Friday, December 25, 2015

~ Symposium - Somewhere Over the Rainbow ~



Hello Everyone! Welcome to my December Symposium!


As 2015 ends, we have so much to reflect back on. There have been good times, bad times, lessons learned and new goals planned. For this month's Symposium, I've asked my friends and fellow authors to share a little of what they have in store for 2016. Make sure to mark your calendars, because there are so many new exciting books coming in the new year that you sure won't want to miss!

Starting in 2016, I will only be hosting a Symposium once or twice a year instead of each month. I want to thank each and every one of you for stopping by to hang out with me and my guests, and I hope you will join us again in the future!

Happy Holidays!


LAURIE ROMA: 2016 is going to be a busy year for me. On my schedule are two full-length 3013 books, a new Breakers' Bad Boys book, a Fated Encounters novella, and a few secrets I can't tell you about yet, including a special project with Kali Argent that I know is going to rock your socks off! In addition, I am also going to be releasing my first Young Adult book as L.S. Watts. Be sure to keep up with my website and blog for new information for what's coming up next. Happy Holidays, everyone!


Mya Spartan has lived a privileged life. She has a family who adores her, work that fulfills her, and enough credits to have everything she’s ever wanted. However, what she really wants isn’t something that can be bought…

Alphas of their pack, Maddox, Daimon and Tavius Adaro, have created an empire with no equal. As a traveling sanctuary, New Vega exists beyond Alliance regulations, where the Adaros’ word is law. The three Krytos brothers are strong, capable leaders who rule their world together, but nothing could have prepared them for the little female elite who would come to rule their hearts.

Destiny may have led her straight into the arms of the Krytos who want her as their mate, but Mya fears she might not be a match for the three powerful males. When a threat turns the floating pleasure palace into a dangerous prison, everything they love is at risk. Will Mya find the courage to fight by the Adaro brothers side, or will her uncertainty lead to the downfall of an empire?

COMING SOON!

EVE LANGLAIS: Laurie asked me what I am going to be up to in 2016. Does LOTS count? lol. Growl is coming in January, my first release with a big publishing house so I’m totally excited.  In February, there’s a new book for Muriel titled Vacation Hell with a merman. Lucifer lovers will be delighted to know I’m finally working on his story, so watch for Hell’s Bell. Starting in March, we’ve got the next 3 books in Bitten Point releasing including one with a snake shifter with the cutest little dog he calls princess. Then in May, for my purple lovers, put on your cleanest undies for Reader Abduction where the alien hunks are after human romance readers. After that, I’ve got plans to hopefully finish off my Freakn’ series, plus start a new shifter and sci-fi one. It’s going to be a busy year, but I can’t wait. Wishing you the most awesome Christmas and reading. ~Eve

Take one deadly bite and, bam, a man’s life is changed forever, or so Caleb discovers when a loss of control leads to him joining the military and leaving everything behind. Now that he’s back, making amends is harder than expected.

His ex girlfriend, Renny, is not interested in excuses. Caleb might have returned but her plan is to keep him at arm’s length. Only she can’t. Her son deserves a chance to get to know his father, but that doesn’t mean Renny is letting Caleb back into her heart. Now if only her heart would cooperate.

Things get dangerous when a mysterious being starts stalking the residents of Bitten Point. When the monster threatens his son, Caleb knows it’s time to unleash his dark inner beast so he can snap at danger–and take a bite out of life.

BUY LINKS:
AMAZON | NOOK | APPLE | KOBO | GOOGLE  

S.E. SMITH: Somewhere, over the rainbow.... The melody plays in my head as I write this. Sometimes I feel like I'm over the rainbow with all the stories running around in my head. The New Year is guaranteed to bring some wonderful stories to life. I have the first of the year filled with all kinds of wonderful tales, including: Jaguin's Love: Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 8; The Dark Prince's Prize: Curizan Warrior Book 2; Roarrk's Revenge: Zion Warriors Book 3; Jarmen's Jane Doe: Lords of Kassis Book 5; Core's Attack: Cosmos' Gateway Book 6 and more. I will also be releasing the first book in a new five book series called Command Decision: Project Glieses 581g. These adventures and more are dancing through my imagination and can't wait to escape. So, bring on the coffee, add a few peanut butter sandwiches, and shut the door because I've got a lot of writing to do in 2016! Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you have a wonderful and safe Holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Born prematurely, Christoff wasn’t as big or as strong as his older brother or the other younglings in the village. Unable to fit in, he does the best he can, helping his father and mother on their farm. His life changes when the mountain near their farm awakens. Believing he is the only one who can quiet it, he retreats to the mountain to watch over the village that shunned him.

A hermit for centuries, he dreams of the day he can move on to his next life; a life that he hopes will give him a chance of finding his true mate. He knows his time has come when the mountain begins to tremble again. What he doesn’t expect is a group of younglings who suddenly appear in the hopes of saving a thing called Christmas. When the mountain erupts, he never expects to awaken on a strange planet light years away, or to meet an unusual woman who sees beneath his deformity to the warrior hidden within.

Can the love of a special woman and her family heal Christoff’s tortured soul? Find out what happens when the Goddess Aikaterina gives The Old Dragon his very own special Christmas.


JOEY W. HILL: Naughty Wishes are coming in 2016! Yes, the ‘plural’ is intended, because Naughty Wishes will be a four-novella ebook serial beginning January 19 and releasing monthly through April! Samantha is in love with her roommates Geoff and Chris, but she has to get them on board with becoming a threesome. Plus she’s a submissive and KNOWS Geoff is a Dom just itching to lay claim to her and Chris. So she has a pretty hefty 2016 to-do list: how to get from where they are now – best friends – to where she wants them to be — best friends, lovers, and a Dom/sub trio. Would you like a sneak peek? Click here (http://storywitch.com/book-nb-ts) for a free excerpt/buy links. Merry Christmas to everyone and happy New Year!





Oh, and while standalone, since this series is part of the Naughty Bits world (http://storywitch.com/book-nb-ls), you’ll get to see Logan and Madison again--or meet them for the first time!








N.J. WALTERS: 2015 is coming to a close and it’s time to start thinking about the coming year. So far it’s shaping up to be a busy one. It’s all about werewolves for me—specifically the Salvation Pack. Wolf on the Hunt is first up on January 12th. This is Louis’s book. Readers have been waiting quite a while for his story, and I think they’ll be pleased. Then the series continues with Wolf on A Mission on April 5. Wolf in His Heart and Wolf in her Soul follow in July and October. And there is still more to come from the pack in 2017. I’m also excited to announce that the final three novellas in the Hades’ Carnival series (Heart of the Serpent, Flame of the Phoenix and Lure of the Jaguar) are being released in a print book entitled Hades’ Return early in the year.

Sylvie LaForge Dubois knew coming back from the dead wouldn’t be easy, but facing her brother and his friends is harder than she imagined. The way Gator Rollins watches her every move makes her decidedly uneasy and excited.

