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Friday, January 18, 2019

Come to Daddy by Brianna Hale

Title: Come to Daddy
Series: Love Don't Cost A Thing Book 1
Author: Brianna Hale
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 19, 2019


Rules for the New Sugar Baby

1. Are you worth it? Hell yes you are, ten times over

2. Hustle big, hustle hard and get out fast

3. Never, ever fall for your sugar daddy

I’ve always believed “I’m not that sort of girl,” but with my father’s debt to a bloodthirsty crime lord to pay off I have no choice but to dip into the sugar bowl.

Misha, a handsome older billionaire, is willing to pay top price for me. Something about my daddy doesn’t add up but with a debt to pay I don’t have the luxury of being picky. I’m the luxury in his life, his fantasy to fulfil, and I’m going to play my part to the fullest.

My name is Ciara, and when daddy calls, I come.

** Book one of the LOVE DON'T COST A THING series.






“Ciara?” I reach down to help her off the floor. A moment later I feel her fingers tugging at my belt.
Oh.
Oh.
That’s what she was asking about earlier when she blushed and just now when she trailed off. She wanted to know about sex. I’m such a fucking idiot sometimes. I never said anything and now she thinks she has to do this.
I grasp her forearms and lean forward. “Ciara. It’s all right. You don’t need to do that.”
Her mouth is very close to mine and she licks her lips. In the soft lights of the car they look plump and deep pink and my gaze becomes locked on them.
She’s so fucking beautiful.
I’ve thought about touching her ever since she sent me those pictures. I haven’t been able to get her out of my head, in fact. But they were abstract thoughts about sex that were never going to come to fruition. That could never come to fruition, because I’m not who she thinks I am.
Now she’s offering to give me exactly what I want and my brain is presenting me with reason after reason why I should have sex with her. It’s what she expects. Sex is implicit in our arrangement. It’s what she thinks I’m paying her for. She might get suspicious of my motives if I don’t take her to bed.
I really, really want to taste her.

“Would you like me to? Be honest,” she whispers.
My hesitation tells her all she needs to know. Her fingers continue unthreading my belt. It clinks softly and loosens and I feel myself grow hard in anticipation of her touch. My hands caress her shoulders and her blonde curls glide against my knuckles. So soft. I push my fingers into her hair, caressing the back of her head, and she feels like heaven.
Ciara’s hand rubs me over my trousers and even that gentle touch makes me groan. She outlines my length with her forefinger and then traces the swollen head of my cock. I watch her, my breathing shallow, as she undoes the button and then slowly eases the zipper down. Her hand dives inside my underwear and pulls my cock out, hot and swollen in her cool fingers. A conceited part of me can’t help but admire how thick and long I look in her hands.
She licks her lips and I instinctively grasp the nape of her neck. Yes. Suck me. My gaze is locked on her face as her pink tongue slides across the broad head of my cock. Her hand caresses my length and she licks me again, wetting me thoroughly before taking me into her mouth. I feel the drag of her lips and then the lave of her tongue, and I groan and lay back against the leather seat.
Jezus Christus, how did you learn to do this?”
Ciara draws her tongue along my length with delicious slowness. “I’m a whore, remember?”
Anger rolls through me even as she slides me to the back of her throat. Has she been seeing other men? Aren’t I giving her enough money? She’s not a whore, not even when I’m paying her for this. I catch hold of her hair tightly and force her gaze up to mine. “Listen to me. You don’t see any other men but me.”
She nods quickly, her mouth still full of me.
“I’m your daddy. Are we clear?”
She nods again and I let her go, sinking back to enjoy what she’s doing. “Fucking good,” I growl, as she continues to work my cock. She’s heaven with that mouth. I look at the blush in her cheek, the way her lips slowly suck me, her eyes closed. From the way her tongue is caressing me I would almost think she was enjoying this.
Her hands slide up and over my belly and she makes a little noise in the back of her throat. Maybe she is. Maybe she likes blowing me.
I reach down between her legs and grasp her silken thigh. She catches my wrist and draws her mouth away from my cock. “Don’t,” she says in a broken whisper. As if she’s ashamed of something.
But I need to know. Suddenly it’s the most important thing about this. Not the money. Not my fucking brother. Not me pretending to be something I’m not. Her. She’s the most important thing. And I need to know if she’s wet.
“Baby. Let me feel.”





