Book Review: State of Affairs by Marie Force

 

Sam and Nick find their life is about to change in a way they never saw coming.

My Rating of State of Affairs: 5 Stars and Series Recommended Read

Romantic Suspense

Buy links found HERE

My Review of State of Affairs 

It’s the phone call that changed their lives. When Vice President Nick Cappuano was informed the President has died suddenly, he finds himself promoted to President and his family is now on the biggest stage of their lives. As Sam and Nick try to deal with the suddenness of Nick’s changed position in the White House, Sam is also working on a current murder investigation that has ties to a cold case that has haunted her for fifteen years. As their lives spin out of control as changes come left and right for their family, Nick and Sam find that if they stand together, they can get through anything, big or small.

 

STATE OF AFFAIRS is a new direction in the Fatal Series by Marie Force.  I can honestly attest that I adore this series with a passion. It has amazing characters, an author who delivers a story that has heart, suspense that will keep you invested in solving and a contemporary world where you can relate to the main characters and their families/friends. Ms. Force delivers a knockout introduction to Sam and Nick’s new direction in their life in STATE OF AFFAIRS and gives her readers a story that will keep you highly entertained as well as glued to the pages till the end. What I love about this author’s books is how real these characters are to me. I mean, Sam is a kick-ass police Lieutenant who has a knack for solving crime mysteries; Nick who is determined to keep his promises to his wife and young family while serving in politics and you fall in love with them as they unite to face whatever obstacle life throws at them. They are so beautifully written and life-like it makes me want to hang with them and see what transcends the pages into real life.

 

STATE OF AFFAIRS is more about the new direction in their lives but also about them, their family and how they can cope with the most unsettled changes they find they now have to navigate. With the flourish of a keystroke, Ms. Force delivers on everything while also keeping the reader glued to the pages till the very last page is read. What I want to know now is…. When is book two out and why so long of a wait? If you want to enjoy Sam and Nick’s journey to this new direction then I highly recommend starting from the very beginning in Fatal Affair and be prepared, their connection with one another is off the charts hot and you just might need a cold drink after reading these books.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement.

The entire Fatal Series is found HERE

First Family Series:

State of Affairs (Book 1)

State of Grace (Book 2)- out December 2021

Guest Author Day with Jennifer Young

Killing Your Darlings

It’s a piece of advice given to all authors. Kill your darlings. Sometimes you might hear a variation on it, such as murder your children, but no matter; it’s the same thing.

It’s sound advice and it really means that a writer should turn ruthless and get rid of those bits of the story that you absolutely adore yet which don’t move the story on. (Sometimes it feels like hacking off an arm.) But in my most novel it took on a new meaning for me. I killed off a character I loved.

I’m not a natural born killer, by any means. Maybe I feel it’s tempting Fate, that if I visit some awful accident on a fictional character the same thing, or at least something similar, might happen to me.

In my first book no-one got hurt, except (of course) emotionally. In ongoing drafts people have fallen ill but survived. My most villainous act to date as a writer has been to do away with a beloved old tabby cat, victim of my heroine’s vengeful rival. But in No Time Like Now I crossed the rubicon and consigned one of my characters to a sudden and violent death.

Because the genre is romantic suspense, it’s near-impossible to write without violence, or at the very least the over-riding threat of it, so that the minute I embraced on a plot adorned with increasingly-desperate villains and sent my hero and heroine closer and closer to secrets they really didn’t want to know, I knew that at some point I would end up with blood on my pen. Someone was always going to die.

But there was one character I never intended to kill. I won’t tell you who it was (that would spoil the story) but I will tell you that it was someone I liked and who truly deserved a happy ever after. But unfortunately for them, as I was writing the novel they stepped out of line. They did things I didn’t want to do. They threatened my carefully-constructed plot — and so they had to go.

I’m not altogether sure how I felt when I’d done it. A vicious sense of satisfaction - that’ll teach you to challenge my plot? Or a sense of deep sadness, because out of all the characters in the book this one, I felt, deserved a happy ever after.

Either way, I’ve embraced violence. And now I know that as a writer, no character, however hard they plead, is safe from the vicious excesses of my imagination.