After surviving a forced mating to the abusive Andre Dubois, having a rugged, dangerous werewolf like Gator sniffing around her is scary and thrilling at the same time. She never imagined she’d want another man, but her bone-deep attraction to Gator is too strong to fight.

Gator never got a chance to tell Sylvie he loved her before she was mated with another and, well, died. Now that she’s back, there’s nothing he won’t do to protect her.

Once word gets out, Sylvie’s former pack will be coming for her. No one leaves the Louisiana pack, especially not a female werewolf. But Gator’s determined that this time he won’t let anyone or anything get between him and Sylvie, even if she can’t decide if his touch makes her want to jump his bones…or run for the hills.

BUY LINKS: 


KALI ARGENT: To be honest, I’m not nearly as organized right now as I should be. My family is making a big move halfway across the country in the new year, and most of my focus has been on that. I can say with 100% certainty that 3013: ANARCHY will be releasing in February. I also have a couple of secret projects in the works for 2016, including one epic, amazing series with Laurie Roma. I can’t wait to share more about that in the coming months. I am hoping to get back to The Revenant and Pandora in the first quarter of the year, but it all depends on time constraints with the move. I’ll keep everyone up to speed and post updates as I have them, so stay tuned…

Commander Ivy Dalton doesn’t believe in luck or chance. Everything in her life—her career, her ship, the respect of her peers—she’s worked hard to earn. When she and her crew are attacked during an exploration mission, sending her ship crashing onto an unidentified planet, her only concern is finding a way to contact the Alliance. She never expected a single, tiny incident in the infinite reaches of space to challenge all she thought she knew about fate, destiny, and…love.

For thousands of years, King Kai Blackthorn has ruled over the people of his planet with selflessness and compassion, never taking anything for himself. Recently, however, he’s grown weary, malcontent, and the loneliness that has plagued him for centuries has become too pronounced to ignore. Then all that changes with the unexpected arrival of one sassy blonde with luscious curves and a dangerously sharp tongue.

Caught in the midst of intolerance and corruption, two strangers from different worlds struggle to find a way to coexist. Kai can’t abandon his people, and Ivy can’t imagine a life grounded in one place. But fate will not be ignored. Decisions must be made, compromises that will change the course of their lives. For no matter which destination they choose, the journey will leave them forever altered.

BUY LINKS:
AMAZON | B&N | ARe 

SUSAN HAYES: 2016 is shaping up to be a busy year. I have two 3013 series books coming out, starting with 3013: FURY. I’ll also be writing the final story in the award winning Wilde Brothers series, giving Jared Wilde his happily ever after.  I have projects on the go that I can’t talk about just yet, but I swear I’ll share the details as soon as I can! I’m also working on a new sci-fi romance series and intend to have the first book out before 2016 comes to a close. I plan on attending several conferences in the coming year, including the Midnight Gala in Las Vegas next October. I hope to see some of you in my travels. In closing, I wanted to wish everyone reading this a joy-filled holiday season and a prosperous new year. May 2016 bring you more laughter than tears and plenty of time to curl up with a good book.  

Rebel medic Ciara Fanning has called the badlands home for more than a decade. Raised in the Alliance, she spent the first half of her life defined by what she wasn’t—fertile, valued, deserving of her family’s love. Now, she lives beyond the Alliance’s reach and defines her worth by the lives she’s saved and the people she’s healed.  

Alliance Elites Dr. Vance Sterling and Dane Foster live for the joys of raising their daughter, Annie. It’s been more than two years since they buried Annie’s mother,  but neither man has been ready to move on… until they meet a redheaded rebel with no place to stay and a heart as battered as their own. 

Dane and Vance have dedicated their lives to defending the Alliance way of life while Ciara has dedicated hers to helping those who live outside Alliance lands. Can they heal old wounds and forge a new life together, or will the dark ghosts of the past steal their future before it’s even begun

BUY LINKS:
AMAZON | ARe | KOBO | B&N

LACEY THORN: I’m so excited for 2016! It’s going to be a great year for my readers. I’ll be kicking the year off with a relaunch of my Demon Chronicles series with fresh titles and brand new covers! I’ll also be releasing several returned titles to me, including: Finding Home, Saving Sarah, Discovering Daisy, Tempting Tess, and Maggie’s Ménage. Three of those books are part of my Lottery Bride series I started very early in my writing career. I plan to add a fourth book in 2016, and I’m really excited about it! I have two new pride books planned along with two shorter pride novellas. I have a new Pleasures book in the works and two new Holloway books planned. I’m also planning to get started on a book for Jess and her wolves! Add to that a new Knight’s Watch book and a few new projects I can’t seem to get out of my head and 2016 will be a super busy year for me! I can’t wait!

Darcy prefers lace over cotton, wine over beer, and long, hot soaks over quick showers.

Rayne lives in his chaps, prefers an ice cold beer, and rarely has time for anything more than a five minute shower.

He breeds horses, just like every Renwick before him on the Texas horse ranch he calls home. She prefers to travel and explore the exotic as far from Texas as she can go.

When these two opposites collide, will they discover some common ground or will their differences drive them apart?

This book was previously released as Rayne in the Men of Calder County boxed set.

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JENIKA SNOW: This year has been a whirlwind of stories, ideas, and experiences. I thought I’d share a little sneak peak on some of the things I plan on working on for the 2016 year. Cowboys and dominant men are high on my priority list, so I’ll be finishing up the last two books in my Sterling Brothers series. Of course I have plans to add more stories to my motorcycle clubs series, all three of them, as well as working on more books with the wonderful Sam Crescent. My Sweet Water series has some stories coming, as well as more books to my Virgin Auctions series. I have some taboo ideas floating around for books that I’d like to explore, but my main goal is to try and finish, or at least add to, more books to my existing series. 2015 has been incredible, and I look forward to sharing 2016 with everyone.

Landon came into Lyric’s life three years ago when his mother married her father. Landon is hardened, rough around the edges, and has a chip on his shoulder. He's a bad boy who boxes, and seems to hate the world. But Lyric wants him. 

Lyric doesn’t want to ignore what she feels for Landon, but she can’t help but worry what others will say if they had a relationship: wrong, twisted, disgusting. But when a fellow classmate drunkenly assaults her, it’s Landon who saves her. It’s after this that her emotions morph into something stronger. 

Landon has been called many things: deviant, destructive, and an all around bad boy. But he’s never cared what anyone thought, not until Lyric. It only takes opening up to her to see that she’s it for him. But how can she possible want a guy like him? Is Landon even capable of giving her everything she deserves? Can he control himself and protect her when she’s attacked again?

BUY LINKS:


SAM CRESCENT: I’ve been thinking about what will come in 2016. This past year I’ve done quite a bit of variety from MC, to wolves, to mafia romances. It has been a very productive career. So, after much thought, I think I’m going to go with what inspires my muse. At the moment, that’s going to be a lot of drama in my MC worlds. I’m currently working on The Skulls, and I’m hoping by the end of 2016 I would have completed Tabitha and Simon’s story. I can’t give a guarantee other than I will be writing a lot, as I find inspiration everywhere, at every point. So far for 2016 you can expect, Mine (Trojans MC), The Alpha Shifter Collection, The Bad Boy Collection, The Skulls, Chaos Bleeds, Trojans, Dirty Fuckers, and of course, Saints and Sinners. Thank you all for a wonderful year, and for all of your love and support.

