Cover Reveal (Teaser/Excerpt): BEFORE & AFTER by Nazarea Andrews (Adult)

BEFORE & AFTER

by Nazarea Andrews

Expected release date: July 30th, 2015

Published by A&A Library

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Format: eBook

SUMMARY

Rike and Peyton fell in love in college. 

A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, covered in ink and crooning in a bar is the last person a straight laced girl with an art major should fall for, but his rough edges made her jagged, alive, shaving away the coddled southern princess and revealing a soul wild and brilliant. 

They fell in love, despite her family and his past and all the reasons why it wouldn't work - and with their best friends, they made a life. Everyone was supposed to live happily ever after. They, more than anyone, knows that life doesn't go according to plan.

Rike and Peyton fell in love in college.

A boy with a guitar, and a poet's heart, and a girl with freckles dusted over her nose, a perfect fucking fairy tale.

But what happens when the fairy tale doesn't fall apart - but is forgotten?

EXCERPT from BEFORE & AFTER

"You're girl was late," Scotty rasps as we land on two stools at the bar. It's late and the crowd of sorority girls has thinned to almost nothing, although a pair are nursing Cosmos and watching us speculatively.

Surprisingly, Scott's ignored them completely.

"Need anything, boys?" Manda asks as she sways past, giving Scotty a flirty smile. He grins at her, letting his gaze sweep over her.

My best friend is a fucking slut. But with Manda, it's all flirting and no action. She'd take him up on it - she's made that very clear. But Scott doesn't fuck where he works, and Barries has been too good for us to risk screwing it up for a quick fuck.

Which is good, because I'd have to kick his ass if he touched her. She might be a little too friendly and a little desperate, but she's a cute kid and I like her.

"Bourbon, Manda," he says and she glances at me questioningly. I nod and she pours the drinks. 

Scotty glances at me. "What are you waiting on?"

I shrug and grit my teeth. Scotty twists and gives her a look over his shoulder. "Fine. Stay here and keep Manda company. I'm going to introduce myself to your siren."

I jerk him back by the collar of his shirt before he can take more than two steps and throw him back against the bar. "Back the fuck off, Scott." I growl.

He grins, a challenge and a taunt in that expression. "Then make your move, Rike."

I snatch the bourbon from Manda and take a deep breath before walking to her table. 

And wait. 

For a long. Fucking. Time. 

It takes almost a full minute for her to look up, almost long enough for my courage to fail. I'm almost ready to retreat when she blinks and looks up at me, her eyes widening a little as they find mine. She looks startled, and sleepy, and as gorgeous as she looked at a distance, is nothing compared to how fucking flawless she is this close. 

There are freckles sprinkled across her cheeks and dusted over her nose. 

I swallow a groan as she licks her lips and gives me a tentative smile. "Hi."

"Hi," I say, and then go blank.

Because in none of my fantasies did I ever consider we'd actually ever get to this point. And the smirks and smooth lines won't work - not on her.

"What do you call a group of unorganized cats?" I ask and her eyes cloud, confused.

She gives me a pretty frown and I grin, "A cat-astrophe."

For a second, all either of us do is stare, and then she giggles. "That is literally the worst pickup line I've ever heard."

I grin, "So you want me to leave?"

Laughter dances in her eyes. "Have a seat, jokes."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Nazarea Andrews

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read.

She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids.

She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Goodreads / Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Street Team

Release Day (Excerpt, Letter from the Author and Giveaway): SINFUL REWARDS 12 (A Billionaires and Bikers Novella) by Cynthia Sax (Adult)

*Warning: Adult Content (18+)

“A YEAR OF SIZZLING HOT SAX”

THE SEXIEST 12 MONTH SERIAL is SINFUL REWARDS!!!

The thrilling conclusion to the Billionaires and Bikers series is here!!!

Sinful Rewards 12

A Billionaires and Bikers Novella

By USA Today bestselling author Cynthia Sax

Release date: June 16th, 2015

Published by Avon Red Impulse (HarperCollins)

Genre: Adult Romance

Format: eBook

SUMMARY

One tiny mistake turns Bee Carter's worst fears into a terrifying reality. She knows she isn't alone. The sexy, honorable man she adores stands by her side, willing to sacrifice his freedom to ease her concerns.

