RomCon Reader- February 2015

Contemporary | Erotic | Historical | Inspirational | Paranormal | Romantic Suspense | Urban Fantasy | YA | NA

February 2015

An interview with

ANABELLE BRYANT

PLUS...

L.G. O’Connor | Kallypso Masters | Hope Kesler | Eve Langlais | Cynthia Eden | Angeline M. Bishop | Sylvia McDaniel | and more!

RomCon® 2015 | Interviews | Articles | Excerpts | Reader Recommendations | Top Rated Books

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ISSUE #5

Cover Spotlight: HISTORICAL AUTHOR ANABELLE BRYANT An interview with the author, plus an excerpt from her latest book,To Love A Wicked Scoundrel.

Genre Spotlights: 8

SCI-FI: MICHELE CALLAHAN An interview with Prince Aron from Chimera Born.

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PARANORMAL: L.G. O’CONNOR An interview with the author.

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EROTIC ROMANCE: KALLYPSO MASTERS An excerpt from her latest book!

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INSPIRATIONAL HOPE KESLER An interview with the new Inspirational author.

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NEW ADULT ANGELINE M. BISHOP

Book Excerpts: 16

PARANORMAL: EVE LANGLAIS C791

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PARANORMAL: CYNTHIA EDEN Bound By Blood

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EROTIC ROMANCE: AUBREY ROSS Mystic Keepers: Cayenne

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EROTIC ROMANCE: VANESSA VALE Dominating Devney

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HISTORICAL: SYLVIA MCDANIEL Deadly

Insights into writing, an interview.

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WRITER’S UNIVERSITY READER LUNCHEON 411 ATTENDING AUTHOR LIST

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Reader Rated Books: 20

NEWLY RATED BOOKS

AMAZING BOOKS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE!

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Editor’s Note From the Desk of Michele Callahan

W

ith a new year comes new ideas. Resolutions. The marking of time. Sometimes we remember where we were when something happened. I’ve got a couple of those memories, the space shuttle explosion, 9/11, etc…, but most of my life I mark by the books I was reading.

In First Grade I fell in love with Frog and Toad and books about animals. Fourth grade I read the entire Nancy Drew series, followed immediately by the Hardy Boys. In Sixth Grade I discovered the Sweet Valley High books. Seventh Grade was the year my dear friend, J, and I were embarrassed, during science class, by an hour long lecture from Mr. Johnson about the books we were reading at school. (Of note, the discussion was sparked by a Jackie Collins novel with a pair of red, lipstick covered lips on the cover. We’d taken the books from her mom’s ‘secret’ stash on a high shelf in the garage!) By Ninth Grade I had discovered Jalav the Amazon warrior, and high fantasy in general. I read LOTR, The Belgariad, Pern, etc… I spent most of high school wishing that I was either a dragon rider, a wizard, or both. (This was long before Harry Potter arrived on the scene.)

Romance arrived in my life in my mid-twenties. Although I still read a bit of everything, the happily-ever-after of a good love story never fails to make me feel better about the world. I know you all feel exactly the same way.

I hope you all take a minute to remember the reading milestones.

It’s a fun trip down memory lane.

Here’s to making more memories.

Hugs and Happy New Year!

Michele Callahan Michele Callahan is a certifiably obsessed romance fan, an author, and the founder and President of RomCon®.To find out more about Michele and her books visit her website: michelecallahan.com.

RomCon® & The Readers’ Crown® are registered service marks of Romance Conventions Inc., 992 S. 4th Ave Ste. 100-422, Brighton, CO 80601 CORPORATE OFFICERS: Founder & President: Michele Callahan Vice President: Jennifer Zane RomCon® STAFF & VOLUNTEERS: Websites and Social Media: Blog Scheduling: Karen Docter Advertising: Heather Cole Book Cover Store: Heather Cole Stock Photography: Jennifer Zane Graphic Design: Tabatha Hansen, Jennifer Zane Content Editor: Michele Callahan Social Media Coordinator: Lori Kander Erotic Romance Group: Heather Cole Reader Rated Bookstore & Readers’ Crown: www.readerratedbookstore.com heather@romconinc.com Reader Judges: 500+ and counting Elite Level Reader Judges: In no particular order - (Thank you!)

Amy M., Janon S., Candace C., Debbie S., Lori Y., Lorie K., Jessica D., Rebecca C., Pua T., Elaine B., Toni L., Pat R., Jan K., Dottie A., Christina M., Anita M., Laura Y., Amy W., Sheila H., Wendy P. RomCon® 2015 Reader Weekend & RomCon® U - Convention Convention Director: Michele Callahan Programs and Author Liaison: Karen Docter Programs: Maggie Mae Gallagher, Cynthia Woolf Registration and Staff: Michele Callahan RomCon Stock Photos: www.romconstockphotos.com Art Director: Jennifer Zane Advertising: RomCon Reader eMagazine: Ciick here.

RomCon Website: Click here.

Questions: heather@romconinc.com

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Sci-Fi & Urban Fantasy

Sci-Fi

&

Urban Fantasy

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Sci-Fi & Urban Fantasy

MICHELE CALLAHAN CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH PRINCE ARON OF ITARA, FORBIDDEN SON, ‘THE UNBROKEN’ 1. What is your name? Do you have a nickname?

My name is Aron of Itara. I was born of the Queen’s line, a forbidden son who should have been killed in the cradle. I am one of three prophesied triplets born on Earth because my mother was hunted on our home world. But still, they found us when I was young man.

They murdered my mother and my sister, took my brother, and have held me captive for a very long time.

I am known here as “The Unbroken.” My enemies both worship and fear me. They want me to give in to my darkness, to rule them, to be their King. But I will not allow them to break me. I will not become what they are. I would rather die.

2. Who is your best friend? What kinds of things do you do when you’re together?

I do not have friends. I have spent centuries in darkness.

Long ago, before I was captured, I was very close to my twin brother, Prince Ajax. Until a today, I did not know where he was, or even if he was still alive. But today, his female discovered my prison and gave me the power to escape before she vanished once more.

3. If you have a family, how do you get along with them? If you don’t, are there people in your life that you consider family? How do you get along with them?

I do not have family, not any more. But there is one, a human female who found me in the wild and helped me. Triscani Hunters were sent to capture me and return me to my eternal prison. Zoey is the reason I am still free, the reason I survived. For her, I would kill kings. For her, I would willingly die.

4. Do you have a birthmark? Scars? Where is it/are they? How did you get it/them?

I did not, until I met Zoey, the human reporter. She

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Marked me with the Shen, and now I am hers. She is young and courageous, a human descendant of a people long forgotten. She will wield their power.

Every moment I can feel it growing inside of her. She doesn’t truly understand what she’s done to herself, or to me. Nor do I. I only know that I want her, and I will do anything to keep her safe.

5. When you’re angry, what do you do?

Where do you go? How do you deal with your anger?

When I’m angry, the darkness threatens to overcome me. I do not give in to anger, fear or hate. When I kill my enemies, I take their souls and leave their bodies a pile of ash.

6. If you had to make me a meal right now, without going to the store, what would you find in your refrigerator to feed us?

I am Immortal, human. This question is irrelevant. I enjoy food, but I do not need to eat.You will have to provide for yourself. I do not have a home or a table at which to host you. Perhaps Zoey will take pity on you and feed you from her food stores.

7. What’s the one thing you’re afraid of losing?

Self control. If I fail to control my darkness, all of humanity will suffer.

8. What makes you laugh out loud?

I do not laugh. Not anymore. I remember dancing with my mother when I was a young boy of four or five. I laughed much that day, but that was hundreds of years ago.

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Sci-Fi & Urban Fantasy

EXCERPT FROM: CHIMERA BORN Book 4.5 of the Timewalker Chronicles

“

What are you boys up to?” Zoey Williams whispered the question to herself where she lay sprawled across a cold boulder, careful to keep her body flat to the ground. Her forest camo would keep her hidden from the air. She couldn’t afford to create a profile for one of the perimeter patrols to see from the ground.

She’d worked too long and too hard for this story. Tracked one of the soldiers for weeks, followed him, stalked him, and bribed several friends to get his phone and credit card records.

The man she tracked was an exNavy S.E.A.L. Some “ex”. The man was still in a uniform. Still carried a weapon and gear and reported to someone at Fort Carson.

And most telling of all? He still disappeared for days or weeks at a time.

But, according to the government, the man didn’t even exist. If not for her informant, she never would have discovered him or his team. Her blog had brought her some strange bedfellows, and some terrifying allies.

This time, the file her anonymous friend sent to her had led her here, to this man and this mountain. She’d tracked the soldier for the last few months. Every time something crazy hit the tabloids about alien sightings, portals, other dimensions, or UFOs, this guy disappeared for a while.

He was an asshole. She knew that much. Dropped the F-bomb like it was his favorite verb, snarled at everyone he talked to, and was one of the most selfcontained and brutally efficient people she’d ever followed. He was also suspicious as hell. He’d nearly caught her twice.

And in the years she’d spent as a journalist in her previous life she’d become very good at not getting caught. Very good at being a fly on the wall, unseen

and unnoticed. Unfortunately, that skill had cost her everything, her identity, her family, her “normal” life.

She’d survived, and this mountain estate was her prize.

There was something here, something inside the house that broadcast energy like a radio station pumping out hard metal music. Nothing shy or soft about this place.

It screamed to be heard.

The energy pulsed through her body in waves, painful staccato bursts like ice needles piercing her heart.

Zoey ignored the sensation and continued taking photos of the soldiers, the house, the vehicles’ license plates, everything she could document would go up on her blog. The more she had, the more people would believe her.

She needed the world to wake up! A year ago she’d been like the rest of them.

Blind. Helpless. Safe in her dream world and ignorant of the truth.

The truth. Such a small word to carry so much power.

Setting her camera aside, Zoey double-checked the antireflective cover on her binoculars and scanned the surrounding hills once more.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming her way. Something powerful and very, very evil.

Movement. There! To her right and a bit farther up the adjoining swell of hillside.

She focused in and her heart froze, skipped a beat, shocked back into a frantic rhythm when she saw him.

God, he was beautiful. Dark hair that fell past his shoulders, a bare chest chiseled to perfection and abs any elite athlete on the planet would kill for. But his beauty wasn’t what stunned her.

It was the blood. And the chains. And the fact that he was moving straight toward her at an inhuman pace…

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PARANORMAL SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR

L.G. O’CONNOR W

e have adult contemporary fantasy / paranormal romance author, L.G. O’Connor, here this month as our Spotlight Author.

The Wanderer’s Children, the second book in her four-book series, The Angelorum Twelve Chronicles, launched on December 16th. Or is it a five-book series?

I guess it is if you count the prequel novella that comes out this spring. Congratulations on your launch, L.G., and welcome! We have a few questions for you about the series…

Q: One of the more grounded themes in the series is the exploration of Cara’s anxiety disorder. Can you tell more about what motivated you to write about that?

L.G.:This was something that touched my life starting in my late teens until about Cara’s age. Anxiety disorders are increasingly common, and if not treated, they can have a devastating impact on your life. Having one is a

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humbling experience, but living through it and thriving is an achievement. I wanted Cara to have a very real and human vulnerability that I could lend some personal experience to. “Write what you know,” right? I try to make my heroes and heroines flawed and relatable. I want people to read the book and be able to imagine themselves as Cara.

Q: There is quite a bit of biblical lore as well as scientific tidbits that crop up throughout the story. How challenging was it to do the research to support this story?

L.G.: I’ve always been fascinated by angels and angel lore. When I first started developing the series, I found an excellent website called Angelology, which gave me a good foundation to start. After that I read as many books about angels that I could get my hands on. I’ve also read through all the translated Books of Enoch.

The challenge, depending on which theology you

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choose, is that the timelines vary. I choose to align with the version which sets the Great War roughly around the time of Christ 2,000 year ago vs. 7,000 years ago.

As for the scientific tidbits, two of my beta readers are scientists. My real-life “Kai” inspired character is a scientist, and gave me some materials on genetics. Plus, I did some additional research. The challenge was not to get too technical. Many details bit the dust during editing.

Q: What books and authors have influenced your life and writing?

L.G.: Funny, I didn’t start writing until late 2009, but I’ve been an avid reader my entire life. In 2008, when my current job became soul-crushing, I picked up both young adult and adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy for the first time as a means of escape. I devoured it. Since then, I’ve read almost everything written by

Charlaine Harris, JR Ward, Chloe Neill, Stephanie Meyer, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Laurell K Hamilton, Kerrelyn Sparks, Veronica Roth, Cassandra Clare, Melissa de la Cruz, P.C. and Kristin Cast, Lauren Kate, to name some.

Thanks for sharing the story behind the story with us!

L.G.:Thank you for the opportunity, and Happy Reading!

“And what would you like me to cook for you while wearing just this apron?”

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PARANORMAL EXCERPT FROM THE WANDERER’S CHILDREN

T

he delicious smell of béarnaise sauce wafted up from the stove. Cara wrapped her arms around Simon’s waist from behind and rested her head in the hollow of his back, inhaling the fresh scent of cotton mixed with citrus.

“Mmm. Smells good,” she said.

He dipped the wooden spoon into the saucepan.

“Want a taste?”

“Definitely,” she said, playfully nipping his back and sliding her hand down along the front of his jeans across the relaxed budge underneath the fabric.

“I meant the béarnaise,” he said followed by a deep chuckle.

“I know, but I keep thinking about what Irene said,” she said in a deep throaty growl. “I’m picturing you cooking in just an apron.”

He laughed. “Let’s save that for when we don’t have a house guest.” He twisted in her arms and offered her the spoon.