Elisha is obsessed with cleanliness. Everything has to have a place, and be completely spotless. She’s vowed never to put faith in men after catching her last boyfriend cheating on her. Her carefully ordered world was fine—until he moved in next door. 

Brant is an awful, dirty neighbor. He parties, has orgies in the garden, and turns her world upside down. After an ugly confrontation, Elisha has no choice but to apologize, and give him a chance. 

She annoys him, arouses him, inspires him, and Brant is determined to show Elisha that there is more to him than she’s given him credit for. Once he has her underneath him, he’s never going to let her go, but how can two completely different people ever make a relationship work?


BUY LINK:


ERIKA REED: I can’t believe how quickly this year has come and gone. I’ve worked on so many exciting things this year, and made new friends along the way. I can’t wait to start on my new projects that I have lined up for 2016. First off, I recently submitted to Evernight Publishing my first bear shape-shifter series. I plan to work on the second installment in my Eternity Series the middle of the year. But first I want to get started on a new project that I have been putting together the past few weeks. I hope you all are ready to read about some players on my new football team who are extremely well-built, and who look absolutely delish in a tight pair of pants. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! Xoxo 

Rylee Dawson never imagined that everything she ever loved would be taken away from her in the blink of an eye, but after waking up in the hospital from being in a serious car accident with her husband, she learns how fragile life is. After coming to terms with the loss of her husband, she is finally ready to move forward with her life. That’s when Rylee’s best friend suggests she takes a vacation to her brothers’ retreat in Montana. Rylee has never envisioned herself falling in love ever again, that is, until she met the McGuire twins. 

Cade and Carter McGuire are twin brothers who own Twin Haven Lodge. Trust has always been an issue with Cade, especially after a bad sexual experience with a past lover, so he has never had a problem living the single life—until he and Carter meet Rylee. 

For years Carter had been patient with his brother, but after meeting Rylee he realizes the time has come for him and his brother to finally settle down. He isn’t about to let the woman of his dreams slip away because of his brother’s emotional baggage.

BUY LINKS:


VELLA DAY: I am so excited about 2016. I am changing directions a little bit by entering into the world of fantasy and paranormal. My new series is called WERES AND WITCHES OF SILVER LAKE. My shifters are a group of wolves and bears who coexist and rule together. Add in a whole race of witches (called Wendayans), sprinkle in a goddess and her immortal husband, and cap it off with some really evil werewolves, called Changelings, who have a host of talents, and you have my new series. Humans don’t know any of these creatures exist, so everyone must be circumspect. My story lines run the gamut from murder and kidnapping to stealing powers. Should be fun. My first story will release in February, and the next two will follow closely behind.


FBI operative, Sarah Osmond, has a job to do—help save ten captive women from the evil Colter leader, Paul Statler. When General Armand sends in Jay Wagner and Riley Bishop to help, she’s undeniably drawn to both men, but she won’t let lust compromise her mission. Having hot, passionate sex with them is one thing, but falling for them is another. 

Having grown up in foster care, Riley doesn’t trust many people, but when he meets Sarah he denies she’s his mate until the intense werewolf mating call draws him in and threatens to ruin everything. 

Jay Wagner, who used to work undercover at Statler’s firm, is frustrated because he has to keep his distance from the action—and from Sarah, who is also his mate. Not only is he determined to bring down the hated man, he must convince Riley and Sarah they need to succumb to their desires in order for the three of them to be together forever. 

The only roadblock? Statler has other plans for her.

BUY LINK:
KD JONES: The New Year will be starting off with a bang for me. I have a book expected to come out almost every month. So I will be a busy busy girl. January's release will be Gypsy Wolf, book 5 in the paranormal series Strange Lake Falls. February's release will be Atonement, which is book 3 in the new science fiction series Earth Evolution. I also have two new series that I will be introducing. The first is a new paranormal romance with sexy Polar Bear shifters. The series is called, Polar Bear Express. Yes I couldn't help it, my son loves the Polar Express movie. My second new series for 2016 is called The 7 Circles. I am very excited about this new series.


AshOR finally has command of his own ship, and he's been given an important mission to head up. He has to locate a rogue Morin ship that managed to get through the wormhole, before it reaches Earth. He expects to face battle, and he's used to fighting. What he doesn't expect is the trail of horror and destruction left by the Morins. Stopping his people's enemy is his top priority, and he doesn't need the complication of a stunning beauty that won't listen to anything he has to say. In fact, she does the exact opposite.

Ava Collins is a FEMA volunteer who's seen a lot of bad stuff in her lifetime. However, none of it prepares her for what she encounters while leaving Earth to travel to a new world. War, hate, genocide: these are things that she finds are universal. She offers her assistance to the commander of the Colonial transport, but he doesn't seem to trust that she knows what she's doing. When he's not ignoring her suggestions and advice; he's flirting with her outrageously and driving her a little bit crazy.

During times of struggle and strife different species must come together to aid one another. Can they overcome the common enemy who seeks to tear them apart? Will these two overcome their own reluctance in order to allow love in their hearts?

BUY LINKS:
   
KYLA KINCAID: Really, I’m not much of a planner. I write stories as they come to me, whether they’re part of an ongoing series, or something completely new. I’m hoping to release more books in the Astora Chronicles in 2016, and maybe get back to my Alpha Bitten series as well. 

Since the destruction of Earth, Luna Riley has made her home miles below the surface of Aleucia in the underground city of Astora. But humanity’s salvation comes at a price. Her life is no longer her own, her every move monitored, and her freedom limited. The only bright spot in her new reality is her job as a personal assistant to the most powerful man in the city, but even that is about to come to an end.

From the moment the raven-haired beauty stepped into his office, Director Nero Wyeth knew he had to have her. The more Luna challenges him, the more he wants her, but lately, something has changed. She’s distracted, guarded, and worse, she’s scared. 

When she requests to transfer to a different level of the city, he’ll do anything, slay any demons, to keep her with him—whether she wants his protection or not. 

COMING DECEMBER 29TH!

SJ MAYLEE: 2016 is going to be a big year for S.J. Maylee and I can’t wait to dive in. I’ll be writing the 4th book in my Love Projects Series. Every book in the series has been leading up to this one. Keller’s story is a big one. I know most of the twists, turns, and surprise discoveries but I’m pretty sure there’s something he hasn’t shared and won’t share until I write it. The anticipation is killing me. Before I get to Keller’s story, I’m finishing the 2nd book in my Assassins and Sweethearts Series. In fact, I’m putting the polishing touches on it right now. It may surprise you how this couple falls in love. Their story is full of danger and passion that can’t be denied. Have you read the first book in the series? Desire Unexpected is it and it’s one of my best stories. I dare you to fall in love with an assassin. Here’s to a fabulous 2016!

