Tag Archives: Romance

Books worth checking out, Short Stories from Eden's Garden

All Tied Up In Knots Series Release

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I’m so excited that we, my partner in crime and I, are finally able to get some new stories out to you. Living with autoimmune illness can make shifts in weather dreadful, and this winter has been a beast. I’m waiting for my summer beach days where I can breath in the salt air or hit my favorite farm for tree ripened nectarines and a glass of homemade lemonade. In the meantime, I’ve decorated my window to the world for the next holiday and finished up this series (unless someone coaxes a sequel out of me).

Our All Tied Up In Knots series is bringing you new titles and some rereleases with bold new covers. Here is the list, you may recognize some of the works, but I have plenty of surprises in store for you. I’ll be posting the links as they become available. See below for our Perpetual Puppy, Butler’s take on things.

Knot An Actress- 1st in the series- formerly published as Violet Blooms, we’ve brought this story back with a new cover and a few changes. see if you can spot them. (Novel)

Knot A Geek- 2nd in the series- what could be more fun than a romp through a science lab? (Quick read)

Knot His Superior- 3rd in the series- I’ve heard that all is fair in love and war, but is it really? (FMF Quick read)

Knot A Criminal- 4th in the series- Balloons, Steampunk, and Kink, oh my! Holly is on the run from her past that includes a double homicide. She has no recollection of the events and wants to keep it in the past for a reason, she might just be the killer. Focusing on the future has Holly hopeful to learn pyrotechnics from a master of more than one skill. As she begins to fall for him, her past starts catching up with her. Now, she is torn between her desire for love and her fear of what she might be capable of. (Novel)

Knot Daddy’s Girl- 5th in the series- formerly: Sweet, With. Hint of Kink- Cala is a brat used to getting her own way. It’s simple, she only has to ask Daddy for something and she gets it. She’s about to find out that even the most powerful man she knows can be powerless to get her what she needs. Chef Pain is a man of principles, and no amount of money or power can intimidate him. He is a Dominant with his own power. He’s about to teach Cala, that power comes from within. (Short)

Knot a Photographer- 6th in the series- formerly: The Picture of My Heart- Julianne is an aspiring photojournalist making a living as a wedding photographer. Her muse is looking for something more and she finds it with Ann, famous artist Tadeusz Christov’s companion/model. The deeper Julianne probes, the more she discovers about Ann and Christov, until she isn’t sure what is real. The only thing she knows is what she wants, Ann. (FF short)

Knot A Bunny- 7th in the series- formerly: Rope Bunny- Candy wants nothing more than to be in Master’s Colt’s ropes. She’s new to the scene and hopes reality will one day match her fantasies, but when she meets DM Ethan Thompson she begins to wonder is she has been pining for the wrong Dom. (Short)

Knot A Princess- 8th in the series- Briar is a young mother and widow, struggling to cope with loss. No man can measure up to a hero that had given his life for his country, but that leaves Briar lonely. She bravely puts on Princess dress to entertain children at parties filled with rich snobs, so she can provide for her son. Then, this new age Cinderella gets noticed by the prince. Will this be just another gig, or happily ever after?

Butler the Perpetual Puppy has been spending his winter enjoying some well deserved snuggle time after his morning walks. Despite his ability to coerce snacks out of everyone, he is still a skinny energetic Chinese Crested powderpuff, with a very shaggy coat- the longest no shave November ever. This Spring he plans shave his winter coat, run around the dog park, and chase squirrels.

Liquid Friday with Eden Freed, Short Stories from Eden's Garden

Eat Dessert First is Free on Amazon Kindle

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This wonderful short story or love, friendship and coming out, from Eden Freed is available free on Kindle , but only for a very limited time.  Get it today or this Saturday  December 8th or miss all the fun.

Don’t miss it: click here.

Oh, and I almost forgot the cocktail, with all the excitement promoting my short story.  Silly me.

In the story, Lelo and Sasha seem to be more of teatotalers, so for tonight we will respect their choice and go with a nice cup of hot Earl Gray tea. Earl Grey is a flavored tea with probably the most known distinct flavor. It is a black tea base, flavored with bergamot orange rind oil. Bergamot orange is  a citrus fruit with the appearance and flavor somewhere between an orange and a lemon with a little grapefruit and lime thrown in.

So brew yourself a nice cup of this delicious tea, and kick back with the free copy of Eat Dessert First.

