ZINA ABBOTT
is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her adult Golden Oaks series which
includes Family Secrets, the first book in the series, and her historical
novels.
Except for
the first year of her life, Robyn has lived in California. She started her
young life in San Diego and has had gradually moved northward. She has been
writing since she was in junior high school.
After
working several jobs, including that of being a rural carrier and union steward
for the California Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, she has spent years
learning and teaching family history topics. She enjoys focusing on history
from a genealogist’s perspective by seeking out the details of everyday life in
the past. Several of her family history articles have been published in
genealogy magazines. She resides
with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” When
she is not piecing together novel plots and characters, she enjoys piecing
together quilt blocks.
In 1868, Otto Atwell has a 160 acre
homestead near Abilene, Kansas and a limp as a result of an arrow shot in his
low back while with the 16th Kansas Cavalry on the Powder River Expedition in
1865. What he doesn’t have is a wife. Then again, what woman would want to
marry a cripple?
Libby Jones comes to Junction City as a mail order bride. Not
only does the man who sent for her reject her, he tries to sell her to the
local brothel to recoup his fee. Otto offers to marry her, but she rejects him
in favor of a job with his relatives.
Will Otto’s offer still stand when
trouble from Libby’s past catches up with her?
“Mr. Atwell, like your brother, you asked me to call you by your first
name. I will do so only if you call me Libby. And to answer your question, I
don’t think most women like hearing tales of pain and suffering, especially
about their kin, or if it’s only for the sake of glorifying in such matters.
Otherwise, I think women are stronger than you realize. I believe your mother
would want to know what you’ve been through, especially if it still affects
your life, rather than being kept in the dark.”
In the silence that
followed, Libby took another sip. “I appreciate knowing your story, Mr.
Atwell…”
“Otto. I just hope it
doesn’t give you nightmares.”
“I doubt it will.”
I suffer my own
nightmares.
Libby swallowed and
chose her words carefully. “I appreciate knowing your attitude about tribal
people. As you can see, my native heritage is written on my face. There are
many people who look down on me because of it.”
“I hope you don’t
think I’m one of them.”
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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert delivers the final installment in her sizzling O’Malleys family series, hailed as “The Godfather meets Romeo & Juliet.” In THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN Dmitri Romanov must use his legendary focus and control to stay one step ahead of everyone else in the ever-shifting power plays of New York City.
What readers are saying:
“The Bastard’s Bargain presents a seductive escape and a fulfilling fantasy for that bad boy craving a girl can never outgrow.”—Isha at Book Likes
“Keira and Dmitri are everything. What develops between them is raw and carnal and wanton. The way they need each other and the way they connect is beyond sexy. It’s something deep and dark and heartbreakingly beautiful.”—Eva, Goodreads Reviewer
Meet Dmitri and Keira!
Pre-order THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN and add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! Then keep reading to get a sneak peek excerpt and to enter the giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card and Dmitri Romanov scented candle!
Title: The Bastard’s Bargain
Author: Katee Robert
Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Publisher: Grand Central/Forever
Series: The O’Malleys
Format: Digitial and Print
ASIN: B071ZYWPL5
Married to the enemy
When Keira O’Malley was a child, she used to picture her perfect wedding. The flowers. The dress. Her husband. But nothing could have prepared her for saying “I do” to Dmitri Romanov-cold, domineering, and always one step ahead of everyone else in the ever-shifting power plays of New York City. She agreed to his bargain to secure peace for her family, and she may want the bastard more than she’d ever admit, but she’ll be damned if she’ll make this marriage easy for him.
Dmitri knows better than to underestimate Keira for one second. Molten desire smolders between them, a dangerous addiction neither can resist. But his enemies are already on the move, and he needs every ounce of his legendary focus and control to keep them alive. Keira could just be his secret weapon-if she doesn’t bring him to his knees first.
It wasn’t until the front door closed behind Ivan that the reality of her situation sank in. Dmitri was furious. He might have faked it for his friend, but he stood next to her, a pillar of stone with anger coming off him in waves. His grip on her elbow didn’t hurt, but if she’d tried to leave, he would have restrained her.