“Deal.” She closed her eyes and savored the sauce. “Mmm. This is the only way to eat asparagus in my book.” Simon had prepared one of her healthy favorites for dinner: salmon served with asparagus and a crisp green salad with vinaigrette.

Simon rested the spoon on the stove and swept her into his arms. “And what would you like me to cook for you while wearing just this apron?” He asked, and then buried his face into the soft skin at the base of her neck, nuzzling it.

“I’ll get back to you on that one.” She giggled from the tickle of his feather-light touch as his groin hardened against her.

“Would you consider returning the favor?” he asked in a low, sexy voice.

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“As long as you don’t really expect a meal out of it,” she said. Her cooking skills were worse than awful.

“Um … am I interrupting?” Kai asked, throwing up his hand as he walked into the kitchen with a smirk.

Simon winked at her, dropped his arms, and turned toward the stove. “Dinner’s ready.”

“Sorry to make you wait.” He put down his cell phone and pulled up a stool.

“No need to apologize. Cara mentioned you liked salmon,” Simon said. “I hope this meets your expectations.”

“I’ve no doubt if last night was any indication,” Kai replied and patted his stomach. “I wish I had even half of your culinary talent.”

Cara couldn’t have been more pleased at the friendship she felt forming between them. After she and Simon had returned from meeting with the wedding planner in Connecticut, Kai had spent the afternoon with Simon teaching him some basic medical tasks in case she had another emergency.

“Did you talk to the Sanctuary?”

Cara asked, eager to hear his news as she took a sip of her Sauvignon Blanc.

Kai’s smile faded. “Yeah. They’re still running tests. Your basic labs were fine, but Celine wants to do some genetic testing. In the meantime, I found out something interesting.”

“What’s that?” Simon asked, his shoulders stiffening.

Kai eyes shifted from Simon to Cara. “I think I’ve figured out why everyone’s mysteriously pairing up.

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Author Bio L.G. O’Connor

Paranormal Author

L

.G. O’Connor is a member of the Romance Writers of America. A corporate strategy and marketing executive for a Fortune 250 company, she writes adult urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. She is currently working on the third book in the Angelorum Twelve Chronicles, Book of Four Rings, for publication in 2015. In addition, she is writing an adult contemporary romance series set in Morristown, New Jersey. L.G. lives a life of adventure, navigating her way through dog toys and soccer balls and loaning herself out for the occasional decorating project. When she’s feeling particularly brave, she enters the kitchen .

Contact L.G.: http://www.lgoconnor.com/site/ http://www.facebook.com/ lgoconnor1 https://twitter.com/ lgoconnor1 https://www.goodreads.com/ author/show/7690970.L_G_O_ Connor

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PARANORMAL EXCER

A

rriving at the checkpoint, the same fresh-faced private from before let her through, but as she reached the outside of the prisoner’s cage, she stopped dead. Hanging in his restraints, head bowed, was the cyborg. Traces of dried blood marred his skin, while red puckered wounds dotted his chest.

“What happened to you?” she gasped.

The cyborg raised his head, his tanned skin of before now waxy and pale. Through stiff lips he said, “Happened? More of your scientist’s tests, little one.

This particular one, the remnants of which you see, is used to discover what I can endure without dying and how quickly I can regenerate flesh.”

Her eyes flicked up and down his torso, noting his almost healed wounds. “But I was here just yesterday.

These look like you’ve been healing for weeks.”

A mocking smile curved his lips. “Isn’t science marvelous? Now if only you humans could figure out a way to harness the nanobots in my blood without becoming cyborgs yourselves.”

“Your blood can make us into machines?” Her horror came through loud and clear.

He laughed, a mirthless sound that sent a shiver up her spine. “No.The nanobots are useless without a BCI. So fear not, I am not some contagious monster out to convert all humans into cyborg.”

Speaking of blood, drops of it peppered the floor.

As if sensing the direction of her thoughts he said, “I wouldn’t bother trying to collect any of that. One of the fabulous properties of my blood is it becomes inert and useless seconds after leaving my body.”

Hearing this explained how her small sample of the day before had proved useless before she got it to the lab. But annoyance did imbue her as she recalled the dressing down she’d gotten for not being more careful with her collection method. That bastard. Just because Dr. Drossinger ran the science department didn’t give him the right to be an asshole. Then again, it wasn’t like she could do anything about it.

“Why does your blood do that? And how?” she asked.

“Because that way our enemies can’t use it against us.” He grinned at her, a feral grimace that made her flinch. “What I can’t understand is why your human

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doctors keep sending people in trying to steal samples.

It’s a waste of time and personnel if you ask me.”

“Well, if it’s such a waste, then why don’t you let me take what I need?” she replied, opening her kit and pulling out a syringe. She slipped it into her pocket for the moment, needing her hands free.

“Why make it easy when I can make it entertaining?”

She ignored his goading taunt to open a package of sterile wipes. Donning rubber gloves, she approached him.

“Gloves? Aren’t you just the kinky one today?

I warn you though, if you insert any fingers or other objects into my out hole, I won’t be responsible for the consequences.”

His crude remark made her frown. “For a machine, you’ve got a potty mouth and a bad attitude.

I would have thought your programming would make you more polite.”

Instead of getting angry, he laughed. “Oh, little one, your innocence is a treat.

Manners were never a part of our programming.

Tools, after all, don’t need any. What you hear now is a shadow of my former self merged with my new identity.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Your human military tried to wipe away my humanity. Tried to erase who I was. But I broke those

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RPT BY EVE LANGLAIS chains of bondage and what I didn’t recover of my past life, I replaced.”

“What are you talking about? Cyborgs are made.

Everyone knows you’re specially grown in the labs and emerge fullgrown. You have no memories.” “ W ro n g .

We were once human like you with families and lives. Your military took that away from us.”

Her mouth dropped open.

“You lie. The officials in charge said—” “I don’t give a damn what your officials say,” he snarled. “We are human. Or were until the military experimented on us. For a long time we were also slaves until we threw rebelled and retook our freedom. Since our revolution, some of my kind have remembered fragments of their pasts, and what we couldn’t recall, we taught ourselves again. Television and movies are wonderful tools for learning how to act so we can

blend in.”

She absorbed what he said, his words making sickening sense. It wouldn’t be the first time the military lied. She took a step closer, staring up at his face and meeting his gaze. “But you’re a cyborg. How could you hope to fit in?” she asked, casually wiping the dried blood from his skin, hoping he’d keep talking instead of focusing on her actions. He didn’t seem to mind her ministrations though, even if she found herself reacting to the proximity. She wondered if he noticed how her nipples tightened into points that pressed against her jumpsuit. Thankfully he couldn’t see how the heat he transmitted, even through her gloves, made her pussy moisten and tighten in erotic interest. She wanted to halt these insane reactions to his presence, deny them, but for whatever sick reason, the robot encased in flesh attracted her.

He laughed, a low taunting chuckle that made her freeze and peer at his face. “Ah, little one. Are you truly that naïve? Look at me. If they’d not told you I was part machine, if you’d seen me on the street, wearing clothes, going about my business, can you honestly say you would have given me a second look?”

Her first impulse was to say he possessed too much presence to ever be ignored, but at the same time, she recognized that, while his virility and size made him noticeable, would she have immediately known or sensed he was less than one hundred percent human?

Hadn’t his lack of metal parts surprised her? “You might pass until you open your mouth. You have an odd way of speaking.”

A frown creased his forehead. “A flaw I am working on, I assure you. But, speech aside, even you have to admit, I look all too human.”

“So how did you get caught then if you’re such a master of human disguise?” she said sarcastically, her pert query shocking her as much as him.

His left brow arched, and a half smile curved his lips.

“Metal detector.”

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PARANORMAL BONUS PARANORMAL EXCERPT:

CYNTHIA EDEN

EXCERPT FROM BOUND BY BLOOD

T

he sexy little vampiress walked into the bar as if she owned the place.

Since Howling Moon was a low-rent dive hidden on the shadier side of Miami, a bar that catered to werewolves, well, the lady was very much out of fucking place. And, if she wasn’t careful, she might just become the night’s entertainment.

Jace Vaughn tensed when he saw her. He wasn’t as drunk as the other wolves, not yet anyway, so he recognized the deceptively delicate woman instantly.

He could see the hint of her small fangs peeking out just behind the plump fullness of her too-red lips.

Vamps’ fangs always came out when they were about to fight or fuck.

So which one was the vamp about to do?

She stilled inside the doorway of the bar. Her long blond hair tumbled behind her as her gaze raked to the left. To the right. Huh. Looked like she was hunting for someone—or something. In this place, the only thing she’d find was a pack ready to rip her to pieces.

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Vampires and wolves weren’t exactly playing nice these days. Or any days.

She should know that.

But then her gaze swept by him. Swept by, then came right back. Her blue eyes—bright with a vamp’s power—caught his. She stared at him, and Jace found he couldn’t look away. A vampire’s trick of compulsion?

Nah…more likely just his own lust. Because the lady was hot. Most female vamps were, those pureblood ones anyway. And Jace knew he was looking at one of the elite pureblood Florida vamps.

A pureblood, in a werewolf hell.

He smiled. Fate must be laughing her ass off somewhere.

Then, she smiled too. A lick of heat shot straight through his body, and the beast that he kept chained inside stretched and growled.

Want.

She started walking toward him in her high, fuck-me or fuck-off black boots. Jace shoved away from the bar.

But the others had noticed her now, and they were closing in.

Three males. Big and hulking because that was the way of the beast.

“Vampire…” The snarl floated in the air, and the males reached for her.

“No!” His roar broke a second too slowly.

Two of the males crashed into nearby tables. They’d made the mistake of actually touching her. You didn’t touch a vampiress who didn’t want to be touched.

Fools should know that rule.

Purebloods were especially strong.

Excitement had the beast inside yanking on his leash.

Every person in the bar froze for a moment, then instantly turned their attention on her. The vamp had the third wolf on the floor in front of her. He hadn’t shifted, not yet, but his claws were already lengthening.

She had one small hand at his throat while the other held tight to his hair, yanking his head back to better expose his neck.

Vampires always went for the throat. So predictable.

Their hunger made them weak every time.

“Kill the bitch…” Ah, that mutter came from one of the guys she’d tossed a good ten feet. He was already rising with his claws out and blood dripping from his busted cheek.

Jace lifted his hand, staying the men even as they rose. “Not…yet.”

He knew no one would disobey. They couldn’t. He

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Even the shitty band stopped playing as he crossed the room. The few human females in the bar glanced around curiously, and he saw a couple of the shifters push them toward the back. The women came to play at Howling Moon. Or rather, the wolves played with them. Those women knew the score about the supernatural world, and they knew to keep quiet about the paranormal society.

The vampiress didn’t release her grip on her prey.

Jace took his time stalking toward her. Like most vamps, she had pale, ivory skin. Her features were…damn, pretty perfect. Wide eyes, high cheeks, small nose. Her chin was pointed a little, giving her a slightly stubborn edge, but then, bloodsuckers were not exactly known to be easy going.

Neither were wolves.

She wore all black. Tight black shirt, a very short black skirt, and those boots that oozed sex.

Sex and violence. Yeah, that was pretty much how vamps and wolves rolled.

As he closed in on her, Jace picked up her scent, separating the light perfume of her skin from the booze, sweat, and the cigarettes in the air. The vampire smelled sweet, tempting.

Her kind always did. The better to lure their prey in for that deadly bite. But she was— More.

He inclined his head toward her. “Let him go.”

“Of course.” Her voice rolled lightly, soft, sensual, but had no accent. She dropped her hold on the wolf instantly.

Then Mike made the mistake of lunging back up and slicing at her with his claws.

Rage exploded inside of Jace, and he leapt forward even as his own claws broke from his fingertips.

Don’t hurt— She stepped back, ducked, then shoved her fist right at the wolf’s heart. Her punch threw Mike back against Jace.

Jace grabbed the wolf and twisted him around. He lifted the other guy off the floor and glared at him. “I don’t remember giving you permission to attack, Mike.”

He heard the vamp’s breaths panting lightly and knew she wasn’t as controlled as she appeared. No scent of fear, not yet.

“B-bloodsucker…comin’ in here…” Mike snarled.

“She can’t just…walk in…”

“I was invited here,” she said smoothly.

Still trapped in Jace’s grip, Mike twisted and glared over his shoulder. “Who the hell…would be dumb enough to invite a vampire here—” “Your alpha.” Her answer came with a shrug as her gaze lifted back to Jace.Then she inclined her head in the smallest of subservient gestures. Submission. “I was told of your offer, and I’m here to accept.”

Mike’s head swung back toward him. “Jace?” His voice was stronger now. Wolves always healed fast.

“What bullshit is she talking about?”

Jace slammed his forehead into Mike’s nose. Bones crunched and blood spurted even as the smaller wolf howled. Then Jace threw the guy against the nearest wall, one that was about fifteen feet away. When Mike crashed, he didn’t get up.

Silence. So thick it covered the whole bar. Jace stared at the vamp, trying to keep all emotion from his face. Then, slowly, he closed the remaining space between him and the woman who was going to change everything for him.

He caught her hand and turned her palm over. Hell, yes, the mark was there, cradled inside her left hand.

Just like he’d known it would be. A blood-red rose.

He stood close enough to see the circle of gold in her eyes. The faint gold that marked her just as her hand did. She was something far more than an ordinary bloodsucker.

She was a vampire princess. His key to power, immortality, and she was the perfect weapon that he needed to kick the ass of the demons who’d come to town looking to wipe out his people.

Her lips parted as she stared up at him. He glimpsed her deceptively delicate fangs.

And he caught the scent of fear as it swept through her.

She was right to be afraid. Now that she was there, within his grasp, and he’d never let her go.

Never.

