New Release by Chantel Rhondeau - Love's Ride, McCallister's Paradise #4

Title: Love's Ride (McCallister's Paradise - 4)

Author: Chantel Rhondeau

Release date: November 24, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Family Saga Romance

Brad McCallister has always felt estranged from his family. He thought taking over as manager of their paradise resort would make him feel more connected but that hasn’t happened. To top it off, his siblings are finding life partners and settling down while Brad’s still single. If only he could stop obsessing over the island's psychologist, Chelsea Taylor.

Chelsea loves working at McCallister's Paradise. She enjoys the large family of employees and feels at home in the sand and sunshine. The only thing missing is the spice of adventure. She longs to explore the island and conquer her longstanding fears.

After Brad’s sister schemes to bring Brad and Chelsea together things go horribly wrong, but Brad refuses to give up without a fight. A two-week island adventure will not only help fulfill Chelsea’s lifelong dream of being a survivalist, it will give them a chance to get to know each other—away from his meddling family.

This couple gets more than they bargained for when survival takes on a new meaning in paradise.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1N0mO7Q

Nook: http://bit.ly/1RpPbR8 

Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1035524163 

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1RpPfk2 

~~Excerpt~~

She pouted slightly as she thought, her full red lips begging him to suck on them. “I felt like dinner went well the other day, but…” She paused and scarlet flared against her cheekbones.

“Dinner did go well,” he agreed. “I wasn’t sure you thought so, but I had a great time.”

“I was surprised when you left so fast.” Looking down at their hands, she avoided his eyes, seeming unsure and flustered. “I thought you’d want a goodnight kiss.”

She felt insecure because he hadn’t kissed her? Well, hot damn!

Brad chuckled and tugged her hands, pulling her close to his chest. She was enough shorter than him that when her hair swished around her face the silky strands rubbed against his chin, catching slightly in the evening stubble he hadn’t had time to shave.

Pressing his lips against her forehead, Brad released one of her hands to caress her cheek and slide his hand down her neck.

The passion he felt in being so close to her was echoed in the soft trembling of Chelsea’s body against his and the sweet, contented sigh she released.

Wrapping both arms around her, Brad held her close to his heart, enjoying having her so near after spending several days apart. If only work would slow down and he could see her more often. He knew it was too sudden to be sure that he wanted things to work out with Chelsea, but holding her felt right. Since the moment she arrived on the island, Brad hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her, wishing he could call her his lady. Now he might have a chance.

Chelsea’s arms circled him, and she rested her head on his shoulder. The soft puffs of breath coming from her mouth bathed his neck with their warmth, making him wish he were less of a gentleman.

“You smell delicious,” she whispered, sniffing deeply. Her lips brushed his collarbone, setting his heart rate racing. 

If he didn’t stop this soon, the problem twitching to life in his pants could make a family dinner awkward. Kissing her forehead once more, Brad gently gripped her shoulders and pushed her away.

About McCallister's Paradise: 

Fall in love with the strong men and smart women of McCallister's Paradise!

At their tropical island resort, the McCallister family works hard. Life in Paradise should be perfect. After all, the place is great for a romantic getaway. Unfortunately, the five McCallister siblings are still searching for their happily ever afters... and romance always seems just out of reach. 

But determined hearts won't be denied. And when love is on the line, a McCallister doesn't fall halfway!

Series:

Happy Endings (Quinn)

Diving Into Love (Parker)

For Love or Charity (Sydney)
Love's Ride (Brad)
Cooking Up Love (Shane - coming soon)

Available at these vendors:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1QVSBwP

Nook: http://bit.ly/1Mr4VF9

Apple: http://apple.co/1WgwPZ8

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1O5Z5td

~~About the Author~~

Bestselling Author Chantel Rhondeau once thought a mystery or fantasy book with strong romantic themes was the highest level of reading bliss. After reading her first romantic suspense, she never looked back. Chantel is author of six romantic suspense novels, three Christmas novellas, a sports-themed novella, and the McCallister’s Paradise contemporary romance/family saga series. She lives in the western United States and when she's not writing, she loves playing cards with her family, bowling on leagues, and snuggling with her lazy kitties.

