Top Social

Books and Audio

Book Blitz: Awaken The Dragon by A.C. Arthur

AWAKEN THE DRAGON BY A.C. ARTHUR


He’s sworn to protect the very entity she was born to kill…
Next in line for the Drakon throne, Theo Masters is the most powerful half human, half dragon in the world. Royal power is the last thing he wants, however. He lives as a human and runs the Legion Security Company. But his new client—a mysterious, beautiful human from a small African village—and the unknown danger she faces may forever change the quiet life that he’s chosen.
Shola N’Gara exists to kill the dark spirit that is attempting to demolish her people. It’s her purpose and her destiny. The gorgeous protector who taunts her with his sexy voice and body is not—especially after he shifts into a magnificent black dragon with turquoise eyes.
A rise in demon activity and the brutal murders Theo’s agents have been reporting start to add up. Someone is making a play, and it’s big enough to change the course of the world as they know it. Now Shola must choose between her destiny and her heart. And Theo must decide if standing by the woman he’s fallen in love with is worth facing his father in a battle to the death.

AVAILABLE ON

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | CARINA PRESS


ADD ON GOODREADS

EXCERPT

The glass doors to the building ten feet away slid open slowly. That feeling, like a breeze lifting fall leaves off the ground, swirled in the pit of his stomach. Theo Masters eased off his bike and held the helmet between his arm and his hip as he continued to stare at that door. He considered removing his sunglasses since the sun had set hours ago, but decided against it.
Seconds later, three women stepped out. His gaze fell quickly over each one, noting bare feet, long legs and deep green material swaddling their bodies before stopping inches above the knees. Red and gold stripes slashed across their forehead and cheeks coupled with long gold spears held tightly in hand announced their warrior status while his wish for a quick pickup and drop-off dwindled.
The Odò Guard.
Or, the river guards. They were foot soldiers from the River Tribe that lived in a village located along a portion of the Niger River, which flowed through western Nigeria. Theo had visited the area close to one hundred years ago.
Three more women exited the building approximately two feet behind the first trio. And then three more, until nine in total were now in a triple-file line in front of him. At some other time, in some other place, he might have been impressed. As it was now, their grand entrance was making his last minute task take much longer than he’d anticipated.
“You are the guardian we hired?” The middle woman in the first row spoke to him, her voice loud, strong and heavily accented.
“I’m from the Legion Security Company.” Even his voice sounded tired, deep and raspy, as it did when he woke in the mornings.
In unison, each woman holding a spear clanked the metal ends to the ground. The tight formation parted with each of the side lines stepping away so that only the woman standing directly in front of Theo, and another woman a few feet behind her, remained in the middle.
“The ceremony is in two weeks. The accommodations are listed here, as well as the location for the ceremony, where you will deliver her safely. Joku N’Gara and the River Tribe thank you for your services.” Her words sounded rehearsed.
With a crisp movement, she extended an arm in Theo’s direction. A large white envelope was clutched between her fingers until he slipped it away.
The woman stepped to the side, standing in line with the other guards, leaving only one woman in the middle.
But this was no ordinary woman.
Those leaves that had begun stirring in the pit of his stomach now swirled and twisted up into a funnel. His chest tightened, and his gums itched, as the beast within that had long lay dormant began to stir. Theo’s fingers clenched into fists, the envelope crackling beneath his natural strength.
She appeared ethereal, her silhouette wavering slightly as with the rhythm of the wind. Her eyes were like ice, clear white but for the iris that was a singular black dot, and she bore similar markings as the guards on her face, only hers were all white. Atop her head was a gold- and diamond-encrusted crown that sparkled against the night backdrop.
“You will transport me on that?”
Her voice was like the sun rising, glorious and breathtaking. It was also stabilizing. He caught the slow easing movement beneath his skin. With practiced strength, he pulled the beast back. His body once again still, he fixed his gaze on her. Only now that his vision had cleared, the woman standing in front of him looked different than she had just seconds ago.
A rainbow of brown hues, the Odò Guard were different complexions, their hair either cut close to the scalp or twisted intricately. On the surface, the woman before him initially appeared different from the others, but now there was no crown and no markings on her face; her skin was the deepest brown and hair a kinky mass circling her narrow face. All things easily noted by sight, but it was the languid stretch of muscles and tendons in his body that made the real point.
“That is a bike, and yes, it will accommodate two.” The tilt of one perfectly arched brow said she did not like the accommodations. That made two of them, and Magnum was going to feel his wrath first thing tomorrow morning.
“I have seen a bike before. This is bigger, but not as big as a car, which would have been more comfortable for such a trip.”
Not at all what she appeared. The thought played in his mind like a song on repeat, and his gaze eased over her once more. High cheekbones, pert chin, reddish brown eyes and a muted colored dress belted high at her waist—just another client.
Except there’d never been a client who clawed along his flesh with such urgent fervor before.
Theo shook himself free of thoughts that had gone deeper than they should have and stepped forward. The Odò Guards took a quick, succinct step to close the space between them and her, but not enough to hinder her progression forward. She came toward him slowly.
“There was a change of plans,” he snapped, edginess and annoyance now plaguing him. “I promise to get you to your hotel as quickly as possible.”
Each step she took felt as if she were already beside him, brushing slowly against the scaled skin of his beast. It was eerie, and yet…comforting.
“If you have luggage, I can send someone back for it.”
“My things were sent ahead. They should be already at the hotel.”
Her voice, each word was spoken in a melodic tone, thick with her accent, yet as clear to him as his own dialect.
“You can wear this. Then we should get going,” he said because this wasn’t normal.
Or at least the version of normal Theo knew humans accepted. He was three hundred years old and came from the Far Realm. There was no doubt the people of Burgess, Pennsylvania wouldn’t find that normal at all. Still, there was something odd happening here, and he wasn’t sure he liked whatever it was.
He closed the small space she’d left between them and resisted the urge to touch her cheeks where he knew those tribal stripes had been before. Clenching his fingers on the helmet, he thrust it toward her and turned away. Tucking the envelope inside his jacket, he moved to his bike and tossed a leg over the seat. His palms burned with the urge to touch, caress, explore, so he grabbed the handles. “Get on.” Shifting from just moments ago, his voice was now deep and stern, his mood decidedly darker even though he couldn’t explain why.
She hesitated.
The Odò Guard also hesitated, looking ready to use those spears and whatever other defensive devices he was sure they had against him at any second. He didn’t move. He’d been paid a hefty deposit for this two-week assignment, and when it was over, his company would collect another large payment. It was a simple job—keep an eye on this woman until the day she would be delivered to her wedding. That was it. Even one of his lower level agents could have done this.
But as Theo watched her arms slowly lifting to settle the helmet over the poof of her hair, he knew that wasn’t true. She was not just a bride. No ordinary bride required a personal escort like the Odò Guard. And no normal bride had a soul identity that looked like hers.
She stepped closer to the bike, eyeing it suspiciously for a few seconds before letting her fingers tug the material of her dress up. She lifted her leg to cross over the seat.
Theo started the engine.
“Hold on.”
“Just go.” Her reply was curt and she did not put a hand on him.
With a shrug, he did what he was told, peeling off from the spot at a modest speed before picking up the moment they hit the open road. He had to hurry to get her to the hotel and in the hands of his other agents because the beast inside, the one that had lay dormant for the past two hundred years, had awakened at the sight of her spirit. Theo didn’t know why, nor did he care. All he knew was that this could not happen. Not here and definitely not now.