Want to know who died? Read the book…

Excerpt

After about a quarter of a mile the path dropped steeply to a small cove, and from there — if you were nimble enough, which I was — you could scramble along the rocks and sit on the point, which commanded views along a whole swathe of the island’s inhospitable north coast. I scrambled my way out and sat for a while watching the boats drifting along the coast against the capricious breeze, until their slow progress lost my attention. I took out the old family photo I used as a bookmark (more and more dog-eared, it was a faded snapshot of the three of us on my sixteenth birthday; before it all went wrong) opened the book and started to read It is a truth universally acknowledged…

It was, of course, the wrong book. I gave a wry smile. I really wasn’t in the mood for social dramas — or any other kind of drama, for that matter.

Megan McLeod, my mum’s voice tapped in my head, fraught with impatience and her own ill-health. You need t sort yourself out.

Up to a point, sorting myself out is what I’m good at. I always have been, except for those few fragmented weeks in my life when rational thought had escaped me altogether and fused into a nightmare I didn’t dare remember. Even then, I’d conquered my problems and emerged from their wreckage all the stronger, equipped with enough common sense and enough strength of purpose to deal with any situation. I marshalled that common sense once more.

The facts were plain and inescapable. It wasn’t Tim himself who was the problem, even though he had been so at one point in my life. But I was over that. The problem was that he belonged in a part of my life where I had been unhappy, where I didn’t get on with my parents, a time when my mother had died too soon, so that I had left harsh words unresolved between us.

There was no doubt that it was his unexpected arrival which had stirred me to try to write once again to my dad. And it was equally obvious that once I’d got that letter written — the right letter, not like the ones I’d sent before but one which deserved and received an accepting and forgiving reply — then I wouldn’t give a toss whether Tim was there at all. He wasn’t the thing which was wrong with my life, but only a stark and painful reminder of it. So — I ticked these points off on my fingers one by one, as if they could be quantified — it wasn’t a question of evolving a strategy to deal with what I felt for him (which was nothing), but of tackling the things he reminded me of (which were hell)…

I must have sat there for half an hour, flicking the pages of  Pride and Prejudice without reading them and looking at the photo with tears in my eyes. At last, when the roughness of the limestone became even more uncomfortable than my thoughts, I put the book down, stood up, and stretched. The sea warped the sunlight into colors from indigo to turquoise as I looked down the coast towards the centre, then turned and looked the other way towards blissful remoteness. I was used to remoteness. I even thought I liked it.

The wind stirred the pages of the book. From between them, the photo crept out, turned over, and bowled slowly along the beach. I took off after it, teased and tormented by it, until I trapped it under my foot and picked it up.

‘Got you!’ I said in triumph to the false image of my perfect family. Then I took a look along the beach.

I’d thought I was alone. I’d deliberately chosen a spot where I could be. So it was with a touch of irritation that I realised I might have company.

At first, I wasn’t sure. The thing that caught my eye, about a hundred yards away at the far edge of the beach, looked like a piece of wreckage washed up by the waves. And it was a moment before I realised that it was a person. I looked past and then back again; my interest caught. Because something about the sunbather looked wrong.

Naturally curious, that’s my problem. And anyway, I had nothing else to do with the morning since Miss Austen had failed to engage my attention and I wasn’t keen on risking my peace of mind back at the centre. Clutching the photo between my fingers, I crunched my way along the narrow strip of beach. Just a few yards along, it dawned on me that what I was looking at wasn’t a sunbather, that it wasn’t even actually on the beach but washed by the shallow sea.

The pebbles spitting under my feet, I broke into a run and, even before I got there, I knew that I’d found a body.

About No Time Like Now

Hiding away from a disastrous past, Megan McLeod is getting along nicely in her job as housekeeper at a university field centre in Majorca. But the arrival of geological researcher, Tim Stone, throws everything into disarray — because Tim was the father of the baby she lost some years before and the two of them had parted very messily indeed.

As if having Tim on the scene wasn’t bad enough, he's there with his new partner, Holly. But when in the course of his research he comes upon something extremely nasty along the cliffs of north Majorca, he’s forced to turn to Megan for help.