But she yearns for more than he is offering. She wants a partner who will love her as fiercely as she loves him, who will say the words and mean them, and someone who will choose her because this is what he desires more than anything else, not merely out of a misguided sense of duty.

Will saying no to the man she loves earn Bee unbearable heartache or will she finally get the forever she craves?

SINFUL REWARDS 12 EXCERPT

Nicolas stands in the hallway, a sheepish smile on his beautiful face, and my small burst of joy dissipates, replaced by the dreaded malaise. He’s handsome, the lights shining on his black wavy hair, tanned skin, dark eyes. He’s immaculately dressed in a gray suit, white shirt, pink tie. He’s carrying ice cream, a small tub of Heavenly Hash cradled in his perfectly manicured fingers.

But he’s not Hawke. He’s not the man I love, the only person I want to see.

“Don’t look at me like that, Bee.” Nicolas pushes his way into the condo. “I had that situation with the New York build last night. There will be fancy events in the future.” He holds up the tub. “I brought ice cream.”

I summon a smile. “You forgot about me.” I take the ice cream from the dashing billionaire. “What do those articles I sent you say about forgetting friends?”

Nicolas grimaces. “You knew I was a bad friend.” He walks with me to the kitchen, smelling of expensive cologne and wealth.

“You’re not a bad friend.” I set two bowls and two spoons on the counter. “You’re a terrible friend.” I open the tub of ice cream.

The real estate developer settles his long lean body on a bar stool and dips a spoon in the container. “You’re not giving up on me, are you?” The lines carved between his perfect eyebrows belie his casual tone.

“I’d never give up on you.” I knock his sucked-clean spoon away and huddle over the tub, protecting the ice cream from impatient-billionaire-induced contamination. “Hawke doesn’t love me,” I blurt, needing to voice this, to share this with someone.

“He said that?” Nicolas steals a spoonful of ice cream from the bowl I’m filling.

“No.” I frown, scooping as fast as I can. “But he’s never said he loves me, either.” I push Nicolas’s bowl toward him.

His eyes sparkle. “I’ve never said I love ice cream.” He shovels the sweet treat into his mouth with a boyish glee. “But I do. Very much.” His lips curl upward. “The name of this flavor is perfect. It is heavenly.”

“Hawke doesn’t love me,” I repeat stubbornly, dishing out a smaller portion for myself.

“A good friend would agree with you.” Nicolas’s head is bent over his ice cream.

“You’re not a good friend.” I place the tub in the freezer compartment of the fridge. “What would you do?”

“I’d tell you that neither of you are acting rationally, that if craziness is a sign of love, Hawke has it much worse than you.” Nicolas licks his spoon. “He guards you like you’re the last piece of prime real estate on the planet. I’m taking my life into my hands by simply eating ice cream with you.”

I climb onto the bar stool beside him, his observations about Hawke’s protectiveness appeasing me, banishing some of my melancholy. “He cares about me.”

“No, he cares about his team.” The billionaire’s lips flatten grimly. “Disregarding all of my advice about maintaining his distance.” Nicolas believes remaining aloof from his employees makes painful staffing decisions less traumatic. “What Hawke feels for you is in an entirely different category.”

“It isn’t love.” Or is it?

Saying Goodbye to Bee, Hawke And Nicolas

by Cynthia Sax

One of the most common questions reading buddies ask me is “What is the toughest part of writing?” For me, the toughest part is the last chapter or, in the case of Sinful Rewards, my sizzling hot 12 novella contemporary erotic romance series, the last novella.

I know, while writing this part of the story, that I’ll be saying good-bye to beloved characters. Yes, I’ll be able to reread the story and visit them but I’ll no longer be living in their world, listening to their every thought, experiencing every emotion.

What will I miss most about the characters in Sinful Rewards?

Bee/Belinda

Bee, of all of the characters in Sinful Rewards, has grown the most. Our exhibitionist-in-training heroine started the serial with a fairly shallow view of others, herself, love, life. She’s endured quite a bit. These experiences have changed her.

