A Date for the Hunt

Title: A Date for the Hunt

Series: The Dating Series

Authors: Heidi McLaughlin & LP Dover

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 30, 2020

Allison Wood is single and not looking to mingle. Unfortunately, her sister, Erin, doesn’t take no for an answer. As the producer of a new reality TV show, that turns a traditional Easter egg hunt into a dating show, Erin believes her sister would be a perfect contestant and secures her a spot. Instead of cozying up at home and biting the ears off a chocolate bunny, Allison finds herself in Aruba hiding an egg while America watches. She could have been paired up with a slew of other guys. But who does fate match her with? Sexy fireman Hudson Bryant, who happens to be the same guy that made Allison’s high school years miserable. Go on a dating show, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. When viewers learn of their history, the pair instantly become a fan favorite. Everyone is eager to see how their story will unfold. For the good of the show, Allison agrees to play nice with the former jock... for now. Can Hudson make amends for the past and crack through Allison’s hard candy shell to her cream-filled center? Or will her time with him leave a bitter, black jelly bean taste in Allison’s mouth?

Time is running out. There’s a rock and cactus garden just at the edge of the courtyard with Wanglo flowers intermingled throughout. Their bright yellow petals are even shining in the waning sun. All the other women stayed away from the garden. I guess for fear of getting pricked. I look at Makayla and smile. She shakes her head and laughs. “Seriously? You’re going to make some poor guy reach in with all those thorns?” “Hey,” I say with a shrug, “someone has to do it. I’m curious to see which guy will go for it.” I walk over to the rock garden and carefully place my egg as far in between the cactus as I can get. The viewers on TV are either going to love or hate me for that. Honestly, I think it’s awesome. I look over at my sister and she gives me the thumbs up. Maybe it’ll work to my advantage and none of the guys will be brave enough to reach for it.  The time has come for us to leave the courtyard and wait in the meeting room while the men are introduced and find our eggs. This is our chance to see them for the first time. There will be TV monitors in the room for us to watch them. Makayla grips onto my arm as we walk back into the resort. “I am so nervous,” she says, shivering. So am I. Once in the meeting room, we sit down in front of the monitors. All of the people who were in the room before are no longer around. It’s just us and a couple of people I recognize from my sister’s work. There’s a table in the corner with drinks and snacks. I’m tempted to grab me something, but I jump when one of the girls squeals so loud it makes my ears hurt. “Oh my God, there they are!” Makayla squeezes my arm. “This is it.” The men line up on the stage just like we did. My nerves have me nauseous and the last thing I need is to throw up when I’m introduced to my bachelor. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slow and stand. Makayla’s eyes go wide. “What are you doing? Are you not going to watch?” I hold up a hand. “I’ll be right back. I need a ginger ale and some crackers.” And some peace and quiet. The other women act as if they’ve never seen men before. It’s not like they’re going to meet their soulmates. The chances of that are slim to none. Slowly, I drink the ginger ale and let it settle in my stomach along with the peanut butter crackers. I was too nervous to eat earlier and now it’s biting me in the ass. When I make it back to Makayla, all the men have been introduced. “You missed it,” she says, shaking her head. “Now you’re not going to know who everyone is.” I laugh. “I’m sure they’re all the same anyway.” She shakes her head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no. I’m not going to lie, there’s one guy I hope finds my egg.” Sitting down beside her, I focus on the screen. The guys are in the courtyard with the cameras following them around. A couple of them have already found eggs and are back on the stage. Most of the guys don’t even pay attention to the rock and cactus garden. They walk by it without a single notice. I smile and sit back in my chair. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s going to find mine. Maybe that means I’ll be spending this vacation alone.” And just as I say it, one of the cameras follows a guy who’s headed straight toward the rock garden. I can’t see what the guy looks like, but then he faces the camera and the breath whooshes out of my lungs. “Oh. My. God.” Makayla gasps. “What?” I can’t take my focus off the guy on the TV, the one about to find my egg. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, but there’s no mistaking that grin of his and those stark gray eyes. Makayla squeezes my arm. “Allie, what’s wrong? Do you know him?” With a heavy sigh, I look at him and huff. “Yep. I know him very well.” “And?” she prods, nudging me with her elbow. “And he’s an ass,” I reply, hating my life. “Just my damn luck.”

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.

Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.

In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.

When writing isn’t occupying her time, you can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughters’ basketball games.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything’s sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it’s with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that’s why she’s seriously addicted to chocolate.

Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children’s book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she’s also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you’ll never see her without a smile on her face.

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Beyond the Book: When My Ship Comes In

If, suddenly, after all your years of writing, your “ship” finally came in and your titles were receiving wide acclaim (and sales… and INCOME), what would you like to do with that “positioning” to help aspiring writers? Any particular age of writers? Any particular genre?

Wow, I hope that really happens one day! Anyway I can think of several things I’d like to do.

First, I’d be available for workshops. I think that as you work on your craft you get better at it so I’d be glad to share what I’ve learned with aspiring writers. Most new writers have no idea how the publishing world really works. When I had my first book published they sent me advance reader copies that I had no idea what to do with. It would have been nice to have someone sit me down and tell me a few basics.

Second, I’d enjoy having interaction with young writers, maybe college age. I’d love to be someone’s inspiration, and if your ship really came in you’d have an inspiring story of hard work and dreams to share.