ABOUT A.C. ARTHUR


AC Arthur was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where she currently resides with her husband, three children, grandson and an English bulldog named Vader. An active imagination and a love for reading encouraged her to begin writing in high school and she hasn’t stopped since.
Working in the legal field for over twenty-five years, AC has seen lots of horrific things and longs for the safe haven of a romance novel. To date, she has written in several genres: YA paranormal (w/a Artist Arthur), small town romance as Lacey Baker, and sexy contemporary and paranormal romance. With intriguing plots and sexy love scenes, AC brings a new edge to romance!

CONNECT WITH A.C. ARTHUR

AUTHOR SITE | FACEBOOKTWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

 

Book Blitz: HERS TO CALL BY DRIA ANDERSEN

HERS TO CALL BY DRIA ANDERSEN

A baker wary of relationships and the cowboy who's just tempting enough to change her mind...
Simon Jacobs, alpha of Clarke County spent his days on his ranch tending to his animals walking on four legs and keeping the ones on two legs out of trouble and off the government’s radar. One glance at Calita and he knew she was his, convincing her would be the hard part.

Calita Wright moved to Bear Ridge Georgia to escape an abusive relationship. She hoped the shifter run town would give her space and time to heal. The one thing she was not looking for was a relationship, but one glance from Simon had her reconsidering.

Simon’s offer to her was more than tempting, sex with no strings, granting her complete control. As Simon works to convince Calita that she belongs to him, there is someone working twice as hard to drive her out of his arms and out of town.