“I’m Jace.” He let her see his own fangs. “And you’re mine.” A claim made before all the wolves in the room.

From now on, any wolf who touched her would face him—and death.

She swallowed and tilted her head back to better meet his stare. “Hello, husband.”

The wolf within growled…Mine.

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NEW READER RATED BOOKS Score: Book Title: Author: CONTEMPORARY 9.2 Sean’s Sweetheart Allie Kincheloe 9.6 Full Strength Katie Kenyhercz 8.8 Maybe Baby Ashlinn Craven 8.3 Falling Like a Rock Bonnie McCune 8.2 The Forsaken Heart Brenda Gayle 8.9 The Long Way Home Regina West 9.4 Point Of No Return Tiffany Snow 8.2 Blackhill Ranch Katherine May

PARANORMAL

9.8 The Hunter’s Realm Brianna Hughes 9.9 Outfoxed By Love Eve Langlais 9.0 Her Demon, His Angel Kari Thomas 9.6 Blood Moon Lisa Kessler 9.2 Dancing With Raven S.G. Rogers 8.5 A Pirate’s Revenge M.L. Guida INSPIRATIONAL

9.0 The Promise Beth Wiseman 9.2 Different E.A. West 9.0 Phoenix Of The Heart Michelle Stevens 9.9 A Thousand Little Blessings Clair Sanders 9.8 Running From Christmas E.A. West HISTORICAL 8.9 Compromising Miss Tisdale Jessica Jefferson 8.9 Highland Daydreams April Holthaus 8.0 Written In The Cards Lauren Linwood 9.0 To Dream Of A Highlander Samantha Holt 9.0 A Traitorous Heart Tammy Jo Burns 9.0 Seducing The Ruthless Rogue Tammy Jo Burns 9.6 To Love And Protect Tammy Jo Burns 9.4 Spirit Warrior: Spirit Pass Book 2 S.E. Smith

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Score: Book Title: Author: ROMANTIC SUSPENSE 9.7 Slim To None (Cedar Tree #1) Freya Barker

EROTIC ROMANCE 9.4 Throttle Me Chelle Bliss 8.4 Curvy Temptation Aidy Award 8.7 Zane’s Choice Mardi Maxwell 9.3 Angels Without Rhiannon Ayers 9.0 Demons Within Rhiannon Ayers 8.9 Jaded Ember Leigh SCI-FI/TIME TRAVEL 9.0 Fallen Star Cyndi Friberg 9.7 Mystic’s Touch Dena Garson 9.4 Heroic Abduction Eve Langlais 8.4 Tethered Pippa Jay 9.4 Razor’s Traitorous Heart S.E. Smith 9.2 Hunter’s Claim: The Alliance Book 1 S.E. Smith 9.3 Krac’s Firebrand S.E. Smith CATEGORY ROMANCE 8.2 Wild About Her Wingman Robin Bielman 8.0 Burning Desire (The Flyboy Trilogy Book 2) G.L. Ross YOUNG ADULT 9.0 Queen Of Someday Sherry D. Ficklin

Only books with a Reader Rating Score of 8.0+ are listed.

All books that receive a score of 8.0+ are eligible for the Readers’ Crown contest. The top 10 books in each category for 2014 copyrighted books are finalists.

Finalists will be announced on May 15, 2015 and winners will be announced June 15, 2015.

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WRITER’S UNIVERSITY WORKSHOPS September 23 & 24, 2015 | Denver, CO Editing With Purpose with Meg Jacobs Aspiring and new authors will learn what it means to “Trim the Fat” from the initial drafts. Authors will learn the importance of the editing process and letting it go to outside editors in order to make it the best manuscript possible.The session will also include many activities to allow authors to face their fears about editing and ensure their writing is purposeful and their stories are told with fidelity. Participants will be given a number of resources to take away for immediate use in all current and future projects, including the purpose and necessity for beta readers and how to use them most effectively. Editing with Purpose is designed and crafted by two industry professionals with a passion for reading and writing who will ensure aspiring authors will walk away with tools and resources to make their drafts go from “Coal to Diamonds”.

Feel The Fight Scene with Thomas Casale An evening two hour event! Join 7th degree black belt Thomas Casale who will share insights into the internal thoughts and feelings of winners & losers, aggressors & victims, the mechanics of escalation of daily street violence & actual mortal combat.

To make it interesting, he will lead us through Lesson and Partner Exercises: Eye to eye, no contact, partner exercise to examine the aforementioned writing concepts and more. A fun, NO contact event!

Real Life CASTLE with Liliana Hart Join New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Liliana Hart, and Chief of Police, Scott Silverii, Ph.D., as they discuss the importance of getting the facts straight in fiction, and how to cultivate a good working relationship between the writer and law enforcement. Topics Include: *Wait...CASTLE isn’t real? *Cop Quirks, Language, and Tells that will make your characters authentic *Research, research, research *Breaking Through the Blue Line *How to Click with Your Cop DPI Is Not A Secret Government Agency! with David Gregg Enhance working with graphics designers and other media. Focusing on: Basic formats, specifications (Web, Print) and terms.

General overview graphics software programs used by most designers. Understanding the basics of statement of work or design briefs.

Branding and the Author with Maggie Mae Gallagher and Barbara Vey It’s important to look your best--even authors. Identify how to create your personal brand with tools to build it through a combination of traditional publicity, online publicity, and social media marketing. Whether it’s traditional print or online tweets, you’ll learn it here.

Taxes For The Author with Margaret Taylor This workshop will give an overview of Taxes as they relate to Authors. Topics covered will include the differences between a Corporation, an LLC, a Partnership, a Sole Proprietorship and what entity may be best for an Author; what types of industry specific expenses are deductible along with other topics geared toward helping Authors understand Taxes and their responsibilities.

Margaret Taylor is a former IRS Agent with 10 years experience as well as a best selling Author in the Fantasy and Paranormal Genres.

Social Media For Writers with Jamie Schmidt Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Livejournal, LinkedIn, Klout, Goodreads -- It’s enough to make you pull the covers over your head and pretend they don’t exist. But the fact remains that readers are looking to find new books and authors. Social media is a great way to reach them. This course will help you build your readership, without having hours upon hours to spend figuring out what each of these social media sites offer.This is also an introductory course on social media.You will learn how to set up a profile on each of these sites, the do’s and don’t’s, how to upload pictures and how to protect your privacy.We’ll also go over the terminology used (hashtag, poke, etc.), emoticons ( :D ) and text speak (tl;dr, smh).

Show vs. Tell and Deepen POV with Gina Ardito Method acting, developed by Academy Award® winner, Lee Strasberg, combines a series of exercises with relaxation and observation techniques to create a deeper understanding of characterization. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll employ those same ideals, used by some of the world’s greatest actors and actresses, to really know our characters, enhancing show vs. tell, and deepening point-of-view.

Co-Writing In’s and Out’s with Yelena Casale and Tina Moss Co-writing can be a tempting idea for both newbie and seasoned writers.The reasons are wide and varied – from dipping one’s toes into the writing world with a partner by their side, to putting two great minds together to see what may come of it, to just exploring a different facet of the writing experience.

Introduction to e-Book Self Publishing with Smashwords A discussion of trends that are impacting the publishing industry, the exciting advantages Indies have over their traditionally published peers, and a checklist of basics authors need to know when publishing an ebook like formatting, conversion, cover design, ISBN’s, copyrights and distribution.

Everything You Want To Know About Indie Publishing--If You’re Not Afraid to Ask Join Kallypso Masters, Liliana Hart, JM Madden, Red Phoenix and Debra Holland for an hour of ‘how did they do it?’

Plus...

Additional How Did They Do It? panels, Q&A sessions and more!

REGISTER NOW! *All workshops are subject to change without notice at any time.

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SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR:

NOBODY’S LOST (Rescue Me Saga #5) can be read as a standalone novel and new entry point into the Rescue Me Saga.

Ryder Wilson returned from serving multiple deployments, but can’t leave the hell of combat behind him. Frustrated and ashamed of his inability to function in the world, unlike the veterans he had served with, Ryder retreated. When sent on a mission to protect the sister of retired Master Sergeant Adam Montague, Ryder’s days of hiding out may be over. Can he fulfill his mission without failing again?

Megan Gallagher has two big-brother Marines bent on protecting her from the evils of the world, but she’s tougher than they think. When her older brother sends Ryder, one of his recon Marines, to her doorstep in the wee hours one night following a break-in, she realizes he needs rescuing more than she does. A friendship forms quickly, but unexpected passions run hot and complicate her resolve never to have a romantic relationship, much less marriage.

So why are her body and her heart betraying her every time he comes near?

Can these two wounded people lower their defenses long enough to allow love to grow?

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Erotic EXCERPT FROM NOBODY’S LOST (RESCUE ME SAGA #5)

“

Kink can be fun. My ex-wife and I enjoyed some bedroom kink in our relationship. It can spice things up for sure.”

“Only in the bedroom?”

He drew a breath while trying to decide how much he wanted to say about that relationship. “At first. Back when we first began to play, I had no idea how to be a Dom. We tried a few things I’d heard about from the guys I served with, but I was in over my head in no time.

Some of my buddies knew about a club in LA where I eventually was mentored by an authentic Dom.” She leaned toward him and propped her chin on her palm. “What kinds of things did you learn there?”

Her wide-eyed innocence had him wishing they’d branched off on an entirely different discussion tonight.

How the hell had they gotten onto this subject anyway?

“I don’t think you need to know.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to pry if it’s hard to talk about her.”

Hell, he wasn’t finding it difficult to talk about his ex. His feelings for her were long dead and buried. But someone with Megan’s curiosity and willfulness might go looking in all the wrong places for the Dom of her dreams. She’d probably wind up hurt, or worse. There were too many asshole posers out there, and it only seemed to be getting worse thanks to the media’s clueless and irresponsible reporting.

Which is exactly why I should talk to her. Maybe I can use the opportunity to test her knowledge and make sure her information doesn’t get her killed.

“It’s not that I can’t talk about my ex. I just don’t see any point in having this conversation. Save discussion and negotiation for when you become serious about someone.”

“Sorry. Just curious.” She glanced down at her plate before meeting his gaze again. “You’re the first person I’ve met who actually has any experience in the lifestyle, so I thought I’d ask some questions.”

“Everyone’s kink is different. Knowing what I’m into probably isn’t going to help you down the road. Just promise me you won’t do anything stupid like go to a Dom’s house for a first date.”

“Of course I wouldn’t! I’m not even looking for a Dom. I just thought…” She leaned closer to him, lowering her voice to a husky whisper. “I hear there is

great freedom in allowing yourself to be restrained by someone you trust. You’ve been locked up inside your head and your body for so long—” “Whoa! Being the bottom or submissive isn’t my kink.”

“Have you tried it?”

“Only while being trained to use new techniques or toys. A Dom doesn’t try anything that hasn’t been tried on him first so he knows what his submissive is experiencing. But that was enough for me to know I’m a Top, not a bottom.”

“You know you can trust me. Perhaps things have changed for you since you trained as a Dom.” Had they ever, but the thought of relinquishing control to anyone enough to be restrained, well, no fucking way. “Sorry, Red. You’re barking up the wrong tree.” Change the focus of this conversation back where it should be. “But I’d bet dollars to doughnuts you’re more submissive than Dominant.”

“Maybe I just like the idea of playing games in bed and won’t care if I’m on the giving or receiving end.”

She winked at him.

“And just how many times have you played in bed with a man?”

Her smiled faded, and she sat back in her chair.

“Touché.”

Damn, he didn’t mean to hurt her feelings.

He was going to kick himself in the morning for this, but at least she’d leave here knowing if she was a Top, a bottom, or maybe even a switch who enjoyed both ends of kink. “If you’d like to try a little experiment— one that doesn’t involve a bed—I think we can quickly determine which side of the BDSM coin you’re on.”

She smiled, eagerness lighting her emerald eyes once more. “What do you have in mind?”

“I’m going to ask you to stand, and I’m going to be behind you.” No fear. Perhaps if he ratcheted it up a notch. “I’ll want to bind your arms, mostly as a safety precaution in case my guess is wrong about your D/s orientation. Will that be all right with you?”

Damn, did her pupils just dilate? “Absolutely. I’d love to feel what it’s like to be tied up.”

“Do you mind if I pull your hair?”

“Pull my hair?” The huskiness in her voice told him she was excited by the idea—or was it fear? “Um,” her tongue flicked across her lower lip, “it sounds really sexy.”

No, definitely arousal. “This isn’t about sex. It’s about

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Erotic Erotic that exchange of power you keep talking about wanting to explore.” He waited a moment, but when she didn’t respond, he prompted her.“So, yes or no? Would having your hair pulled bother you?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t had my hair pulled since Patrick tormented me as a kid.”

“I’m not going to pull your hair like your brother did. It’s simply a means of exerting control over your body.”

“Through my hair?”

Jesus, what was he getting into here? She had no clue. Whatever made him want to introduce her to kink in the first place?

“Let’s forget all this. I don’t think you’re ready to find out whether you’re Dominant or submissive. The chances of you needing to know are—” She placed her hand on his. “But I trust you more

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than I would any other man.” She scooted her chair back and stood. “Let’s do this. I’m curious now. I want to know.” She moved away from the table and turned her back to him. “Do I need to put my hair in a ponytail or something?”

Her long, gorgeous curls covered the top half of her back. He got hard just thinking about winding the long strands around his hand. God forgive him for what he was about to do. He’d do his penance tonight while lying alone in bed thinking about her and what might have been if he wasn’t so fucked up.

With a sigh, Ryder stood. “No need. Just stand there as you are. Relax a little, though. Do you trust that I won’t do anything to harm you?”

