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Ginger Ring

~ Small town romance, big time love.

Ginger Ring

Monthly Archives: April 2014

Welcome Ryan O’Leary/Happy to be Stuck with You

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Ginger Ring in Guests

≈ 1 Comment

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Happy to be Stuck with You by Ryan O’Leary

 Blurb

Love at first sight? Travis Ross didn’t believe in it until he laid his eyes on a mysterious brunette across the room at a party. From the very first word out of her mouth, Travis is smitten by this feisty little girl with the one letter name. Just back from Mexico, Travis’ mystery girl is full of surprises, some exquisite and some not so nice, but no matter what fate throws at them, Travis is determined to keep them together, determined to win her heart and make sure she’s happy to be stuck with him forever. Find what happened before J got her closet.

 

Excerpt

“I wanna hear the rest of that song you were playing earlier,” J said absentmindedly as she ran a fingertip over the edge of a row of cereal boxes. We’d wandered into a small market. I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of store we’d walked into, but it looked like the kind of place my dad would have come to buy a twenty dollar, organic peach he could brag about later. I wasn’t that familiar with this part of town, but the expensive suits that roamed the aisles with women who looked like the only bad habit they had was Louis Vuitton, made me think we’d walked into a yuppie supermarket. I took my phone out and pulled Huey back up. “You mean, you want to hear the rest of our song.” I couldn’t help myself. The idea that J and I had our own song, had me smiling from ear to ear and her face glowed radiant when she smiled back at me. She took my free hand in hers. “Can I hear it?” “Hear what?” She squeezed my hand and nibbled on her bottom lip. “Our song.” A blast of ice ran across my spine and I shook my arms out. I pulled J into me.” Say it again.” “What? Our song?” I collapsed to the ground. “Travis!” J shrieked and kneeled beside me. “Are you okay?” I kept my eyes closed and hit the play button on my phone. Huey was back. I sang the first few lines from the floor, eyes still closed. “You know what this song is, right?” “Huey something and the news?” J said from above me. I opened my eyes. “It’s our song.” I sat up on an elbow and pulled J awkwardly in for a kiss. She rocked on her feet and almost fell over. “Travis.” God, I loved the way my name sounded rolling off her lips. “Our song,” I said and bounded up. I cranked the volume as loud as I could and Huey echoed in the store. A nerdy kid wearing a blue smock appeared at the end of the aisle and leered at us. I held the phone up to him. “Know what this is, kid?” “No,” he responded. I put my arm around J. “It’s our song.” I motioned with a finger, back and forth at J and myself. “Okay,” the nerdy kid said. “It’s not your song,” I said. “It’s not his song.” I pointed to a guy on his phone. “It’s our song.” I motioned to J and myself again. Phone guy looked J up and down and then into my eyes. “Yeah. She’s with me, Pal. Back to your call you go.” Was I taunting them a bit? Maybe. Being obnoxious? Oh, for sure, but my head was swimming. I felt ten feet tall. Fuck that! I felt a hundred and ten feet tall with J on my arm, so maybe I was being a little cocky, but when you had a girl who made you feel the way J made me feel, you were allowed to be that way.
Amazon Buy Link http://www.amazon.com/Happy…/dp/B00HUB492M/ref=sr_1_1..

Facebook Author page
https://www.facebook.com/WriterRyanOLeary

Amazon Author page
http://www.amazon.com/Ryan…/e/B00BEJ2NUQ/ref=sr_tc_2_0…

Twitter   https://twitter.com/team_oleary

Ryan O'Leary

Rarely will you find Ryan O’Leary in a state of rest; if he’s not on the ice or kicking around a soccer ball, he’s plotting his next story or out on the town with friends. His fun and flirty nature makes it possible for him to write the kind of romance that makes the reader both smile and tingle.

 