She should be afraid. She should be terrified.
Keira’s heartbeat picked up, adrenaline kicking in. She swung to face him with a fierce smile on her face. “You didn’t compliment me on my dress.” It was a work of fucking art. She smoothed her free hand over her hip and up her side. “Actually, you called me a high-class sex worker. Is that any way to speak to your beloved wife?”
His gray eyes followed the movement, a muscle ticking in his jaw when she cupped her breast. “I meant it when I said you’re playing with fire.”
That wasn’t just anger on his face now. No, it was rapidly being overtaken by sheer lust. An answering feeling sent a bolt straight to her core. She stepped back, and he released her instantly. A strange feeling coursed through her, straightening her spine and making her want to laugh out loud. Power. This is what power feels like.
He wanted her. He wanted her so badly, he had his hands clenched at his sides to keep from touching her again. But he wouldn’t until she gave the green light. Keira took another step back. “I have a hypothetical question.”
“Ask.” His voice was rough. The way he watched her made her feel like prey, and she liked it far more than she should—because she wasn’t prey. Keira had her own teeth and claws, and Dmitri would learn that as time went on.
“Hypothetical, if I said yes tonight…how do you imagine that would go?”
He stared at her a long moment. “Nyet. I’m not playing this game with you.” She blinked and he was on her, one hand snaking around to press against the exposed small of her back, the other tangling in her hair. “We are not children, moya koroleva. These games don’t become us.”
He kissed her. There was no cautious exploration or easing into it. Dmitri kissed her like a conquering warlord who was sure of his welcome because he owned everything in the room—including her. There was no fighting this. She didn’t even want to try. Keira slid her arms around his neck and pressed herself more firmly against him. His cock was a hard length with too many layers between them. She rolled her hips, an invitation she wasn’t sure she was ready to follow through on.
Dmitri slid his hand down to cup her ass, guiding her movements. Long slides up the length of his cock and back down again. The stupid goddamn dress kept her from spreading her legs wider, from getting him exactly where she needed him. Her nipples rubbed against his shirt, the silk incredibly decadent across her sensitized skin.
“Keira. Moya koroleva.” He kissed down her jawline, tilting her head back until she had to arch her spine to accommodate the position. “Did you enjoy their eyes on you? Ivan’s. The men who owe allegiance to me. Anyone who cared to look.”
It took her desire-drugged brain a beat to catch up, but by then he was already growling out more words against her skin. “Did it make you feel powerful to know they were imagining stroking the nipples you flash with such impunity?” He moved his hand from her ass to do exactly that, dragging a finger over her puckered nipple. “They wanted the body you so proudly put on display.” His voice roughened. “They wanted what’s mine.”
Say something. If you don’t say something right now, you’re going to give in tonight and then it will all be over.
He moved his hand to her back and bent her until she relied solely on his strength to keep her off the ground. And then Dmitri’s wicked, wicked mouth closed around her nipple. The weight of the beaded design seemed heavier with his tongue flicking the engorged bud, making his touch that much hotter. She couldn’t hold back a moan as he moved to her other breast.
Dmitri dragged his mouth up the center of her chest, the only part of her not caged in the dress, stopping at the thick collar. He flicked the hollow of her throat with his tongue. “This is my favorite part of the dress.” He ran his thumb over it. “This, more than anything else, marks you as mine.”
A collar for a kept pet.
It was as if he’d doused her in icy water. Keira went rigid and shoved Dmitri away. She almost fell when he released her, but she regained her balance at the last second. They stood mere feet apart, breathing hard and staring at each other. I am no one’s pet. She slashed her hand through the air. “I might be your wife, Russian, but I’m not yours. I’ll never be yours.”
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.” When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.
Funny, forthright, and hopeful, Kissing Strangers is a survival-based how-to guide about looking for love online … and how to separate the men from the frogs.
Out Now! – Kissing Strangers: How to Online Date Like a Boss by Alethea Spiridon.