Want to contact Chantel?

Website: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com 

Mailing list: http://bit.ly/1qKSN0q (FREE copy of Season For Love for new sign ups!)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChantelRhondeau 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chantelrhondeau 

Google +: https://plus.google.com/107690373644293021555/posts 

Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/chantelrhondeau/ 

Join my Facebook Group: http://on.fb.me/1JlKFNC

All About Heroes Interview With Diana Nixon

I'd like to welcome author Diana Nixon to Suspense, She Writes. Diana is a bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romances. Her novel In Your Eyes is scheduled for release December 16, 2014. 

How an Accountant Becomes a Writer

Seriously? Do I look like an accountant?

How does an accountant become a writer? Well, I never intended to be an accountant. When I was in high school, I never dreamed I’d go to college. It seemed like something my lower middle class family wouldn’t be able to afford. In high school, I took courses with the plan to be an executive secretary. When my father told me he could manage to send me to college only months before I graduated high school, I was stunned. I certainly had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.

A general business degree seemed like the closest curriculum to being a secretary, so I enrolled and listed my major as general business. Of all the concentrations in general business, accounting made the most sense to me. At its basic level, it was simple. Asset = Liabilities + Equity. You couldn’t go wrong with a balanced equation like that. Okay, well, trust me, accounting isn’t always that simple. Sometimes we accountants have to get...creative. Accounting seems like an analytical, left-brain sort of thing to do, doesn’t it? One of my friends from high school told me at our ten-year reunion that she always knew I’d do something like accounting because I was so good in math. Uh, no. I wasn’t.

When I graduated from college with an accounting degree, I said I would be the most atypical accountant there ever was. Well, I'm not, but I might be coming pretty close.

I think there’s always been a deep well of inclination inside me to be something else, some more. I’ve always had the urge to creatively express myself. When I was in high school, my friend Brenda and I read every Harlequin romance we could get our hands on. Those romances inspired me. The ah-ha moments got to me every time. You know, those moments when the hero and heroine realize they love each other and can’t live without one another. That moment. Tugged at my heartstrings. I wanted to write something like that. So I wrote my first romance when I was in high school. Seventeen pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip off of the last romance I’d read. I don’t even have that story any longer. Just as well. It sucked.

When I was in my twenties, I tried writing songs. I can tell you right now that my lyrics never had the depth or complexity that my daughter’s lyrics do. She amazes me. Truth is, I was never meant to be a songwriter. Most of what I wrote will never see the light of day, but there was one song I thought was pretty good. I’ll share the lyrics with you at the end of this post. Once again, I tried to write a novel because I’d read so many Robert Ludlum books that the fast-paced, suspense-filled adventure with a hint of romance captured my imagination. At about the fourth chapter, I realized I lacked the skills to write such a novel and my suspense manuscript digressed into...well, a comedy. A spoof on the action adventure genre. I gave it up, fearing my efforts lacked credibility.

In my thirties, I was too busy being a part time accountant and a full time wife and mommy to do much of anything else. But then, I hit my forties and all that creativity that I had suppressed and the need to express myself just sort of burst in my mind. You see, I had this daydreaming habit. That kind of habit can be a bit...unhealthy if it goes too far. Thankfully, before it became a deep psychological problem, I turned all that daydreaming into a dream. I remembered the writing I had done when I was younger and realized that was a perfect outlet for my daydreams.

Now I call those dreams inspiration and don’t feel quite so guilty about spending my thoughtful times indulging in them. I spent a decade churning out one manuscript after another. I will always have something on my hard drive to edit and polish for the purpose of publication. And I keep coming up with new ideas. I’ll never run out stories. Not in this lifetime. So here I am with six books available for purchase and three more to come by the end of 2014. Seven more planned for 2015. Nope, I don’t plan to stop living the writing dream.

And that’s how an accountant becomes a writer.

