeared scrawny beside the mighty MacLeans. And the women were no smaller, just about the height of an average highlander, convenient since both sexes lugged around basketfuls of enemies’ fingers. Ailsa strained to reach her brother’s wide shoulders. She’ll never fit in.

She wanted to escape to the mountains rising in the distance behind her. If she veered her mare around, she could gallop away to her freedom in the harsh environment, where she could starve to death or, if luck were on her side, be eaten by wild animals.

Maybe, it wasn’t too late to be a bride of Christ. She could live in a convent and not starve or have her flesh ripped apart by the sharp fangs of wolves. Then again, the nunnery might not be the best place. Even though Ailsa perfected the serene visage her talents rest elsewhere. Besides, she had slumbered through a quite a few more masses than she admitted. Another sin she added to her mental count. Taking the veil would be a disaster for her and the nuns.

So, Ailsa rode onward, up the cresting hill. The impressive fortified castle soared on the rocky outcrop overlooking the sea loch at the path’s end. A towering curtain wall hugged the craggy contours as the loch’s water lapped gently against the rocks. Harsh highland elements weathered the structure’s limestone to a mixture of grays, browns and whites cloaking the structure with the dismal aura Ailsa believed her life would become once behind its walls.

Even her gentle mare, dismayed by the sight ahead, stumbled on a stone strewn on the trail meandering to the gatehouse and her doom.

Buy Links:
Secret Cravings Store ~  Amazon ~ BN ~ All Romance E-books

Bio:

An Air Force brat, Mageela Troche landed in New York City and wanted to leave the same day she arrived. Yet, with her stubbornness, she learned to like the place and the libraries were the main reason.  Once she learned to read and write, she decided to be an author and an actress. Once in college, she changed her life plan in the pursuit of money. After all, college loans must be repaid.

With life’s twists and turns, she returned to writing and focused on the romance genre. She joined RWA (Romance Writers of America) in 2004 and soon discovered RWA-NYC. At her first meeting, Keynotes Editor volunteered her to write an article and she knew she found her group. She placed second in Best Love Scene contest and in 2012, RWA-NYC annual award ceremony, the Publisher of the Year, Secret Cravings Publisher, held a contest. First place winner would have their novel published.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

 

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graphic3web copy

Welcome to the History Lovers Grand Tour and Scavenger Hunt.
As the name implies, we’re a group of readers and authors who love both history and romance, especially when they’re combined in a delightful story. If you feel the same, you’re welcome to join us on our Facebook Page and converse with us about historical romance fiction.

Below you’ll find authors of historical romances set in a wide variety of time periods. Perhaps by participating in our Grand Tour you’ll discover some new authors for your future reading pleasure. Hop around to your heart’s content, feel free to comment on the posts, hunt for answers to the authors’ questions, and perhaps you’ll be one of our 25 lucky prize winners (see contest details below)…although you’re already a winner if you find a new story to read, do you not agree?
Our topic is courtship. For me this means, where would a gentleman court a lady during the Regency.

This has particular interest to me as in the 5th book of my series The Marriage Game, Pursuing Miss Eugénie Villaret, we’re in the Danish West Indies in 1816. My hero, William, Viscount Wivenly, is at a loss. There are no parks in which to stroll or take a carriage ride, no theaters or operas, picnics, or house parties. Not only that, but the houses are much smaller and don’t have the numbers of rooms houses in England do. The design is one large room with the dining room off to one side. So no trying to slip off with her to steal a kiss (which he better not do until he knows he wants to marry her) because there is no place to go. Not only that, but there is not even a flower shop.

Ergo, he must seek help from Eugénie’s friend. What they do have on St. Thomas, is a stretch of one may stroll, and there is sailing. Sailing has some real possibilities as it is the only time they can be alone without a chaperone, if only he knew how to do it.

My prize is your choice of the first three books of the Marriage Game, sent to you as they release, or a set of West Indies spices.