Life is passing Nadia Duskin by from her position in the mailroom. It only fulfills two necessities, keeping the repo man away and keeping her up to date on her sexy CEO. 

Ethan Wright is prepared to frighten and fire the nosey girl who sorts his company’s mail. After engaging with her at one of his favorite places in the world, he digs deeper.

Together, they find the kind of pleasure that could keep them satisfied for a lifetime. Her love may be the key to putting both of their lives back on track, but to what end? When a man he’s been contracted to kill threatens Nadia’s life, he forces her to face reality. Either they’ll delve deeper into the desires neither expected or they may die trying.

BUY LINKS:
ELODIE PARKES: Somewhere over the rainbow…I’ll probably be burning the candle at both ends as usual, working the day job, and writing at night. I have a Sci-Fi romance that’s been calling to me for months, a contemporary erotic romance with a thread of mystery, a fantasy romance that’s half finished, and of course, I must write the final story for The Venn Pack in Love series. I think that Tom Venn’s love story is what I’ll write first. Tom’s been the most mysterious of the wolf shifter pack so far in the series, and I want to tell the readers who’ve asked about him why. My latest release was book 3, Captive Wolf, and I just loved giving Ryder Venn his happy ending. It’s my favorite thing about writing—giving characters happy endings. That’s my somewhere over the rainbow, happy endings, and for the coming year I hope everyone has the chance to be happy as much as they possibly can.

When Ryder Venn sets out to do a favor for his alpha brother, Joshua, he thinks it’s just an ordinary day. Little does he know the horror and adventure that awaits him. Captured and tortured by shifter hunters, Ryder wakes to the gentle care of Evie Thomas.

As Ryder Venn falls in love with the mysterious girl who nurses his wounds and feeds him, Evie discloses her reason for being part of the hunter’s group. As Evie reveals her identity and plans to Ryder, they fall into a heated and passionate love affair. Meanwhile, the shifter hunters plot to force Ryder into cage fighting. The trouble is just who or what will they make him fight?

Deep in love, Ryder marks Evie as his mate.

Gorgeous Ryder will do anything for her.

Lovely Evie will do anything to free him.

BUY LINKS:


JORDAN MARIE: 2015 was a busy time for me!  I just capped off Savage MC with Book 5. 2016 will bring an all new series. Devil’s Blaze and will consist of 4 books.  The first of which kicks off with a book I plan to release in January, Captured. Readers will be familiar with the hero, Skull, as he made an appearance in the previous series. February will bring the release of Book 2. Burned which will follow Torch’s story. My covers for these books are totally unlike anything I’ve done before and I hope readers will love them.  You can check out the upcoming books on their Goodreads page here: CAPTURED and BURNED. You can also keep updated with my present releases and other things by visiting my WEBSITE. Merry Christmas! May 2016 bring us all great things and dreams come true.

Bull 

I lost my way a longtime ago. 
Then I meet Skye. 
The doctor, with the pouty lips and legs that last for days. 
She's mouthy, uptight, and way out of my league. 
But it's too late. 
I've decided I want her, and for more than just an eight second ride. 
Even if she's bringing a world of danger with her-- 
She's mine, and I'm not giving her up. 

Skye 

The minute I laid eyes on the tall, broad shouldered 
and beautifully sculpted male lying on the hospital bed, 
I knew I was in trouble. 
He says his name is Bull. 
I've seen what he's packing, and trust me, the name fits. 
I'm his doctor. I'm a single mom. 
I'm not reckless. I can't afford to be. 
I can't fall for a man like him...a wild biker. 
Not even if he makes my heart race and my knees weak. 
I can't. 
Not even when he vows to protect me from someone who wants me dead. 
The problem is, it's too late. 
He's already in my thoughts, my dreams, and my bed. 

What's a good girl to do when obsessed with the ultimate bad boy?

BUY LINKS: 

DORIS O'CONNER: What am I working on next year? Well, I have my very first dragon story coming out in January. The Dragon in the Stone is a naughty twist on Beauty and the Beast, and I had so much fun with it. I’m in two box sets set for release in March. One is M/F and the other Ménage, and those stories are called Under his Protection, and Icing on the Cake. I also have the next installments in the following series planned. (Not necessarily in that order): 
Premiere Companions, 2
Vikings through Time, 2
The Spectrum Auctions, 5
The Protectors, 6
The Warriors, 3
The Projects, 6
I think that will keep me busy for a while, don’tcha think? ;-) Add to that list whatever unknowns my muse decides to throw at me, and life is never dull.

It’s a Dom’s job to protect his girl.

No one believes that more than Jonas Sorenson. So when he sees the shy little sub he has been trying to get close to for ages up for auction on the Club Spectrum stage, there’s only one Dom who will get her—him.

Rissa Nauenburg hates being the center of attention, so being on show in the auction proves too much for her. Caught in the middle of a panic attack, she has no time to appreciate the fact the one Dom she has been secretively lusting after for ages has won her.

Her distress makes Jonas more determined to protect her. It’s perfectly obvious to Jonas that someone in her past has hurt Rissa badly. Under the terms of the auction she is his for twenty four hours at least.

It's game on to rebuild Rissa’s confidence and Jonas plays for keeps.

All Rissa has to do is let him…

BUY LINK:
KAYLEIGH MALCOLM: My muse has been on a tear the past couple months, inspiring me to start a number of projects...but the finishing part we haven't been as focused on as we should be. LoL I have almost as many knitting projects started as books at this point. I have an M/M book coming out in May-June that is part of the Black Hills Wolves series. Also I'm equally excited to have a M/F/M story in the April Fools for Love collection, coming out April 1st. At the moment, there are three books open on my laptop. The second M/F/M book in my Peacock Terrace Series, the second book in my Sin City Clique (1NS) M/M/F series and the first book in a new M/M series that I hope to start to release in the Fall. It's going to be a busy 2016, hopefully I'll be able to finish some of these knitting projects too. :) 

When construction expert, Craig Ledet and Executive Chef Daniel Mire finally meet their long –legged, enigmatic neighbor Hannah Robinson they are determined to have her in their bed.

Passion sizzles for Hannah and her dynamic neighbors, but they will need more than erotic satisfaction when a vicious trail of extortion and kidnapping tests their devotion to each other.

Hannah Robinson was sure she'd never return to a court room but the nights in the arms of two men focused on her pleasure can’t save her from the truth that her decisions may put one of them in prison

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TEHYA TITAN: I love visiting the world of Vor, and I plan on adding a few more Warriors of Vor books to the series in 2016. Besides that, I also plan on working on a new paranormal series if I can fit it into my schedule. I wish everyone the best for the New Year!

Warriors of Vor - Book 2

Abigail Denton left home to start a new life, only to have it ripped away in a brutal attack. But second chances sometimes come in the most unexpected ways. Taken from Earth, Abby is brought to a new world to become the mate to an alien warrior, however, her past has left her hesitant to trust any male…

Larger and stronger than most other warriors on Vor, Prince Dracor Krell is the perfect Captain of the Guard, but his size makes him less desirable as any female’s companion. He has given up hope at finding happiness, but all of that changes the moment he meets his mate, Abby. Now, all he has to do is prove to her that a warrior’s devotion can lead to a love that will last them a lifetime.