Here’s the lyrics to that song I promised you. It’s call Cold December Morning. PS—When I wrote it, it wasn’t December. It was March. And no one has ever left me like that. I’ve been married to the love of my life for thirty plus years. So, no, this isn’t about my life and I don’t know where it came from.

Cold December Morning

Whisper to me softly

the things I want to hear.

Don’t tell me that you’re leaving.

It’s the thing that I most fear.

Don’t tell me that our love is cold

and gray just like the dawn.

On a cold December morning,

don’t say our love is gone.

Can you tell me truly

our love has been a lie?

Do you want to know the answer?

Do you even wonder why?

I keep clinging to the hope

our love’s not made of stone.

On a cold December morning.

don’t say our love is gone

Your bags are packed and ready.

They’re waiting in the hall.

Can you pass the moments of our life

still hanging on the wall?

Can you turn your back on all we had

and all that’s meant to be?

On a cold December morning,

will you come back to me?

New Book Series! #HauntedHearts Coming September 2014

Introducing an exciting new series filled with paranormal activity, delicious romance, and plenty of suspense.

Photo by the ultra-talented Keri Neal.

Haunted Hearts Series

Coming September 2014!

Book One: Laurel Heights

Look for the cover reveal early July 2014!

Want a blurb? Okay! Here it is!

A dark cloud of deceit hovers over her family tree...

Laurel Standridge hopes to leave a difficult past behind her in California when she heads to the hills of Arkansas to claim her inheritance. Left an estate by an aunt she’s never met, Laurel takes possession of Laurel Heights, hoping it will be the safe haven she needs to recuperate from her ill-fated relationship with Rand Peterson. Secrets long buried rise to the surface when her cousin James is murdered and dumped on the highway just outside the gates of Laurel Heights.

Her past trails her to the mountains of Arkansas...

To make her dream of opening a romantic bed and breakfast getaway reality, Laurel hires Chase to help her with the renovations to the old dilapidated house. Trusting Chase is hard when she discovers he is more than just a handyman. Caught in an obligation Chase feels he cannot ignore, he agrees to help his brother take back the property Rand believes Laurel stole from him. Chase remains at Laurel Heights even after he determines Laurel took nothing of Rand’s away with her from California except nightmares, fading bruises, and a fractured rib.

Unexplained disturbances shatter her hopes of a normal life...

As Rand seethes in prison, Chase fears he will send someone to Arkansas to seek revenge on Laurel for testifying against him. Are the strange bumps, thumps, and bangs reverberating through the night caused by the murderer of Laurel’s cousin James, the man Rand has sent to exact his revenge, or a disturbed soul existing in another dimension, trying to communicate with the living? Drawn together by the intrigue surrounding Laurel Heights, Chase and Laurel become hopelessly entangled in a relationship that goes deeper than mere physical attraction. Can their love survive the haunting of Laurel Heights?

Look for excerpts from the first chapter beginning in mid-July!

Cover Reveal - Love & Redemption by Chantel Rhondeau

Title: Love & Redemption (Agents in Love - Book 2)

Author: Chantel Rhondeau

Will be released: April 18, 2014

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Swearing off sex is anything but easy for bad girl Shelley Daniels. Especially after she bumps into super sexy Gavin Hart, who’s running for his life.

All Gavin wanted was fast money and a chance to start fresh. Now this jewelry thief is the target of professional assassins, ones he witnessed murder a woman in cold blood.

Gavin drags Shelley into the world she was desperate to escape, full of secret agents, assassin plots, and a frantic plan to stop a terrorist group from perfecting a new weapon. Gavin also attempts to steal what’s left of her jaded heart while they hide from the murderers.

The killers strike again, drawing the pair back to the city. When a child’s life hangs in the balance, Shelley and Gavin have a chance to make up for prior sins, but finding redemption means risking everything—including their chance for true love.

CONTENT WARNING: Language, violence, and sizzling love scenes

Add to your Goodreads TBR pile or sign up for Chantel's newsletter to get an email notifying you when the book is available!

If you missed the first book in the series Love & Deception (Agents in Love - Book 1) now is the time to get caught up with Nick and Carlie's story.