I suspect she’ll continue to change, continue to make the transition from twenty-something new grad to mature, confident woman. She’s surrounded by strong female role models—her mom, Ellen, Lona. I can see them all influencing her. I’ll miss seeing that change.

Hawke

Hawke is a man of surprises. That’s what I’ll miss about our tattooed bad boy biker. He loves new experiences and sharing these new experiences with the people he loves. I doubt that he will ever have a ‘normal’ day. His job is constantly changing and he enjoys this aspect of it.

I couldn’t guess what he’ll be doing a day, month, year after Sinful Rewards ends. I know he’ll have his loved ones, his team around him. He’s as loyal as Bee is, as committed to his friends, family, woman. But I don’t know what his day will entail.

Nicolas

Nicolas is the character I wish I had spent more time with. Our jellybean eating billionaire has emotional depths we haven’t even started to explore. I’ll miss his self-depreciating sarcasm and his feigned arrogance, the vulnerability he hides under his business bastard personae.

I’ll miss the characters from Sinful Rewards but I feel fortunate to have known them. They’ve changed me as much as, I suspect, I’ve changed them.

GIVEAWAY

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*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales is not responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

PURCHASE LINKS

SINFUL REWARDS 1: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 2: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 3: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 4: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 5: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 6: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 7: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 8: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 9: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 10: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 11: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

SINFUL REWARDS 12: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / BAM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Cynthia Sax

USA Today bestselling author CYNTHIA SAX lives in a world filled with magic and romance. Although her heroes may not always say “I love you,” they will do anything for the women they adore. They live passionately. They play hard. They love the same women forever.

Cynthia has loved the same wonderful man forever. Her supportive hubby offers himself up to the joys and pains of research, while they travel the world together, meeting fascinating people and finding inspiration in exotic places such as Istanbul, Bali, and Chicago. 

Goodreads / Website / Facebook

Release Day (Excerpt and Giveaway): THE HIDDEN LIBRARY by Heather Lyons (A)

THE HIDDEN LIBRARY

The Collector's Society #2

by Heather Lyons

Release date: February 26th, 2015

Published by: Cerulean Books

Genre: Adult Romantic Fairytale (Fantasy and Adventure)

Format: eBook

SUMMARY

Sometimes, the rabbit hole is deeper than expected . . .

Alice Reeve and Finn Van Brunt have tumbled into a life of secrets. Some secrets they share, such as their employment by the clandestine organization known as The Collectors’ Society. Other secrets they carry within them, fighting to keep buried the things that could change everything they think they know.

On the hunt for an elusive villain who is hell-bent on destroying legacies, Alice, Finn, and the rest of the Society are desperate to unravel the mysteries surrounding them. But the farther they spiral down this rabbit hole, the deeper they fall into secrets that will test their loyalties and pit them against enemies both new and old.

Secrets, they come to find, can reveal the deadliest of truths.

 EXCERPT

We are about to open the conference room door and enter the hallway when he stops. He turns to me, his lovely eyes achingly sincere. “I want to take you on a date when all of this craziness is over. A real one. We’ve kind of gone about this all backwards, haven’t we?”

One corner of my mouth lifts up. “Are you saying you’d like to court me?”

There is no playfulness to his face, no quirk to his own lips. My heart flutters at his seriousness. “Yes.”

He wants to court me.

Too many emotions rush around in a caucus race throughout my body. I have no doubts of Huckleberry Finn Van Brunt’s feelings toward me. I understood them two minutes ago just as well as I did this morning when I woke up and from the night before and from the day in Wonderland where he said, in not so many words, that he was falling in love with me.

I told him he was my north star, and meant it. He countered we are binaries.

He and I . . . We’ve never said those words, though, not the ones that truly spell out fragile, deep secrets of a heart and soul. Words so easily and yet unfortunately uttered by many, be it to express their appreciation of fried bits of potatoes to sports teams on the television. Words offered so frivolously about a variety of subjects and yet can be the most difficult, most painful, most meaningful, most cherished syllables we gift another person.

I have said these words before, to another man. Another man I still love. One I know, in the deepest confines of my heart, that I will love until the last breath escapes my body. A man who courted me in secret and then publicly in the face of astonishment, disapproval, confusion, and, in the end, prophesies.

