Monday, November 30, 2020

Parallax


 Parallax

by Dixie Jackson

 

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GENRE: Romance Suspense

 

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BLURB:

 

Six years later, Trent Wayland still isn’t over his spring fling. Probably because he was convinced when he married Captain Leila O’Neil, their fling would go on a lifetime. Leila is his soul mate and Trent knows it. He might not admit it on a regular basis, but that doesn’t negate the raw emotion she draws out of him each and every time he thinks about her. Forget the fact his heart splits in two all over again when he’s afforded the luxury of hearing her voice. That doesn’t happen often, however. Leila only tosses a handful of words his way when she initiates the weekly video calls he’s allowed with the other love of his life, their daughter Lucy.

 

Once upon a time, Leila O’Neil wanted to be a Marine when she grew up. She worked hard, she landed a seat at the Academy, and she was the head of her class. Then her dream was destroyed and she traded it in for a new one at the nearest Coterie portal. She wears so many faces and so many hats, at some point she lost track of her soul. That didn’t really bother her until Trent Wayland came along and almost peeled her dressing room curtain back nearly exposing her innermost person. The real person, the real Leila, who once upon a time wanted to be a Marine when she grew up.

 

Leila misses the real person, and realizes it at the worst possible moment. With her daughter’s life on the line and Trent on the scene of the crime, Leila figures out she’s been using her hurt and anger to fuel all the wrong goals. In a daring move, she puts it all on the line, hoping it’s enough to gain her freedom from her handlers and her husband’s forgiveness.

 

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EXCERPT:

 

“Can this wait?” she asked, clearing her throat and speaking in a much lower, calmer voice than she felt like using on him at the moment. “I need to compartmentalize everything that’s coming at me all at once so I can process it in some sort of orderly fashion and manage to not get us killed before we get the chance to talk about what may or may not be going on between us.”

 

“Do you have a label for that box?” Trent drilled, glaring at her.

 

“Which one?” She tapped her fingernails against the table and pursed her lips, trying to stay the wellspring of anger bubbling up at his completely inappropriate timing. And if he only knew. Leila had so many boxes she neatly placed things in it’d be easy to completely lose track of the exact number and location inside her head of all them.

 

“The one you stuff us in every time things reach a point you might actually have to say it.” When his nostrils flared, Leila could no longer hold back the sarcastic cynic she could be so easily.

 

“Say what?” She quirked one side of her mouth up and all but batted her lashes, daring him to continue down this path.

 

“You know very well what,” Trent roared, slamming a fist against the table causing the silverware still setting on the edges of plates on the other end of it to rattle and tea to spill out over the top of her unfinished cup, which was most likely cold and bitter by now.

 

“You’ve not said it in a long while, either, you know.” Leila pulled her now drying hair behind her ears and gnawed on the inside of her lip. Trent didn’t answer, instead just sat back down and grabbed his phone. “I have my reasons but they’re not the same as yours, you coward. You’re afraid.”



A Word With the Author


Did you always want to be an author?

 

I’m not entirely sure I always had aspirations of being published, but I certainly have always had the writing/story telling bug. I can remember making up stories before I could even spell. I think when I crossed over from storyteller to wanting to be a bona fide author was around sixth grade when my creative writing instructor stroked my writer’s ego and told me he believed I’d someday be published. Although that took years to accomplish, I always had something I was working on. Plenty of it made it into dumpsters before I submitted eleven years ago, however.


Tell us about the publication of your first book.

 

My first book was accepted for publication back in spring of 2010. In fact, I got the email on my birthday. I was on the cusp of forty when I submitted and that was what drove me to submit to begin with. I realized I was getting older and my dreams weren’t quite fulfilled. Getting that first acceptance email was absolutely thrilling! 

 


Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

 

Oh my. There are SO many. Janie Crouch, Piper J Drake, Maya Banks, and Sheryl Nantus to name a few.