Enjoy!

Blurb:

Lelo has the ultimate friendship in Sasha. A person that cares for her, supports her, makes her laugh and enjoy life. Will she risk it all and follow her heart for a chance at romance? What if Sasha doesn’t share her feelings, doesn’t understand and walks away? Is it worth risking the friendship?

Excerpt:

My pulse quickened as Sasha took my hand and led me into her freshly decorated bedroom. Libraries had only slightly larger collections of history books than she had amassed. Every wall of the room from the floor to the ceiling was lined with them. I felt EatDessertFirstCoverJPGunworthy and stood there in a sort of rapturous awe akin to a religious experience.

“When I move, I’m giving these to you, Lelo,” she laughed but her cheeks didn’t light up the way they used to.

“Don’t you want to read them again?” My question made her look up at the ceiling. As familiar as I was with the gesture, I didn’t understand her tears. We shared everything, even embarrassing things like our first dates and the first time we had our hearts broken. Silent tears were strange creatures that kept the distance between us, but they had become increasingly familiar over the years.

When I first moved to Somerville, in second grade, Sasha was my first friend. I was her only friend. We painted each other’s nails and shared the same stick of bubble gum. There was a certain shyness in her soul that beckoned me like a moth to a flame. The fire in her made me burn with a curiosity to know everything. We began our kindred search with history books.

Twenty years and seven address changes later we were still best friends. We posted book reviews and critiques, sent countless emails, and spoke on the phone daily, though seldom saw each other. Her father was stationed in Los Alamos and we were both finished with college. She wanted to be closer, so I found an apartment for her. With my best pair of Keds on, I helped move carefully sealed boxes out of the van and into the freshly painted apartment. We sat on the floor and ate Chinese food unfolding the food containers into plates.

“You want me to help you unpack?”

“I’ll drive you nuts with my library OCD. Everything has to be in the correct order or I’ll spend hours fixing it,” she laughed pointing to numbers on the boxes. I knew all of her nuances. There was nothing more I wanted than to tell her everything I felt in my heart, but the fear of losing our friendship stopped me.

“You sure? I can count, you know.”

“No, I’m good. It will wait until tomorrow,” she said, laying her head against my shoulder. Her silken tresses brushed against my neck and I wrapped my arm around her waist, holding her so close that I could feel her heart beating like a hummingbird’s. My gut told me something was wrong, but I was too afraid to find out what it was. Silently, I prayed that she would confide the torment of her soul, but the hush only grew between us until I said goodnight.

Liquid Friday with Eden Freed

Liquid Friday with author Chris Redding

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This week we are featuring author, ghost writer and coach Chris Redding and her new paranormal romance shape shifter novel Destiny of a Gargoyle: Book One When Gargoyles Love.

But before we immerse  ourselves in the magic of her novel, we must hear from Chris Redding about her favorite cocktail for tonight:

Long Island Iced Tea is my favorite! Why that drink? Because when I was a bartender it was my signature drink. People came to the bar to ask me to make it because they’d heard mine was good.

Recipe:

 

  • Shot of Vodka
  • Shot of Gin
  • Shot of Triple Sec
  • Ice

Fill the rest of the glass with sour mix then a splash of cola.

 

 

Blurb:

Donal Foley was born in a time when magic ruled the Earth.

Gargoyles protected fairies from goblins. His family was a group of elite gargoyles who were assigned to protect a specific fairy. His father’s dereliction of that duty cursed his sons to become stone and wait.

Now reawakened in the twenty first century where no one believes in magic how is he going to convince his fairy that she is one and that she is in danger from a goblin?

He must do that without falling in love with her.

 

Excerpt:

The next morning, Meg was still wondering what mistake she’d made. What had she said that sent Donal running out of the bar?

She ended up taking the day off and now she was doing things that she normally had to attend to on weekends. Picking up dry cleaning and shopping for underwear were so much more pleasant when everyone else was at work.

Since she lived by the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, students streamed past her with backpacks and cups of coffee. Ah, to be young again.

Her first stop was to the supermarket for some food. With her canvas bags in hand, she entered the doors of the local supermarket, but something made her look behind her. She had the feeling someone was watching her.

 

She didn’t see anyone, except a young man who seemed out of place. And he looked like Donal. She blinked, but he was gone.