I have willingly given the man in front of me my heart, though, whether he knows it or not. He now holds it in his hands, and while I pray he is my future, there is still a part of me that bucks in conflicted confusion and delight by this declaration of his.

He wants to court me.

And yet, as sweet and romantic as such a gesture might be, I require no such formalities. My affections for Finn Van Brunt have already solidified into something real and wonderful and meaningful.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1CMm6eI

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1AbuX7I

Amazon US paperback: http://amzn.to/1Bhongl

B&N: http://bit.ly/1C1HrAK

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1M87b0Y

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1CeTrcO

Don’t miss the first book in this series, THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY!

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks / Kobo

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Heather Lyons

Heather Lyons writes epic, heartfelt love stories and has always had a thing for words. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.

Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook

Blog Tour (Guest Post, Review and Giveaway): A MEMORY OF VIOLETS by Hazel Gaynor (A)

A MEMORY OF VIOLETS

A Novel of London's Flower Sellers

by Hazel Gaynor

Release date: February 3rd, 2015

Published by: William Morrow Paperbacks

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Format: Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Format read: eARC from the publisher.

SUMMARY

"For little sister. . . . I will never stop looking for you."

1876. Among the filth and depravity of Covent Garden's flower markets, orphaned Irish sisters Flora and Rosie Flynn sell posies of violets and watercress to survive. It is a pitiful existence, made bearable only by each other's presence. When they become separated, the decision of a desperate woman sets their lives on very different paths.

1912. Twenty-one-year-old Tilly Harper leaves the peace and beauty of her native Lake District for London to become assistant housemother at one of Mr. Shaw's Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls. For years, the homes have cared for London's orphaned and crippled flower girls, getting them off the streets. For Tilly, the appointment is a fresh start, a chance to leave her troubled past behind.

Soon after she arrives at the home, Tilly finds a notebook belonging to Flora Flynn. Hidden between the pages she finds dried flowers and a heartbreaking tale of loss and separation as Flora's entries reveal how she never stopped looking for her lost sister. Tilly sets out to discover what happened to Rosie—but the search will not be easy. Full of twists and surprises, it leads the caring and determined young woman into unexpected places, including the depths of her own heart.

GUEST POST

Introducing…. New York Times Bestselling Author Hazel Gaynor

I sometimes describe myself as one part writer, two parts mum and I think this is a pretty accurate description! Life as a writer with two young boys is certainly busy, and far from the idyllic image people might have of a place of calm and serenity to channel my writing muse! Writing happens when the kids are at school and in snatched moments between playdates and rugby training and cooking the dinner. It’s busy, messy and, at times, chaotic – but it’s also wonderful and I wouldn’t swap it for the world.

I started writing in 2009, following redundancy when I was in my late 30’s. From my fledgling experience as a parenting blogger, to freelancing for the local press and eventually starting the novel I’d been talking about for years, my route to publication has been far from straightforward. But all the ups and downs, the pain of rejections, the nerves as the book eventually goes out into the world have all been so worth it. To finally see my books in the hands of readers is very special indeed. It just goes to show that you should never give up, and that it is never too late to start.

It was sometime in 2010 when I first started to scribble notes and ideas for a novel based around the lives of London’s flower sellers at the turn of the century. That novel would eventually become A MEMORY OF VIOLETS. I’d loved Pygmalion and My Fair Lady since playing the role of Eliza Doolittle in the school musical (of which there is, unfortunately, video evidence!) I wanted to understand more about the real Elizas – the young women who sold flowers and watercress on the streets of Victorian and Edwardian-era London.

During my research, I was surprised to learn that many of the youngest flower sellers were orphaned, blind or physically disabled in some way. I also discovered the work of Victorian philanthropist, John Groom, who gave many of these young girls and women a home at his ‘crippleage’ where he taught them how to make artificial flowers and took them off the streets. Their work became widely known in London, and eventually led to their involvement in the very first Queen Alexandra Rose Day in June 1912. But it was when I read Henry Mayhew’s, London Labour & The London Poor, in which he records detailed interviews with London’s street sellers from the late 1800s, that I came across an account of two orphaned watercress sellers. I knew immediately that I had found my story and that I wanted to combine the idea of two orphaned sisters with the work of John Groom and his Flower Homes.