There’s nothing Brianna Hale likes more than a large, stern alpha male with a super-protective and caring streak, and when she’s not writing about them she can usually be found with a book, a cocktail, planning her next trip to a beautiful location or attending the theatre. She believes that pink and empowerment aren’t mutually exclusive, and everyday adventures are possible. Brianna lives in London.




HOSTED BY:


The Haunting of Elmwood Manor by Pamela McCord


The Haunting of Elmwood Manor
Pamela McCord
(a Pekin Dewlap Mystery)
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: March 1, 2019
Genres: Middle-Grade, Mystery
Pekin Dewlap hasn’t seen a ghost since she was twelve. But she’d do anything to get them back. Starting a ghostbusting business with her two best friends, Amber and Scout, seems like the perfect way to accomplish her goal. Of course, playing with ghosts isn’t high on their wish list, so Pekin has to do some arm-twisting to get them on board.
Once committed, Pekin and her friends find themselves in deep, trying to solve the disappearance of fourteen-year-old Miranda Talbert. Miranda went missing in 1918, and her spirit has wandered the halls of Elmwood Manor for the last hundred years.
In the midst of finding Miranda, discovering her budding feelings for Scout, and consoling a terrified Amber, Pekin is met by an angry ghost set on thwarting her plans. Will the Ghosties be able to help Miranda, or will Pekin’s business die before she solves the mystery?


Author Bio:
Pam was born in Arkansas several decades ago. She’s not sure if that makes her a Southern Girl or if moving to Southern California when she was five revokes her Southern Girl card. She started writing later in life when she was challenged by a friend to create a book out of his story idea. Reaching the first 5,000 words was a milestone, but with time and hard work she managed to finish an entire book, much to her surprise. Since then, she’s written several novels, in several genres. Romance, middle grade and paranormal comprise most of her work. Pam has spent over 40 years working as a legal secretary at a law firm in Orange County, California. Aside from writing, she follows the stock market, buying, selling and trading stocks and options. In contrast to that, she loves trips to Las Vegas where she can spend many happy hours at the Pai Gow tables. She shares a condo with her very own My Cat From Hell TV star, Allie, who manages to exude just enough affection to make her scary feral ways tolerable.

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Thursday, January 17, 2019

Forever Yours featuring author Jo Noelle





Love Match by Jo Noelle

Can two people learn to trust again to make their marriage of convenience into a love match?

With university behind him, Lord Gerard Morrow the Earl of Norham, is preparing for a grand tour to the future with a fellow time traveler. His first night home, he receives a summons from his father the Duke of Kyloe to come to Scotland or their family will be ruined.

Lady Layla Colvin was roused from her sleep to marry the duke’s son as part of settling a gambling debt. Everything she looked forward to vanished with the words "I will." She will never have a come-out, or a suitor, or a wedding dress—and apparently not a husband either.

Two years later when Gerard walks back into her life, she runs the other way. How can she trust a man who abandoned her immediately after the vows were said?









Gerard Morrow

No good news ever comes after midnight nor in a torrential rainstorm. Yet there Gerard Morrow, Earl Norham, stood in his long shirt and his mother in her wrapper, looking anything but a duchess, as their butler, Davies, accepted two letters from a rider. He waved the rider on to the kitchen door to get a hot cup of tea and await the family’s reply.

Davies’ candle guttered from the breeze of closing the door, and the small group moved farther into the Great House. The butler lit two more candles and turned with the letters in hand, extending one to the Duchess Kyloe and the other to Gerard. “For you, Your Grace. And My Lord.”