 

About Chris:

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey creating otherworldly stories. When she isn’t writing, she walks and does yoga. She is also a ghostwriter and a writing coach.

 

Short Stories from Eden's Garden

Tartarus Bellows

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Thus comes the third installment from Eden Freed‘s Garden. This one is a fairy tale based on Slavic and Balkan tales, written in collaboration with Dimitri Romanov.  Enjoy this short read on Kindle or Kindle Unlimited.  Glimpse the world of magic and fairy tales with Tartarus Bellows.

Blurb:

Our perfectly flawed hero Erroris embarks an adventure to discover that love is as ancient as the forest Baba Yaga lives in and maybe just as dangerous. Journey to the heart of the matter and find out if good really does triumph over evil and whether or not the devil does get his due. This short story is based on old Slavonic and Balkan tales with a modern twist. Would you be willing to brave the perils on earth and dive into the depths of hell for the sake of love?

Excerpt:

“Erroris, you pitiful excuse for a demon, get in there and drag out the wicked for judgment!” Likho screeched and angrily cocked his one eye at the lesser demon. “If I didn’t know any better I would think that you pitied these deviant mortals. Tartarus has a place for demons that fail to serve.”

Likho’s words caused Erroris to hold his tongue, lest the coals be raked across it again. He had no heart for his job. How could he help bring the wicked to justice when he had no concept of true evil? Can one know evil without first seeing good? There has to be more to this existence than torment and torture. What I would give for one mortal lifetime!

As if Likho could hear his thoughts, he walked over and squeezed Erroris’ mouth open forcing his tongue to hang out like the three-headed beast Cerberus’ after a run. Without releasing the pressure on the hollows of Erroris’ cheeks, Likho bellowed, “I don’t see it in there, but if you have even the smallest piece of goodness in you we will scare it out, once and for all. You will go live among the mortals. Once your talons begin to show, you’ll be back here and Zmey, the dragon guardian of Tartarus will slowly devour your black heart.” Likho loosened the grip on Erroris’ face and grinned a wicked smile that could inspire fear even in a demon.

Mustering what little courage remained, Erroris asked, “And if I’m good?”

Doubled over and clutching his abdomen with two clawed hands, Likho laughed. It was a sound that anyone in Tartarus seldom heard and it struck a dark chord of fear in even the bravest demon. The sound reached Zmey and roused the dark beast from slumber. It shook ash off its leathery wings and sharpened its claws on the jagged obsidian rocks where it bedded down. Erroris felt the sudden and unmistakable sensation of claws digging into his shoulders.

Short Stories from Eden's Garden

Eat Dessert First

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And here is the second story from Eden’s Garden.  Eat Dessert First is a light LGBT romance short read for your enjoyment.  Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

Blurb:

Lelo has the ultimate friendship in Sasha. A person that cares for her, supports her, makes her laugh and enjoy life. Will she risk it all and follow her heart for a chance at romance? What if Sasha doesn’t share her feelings, doesn’t understand and walks away? Is it worth risking the friendship?

Excerpt:

My pulse quickened as Sasha took my hand and led me into her freshly decorated bedroom. Libraries had only slightly larger collections of history books than she had amassed. Every wall of the room from the floor to the ceiling was lined with them. I felt EatDessertFirstCoverJPGunworthy and stood there in a sort of rapturous awe akin to a religious experience.

“When I move, I’m giving these to you, Lelo,” she laughed but her cheeks didn’t light up the way they used to.

“Don’t you want to read them again?” My question made her look up at the ceiling. As familiar as I was with the gesture, I didn’t understand her tears. We shared everything, even embarrassing things like our first dates and the first time we had our hearts broken. Silent tears were strange creatures that kept the distance between us, but they had become increasingly familiar over the years.

When I first moved to Somerville, in second grade, Sasha was my first friend. I was her only friend. We painted each other’s nails and shared the same stick of bubble gum. There was a certain shyness in her soul that beckoned me like a moth to a flame. The fire in her made me burn with a curiosity to know everything. We began our kindred search with history books.

Twenty years and seven address changes later we were still best friends. We posted book reviews and critiques, sent countless emails, and spoke on the phone daily, though seldom saw each other. Her father was stationed in Los Alamos and we were both finished with college. She wanted to be closer, so I found an apartment for her. With my best pair of Keds on, I helped move carefully sealed boxes out of the van and into the freshly painted apartment. We sat on the floor and ate Chinese food unfolding the food containers into plates.