The question is: Where can a gentleman court a lady?

                                                               ~

Click on the History Lovers Grand Tour page to add your answer

Here is the back cover blurb and an excerpt for the Temptation of Lady Serena, book #3 in The Marriage Game, which goes on pre-order in August.

Ella Quinn’s bachelors in The Marriage Game series are charming and cunning when it comes to the ways of love—until the right woman captures their unsuspecting hearts…  

Custom-made gowns…nights at the theater…and a host of eligible bachelors. Accustomed to living a quiet life in the Scottish Borderlands, Lady Serena Weir has never had any of these luxuries. But when Serena’s brother demands she finally have a Season in London, she’s thrust into a glamorous world she’s only dreamed of…

Robert, Viscount Beaumont remembers all too well what it feels like to be in love. That is why he must keep his distance from Serena. He’s only felt his pulse stir the way it does now when he made the mistake of loving the wrong woman once before. Yet the more he strives to resist his feelings, the nearer he is to falling under Serena’s seductive spell…

Excerpt

1814, Scottish Border Region

The Earl of Weir scowled. “Damn it, Serena, you can’t back out now. Not after the plans have been made. If you don’t go to London who will you marry? What do you have left here?”

Lady Serena Weir stared out the solar’s window, studying the bleak late February landscape. Snow covered the ground, more gray than white; the trees lifeless and black against the gloom. She glanced over her shoulder at her brother, James. “I could marry Cameron.”

“Do you even care for him more than moderately?”

“No, but he needs to marry, and he likes me.” She turned back to the window. Snow still covered the hills. In another month they’d be the feeding ground for the castle’s sheep and cattle. But if Mattie, her new sister-in-law, had her way, Serena would not be there to see it.

James snorted with derision. “Cameron likes your dowry. Mattie has made all the plans. She assures me you’ll have a wonderful time.”

Serena pressed her lips tightly together. The plans, he’d said, as if they had taken on a life. The plans for her to go to London for her first Season at six and twenty years of age. A little old to be making a come out. The plans meant she would leave her home. The place she had been born and raised and never before left. Tears pricked her eyelids. She would not cry. Not in front of James. If a London Season was such a good idea, why hadn’t he sold out of the army after their father died, when she was still young? Instead, he’d left her here to manage the estate while he remained on Wellington’s staff.

 

History Lovers Grand Tour Authors

PRIZES

1. Each author will offer a prize for a contest, the specifics of which is set up entirely by her. The contest will be open to all participants, regardless of geographic location. For logistical purposes, authors may substitute a digital prize (gift card, etc.) of equal value for another prize that might prove difficult to mail to a distant location. 2. The Grand Prize for the Scavenger Hunt will be awarded to the participant with the most correct answers to the authors’ scavenger hunt questions.  In case of a tie, the winner will be chosen randomly.
3. The winners will be posted on the History Lovers Grand Tour page the following week.

SCAVENGER HUNT

• Click on the above links to each author’s blog. The blog tour entry can be identified by the graphic in the upper right corner of the post. If it is not the top post, look for the graphic in a prominent location on the sidebar, and click on it to find the blog tour entry. • Read the blog post and the author’s short answer question at the end. Locate the answer to the question, then click on the link to the History Lovers Grand Tour page History Lovers Grand Tour page and type in the answer next to the author’s name. Be sure to fill in the your name and email address!
• You may go back to same page and read more of the author’s post (excerpt, etc.) or you may click on another author’s name on the answer sheet and repeat the process.
• When you are finished, check to make sure the spaces for your name and email address are filled in correctly, and submit your answer sheet to the tour coordinator. If you submit an incomplete answer sheet, you may come back later and make another submission with the remaining answers when you have more time.
• Any questions about the scavenger hunt should be directed to the tour coordinator.

Thank you so much for stopping buy!!