The notes were damp from the rain and Gerard’s mother held it with shaking hands before handing it to her son. “You read it.” She shoved the letter to Gerard and waited, muttering, “That man. Love him. I do, but he better not have gotten himself into trouble. Or worse. What’s worse though? Dead—that’s what. Oh, Gerard tell me he’s not dead.” His mother’s French accent deepened when she was anxious, and at this moment it was thick as clafoutis.

There was no signature, but the stamp of the Duke of Kyloe in the wax from his father’s signet ring told him who it was from. Gerard read the note aloud to her, “Do not worry, my dearest Shamay. I’ll be home in a few days. It will all be settled then.” Gerard handed her the letter though she’d never learned to read—English or her native French. He knew things must be was bad. His father had only penned three sentences to try to reassure her.

His mother stood beside him, her hands clutched to her chest. “What of the other letter?” she asked.

Earl Norham separated the seal and unfolded the letter. His eyes scanned it quickly, without reading it aloud to his mother. Gerard, Do not read this to your mother. It is for your eyes—your ears only. Come to Scotland, now. Your future, your very life and mine depend upon your speed. Directions to Colvin Keep just over the border past Coldstream were included at the bottom of the letter.

The Duchess’s hands grasped Gerard’s forearm, and her eyes pleaded to know what it said.

“Father wants me to come where he is.” Gerard hoped that his voice sounded nonchalant.

But something must have tipped off his mother. “Your Father needs you. Hurry. Change.” She pushed him toward the staircase.

He had been home less than six hours and three of those had been in sleep, having traveled home today from university. His mind whirled, half irritation and half disbelief before he turned up the stairs. His father should have been here to welcome him instead of stirring up some kind of trouble for himself across the border.

“Davies, send word to the stables to ready a good horse.”

Within minutes, Gerard was dressed, draped in an oil coat, and on his horse, riding through November rain toward Scotland. Wind blew against his cheek and rain pelted his back. At least he wasn’t facing into the storm.

What in the devil’s name is Father up to now?Gerard had been worried for a year now, too much gambling and drinking in public rooms. Mother tried to keep Father at home to lessen the whispers that inevitably started. Northumberland didsn’t have real society, but his reputation was tarnishing nevertheless. Gossip traveled even to him at Cambridge though London was several day’s travel.

His horse trotted along the dark road, and his mind whirled about his future. Gerard just hoped that he could have a grand tour before everything fell completely apart—a year. He’d even be satisfied with six months before he had to come back to take over the responsibilities his father should be shouldering. From what he’d seen of the house in the short while he’d been there, it needed care. Upkeep and repairs lagged behind need. It seemed as if there were fewer servants than before, and the road was sorely unkempt.

How much had his father lost? He sucked in a cold breath. Apparently, enough to cripple the estate. Four months then, if he couldn’t have a year. He could visit France and Spain. He’d save Italy for a trip in the future.

It took several hours to get to Colvin Keep. Gerard’s eyes burned for want of sleep, and his legs were strained and weak from several days in the saddle prior to this fast flight over the border when he left his horse with the groom. The sun was turning the cloud-covered eastern sky a milky gray.

Before Gerard could mount the stairs, the Duke of Kyloe burst through the front door.

Relief tempered the worries Gerard had ridden with the last twenty miles. He looked over his father from head to toe. His health seemed good, no injuries, no illness. He didn’t even appear to be in his cups. He must have been sitting near a window, watching for his son’s arrival and quickly ushered him to the house.

“Well done. The note arrived in good time, as did you,” his father said, pulling him out of his coat as the butler began to remove it.

There was a cry upstairs before it was muffled behind a slammed door. It surprised Gerard more than startling him. The sound was more one of excitement than fear or pain. He supposed it could be insanity, but he hoped not.

“Come now, I’ve a brandy for you and someone important to introduce you to.” His father lead him away.