AVAILABLE ON

AMAZON

EXCERPT

Simon Jacobs now believed in destiny. It was as much a part of him as his heritage, a gift no doubt from his mother. His father would’ve brushed the sentiment aside, telling him his bear would lead him in all things. In this case, either of them could’ve been in the right. His bear had chosen its mate, and whether or not fate had put her in his path was irrelevant at this point. Five years ago, hell, maybe even a year ago he’d have dismissed any talk of destiny. He’d wanted to believe he had control in all things, but it had taken a simple glance at Calita Wright, and just a small hint of her scent for his bear to rip that delusion from him.
He sighed, his body buzzing from just the memory of that day. He’d come to Selena’s diner on a whim, searching for something sweet. He had spotted a woman as she talked with his cousin’s wife Selena, their heads bent together at the counter. His bear had rumbled, tightening his body with power until half the patrons had turned to him, their gazes curious. Calita’s soft voice had reached his exceptional hearing and yearning clouded his mind. Only the iron control he asserted over his bear had kept the creature from bursting from his skin and rushing to her side. For her safety and his sanity, he’d left the diner that day. 
But, he had come back. 
Often. 
And prayed fervently, sending thanks to the gods his mother and her people had worshipped.  He and his bear, waited. Waited and plotted on the best way to secure their mate. Bears were nothing if not patient, and as the alpha, he had more patience than most. His bear had grown impatient with his pace, though, but Simon wouldn’t be rushed. Not when he saw flashes of fear in Calita’s gaze when she thought no one watched her.
Watching her skitter away from people, Simon had worried at first that she had an issue with shifters. But, he’d come to find out that Calita shied away more from the humans. Especially the males.  Her nervous glances, the little flicker of her tongue as she moistened her lips, he catalogued it all. Calita was a little skittish, no doubt about it. But eventually, he would have her, he held no doubts about that either.
Last night he’d decided that his bear was right, it was time to make a move on her. It was one of the reasons he’d picked the comfortable booth he currently occupied, instead of the one nearer to the back of the diner in which he normally sat. He sipped his coffee and flipped through the Sunday paper, his hooded gaze watching the human wife of one of his bears.
“Mornin’, Alpha.”
“Good morning, Selena.” 
“You gonna say something to her today?” Selena settled a hand on her generous hips and gave him a sly look. 
“You keeping a calendar I don’t know about?” He folded the newspaper and laid it on the table. 
She smiled. “You been in here for dinner two weeks straight, hiding in that back booth, watching my girl.” She wiggled her eyebrows. 
He stifled his smile. Nosy bears. Calita was the first human to catch his eye, so he understood their fascination. Mating with humans was no strange thing, yet as alpha, it had always been believed he’d mate with a shifter. He’d grown up in a time where humans in Bear Ridge were rare, and it was rarer still for them to interact with each other. He’d never once considered a human for his mate. But, his bear had chosen, and that was that, so he gave it no second thought. He knew his clan would be the same, so he allowed them their fun.
Now that a new treaty with the humans was in place and the immediate threat of government interference in their town gone, his bears deserved it.
Behind Selena’s light banter, concern for her friend lurked in her dark brown eyes. Her gaze roved his face, searching for something. “Calita’s not like…”
He inclined his head. “She’s your friend. I understand, Selena.”
“I mean no disrespect, Alpha.” She paused, her gaze lowering.
“She’s been hurt.” It wasn’t a question. Calita had a natural wariness that told more than words could. 
He’d figured out some months back that his mate had been through something. It was the only reason he’d been able to leash his bear for so long. Impatient though they were, the two of them were in agreement that hurting Calita was out of the question.
Selena sighed. “Some, but that’s for her to tell.”
“When have you known me to mistreat a woman?” 
She let out a hard breath. “You’re right.”
“I’m always right.” It was an automatic answer, his bear prickling at the thought of someone thinking Simon wouldn’t take care of their mate.
She lifted her hands and barked out a laugh. “Fine, I’ll leave it be. Besides, another week of you tiptoeing will earn me a hundred dollars.”
He had to laugh at that. “The sheriff know you up in here gambling?”
“You let me take care of the sheriff.” She winked, a twinkle in her eye at the mention of her mate. Her face straightened, and her gaze drifted to the door. “Speaking of Calita.”
Selena hadn’t needed to tell him. His bear rose and Simon closed his eyes as her scent reached him. The warm fragrance of cream and honey hit his senses, and hunger assailed him.  The familiar sound of her footfalls reached him next, and both he and his bear went on alert. It was rare to see her in the diner before lunch, but there she was. Her long legs, and thick thighs encased in a pair of fitted jeans that did wonders for her ass. The simple, no nonsense V-necked blouse clung to her, outlining her full breasts. He was entranced, his gaze following her as if by compulsion. His body buzzed, and his head spun with need gripping him. 
Not now, she’ll be ours soon. He placated his bear, pushing down on his power.
Simon’s gaze traced her face, seeing the signs of a sleepless night in the dark circles marring the brown skin under her eyes. His jaw clenched and his grip tightened on his coffee cup. He wanted to walk up to her, demand she rest and let him take care of her. Instead, he could only follow her march towards the kitchen with his eyes. Her long black hair was tied at the nape of her neck, twisted into one of those nonchalant buns she liked. He’d only caught one glimpse of her hair down, and the image was burned into his brain. Her cocoa skin was smooth and unadorned. No make-up, no jewelry, nothing to detract from her natural beauty.  
Her heart shaped face was serious as her eyes occasionally looked up and darted across the diner. She had a wary way about her. That look a deer got in its eyes when it knew the hunter was close. That momentary flare of panic that widened the eyes and kept the body on alert. He wondered, not for the first time, what his mate was running from. He’d given her time to settle in, but from the rumble leaving his throat, his bear was done with waiting. Selena chuckled and touched his shoulder as she left him.
Simon thought on it as he sipped his coffee. His mind wondered back to why she’d come in so early. He didn’t usually see her. Not that he came to breakfast every morning, he had work on the ranch that kept him busy most days. There were some days, though, when he had a hankering for the pastries Calita made…that and he craved the sight of her. He came often enough that it had raised the town’s interest, even though he wasn’t the only one drawn into the diner by the pastries and desserts Calita made. Bears who almost never left their dens and bears from miles away had started making the trek to Selena’s diner.
But, he would admit…
He’d given himself away from his first glance of Calita. 
And now everyone in town was betting on when he’d make his move. He shook his head and waved down a waitress to order a dozen more of the croissants with lemon jelly to go. He’d hide them in his office and hope his second in command didn’t sniff them out before the day was done.  
The small diner was starting to get crowded as the patrons of the small hotel next door trickled in. Most of those patrons would be headed out to his ranch once breakfast was done. Watson Ranch was a big tourist draw for their town and he was extremely proud of that. It was a reminder that he had work he needed to be doing. But taking his mind off his mate was harder with each passing day. Calita was a mystery he was intent on solving. He thought it best to wait until the shadows left her eyes, but a year in their small town and she still seemed tense and uneasy. Obviously waiting would get him nowhere with this particular problem, so he needed to take action. 