She nodded. Hell, she hardly knew him. How could she trust him like that? He didn’t trust her that much.

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Author Bio Kallypso Masters

Erotic Romance Author

Contact Kallypso: www.kallypsomasters.com

www.facebook.com/KallypsoMastersAuthorPage www.twitter.com/kallypsomasters

www.pinterest.com/kallypsom

K

allypso Masters writes emotional, realistic Romance novels with an emphasis on healing using sometimes unconventional methods. Her alpha males are dominant and attracted to strong women who can bring them to their knees. Kally also has brought many readers to their knees—having them experience the stories right along with her characters in the Rescue Me Saga. Kally knows that Happily Ever After takes maintenance, so her couples don’t solve all their problems and disappear at “the end” of their Romance, but will continue to work on real problems in their relationships in later books in the saga.

Kally has been writing full-time since May 2011, having quit her “day job” the month before. She lives in rural Kentucky and has been married for more than 30 years to the man who provided her own Happily Ever After. They have two adult children, one adorable grandson, and a rescued dog.

She enjoys meeting readers and looks forward to attending RomCon in Colorado in September. The weekend before, also in Colorado, she’ll be conducting a bus-tour weekend visiting some of the places she writes about in the Rescue Me Saga.

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AUBREY

ROSS EXCERPT FROM MYSTIC KEEPERS: CAYENNE

Dimension 939-3 (Earth)

M

alik braced his hands on his knees, trembling violently as he waited for reality to come back into focus. He drew humid air into his burning lungs and stabilized enough to look around. He’d heard about this dimension all his life, had viewed countless archive files, but this was his first visit to Earth. The dimension was rumored to be wonderfully different from the Keeper realm yet fascinatingly similar. Humans were said to be both intelligent and barbaric, as easily befriended as enraged.

He stood at the edge of a tree-lined street, his presence concealed by a distortion shield powered by Light Keeper iede.

The houses surrounding him were small by Keeper standards, but the double galleries and artful wrought iron railings created an elegant ambiance. Each home had a well-tended yard and most with colorful gardens. Was that how this area had gotten its name, the Garden District?

His gaze shifted to the blue and white dwelling diagonal from where he stood. It was smaller than the others, the style slightly different. With a steeper roofline and charming spire, it set itself apart from the white columns and black wrought iron so prevalent in the area.

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“Do you need anything else, sir?” The Veil Keeper who’d brought him here was so effectively unobtrusive he’d forgotten she was there.

“No. Thank you.” He offered her a polite smile. “You may go.” The sooner she left, the sooner he could find Cayenne and begin the mating ritual.

“Are you sure, Lord Frost? You seem unsteady.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“High Priestess Sacha was curious when she heard you’d requested a Veil Keeper. She’ll expect a full report when I return.”

Malik tensed. No one could know about his joining with Cayenne until after it had been consummated.

He managed a casual shrug.

“This is a personal errand.

Nothing important.” He smiled again, allowing his gaze to linger on the Veil Keeper’s face. They were cloistered during training, cut off from everyone except other members of their order. Hopefully a little flirtation would throw her off balance. “One of my friends is stationed here, but he’s undercover. If I told you his name, I’d have to kill you.” He defused the threat with a playful wink. “If I’ve over stepped my authority, please accept my apology.”

As he expected, the Veil Keeper shuffled back toward the ally, unable to meet his gaze. “High Priestess Sacha wouldn’t have approved your request if you’d overstepped your authority. Forgive my impertinence.”

“Thanks for your assistance.”

She inclined her head with a hasty, “Enjoy your stay.”

His heart gave a happy leap as he thought of the activities to come. Cayenne’s parents were part of an ongoing mission, so he needed to claim Cayenne as quickly as possible and bring her back to the Keeper realm.

The urgency seemed rather odd, but Matriarch

Erotic Flame’s secretive agenda fell in line with his personal preferences, so he wasn’t about to object. He would spend three or four days in this dimension, just long enough to make sure his physical bond with Cayenne had solidified, then they’d return, ready to begin their life together. What could be more perfect?

He started to deactivate the distortion shield attached to his belt, but trepidation made him cautious.

Better to determine exactly what awaited him on the inside of that blue and white house than to walk into a trap. The shield didn’t render him incorporeal, just invisible. Luckily, the back door wasn’t locked, so he slipped into a small room with two similar white machines. Not pausing long enough to determine their purpose, he ventured deeper into the house.

A burst of female laughter guided his steps toward the front room where he found two young women engaged in a lively conversation. A delicate blonde curled up in an overstuffed chair with a wineglass cradled between her palms while a brunette sat on the sofa, feet casually propped on the coffee table. After only a glance at the blonde, Malik focused on the brunette. With vivid red streaks gleaming in her rich brown hair, this had to be Cayenne. But where were her parents? And why wasn’t she making preparations for his arrival?

“Does Paul know about any of this?” Cayenne asked her friend. The hushed fascination in her tone hinted at a subject that wasn’t quite proper.

“Of course not.” The blonde scrunched up her nose and shook her head. “No matter what they claim, men never really want to know about what went on before you met them. If a man isn’t jealous of your other lovers, he doesn’t give a shit about you, baby. Move on.”

He couldn’t argue with the blonde’s conclusion. The thought of any man touching Cayenne made his heart lurch and his fists clench.

“But that night on the balcony,” Cayenne persisted, “no one reported you? You must admit—even for Mardi Gras—that was pretty wild.”

The blonde shrugged, but the sadness in her eyes ruined her attempt at nonchalance. “I’ve done a lot of wild things down through the years. Most of it was harmless fun, but some of it…” She shook her head and drained her wineglass. “Why do we always end up talking about my sex life during these tell-all sessions?

When do we get to talk about yours?”

Cayenne laughed. “As soon as I have one worth talking about.”

“Well, unless you’re desperate enough to hire a

gigolo, I suspect I’m out of luck. Socializing generally requires leaving the house!”

They both laughed and Cayenne pushed to her feet.

“I know you’re right, but the bar scene is just so…not me.”

“Websites are more and more common, but I still like to see what I’m getting myself into.”

“Or what’s getting into you?” Cayenne arched her eyebrows, accenting the double-entendre.

“Well, we both know the only thing getting into you is battery operated,” the blonde called as Cayenne darted up the stairs.

Malik followed close behind, carefully matching his footsteps to hers. None of this made sense. It was obvious she wasn’t expecting him. Where were her parents and why hadn’t she been readied for the coming of her mate?

His body ached and his blood sizzled, demanding he act, conquer and claim what was rightfully his. Pim Noctar was always potent, but his had been cast by Matriarch Flame, one of the most powerful elders in the Keeper realm. He needed Cayenne, hungered for her with painful intensity. Yet it was glaringly obvious she had no idea who he was or why he was here.

She slipped into one of the bedrooms on the upper level and crossed to the cluster of windows. This section of the house was directly beneath the fanciful spire, creating an interesting outward arc. She leaned her shoulder against the window frame and stared out into the gathering night, looking lonely and forlorn.

All he had to do was link their minds and push the cravings across the connection. Her body would come alive with Pim Noctar and she would be… She would be powerless, lost in a sexual frenzy she didn’t understand. It would not be manipulation, it would be true ravishment. No, she must be willing, aware and unafraid.

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Vanessa Vale #

1 EROTIC HISTORICAL WESTERN BESTSELLER

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idow Devney Jenkins needs to remarry, and quickly. Not only is she sought after for the vast ranch her husband left her, but remarkably, she’s still a virgin. She’s quite a prize for any money- grubbing bachelor. She married her first husband out of sheer desperation and it got her seven years of isolation and loneliness. It was not something she wished to repeat and decides to forge her own path, to take control of her life. But with the strict rules regarding the protection of women, that was impossible in Liberty, Montana, and and she learns them firsthand.

Cowboy Sam Bridger takes one look at Devney Jenkins and decides his bachelor days are over. He doesn’t need Devney’s land or money; he wants her maidenhead. No other man will touch her. She is his.

The only person that stands in the way of this is Devney herself.

Sam needs to take control of Devney’s body in order to sway her mind toward marriage. Once achieved, his full domination of her body begins. Devney doesn’t give in easily and must learn through sound spankings and pleasurable and very carnal rewards that being under Sam’s control is everything she’s ever wanted.

This is the third book in the Montana Maidens series. Book 4, Submitting Sarah, will be available early February.

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ROMCON 2015- READER WEEKEND Don't Miss Out! Register Today September 25-27, 2015 Denver, Colorado The Renaissance Hotel 3801 Quebec Street Denver, CO 80207

3 days you won't forget...

• 60+ Authors of all genres of romanceContemporary, Erotic, Historical, Inspirational, Sci-Fi, Paranormal, & Suspense • 20 Author-led games and eventsInteract and play with awesome authors!

• 15 Intimate Chats- Ask those burning questions!

• 4 After Hours events- Learn to line dance at Wild West Night, Sweet Friday Night, Bachelorette Party, and Comedy Show!

• Chat Panels • 1 Epic Author Signing- Perfect Fan Girl Time • 1 Amazing Reader Appreciation Luncheon- Sit with your favorite author, listen to great speakers, and win one of their amazing gift baskets • Incredible vendors with lots of great stuff • Tons of author prizes, gift baskets, raffles and free books • Support Breast Cancer Research with our annual raffle

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

Saturday Luncheon SpeakerNew York Times & USA Today Bestseller Jodi Thomas Jodi Thomas has published over 30 books in both the historical romance and contemporary genres, the majority of which are set in her home state of Texas. Publishers Weekly calls her novels “Distinctive...

Memorable,” and that in her stories “[tension] rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes.” In 2006, Romance Writers of America (RITA) inducted Thomas into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA for THE TEXAN’S REWARD. She also received the National Readers’ Choice Award in 2009 for TWISTED CREEK (2008) and TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN (2008).While continuing to work as a novelist,Thomas also functions as Writer in Residence at the West Texas A&M University campus, where she inspires students and alumni in their own writing pursuits.

Historical

Historical

ANABELLE BRYANT: An Interview

T

ell us a little about your path to publication.

I’ve always been an avid writer and reader, keeping journals all through my childhood. As a teenager I read romance novels and dreamed of being the heroine. Needless to say, I have an active imagination. I’m a voracious reader and as I devoured novel after novel, I became disenchanted with the familiar, lackadaisical portrayal of heroine. She always played some version of damsel in distress with very few goals of her own. I wanted to read about strong women who had ideas and dreams and I knew I could write their story. So I did.

My first novel was over 100,000 words and I would never want to edit it – ever! It’s tucked away where it should stay, but it provided a valuable lesson. So I wrote another.

Intermittently life interfered with my pursuit of publication. I studied for my Master’s degree, than my Doctorate. I traveled a lot. Ultimately though, and still frustrated with many of the depictions I read, I decided to pursue publication as a priority. Writing for Harlequin was a dream I cherished for decades so their offer of a contract was a magical moment. I never anticipated my debut novel, To Love A Wicked Scoundrel, would become a number one best seller in three weeks.

What are you working on now?

The Midnight Rake is set for release in mid-January 2015 and completes my debut trilogy, so I’m excited to introduce a new set of characters and this time I’ll be writing a quartet. The stories are all connected by a piece of jewelry. I’ve already completed the first novel and I couldn’t be more pleased.

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Historical Historical What is your writing process?

In addition to being a historical romance author, I’m a full time educator so much of my writing is achieved during the summer months or vacations from the school year. Otherwise I try to edit during stolen moments before and after work. Even if I only reread a passage, it keeps me connected to the story. And my mind is always active with a group of characters.

I’m a morning person and one of those overlyorganized types, so I do accomplish a lot through multi-tasking. As a whole though, I probably don’t get enough sleep and I lack the dedication to dusting that some of my friends seem to have.

Why historical romance?

I fell in love with the Regency at a young age and the enchantment of that period has never left me. The idea of masquerades, ballroom waltzes and decadent fashion convince me I was born in the wrong time period. I’ve been fortunate to tour Europe a few times and my interest in history combined with my travels has ignited my passion for the Regency more than satisfy my curiosity. Sadly, since no one has invented a time machine yet, I content myself with writing the scenes I wish I lived.

Who do you read?

I read a huge assortment of authors, although stay in the genre of historical romance for the most part.

Authors I admire include Sherry Thomas, Loretta Chase, Lisa Kleypas, Elizabeth Essex, and Eloisa James.

Particular novels by each of these authors are in my top-ten-all-time-reads list. As with my own writing, these authors create deep emotional characters I care

about. It’s a true gift when a writer makes me want to know personally and wish the story would never end.

What can you tell us about your life outside of writing?

I’m an avid traveler, shutterbug, and wordsmith. I enjoy the way words look and sound. Among other quirks, I’m particular about my ink pens and the paper, have never met a French fry or biscotti I didn’t like, and would enjoy conversation and coffee with a friend to a crowded party. I’m a giver and delight in seeing other people happy, a quality that comes into play daily in my first grade classroom. Ladybugs, daisies and handsome men make me smile. I hardly watch television, possess an abnormal obsession with boots, and find the beach to be the most peaceful place. I also believe there is a lot of good in the world, but people so often forget to look for it.

Anything else?

I’m new to the world of publication, and I’m very interested in getting to know my readers. I attend conferences, interact on several social media sites and always write back when I am lucky to receive fan mail. I also hold giveaways on my Facebook page often and would love to see my readers there. I’m far from techsavvy but I also have a bi-monthly newsletter which can be joined from the link on my website, AnabelleBryant.com.

“Tell me what you want, my lovely. I know you feel as I do.”