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MICHELLE HOWARD: I can’t believe we’re almost at the end of the year. It’s definitely been full of ups and downs. I’m glad to have this time to breathe and reflect on everything for 2015. I’m beyond grateful to have spent most of this year growing my passion for writing. I also spent time with my family that didn’t feel rushed, launched a second sci-fi series which gave me the chance to really flex my writing muscle. I hope 2016 brings me as much joy with my books as this year did. I have several releases planned. (sequels for each of my current series) After a small holiday break, I’ll be jumping in full speed ahead. I’m closing 2015 out with my December release Love Like No Other. It’s a sci-fi romance featuring secondary characters that connect to my A World Beyond Series and it was a lot of fun writing. I’m wishing everyone a beautiful holiday season and a new year filled with hope and love. 




Just lovers. That was the unspoken agreement between them but what they shared wasn’t enough for him anymore. Commander Jaxon Brom wages a war for the heart of the woman he loves. It may prove to be his toughest battle ever but one he doesn’t plan to lose.




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KOBO | AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS


ERIN M. LEAF: That elusive rainbow can seem so far away.... but the truth is that next year will be here before we can blink! My new book, Alpha Shaman—Bad Oak Boys 2, is releasing next week! Josh and Gerwulf get themselves into trouble, and then back out again. Wulfgang—Bad Oak Boys 3 will be releasing sometime in February 2016. Silas River, a drummer, goes incognito to teach at a college. Little does he know that his mate, Wulfgang, will soon seal his fate. I have a rough outline of book four in the series, tentatively titled Shifter Spy, and will be writing it soon. I’m planning on finishing that book by the end of January (yes, I’m a little ambitious). After that, I’m planning on working on the next Stronghold series book, Dawn. Sentry Isaac Dawn uses charm and a mischievous personality to hide a focused intensity. It’s gonna be a busy winter!

The world isn’t ready for a rock star werewolf, but Josh Oakley can’t stop biology. When his brother sends sexy wolf shaman Gerwulf to help him, instinct is too mild a word for how he feels. Gerwulf calls to his animal in a way that defies logic.

Gerwulf knows Josh is his mate the moment they meet, but he doesn’t like guys and he doesn’t intend to bond with anyone. He’ll help the musician control his wolf, but getting too close isn’t his intention. Besides, he wouldn’t know what to do with a man in his bed.

Of course, shifters can’t dodge fate—a crisis forces Josh and Gerwulf to accept their connection just in time to save Forst Pack from an old enemy. When biology ties them together beyond even a mating bond, will they be able to move past their fear and into a future that holds more than they ever expected?




Thursday, December 24, 2015

~ New Cover Reveal - 3013: GENESIS ~




3013: GENESIS

The eleventh book in this best selling sci-fi/futuristic series!


Mya Spartan has lived a privileged life. She has a family who adores her, work that fulfills her, and enough credits to have everything she’s ever wanted. However, what she really wants isn’t something that can be bought…

Alphas of their pack, Maddox, Daimon and Tavius Adaro, have created an empire with no equal. As a traveling sanctuary, New Vega exists beyond Alliance regulations, where the Adaros’ word is law. The three Krytos brothers are strong, capable leaders who rule their world together, but nothing could have prepared them for the little female elite who would come to rule their hearts.

Destiny may have led her straight into the arms of the Krytos who want her as their mate, but Mya fears she might not be a match for the three powerful males. When a threat turns the floating pleasure palace into a dangerous prison, everything they love is at risk. Will Mya find the courage to fight by the Adaro brothers side, or will her uncertainty lead to the downfall of an empire?



COMING SOON!




Wednesday, December 9, 2015

~ Limited Time Sale - Nyght's Eve ~



For a limited time NYGHT'S EVE will be on sale for $0.99 on Amazon. This is the second book of my Breakers' Bad Boys series. If you haven't read it yet, now is the time to pick it up!

The sale will be going on from 12/8/15 - 12/13/15.

BUY LINK:



“You’ve got to be kidding me…”

Daryk Nyght scowled as he looked around the Fight Hard gym. He’d just arrived in Breakers after a long drive, and the last thing he wanted was to be somewhere he was surrounded by people…even if half of those people were scantily dressed women. 

God, something had to be seriously wrong with him. 

Despite the view, he couldn’t help feeling irritated by the barrage of noise coming from all around him. Daryk—or Dare as he preferred to be called—had expected the general noise of a working gym. The grunts and sounds of boxing gloves meeting flesh coming from the sparring rings didn’t faze him. No, what had him mentally cursing was the cheerful sound of feminine voices drifting over from the far side of the room. 

Good Christ, were those women giggling? 

Hitching the strap of his backpack further up on his shoulder, Dare stalked toward the mountain of a man with a shaved head who was watching the group of women. The giant stood like a sentinel at the edge of the mats with his hands braced on his hips. Coming to a stop next to him, Dare continued to frown at the sight on the mats. 

“If you tell me you put in a spa, I’m fucking leaving.” 

The man turned and a wide grin spread across his face. “Nyght!” 

Dare tried to brace himself, but still had to grimace as Jared “Hammer” Caufield wrapped his massive arms around him and squeezed the breath right out of his lungs. At six foot two, Dare was a big man, but Hammer easily had a few inches on him, and also a good thirty pounds in muscle mass. 

Even with his piss poor mood, Dare was glad to see his friend. He and Hammer had met while they were stationed at the same army base in Iraq, and had become good friends. Dare had been a trauma surgeon, while Hammer had been in the Rangers. When Hammer left the Army to begin his career as an MMA fighter, Dare’s life had taken a far different path. 

A far more dark and dangerous path. 

Hammer pulled back, taking a good look at his friend and frowned at what he saw. Instead of the buzz cut they used to have in common, Dare’s black hair had grown out into a dark array of shaggy locks. With several days beard growth, and wearing a beat-to-shit black leather jacket with a pair of worn jeans, Dare almost looked like a hard-ass, dangerous biker…or some sort of wild animal. But what really showed Hammer the change in his friend was the hard gleam in Nyght’s dark-grey eyes that hadn’t been there last time they’d seen each other. It was the lethal look that soldiers developed who had seen too much hard shit…who had done too much. Hammer knew because he had often seen that look in his own eyes, before he’d found peace. 

“Damn good to see you, bro.” 

“Back atcha.” Dare looked around the large gym and had to grin. “You did a good job with this place. Last time I was here it was nothing but a big pile of shit.” 

Hammer laughed. “I remember. We’d just torn down that old warehouse and I was wearing that stupid brace on my knee.” 

“Looks like you’ve completely recovered.” 

“I have. Damn, Dare. It really is good to see you. I’d introduce you to my fiancée, Kali, but Sam might kill me if I interrupt them in the middle of class.” 