Buy it from

Tirgearr Publishing

http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Young_Jennifer/no-time-like-now.htm

Amazon US

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OYFRSGG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00OYFRSGG&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkId=NPR7KQYM5GOLFW4G

Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00OYFRSGG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00OYFRSGG&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelthouse-21&linkId=MPO2NS76J5TOUBU6

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/487736?ref=cw1985

About Jennifer Young

Jennifer Young is an Edinburgh-based writer, editor and copywriter. She is interested in a wide range of subjects and writing media, perhaps reflecting the fact that she has both arts and science degrees. Jennifer has been writing fiction, including romantic fiction, for a number of years with several short stories already published. No Time Like Now is her second published novel; her first novel, Thank You For The Music, is also set on the Balearic island of Majorca.

Find me on

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferyoungauthor

Twitter

@JYnovelist

Blog

http://jenniferyoungauthor.blogspot.co.uk/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Discover RJ Scott's Last Marine Standing & Win a Gift card plus other cool stuff

Last Marine Standing

Book two in the Heroes series. Book 1 - A Reason To Stay

For all buy links when they become available click here:

http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/SEALHeroes2.html

When the people you trusted turn on you, when you are the last one standing, should you take your secrets to the grave? Or make the murderers pay?

Former Marine Recon, Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Jackson has secrets. The things he did for his country, the things he saw, must never be spoken about. Until that is, his team is targeted.

A shift in political alliances means one particular mission undertaken by Mac and his Fire Team needs to be wiped from the history books. Starting with the team itself.

Forest Ranger, Samuel Larson III wants to find the Marines who saved his life. He just wants to say thank you. What he can’t know is that he's walking into a firestorm of betrayal and murder.

When Samuel arrives at Mac's place he throws Mac's plans for hiding out of the window. Abruptly Mac has to protect a man that threatens his heart, only this time he can't be sure he will succeed in keeping Sam alive.

Excerpt

Mac pushed open the kid’s door. The first thing Mac noticed as he shut the door behind him was how cold it was in the room. The window overlooking the parking lot wide open. The second was that Sam was leaning out of the window, too far over, the pivot of the balance on his tummy on the sill. A lift of his bare feet and the kid would topple out of the window. Mac saw a thin trail of blood from the bed to the window—Sam had pulled out his IV. Trying not to spook him, Mac moved to stand close enough to Sam to be able to grab him if he did anything stupid.

Sam’s shoulders stiffened, but he didn’t look at Mac.

“Go away,” he said softly. There was no emotion in the words. They were flat, not grieving, not angry, not hyper. Just nothing.

“What are you doing over here?” Mac asked conversationally. He moved a little closer to peer out the window. They were five floors up, plenty enough height to get Sam killed on the concrete. How was it even possible that the window was open this wide? Surely, even in private rooms like this one, the hospital would cover themselves against jumpers? Then he noticed the shards of a plastic knife, probably left over from dinner, and the screws on the floor. There was intent in the knife and the screws and the open window. Sam was pale, near white, and covered in bandages, his left ankle in a cast, and his breathing labored.

“You wanna talk?” Mac began.

Sam didn’t move to look at him. “Nooo,” he slurred from what Mac assumed was a combination of pain and the meds he was using to control it.

“I think you should.”

“Leave me alone.” Sam’s face flushed scarlet against the white as he spoke, but he still refused to look at Mac.

Author Bio
RJ Scott has been writing since age six, when she was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies. She was told to write a story and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.

As an avid reader herself, she can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, her first real true love will always be the world of romance where she takes cowboys, bodyguards, firemen and billionaires (to name a few) and writes dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between these men.

With over sixty titles to her name and counting, she is the author of the award winning book, The Christmas Throwaway. She is also known for the Texas series charting the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series following the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.