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Historical EXCERPT FROM TO LOVE A WICKED SCOUNDREL

H

is voice, low pitched, rich and silky, proved a lethal combination of wickedness and handsomeness and his uttered endearment caused all logical thought to dissipate, turning her into a quivering mass of foolishness. A silent warning reminded her of his skill to charm and disarm, but Isabelle believed she engaged the real man who existed behind the dashing tailoring and fabulously good looks.

“Tell me what you want, my lovely. I know you feel as I do.” He tangled his fingers in her hair to knock loose the pins and unravel its length. “Your hair is magnificent.” He touched a silken strand to his lips.

“It is a crime you keep it hidden from view.”

Isabelle’s heart beat heavily as her thoughts scattered like the hairpins that littered the floor. When had he removed his gloves? How had they become embraced in a dark room behind a locked door?

“Tell me, what it is you desire?”

His eyes seared into her, while his clever tongue and honeyed words decimated her sensibility. All intellect fled on a wave of concupiscence, the intense yearning enthralling. She trembled, her body pressed to his, her skirts pushed to the side as he held her in a tight embrace against his hard length. Her gown whispered impatiently against his trousers and every point of contact, no matter the layers of superfine or silk, burned with heat and ignited her blood.

“Constantine.” His name came out a broken plea, but for what she begged she had no idea.

“Tell me, Isabelle. Do you want what I do?”

He whispered kisses across her temple with stunning delicacy, to belie the intensity of his words or fervor of his embrace. She trembled at the contact of his mouth on her skin as his soft lips caressed her with extreme care and left a trail of dizzying pleasure in their wake.

“I want to kiss you. To taste your mouth, those delicious rosebud lips, long and thoroughly, and discover the flavor of your kiss, the secrets of your beautiful body, every curve, every softness…” He broke off, although his hold on her did not lessen in the least.

Isabelle’s mind whirled. She had no way to make sense of the carnal images he suggested, and her body reacted and flooded with desire as he continued to whisper and paint vivid pictures of sensuality that persisted and demanded attention. She knew of the 42

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pleasures men and women enjoyed, but to hear them in explicit detail, while Constantine held her captive against his heated body was achingly exquisite. And definitely wrong. She needed to stop him, but a wicked part of her, a part she never knew existed, taunted that her entire life she’d been told she was wrong in every way. Why not surrender to an opportunity for adventure?

“Stop saying such things to me.” Breathless, her eyes flicked upwards away from the mesmerizing motion of his lips, her words motivated by more than mere indulgence.

“Why?” He almost laughed.

“Is it impulse or curiosity?”

“It is neither.” His fingertip skimmed over each of her eyebrows before it traced a gentle line over her lips.

“So intelligent, yet so foolish. You have no confidence in your beauty or belief in your appeal. You are like no other woman I have encountered.” He moved his hands to the arch of her back and his palms skimmed her sides as he splayed his fingers to wrap her in a firm hold meant to keep her in place. She was so distracted by the press of his thumbs near the underside of her breasts, she almost missed his warm murmur.

“You enchant me like no one has before.”

Swamped with self-consciousness, Isabelle deflected his comment without pause. “That cannot be true. You will tire of me.” With little success she attempted to drag her eyes from the powerful pull of his sensual smile.

“I rather doubt that. Forever is too short a time to spend exploring your body or enjoying your mind.”

Isabelle let out a strangled sigh. It was difficult to breathe, as if every inch of her being overflowed with emotion, and at the same time, an undercurrent of raw sensuality urged her pulse into a frantic beat.

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Historical Historical

Author Bio Anabelle Bryant Historical Author

A

Contact Anabelle: http://www.anabellebryant.com https://www.facebook.com/ AnabelleBryantAuthor http://www.Twitter.com@AnabelleBryant

nabelle began reading at age three and never stopped. Her passion for reading soon turned into a passion for writing and an author was born.

Happy to grab her suitcase if it ensures a new adventure, Anabelle finds endless inspiration in travel; especially imaginary jaunts into romantic Regency England, a far cry from her home in New Jersey.

Instead, her clever characters live out her daydreams because really, who wouldn’t want to dance with a handsome duke or kiss a wicked earl?

Though teaching keeps her grounded, photography, running, and writing counterbalance her wanderlust. Often found with her nose in a book, Anabelle has earned her Master’s Degree and is pursuing her Doctorate Degree in education. She proudly owns her addiction to French fries and stationery supplies, as well as her frightening ineptitude with technology. A firm believer in romance, Anabelle knows sometimes life doesn’t provide a happily ever after, but her novels always do. She enjoys talking with her fans.

http://bit.ly/1r0TjsY

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Historical

Historical Excerpt:

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M

eg McKenzie stood in yet another hotel room, another dusty frontier town, on the hunt for yet another wayward criminal. She pulled out her Baby Dragoon revolver from her holster, spun the cylinder, and checked to make sure a bullet graced every chamber. With a gentle tug, she checked the leather case, and then she slid the weapon back into its holster, just a fingertip away.

She wore her gun low on her hips just below the waist of her father’s hand-me-down pants. No fancy dress for Meg. “The McKenzie sisters are about to strike again,” her sister Ruby said, as she slid her own gun into the hidden sheath-like case neatly tucked beneath her petticoats.

Her saloon dress dipped low in the front, to the edge of her breasts, the straps completely off her shoulder. She flipped her blonde hair back and checked her image one last time in the mirror. “How many men have we brought to justice?”

In the last year, they had learned the bounty hunter trade and continued the legacy of their father. With his death, the girls had been forced to find work in order to save the farm and in a desperate moment chosen their current path. Meg and Ruby chased wanted criminals, and Annabelle maintained their family farm. At least until they returned and could join their sister once again. They’d never intended to make this their lifelong occupation. Just long enough to pay off the mortgage on the farm.

“At least twelve. Seems we’ve spent more time on the road than we have at home,” Meg said, homesickness surging through her like an open wound.

“Just as well with Sheriff Zach still coming out to the house looking for you.”

“Zach Gillespie wants a quiet, retiring woman who wears a dress and has tea parties. Do I look like that kind of woman?” Meg shook her head. Her heartache was nearly healed, though she could never look at Zach again without smiling and remembering him naked.

Ruby laughed. “No, but you could if you wanted.”

Meg glanced out the window.The glow of the setting sun cast a shadow, but she could still see the dress shop down the street. After she’d spoken to this noname town’s sheriff, she’d spent time in the little dress shop, gazing and fingering the available dresses and the patterns of the latest fashions. Inside these pants, a woman longed to emerge and live like a lady, not the rough bounty hunter façade of a life she lived now.

“I’ll never change for any man. As soon as we pay off

Historical Historical the farm, then I’m going to begin my life and do things the way I want to,” Meg vowed. She had dreams, she had plans, and soon, it would be her time.

Circumstances required she dress like a man. But the girly-girl in her had a hidden vice. Her own little secret pleasure…a rouge pot. Just a tiny bit of color to her lips helped her remember she was a girl. A girl who had the same desires as every other woman.

As the sun continued its descent, cloaking the street in darkness, she knew it would soon be time to carry out their plan.

“Your weapon’s ready?” Meg asked one last time. She worried about Ruby and hated leaving her alone with the criminal they were chasing.

“Yes,” Ruby said. “And you’ll be there with me?”

“Until you give me the signal.”

“Remind me how much this guy’s worth?”

“Five hundred dollars.” This could be their last bounty if things worked out like Meg planned.

Ruby smiled and walked over to the window. “Papa would be so proud of us.”

Meg shook her head, knowing their Papa would have been furious at the chances they were taking. “Maybe secretly, but he’d tell us we should have taken jobs in town. He’d have been more concerned about our safety than how quickly we were paying off the farm.”

Ruby turned, her mouth twisted with displeasure.

“No. I will never become a maid again. Never. This last year has been exciting, and criminals are too stupid to realize a pretty woman is going to pull a gun on them.”

Meg nodded. In the last year, Ruby had changed and matured. She’d gone from a love-crazed girl to being driven to catch as many low-life criminals as they could.

She enjoyed the chase, the thrill. “Annabelle said we need six hundred dollars more, and the farm will be mortgage free.”

“Old man Bates will fall out of his chair when you pay off the note.”

Meg smiled. “Annabelle said he wasn’t too friendly when she took in the payment on the note this year. He had plans on repossessing the farm. Too bad.”

“I miss Annabelle,” Ruby said, with a wistful whine in her voice.

“Yeah, me too. But someone had to take care of the farm, and she’s good at the bookkeeping.”

Meg glanced out the window and watched as men entered the saloon, the doors swinging wide. Now was when her nerves had her stomach rolling, her heart racing, and fear choking her throat. What if something

happened to Ruby? How could she live with herself?

“The drinking has begun,” Meg said quietly, listening to the music spilling out into the street from the local saloon.

“And will soon end for Simon Trudeau,” Ruby said laughing, her eyes shining with excitement.

There was no fear in her gaze, only excited anticipation. Only reckless adventure. And that worried Meg. “The horses are saddled and ready to go. Give me your satchel, and I’ll secure it on your horse. I can’t go in with you, or they’ll make the connection between us.” Meg stared at her youngest sister, fear sitting like a pit in the bottom of her stomach. “You’re all set? Your weapons are ready?”

Ruby shrugged. “My knife is in my boot. My gun is in my holster.” She smiled. “And my charm is ready to ensnare this poor bastard.”

Meg was always stunned at how much Ruby enjoyed the chase. They used her as the bait, and then Meg would pull a gun on some poor unlucky bastard, and Ruby would tie him up. Every time before a catch, her blue eyes would sparkle and shine with excitement.

She loved being a bounty hunter. She loved catching criminals, and most of all she loved playing her many roles.

They’d done everything from the distraught woman, pregnant wife, and now a saloon girl. Wherever the unlawful resided, they’d lay a trap and ensnare the wanted.

“Where’s your hat?” Ruby asked.

“Right here,” Meg said and picked up her black cowboy hat and pulled it down tight.

But for Meg it was just a job. A means to an end. A way to earn a decent living and pay for the farm. Once they had enough money, she would retire and never chase another criminal. But Ruby loved the chase, the entrapment, and the thrill of turning in the longrider.

Music echoed down the street, and Meg knew it was time. “Are you ready?”

Ruby smiled, her lips painted red, her cheeks tinted with the same color. “Let’s get this done, so we can go home for a while.”

“Let’s go.”

The two walked out of the hotel room together, but once they reached the street, Ruby walked to the saloon alone.

Meg gave her just enough time to get inside, and then she followed. Time to go to work.

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RomCon 2015- READER WEEKEND ATTENDING A Jerrie Alexander- ROMANTIC SUSPENSE- A student of creative writing in her youth, Jerrie set aside her passion when life presented her with a John Wayne husband, and two wonderful children.

A career in logistics offered her the opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations in America, and she revisits them in her romantic suspense novels. But the characters went with her, talked to her, and insisted she share their dark, sexy stories with others. She writes alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through death and fear to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each other. She likes to torture people, make them suffer, and if they’re strong enough, they live happily ever after. Jerrie lives in Texas, loves sunshine, children’s laughter, sugar (human and granulated), and researching for her heroes and heroines.

Melody Anne- CONTEMPORARY- NewYorkTimes and USAToday bestseller- She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and left behind a career in the airline industry to pursue her longtime passion— writing. Her fascination with the corporate world and strong, powerful business men radiates through her captivating stories. Melody Anne sets many of her books in small-town locations, a reflection of her own upbringing. She hails from the picturesque coastal town of Florence, Oregon, and currently resides in Oregon’s beautiful wine country—the Willamette Valley. She loves spending time with her family and friends in her small town, and is involved in many community projects. She will always be a country girl at heart.

Sheila Athens- CONTEMPORARY- Sheila grew up in the Ozarks, vacillating between climbing trees, reading books and neurotically working toward straight A’s. Many years later—after marriage, two sons, a couple of careers, and a Master’s Degree—she discovered her first romance novel in the gift shop of a hotel when she was supposed to be networking with fellow conventioneers. Now, she’s got a bright red study filled with romance novels. She’s a creative lefty who loves quiet spaces and eccentric people. She’s lived in the coastal south for more than twenty-five years, but looks forward to one day moving to the serene mountaintop cabin she and her husband have built at the edge of a national forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Aidy Award- EROTIC ROMANCE- Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived to write stories of happy ever after. During the day. But at night, oh at night, her world transforms into one of dark desires, deep passions and the forbidden. This duality is what makes her so interesting. She combines the two sides of her imagination by penning stories of romance and true love. Read the delicious fantasies of heroes and heroines you want to be or want to be with, come to life under the covers and between the pages of Aidy’s books.

Deborah Bladon- CONTEMPORARY- New York Times & USA Today bestseller- Deborah Bladon has never read a romance hero she didn’t like. Her love for romance novels began when she was old enough to board the bus, library card in hand to check out the newest Harlequin paperbacks. She’s a Canadian by heart, and by passport, but you can often spot her in New York City sipping a latte and looking for inspiration for her next story. Manhattan is definitely her second home. She cherishes her family and believes that each day is a gift for writing, for reading, and for loving.

Carolyn Brown- CONTEMPORARY- New York Times and USA Today bestseller- RITA® Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than sixty books. Brown presently writes both women’s fiction and cowboy romance. She has also written historical single title, historical series, contemporary single title and contemporary series. She lives in southern Oklahoma with her husband, a former English teacher, who is not allowed to read her books until they are published. They have three children and enough grandchildren to keep them young.

AUTHORS Michele CallahanPARANORMALAmazon Bestseller- Michele Callahan is a wife, mother, romance and science fiction addict, and founder of RomCon, the only Fan Convention geared toward women who read romance and genre fiction. She suffers from a dangerous case of sci-fi/fantasy fever and never turns down an opportunity to sit through a Star Wars, True Blood, or Matrix marathon. Her favorite things in books; hot heroes, superpowers, freakish things that can’t be explained by modern science, and true love!