The house was quite awake as he walked through to a back parlor. Several maids rushed past with arms full, and there were candles burning all along the way. His father’s host must take country hours to the extreme for there to be so much commotion before sun up. When they entered the room a large man was sitting in a chair near the fire, otherwise, they were alone.

His father cleared his voice loudly and said, “Charles, please allow me to introduce my son and heir, Lord Norham, Gerard Morrow. Gerard, this is the Marquess of Roxburgh.” The men exchanged greetings, then Gerard’s father commented to their host, “I haven’t spoken to him about our agreement yet, so if we could have a minute before meeting you in the chapel.” His voice trailed off with obvious expectation.

“Good then, I’ll leave you to it.” Charles nodded, downed his drink, and left, leaving Gerard alone with his father. He stopped at the doorway, pulling a watch from his pocket. “This business must be concluded within the hour, or honoring our original arrangement will be expected.” Then he closed the door behind him.

“The chapel?” Gerard looked toward his father. “And what agreement? Your letter made it sound like life and death. What have you done?” A scowl pulled on his lips.

“You’ll want this,” he said, handing Gerard a glass of brandy.

Gerard set the glass aside without taking a taste. “Out with it.”

“I attended a card party of sorts at the seat of Lord Hume of Berwick. I was doing well, so I didn’t see trouble in allowing the stakes to rise.”

“How much?” Gerard interrupted. He didn’t need to hear the details just the total of their losses.

“Well, there’s an easy solution to it all.”

“How much did you wager? Or should I say lose?” Gerard folded his arms.

His father gazed out the window as his hand resting on the back of a chair trembled. Without looking at his son, he replied, “All of it. And more.” Several long moments passed before he turned toward his son and said, “We are ruined.”

Gerard picked up the glass of brandy, downing it in one gulp. “Tell me I heard you wrong.” He slumped into the nearest seat.

“You will still own the family seat at Norham Castle, pile of rocks that it be, and the land when it is passed to you, but you will likely still be paying off my debt into your own old age. I have lost more than I have or can even reasonably get if I were I to sell everything of value and double rents on the land for decades to come. Upon my death, I will leave you the title, the responsibilities, and abject poverty to go with it.”

Gerard was silent for a long moment trying to calm down. He had to breathe slowly through his nose to maintain his composure. “Father, do I even want to know why we are meeting the marquess in the chapel?”

Duke Kyloe sat heavily on a couch, dropping his head into his hands. “It’s the only way out. You’ve not heard him wrong. The marquess has made a generous offer—if you marry his daughter tonight, in moments really, the debt is dissolved.”

Gerard shot to his feet as a cold flame passed through him. He backed away from his father. “I will not. I do no consent. I’m but twenty-three. Why would you tell a man I would marry his daughter in the middle of the night?”

His father had truly wagered beyond all reason and sold Gerard’s life for the flip of a few cards. He wanted to run. To leave and never look back. Father had clearly lost his mind. He paced around, back and forth, trying to sort it out in his mind. “I leave in two days for my tour, it’s planned and arranged. James Cottrell is coming—he’s meeting me tomorrow at home.”

“There’s plenty of time for all that, you’ll see.” The old duke shook his head. “It’s not up to you. I’m afraid, the bargain has been struck and accep—.”

Gerard cut him off, “Father, no. You realize that we are already spread too thin as it is, since last time. What will you tell Mother?”

He stepped closer to Gerard. “I’ll tell her nothing of this. You’ll marry this night and free me of all my debt to Charles, and by extension you too, or we will never recover.”

If he gambled away what Gerard suspected he had, then it was true that Gerard would be heir of nothing but debt. Everything was lost. He raked his hands through his hair and continued his path, pacing the floor.

Gerard owned nothing outside of the estate and only then upon inheritance. If it were only him, Gerard might allow his father to crumble beneath debt in his old age. But it would affect his mother greatly. I can’t put Maman though that.His shoulders slumped. Annoyance and sorrow twined together in his gut. He was defeated before this conversation began. “There really is no choice then. I’ll agree.”