Her goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.

mailto:rj@rjscott.co.uk

http://www.rjscott.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/author.rjscott?ref=ts&fref=ts

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3432558.R_J_Scott

https://twitter.com/Rjscott_author

http://www.librarything.com/author/scottrj

Competition

Win a $15 gift card, free e-books, name a character and signed postcards

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Talking with author Kallie Lane and Win an E-copy of one of Kallie's Books

Hi Dawn! Thanks so much for having me here today. I'm thrilled to have the chance to sit and chat with you.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Well, I'm up at the crack of dawn every morning. I really don't need an alarm, although the four cats and two dogs who bunk in with me may have something to do with that. I can't settle in with my writing muse until the hounds have enjoyed their 'walkies' and the cats are sprung—they prefer the garden outside to using their litter boxes.

I'm an outdoor girl. I have a rustic cabin on a lake that can only be accessed by boat. I love the solitude there. My characters spring to life when I'm surrounded by mountains and water.

I'm a caffeine and chocolate fiend. I hate to admit it, but my favorite food group is dessert.

Fashion is important to me, but only when I'm out and about. When I'm writing I live in yoga pants and a tee, and sometimes my pajamas. Yep, I'll shower and dress to walk the dogs and then change back into ratty pj's. Of course, I'm talking summer here. Winter is an entirely different look. I like to write in front of the fireplace, bundled up to my eyeballs in fleece.

What started your interest in writing?

I was an avid reader from an early age (about six) and I knew I was a storyteller. If I didn't like the ending of a children's book I was reading, I would change it, and entertain anyone who would listen with my creative genius (ha!). I especially enjoyed fairy tales. Grimm's were indeed grim, and I built on those to make them worse. I liked to scare the pants off my little pals and my youngest brother. I would pump up the terror factor until my mother stepped in and called a halt to my fun. My little brother had a lot of nightmares in those days. (Sorry Fred!)
I don't think I ever seriously considered becoming a writer although I loved everything about it. But, life has a way of changing the paths we travel. I began writing in earnest after my husband died. It was my way of coping with losing the love of my life. I had no interest in dating again, so I contented myself with writing romantic thrillers instead. I needed a perfect man in my life and what better way to find him than to create him? Even then, I never saw myself as a published author. Not in my wildest dreams. The journey has been wonderful and I feel incredibly blessed to be given this gift.

What is your book(s) about?

Lethal Abandon is about a woman in the wrong place at the wrong time. Remy is a wildlife biologist who stumbles over a body dump in the Everglades. From then on her life isn't worth the price of a gumball, because she comes face-to-face with the serial killers. She manages to escape, but these guys have a very long reach. They are part of a global network and they're coming to get her. Micah steps in to hide and protect her, the FBI wants to use her as bait, and all in all, she's having a really bad time of it. Micah is part of the Shadow Soldier team, a special ops, military reservist unit who help those in trouble when they're not away on military sanctioned operations. This is book 4 in the series and the release date is October 3rd. Just to let you know, all my books read well as standalones.

My other series, the Black Force Renegades, is about an elite taskforce of ex-military, Harley-riding undercover cops connected to the RCMP. Silent Deceit is the first story in that series, a little novella to get the ball rolling. It was released in 2013, and according to my readers, it kicks some serious butt. Natasha is searching for her missing brother by working undercover in an upscale biker bar. Skip keeps eyes on Natasha because she's a wildcard, although she doesn't know he is also a cop. These two are like fire and ice, so of course there's a romantic entanglement. There always is in my books.

What are you currently working on?

I’m doing the edits for Silent Justice at the moment (Black Force Renegades series, book 1), which focuses on Blue Falcone, commanding officer of the BFR. Blue is hot and super deadly, especially when his confidential informant is kidnapped by a violent underworld kingpin. Needless to say, he wants Rena back. And he's such fun to write! The release date will be in 2015.

I’m also in the early stages of Heated Abandon, starting the prep work (Shadow Soldier series, book 5). This is Hunt's story, and I can't wait to write it. It begins in a graveyard and slides downhill from there! This will also release in 2015.

I'm planning another short story as well. I recently wrote The Mystery of the Claddagh Rings, releasing this year as part of a Christmas anthology (Twelve Brides of Christmas). I have ideas for four more books that continue with the same back-story. I think of them as a miniseries and call it the Claddagh Connection.