“You want me to help you unpack?”

“I’ll drive you nuts with my library OCD. Everything has to be in the correct order or I’ll spend hours fixing it,” she laughed pointing to numbers on the boxes. I knew all of her nuances. There was nothing more I wanted than to tell her everything I felt in my heart, but the fear of losing our friendship stopped me.

“You sure? I can count, you know.”

“No, I’m good. It will wait until tomorrow,” she said, laying her head against my shoulder. Her silken tresses brushed against my neck and I wrapped my arm around her waist, holding her so close that I could feel her heart beating like a hummingbird’s. My gut told me something was wrong, but I was too afraid to find out what it was. Silently, I prayed that she would confide the torment of her soul, but the hush only grew between us until I said goodnight.

Short Stories from Eden's Garden

King of the Mardi Gras

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Eden Freed is working on a few exciting projects.  In the mean time she has some Short Stories From Eden’s Garden, just to hold you over, till then.

Just a quick taste or a tease if you would, her short stories debut with:

The King of the Mardi Gras, now available on Kindle.

Excerpt:

“Phillip!” she screamed for the stagehand as I walked in wearing my best wool suit and closed the door behind myself. Lydia Thompson faced her fair share of gentleman callers since her Burlesque troupe, the British Blonds, arrived in the United States but I was decidedly different. I was greedier than most and she looked at me with uneasy eyes.

“Cher, don’t be frightened. I am here to make a business proposition. We would love to feature you and your troupe in New Orleans.”

Lydia relaxed a little and laughed, “Then, you, sir, are wasting your time. I have a schedule of engagements. Good day to you.”

“I’ll not be dissuaded so easily. Surely there is some enticement I can offer, something your heart desires,” I suggested, easing the door open and looking out into the hallway. When she peered out into the dimly lit hallway and saw no one, Lydia let out a sigh. “Were you expecting someone, perhaps?” My wry smile sent a chill through her that I was certain even the devil himself couldn’t have produced. These modern women so skittish. Be a good kitten, take the bait.

“If you please, Mister…”

“Louis, Louis Solomon,” I replied lifting her hand up to my lips with a mixture of finesse and charm that could teach the devil a thing or two.

Blurb:

Can Lydia navigate waters of a deal murkier than Louisiana swamp, to get her hearts delight or will she fail and succumb to mediocrity both on stage and in her bed. A sweet tale of love, Mardi Gras style.

Books worth checking out, Liquid Friday with Eden Freed

Featuring Caridad Pineiro book cover reveal for One Summer Night

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I am pleased to feature a great author and friend Caridad Pineiro on my blog.  Here is her newest book One Summer Night from the At the Shore series.

Blurb:

Maggie Sinclair has tried everything to save her family’s business. Her options are dwindling, and she needs someone who can turn things around—fast. Problem is, the only person who can help her is trouble with a capital T. The Sinclair and Pierce families have been feuding for nearly 30 years, but that hasn’t stopped Jax Pierce from noticing Maggie. And he likes what he sees—a lot. But getting involved would mean risking his family, his inheritance, and above all, his heart. Can Maggie and Jax keep their simmering attraction at bay—or will mixing business and pleasure bring nothing but heartache?

Excerpt:

With keen interest, Owen Pierce took note of the three women as they hurried away from the dais and into the Sinclair mansion.

“Put your eyes back in your head, Bro. She’s nothing but trouble,” Jon warned in low tones.

Owen bit back the retort that if anyone knew about trouble, it was his brother. Jonathan had always marched to a different drummer and had set out on his own as a teenager to explore what he wanted out of life. Now a successful entrepreneur, he had captured the media’s attention with his innovative designs and daring adventures. That left Owen to shoulder most of the burden of the family’s real estate business, as well as deal with his father’s anger over Jonathan’s latest newsworthy escapade.

He envied his brother’s carefree spirit and determination, especially as Maggie Sinclair marched back onto the patio with her friends, an angry bride, and an obviously inebriated groom. Both the bride and groom looked far from happy as they approached the elaborate multi-tiered wedding cake that had been wheeled out to the middle of the makeshift dance floor.

He worried the bride might plunge the long knife she held into her new husband, but luckily for the newlyweds, Maggie directed the blade toward the cake.