Yelena Casale- URBAN FANTASYAn award-winning author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance.Yelena was born in Kiev, Ukraine and moved to New York at 13. Being very curious and inquisitive, she has been a devoted reader and writer since childhood.

As a 2nd degree black belt and instructor in Shotokan karate, an avid traveler and history and art enthusiast, she weaves universal themes with martial arts philosophies into her stories. She lives with her amazing, super supportive husband and the best Siamese cat. In her spare time, she reads, paints, watches cool shows on TV and tries to get more sleep. Like the samurai of the old, as well as the ultimate Renaissance man and Yelena’s favorite historical figure, Leonardo da Vinci, she believes that nothing is greater than mastery of oneself.

Misty Dietz- PARANORMAL- Misty’s love affair with words started in middle school with moody stories set in exotic locations she’d never been to. In college, her boy-angst erupted in disturbing reams of poetry. After grad school, the writing went into hibernation until she found her own happily-ever-after with an ultra linear man who is the long-suffering counter-balance to her zig-zagging ways. Now, she spends her days writing sexy, adrenalinefueled stories, teaching Zumba, enjoying family and friends, and praying her children don’t come home with math homework.

Karen Docter- CONTEMPORARY/ROMANTIC SUSPENSEKaren Docter, also writing as K.L. Docter, writes two different kinds of romance novels....

K.L.’s romantic suspense novels are filled with romance, although the dangers the hero and heroine face are intense, usually because a serial killer is bent on ending one or both of their lives before they can fall in love. Her contemporaries (written as Karen Docter) are cute & spicy romances. She loves writing about real men and women with dreams and goals that don’t allow for a relationship just so she can throw them in each other’s path...with a tickle and a smile.

When she’s not saving her characters from death and destruction or helping them fall in love, she loves camping and fishing with her family, reading, gardening & cooking. If she can do most of those things over a campfire, all the better!

RomCon 2015- READER WEEKEND ATTENDING A Maggie Mae Gallagher- URBAN FANTASY- Bestselling Author Maggie Mae Gallagher doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. When she was a kid she acted out her favorite scenes, only better, with her brother and cousin. As a teenager, she wrote reams of poetry, but realized her true love lay with creating characters and stories. A former music and history major, Maggie is a total geek at her core. When she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She lives in St. Louis with her two furry felines.

JoAnna Grace- PARANORMAL- From the time I started holding a crayon I began creating magical worlds. My very first book was a series of pictures about a puppy princess. The story changed each time I told it, but there was always a happy ending! My first written story was about girls who changed into tigers. Hmmm.... I guess some concepts stick with you. Now my stories have become a bit more complex! And I’m glad to share them with you. My tales are spun in my home in East Texas where I live with my husband, three kids, a couple dogs and a few fish. When I’m not hiding behind my computer screen you can find me camping, boating, and shopping. I’m active in ministry and hope to pass on the unconditional love given to me to others. Occasionally I get to sing and no one runs screaming, so I guess it’s not too bad!

Joni Hahn- PARANORMAL- By day, Joni Hahn keeps her secret decoder ring hidden while she works as a mild-mannered HR manager and accounting generalist. She believes the world can never have too many superheroes, and anxiously waits for the call when one will need help saving the world... or getting into his costume. Joni was born with a hopelessly tender heart and believes there is nothing on earth more exhilarating than falling in love (Other than the rear shot of Chris Evans in The Avengers - that was pretty darn exhilarating). A native Texan, she thinks cowboys are the epitome of masculinity, and that country music is the other soul music.

Sharon Hamilton- CONTEMPORARY/MILITARY ROMANTIC SUSPENSENew York Times Bestseller- Known for her award-winning SEAL Brotherhood series, Sharon also writes hot paranormals with her Golden Vampires of Tuscany and Guardians series.A lifelong organic gardener, Sharon lives with her husband in the Wine Country of Northern California, where most of her stories take place. When she’s not writing, she’s getting verra verra dirty in the mud, or wandering Farmer’s Markets looking for new Heirloom varieties of vegetables and flowers.

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AUTHORS Debra Holland- HISTORICALNew York Times & USA Today bestsellerDebra Holland wears several hats when it comes to writing. As a psychotherapist, she writes nonfiction books. The Essential Guide to Grief and Grieving is her first nonfiction book.

More nonfiction books about grieving, boundary setting with difficult people, and relationships, are forthcoming. Debra also writes fiction-Historial Western Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy Romance, and Science Fiction.

Michelle HowardPARANORMAL/CONTEMPORARY- Michelle Howard enjoys a crazy life that involves wild kids, a loud dog, and a husband who tolerates the madness. Like many authors, she’s dreamed of writing since reading her first romance novel many years ago. She loves paranormal and contemporary romances and is a fan of the classic romances, such as Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood.

Jenna Jacob- EROTIC ROMANCE- Bestselling Author Jenna Jacob’s erotic romance comes from the heart of submission. With over twenty years experience in the dynamics of the BDSM lifestyle, Jenna strives to portray Dominance and submission with a passionate and comprehensive voice. Her stories will make you laugh, cry, and may leave you with a better understanding of the fulfillment found in t he BDSM power exchange. A married mom of four grown children, Jenna and her husband lives in Kansas. Her passions include her family, reading, camping, cooking, music, and riding Harleys. She loves to make people laugh with her outgoing and warped sense of humor. If you’re looking for hot romance with a kinky twist, pick up one of Jenna’s books.

Amelia James- EROTIC ROMANCE- I got hooked on trashy romance novels in junior high, but my mom took them away from me, But she couldn’t stop me from daydreaming. After I got married, I wrote some of my naughtier daydreams down and sent them to Playgirl magazine. Two of them got published. I kept daydreaming and writing stories until my dirty stories turned into trashy books. I live in Colorado, but I’ll always be a loyal Wisconsin Cheesehead. When I’m not lusting after my next bad boy hero, I’m looking for inspiration in sci-fi and action movies, football players, morally ambiguous lawyers, muscle cars, and kick-butt chicks.

Jean C. Joachim- CONTEMPORARY- Jean Joachim, wife and mother of two sons, is owned by a rescued pug, named Homer. She’d been writing non-fiction for what seemed like forever until she got up the nerve to try fiction. It was love. Now she spends her days in New York City in the company of her characters, with a cup of tea and a secret stash of black licorice.

Silk Jones- EROTIC ROMANCE- Silk Jones writes erotica, erotic romance and erotic poetry.

Although she began writing poetry, song lyrics and fiction as a child, Silk wrote her first novel during National November Writing Month in 2007. Since then, she has written three novels (outside the erotica genre) and several erotic spanking stories to entertain her friends. She hopes that you enjoy her sexy stories and her journey to publication.

RomCon 2015- READER WEEKEND ATTENDING A Suza Kates- PARANORMAL- Suza Kates writes the Savannah Coven Series along with other romantic suspense and paranormal novels and was a 2014 Readers’ Crown finalist. As a self-proclaimed twisted romantic, she enjoys magic, danger, and love in equal measure. She lives in Savannah with her family and four imperialistic cats and is working on her next two series.

Megan Kelly- CONTEMPORARY- Megan Kelly writes contemporary romance. Whether set in Missouri, Illinois or Montana, all feature matters of the heart, family dilemmas and quirky citizens. She lives in the Midwest where the weather has an imagination (and sense of humor) of its own.

Sandra Kerns- CONTEMPORARY- Born in upstate New York, Sandra is officially the only Yankee in her family (and yes, a die-hard Yankees fan), as the rest were born in Kentucky. If you ever speak to her in person, don’t be surprised when a “y’all” pops out. Sandra has always loved words. By seventh grade she should have known she would be a writer, when much to the regret of her classmates, she chose idiosyncrasies as a spelling word. One of the high points of her life was the first time she beat her mother at Scrabble! Sandra now lives in Northern Colorado where she writes her stories of love from a sweetheart-of-a-town. With the majestic Rocky Mountains, family, and friends to inspire her she never lacks for ideas.

Jody A Kessler- PARANORMAL- When Jody isn’t navigating the terrain of her imagination and writing it down, she can be found exploring the wilderness of Colorado with her family, or in the kitchen baking cookies & brownies – and then trying not to eat them all. She’s passionate about continuing to learn and reads anything and everything that catches her interest. Jody is a full time mom, a Reiki Master, and has taught Hatha yoga for over a decade.

Eve Langlais- PARANORMAL- New York Times & USA Today Bestseller- Hello, my name is Eve and I am a Canadian author who loves to write hot romance, usually with werewolves, cyborgs or aliens. I should warn you that I possess a twisted imagination and a sarcastic sense of humor something I like to let loose in my writing. I enjoy strong alpha males, and shifters. Lots of big, overprotective shifters. I am also extremely partial to aliens, the kind who like to abduct humans and then drive them insane...with pleasure. Do you like something a little darker? Then check out my cyborgs whose battle with humanity have captivated readers worldwide.

Evelyn Lederman- PARANORMAL- When Evelyn Lederman retired from her career as an insurance executive, she cheerfully anticipated the freedom to finally spend as much time reading as she’d always wanted. The twist in her story came when as -yet unwritten characters started cropping up in her thoughts, asking her to tell their stories. Now, she spends her days in Florida on the beach… with her laptop. ‘The Chameleon Soul Mate’ is the first book in her paranormal romance series, ‘Worlds Apart’.

AUTHORS Dianna LoveROMANTIC SUSPENSE/FANTASYNew York Times bestseller- Dianna Love once dangled over a hundred feet in the air to create unusual marketing projects for Fortune 500 companies.

She now writes high-octane romantic thrillers, young adult (as USA Today bestseller Micah Caida) and urban fantasy. On the rare occasions Dianna is out of her writing cave, she tours the country on her BMW motorcycle searching for new story locations. Dianna lives in the Atlanta, GA area with her husband who is a motorcycle instructor and with a tank full of unruly saltwater critters.

JM Madden- CONTEMPORARYNew York Times and USA Today Bestseller- J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between ‘combat modified’ military men and the women who love them. J.M. (the J stands for Jennifer, not Jim as she’s been asked MANY times!) loves any and all good love stories, most particularly her own. She has two beautiful children and a husband who always keeps her on her toes. J.M. was a Deputy Sheriff in Ohio for nine years, until hubby moved the clan to Kentucky. When not chasing the family around, she’s at the computer, reading and writing, perfecting her craft. She occasionally takes breaks to feed her animal horde and is trying to control her office-supply addiction, but both tasks are uphill battles. Happily, she is writing full-time and always has several projects in the works.

Kallypso Masters- CONTEMPORARY- USA Today Bestseller- Kallypso Masters writes emotional, realistic Romance novels with dominant males (for the most part) and the women who can bring them to their knees. She also has brought many readers to their knees—having them experience the stories right along with her characters in the Rescue Me series. Kally knows that Happily Ever After takes maintenance, so her couples don’t solve all their problems and disappear at “the end” of their Romance, but will continue to work on real problems in their relationships in later books in the series. Kally has been writing full-time since May 2011, having quit her “day job” the month before. Kally lives in rural Kentucky and has been married for almost 30 years to the man who provided her own Happily Ever After.

Sylvia McDaniel- HISTORICAL- Sylvia McDaniel is a best-selling, award-winning author of historical romance and contemporary romance novels. Known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances, Sylvia is the author of The Burnett Brides, a western historical western series, The Cuvier Widows, a Louisiana historical series, and several short contemporary romances. Former President of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, a member of the Romance Writers of America®, and a member of Novelists Inc, her novel, A Hero’s Heart was a 1996 Golden Heart Finalist. Several other books have placed or won in the San Antonio Romance Authors Contest, LERA Contest, and she was a Golden Network Finalist.

RomCon 2015- READER WEEKEND ATTENDING A Misha McKenzie- PARANORMAL- I have always loved to read. It’s said in my family that I refused to start kindergarten because I didn’t know how. So my grandfather sat me down, at four years old, and showed me how all those words became amazing stories. All these years later, and I still love to loose myself in the pages of a book. After graduating from high school, I attended college and earned an Associates Degree in Business Administration. I married the man I met in high school and we had two handsome boys. For the next few years worked and took care of my family. The writing bug didn’t hit me until much, much later. It was shortly after I started working as an office manager in a construction company that a family of witches started clamoring for attention. The next thing I knew, I was writing my first novel. And because these witches insisted on having their stories told, it turned into The Magic of the Heart Series.

Tina Moss- URBAN FANTASY- Tina Moss is an award-winning author of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and New Adult novels. She lives in NYC with a supportive husband and alpha corgi, though both males hog the bed and refuse to share the covers.When not writing, she enjoys reading, watching cheesy horror flicks, traveling, and karate. As a 5’1” Shotokan black belt, she firmly believes that fierce things come in small packages.

Nancy Naigle- CONTEMPORARY- USA Today bestseller- Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. She began her contemporary romance series, Adams Grove, while juggling a successful career in finance and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm. Now happily retired, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, cooking, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she now calls North Carolina home.

Erin Nicholas- CONTEMPORARY- I’ve been reading romance since my mom first let me into her book cupboard when I was about fourteen. Many a family car trip was spent with my head bent over a spiral notebook in the back seat. I’ll confess that my very first attempts at fiction were fantasy and paranormals, influenced by my father’s love of the Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the original Alice in Wonderland. If Harry Potter had been around, I’m sure he would have been on the bedtime story shelf as well. But it wasn’t long until I started writing about true love and that’s where I’ve been ever since. I’m so thrilled to be able to share these stories with you! I hope that they make you smile, sigh, maybe even choke up a little.