 


What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

 

I love everything about being an author. I love that I get to create worlds where anything is possible and true love never fails. I love that I get to bring a smile to someone’s face with my words. I love the interaction with fans. I don’t think there’s anything really negative about this life, so I really can’t point to the worst thing about it. I don’t even mind reviews, good or bad. I feel there’s something to be learned from each and every one of them.


5.What are you working on now?

 

I’m continuing to work on the S3 series. I have Recoil, book two, off with my editor and I’m about three-quarters of the way finished with book three, Residue. Books four through six are outlined and a few key scenes sketched out in my notebook.

 

Thank you so much, Elaine, for hosting me today. It’s been a pleasure being here!


 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Born and raised in the heart of the Ozarks, Dixie Jackson learned a love of the written word at a young age. She remembers spinning tales before she could even write them down, but it was the encouragement of her sixth-grade creative writing teacher which would plant the idea that just never seemed to go away. She wanted to someday see her works in print.

 

Dixie makes her home in the Great Smoky Mountains with her retired Marine husband, two rescue dogs, and her beloved chickens. When she’s not writing, you can find her digging in the dirt and nurturing her plants while plotting the next step in one story line or another. She also loves experimenting in her kitchen, embroidering, quilting, crocheting, tracing her family’s twisted tree, and of course reading.

 

You can find Dixie at:

Blog: https://www.dixiejackson.net

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sweetteamafia/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19160992

Instagram: @dixiejwriter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dixiejacksonauthor/

Amazon: amazon.com/author/dixiejackson

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dixie-jackson

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

 

Dixie Jackson will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 


 


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Saturday, November 28, 2020

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.



Excerpt: 
Chapter One

Last Week

Liesel pushed her way into the little cave. “We don’t have a flashlight. Do you think we can find the coordinates in the dark?”

“No, I guess we’ll have to come back with a...” he paused then said, “wait! I see something written on the wall.”

Liesel breathed a sigh of relief. The sooner they got out of this cave the better. In the faint light coming through the crack, she saw the coordinates written on the far wall. “Yeah, there they are. Melton’s pretty tricky, isn’t he?” She memorized the coordinates and shoved Andy toward the exit.


This week: I've picked up where we left off last week.  


Friday, November 27, 2020

Wild Forces

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Title: Wild Forces
Series: O-Town Series
Author: Karen Renee
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 17, 2020




“... this story has twists and love which all leads to an all-consuming read.” - Wendy’s Book Blog

“This story is proof that Karen is able to come up with new and jaw-dropping ways to torment her characters and her readers. I can’t wait to see what comes from her mind next because she’s sure to provide a ride that I won’t want to miss.” - Jenn the Readaholic


Orlando DJ, Gabe Sullivan spins a woman up only to revolve right out the door. His tune changes when his only female friend, Cassie, pretends to be more than friends. Sparks fly from their fake kiss, and Gabe insists on exploring things further with Cassie.

Despite the risks, Cassandra Daughtry falls deeply and quickly for Gabe. As their love grows, Cassie relinquishes her heart to him. He’s turned over a new leaf.

Except, a business deal enters the picture and Cassie pleads for Gabe to listen to her. His fiery temper and misconceptions about women with money creates an enormous rift. When Cassie finds Gabe to work it out, she discovers he’s kept a secret from her. He claims he was protecting her, but his betrayal cuts too deep.

Can their love overcome so many outside forces of confusion and betrayal?
 


It wasn’t until I felt the warmth inside me that I realized Gabe and I had been so carried away he hadn’t put on a condom.

“Oh, no,” I sighed.

He lifted his head, and his warm blue eyes narrowed. “That should be ‘oh, yeah,’ honey.”

“You didn’t use a condom… and I’m not on the pill.”

His relaxed smile dimmed and his eyes focused on a spot behind me. 

I didn’t take that as a good sign. “I guess I’ll have to hurry to the drug store. See about getting a morning-after pill or something, but I don’t know if I have to see the doctor first for that.”