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I love attending RWA Nationals, and had a fantastic time. It’s one of the few times during the year that I meet in person all my online friends.

Before traveling to Nationals, I joined my critique partner, Jenna Jaxon for chapter’s meeting. What a lovely group of ladies. One of them was new and very happy to find a group of people who didn’t think having characters whispering in one’s head strange.
As many of you know I chaired the Beau Monde Mini-conference this year. That is a full day of classes ending with the Soirée. If you write Regency, there is not a better chapter to belong to!

The Marriage Game Pins

The Marriage Game Pins

At breakfast (I did say it went all day), the lovely Susana Ellis gave me these pins of my book covers. Aren’t they beautiful!! I wore them on my bag the whole conference

Isobel Carr generously created a lovely pin of the cover for The Seduction of Lady Phoebe, but when I went to take it off my lanyard this morning, it had disappeared. Not only was it beautiful, but I met lots of people I hadn’t known because we all had Isobel in common.
There were so many gorgeous Regency gowns at the Soirée. Here is a picture of me in Regency garb taken by Kristen Kostner.me in gown walking

 

On Thursday evening, one of my online chapters, Hearts Through History had its annual AGM. Callie Hutton surprised me with this great bag!!

Marriage Game Tote

Marriage Game Tote

Bag from Callie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Seduction of Lady Phoebe Cookies

The Seduction of Lady Phoebe Cookies

My publisher, Kensington, also had their party that evening. I got to meet many of the great people I work with there, and look what I found!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kensington’s book signing was on Friday morning. Even though my debut novel, The Seduction of Lady Phoebe, doesn’t release until September 19th, they allowed me to take part. Golden Heart winner, Miranda Liasson, stopped by and took my picture!Kensington signing 001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week I am taking part in the History Lovers Grand Tour & Scavenger Hunt. More news about that tomorrow!

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Ok, folks. This is the last post of the week. Show everyone what you have today and post your two sentence snippet, buy links, or if you’re pre-published, your contact information.

The Temptation of Lady Serena

The Temptation of Lady Serena

Here is mine from The Temptation of Lady Serena. Which goes on pre-order in August.

London was Mattie’s idea to rid herself of her
unwanted sister-in-law. Serena had been presented with the plans au fait
accompli
.

Read more here.

 

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Good Morning from sunny Virginia where I’m visiting before traveling to Atlanta for RWA Nationals.

CongratulationsCongratulations to Bibbie Sparks, who won the Amazon card from Kae Elle Wheeler.

I received the final piece of my Regency ensemble, knit silk, clock, stockings.  I put them on a modeled them for my husband, assuring him that if he’d been a Regency gentleman, he’d think they were sexy.stockings 001

Other than doing a lot of running around and organizing for Nationals, not much else happened this week. Though I promise I’ll take pictures and will post them next Sunday.

Pursuing Miss Eugénie Villaret, Book #5 in The Marriage Game is with beta readers, and the responses have been good so far. One of them stayed up until 2:00 am reading it so she could find out how it ended.

There will be excerpts tomorrow, but that will be the last post of the week.

The Temptation of Lady Serena

The Temptation of Lady Serena

I’ll leave you with the cover and an excerpt of The Temptation of Lady Serena.  The book goes on pre-order at the beginning of August. If you are a member of my news letter, you’ll get first shot at the plans for it’s roll-out.

A man on a large black horse appeared in the
valley and stared up at her. He looked tall, but it was hard to tell at this distance.
A breeze ruffled his fair hair as he rode toward her.

Have a wonderful week.

Ella

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IMG_8486Please help me welcome Kae Elle Wheeler. Kae Elle’s second book, The English Lily, was published by Wild Rose Press in May. She also writes contemporary under Kathy L Wheeler. Kae Elle is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. Please just tell her you want it in a comment.

Ella: Tell us a little about yourself, Kae.