Besides, if he didn’t say something in the next couple of days his Beta threatened to do him bodily harm. Gavin wanted to win the money from the pool. Simon shook his head. He liked seeing his bears happy. Even if it was at his expense.
***
The kitchen was busy, the loud noise music to Calita’s ears. The staff was small, but efficient, good-natured insults were tossed back and forth in easy camaraderie. The diner where she now worked was small and a far cry from the fancy restaurant in Chicago where she’d been executive chef, and she got far more enjoyment from it because of that. Selena had hired her to take over the kitchen, but she’d felt more comfortable assisting her friend, getting a feel for the place. She didn’t want to…no couldn’t, deal with the extra responsibility when she’d first arrived. But recently, even though she kept the schedule of a line cook, Selena had moved all responsibility over to her. Calita’s lips quirked up into a smile. They were both obstinate, she would continue pretending to be a regular kitchen employee, and Selena would steadily defer decisions to her until she caved.
 The breakfast crowd was coming in steady streams, and Calita was happy she’d come down earlier. She should’ve been upstairs trying to get more sleep before her shift, but she’d found that working helped keep the demons away. Remnants of her nightmare flitted across her mind. Her hand lifted, pressing against her shirt, just under her bra, her habit of rubbing the spot, reflexive. She needed to feel the scars that were proof of nightmares made real, it was compulsion.
The kitchen door swung inwards and her best friend since middle school sauntered in, a mischievous smile covering her face. Calita jerked her hand from her chest and changed her gloves, going back to work on her dough.
Cali shook her head. “I don’t trust that look in your eyes, Lena.”
“What look?” Her friend leaned against the stainless-steel table Cali worked at.
She waved her spoon at her closest friend. “That look, the smug one you’re wearing.”
Selena waggled her neatly arched eyebrows. “Someone has an admirer.” She fluttered her lashes, her voice rising an octave.
Cali shook her head. It was a good idea for her to leave men alone for a while. But, that would explain the feeling of eyes on her she’d felt when she was walking through the diner a moment ago. 
“What’s new? Ms. Thang keeps them panting after her.” One of the waitresses waited at the window for her order.
“It’s not me, personally. I’m sure it’s because I’m new here.” Cali set down her spoon and dumped her dough onto the pastry mat, avoiding Selena’s eyes.
“Yeah, okay.” The waitress grabbed her tray and closed the pickup window with a laugh. 
Calita chanced a look at her friend and noticed she still wore her smile. “You’re up to something.” 
Selena shrugged, but arched her eyebrows. The smile on her face dropped when she got a good look at Calita’s face. “What’s happened?”
“Nightmare.” She raised her hands as Selena gasped. “I’m handling it.”
“If you need to talk.”
“Really, Lena, I’m fine, I just need…” she shook her head. “You’ve given me what I needed.” She whispered. “A fresh start, a place where I finally feel safe. Give it time.”
 She looked around, not wanting the others to hear the strain in her voice. Selena touched her shoulder and nodded. Calita kept herself from flinching from the touch. With the nightmare fresh on her mind, she was anxious, agitated. But she noticed since she’d come to Bear Ridge that people did that a lot.
Touch.
She’d finally trained herself not to flinch. 
Yay her.
 She puffed out a breath and pushed down the need to escape her friend’s probing stare.  
Selena cleared her throat. “Is that why you’re down so early?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve gotten, what, three hours of sleep, tops.” Selena brushed a hand over her hair. 
“I’ll be fine. I’ll go upstairs and take a nap before I start the desserts for dinner. Besides, you’re lucky I came down. The pastries for breakfast are low anyway.”
“Well, you know bears.”
Calita nodded. Another thing she was learning since being here, the appetite of bears. Wasn’t life funny? Shifters had come out to the public decades ago, and she didn’t think she’d met a single one until she’d come to Georgia.
“Don’t you want to know who it is?” Selena asked, changing the subject. 
Calita sighed, wishing her friend had changed it to something else. “I do not.”
 Though, she was a little curious. The men around this town were hunky to say the least. She didn’t know how she felt about dating a shifter. She’d arrived at the town wary, thinking they would be dangerous animals, but the human she was running from had scared her way more than that possibility. From day one though, the gentle bears had made her feel safer than she had in a long time. Even through their curiosity, they’d given her space. They passed along compliments on her cooking, or gossip about town and its people, all the while never intruding into her personal space. It had made her feel welcome.
Selena leaned over the counter and opened the pickup window, jarring Cali from her thoughts. Her best friend pointed to a man sitting alone at the booth directly across from them.  Calita’s nape tingled, her body tightened and her breath stalled. Her eyes collided with a set of onyx ones. Heat flooded her cheeks, her stomach did a lazy flip and her body awakened. Who was he? She blinked to break contact. A mocking smile tilted his full lips and he raised his glass of juice in a toast. How had she missed a man that fine?
My God. 
He couldn’t be real. His Native American heritage was stamped on his face. High cheekbones, hollowed cheeks and a squared jaw gave him a rugged look that pulled at her feminine core. Curly hair flowed to his shoulder in wild disarray, along with rich dark skin that told her he was Black as well. Thick eyebrows lowered over those dark eyes as his heated gaze roved her face. Feminine awareness and a healthy dose of self-preservation had her moving out of view of the window. All that restrained power crackling around him, Lord…just a look at him had Calita’s hormones bouncing around her body. Her hands shook as she went back to kneading.
Who was he? 
Not her business. She couldn’t afford the promise of heat in his eyes. 
Selena laughed outright. “So, you want to know his name?”
Yes. 
She shook her head no, still unable to speak. She was shaken, but not in a bad way. 
“Simon’s a great guy,” Selena sang.
Feminine sighs met that statement. Cali narrowed her eyes at the staff. The town’s alpha. She’d heard a fair amount of stories about him and they did nothing to prepare her for the dominance that radiated from the man.  
Intense. 
That was a better word for it. She turned to the sink and washed her hands to give herself a moment. 
“That man is a God,” someone said.
“You ain’t never lied.” This from one of the prep chefs.
“Thank you for disrupting the kitchen,” Cali accused.
Selena shrugged her rounded shoulders. “If you don’t want him, I can think of at least a dozen women who’ll take him off your hands.”
Bawdy laughter had her rolling her eyes. “Whatever. You can leave now.” She turned back to the table. 
“Make him work for it, Cali.” Another waitress said floating past her, tying on an apron.
Cali swept everyone in the kitchen with a stern gaze. Chuckles met her look. “Disrespectful, the whole lot of you,” she teased. “Back to work. I’m not talking about this.” 
She shook her head and promptly ignored them. She couldn’t shake those dark eyes though. Upturned at the ends, mysterious, and heated, his gaze would haunt her. Selena left the kitchen laughing. Calita puffed out a breath, her hands shaking until finally, the others lapsed into busy silence. 
Simon…yeah, she wasn’t ready for that.