What if everything you believed in was a lie?

In hiding for six years, Carlie Hollis is tired of running. All she wants is to stay in Sayle, Washington and make a success of her struggling delicatessen. Because of her past, she’s suspicious of anyone who takes an interest in her.

Nick Kendall works as a spy in a top-secret government operation, protecting innocent people from danger. Sent to Sayle on a mission to infiltrate a suspected terrorist organization, Nick finds himself attracted to Carlie, an alleged key player of the group.

Despite her misgivings, Carlie develops feelings for the handsome stranger, believing he is there to help her. But when Nick finds evidence of her guilt, he’s given orders to do the unthinkable—eliminate the target, one he's fallen hopelessly in love with. Will he follow orders...or become hunted himself?

CONTENT WARNING: Violence, language, sizzling love scenes.

Buy it now:

Kindle Edition:

Amazon: US | UK | 

Apple iBooks: US | UK | AU | CA |

Barnes & Noble:     US | UK

Kobo 

Smashwords

All Romance eBooks

#NewRelease - Hopeless - Keri Neal

Just released by my good friend, Keri Neal!

Buy Links

Paperback (Amazon) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492272221?tag=itstwiate-20

Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GC3NYN4?tag=itstwiate-20

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/342191

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hopeless-keri-neal/1116958200?ean=2940045278843&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-W1PQs9y/1/c-_-10:1

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hopeless-5

Apple iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibooks/id364709193?mt=8

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18192519-hopeless?from_search=true

Blurb:

On her seventeenth birthday, Jade is filled with hope for the future. She and her boyfriend Pen are in love, she is finishing her final year of high school, and she is finally safe from the Fallen, who wanted her blood to fulfill an age-old prophesy. Pen is not as comfortable with the truce they made to protect her, so he makes a new deal with the Arches and leaves Jade alone.

But not for long.

A new Guardian is assigned to protect Jade. Blake is rude and offensive, his methods unconventional. Because of his dedication to her she trusts him with her life. Best of all, he knows about the Surge—her telekinetic ability—and is eager to teach her how to control her power. With Blake’s help, Jade learns she can defend herself against the evil forces that want her blood with or without the Arches protection.

Then… Pen comes back.

He doesn’t like the idea of someone else looking out for Jade, but an army of evil is on its way to destroy her, and Jade needs all the help she can get.

Excerpt

Tap.

The subtle noise woke me out of deep sleep. I stared into the darkness of my bedroom and waited. After a few minutes I heard it again.

Tap. Tap.

Something was scraping my window. The Santa Ana winds were always heavy this time of year, but the sounds it caused never bothered me before. This was different. Keeping my eyes on the window, I slid out of bed and dug the Louisville slugger out from behind my nightstand. I gripped it hard and tiptoed to the source of the noise.

Tap. Tap.

It wasn’t getting louder, but I knew without a doubt something, or someone, was outside my window. I approached with caution, ready to start swinging. Then something caught my eye. It was a leaf. I tilted my head to get a better angle, and the rest of the twig took form.

Breathing a heavy sigh, I tossed the bat onto my bed and put my head in my hands. My dreams had been so restless lately. I was starting to hallucinate. I laughed at my paranoia and opened the window to retrieve the stray twig.

The moon was an amazing presence in the clear sky. Summer was ending, signaling the beginning of cooler nights in the Southern California desert. I sucked in the clean air and let it fill my lungs. I loved this time of the year, when most of the smog was chased away by gale-force winds. Leaning out the window I watched the leaves dance on the Mulberry tree. A pair of glowing eyes glared back at me from deep within the branches.

I leapt back. Remembering the open window, I made a grab for the sill to slam it shut. I wasn’t quick enough. The eyes grew a body and pounced. I screamed until I heard footsteps in the hallway. Gary reached into the room and flicked on the switch, filling the room with a light that caused me to wince.