“That’s the physical therapist that kicked your ass back in gear after your surgery, right?” Both men turned back to watch the women on the mats. Dare glanced at the stacked woman with light-brown hair running the class that he’d met after Hammer’s surgery. He knew that Sam used to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force until she was shot down on a mission. She must be a pretty tough woman to have made it out of enemy territory alone and injured. Unable to fly anymore, she’d gone on to become a physical therapist, using her military training to beat people back into shape. 

“Yep. I figured if she could scare the crap out of me, she’d be able to run the rehab center upstairs no problem.” 

“She was a good choice then.” Dare paused, then shot a glance over at Hammer. “I have to ask…when did you start holding chick classes here?” 

The big former MMA fighter scowled and crossed his arms over his massive chest. “Don’t even start that shit.” He lowered his voice so no one else would hear. “You know they actually call this class girl fight?” 

“Christ.” 

“I know,” Hammer sighed. “We started holding the class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I originally did it for Kali and a few of her friends, but more women just kept signing up. We have over twenty in the class now, off and on. It’s good for business, and more men seem to plan their workout schedules around the women’s classes.” 

“I can see why,” Dare murmured as he watched the women bend over in unison. “Let me guess, the cute little redhead with ‘Hammer’ stamped across the back of her pants is yours?” 

Hammer grunted. “Damn right. I’ve ordered all kinds of Rough and Tough apparel with my name on it for her to wear. I need to make sure everyone knows Kali belongs to me.” 

“Well, marking her ass with your name is certainly one way to do it,” Dare remarked dryly, then he squinted to get a better look. “And Jesus, is that a hammer tattooed on her shoulder?” 

Grinning, Hammer nodded. “That was all her idea. It saves me the trouble of knocking heads together when people know she’s taken. Since we started this damn class I think there have been more hook-ups beginning here than at The Fox Hole,” he added, mentioning the local biker bar in town. 

Fuck. 

“That’s it. I’m outta here.” 

Hammer laughed as he reached out to grab hold of Dare’s arm, holding him in place. “Calm down. I think you’re safe, considering you look like some sort of crazed mountain man.” 

“I’ve been busy.” Dare absently scratched at his beard. Damn, he really did need to shave. He almost lost his balance as Hammer’s hand came down on his shoulder. 

“Come on, Nyght. I’ll give you a tour of the place.” 

Dare gladly followed Hammer out of the gym, up to the quiet second floor of Fight Hard where the rehabilitation center was located. Hammer had spared no expense, having outfitted the rehab center with high-end medical and training equipment. Dare asked a few questions as Hammer showed him around, and he had to scoff as he saw some of the Pilates equipment that hadn’t been in the original plans. Hammer explained that Sam and the other physical therapists had been very successful using the equipment to help rehab their clients. To Dare’s amusement, Hammer also muttered about a few Pilates classes being taught there during the week, but said he tried to avoid the upstairs area whenever those were going on. 

Overall, Dare was pleased to see that the Fight Hard Training and Rehabilitation Center was a world class facility, and knew it was a place Hammer could be very proud of. When he’d had told Dare he wanted to open a gym back in his hometown of Breakers after his injury, Dare had thought it was a damn good idea. With Hammer’s mixed martial arts training, it seemed like a perfect transition. With the addition of the rehab center that catered to vets and other athletes, it made Dare want to get involved. 

Even though Hammer had made enough money as a Cage Fighting League champion, both Dare and their other friend, Adam Rever, wanted to support his new business venture. Hammer had allowed Dare and Rever to invest, while he kept controlling interest of the business. Hammer did a good job keeping them informed about what was going on with the gym by email, but Dare knew he and Rever weren’t really necessary to the business. They were mainly there to support their friend. 

And the truth was, a part of Dare had never really expected to live to see the gym finished. 

“You did a good job with this place, Hammer.” 

As if he knew what Dare was thinking, Hammer stopped and looked at him with sober eyes. “How are you doing, Dare? Because I gotta tell you…you look like shit.” 

“Gee, thanks.” 

“Seriously, man. We expected you last month. I thought you were resting up at that cabin in Colorado? You don’t look that rested or relaxed.” 

Dare turned away, staring across the large room as memories plagued him. No, he wasn’t rested. In fact, he felt like he was damn close to losing his mind. Being a trauma surgeon in the Army had been hard. No, it had been fucking brutal. Sure there were days that he’d done the basic monotonous doctor shit on base, but there were other days that had been filled with the screams of injured men and women that would haunt him till the end of his days. 

And he felt the loss of each and every patient under his care. 

What he couldn’t tell Hammer was that the last few years he’d been working with an international anti-terrorist agency that very few people even knew existed. Tired of always seeing his friends in danger, Dare had jumped at the chance to join the elite taskforce to help stop the threats before they turned into mass violence. What he hadn’t realized was that being at ground zero would be like walking into hell. 

And not many men could come back from that. 

Dare could tell Hammer what he couldn’t say to anyone else. Even though there were details he couldn’t tell his friend about his clandestine work, dealing with the aftermath alone wasn’t a good idea. He'd tried that over the last few months and it had been an epic failure. That was why he had come to Breakers. To try and figure out what to do with his life now that he had retired. 

“I’m tired,” Dare said quietly after a long minute. “I’m really fucking tired.” 

Hammer sat down on one of the benches and watched him with more sympathy than Dare was comfortable with. “Can you tell me?” 

“Some, but I don’t think I’m ready to just yet. I’ll just say that my stay in Colorado wasn’t as restful as I thought it was going to be. I took my time coming here to clear my head...” He paused for a moment before he said, “Before that I was in Spain.” 

Hammer sucked in a harsh breath that sounded overly loud in the silence of the room. Dare knew that the news had been filled with the bombings that had happened in Spain for weeks now. A terrorist group headed by a fanatical leader had targeted several churches in a brutal self-proclaimed war. The taskforce Dare worked with had taken down the group, but the terrorists had blown up two churches before they had put a stop to their senseless violence. 

And the experience had left Dare with chilling memories that would haunt him forever. 

“Jesus. That’s rough,” Hammer said softly. “Listen, I was gonna suggest we go grab something to eat, but why don’t you just take tonight and settle in? You know you’re always welcome at my place—” 

“No.” 

“Which is what I thought you would say,” Hammer responded with a soft chuckle. “So, I booked you a room at my cousin’s boarding house. Open ended for however long you want to stay.” 

Dare frowned at him, not liking the sound of that. “I can just go to a hotel or—” 

“It’s not what you think. My cousin Evie converted Beaumont Manor—her old plantation house—into a sort of bed and breakfast for service men and women who need a little peace and quiet before they go back to their real lives. Some of our rehab patients also stay there. You remember my stepbrother Hunter, right? He lives in an apartment on the main level. It’s a good place. I think you’ll like it.” 

He wanted to decline the offer, but found himself nodding. “That works…thanks.” 

“I’ll call ahead and make sure someone meets you with the keys.” Hammer paused for a moment. “I'm really glad you're here, Nyght. I hope you’ll consider staying.” 

“I can’t think that far ahead right now.” 