Since my debut novel, THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME, was published in April 2014, I’ve been blown away by the reaction of readers. I love receiving messages through my website and am always very touched when readers take the time to contact me and share their response to my characters. To have watched the novel go from being self-published, to a fully-fledged book published across the USA and to then hit the New York Times bestsellers on three occasions has been simply amazing, and I’m so very grateful to all the readers who made this happen.

I am now very excited to be publishing my second novel A MEMORY OF VIOLETS and can’t wait to see what this next chapter of my writing life will bring.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound 

MY REVIEW

Every once in a while, there comes a book that is meant to soften your heart and embed itself into your memories for the rest of your life.  And MEMORY OF VIOLETS does so much more than that...

The story is told through a few different point of views, but primarily, it starts with Tilly Harper. Tilly leaves her beautiful home in the mountains to go work as a housemother in Mr. Shaw's Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls; a home for orphaned girls who have a physical disability. Tilly is to help care for these girls; girls who are not only cared for and given the opportunity to strive into young ladies, but who are also trained to learn how to live with their disabilities by working in the organizations silk flower factory, and then eventually mature enough to go on with their lives as normal as possible.
Upon Tilly's arrival, she comes across a small box containing a few odd momentos and a journal that belonged to one of the girls, Flora aka Florrie, that had stayed in the room she is now occupying. Tilly instantly feels a connection to the flower girl who lost her blind sister in London's streets. Tilly left home to find a way to forget the things that she had done and not feel so guilty anymore. But with Florrie's journal, she finds a way to do the things she must do in order to come to terms with her mistakes and her family secrets.
Florrie painstakingly writes her journal entries to her long lost sister, Rosie. Rosie is the only good that Florrie had in her life. She promised her little sister that she would always take care of her. Until that tragic day where she let go of her hand and Rosie was lost in the crowd of flower sellers and their buyers. Florrie promised that she would look for Rosie until she found her. Every single page of Florrie's journal was filled with such heartfelt longing and loneliness.

"For little sister... I will never stop looking for you."

Tilly is moved by Florrie's love and unanswered prayers. She is determined to find out what happened to Rosie and hopes to give Florrie the peace that she deserves. Little does Tilly know that there will be more ghosts to meet, help and say goodbye to.

The most definitive historical fiction I have ever read. The author's strong and accurate details to this period of time was captivating - I found myself living right alongside these characters. I felt the weather and smelled the stench of the London streets; I felt their moments of pain, love, sadness and more. I was able to close my eyes and not only picture the flowers, but smell them too. Even when I had to put the book aside to tend to my real life moments, I couldn't help but wonder about Florrie and what Tilly was going to do next in order to find Rosie, and what she was going to in regards to her own dilemmas - they became so real to me. And every once in a while, I swear, I could smell roses and sometimes, violets... their story kept calling me back. I needed to know what had happened to Florrie and Rosie, and what was going to become of Tilly, her suitor. her own sister, and others as well. 

An unforgettable story that I will be shelving next to my other heartfelt favorites such as The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans and Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

*An eARC was provided to me from the publisher for the blog tour and an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Hazel Gaynor

Hazel Gaynor is an author and freelance writer living in Ireland. 

Her debut novel THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME (William Morrow/HarperCollins) was a USA Today and New York Times bestseller. Her second novel A MEMORY OF VIOLETS will be published in February 2015.

Hazel was the recipient of the 2012 Cecil Day Lewis award for Emerging Writers and was recently named as one of U.S. Library Journal's Ten Big Breakout Authors for 2015. 

Hazel also writes a popular guest blog ‘Carry on Writing’ for national Irish writing website writing.ie. She also writes feature articles for the site and has interviewed authors such as Philippa Gregory, John Boyne, and Sebastian Faulks.

Originally from Yorkshire, England, Hazel has lived in Ireland for the past twelve years with her husband and two young children. 

Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

Cover Reveal, Excerpt and Giveaway: WHISPERS FROM THE DEAD (Serenity's Plain Secrets #2) by Karen Ann Hopkins

Happy to be a part of the cover reveal, hosted by Kismet Book Tours, for the second book to Karen Ann Hopkin's Serenity's Plain Secrets, WHISPERS FROM THE DEAD today!!!

WHISPERS FROM THE DEAD

Serenity's Plain Secrets, Book 2

by Karen Ann Hopkins

Expected release date: December 16th, 2014

Published by: Self-published

Genre: Adult Contemporary Mystery, Romance

Format: eBook

SUMMARY

Some Amish communities aren't so cozy.

Whispers From The Dead is the powerful and thrilling sequel to Lamb to the Slaughter, in the Amish mystery series, Serenity’s Plain Secrets. 

Sheriff Serenity Adams and Daniel Bachman are once again partnered up in a criminal investigation, when they travel to a northern Amish settlement that has been riddled by arsons for the past two decades. Serenity quickly discovers that there is much more going on in the touristy community than just barns being set on fire and that the new group of Amish has their own secrets to hide. She begins to unravel an extensive criminal underworld that threatens to destroy everything that the simple people of Poplar Springs hold dear and even puts her own life in jeopardy. 

And although Serenity tries desperately to avoid it, things begin heating up between her and Daniel, making her wonder if true love and happiness are really within her grasp.

EXCERPT

I was slipping my gloves on and almost to the car when I noticed Daniel standing beside his Jeep.  Apparently he was waiting for me. I was in the process of weighing the pros and cons of stopping to talk to him when he pushed away from his vehicle and strode over, meeting me halfway to my cruiser.

            “Happy New Year,” he said sweetly.

            I chuckled and my breath spread out into an icy mist between us.  “Not much happiness going on around here.”

            “It could be worse.”

            I risked looking directly into his eyes and said briskly, “Oh, yeah, no one’s dead this time, but Jory probably wishes he was.” I shook my head. “Dammit, I don’t understand why people do this to each other.  If Ruby wanted out, why not just tell Jory and be up front about it.  And then again, why would she even want out; three beautiful girls and nice house in the suburbs, a great guy.  What’s the matter with her anyway?”

            Daniel smiled at my little tirade, looking down at his booted foot as he pushed the snow around briefly before meeting my gaze once again.  

            “I’d really rather be talking about us.”

            “Us?”

            “You know, you…me…us.” His white teeth flashed in a brilliant smile and I was once again completely at a loss as to why this gorgeous guy was stalking me.

            He was so tall and his shoulders were so broad that he actually provided a nice break from the wind that was gusting hard enough to catch the loose snow in the parking lot and spray it up into the air in wild sheets of bitter cold around us.  I was even tempted to take another step closer and steal some of the heat that seemed to radiate off of him, but I controlled myself and stood still. 

I had a sudden vision of Daniel, minus the Carhart jacket and the flannel shirt.  I knew that underneath all those winter clothes was a well-defined chest that connected to washboard abs.  I definitely didn’t want to think about his firm butt or his strong thighs so I quickly forced the image to evaporate, and met his gaze squarely.  Unfortunately, looking at his wide spaced brownish-black eyes and the amused set to his jaw that was covered with a few days worth of black stubble wasn’t much safer.  He was too dammed handsome for his own good. 

            “We’ve already discussed this.  It’s not a good time for us to get involved.”

            His amusement quickly changed to frustration and he snorted. “What are you waiting for?  We’re both available, we’re highly attracted to each other, we survived a harrowing experience together…what more do you need to simply go out for dinner and movie with me?”

            Maybe I was being a complete idiot.   I had issues—I knew it.  But letting Daniel into my life was about the scariest thing I had ever faced.  A gun pointed straight at my head was more welcome than the prospect of putting faith in any man, especially him.

            “This is just a game to you, isn’t it? The minute I agree and go out with you, you’ll grow bored and move onto someone else.  So why the hell should I even bother.”

            His eyes widened for an instant in understanding and then he took a measured sigh.  “Someone must have really betrayed your trust for you to be so paranoid.”