Kristen Painter- PARANORMAL- I’m a former college English teacher, but I’ve held a crazy mix of other jobs including maitre’d for Wolfgang Puck, personal trainer, and sales for Christian Dior Bijoux. I have a *slight* shoe addiction and occasionally indulge in an unnecessary handbag. Hah! That was a joke.

There is no such thing as an unnecessary handbag. I love make up and jewelry and spa days.Yes, I’m a girly girl. But don’t think that makes me weak. I can (and do) kill off characters with the best of them. Speaking of which…My forays into writing have been as varied as the jobs I’ve held. I’ve written poetry, articles for magazines, short stories, paranormal romances (that include fantasy, contemporary and steampunk genres) and now I’ve found a home with urban fantasy. I love worldbuilding and few genres give you the kind of license urban fantasy does.

Bonnie Phelps- CONTEMPORARY- Bonnie used her writing skills throughout her professional life as a fundraiser and marketer for several nonprofits. She enjoyed the chance to tell and share the story of worthy organizations. In the late 1980s, Bonnie authored a syndicated column in several California newspapers in which she shared the experiences and misadventures of life as a wife and mother. The jury is out on whether or not her children always appreciated her candor. Because Bonnie has romance in her soul, she also worked as a Wedding Planner for several years. Absolutely loved it!! She craves anything sweet, revels in any chance to travel, is addicted to Ancestry.com and sees a family saga novel somewhere in her future featuring her German immigrant great grandparents. A native Californian, the author lives in Northern California with her husband.

AUTHORS Red PhoenixEROTIC ROMANCEUSA Today Bestseller- Red Phoenix is an award-winning erotica author who gained popularity with her book, Brie Learns the Art of Submission - #1 Best Seller in Erotica. Brie Embraces the Heart of Submission: After Graduation is the second book in the series.

She has won 3 reader choice awards at the Indie Romance Convention in 2013 for her various novels and continues to inspire couples with her writing.

Caridad Pineiro- CONTEMPORARYNew York Times & USA Today Bestseller- Caridad was born in Havana, Cuba, and settled in the New York Metropolitan area.

She attended Villanova University on a Presidential Scholarship and graduated magna cum laude. Caridad earned her juris doctor f rom St. John’s University and became the first female partner of Abelman, Frayne & Schwab, an intellectual property firm in midtown Manhattan.

Allie Pleiter- CONTEMPORARY/INSPIRATIONAL - An avid knitter, coffee junkie, and devoted chocoholic, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction. The enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie spends her days writing books, buying yarn, and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie hails from Connecticut, moved to the midwest to attend Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois. The “dare from a friend” to begin writing has produced two parenting books, twelve novels, and various national speaking engagements on faith, women’s issues, and writing.

Michel Prince- CONTEMPORARY- Michel Prince is an author who graduated with a bachelor degree in History and Political Science. Michel writes new adult and adult paranormal romance as well as contemporary romance. With characters yelling “It’s my turn damn it!!!” She tries to explain to them that alas, she can only type a hundred and twenty words a minute and they will have wait their turn. She knows eventually they find their way out of her head and to her fingertips and she looks forward to sharing them with you.When Michel can suppress the voices in her head she can be found at a scouting event or cheering for her son in a variety of sports. She would like to thank her family for always being in her corner and especially her husband for supporting her every dream and never letting her give up. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, cat and new puppy.

Jewel Quinlan- CONTEMPORARY- Jewel Quinlan had an abundant imagination and strong desire to write novels since she was very young. She has a passion for writing paranormal and fantasy romance but often finds herself straying into new areas like contemporary and suspense because her imagination just won’t let up. An avid traveler, she has visited fifteen countries so far (which she enjoys using as setting in her novels) and has plans to see more of the world. She has a particular fondness for Bavaria and studies the German language as one of her hobbies. During the day, she work as a pharmaceutical sales representative and, at night, she writes romance. She currently lives in Orange County, California with her dog Penny. Jewel is kept in shape by Penny’s frequent demands for walks and squeak toy time.

RomCon 2015- READER WEEKEND ATTENDING A Diane J. Reed- PARANORMAL- Diane J. Reed is a multi-award winning author who writes novels that are infused with enchantment, where characters dare to break through boundaries & believe in true love. She has a soft spot for artisans & outlaws of the heart, those of us who burn brightly to live each day as a gift--because it is! Along with her passion for books, she enjoys hiking, painting, chocolate & spending time with her family in the Rocky Mountains.

Teri Riggs- ROMANTIC SUSPENSE- Teri Riggs was destined to be a writer. As a small girl she didn’t read bedtime stories, she made up her own. Who needed Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs when there were so many great tales bouncing around in her head? When she grew up and became a mother to three little girls, she continued the tradition of making up bedtime stories. On the occasions she chose to tell conventional fairytales, Teri usually gave them a bit of tweaking here and there or added a new ending. Her girls loved it. After her daughters had the nerve to actually grow up and leave home, Teri discovered she had a passion for writing and jumped right in. It came as no surprise she chose to write mysteries and happily-ever-after’s since that’s the genres she loves to read.Teri lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, one of her daughters and two dogs that seem to think they rule the world. And some days Teri thinks maybe they do. Teri still frequently tells herself stories as she falls asleep. The only difference now is she wakes up the next morning and turns her bedtime stories into books.

Kym Roberts- MYSTERY- Three career paths resonated for Kym during her early childhood: a detective, an investigative reporter, and...a nun. Being a nun, however, dropped by the wayside when she became aware of boys--they were the spice of life she couldn’t deny. In high school her path was forged when she took her first job at a dry cleaners and met every cop in town, especially the lone female police officer in patrol. From that point on there was no stopping Kym’s pursuit of a career in law enforcement--even if she had to duct tape rolls of coins to her waist to meet the weight requirements to be hired. Kym followed her dream and became a detective that fulfilled her desire to be an investigative reporter, with one extra perk--a badge. Promoted to sergeant Kym spent the majority of her career in SVU. She retired from the job reluctantly when her husband drug her kicking and screaming to another state, but writing continued to call her name, at least in her head.

Cate Rowan- FANTASY- Cate has washed laundry in a crocodile-infested African lake, parasailed over a Mexican beach, swum with dolphins in the Florida Keys and had Costa Rican monkeys poop in her hair, but her favorite adventures are in story worlds.Writing became a force in her life when clever elementary school teachers assigned weekly creative writing projects. She wrote through high school, particularly when bored in class. (Rumor has it those early pages consisted of fantasies about Duran Duran, but she is silent on the issue and keeps those notebooks from prying eyes.) She put fiction aside to earn a Ph.D.--but her muse, even while stuffed in a dark closet, never shut up. Now her lush fantasy romances about magical deeds, kismet, and true love in realms near and far have won more than thirty awards. At RomCon2014, Cate wore medieval gowns and hip-length purple and red wigs. (Yes, the wigs hurt her head, but sometimes fantasy fashion is worth the pain.) She might do the same in 2015, so keep an eye out for unusual hair and garb!

J.S. Scott- CONTEMPORARY- New York Times & USA Today bestseller- She’s an avid reader of all types of books and literature. Writing what she loves to read, J.S. Scott writes both contemporary steamy romance stories and paranormal romance erotics. They almost always feature an Alpha Male and have a happily ever after because she just can’t seem to write them any other way!

AUTHORS Pat SimmonsCONTEMPORARY/ INSPIRATIONAL- Amazon BestsellerPat Simmons is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth.

She is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels, in hopes of tracking down distant relatives who happen to pick up her books. She has been a genealogy enthusiast since her great-grandmother died at the young age of ninety-seven in 1988. Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. She believes God is the Author who advances the stories she writes. Pat has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked in various positions in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. Currently, she oversees the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions.

SE Smith- SCI-FI- New York Times & USA Today Bestseller and #1 Amazon Bestseller- Susan enjoys sharing her amazing worlds filled with action, adventure, love, laughter and tears with her readers. Her stories focus on strong characters and the dynamics of their relationships as they deal with diverse situations. She is known for her world building that takes readers away.

She is a true dreamer who believes in HEA. Tiffany Snow- ROMANTIC SUSPENSE- Tiffany attended the University of Missouri – Columbia, attaining two degrees in History and Social Studies Education. After working many years as an instructor and consultant in the Information Technology field, Tiffany now writes full-time. Tiffany loves to read and has been reading romance novels since she was way too young to read such things.

She has an unhealthy obsession for all things Doctor Who, prefers Pepsi to Coke and Absolut to both, thinks men who drink girly cocktails are wusses, has learned to never stop believing in her beloved St. Louis Cardinals, and can recite the entire scripts of When Harry Met Sally and Apollo 13. George Washington is cool, Bon Jovi still rocks the house, and Bruce Willis is the ultimate alpha-male hero. Married with two wonderful daughters, Tiffany and her family make their home in Kansas City, Missouri, not far from where she was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sandy Sullivan- EROTIC ROMANCE- My journey to being a published author began when I was in between jobs a few years ago and sat down to write. I’d thought about it for years and just decided to do it. It took me about 2 months to write Texas Lady. I sent it off to a couple of friends and asked for some feedback.All I got was,“you need to get this published!” So off it went. I got the standard rejections so I decided to self-publish it. I did the same thing with two other books before I broke down and sent one of them out to a publisher again. I live in Middle Tennessee on my 6 acre farm with my husband, 4 horses, 3 dogs and 2 cats who are more spoiled than kids. When I die, I want to come back as a spoiled cat.

Mine do nothing but lay around, sleep, eat and use the litter box. I’m also a registered nurse by education and usually work the emergency room, medical/surgical floor or cardiac floor and you’ll find lots of medical information within my storylines.

RomCon 2015- READER WEEKEND ATTENDING AUTHORS CA Szarek- PARANORMAL/ROMANTIC SUSPENSE- Bestselling, award winning author of romantic suspense and epic fantasy romance, C.A. loves to dabble in different genres. If it’s a good story, she’ll write it, no matter where it seems to fit! She’s a hopeless romantic and always will be. Risking it all for Happily Ever After is what she lives by! She’s originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She’s happily married and has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she’s not writing.

Jodi Thomas- CONTEMPORARY/HISTORICAL- New York Times & USA Today BestsellerJodi Thomas has published over 30 books in both the historical romance and contemporary genres, the majority of which are set in her home state of Texas. Publishers Weekly calls her novels “Distinctive...Memorable,” and that in her stories “[tension] rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes.” In 2006, Romance Writers of America (RITA) inducted Thomas into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA for THE TEXAN’S REWARD. She also received the National Readers’ Choice Award in 2009 for TWISTED CREEK (2008) and TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN (2008). While continuing to work as a novelist, Thomas also functions as Writer in Residence at the West Texas A&M University campus, where she inspires students and alumni in their own writing pursuits.

LaVerne Thompson- CONTEMPORARY/FANTASY- I am an award winning, bestselling, multi-published author, an avid reader and a writer of contemporary, fantasy, and sci/fi sensual romances with interracial characters. I also write romantic suspense and new adult under the pen name Ursula Sinclair my alter ego who likes her relationships a little more complicated.

Marie Tuhart- EROTIC ROMANCE- Marie Tuhart can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a book in her hands. A voracious reader since childhood, she has a TBR pile so big that she finally gave up and rented storage space! Though her family doesn’t really understand the stacks of books in her study, or the way Marie will stare off into space when she’s thinking of yet another sexy scene between her hero and heroine, they support her completely in her writing endeavors. She began writing at 19, and in 1994 decided to join RWA and get serious about publishing. When she isn’t reading or writing, Marie loves to spend time in bookstores. A world traveler, she enjoys searching out corners of the glove she hasn’t experienced yet. While still totally open to finding her own tall, dark and handsome, she is certainly enjoying the journey. Her Aries Sun makes her impatient, courageous, and something of a daredevil. Her Virgo Moon makes her exacting and a perfectionist for that telling detail.

Julie Ann Walker- ROMANTIC SUSPENSE- New York Times & USA Today Bestseller- Julie Ann Walker is the author of the award-winning Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense series. She has won the Book Buyers Best Award, been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award and the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award. Julie is prone to spouting movie quotes and song lyrics. She’ll never say no to sharing a glass of wine or going for a long walk. She prefers impromptu travel over the scheduled kind, and she takes her coffee with milk. You can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.

Marsha R. West- ROMANTIC SUSPENSE- Marsha R. West, a retired elementary school principal, is also a former school board member and threatre arts teacher. She writes Romance, Suspense, and Second Chances. Experience Required. Marsha lives in Texas with her supportive lawyer husband. Her grandchildren live nearby.

Jude Willhoff- CONTEMPORARYSome of Jude Willhoff’s earliest and happiest memories are of reading and writing. She started reading at an early age. Being an only daughter and living out in the country far from friends, she had to find other outlets for entertainment. In good weather, she’d climb into her treehouse with a book and be content for hours hidden among the branches. In lousy weather, she was happy to spend time in her room, reading, or writing in her journal. At one time, she thought she’d like to be an investigative reporter, but became sidetracked in college. A husband, children and life have a way of changing things. Currently, Jude resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her beloved husband, Rob and their longhaired, tabby, attack cat. She is the mother of four and grandmother to six precious granddaughters who keep her busy when she’s not writing.

Cynthia Woolf- HISTORICAL- Amazon Bestseller- Cynthia Woolf is the author of six historical western romance books and one short story with more books on the way. She was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in the mountains west of Golden. She spent her early years running wild around the mountain side with her friends. Cynthia was and is an avid reader. Her mother was a librarian and brought new books home each week. This is where young Cynthia first got the storytelling bug. She wrote her first story at the age of ten. Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband Jim and the great friends she’s made at CRW for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.