Follow the tour and #enter to #win a copy of Kissing Strangers!!
Title: Kissing Strangers: How to Online Date Like a Boss
Author: Alethea Spiridon
Genre: Dating
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Length: 40,000 words
So many frogs. So few princes.
Every single (and soon-to-be-single) woman knows the Dating Horror Stories. The guy who charms your panties off before he bolts. The funeral planner with a foot fetish. The Early Ejaculator. Or that filmmaker looking for a soul mate—provided you don’t mind he lied about his height, his weight, his wife, and… oh look, a micro-penis. How nice.
The bad news is that these guys exist. The good news? There are ways to find them, avoid them, and concentrate your energies on non-fuckwits. Who, as it turns out, also exist. Hurrah!
From deciphering Man Speak to the sexy perks of 30-year-old men, Catfishing 101, navigating hookup culture, and the safety precautions every woman should take, author Alethea Spiridon taps into her own hilarious—and occasionally heart-crushing—experiences in the dating world. Funny, forthright, and hopeful, Kissing Strangers is a survival-based how-to guide about looking for love online … and how to separate the men from the frogs.
Praise for Kissing Strangers:
“I absolutely loved reading this book! Funny and engaging, this is a great guide for women who are getting their toes wet into the online dating pool. It’s funny, informative, compelling. I wish I had read this when I was online dating. It would have helped me a lot. I made a lot of those mistakes!” Bestselling author, Carmen Falcone
Excerpt Dating today isn’t really dating!
It’s hooking up, hanging out, Netflix and chill.
I asked one of the guys I matched with on Bumble about this idea that nobody dates anymore. Sean, 36, said this: “Well, I think at our age we know what we want and when we find it we move quicker than before.”
You can probably guess that Sean moved on faster than I could ask a follow-up question.
Most men look for sex and find love. Truth.
I’m a romance editor and a die-hard romantic through and through, so this cold, loveless world of dating where most people are in it to sleep with you on the first “date” is soul crushing. Yes, mindless sex is fantastic, but when that is all most guys want…
What the fuck happened to romance?
Do not expect to be courted or dated. Expect to be jerked around, lied to, avoided, ghosted, stood up, breadcrumbed, cancelled on… There are, of course, good men out there, but it will take some digging and meeting, and time and patience.
That’s where this book comes in. You want sex? I’ll show you how to find it. You want something more? Well, keep reading…
Go in knowing a few things.
Tinder. Bumble. POF. OkCupid.
Ghosting. Breadcrumbing
Netflix and chill.
“Nobody dates anymore!”
“Romance is dead!”
You thought dating would be fun, easy, and you’d walk around in your cute little outfits like the women do on television. Bah! Not so much, girls. It can be fun. It is fun at times. But it’s also work and involves a lot of man decoding and navigating a landscape filled with unknowns, rejection, confusion…not much has changed since your mom dated, really. It’s just packaged differently is all.
Dating comes in new forms now. Well, the ways that we get to men. One in three people meet online today, so you have to be where the men are—on a dating site and dating apps. Swiping and sore digits will be your new norm.
But that’s just how you initially connect. Nothing matches real-life experience, so you must meet and talk to men, and a lot of men (probably) until you find the one you click with and want to settle with, whatever settling means for you.
Or maybe you’ll meet him on guy number three.
And if it’s hookups you want, you’ll get tips on how to make them work for you. Nothing wrong with casual sex!
This guide will give you that heads-up so you don’t get ambushed like I did. You’ll know what the booby traps are and how to charge ahead regardless. Consider this your counterattack in your plan to survive.
A decisive victory can be yours, but you need to know the rules if you want to beat them (men) at their game.
About Alethea Spiridon:
Alethea is a writer and editor (lots of romance books, so many) out of Ontario, Canada. When her marriage fell apart she realized she had to get back out there and figure out how to date again or accept a life of eating from the Dinner For One menu option permanently. The book in your hands (or on your screen) is the result of that research. If it saves one woman (you!) from the landmines out there in the DatingVerse, then she’s done her job. For more bits of dating advice and man mysteries solved, visit her website at http://www.littleblackhook.com.