            I smiled and nodded, “Yep, I won’t deny it.  Just look at what went down in there tonight.” I pointed at Charlie’s with an angry thrust of my arm. “Jory and Ruby were supposed to be a happily married couple, with kids and a dog, the whole package.  Now their lives are ruined.  They’ll probably be divorced and both sleeping with new partners by this time next year.” 

            “I get what you’re saying.  I really do.  But it doesn’t have to be like that for everyone…or for us.  I’m a patient guy, Serenity.  And I have no problem waiting for you to figure out how unreasonable you’re being. Besides, we’ll have that long drive up north with only the two of us in the Jeep and then a whole week in a secluded Amish community together to talk more about this.  So I’m not overly concerned with your avoidance at the moment.”

            The return of his smug expression cut through the honey warm desire that had been spreading through me for simply standing too close to him.  He thought he had it all figured out, but I was determined to show him that he didn’t know anything at all.

            The cold air once again sent a chill through me and I zipped my jacket up to my neck and said, “Actually, there’s been a change of plans.”  The sudden arch of his eyebrows was priceless and I quickly hurried on, “I’ve decided to leave tomorrow after all.”

            “But you know that I have to finish the Mayor’s guest suite.  He has visitors arriving this week and I promised him,” Daniel said carefully.

            I shrugged.  “Sorry, Daniel, I have a tight schedule also.  Since I’m officially on vacation in six hours, I’d like to be on my way.  Perhaps I’ll get lucky and Bishop Esch and that Rowan fellow were overreacting about the mystery on their hands.  I might be able to wrap things up quickly and you won’t need to make the trip at all.”

            Daniel took a step closer and looked down at me.  I couldn’t help but swallow hard at his close proximity. 

            “I thought you wanted my company on this one.”

            Seeing the resolute look on Daniel’s face, a shiver of fear passed through me when I realized I could definitely push Daniel too far and then he would give up on me.  As bitchy as I was being to him, I didn’t want to completely run him off.  Part of me wished desperately that he’d stick around. 

            “Sure, I’d like your help with the investigation.  God only knows how bat-shit crazy this Poplar Springs community probably is.  But I don’t want to put you out either.”

            Daniel took a long breath and stared at me for several more seconds before he finally said, “I’ll join you as quickly as I can.  I’m sure you can handle the locals on your own until I arrive.”  He suddenly had his arms around me in a tight, but quick squeeze.  He whispered into my ear, “Happy New Year.  I’ll see you soon.”

            He turned and went to his Jeep without another glance in my direction.  The infuriating emptiness that I had felt when he let go said plainly that I was already in way over my head with Daniel Bachman.  But I reasoned to myself as I walked to the cruiser that we hadn’t even had sex, so I was still in a good position.  He did not have a hold of me—yet. 

GIVEAWAY

- From the author, Karen Ann Hopkins, ONE lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card (from Amazon, Barnes and Noble OR iTunes)!!!

- Also, 10 eCopies of the first book to the series, LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER, are up for grabs!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)

Book 1, LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

Release date: March 14th, 2014

SUMMARY

Lamb to the Slaughter is a story about the intertwining lives of three unlikely people in an Indiana Amish Community and the devastating results when a rebellious teenage girl is found shot to death in a corn field during the harvest. 

Serenity Adams is the newly elected young sheriff in the country town of Blood Rock, and besides dealing with the threatening behavior of her predecessor, she now has a dead Amish girl on her plate. 

At first glance, the case seems obvious. The poor girl was probably accidently shot during hunting season, but when the elders of the Amish community and even the girl’s parents react with uncaring subdued behavior, Serenity becomes suspicious. 

As she delves deeper into the secretive community that she grew up beside, she discovers a gruesome crime from the past that may very well be related to the Amish girl’s shooting. 

Serenity enlists the help of the handsome bad-boy building contractor, Daniel Bachman, who left the Amish when he was nineteen, and has his own dark reasons to help the spunky sheriff solve the crime that the family and friends who shunned him are trying desperately to cover up. 

Serenity’s persistence leads her to a stunning discovery that not only threatens to destroy her blossoming romance with Daniel, but may even take her life in the end.

Amazon / Banes and Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Karen Ann Hopkins

A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.

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