His eyes met mine. Then, he thrust a couple more times into me.

“Gabe! What are you doing? As athletic as you are, your sperm are probably Olympic-style swimmers. Are you trying to get me pregnant? I can’t bring an illegitimate child into the world!”

He bit his lower lip before his head tilted back and he laughed. I swatted at his chest, because nothing about this was the least bit funny.

When he captured my wrist in his hand, I saw the serious look in his eyes. “How fuckin’ awesome would it be if I got married before Brock or Vamp? I get your ass pregnant, I’ll marry you. I’m that fuckin’ serious about you. About us, sweetheart. Not only can I not imagine life without you in it, I don’t fuckin’ want to contemplate it. So, hopefully, this drives it home,” he thrust again on the words drive and home. “I love you, Daughtry.”

My brows furrowed. “That all sounds fine and great, but did you come in here planning to go bare?”

He shook his head. “No, you make me crazy horny, I couldn’t stop myself. But hear me when I say this: if you’re pregnant after this, it is not the end of the world. It’s the beginning, and a damned good one if you ask me.”

“Marriage?” I blurted.

He slowly pulled himself out of me, but put his hand on me. His earnest grin made my heart skip a beat. “Why the hell not? You got someone else you want to spend your time with at night? In the morning? Some other man know you’re crazy enough to love Mick Jagger the way you do? And do not get me started on your devotion to Tori Amos. I love all of that about you. And we already know you love me. So, yeah. Marriage.”

I put my hand on his wrist to move his hand. He wouldn’t budge.

“Marriage, then a baby, Sullivan. I’m a little old school that way, okay?”

His fingers pressed into me, and my eyes widened. “It’ll happen the way it’s supposed to happen.”

I shoved against his wrist again, and finally he let go. With no time to waste, I hopped off the counter and moved to the toilet.

“You’re cleaning up that mess on the counter, Gabe.”

“As long as you’re not going to the drugstore, Cassie.”







 





Karen Renee is the author of the Riot Motorcycle Club, Beta, and O-Town series of books. She once crunched Nielsen ratings data but these days she brings her imagination to life by writing books. She has wanted to be a writer since she was very young, but it's taken the last twenty plus years for her to amass enough courage and overall life experience to bring that dream to life. Some of those life experiences came from the wonderful world of advertising, banking, and local television media research. She is a proud wife and mother, and a Jacksonville native. When she's not at the soccer field or cooking, you can find her at her local library, the grocery store, in her car jamming out to some tunes, or hibernating while she writes and/or reads books.



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Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Spring's Knight

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Title: Spring's Knight
Series: Seasons of Love Book 1
Author: Joy Wild
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 18, 2020




I can't remember when I have ever read a book I loved so much. So beautifully written and such an amazing plot.” - Amazon Review


Paramedic Spring Williams lives for her job. With a devastating past, she throws herself into her work, avoiding any personal connections outside of her partner and best friend. When strange events begin to occur, it becomes clear she has a stalker trying to get her attention. Committed to handling it herself, Spring falls prey to escalated assaults, landing her in a deadly game of cat and mouse with nowhere to turn.

Steve Knight, a swing medic assigned as Spring’s new partner, can’t resist the pull he has to her from the minute they meet. With Spring’s commitment to avoiding a romantic connection, he has his work cut out for him in earning her trust. Accepting the challenge, he does everything he can to gain her trust and hopefully earn her affection. 

Spring’s past holds her back, can she finally move forward and open up to love? 

Steve’s harboring a secret that could put out any fire before it even starts. Will he be her knight in shining armor or just another part of her nightmare?






Joy Wild lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She is a former paramedic in Louisiana has always been an avid reader. After an accident ended her paramedic career, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing. She uses her past experiences to create exciting and romantic stories. Married with three children, Joy spends her days in accounting and her evenings writing stories she hopes will help readers escape from reality and get lost in the happy ever after.

Joy loves to connect with her readers, so be sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram!


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