Jon playfully elbowed him. “Seriously, Owen. She’s not for you. Father declared the Sinclairs off-limits ages ago. He would have a stroke if he thought the two of you were involved.”

Involved with Maggie Sinclair, Owen thought and sighed with regret.

In a way, he’d been involved with her forever. He’d like to chalk it all up to a sloppy, hurried, and stolen kiss at eighteen and the allure of forbidden fruit. But since that kiss, he’d watched her mature into a smart, beautiful woman. One who was willing to work hard for the town and business she cared about as well as friends and family. With every encounter, he’d grown more intrigued with the person Maggie had become.

But his father had come down hard on them about mingling with the Sinclairs right after Maggie’s mother’s death. For years, they’d been unable to come to their Sea Kiss home, and even when they’d returned, they’d done so without their father, who refused to be so close to the family he thought had wronged him.

Not that Owen expected that Jon would kowtow to such rules, since his brother was the kind of man who didn’t hesitate to take what he wanted.

He arched a brow and met his brother’s blue-eyed gaze, which glittered with a mix of undisguised challenge and amusement. “Do you think you’re the only one entitled to a little adventure in your life?” he said.

Jon chuckled. “My kind of adventure is way safer than what you may be considering.”

“Why’s that, Li’l Bro?” he asked, appreciating the sight of Maggie in a dusty-rose gown that hugged dangerous curves. Her chestnut-brown hair fell to her shoulders in soft waves and framed ice-blue eyes and a sassy, sexy face that snared his attention every time he saw her.

Jonathan took a last sip of his champagne and barely stifled another laugh. With a shake of his head, he replied, “Because all I risk is an occasional broken bone, but that…”  He jerked his head in Maggie’s direction as she stepped back beside Connie and Emma.  “That will break your heart.”

Behind the Scenes Tidbits for the At the Shore Series:

 

Purchase Links (click any of them):

Amazon Kindle,   Amazon Paperback,  B&N,  iBooks,  Kobo: Coming Soon!

Caridad Bio:

 Caridad Pineiro is a transplanted Long Island girl who has fallen in love with pork roll and the Jersey Shore, but still can’t get the hang of tomato pies. When Caridad isn’t taking long strolls along the boardwalk to maintain her sanity and burn off that pork roll, she’s also a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author with over a million books sold worldwide. Caridad is passionate about writing and helping others explore and develop their skills as writers. She is a founding member of the Liberty States Fiction Writers and has presented workshops at the RT Book Club Convention, Romance Writers of America National Conference as well as various writing organizations throughout the country. You can connect with Caridad at www.caridad.com. You can also find Caridad on:

Twitter at https://twitter.com/caridadpineiro
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Caridad.Author
Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/caridadpineiro/
Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/Caridad_Pineiro

Want to receive Caridad’s newsletter with exclusive content just for subscribers and special giveaways? Just visit http://bit.ly/2cbxlYw to sign up. Caridad values your privacy and will not share your e-mail or personal information.

Liquid Friday with Eden Freed

Liquid Friday with Author Norah Bennett

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This week we are featuring author Norah Bennett and her book Everything I’ve Dreamed Of.

But before we embrace this wonderful romance novel let’s find out what drink does Norah recommend for our readers.:

“So the drink I picked is called the Brandy Alexander. My main character bakes a lot, and what’s better than an alcoholic drink that tastes like chocolate to go with all the baked goods?! Plus brandy is always a good relaxing drink.”

INGREDIENTS

  • Ice
  • 1 1/2 ounces Cognac
  • 1 ounce white crème de cacao
  • 1 ounce heavy cream
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

INSTRUCTIONS

 

Fill a shaker halfway with ice cubes. Pour in the brandy, creme de brandy-alexandercacao, and the half-and-half. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Sprinkle the grated nutmeg over the top. Tip: grind a fresh, whole nutmeg over the top of the drink and it’ll have more flavor than ground nutmeg from a jar.

So lets kick back and relax with this scrumptious cocktail in hand and finally check out Everything I’ve Dreamed Of:

Blurb:

Kate Willowbrook dreams of a life filled with beauty –– a man who loves her, friends, and a home. At eighteen, Kate’s dreams are replaced by nightmares when she witnesses a crime. Kate runs, everrything-ive-dreamed-of-evernightpublishing-dec2016-finalimagenever settling down or trusting anyone. Ten years later Kate discovers the small town of Lakes Crossing and Noah Reed.