Hammer nodded in understanding. They said their goodbyes and Hammer paused for a moment. "use months and it had been an epic failure. Dare breathed a sigh of relief as he left the Fight Hard building, stepping out into the cool evening breeze. After Hammer had given him the directions to the Beaumont estate, Dare promised that he’d stop by the gym again after he’d gotten some rest. He just wasn’t in the mood for friendly visitations at the moment, even if Hammer was like a brother to him. 

Hell, he hadn’t been fit for human interaction for weeks now...and still wasn’t. 

Not yet. 

He straddled his Harley and started it up, pleased by the low, throaty growl the engine made. Driving out of town, Dare let his mind drift. Since he’d been back in the States, he’d been traveling light. He’d made the mistake of going home to Atlanta when he’d first come back stateside. It had been good to see his mother, but it had been the same old story with his dad and brother. 

The Nyght’s were a powerful family that traced their lineage back to medieval Scotland. They had been one of the wealthiest families to settle in the new world, and Dare’s father, William Nyght, took their heritage very seriously, going as far to hang the family crest in a place of prominence in their mansion located in Atlanta. Dare’s great-grandfather had been a founding partner in one of the world’s largest international law firms, and it had become tradition for all of the Nyght men to join the practice. 

Until Dare. 

William was a man who stuck to very strict ideals of what it meant to be a Nyght, and joining the military was not acceptable to him. Dare still remembered the heated argument that had taken place when he told his family that he had enlisted and had decided to go to medical school instead of studying law. His mother had done what she always did. She agreed with whatever her husband decreed. She loved her life too much the way it was, and Dare had learned to accept that she would never be strong enough to stand against William. 

The divide between Dare and his father had gotten even worse when his younger brother, Peter, had enrolled in law school and prepared to join the family firm like a proper Nyght. When William finally realized that Dare would never fall into the family fold, he had disowned him, ruthlessly cutting him off. 

At first it had hurt, but Dare knew that he’d made the right choice. Being a doctor was what he had been meant to do. He had an aptitude for cutting and had soaked up knowledge like a sponge. Being able to assess a situation instantly and having a steady hand no matter where he was made him an asset in the field. It had been a constant struggle against his commanding officers who had tried to keep Dare on base where he would remain safe, when all he wanted to do was be out where he was needed most. 

When the opportunity came to join the elite taskforce, Dare had been ready and willing to join the action. It had given him a sense of pride to know that he was saving lives on a daily basis, but the threat level the taskforce dealt with had been enough to scare the shit out of him despite his training and background. His time working with them had hardened him. Had given him a combat awareness that could only be attained through experience. 

But he hadn’t been ready for what happened in Spain. 

Dare had waded through the blood of the victims of the two bombings, doing all he could to help the few survivors they’d found. He couldn’t even put the horrors of what he’d seen into words. Still, he had kept a cool head while his heart had wept for the victims. It was such a senseless act of violence that Dare would never understand the levels of cruelty humans could perpetrate on one another. However, dealing with the aftermath of those first two bombings wasn’t what had made Dare decide to walk away. 

No, that decision had been made the second he’d been forced to take a life. 

For as long as he could remember, he’d wanted to heal people. Dare had taken an oath when he had become a doctor, but doing no harm wasn’t always possible when facing war. Still, he had done his best to fulfill his pledge whenever he could. He had been in firefights before. It was an inevitable reality of combat to draw one’s weapon, and it had never bothered him that much when it was kill or be killed, fighting side by side with his friends and fellow soldiers. 

That was until he had come face to face with the terrorist leader who had been fleeing the scene of the third bombing. 

The taskforce had discovered the third target of the terrorist group, and had converged on the location in time to evacuate the people inside the church before the bomb could go off. Dare had stayed back in a van filled with medical supplies in case he was needed when he’d seen the leader they had been searching for fleeing the scene. With all the other agents occupied, Dare had chased after the terrorist, and had been forced to take him out. 

During his time in the Army, Dare had never had to kill someone while looking them dead in the eye. He had returned fire at a nameless, faceless enemy when fired upon, but this...damn, this had been completely different. The fanatical leader had been carrying a remote trigger for the bomb and had been prepared to use it, forcing Dare to kill him. He knew he had done what he’d needed to. Countless of lives would have been lost if he hadn’t killed the man, but watching the light of life leave the other man’s eyes—knowing he was the one who had taken that life—had done something to Dare. 

How the fuck was he supposed to tell people that sight of blood now made him sick? 

Dare was a doctor for Christ’s sake. Having an aversion to seeing blood was something he couldn’t afford to deal with, and frankly, it was embarrassing as hell. He knew it was a mental block—one that he would eventually get over as soon as he came to terms with what he had done—but he wasn’t there yet. He needed time. Time to allow himself to heal and clear his mind of the fatigue that had been plaguing him. 

Time to figure out what the hell to do now that he no longer wanted to be a soldier. 

Following the directions Hammer had given him, Dare rode his bike further from town into the quiet of the countryside. While the rest of the country was dealing with fickle weather conditions, spring had come full force to Breakers, Texas, making the evening drive pleasant. 

It was like entering into a different world as Dare turned his bike onto the long road that led toward the Beaumont estate. Tall trees lined the paved driveway, and the large expanse of manicured lawn made Dare absently wonder what poor bastard took care of so much damn land. 

Off in the distance he could see a large barn the size of a warehouse sitting on one side of a big pond that glittered in the red and gold rays of the setting sun. There was a massive residence made of stone and glass on the other side of the pond that gleamed in the sunlight, looking like something right out of a fairytale. But what had Dare slowing down was the sight of the large white plantation house he was approaching. 

Columns lined the large front porch of both the second and main floors of the buildings, making it look like he had stepped back in time to the grand old south. From the description he’d been given, Dare knew this was the residence that Hammer’s cousin had grown up in. He couldn’t help but wonder why she had given up living in the impressive house in order to use it as a boarding house. Still, he was glad that she had, whatever her reasoning. The quiet atmosphere immediately appealed to him as he pulled into the small parking lot off to the side of the house. 

Maybe he would finally be able to get some rest and relax a little. 

Dare parked his bike next to another Harley and took a moment to admire the sleek beast. He also noticed there was a large medically equipped van parked in the lot along with a few big trucks. All but swaying with fatigue, he got off his bike. The last few hours had taken on a surreal feeling that only happened when he finally hit the wall. The drive had felt like he was maneuvering through a video game or something, and he was damn lucky he’d arrived before he crashed. 

Fuck, at thirty-four he was getting too old for this shit. As a doctor, he was used to sleep deprivation, but knew he had pushed his system to its limits. It had been foolish to drive while in this condition. He knew it, and was now looking forward to getting some rest. Maybe a week’s worth if he was lucky. Yeah, he’d feel better if he could sleep for a week, surrounded by nothing but peace and quiet. 

Shaking off the fatigue for a few more minutes, he unlatched his saddlebag from the back of his bike. He hefted it onto one shoulder, then readjusted as it smacked up against his backpack already secured on his back. Striding toward the building, he looked up and skidded to a halt as the front door to the plantation house opened and a vision walked out. 