FTC: I received a free copy of this book from The Adams Group in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.
The Nephilim Virus by John T. Prather was a book that I didn’t think I would enjoy reading but in the end, I loved the book. I requested a copy of this book because I knew it would either be really good or terrible and I knew I wanted to find out which way it was going to go. I had no idea who the author was when I saw this book and to be honest I still haven’t really looked him up because I couldn’t be careless that he is an actor. I know I judge the book from the start because I was skeptical when it came to him being a writer and I loved that I was proved wrong because he is a fantastic author and I can’t wait to read more books by him in the future.
Anyway, let’s get on to talk about this book and my thoughts and feelings about it. Like I said before I loved this book and I think I may like just as much like the book “1984”. I can’t pinpoint what I want about this book, but I really did enjoy just about everything. I really liked Nick right from the start but it did take some time for me to want Faith but by the end of the book I had fallen in love with her. I didn’t like when they quoted big chunks of the bible because it just bored me. Once I was in the middle of the book I just skipped those parts because I didn’t want to waste my time on those parts. Other than that I loved this book. If you like dystopian novels, then I would for sure check out this book.
Do you like dystopian novels?
Who is currently your favorite author?
About The Book
Nick Reese wakes from a three-year coma to find the world he once knew is gone. An ancient virus has infected two-thirds of the world’s population, turning humans into either incredibly intelligent super-humans or large and indestructible animalistic creatures. For the survivors, there is no government, no antidote, and no safety. With the help of a beautiful hematologist named Faith and a man they call the Commander, Nick must survive long enough to discover the origin of the virus and learn how his blood could hold the key to a cure. But he has to do it while being hunted by the infected. And failure means the extinction of the human race.
Author and Hollywood actor John Prather intertwines history, science, and the Bible to create a plausible post-apocalyptic tale. The Nephilim Virus is an intense thriller implementing spiritual ideas and subtle Christian symbolism. The Nephilim Virus is a nonstop race against time from beginning to end.
About The Author
I’m John Prather. I grew up in the Bluff City of Memphis, Tennessee on a diet of Bar-B-Q and southern values. In my late 20’s I moved to the City of Angels to try the adventure of acting and modeling and brought my southern values with me. Now, other than the lack of quality BBQ, Los Angeles feels like home.
I’m a writer, actor, and fitness model. I love to encourage, motivate, and inspire people to do great things. I believe you and I can take an active role in choosing who we become. And my goal is to be a positive influence in your life.
Life is an adventure and I hope you will join me in learning how to do it right. Please comment and share, and together we can grow into the people we are made to be.
Donna Hatch is the author of the
best-selling “Rogue Hearts Series,” and a winner of writing awards such as The
Golden Quill and the International Digital Award.
A hopeless romantic and
adventurer at heart, she discovered her writing passion at the tender age of 8
and has been listening to those voices ever since. She has become a
sought-after workshop presenter, and also juggles freelance editing, multiple
volunteer positions, and most of all, her six children (seven, counting her
husband).
A native of Arizona who recently transplanted to the Pacific
Northwest, she and her husband of over twenty years are living proof that there
really is a happily ever after.
When charming rake Tristan Barrett sweeps Lady Elizabeth off her
feet, stealing both her heart and a kiss in a secluded garden, her brother
challenges Tristan to a duel. The only way to save her brother and Tristan from
harm—not to mention preserve her reputation—is to get married.
But her father, the Duke of Pemberton, refuses to allow his
daughter to marry anyone but a titled lord. The duke demands that Elizabeth
marry Tristan’s older brother, Richard, the Earl of Averston. Now Elizabeth
must give up Tristan to marry a man who despises her, a man who loves another,
a man she’ll never love.
Richard fears Elizabeth is as untrustworthy as his
mother, who ran off with another man. However, to protect his brother from a
duel and their family name from further scandal, he agrees to the wedding,
certain his new bride will betray him. Yet when Elizabeth turns his house
upside down and worms her way into his reluctant heart, Richard suspects he
can’t live without his new countess. Will she stay with him or is it too
little, too late?