When Noah’s wife is killed in an accident, he buries himself in work and family obligations, believing he will never find love again until he meets Kate. The more he learns about her, the more he is drawn to her and his protective instincts kick into overdrive.

Noah is everything Kate has ever dreamed of, but his take-charge attitude is scaring up old demons she fought hard to bury. If they can’t find a way to strike a balance that satisfies both their deepest needs, they could lose their second chance at love.

Excerpt

Kate pierced him with her green eyes. “I’m certain there’s no shortage of women who would be happy to go out with you. Why me?”

Noah’s cocky grin faded into a soft smile that stole her breath. His eyes darkened as he focused on her. She could feel the heat creeping up her cheeks again, and she couldn’t believe she asked him that question. She didn’t even know why she did, except that she wanted to hear his answer. If she let herself fall for this beautiful man, with a killer smile and the softest brown eyes in the world, she’d fall hard everrything-ive-dreamed-of-evernightpublishing-dec2016-vistaprint-mugs_panoramic-wraparoundand fast. If she were just a toy to him, one that he got bored of and discarded after a while, she’d be devastated. She had lost so much already and survived, but Kate wasn’t sure she could survive his games. If she allowed herself to hope and dream of a life with Noah but then lost it all, she’d crumble, and no amount of superglue would put her back together.

Kate waited for his answer, her eyes locked with his and he didn’t let her down.

“Yes, I won’t deny that I’ve dated other women and there are those who wouldn’t turn me down for a date, but they’re not you.”

Noah reached for her hand, and she let him feel the tremble that ran through her as he engulfed her small hand in his. He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers, never taking his gaze off her.

“You say you’re not special to anyone, but that’s not true. I see

dandelion on a blue background

something special, someone special. I know we don’t know each other very well, but if you give us a chance to change that, together, we may be something special. We won’t know unless we try.”

Kate’s breath hitched, and her heart squeezed. Jesus, the man had a way with words. How did he know what she needed to hear? Now she understood what Roberta Flack meant when she sang, Killing me Softly. He was clawing at the door to her heart, and she didn’t think she was strong enough to resist him, even knowing that she may get shredded if she let him in.

Kate dropped her gaze again as they began to fill. Her breathing was ragged, and her heart broke its confines and was on the run. Whether it wanted to be caught by Noah or not, Kate wasn’t certain.

Special. 

Kate had waited thirty-one years to hear someone call her special. She struggled to rein in her emotions and push back the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks. She wanted to go out with Noah so badly it hurt. She wanted to get to know him and to be a part of eido-touchhis world, but she was terrified. Good visited her very few times in her life. The instant it arrived, she began preparing for its departure. Good was a temporary visitor and a fickle one at that.

“Come on, Kate. I can sense you’re afraid. I swear I’m a nice guy. I’ll do my damnedest not to disappoint or hurt you. Take a chance. Take a chance on me.”

Kate heard the vulnerability in Noah’s voice. She explored his handsome face, a face she was sure she would never tire of admiring. All traces of his earlier cockiness vanished. Instead, it was replaced by a rawness, an earnestness, a tenderness she’d never seen before. That was the look Kate would remember for a lifetime. Years from now, she would say that was the exact moment she knew, if Noah Reed asked her, she would be his for a lifetime.

Kate let out a slow breath and with a soft smile, she whispered, “Okay, Noah Reed. I’ll take a chance … a chance on you. I’ll go out with you.”

About the Author



Norah lives a double life. By day she is a suit-wearing, prim and image1-jpgproper, professor, administrator, researcher, and lecturer. By night she is a PJ wearing dreamer and writer of books that make people sigh, smile, cry, laugh, fall in love and believe in second chances.

Norah lives in Andover, New Jersey with her husband of thirty years, a cranky geriatric maltipoo, and an obnoxious cockatoo who runs the house and terrifies all its inhabitants.

Norah discovered the joy and escapism that comes from reading at the age of twelve and swears books saved her life and her sanity. Through reading, she has travelled the globe and learned all kinds of equally useful and useless skills such as the proper way to eat a pomegranate, carve a watermelon, or bathe an elephant. These are skills she has passed down to her two daughters who are incredibly supportive, but often wish she had a wider scope of hobbies.