Is there anything you would tell aspiring writers?

Yes, and that is to write, write, write! And don't hide your work in the closet or under a bed. We all need help to improve our craft. By that I mean the right kind of help, not friends and co-workers who aren't going to tell you the truth, or may not take your writing seriously.

If you write romance, I suggest you join Romance Writers of America. You can find them on the internet. Through them, you can also find a writing group in your area (worldwide) where published authors will encourage you on the right path, show you what steps to take as well as gently critique your work. By the way, most if not all authors have a critique partner. I don't hit 'send' to my publisher until my critique partner has read through my manuscript and given it the green light. And if there isn't a writing group in your area then find one on-line, one you're comfortable with. The possibilities are endless, with numerous writing workshops also available, both on-line and at conferences.

It is important to hone your craft before you can create what agents and publishers are looking for. Borrow books on the subject from the library—Stephen King's 'On Writing' is excellent, also Janet Evanovich's 'How I Write' gives you a bird's eye view of her process. 

If you believe in yourself and are willing to work hard and invest the time, the magic will happen. It's a wonderful journey, I swear!

What was the hardest part of writing your book(s)?

Hmm, probably sitting in the chair and staying put until I've written the scene or chapter I'm working on. This means ignoring the phone when it rings. (I answer only if I'm at the cottage. Otherwise, my sons totally freak and send out a search party!) I also don't answer the doorbell. I don't check my emails and I don't surf the net. Focus is too important. If I lose that, I lose my writing muse, and I owe it to my readers, my characters, and the story I'm writing to pay full attention. So unless there's an emergency, nothing is budging me from that particular place in time for several hours.

You see, my books are largely character driven. I need to be 'in the moment' to orchestrate what they are doing and why. My heroines and heroes have this maddening habit of taking over if I allow it. I could be writing a chilling, nail-biting scene, and they want to have sex. Who knew, right? Okay, I realize I sound like a crazy person, but that's the way it is for me during the creative process.

Again, I'm an early riser. Most days I'm inhaling coffee by 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. because this is when my imagination vibrates, ideas pop, and the words flow. My writing day also finishes early, because I can't hold focus much longer than mid-afternoon. It's sometimes disappointing. I admire writers who are able to be 'in the zone' and create for longer periods of time. But, I'm not one of them. I need family, friends, fresh air, and sunshine to stay healthy.

If you could sit down with any author dead or alive who would it be?

Nora Roberts! I’d love to spend time with her, but I haven't had the opportunity. To me, she's the Grande Dame on so many levels, both as a savvy woman and a prolific writer. Nora is everything I aspire to!

Do you keep a notebook near you for when new ideas pop into your head?

Absolutely, and I don't leave home without it, as the American Express slogan goes. Many of my eureka moments occur during the night, when I'm out for the count and my brain is relaxed.  I'll wake up and scribble a note to myself, so I don't forget whatever floated to the surface while I slept. It might be a nifty piece of dialogue, an amazing plot point, or an idea for a new book. I never know until it happens. I also use the notebook for timelines, to build character arcs, for back-story, and developing book outlines.

Is there anything you wish to say to your readers?

Yes. Thank you! THANK YOU! I don't think I can say it often enough or loud enough. Writing is such a solitary profession, and you have no idea how much I appreciate your words of encouragement. I've had the pleasure of meeting some of you at book signings. I've also gotten to know many of you through Facebook and your emails to me. It's heartwarming to know people are out there who love my stories as much as I do. It truly makes writing a happy place for me!

For readers who haven't tried your books yet, how do   you think your editor or loyal readers would describe       your books?

Dawn, I hate to answer for other people, so I asked my editor the question and this is what she said: "Books come from a deep well of imagination and Kallie certainly has plenty of that.  It is a joy to edit her series because the characters have great depth and reality, while the suspense keeps you guessing. Of course, the romantic tension will please anyone who thrives on the strong male/female interaction. So as an editor, we review stories multiple times and each time I enjoy hers!"