ABOUT DRIA ANDERSEN

I am a full time photographer, and a mom of two. I've been writing my whole life, and after the birth of my first kid, I decided I couldn't very well bring up a fearless human without first trying the things that scared me. So, I wrote my first book, and then subsequently more.

I write stories that I've always wanted to read: love stories that feature brown girls like me. I love the thought of fantastical creatures and worlds where anything is possible and that's what I bring in my stories.

CONNECT WITH DRIA ANDERSEN

AUTHOR SITE | GOODREADSTWITTER | INSTAGRAM | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Book Tour: A Baby Between Friends by Kathy Douglass

A BABY BETWEEN FRIENDS BY KATHY DOUGLASS


They pretended to be lovers.

But there's nothing make-believe about the baby on the way.


When Joni Danielson recruits her best friend, Sweet Briar mayor Lex Devlin, to be her fake boyfriend for a wedding, it's a no-brainer. But their staged kisses lead to real passion - and heartbreak when Lex pulls away. Now Joni's in a bigger bind: she's pregnant. Can she and Lex once again fake it 'til they make it - to a real relationship?

AVAILABLE ON:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKS-A-MILLION | HARLEQUIN | KOBO | ITUNES | BARNES AND NOBLE | GOOGLE

ENTER TO WIN

Kathy Douglass is giving away a copy of A Baby Between Friends to a lucky winner!
(Entrants in one of the one of the 48 contiguous states are eligible for a signed, print copy or digital copy. Entrants outside of the 48 contiguous states are eligible for a digital copy.)

CLICK TO ENTER


Also available from Kathy Douglass:
How To Steal the Lawman’s Heart*
The Waitress’s Secret*
The Rancher and the City Girl*
Winning Charlotte Back*
The Rancher’s Return*
The City Girl’s Homecoming**
A Baby Between Friends* 
*Sweet Briar Sweethearts
**Furever Yours

ABOUT KATHY DOUGLASS

Kathy is a born reader who as a child always had her nose in a book. She went from reading Bobbsey Twins to romance novels. One day she stumbled upon The Shining by Stephen King and was hooked on horror. When she caught herself checking under the bed and looking in the closet for monsters, she knew it was time to put down the horror and return to romance novels.
Her return was short-lived. She started law school and soon her reading was limited to legal opinions. Then she discovered Harlequin romances. They were short enough to read in a week and she wouldn't have to search her room before she went to sleep.
When her first child was born, she became a stay at home mom. Her second child soon followed, and reading was limited to children's books.
All too soon her kids were attending pre-school. Kathy spent those hours renewing her relationship with romance novels. Soon she felt the urge to write the stories she wanted to read. In 2016, Kathy sold to Harlequin. Her first book, How to Steal the Lawman's Heart, was released in February, 2017. Since then, she has released several more books with Harlequin.