Sweet Jesus, she was absolutely stunning. 

Her long blonde hair shimmered to burnished gold in the fading sunlight. She was tall, around five-eight if his gauge was accurate, and had a face of such classic beauty that it belonged on the covers of magazines. She was dressed in dark jeans with a cream-colored cardigan over a matching undershirt that showed some of the tanned skin of her stomach. Something about seeing that small strip of flesh had Dare’s blood heating and the muscles of his body tensing. 

Sure, he loved seeing scantily clad women as much as the next guy, like those women in the gym earlier. He was a man after all. But there was something about the classy blonde standing before him in that stupid sweater set that stirred his interest in a way that hadn’t happened in longer than he could remember. Dare let his gaze drift up and felt a visceral reaction as his eyes met the clear blue of hers as she moved closer. 

“Hello, welcome to the Beaumont Boarding House. You must be Dr. Nyght.” 

All he could do was blink at the vision standing in front of him and try to remember how to speak. All the blood in his body seemed to have drained straight down to his dick, making it almost impossible for him to think. She had an almost regal bearing as she stood there staring down at him. God, she was the type of woman men went down on their knees for…the kind they dreamed about. 

She was one beautiful fucking woman. 

Evelyn Beaumont stood on the porch looking down at the man standing at the bottom of the front stairs, waiting for him to say something. He looked like the sort of dangerous guy she would have loved to have let her cousin check into the bordering house, but Hunter was currently at Ink This, the local tattoo parlor where he worked part-time. No matter how scruffy he looked, this man was one of her cousin’s best friends, and she would welcome him to the haven she had created. 

God knew he looked like he needed it. 

Evie could see the fatigue heavily lining his face, and everything in her responded to the pain she noticed in his piercing dark-gray eyes. Something about him made her want to go to him, to reach out and soothe him. She wanted to tell him that he could heal here, and help him find some peace. But as a woman who ran a rescue center working with feral dogs, she knew enough to keep her distance. 

This man wasn’t tamed. 

She eyed him warily from the top of the stairs when he remained silent. “Are you okay?” 

Dare shook his head as if trying to rattle some sense into his damn head and braced his hand on the railing on the side of the front steps. For a second he had thought he’d imagined the woman before him, but quickly realized that she wasn’t just some dream come to life. She was real…and standing there looking at him like he was fucking crazy. 

Maybe he was. 

Damn, he really needed to get some sleep. 

“Sorry, what? I am. Dr. Nyght, that is. I mean, Daryk Nyght.” Someone needed to shoot him to get him to stop talking, because clearly he couldn’t be trusted forming sentences at the moment. She smiled at him, and Dare was damn glad he was leaning on the railing. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Nyght. I’m Hammer’s cousin, Evelyn Beaumont, but please call me Evie.” 

“Dare.” 

Her smile faltered. “Excuse me?” 

“My name. Just call me Dare.” 

“Okay, Dare. Welcome to the Beaumont Boarding House. Come on in.” She gestured to the open front door and Dare took a strengthening breath before he climbed the stairs and came to a stop next to her. Christ, she smelled like peaches. Ripe, juicy peaches. When he’d been overseas he used to dream of peaches plucked fresh from a tree, still warm from the sun’s rays. 

It was a particular weakness of his. 

Despite his current difficulties functioning, he still had enough wits about him to motion her inside before following her into the house. Manners had been far too engrained in him from a young age for him to act any differently. He breathed her scent in as he closed the door and followed her through the foyer, down a hall into the large kitchen. He tried to keep his distance so he wouldn’t make her nervous being in the house with a strange man she didn’t know. 

A frown settled over his face. She didn’t know him. What the hell was she doing walking inside with him where they were alone? He could be— 

Dare’s thoughts came to a screeching halt when he realized that she had been speaking to him again, and was now looking at him with that wary expression again as she moved to stand on the other side of the marble island in the center of the kitchen. Christ, he really was a mess. “I’m sorry…what were you saying?” 

“The setup is pretty simple here. Each bedroom has its own bathroom, but the rest of the house is shared space. There is an entertainment area on the main floor with a pool table and a large TV, and there’s a gym in the basement. We usually offer baked goods in the kitchen, but meals are basically up to you. Everyone is pretty respectful of other people’s stuff, but if you have food you don’t want to share, be sure to mark it.” 

Evie gestured toward a hallway off the kitchen. “My cousin Hunter lives in the apartment down that hall, but if he isn’t around you can just ask one of us. All of our phone numbers are listed here by the phone. My uncle Tony and his wife Maddy usually stop by every Monday and Friday to check on things, but they’re on vacation right now. You know Hammer’s mother, Madeline, right? Anyways, they’ll be back in a few weeks, but my cousins and I live right down the road, just passed the rescue center if you need anything.” 

Dare scowled before he could stop himself. “Rescue center? As in barking dogs?” 

He knew he’d made a grave error as soon as those beautiful blue eyes iced over. He belatedly remembered seeing the big barn down the road, and also recalled what he had heard about her the last time he’d come to Breakers. Evie had been out of town, but he’d met her cousins, Beckett, Francesca and Hunter—who were also Hammer’s step-siblings—and they had spoken of the rescue center where they all worked part-time. The rescue center was Evie’s pride and joy…and he had just insulted it. 

Damn it, why couldn’t he fucking think before he spoke? 

Evie regarded him coolly. “The Beaumont Rescue Center is far enough that you shouldn’t be disturbed by the noise.” 

“I’m sure it is. I like dogs. Really, I like all animals.” Rubbing a hand over his face, he sighed. “Sorry, I haven’t slept in…hell, I don’t know. I’m not usually this…” 

Fucked up. 

Evie’s face softened and her eyes warmed with sympathy again. She picked up a set of keys from the counter and handed them to him. “I’ll let you get settled in. You’re in room ten. It’s a corner room on the second floor.” She hesitated for a moment before saying, “There’s a family style meal in a few days over at my house. It’s nothing big…just a barbeque, but we try to do something on Sundays with the family and the workers from the center. Feel free to stop by if you’re feeling up to it.” 

She opened the door before he could say anything, and with a cheerful wave, she walked out onto the back patio, shutting the door in his face. Without thinking, he found himself moving to a nearby window, watching as she got into a golf cart. He stood there as she headed across the manicure lawn towards the stone and glass manor down the road. 

The princess in the glass tower, he thought as he watched her leave, then shook his head at the fanciful thought. Sweet Jesus, he really needed sleep. With that in mind, he turned from the window and left the kitchen, making his way back to the front of the house. He climbed the grand staircase, absently admiring open space of the large foyer until he reached the second floor. 

He turned down the hall, then had to backtrack and go the other way until he reached his room. Using the key, he let himself in, then simply dropped his bags on the floor after he shut the door and locked it. Not even taking the time to look around the well-appointed room, he sat down on the bed and leaned over to remove his boots, almost falling over in the process. 

Damn, was he in sorry shape. 

Exploring would have to wait. Dare let out a long sigh as he lay back on the bed, and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.