And one of my readers recently sent me this email: "You deliver romantic suspense that I devour. If your novels were boxes of chocolate, I'd be in big trouble. Your heroines are smart, resourceful, and sexy. The ex-military and undercover biker cop heroes know how to serve and protect their women and defend our society against diabolical criminals. I love your books. They're definitely addictive just like chocolates, but they're calorie-free and extremely satisfying."

With an editor and fans like these, what more can a writer ask for?

Thanks so much for having me here today. It's nice to have the opportunity to talk a little about myself and my writing passion. With Dawn's permission, I’d like to offer one lucky reader e-copies of both Lethal Abandon and Silent Deceit. Just leave a comment and your email address in the comment section, and I will choose a winner and contact you. I'll also list the winner in the News section on my website at http://www.kallielane.com/.

Wishing you the best!

Kallie

Lethal Abandon

Book Genre: romantic suspense

Series Name: Shadow Soldier Series

(This is #4 in the series but all the books read well as standalones)

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

 

When wildlife biologist Remy Renaud gets lost in the Everglades, she doesn't expect to find a body dump—and herself on the Endangered Species list. However, when a modern day warrior steps in to protect her, she is forced to trust a man she doesn't know. A man she could come to love. A man she could lose if a killer has his way.

Micah Rivera agrees to hide Remy, but when the FBI decides to use her as bait to catch the killers, he and his team spring into action to keep her out of harm’s way. Now with both law enforcement and murderers on their trail, Micah is left in an untenable position—keep his team safe and Remy out of trouble without losing his heart to the woman he has sworn to protect. 

As Remy and Micah join forces, one thing becomes clear. To survive, they must defeat the enemy at his own game.

Silent Deceit

Book Genre: romantic suspense

Series Name: Black Force Renegades Series

(This is a novella, the first story in the series)

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press 

When undercover cop Natasha Roberts sets out to find her missing brother, the trail leads to a biker bar where one false move will get her killed. Taking a job as bartender at Trailblazer's, she's in over her head almost before she begins. 

Skip McQuade, a man Natasha doesn't know is a cop, isn't impressed. But when orders from his CO come down, he's forced to stick to her like Velcro in order to find out what she's up to. It doesn't take him long to realize the odds are stacked against her. Convincing her to become his partner is hard work, but when she finally agrees, he wastes no time getting in on the search.

Together they continue the hunt while fighting the passion between them. Will they find her brother and stop a killer in time?

About the Author

Kallie Lane writes suspenseful romantic fiction with a touch of humor to lighten the dark moments. She understands the rough edges of alpha males and loves to write about them, helping them find the women who complete them in every way that matters. She excels at hard hitting action and complex relationships that end with the heroine and hero building a life together.

Kallie loves to write stories with realistic characters, intricate plots, and happy endings. With her Shadow Soldier series, she has had the pleasure of meeting many military men who fit the bill. And while she loves doing extensive research, many of the locations and perils in her stories stem from personal experience. The isolated cottage in Dark Abandon is her own, her boating disasters serving as inspiration for her heroine's. Her recent release, Reckless Abandon, takes place at a rodeo where she spent much of her time. She was thrilled when the novel was rated Best Book by Long and Short Reviews.

Kallie lives in Canada, was born and raised there, and loves winter in the cool blue North.  Ever the optimist, she claims a hot toddy by the fire can work wonders after dragging oneself through snowdrifts and -45C degree temperatures. The perfect setting for hatching romantic suspense novels.

To learn more about Kallie, visit her website at http://www.kallielane.com/ or follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/KallieLaneAuthor or Twitter at https://twitter.com/KallieLane.

  

Links

Blog (on website): http://www.kallielane.com/

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5522872.Kallie_Lane‎

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

Link to receive newsletter is on Website Contact Page: http://www.kallielane.com/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kallielaneauth/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/KallieLane

Website: http://www.kallielane.com/ 

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LaneKallie

Vendors include Amazon, Amazon UK, Audible, BAM, Barnes & Noble, Chapters-Indigo, Kobo, The Wild Rose Press

Book Spotlight on Adriana Kraft's Willow Smoke and a Giveaway

Spotlight on Willow Smoke by Adriana Kraft

Just released! Book Three in the Riders Up series by Adriana Kraft

Willow Smoke (Riders Up, Book Three)