Third, writer’s retreats would be nice. It’s hard to find time to write. I used to be amazed by the number of books other authors could churn out. How did they find the time? I was a high school teacher and had a husband and children to take care of. A weekend in a nice place with lots of writing time would have been so welcome.

What about you? If you're an aspiring writer what do you need?

Saturday Sample and Weekend Writing Warriors: Never Trust a Pretty Wolf

Welcome to Saturday Sample and Weekend Writing Warriors. Today we'll continue to share excerpts from Never Trust a Pretty Wolf. On Sunday when you finish here, do go to http://www.wewriwa.blogspot.com for more excerpts from a bunch of great authors.

Blurb:

Liesel Wolf has a secret, a dangerous secret she’ll go to any lengths to conceal. When she’s paired in a charity game with sexy marshal Andy Bryce, a man with secrets of his own, her carefully constructed world comes crashing down, and Liesel’s on a collision course with her past.

Buy link:  https://amzn.to/2KY04Rj

Excerpt: 

Chapter One

Last Week

This week: Andy and Liesel find Melton's first communication. Liesel speaks first.

Risk

Title: RISK

Series: Brothers on Ink and Steel

Author: Allie Juliette Mousseau

Genre: Enemies to Lovers/2nd Chance Romance

Release Date: June 23, 2020 Cover Design: Allusion Graphics

USA Today Bestselling Author Allie Juliette Mousseau delivers a sexy, quick-witted and sassy enemies-to-lovers second-chance romance featuring one smoldering alpha attorney; a feisty, determined social worker; and three young orphans in trouble…  Saint Sophia the Mother of Orphans, help us!

Connor Callahan, once a North House teen who shed his own blood to become a Brother of Ink and Steel, is now a powerful attorney and the Twin Cities’ most eligible bachelor. He challenges stereotypes and melts panties with his rugged good-looks, colorful tattoos, and brazen piercings. When he’s handed the case of a lifetime with the promise of partnership in the firm he’s dedicated his career to, he knows his destiny is close. 

Then he gets a glimpse of the familiar Saint Sophia pendant his opposing council wears, and he finds himself wondering… could it really be her, the girl he met as a teenager? He never thought he’d see the blond whirlwind again after she blew in and out of his life, but she was wholly unforgettable. Like a tattoo over his heart. If only he could get close enough to be sure it’s really her… but she’s never going to let that happen.

Elle Hayes despises the formidable Mr. Callahan and everything he stands for. Though he puts on an immensely charming act—and is hotter than the desert sun—she knows he’s a fake. There’s no way she’s going to let Callahan interfere with her objective: finding a home for the vulnerable orphans his client has torn apart. 

Then an unexpected set-up has Connor and Elle playing house together for a week…

As the tension—and heat—revs up between them, they discover that they each have a whole lot more to lose than just a court case. Their hearts are on the line—and so much more.

But to experience the greatest things in life, we have to take the greatest risks. 

RISK Brother of Ink and Steel (Book 4) is a standalone novel. There’s no need to read the earlier titles beforehand, but this book features charming cameos by title characters from the Brothers of Ink and Steel and True North Series. You’ll want to go back and read them all.

I’ve been watching my favorite distraction ever since I first discovered him working with the kids in the ring—teaching them how to box and better their mixed martial arts abilities—shortly after I started working at The Core. He’s here with them three days a week like clockwork. I’ve also seen him sparring with some of the other guys who seem to be regulars here too. You can tell they’re all friends by the way they hang out, laugh and mess with each other. They’re all gorgeous, but I’m drawn to my mystery… errr… distraction.His body is cut and sculpted with lean long muscles, while every inch of his exposed skin is etched with ink that ripples and moves with him like he’s an exotic tiger. His movements make the tattoo artist’s canvas come alive. The tats adorn every line and ridge, precisely cut against the muscle. I want to get closer! I want to touch them! I want to touch him.My favorite tattoo is the black scrawling letters over his left ribcage that read, “I AM MY BROTHERS’ KEEPER.” What a beautiful mantra to live by. I wonder if it’s his religion.Good God, he’s the definition of sex appeal. Any kind of day I’m having, everything starts looking up when I get a chance to watch him move.I’ve actually never seen his face. His nose and cheekbones are always hidden behind a padded, grilled face guard. So I’ve just had to imagine the face that goes with that amazing body. He looks like an experienced fighter. His skin is stretched drum tight over taut muscles. Every inch of him is iron. Christ, he’s hard all over.I shake my head to dissipate the musing of how hard that body could get under his shorts. Back to G-rated fantasies! There are kids around, I scold myself. At least… PG-13.He shows the kid how to move, what muscles to put behind the punch. His side ripples in waves as he arches and stretches his ribs and shoulders, twisting to the side. My eyes trail his movements, mesmerized. It’s been so long since I’ve felt desire. I’ve wanted to get close enough to see into his eyes, but I haven’t had the guts. He’d totally know I was checking him out if I did. So, I keep my distance.The thin boy sends a right hook against the man’s face—the puffy glove connecting to his equally padded face mask. I can’t help but laugh when he pretends the hit is hard enough to knock him off balance, as he stumbles over his feet dramatically, then acts as if he’s shaking it off. The young boy jumps up and down and raises his arms in triumph. This guy could be the man of my dreams.

USA Today Bestselling Author Allie Juliette writes sexy, emotionally charged New Adult Romance and can usually be found daydreaming and writing about heroic, alpha males; and strong willed, intelligent women, and plotting ways to make them fall in love!  Fall in love again! Read all of Allie Juliette’s books.

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