Tristan snapped his head back and
stepped away. Alone, Elizabeth wobbled on her feet. Her brother, Martindale,
stalked into view, bristling like an angry dog.
With his hands held out, Tristan
faced Martindale. “My lord, we were merely—”
“None of your lies, Barrett.”
Other voices made exclamations of
delighted horror. Elizabeth faced a nightmare; most of the houseguests stared
at her, including one of London’s worst gossip, Lady Einsburgh. Naturally they
would assume the worst. Heat crawled up Elizabeth’s neck and burned her cheeks.
She’d never live down the humiliation. Closing her eyes, she clamped her mouth
shut to avoid screaming at the injustice of it all. She’d only desired a few
moments alone with the man she loved. Instead, she’d been caught in an intimate
embrace in a dark garden. Gossipers would spread an exaggeratedly sordid tale
all over England. She’d be utterly ruined.
Immersed in his role of haughty
marquis, Martindale snarled, “Consider your second, Barrett. Tomorrow you shall
receive my challenge.”
Elizabeth’s heart stalled. A duel?
“No, Martindale. You can’t do this.” Elizabeth’s protest died on her lips as
her brother rounded on her.
“Silence! You’ve behaved like a
common whore.”
Elizabeth recoiled as if he’d slapped
her.
Tristan stiffened. “Hear now, that’s
no way to speak to the lady. I give you my word, it was merely a kiss.”
Martindale let out a scoff. “And I
should trust the word of a known rake?” He turned to Elizabeth, his eyes boring
into hers. “You’ve brought disgrace upon the family.”
Tears burned Elizabeth’s eyes.
Martindale was right. Only Tristan could save her from shame. She turned to
him, silently pleading for rescue.
Tristan glanced at her, his
expression unreadable, before returning his attention to Martindale. He lowered
his voice. “Let us go inside and discuss this in private.”
“There’s nothing to discuss. You’ve
compromised my sister. Choose your weapon.”
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Laura L. Walker grew up in a large family in the beautiful
Gila Valley of southern Arizona. From the time Laura was young, she spent hours
drawing characters on paper and fantasizing about their adventures. Life became
more serious, however, when Laura met her own hero and they eventually became
the parents of six children. In between spurts of grocery shopping, sewing
costumes or quilts, transporting kids to practices, and making dinner, Laura
still enjoys putting her imagination to good use. She is the author of four
contemporary romances.
“All Penny Merrill wants to do is run her own bakery shop, but her money-thirsty mother and conniving stepfather are making it nearly impossible to keep her dream alive. When Penny finds a clipping advertising a Valentine’s Day contest for Arizona’s cutest couple, with the winnings being enough for her to hold on to her floundering business, she comes up with an idea that might just work–if she can find the right man for the job.
Commercial contractor Preston Ames is starting to develop feelings for Penny, and even though he’s been through enough heartache to know that he should avoid her at all costs, he can’t keep himself from visiting her sweet shop everyday. When Penny asks him to participate in a crazy scheme so that she can overturn her stepfather’s underhanded business ploy, Preston is tempted to run the other way. But one look into her soulful blue eyes and he’s a goner. Little does he know that his calm, orderly world is about to unravel–and that just one picture will turn Penny into his sweet valentine! ”
Penny looked up to see Preston
shaking his head in disbelief. “Christmas already came and went, sweetheart.
Did you overdose on the fruitcake? Tell me you’re not really considering asking
a guy to pose with you in this nutty contest.”
Penny’s smile froze. “Well
. . .”
Preston’s jaw went slack.
He set the box of doughnuts down with a thud and braced his arms on the
countertop, effectively pinning her with his glare. “I don’t believe it. In the
past year that I’ve known you, I never took you for a person who would do
something like this. You’ve always seemed so level-headed.”
He made it sound like she
was doing something awful. Maybe her idea was a little farfetched, but she felt
confident that she could pull it off. With the right man, of course.
And the one she was
hoping for was standing less than two feet away.
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