Norah has a long publishing history in academia, but she started writing fiction recently. In July 2016 she published her first work of fiction, R.I.L.Y. Forever with Evernight Publishing and in January 2017 her second book, Everything I’ve Dreamed Of, was also published by Evernight Publishing. Currently, she is working on her third novel, Six Months. Digital and print copies of her books can be purchased at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/R-I-L-Y-Forever-Norah-Bennett-ebook/dp/B01IFH66CK/

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Liquid Friday with Eden Freed

Liquid Friday with Author Kimberly Dean

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This week we are featuring author, poet and songwriter Kimberly N. Dean and her romance novel Guilty Condolence (Sometimes You Have To Fall)

But before we indulge in her debut of a Military romance series, let us find out what does Kimberly suggest for a cocktail tonight.

I am normally a Corona Light girl, but this time of the year, I love Peppermint Mocha Mudslides!  The candy cane garnish is a necessity though.  I am greedy like that.  During the holidays, I covet everything peppermint!

Ingredients

  • 1 oz. Vanilla Vodka
  • 1/2 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
  • 1/2 oz. Coffee Liquor
  • 1 oz. Chocolate Syrup
  • 2 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Whipped Cream & Crushed Candy Cane for Topping

(Hint: 1/2 oz. = 1 tbsp.)

Instructions Combine vodka, peppermint schnapps, coffee liquor, mudslide-2chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream in a blender. (If using a tablespoon measure to measure the alcohols and chocolate syrup, put the syrup in last – it’ll come out more easily if the tablespoon has some alcohol in it.) Blend until smooth. Pour into the glass of your choosing and top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane. Enjoy Immediately!

 

GUILTY CONDOLENCE is my first endeavor outside of my usual genres of poetry and songwriting.  It was a tad outside of my comfort zone, but these characters haunted me for a couple of years.  They pretty much demanded that I write their stories. My current works guiltyin progress include an autobiography of sorts. It’s also a little out of my comfort zone. It’s titled Through A Mothers Eyes. It’s actually my journal from 2009/2010, and it chronicles my oldest sons battle with testicular cancer and his path to the MLB Draft in 2010. Also, in the works are Dark Acceptance Volume Two, Untimely Arrival (novella), and Flight Of Regret Volume Three, all from the Sometimes You Have To Fall series.

Blurb:
Sarie Elizabeth Anna

Sarie Anna has it all.  Despite being raised by over-protective brothers, Sarie moves to Nashville and becomes the lead singer for the number one country rock band Carolina Fierce.  But Sarie gives it all up to move back home to Norfolk Virginia to support the love of her life, Jasen Riggins.

Jasen Scott Riggins

Jasen Riggins’ life is not as it seems.  Co-Owner of Anserve Inc., Jasen and the men of Anserve are civilian contractors to the United States Government.  They handle any mission that the Government doesn’t want to acknowledge.  Totally expendable, Black Ops. When a mission goes south, will Jasen and Sarie be able to overcome the tragedy?  Or will Jasen be lost forever in the downward spiral of a Guilty Condolence?
Here are three of snippets from GUILTY CONDOLENCE.

Man, I know what you’re thinking.  I know that you have every reason not to believe that I can take care of her.  I was there that day too, remember?  This is something that I live with every hour of every day.  Fuck, I am getting your message loud and clear.  Truth is, I have mad feels for Sarie.  Feelings like I have never known before.  Hell, man, it might just kill me to be with her every day, to see her with someone else, but I don’t trust anyone else to take care of her.”

“What is this, Jasen?”  I opened it ever so slowly, afraid of what I would find inside.     “It’s your boarding pass for the flight you are guilty2taking to Nashville in the morning.  I know the guys are recording at the Bird, and you are going to join them.  Lay tracks, watch, produce, do whatever the hell you want.  Light a fire under Holland’s ass to get herself in gear and get moved here.  I just want you to go and keep yourself busy for a few days.”     I stare at the boarding pass and realize the return date to Norfolk.  “Jase, this is for five days.”     “Yes, it is.  I figure with no complications we should be back around the same time.  I want you to go and do your thing, baby.  Singing is your mark on this ugly world we are living in.  When you sing everything seems brighter somehow, more alive, pure, and beautiful.  There is no war, no wrong, no evil.  There is just you, touching every heart and soul with your voice, your words, your beauty.  The world needs a song, and the world needs you to sing it.”