When my eyes adjusted to the room, I noticed several things at once. Gary was standing in my doorway, his Chargers pants and white t-shirt vibrating as he fought to catch his breath. In his left hand was a nine iron. The intruder was unmistakably male. Despite the ski mask, his muscular figure was well defined by a too-small black t-shirt. Both men ignored me as they stared each other down from separate ends of my room.

“Jade had a nightmare. You came to check on her. She was fine. You went back to bed.” The guy’s voice lilted with an accent I didn’t recognize.

The golf club fell out of Gary’s hand and hit the floor. I was having an out-of-body experience. There was no way Gary would fall for this guy’s impression of the Jedi mind-trick. But even as I thought it, he turned on his heel and scuffled back to his room at the end of the hall. I began to panic, the giggling bubbling up from my gut making my breath choppy. If my Surge was ever going to cooperate, this would be the time.

Holding my breath, I closed my eyes and focused on the center of my gut where the Surge originated. Nothing happened. It didn’t make sense; if I lost control when I was upset, then I should’ve been blowing the doors off the hinges. But I didn’t, I just stood there stunned as a feeling of dread washed over me. Behind my eyelids I saw Pen, his beautiful face staring back at me with adoration. He would never know how much I loved him. I was going to die and I was all alone. I opened my eyes with a determination to face my death. The intruder hadn’t moved except to turn his head.

The floor creaked as he shifted his weight and ambled toward me. He reached up and tore off the mask, revealing spiky black hair. His smile was cocky, as if he was proud of himself for being so clever.

Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind. I blinked up into the intruder’s eyes, and in the next moment he was gone. I was somewhere else. It was dark, but I could smell pine needles and hear branches crackle as the wind blew through them high above me. I was almost certain I was in the mountains somewhere, but it was too dark to tell. Whoever had brought me here still held me tightly.

Pen.

I spun around to throw my arms around him. He’d come back! Somehow I knew he wasn’t gone for good. He wouldn’t just leave me forever. Not after what we’d been through. But instead I was faced with dark eyes the color of onyx. A stranger, not Pen, had saved me from the supernatural being. I should’ve been grateful. Maybe shook his hand and exchanged emails. He seemed nice enough as he stared back at me with his head tilted in that way Pen did when he was trying to feel my thoughts.

All of these reactions would have been a normal way to react to someone who had just saved your life. I, however, was not a normal girl.

“Who the hell are you?”

Keri Neal designs book covers. Flightless is her fourth published book. She lives near Austin, Texas with her husband, two children, two hamsters and a snake. She crochets, sews, reads, paints and loves all things artsy & craftsy.  

  

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Review of Kiss Me by Jan Romes

Kiss Me by Jan Romes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kiss Me has all the elements of a fun contemporary romance. Hunky hero. Frustrated heroine. Wicked stepsister. Improbable situations. Fast and furious romance. Lots of chaos and more than a few plot twists the heroine should have seen coming, but didn't.

Lacy Goodlow comes back home to be a bridemaid for her wicked stepsister's wedding. On the way to the bachelorette party, she's pulled over by Jared Kelly, a very hunky cop. Yeah, the cop and the bridesmaid fall for each other, hard and fast. Unfortunately, handsome hunk cop comes with some relationship baggage in the form of Lacy's stepsister, Angela, the bride-to-be. And Angela is no angel. On the eve of her wedding to Brian, she's still trying to get into Jared's bed. Her attempts to keep Jared and Lacy apart are downright evil. It's been a long time since I've despised an antagonist so much! Romes wrote the character of Angela to evil perfection.

Lacy and Jared both have to overcome some major trust issues to finally get together. Both of them have a bad habit of believing Angela's lies. At times, I want to slap them both for their immaturity and gullibility. In the end, it takes a menagerie of well-meaning family and friends to get them together because the two of them obviously can't manage it by themselves. And yes, there is a happily ever after for them.

My only complaint was I thought the book could have used a better edit. At times, the dialogue from two characters is placed together in a single paragraph so the reader has a hard time distinguishing who is speaking.

Would I recommend Kiss Me? This would be a good beach or relaxing vacation read.

View all my reviews