“Of course you will. There is a dowry, but it will not be transferred until you two are living agreeably together.”

“Good. Then you can’t gamble away anything further while I’m gone. And I'm still going on my grand tour.” Not as grand as he’d hoped. Already he was calculating how long he could really be gone before his father was back up to no good at some Lord’s card table.

“You'll be a married man now, so behave yourself.”

“Are you serious? I’m the only person in this conversation right now with integrity. I don’t think you need lecture me. A there are no worries there. I'm going with James.”

“He hardly removes my worry,” his father replied. “You've known each other since you were on leading strings. And his reputation is worse than mine.”

“Ha!” Gerard doubted that. “Nonetheless, he's coming, and he'll keep me straight.”

“See that he does. We've never had a Duke of Kyloe that wasn't madly in love with his wife.”

“Please, you've already ensured that I’ll fail on that account. I’m marrying someone I’ve don’t know—never even seen.”

“Marriage is easy. Apply yourself to her happiness, and you’ll both have it.”

Marriage was easy? He wondered how easy all of this was for his mother. He wouldn’t have to worry about making this sham of a marriage work at the moment—that can come later—much, much later. Gerard wasn’t even going to be home. “I’m leaving after the ceremony and going on my tour the next day.” Gerard knew he had to travel from London on the full moon.

“There was no other agreement beyond the marriage contract and settlement. You’re free to do so, and she will live at home with her parents for a time.”

His father turned to leave the room, but Gerard caught his arm. “What’s her name?”

“I hadn’t asked. We’ll hear it at the ceremony. At any rate, it will be Lady Morrow moments from now.” He drank the last of his cup and walked Gerard to the chapel to await his bride.
















Author Jo Noelle

Jo Noelle is a Colorado native but lived in several mountain states--Idaho, Utah, and California. She has two adult children and three small kids.

She teaches teachers and students about reading and writing, grows freakishly large tomatoes, enjoys cooking (especially desserts,) builds furniture, sews beautiful dresses, and likes to go hiking in the nearby mountains.

Oh, and by the way, she's two people--a mother/daughter writing team. We write dessert romances--satisfyingly sweet, and you'll want more.



















Giveaway Details

$25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in PayPal Cash

Ends 2/7/19

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.






A Merman's Choice Sea of Love Book 1 by Alice Renaud


A
Merman's Choice
Sea
of Love Book 1
by
Alice Renaud


Genre:
Fantasy Romance

For
centuries the shape-shifting mermen of the Morvann Islands have lived
incognito among humans. But one of them, Yann, has developed some bad
habits. Like rescuing humans, even when doing so risks revealing his
true nature. When he fishes Alex out of the sea, he doesn’t expect
her to reappear eight months later, and turn his life upside down by
asking him to be her guide.

Alex
is determined to fulfil a promise to her dying grandmother, by
gathering pictures and stories of the Morvanns. But she soon
discovers that, on these remote Welsh islands, legends have a habit
of becoming true!
Over
the course of a few days, Yann and Alex grow close. But some mermen
hate humans. Their hostility, and Yann’s secret, threaten to tear
the couple apart just as they are discovering that they are soul
mates. Can Yann overcome the obstacles in his path and make the right
choice?





**Only
99 cents!!**





I
was born and brought up in Brittany, Western France, my father was
French and my mother British (from Wales). I moved to London, UK, in
1997, where I now live with my husband and son. I have been writing
since I was 14. I got quite a few short stories published in UK
magazines, before moving to longer fiction. I wrote three
contemporary romance books, but didn't find a publisher for them. I
then realized that mermen, sea witches and water demons were a lot
more fun than sheikhs and billionaires! My first two paranormal
romances did not find a publisher either, then I wrote A Merman's
Choice, which was accepted for publication this year by Black Velvet
Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy
inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. I love
reading and writing stories, and sharing them with anyone who's
interested!








Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!






Hold Me Today by Maria Luis



Title: Hold Me Today
Series: Put A Ring On It #1

Author: Maria Luis
Genre: Sexy Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 17, 2019




Blurb


Rock bottom has never felt so good.


At least, that’s what I tell myself when I bargain with the enemy and score a renovation for my hair salon. 


The enemy? Nick Stamos, my best friend’s older brother. 


He’s got a body and face the Greek gods would envy but his personality needs a major overhaul. 

He’s surly. 
A rule-follower.
Did I mention he’s seen me naked? 

I may have crushed on him for years, but the only place I want Nick swinging his hammer nowadays is at my salon. 

Except, he needs something in return. . . 

A fake girlfriend. 

And I’m just reckless enough to say yes.









Purchase Links

$2.99 for a limited time!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited





Excerpt

~ Mina ~ 


A masculine hand sticks through the closing elevator doors, cutting off my train of thought as I lurch forward to jab the KEEP OPEN button. I smack it once with a heavy, don’t-fail-me-now finger, then again, my gaze flitting to the doors that are inching closed like the gates of Mordor. 

That hand balls into a fist and then a suit-encased forearm appears, followed by a long leg and a brown, leather dress shoe. The leather is so soft, so visibly supple, I wouldn’t doubt that they cost more than my mortgage. 

Gamóto.” 

At the Greek curse for “fuck”, and the more than familiar gravel-pitched voice, my back snaps straight, and I yank my gaze up. Up past the lean waist not even a suit jacket can hide. Up past the barrel chest and the bulging, I-swing-hammers-for-a-living arms. Up to a face that’s as unforgiving in its aristocratic, angular bone structure as his hair is a wild, dark mop on his head.

Only that curly hair and a pair of full, pillow-soft lips—not that I’ve ever tasted them, of course—make him seem more human than rigid statue.

Bingo.

Has there ever been more appropriate timing? I don’t think so.

She who asketh shall receive—or however the saying goes. 

For possibly the first time in six years, I smile at the man standing just inches away. 

Nick Stamos stares down at me, his pewter eyes hard and narrowed with suspicion. “Trying to amputate my arm, Ermione?” 

My smile slips, hackles twitching like a cat’s fur standing on end when stalked by a predator. Er-me-o-ne. His tongue rolls over the R in my given name, his Greek accent perfect and sultry despite the condescension dripping heavy and thick with every purred syllable. 

Don’t let him get to you

Only, he’s gotten to me for years now.

“If by amputate you mean save,” I murmur with practiced flippancy, “then sure. It’s not my fault if technology doesn’t want to work for you.” 

Those slate-gray eyes, unlike any pair I’ve ever seen, drop to where I’m still pressing the KEEP OPEN button. When his dark brows rise, taunting me with their perfect arches, I follow his lead and glance down at the illuminated button. 

CLOSE DOORS.

Oh. Oh.

Air puffs up my chest with indignancy as I inhale swiftly. “You didn’t really need that arm, did you?”

Nick snorts derisively. Without sparing me another look, his big hand circles my wrist. His touch is bold, his skin hot. A shiver of something—revulsion, I hope—rolls down my spine, unwinding and unfurling until even my gold-painted toes curl in my heels. And, as though he fears I’m completely incompetent, he angles my still-pointed finger at the button to close the doors. 

Pushes down and lingers, as though to taunt, see? This is how a contraption called an elevator works. Welcome to the twenty-first century, Ermione. 

Ermione. Even in my head I can hear him slinging around the name I inherited from my maternal grandmother, knowing that it makes my mouth pinch and my hands clench. 

My smile has, as it always does around him, completely evaporated.

The elevator pings shut. 

Locking me in with Satan’s mortal sidekick, my best friend’s older brother.







Author Bio


Maria Luis
is the author of sexy contemporary romances, though she may or may not have a
few historical romances hiding in the cobwebs of her computer.