CONNECT WITH KATHY DOUGLASS

AUTHOR SITE | FACEBOOKTWITTER | INSTAGRAM | BOOKBUB
| GOODREADS | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | NEWSLETTER

Release Blitz: Redesigning Happiness by Nita Brooks

REDESIGNING HAPPINESS BY NITA BROOKS

Real life is a work in progress… #DesignYourLife
It wasn’t easy for Yvonne Cable to get over a heartbreaking relationship and revamp her life. But now the once-broke single mom is Atlanta’s most sought-after interior designer—and one-half of the media’s hottest power couple. She and her celebrity fiancĂ©, Nathan, are a perfect, practical match, on—and off—camera. And with their new home improvement reality show the object of a fierce network bidding war, there’s no limit to how far they can go . . .

But Yvonne is stunned when mogul Richard Barrington III unexpectedly makes an offer for their program. He’s the man she thought left her for a more successful woman. And he’s the father of her son—though he didn’t know it until now. Richard wants to get to know their boy, and Yvonne agrees, though she’s wary. Yet little by little, she’s finding it hard to resist the responsible, caring man Richard has become. But when a scandalous leak puts everything Yvonne’s worked for at risk, she’ll have to look beyond surfaces to come to terms with who she is—and discover what she truly wants.

AVAILABLE ON:

AMAZON | KENSINGTON | BARNES & NOBLE

ENTER TO WIN

Nita Brooks is giving away a signed copy of Redesigning Happiness & a $10 Amazon gift card to a lucky winner!

CLICK TO ENTER

ABOUT NITA BROOKS

A reading addict, self-professed connoisseur of home improvement shows, and a collector of teapots, Nita Brooks resides in South Carolina with her family. You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter at @AuthorNitaB.

CONNECT WITH NITA BROOKS

AUTHOR SITE | FACEBOOKTWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Book Tour: Everything's Better with Kimberly by Lucy Eden

EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH KIMBERLY BY LUCY EDEN

Keeping their relationship strictly professional for the sake of their jobs was the perfect excuse to stay away from each other. Too bad fate and undeniable chemistry have other plans…
What happens when fate or dumb luck keeps throwing two workaholics, who’ve sworn off love, together in one of the most beautiful places on the planet?
Kimberly Simmons is gorgeous, brilliant, and way out of my league. She’s definitely not the type to fall for a guy who walked away from his family's fortune to become an architect. Good thing, too, because she works for Wolfe Industries, making her completely off-limits. Nailing this pitch to Wolfe’s CEO is exactly what I need to make my bosses forget about the last time I mixed business with pleasure.

Too bad she has the most beautiful brown eyes and dazzling smile I’ve ever seen. Too bad I can’t stop staring.

Adam Price is a talented rising star architect at Will and Peking Designs. His newest design submission for The Wolfe Industries Caribbean Expansion is set to dazzle my CEO. If Adam's design wins, with my help, I could get promoted, which means his big strong arms and gorgeous lips are strictly forbidden. It’s a good thing, too, because he has a reputation for leaving a trail of broken hearts all over Manhattan and I’m pretty sure I couldn't survive a second heartbreak.

Too bad every word he says makes me smile. Too bad he gives me a sense of calm I haven't felt in a long time.

Keeping their relationship strictly professional for the sake of their jobs was the perfect excuse to stay away from each other. Too bad fate and undeniable chemistry have other plans…

This standalone, workplace/forced proximity romance features characters from the previous novellas Everything’s Better With You and Cherishing the Goddess, is full of alphas and steam, and has NO cheating.

 

AVAILABLE ON

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA | AMAZON AU

 

CLICK TO ADD ON GOODREADS

LISTEN TO PLAYLIST

 

Lucy Eden is giving away a Everything's Better With Kimberly SWAG Box:

1- Sterling Beachfront Paradise Mug
1- Signed Paperback copy of Everything's Better With Kimberly
1- $10 Amazon Gift Card Bookmark
1- Mega Bathbomb
1- Assortment of Butter Cookies

Click to Enter

 

EXCERPT

“Too hot?” he asked. I shook my head and he slowly lowered me into the water. “I’ll grab your tea. Anything else?” 

I shook my head again and leaned back sinking into the water up to my shoulders. I piled my hair on top of my head and fastened it with a tie. When he came back into the bathroom with my tea he was wearing a smile and nothing else. He slid behind me in the giant tub and I leaned back into his chest.

“Feel better?” He kissed my neck.

“Yeah, actually. Why is that?” 

Adam chuckled and pointed to a bag of Epsom salts on the side of the tub. “I use it after long runs and workouts.” 

“You didn’t use it earlier.”

“I was distracted by the worst burglar ever.” 

I turned to face him, splashing water over the side of the tub in the process. “Burglars steal things.” I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“What makes you think you didn’t steal something?” He bit his lip and grinned at me. 

“You’re lucky you’re so handsome because that was a terrible line.” I kissed him slowly and deeply, drawing his bottom lip between mine and sucking gently.

“Princess, if you’re looking for a break from sex, this is not how you get it,”

ABOUT LUCY EDEN

Lucy Eden is the nom de plume of a romance obsessed author who writes the kind of romance she loves to read. She’s a sucker for alphas with a soft gooey center, over the top romantic gestures, strong & smart MCs, humor, love at first sight (or pretty damn close), happily ever afters & of course, dirty & steamy love scenes.
When Lucy isn’t writing, she’s busy reading—or listening to—every book she can get her hands on— romance or otherwise.
She lives & loves in New York with her husband, two children, a turtle & a Yorkshire Terrier.