September 1, 2014, B&B Publishing ISBN: 978-0-9907476-0-4 ASIN: B00N0DH13I Romantic Suspense Heat rating: three flames (explicit sex, m/f) Cover by Rebecca Poole Dreams2Media

BLURB

When the chips are down, there's nobody there. Willowy blond Daisy Matthews has survived the Chicago streets with this mantra but is unprepared for the much older Nick Underwood's urgent pursuit. The wealthy businessman receives a thoroughbred in payment for a bad debt and is thrust into Daisy's world. She teaches him about horse racing; he teaches her about love. When Daisy's seamy brother-in-law threatens Nick's safety, she doggedly tries to stop him by herself, but flees to the familiar streets when he attacks. Can Nick find her in time – and if he does, will she still want him?

REVIEW

Five stars at Goodreads “…dreams can become reality, love can transcend age… Exciting, engaging and very entertaining story. The character interplay is spot on and the story is extremely well written.” Donna H.

BUY LINK

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N0DH13I

When the Chips are Down, There’s Nobody There

Daisy Matthews grew up on the streets of Chicago, and if she learned anything, it was that she could count on no one to help her, ever. She knows she has to tough it out, protect herself, and when necessary, protect anyone she cares about. All by herself. No one else will do it for her. Hubs and I have loved writing Daisy and her story. We first introduced her in Cassie’s Hope (Riders Up, Book One) – she’s the teenage waif in the group home where Cassie worked before she went back to training horses. We’ve known so many kids like her across our social service and academic careers. There’s a special kind of resilience that comes from growing up that way; kids who don’t develop it probably don’t make it, and we’ve known some of those, too. She doesn’t know who her father is. Her mother, who died of an overdose when Daisy was little, was a prostitute. Fortunately for Daisy, her rock-solid grandmother took her in, but that grandmother died when Daisy was eleven. Unadoptable for whatever reason, she ended up in a group home through her early teenage years, until Cassie and Clint Travers became her foster parents. We’ve dedicated this book to two of our ancestors who faced severe social stigma more than a century ago: my great grandfather, who was born to an unmarried teenage logging camp cook in the Pennsylvania mountains, and hubby’s great grandmother, a quarter-blood Cherokee in an era when the family tried to hide that information out of shame. Maybe we gave Daisy an extra boost when we paired her with a handsome wealthy hunk in his early forties, but we think she deserves a bang-up happy ending for her determination, grit, and courage in the face of present day social stigma. We hope you’ll agree.

EXCERPT

“I won’t let anything hurt you.” Daisy Matthews finished wrapping the ankles of the chestnut mare and sat back on her haunches to evaluate her work. The mare’s ankles were cooler than they had been two hours earlier. It wasn’t easy to convince a horse to stand in buckets of ice, but after three years of being a groom and an exercise rider, she could do it about as well as anybody at Arlington Park. At least that was what her boss said when he promoted her to assistant trainer. Daisy grinned. There wasn’t much prestige associated with being an assistant trainer for a fellow with a string of only twenty-some claimers and allowance horses, but it was something, particularly for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. RainbowBlaze took a step forward. “I know.” Daisy groaned. “Step one: pay attention. Sorry, I got lost daydreaming.You’re right. Taking care of you is an important job.” She chuckled. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing.” “Hey kid, do you always talk to horses?” The horse reared and pawed. “It’s okay, girl.” Daisy kept her voice soft and ran her hand slowly along the mare’s neck. When the mare had stopped trembling, Daisy stepped out of the stall, shaded her eyes from the sun and faced the interloper. She scowled at the man’s new sneakers, monogrammed shirt and neatly pressed slacks. He looked liked he’d be more at home on a sailboat than in a barn.

ABOUT ADRIANA KRAFT

Adriana Kraft is the pen name for a husband/wife team writing sizzling romantic suspense and erotic romance. The award-winning pair has published over thirty romance novels and novellas to outstanding reviews. Romantic pairings include straight m/f, lesbian, bisexual, ménage and polyamory, in both contemporary and paranormal settings.

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