Kae: I grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, then moved to Boulder, Colorado in my high school years, and back to Dallas after high school. I’m not sure how I ended up in Oklahoma, but I’ve been here for twenty years now.  And now that we have a real sports team (OKC Thunder), I’m proud to call Oklahoma home.

Ella: When and how did you start writing?

Kae: I began writing in November 2006. Odd that I know exactly when I began. I was looking at a Google writing prompt that said “What if Cinderella’s glass slipper fit one of her evil stepsisters?” Voilá. I wrote that series! The Wronged Princess – book i. The second two books in the series belong to the sisters, Pricilla and Esmeralda, in The Unlikely Heroine – book ii and The Surprising Enchantress – book iii, respectively.

Ella: What drew you to historical?

Kae: I love the history. I love the courtesy the gentleman must show his heroine. I realize that I am operating in a fantasy world. I know I live in the twenty first century. But the trials a man must go through to win his love are just irresistible.

Ella: What’s next?

Kae: I recently finished a first draft of the first book of another historical series I’m hoping to pitch at Nationals next week called The Earl’s Error. In the meantime, I’m editing the third book in my Bloomington Series, a contemporary.

Ella: Now what you’ve been waiting for, the blurb and excerpt of The English Lily.

The English Lily

The English Lily

Blurb

Lady Kendra Frazier is devastated. The love of her life just married another, and now all she desires is to be as far away as possible. But Kendra has a secret. She is an imbecile. She cannot read. No matter how hard she has tried to learn. Viscount Lawrie, Joseph Pinetti Gray, is facing financial ruin and needs a wealthy heiress.  Luckily for him, Kendra’s impetuous nature has handed him the fortuity he requires to save his family’s downfall. But Joseph’s carefully cultivated plans come to a grinding halt when he finds himself falling in love for what should have only been a marriage of convenience. But for the curse of an old scrimshaw doll that will not be broken until there is true love, can they reach their happiness.  

Excerpt:

He rushed over.  “Thank God,” he whispered.  He crouched down next to her.  “Thank God,” he said again, touching his forehead to hers.

“Joseph?  Lord Lawrie?”  Her voice cracked.  Her white glove was no longer white.  He wished he could have protected her from that.

Leaning back, he peeled the stained fabric away.

Her hand clenched.  “My hands—”

He brushed his lips over the tiny scars. “Your hand is perfect,” he said.  “We’ll have to marry, you know.”

“Married.  I’ve dreamed of marrying,” she whispered, smiling.  Her eyes were dry, but in them he read the shock and fear.

Something tight squeezed Joseph’s chest, he found he could hardly breathe.  Death hovered over them.  While he might fail in creating bliss for Kendra’s last moments on this earth, he could offer her the whimsical fairytale.

Joseph dropped her hand and cupped her head with both hands.  “Lady Kendra Frazier, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, mademoiselle, s’il vous plait?”

With a stately incline of her head, she replied with a trembling smile.  “I shall be honored, Viscount Lawrie, Chevalier Joseph Pinetti Gray.  Lord Hardwick’s Marriage Act was enforced in Scotland, in fifty-four, so we’ve no need to post the banns.”  A small hysterical laugh erupted.  “Shall we escape to Gretna Green, my lord?”

Her spirit touched him as nothing else could. Even in the throes of shock and danger, she managed to recall his full proper name and title. He pulled her to him as heavy steps echoed on the wooden planks just beyond the door.  But for a moment he could pretend they would live a long and fruitful life together. “Oui, Gretna Green suits my purposes, perfectly, love,” he whispered against her lips, before crushing them beneath his own.

The door crashed back.

Buy Links:

Amazon * B&N * TWRP * Kobo * Sony

Author Bio

Kathy L Wheeler/ Kae Elle Wheeler is an active member of the Oklahoma Romance Writers, an avid sports fan, theater buff, and traveler. She lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with her multi-talented husband (music & law) and her bossy cat, Carly.  http://klwheeler.com/

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