Jennifer Zane- CONTEMPORARY/ROMANTIC SUSPENSE- Jennifer Zane has lived all over the country--from Georgia to Maryland, New York to Colorado, including an exciting five years in Montana. Her time in Big Sky country was the basis for her Gnome series. When she’s not writing, she savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. She currently lives with her family in Colorado.

Rebecca Zanetti- CONTEMPORARY/ROMANTIC SUSPENSE- New York Times and USA Today Bestseller- Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner - only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and sexy contemporary romances. Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day--or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.

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INSPIRATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR:

Hope Kesler

P

lease tell me a little bit about how you started writing, and especially how you started writing Amish fiction.

I’ve always written, ever since I was a little girl. I’d write stories for school or for myself. I had a fantastic imagination as a child, even when it got me into trouble.

When I was in grade school, I wrote a story about a deer called “Buttons.” I concluded the story with Buttons going off to mate with a doe. I thought it was a rather nice ending. But my teacher, who was a rather severe, prim woman, objected to that part, and even used words like “inappropriate” to describe my adding anything about deer mating. She was really quite worked up about it, in fact.

Perhaps I should have been embarrassed, but I was secretly delighted that something I’d written could cause such a reaction from an adult. I realized at that moment that there is a certain Power in the written word. And I was hooked, although I never wrote about deer again.

and so fascinated by the culture, that I began researching them. The book evolved organically out of that research.

That it’s been so well received has been as much a surprise to me as to anyone else.

What are some things you would like to have your readers know about you?

That my fascination with the Amish probably stems from the fact that I’m nothing like the people I write about. I’m very much a techie; if it’s shiny and electronic I have to have it, and I panic if I can’t get an Internet connection on my phone.

Besides writing, what are some of your other interests?

I’m a voracious reader and obsessive book collector.

We recently moved to Virginia and are nearly finished turning one of the large rooms into a library, which is kind of a lifelong dream for me. The acreage here also allows me to indulge my equestrian pursuits (we have three horses) and gives me room for my cats. We have quite a few. I can’t seem to stop rescuing them.

I eventually went into journalism and worked as a staff writer for a daily paper for years, and also as a columnist. I’ve written fiction in other genres under other pen names, and I never considered writing an Will this book be a part of a series or a standAmish romance until I moved to an area where there alone book? Will you be writing more Amish was a thriving Amish presence. I was so impressed by fiction in the future? the contributions of the Amish to our local community, 60 www.romcon.com

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It was by trial and error. “The Journey Home” wasn’t the original title. In fact, at the eleventh hour I emailed the publisher in a panic because the original title turned out to be very close to the title of another Amish book I found on Amazon. The plots were very different, but the titles were similar enough that I’d have felt wrong using it, hence the change. I think it still works, though, since Birdie’s journey really did take her to where her heart resides.

Were you inspired by reading works from other Amish fiction writers?

I was more inspired by the Amish themselves than Amish fiction. I did a lot of research about the Amish, but didn’t read any Amish romance because I wanted to find my own voice and not subconsciously parrot someone else.

I think this may be a series. When I started this book, I wasn’t prepared for how much I’d like Birdie and Caleb.

They both seem to have their own growth curves, and I’d like them to continue those curves together.

How did you come up with the title for your book?

It was only after I was published that I started reading Amish fiction. I’ve read some of Beverly Lewis’ books and Wanda Brunstetter’s as well. I really liked them, and have bought a bunch of books I’ve seen recommended on the FB pages I’ve joined. Now it’s just a matter of finding time to read them. They all look so good, and I love supporting other authors.

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EXCERPT FROM THE JOURNEY HOME

“

Aunt Ellie never married,” Birdie brought her eyes up to meet her mother’s.

“It isn’t because she did not want to. It just didn’t happen. Her health was never good; you know that. But you, Birdie. You’re young and strong and you need the guidance of a good man. A strong husband would help you grow spiritually, and then there’s motherhood. It will complete you.”

Stop it! Just stop it! Haven’t I given up enough for you? Can’t you see that I’m already living a lie? Do you really want to make it worse? The voice in Birdie’s head screamed so loudly for a moment she held her breath, afraid her mother could read the rebellious, angry thoughts in her eyes. But Ruth just turned to pull a cook pot from the cabinet and Birdie felt a renewed surge of guilt. The situation in which she found herself was not her mother’s fault. Her mother had made an honest assumption when she’d come to the hospital.

“You’re back! My Baby Birdie is back! I prayed so hard. I knew you’d come back.Your father told me, dear.

He told me you’re back to stay and join the church.

It’s given me strength, Birdie. It’s given me the strength to hold on. I had to hold on to tell you how much it means...”

She could still remember everything about that moment –the haze of disbelief, as she looked at her

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father -his expression arrogant in the wake of his lie - the sensation that the walls were closing in on her.

She’d seen a coyote in a trap once. As her father had raised his rifle, the animal had thrown itself down, its wild eyes fixed in fear on its captor. She’d wondered then if her father recognized the same look in the face of his daughter. If he had, he’d offered no indication that it mattered.

“I suppose if God wills for me to have children, then I will find a husband and it will happen.” Birdie hoped passing a show of faith could excuse her obvious lack of motivation, but Ruth Miller wasn’t buying it.

“God cannot put apples on a tree you never plant, Birdie. And no, I’m not asking you to act verricht like the Herschberger girls. But you will not find anyone if you isolate yourself as you’ve done. Martha Yoder told me last week that you spoke to not a soul aside from Esther at the work frolic, even though her sons tried several times to engage you in conversation.”

“Ma...” Birdie suddenly felt very tired, so very tired.

“Please...”

Ruth Miller picked up the burdock leaves. “Very well. I’ll not mention it. But I will pray that you find love, Birdie.” She offered her daughter a hopeful smile.

“Prayer works. When you sent that letter saying you would not be returning, that you would be joining the English, it was like a knife in my soul.Your father doesn’t show his emotions, but I know he was distraught. I’ve never known him to withhold information from the church, but he could not bring himself to tell them.

I know you think it was from shame because he is a deacon, but I know it was because he wanted better for you. So I prayed. I prayed every day. And look what happened. I prayed to God and he brought you back to your father and me, and back to the church.”

Birdie felt a lump rise in her throat.

No. An accident brought me back – and accident and a cruel lie I wasn’t strong enough to contradict.

But Birdie could not, would not say aloud what came to her mind. “Yes, Mama,” she said.

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Author Bio Hope Kesler

Inspirational Author

Contact Hope: https://www.facebook.com/ hope.kesler.3?fref=ts

H

ope Kesler is not new to writing, but never ceases to be amazed by the twists and turns of her chosen profession. That “The Journey Home,” was so well received by readers has been a pleasant surprise, and she’s looking forward to writing a sequel that continue’s Birdie’s evolution as something of an outspoken Amish wife to her very traditional but loving husband.

In addition to writing, Hope enjoys reading and book collecting.

She resides in Virginia hill country with her family, three horses, six dogs and way too many cats.

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Romantic Suspense New Adult

New Adult

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NEW ADULT SPOTLIGHT:

ANGELINE M.

BISHOP RCR: What motivated you to start writing this book? Why now?

AMB: JACMUIR: TRUST STAINED LIES was inspired by answering the youth’s demand for more stories featuring multicultural characters transitioning into adults.

The young characters are forced to challenge their belief systems and deal with the fundamental core tenets of trust and loyalty within modern monarchies.

RCR: What would make people want to read it?

AMB: If you’ve ever been betrayed and wished for friends that would have your back when your world fell apart, then this novel is for you.

RCR: Where do your book ideas come from?

Are your books plot driven or character driven?

AMB: I’m a plotter to a fault. Have you seen Oastomin, Alikon, and Maia’s character bios on my website? You would think I’m ready to cast the movie roles. (Grins) When I fail to plot out a book I can easily drift back into stereotypical, one-dimensional characters.

his moral compass intact.

Maia, the daughter of a neighbouring monarch, has a daily habit of pushing the “gray” boundary between right and wrong. Her parents are determined to protect their kingdom by getting Maia betrothed to Oastomin to seal their alliance. Maia is determined to prove she can defend Shelene another way.

And Alikon, the oldest Crimson Knight, is a disenchanted loner with no family ties. He’s a loyal Crimson Knights but he’s strangely fascinated with Maia and finds himself wondering if pursing her breaking the sacred bond of the knight brotherhood.

RCR: What topics are primarily discussed in this novel?

AMB: JACMUIR (Book One) touches on brotherhood, betrayal, honesty, secrets, narcissism, and presenting your authentic self to others. Readers will understand that although men and women mature physically and become more capable in their practical lives, many fail to achieve emotional maturity.

As for where do I get my book ideas, they are born from my author tagline “Our Love Stories, Our Community, Our Connections”.

If a parent conducts their lives through rational of ego-driven feelings and not from their intellectual process, empathy, and moral compass, their children will struggle to formulate strong identities and will be void of integrity.

RCR: Give us some insight into your main characters. What makes each one unique?

AMB: Okay, here’s the condensed version of the three highlighted on the cover of book one. Oastomin, a university freshman and the newest Crimson Knight, is trying to follow in his father’s footsteps. He wrestles to understand the complexity of ruling a kingdom while keeping

RCR: What are your expectations for this book? What would you like for readers to do after reading this book?

AMB: I want to entertain readers while making them think about their own friendships and value systems. I hope they will let me know their thoughts by reviewing JACMUIR at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or on my website.

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Oastomin, a university freshman and the newest Crimson Knight, consents to rigorous training so he can follow in his father’s footsteps and be accepted among his peers.

A few months into his preparation, his dad, King Natro of Jacmuir, dies. Oastomin soon discovers his father’s power came at the high price of a long buried secret.

Seventeen year old Maia has a daily habit of pushing the “gray” boundary between right and wrong, but when she secretly rallies college-aged young men to undermine her father’s petitions for an alliance, her parents to deliver a harsh punishment. Maia is forced to leave home but she decides to use her eviction as the perfect time to learn the secrets of the Crimson Knights.

Oastomin and Maia must decide if they are willing to sacrifice their principles in order to preserve their way of life.They will discover if it’s possible to slide across a moral line and openly challenging their parents’ expectations, while trying not to be held accountable for their powerful fathers’ mistakes.

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FROM CHAPTER ONE OF JACMUIR: TRUST STAINED LIES OASTOMIN e sprint into the courtyard as Faymer leads with enraged anger. “No, no, no!

You should have moved! He meant you no harm!” Faymer yells at Maia.

Maia whirls around and addresses him. “How would you know? I was facing the devilish snarl on his face and purpose in his steps, not you. You observed the animal’s backside.”

“He’s my horse! My horse! I know his intentions.

I raised him since he was a young calf,” Faymer seethes, his face just inches from hers. He’s breathing so hard the small tendrils of hair covering her forehead start to part.

But she stands her ground, steels her precarious eyes, and intensifies her grip on the bow.“The horse will heal after a season of rest; the wounds are not severe.”

“You have no idea what you’ve done!” Faymer bellows as curses fall from his lips. “Wounding a horse at full gallop is like taking away a warrior’s desire to charge into battle. Physical wounds can heal, but emotional ones last a lifetime.”

“Then make the person who released him in this courtyard pay for your loss,” she snaps and lifts her chin, meeting his icy gaze head on.“The problem isn’t mine! I was defending myself!”

“In the time it took you to fit arrows in your

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bow, you could have moved out of the way! Have you no regard for any animal other than your own?”

Now I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve never observed a girl like this one. Pretty, confident, and audacious enough to not back down to Faymer. See, if I could get a better view of her legs, I could tell you if she was worth the headache he’s facing. It’s too bad she wears a frown most of the time and has a reputation for being too bossy for her own good.

Seeing neither party is going to back down, I step between the two as Peverell tends to the fallen steed.

“Faymer, don’t forget whom you’re addressing. She’s a royal guest in Jacmuir.”

Faymer starts to object when the whimpering exhale of his horse causes him to dash to his animal’s side. I also join Peverell to assess the damages; we talk in hushed tones. Somewhere along the way, the princess leaves us and moves toward the stable.

As Peverell tends to the championship horse, Faymer fumes in my ear. “Trouble,Your Highness! Do you see what I mean? Wounding my horse instead of moving aside, what kind of girl did your parents invite to Jacmuir?”

I nod in agreement, wondering who else she will tick off during her visit and how soon it will be before the citizens who were watching this scene post photos of Faymer’s steed on the internet.

Romantic Suspense New Adult

Author Bio Angeline M. Bishop New Adult Author

Contact Angeline: http://www.angelinembishop.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ angeline.bishop https://twitter.com/ambishop1 https://plus.google. com/108093223816799786481/ posts http://instagram.com/ angelinembishop#

A

ngeline M. Bishop writes contemporary romance fiction and has a growing fan base. Angeline’s novels are thought-provoking, refreshingly entertaining, fast paced, and with a strong romantic elements. She was born in Washington, D. C., but lived most of her life in New Jersey and considers the ‘ʹGarden State’ʹ her home. Her childhood passion for writing led to a degree in English Literature and a membership in Romance Writers of America.

Aside from writing her own novels and blogging, Angeline is the Vice President of the Cultural, Interracial, and Multicultural Special Interest Chapter of Romance Writers of America and enjoys helping authors strengthen their craft. She cohosts the AMB Talk Radio podcasts each Fall with her pop-culture loving, collegeaged daughter. And she’s the founder of the AMB Ovation Awards (The Angie) which provides honor and recognition of authors’ outstanding achievements in the multicultural romance literary profession.

She is looking forward to partnering with Astraea Press to present the Jacmuir Series, a multicultural New Adult series inspired by her college-age reader fan base.

FEBRUARY 2015 MAY/JUNE 2014

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