 

CONNECT WITH LUCY EDEN

Excerpt Reveal: Redesigning Happiness by Nita Brooks

REDESIGNING HAPPINESS BY NITA BROOKS

 


A Note from Nita:
Thank you for giving Redesigning Happiness a try! When I started writing this story, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted Yvonne to do. She’d gotten over a rejection from her child’s father, built a new business, and was engaged to the perfect man. As the story unfolded and the situations changed, I realized my characters were telling a different story. I hope readers will understand the decisions Yvonne made in the past and the final decision she makes in the end.
- Nita Brooks

Real life is a work in progress… #DesignYourLife
It wasn’t easy for Yvonne Cable to get over a heartbreaking relationship and revamp her life. But now the once-broke single mom is Atlanta’s most sought-after interior designer—and one-half of the media’s hottest power couple. She and her celebrity fiancĂ©, Nathan, are a perfect, practical match, on—and off—camera. And with their new home improvement reality show the object of a fierce network bidding war, there’s no limit to how far they can go . . .

But Yvonne is stunned when mogul Richard Barrington III unexpectedly makes an offer for their program. He’s the man she thought left her for a more successful woman. And he’s the father of her son—though he didn’t know it until now. Richard wants to get to know their boy, and Yvonne agrees, though she’s wary. Yet little by little, she’s finding it hard to resist the responsible, caring man Richard has become. But when a scandalous leak puts everything Yvonne’s worked for at risk, she’ll have to look beyond surfaces to come to terms with who she is—and discover what she truly wants.

AVAILABLE ON:

AMAZON | KENSINGTON | BARNES & NOBLE

EXCERPT REVEAL

Chapter 1
The Power of Perfection. 
Yvonne Cable stared at the headline and grinned. The glowing feature on her latest design made her want to do cartwheels down the hall in her office. If only she’d mastered the art of a cartwheel. 
The picture below the headline was of the completed home office for her latest client. Muted blue-grey colors created a cozy and restful feel. The natural light from the picture window overlooking the home’s intricate landscape brightened the room. A mixture of textures—cotton, leather, and wood— added depth and visual interest. 
After clawing her way through Atlanta’s cutthroat interior design community, the article in Atlanta Life Magazine was the coveted crown after a hard-fought battle. She created perfection for her clients. Gave them the spaces they needed to be comfortable and content, a haven in their hectic lives. Money, family, status . . . she didn’t care. Whatever her clients needed, she was going to give them.
She put the magazine on her desk and walked over to the perfectly organized whiteboard in her downtown Atlanta office. Nine sections partitioned off. The title of her projects in blue at the top of each section. Tasks associated with each project in green. Due dates written in purple. Red checkmarks for completed tasks. The board served as a quick reference guide to where she was and what she needed to do next. 
Her grin widened as she a grabbed the green dry erase marker to add the title for a new project to the ninth box. Sandra Covington Project. Or, as her assistant Bree liked to call it, the super enviable commission of every designer in Atlanta. The people who’d vied for Sandra’s new home project were many, but Yvonne was the one to land it. 
Sandra Covington, self-help author turned radio personality, had just announced that her radio program was going into nationwide syndication. Yvonne was familiar with Sandra’s radio show. The woman’s advice was quoted everywhere. Known for going deep into her readers’ and clients’ pasts to help them unlock the “key to their potential,” her famously quoted words, Sandra kept her own personal life out of the spotlight. Yvonne didn’t care about Sandra’s past, all she cared about was that she’d gotten the project. Designing Sandra’s house, and possibly getting a shout-out on her show, combined with the notoriety she’d gotten from her appearance on Celebrity Housewives, would go a long way toward increasing the demand for an original Yvonne Cable Design when someone needed decorating for their home or business. 
She’d arrived. Shed the mistakes of the past and become a household name. Her mom still couldn’t believe it. On most days, Yvonne couldn’t believe it either. 
“Yvonne, I got the fabric swatches you needed for the Tyson project, and don’t forget that you’ve got a call with the editor of Lady Entrepreneur magazine in fifteen minutes.” 
Bree Foster, Yvonne’s administrative assistant, swept into Yvonne’s office with an arm full of fabric. She laid the material on the drafting table in the creative corner of Yvonne’s office. Vision boards for projects adorned the walls in that corner. Sketch pads, colored pencils, and drawing notebooks littered the drafting table where Yvonne created her designs. Bree continually purchased organizers to keep Yvonne’s samples in order, but when Yvonne was in the middle of the creative process, materials scattered the desk. As usual, Bree picked up the strewn color charts, pencils, post-its, and papers and put them back into their correct spots. 
“Crap, I completely forgot about that call.” Yvonne hurried over to her desk, in the working corner of her office. Lady Entrepreneur magazine wanted to start a lifestyle section which would include design tips. Yvonne wanted to be the person who supplied the articles. 
Lady Entrepreneur had a wide circulation. Women all over the country subscribed to the magazine, which provided everything from tips for running a business to interviews with successful women on its pages. Of course, she wanted those same women to think of her when they thought of interior design. 
“That’s why I’m here,” Bree said. A recent graduate of design school, they’d met when Yvonne hired Bree as an intern the summer before. After graduation, Yvonne had snatched up the brilliant designer immediately. “Besides, you’ve got a good excuse. I can imagine your head is elsewhere.” Bree grinned and squeezed her hands together in front of her chest. Bree’s curly hair was worn in a cute pixie cut and her brown eyes sparkled with excitement behind a pair of black framed glasses. 
“I know. I’ve been busy thinking about what I need for my first meeting with Sandra Covington.” 
“I’m not talking about that. I mean your proposal over the weekend. The way Nathan surprised you! That was so romantic!” 
Yes. The proposal. You’d think saying yes to the man she loved after he proposed via the jumbotron at the Atlanta Braves game wouldn’t slip her mind. Honestly, she was still getting used to the idea of being engaged. For the past six years, she’d been a single mom and business owner. Now she was part of a team. Of course, she would have a hard time believing it.
Nathan Lange, home improvement television star, boy next-door sex symbol, and all-around good guy, was her fiancĂ©. She couldn’t be happier. And if she happened to notice that saying yes to Nathan had gotten her more congratulations and well wishes than starting her own business, being named business woman of the year twice, or working for a star on Celebrity Housewives, she didn’t let it bother her. Not too much. 
Marriage was a big deal. Her son, Jacob, would have a father. She would have a man who loved and supported her. That was worth congratulating.
She glanced at the three-carat diamond on her left hand. “I can’t wait to marry Nathan, but no, that’s not what distracted me. Now that I’ve got Sandra’s account, I want to make sure I don’t let any other projects slip through the crack.” 
“That’s what you have me for,” Bree said. “As your administrative assistant, I’m determined to keep you on track. But once you and Nathan get the television show, I may need an assistant for all of the work that’s going to come your way.” 
Yvonne knocked three times on the oak surface of her desk, then crossed her fingers. “I hope so. The television show is still up in the air.” 
She’d met Nathan on the set of Celebrity Housewives, where he’d worked as the contractor. The disagreements and attraction between them had sparked almost instantly. So much so, they’d stolen every scene they were in. Their chemistry had given Nathan’s publicist the idea they could be the new helm of a home improvement show. While Yvonne had never thought about television, she wasn’t one to turn down the opportunity to grow her business even further. She’d once been forced to accept whatever scraps she could get from the person who claimed to love her. Not anymore. Neither she, nor her son, would ever be in that position again. 
“You guys will get it.” 
“Maybe, but until then I can’t forget what got me here in the first place. No matter what happens with me and Nathan, Yvonne Cable Designs is and always will be my priority. I fought too hard to build my brand to this point to let it go just because I’m getting married.” 
“But you will be making time to plan your wedding.” 
“You know it!” 
“I’d expect nothing less.” Bree looked at her cell phone. “Five minutes until the call. I’ll leave you alone so you can get ready.” 
Yvonne went through the notes she’d jotted down for why she should be their go-to person for the lifestyle section. When she’d spoken with Lashon, the editor of the magazine, she’d still been considering a few other designers. This call would, hopefully, convince Lashon to go with her. 
Lashon called right on time. They went through the normal pleasantries: quick stories about their kids, Lashon had two girls, and the latest good news from the magazine staffers. Then Lashon got to business. 
“Look, Yvonne, I know you’ve gotten really busy lately.” 
“Not too busy to supply design tips for the readers of your magazine. I was thinking of a focus on commercial spaces. Restaurants, offices, things like that.” 
“Actually, I was thinking we could go in a different direction,” Lashon said before Yvonne could go into the reasons why she was the right choice.
“You’re no longer looking to include interior design tips?”
“No, silly. I’m surprised you haven’t already figured that out,” Lashon said laughing. “I want the feature to be with you and Nathan.” 
“Really?” That idea had not crossed her mind.
“It’s genius, right?”
“I’m not sure I’m following along.”
“Lady Entrepreneur is still going to focus on women business owners, but I’m thinking of expanding the lifestyle section to also tackle relationships. Doesn’t that make sense?” 
Not entirely, considering the magazine was supposed to be a business resource, but Yvonne never claimed to be an expert in magazine editing. “I’m intrigued by this new direction. Tell me more.” 
“We did a survey of our subscribers. Many of them are single women who are also struggling to find a balance between work and family. You, my friend, are now the epitome of what so many single women want. You made a successful career despite having a child.” 
“Despite?” A child wasn’t an automatic liability. 
“And even though you are a single mother, you still happened to land a great guy like Nathan Lange. We think a quarterly feature on how you balance being a wife, mother, and business owner would go a long way to giving our readers hope.” 
Giving the readers hope? Landing a great guy like Nathan hadn’t been part of her life goals. If anything, after the disaster that was her relationship with Jacob’s father, she’d never believed she would trust a man again. But she had, and yes, Nathan was great, and she was happy things worked out, but she wouldn’t say her life was now defined by her engagement. Was it? 

ENTER TO WIN

Nita Brooks is giving away a signed copy of Redesigning Happiness & a $10 Amazon gift card to a lucky winner!

CLICK TO ENTER

ABOUT NITA BROOKS

A reading addict, self-professed connoisseur of home improvement shows, and a collector of teapots, Nita Brooks resides in South Carolina with her family. You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter at @AuthorNitaB.

CONNECT WITH NITA BROOKS

AUTHOR SITE | FACEBOOKTWITTER | INSTAGRAM