I turned my attention back to the Atlantic.  The waves were pounding the beach in a fierce tempo that matched my anger crash for crash.  Yes, today, I was in good company right here.  Somehow though, the ocean was showing me just how ferocious she could be and my anger subsided into a mere aggravated state.  Oh yes, the Atlantic was much bigger than me, and her brutality was much more than I could ever be.  Yes, she eased my aching heart and my shattered soul.
About the Author,

Kimberly Dean lives with her husband and three sons in Conyers GA.  Guilty Condolence is her first endeavor in the contemporary kimberlyromance genre.  She is currently working on Dark Acceptance which is volume II in the Sometimes You Have To Fall Series and Through A Mother’s Eye’s which is an account of her thoughts and feelings of her son’s cancer and his path to the MLB draft.     Kimberly is the epitome of a die-hard baseball Mom and professes that her favorite team is the New York Yankees.  Her favorite players are Tyler Austin and the Molina brothers Bengie, Jose, and Yadier.  When she’s not at a game or watching a game, she spends her time with her family or reading.

Liquid Friday with Eden Freed, My Book

Liquid Friday with Author Eden Freed

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As the Holiday season approaches, let’s get into the spirit of giving and some romantic holiday cheer with Eden Freed’s Violet Blooms (now in paperback)

But before we check out Violet Blooms we’ll find out what Eden recommends for this Friday night.

“My favorite memories of the holidays always include two of my faves, cookies and books.  The smell of gingerbread brings back memories of curling up on the couch with a book, anxiously awaiting the arrival of guests.  With that in mind, this Gingerbread Cookie Cocktail really gets me in the holiday spirit or spirits, as the case may be.  Go ahead and give it a try.

Gingerbread Syrup

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1-inch piece gingerroot, peeled and sliced
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon cloves

Gingerbread Cookie Cocktail

  • Orange wedge
  • Brown sugar
  • 1 oz Gingerbread Simple Syrup (2 tablespoons)
  • 1 oz vanilla vodka (2 tablespoons)
  • 1 oz half-and-half (2 tablespoons)
  • 1/2 oz coffee liqueur (1 tablespoon)

Directions

1  Gingerbread Syrup:  mix sugar, water, molasses, gingerroot, gingerbreadcocktailcinnamon sticks and cloves in 1-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat; set aside 1 hour to cool. Strain syrup into glass jar; discard spices. Cover jar, and refrigerate until needed. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

2  Cocktail: moisten rim of chilled martini glass with orange wedge. Sprinkle brown sugar onto small plate, and dip moistened rim into the sugar to coat lightly. Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add 1 ounce of the gingerbread simple syrup, the vodka, half-and-half and coffee liqueur; cover and shake.  Strain into martini glass.

So lets kick back and relax with this scrumptious cocktail in hand and finally check out Violet Blooms:

Blurb:

A young aspiring actress, majoring in Theater Arts in her last semester of school, must overcome mediocrity and learn to take violetdirection in time to be discovered by a talent scout during her final performance. Her new acting coach decides to teach her direction through a non-conventional method: introduction to BDSM. Will Violet have what it takes to learn the art of role playing or will she end up on the “casting couch?”

 

 

Excerpt:

“Frankly, you frustrate me Violet. I could teach you,” he said and I felt Chase hand grip my wrist and pull it towards him. Something in his face changed from excitement to concern and he let go of me and straightened out his shirt. He sat back in his seat and blew out through pursed lips before he said, “There are rules.”

…….

Without even hiking my jeans and underwear back up, I sat bare Perfect Gift!assed on the cool leather couch and awaited my punishment. My lower lip was trembling with nervous anticipation. I could feel my breaths coming in short gasps keeping time with Blythe’s quick footsteps as he returned

………

I loved each sub for who they were, but I wasn’t in love with them. Detaching myself from my subs a little made me a better master. I was more objective and able to exact obedience from them. One look at Violet pushed all of my reservation aside. I wanted to possess her completely and utterly.

…… Love isn’t easy. It takes courage. There are days when you just want to walk away and call it quits because you feel as raw inside as you do outside, but you don’t go because it would hurt even more,” she said and sighed. I felt the same way. Georgette looked at me for a moment and asked, “Did you want me to make a collar for her?”

 

leather 2To learn more About Eden Rreed click here.