When she's
not writing about strong men and the sassy women who sweep them off their feet,
Maria is a historian who specializes in medieval England and 19th century
New Orleans. What do the two eras have in common, you ask? Not much, except for
disease, scandalous activities and crime--Maria's favorite topics.




Maria lives
in New Orleans with her better half, where she can generally be found hiking
with her two dogs, Zeus and Athena, kayaking in Louisiana's inter-coastal
waterways, or curled up on the couch with a good book.




Author Links





Giveaway

Hot Justice by Lynn Raye Harris


Hot Justice
Lynn Raye Harris
(Hostile Operations Team #14)
Publication date: January 15th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

She’s searching for justice. He’s searching for peace.

What they need is each other. They just don’t know it yet…

Dean “Wolf” Garner is the kind of guy who loves hard and leaves fast. From the moment he rescues reporter Haylee Jamison in the Guatemalan jungle, he can’t stop thinking about the dark-haired beauty. His life is too complicated for romantic entanglements though–and not even a woman like Haylee can convince him otherwise.

Haylee wasn’t supposed to be in the drug cartel’s compound, but she was captured while on a mission of her own: find the trail of fake opioids entering the US and halt the operation. Back home in DC, Haylee can’t stop thinking about the gorgeous military operator who rocked her world for one steamy night before leaving. But when she uncovers a conspiracy and finds herself in danger, there’s only one man she trusts to keep her safe.

It’s easy for Wolf to risk his life to protect Haylee and give her the justice she desires. The hard part is taking a chance and admitting what’s in his heart before it’s too late.

Before he loses the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

“Lynn Raye Harris is the undisputed Queen of Military Romance because her Hostile Operations Team series just keeps getting better and better.” ~ Diane B.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

EXCERPT:

Mexico-Guatamala Border

Dean “Wolf” Garner waited for the jump command. He was standing nut-to-butt with his teammates, all of them suited up and ready to go. This was a HAHO jump where they’d fall out of the aircraft one behind the other, open chutes about fifteen seconds in and then coast for forty miles to the landing zone. Cade “Saint” Rogers was team lead and he’d be first out the door. Wolf was second. Echo Squad would stack up behind the leader while they were airborne and follow Saint’s lead as he guided them using GPS and landmarks.

The C-130 Hercules doors were open and they’d switched over to oxygen bottles. HAHO jumps were hell on the body, whether from the minus-zero wind temps, the lack of oxygen and threat of hypoxia, or the incredible snap of the harness when the chute deployed. It was a necessary evil when trying to sneak up on the enemy, though.

They were currently at T-minus two. The PT had cleared them all to jump and the jumpmaster was about to give the signal.

“You bastards stick with me,” Saint said into their earpieces. “Let’s go get those hostages and get the fuck out.”

Seconds later, Wolf was free falling into the sky behind Saint. Wolf deployed his chute, grunting as the harness snapped him hard against the restraints. Jesus. He was carrying a hundred pounds of gear and weaponry, which made the experience even more fun.

He sighted in on Saint and lined up. The rest of the team followed, everyone checking in, and then they were gliding under canopy toward the LZ.

The sun perched in the sky behind them, sinking quickly toward the horizon. Everything below was bathed in golden light that faded into darkness the father east Wolf looked. It was a beautiful sight and he never took it for granted.

The terrain here was mountainous and green and a river cut through the landscape, marking the border. This was the area where the Mexican cartels got their rocket-propelled grenades and grenade launchers as well as other military-grade equipment they used as they fought each other for territory. It’d be fine if all they did was kill each other, but unfortunately civilians often got caught in the crossfire.

Sometimes those civilians were American, and sometimes they were held for ransom. Like now. A group of dentists and opticians on a mission to provide services to an impoverished village had been swept up in the raid and HOT had been tasked with getting them out.

It took twenty minutes, but the team touched down and shrugged out of their chutes. They buried them, along with the special jumpsuits and oxygen canisters. Then they slung their M4 rifles across their chests and started the trek toward the camp where the cartel was holding the hostages.

HOT had pictures of the camp from drone photography and they knew the layout and the approximate number of people who guarded it. Echo Squad wasn’t just there to extract hostages—they were also there to take out the cartel members who were in the camp. At last count, that had been twenty.

Wolf didn’t feel sorry for the men. They were rough, evil, nasty men who terrorized innocent civilians. They killed indiscriminately, and they left messages in the form of headless bodies dangling from bridges and trees.

No, Wolf had no problem with killing them. It took Echo another forty minutes to reach the camp. It was dark by then, and the cartel men were drinking. The hostages were nowhere to be seen, but HOT knew they were being held in a rough concrete structure in the center of the camp. Ten men and women from somewhere in Alabama, on a church mission to help the poor. They were no doubt terrified and probably dehydrated and hungry.

“Like we planned it,” Saint said into their earpieces. The team split up and fanned out around the camp. Wolf and Noah “Easy” Cross slipped silently toward their target. They waited for the signal, then glided toward the men they’d marked. A quick slip of the knife and two cartel members would never harm anyone again.

A man emerged from the building where the hostages were, dragging a woman with him. She was small and dark-haired and she fought mightily. Wolf stiffened as the man thrust her against the side of the building and dropped his mouth to her neck. She wrenched her head to the side and tried to hit him but he caught her wrist and pinned her to the wall.

Wolf signaled Easy that this one was his. Easy nodded, lifting his rifle to provide covering fire if necessary as Wolf crossed the distance. The cartel members were falling quickly as his teammates took them out. Soon, Echo would converge on the building.

The woman was fighting hard when Wolf slipped up behind the man. Before Wolf could grab him, the man grunted and stumbled backward. His hands dropped to his crotch and Wolf nearly laughed. Smart girl. Brave girl.

He yanked the man back and stabbed him in the kidney, dropping him to the ground. The woman’s dark eyes widened. She was wearing a stained white button-down shirt that had been torn open and jeans with tennis shoes. Her black hair was wild and her skin was golden, and his heart thumped once before he clamped down on the reaction.

“You’re American?” she asked in a soft southern accent. “You’ve come to rescue us?”

“Yes,” he told her, turning to place her behind him as he scanned the camp for any stragglers. Someone shouted in the distance and a shot rang out.

“Got him,” Jax “Gem” Stone said in Wolf’s ear. “Fucker.”

“Status,” Saint ordered.

“All clear,” Malcolm “Mal” McCoy replied. The rest of Echo Squad followed suit.

“Let’s get the hostages,” Saint said.

Wolf turned back to the girl, knowing that Easy had his back and that his teammates were converging on the building to extract the hostages. “You okay?” he asked, dropping his gaze over her body, back up to her eyes. Dark, fiery eyes. Angry eyes.

She lifted her chin as she pulled her shirt together. “Yes. Fine.”

“What’s your name?”

“What’s yours?” she shot back.

Wolf grinned. “Wolf.”

She blinked. “Is that really your name?”

“No, but I like it better than my real name. Which is Dean, by the way.”

“Dean.” She paused for a moment. Then she thrust out her hand. “I’m Haylee. Pleased to meet you.”

He took her hand. A sizzle of something electric rolled through him. “You always so polite in dangerous situations?”

She grinned, and his heart thumped again. “I don’t know. This is my first kidnapping.”



Author Bio:

Lynn Raye Harris is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the HOSTILE OPERATIONS TEAM SERIES of military romances as well as 20 books for Harlequin Presents. A former finalist for the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award and the National Readers Choice Award, Lynn lives in Alabama with her handsome former-military husband, two crazy cats, and one spoiled American Saddlebred horse. Lynn's books have been called "exceptional and emotional," "intense," and "sizzling." Lynn's books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

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