Welcome Becky McGraw/ Borrowing Trouble

28 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by Ginger Ring in Guests

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Synopsis
 
Carrie Collins has been trying to hold it together for three years, since her husband Sean was killed in the line of duty during an undercover drug operation gone bad. If that and the mountain of bills she was left with weren’t bad enough, her son becomes mixed up with the wrong crowd at school. Carrie feels like a failure as a mother, and does the only thing she can think of to fix things, she goes back to her parent’s ranch.
 Her dead husband’s best friend, the man accused, but later exonerated of, Sean’s murder shows up at the ranch with his new wife and offers her a break from the kids and the craziness of her life. Carrie is reluctant to accept, but he won’t take no for an answer. She goes to the R & R Ranch, but doesn’t find relaxation there. What she finds is a tall, charismatic ex-rodeo cowboy who not only ties her emotions in more knots than his lasso, he wakes up her dormant libido.
 Carrie fights the attraction, because the last thing she needs is a man like Dylan Thomas in her life, a tumbleweed kind of guy who tells her in no uncertain terms he isn’t looking for a relationship. She knows her kids deserve better and so does she. Her kids aren’t there though, and the temporary fantasy he represents becomes too much to resist.
 Dylan Thomas wants nothing more than to return to competitive bull riding after an almost career-ending injury landed him at the R & R Ranch teaching rich greenhorns to ride bulls. A year and a half of catering to those wealthy snobs has him bored and restless, until a curvy brunette convinces him it might not be so bad to hang around for a little while longer.
 Carrie Collins takes hard to get to an olympic-class level though, and it takes everything in Dylan’s bag of tricks to get close to her. When things finally heat up between them, he finds out there are a couple of things she hasn’t told him about. Like the two kids she has who show up at the ranch, and the job she has accepted there.
 His temporary fling with the cute ranch guest suddenly gets a lot more complicated and permanent. Especially when former associates of her son turn up at the ranch demanding money she doesn’t have. Dylan knows then he’s borrowed a helluva lot of trouble he didn’t need in his life by getting involved with her, but when the opportunity to leave presents itself, how can he leave her in danger?
 
Excerpt
 
The throaty rumble of a powerful engine reached Carrie Collins inside the barn and her eyebrows knotted.   She laid the saddle blanket back on the shelf, and dusted her hands on her jeans as she walked to the door.  Shielding her eyes, she looked at the road to see who was paying them a visit.   Maybe it was one of her mother’s friends from church, she thought, but then a slick, black motorcycle emerged from the trees onto the gravel drive leading up to the house and she realized she was very wrong.  Neither rider wore a helmet, both wore bandanas instead.  One rider was in black leather and the other in white. 

Concern shot through her, and Carrie considered going back inside to get the shotgun her daddy kept in the office, just in case, but the kids and her daddy were in the house.  He could see her from there and she knew he must hear the loud engine too.  She walked out of the barn to stand under the tree and wait for them to make it to the barn. 

The bike stopped, and the driver put down the kick stand.  He leaned down to fiddle with something at the side of the bike and she noticed the pattern on his bandana said Groom of Doom interspersed with hearts over crossed bones.  Cute,  but definitely not bad ass, she thought, feeling a little better about her mysterious visitors.  A man wouldn’t wear a bandana like that if he was a bad guy, would he?

From the curves the white leather suit hugged, it was obvious his passenger was a woman.  She swung her long leg over the back of the bike and stood.  Carrie squinted and made out that the wording on her white bandana that said Bitchin’ Bride.  The man on the front of the bike looked back up, and his sunglasses were gone.  Recognition hit her between the eyes and Carrie gasped.  “Trace…”

His jaw tightened, accentuating the scar on his left cheek, which he had to have gotten in prison.  Trace Rooks was still handsome as sin, but he looked rougher, tougher and much harder than he had when she saw him last in court.  When they convicted him of killing her husband, Sean.  Heat shot up her throat and gathered as pressure behind her eyes.  Trace hadn’t killed Sean, she reminded herself, shoving the old bitterness she’d lived with for three years away.  Sean’s other best friend, Seth Copeland, had not only killed Sean, he had set Trace up for the crime. 

Seth was in jail now, and Trace was free.   But it was obvious from the look in his haunted eyes that Trace wasn’t free at all.  Not any freer than she was.
 
The woman with him glanced at Trace, before quickly walking over to Carrie to extend her hand.  “I’m Ronnie Win—“ she started, then a fleeting smile curved her red lips.  She glanced back at Trace again, then corrected, “Ronnie Rooks.”
 
“That’ll take some getting used to,” Trace said with a laugh as he got off the bike and walked over to drape an arm around Ronnie’s shoulders.  “Ronnie and I got married in Vegas.”

Married?  Trace Rooks?  The man her husband said was a world-class player who would probably never get married was married to none other than the Shark Lady.  The woman who had represented him during his trial, and recommended a plea deal that sent him to prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  At the time, Carrie thought the slick attorney was brilliant, that she would get him off scot free.  To Carrie, even the three year sentence the judge handed down was pretty damned close to getting him off scot free.  But Trace evidently thought otherwise, because on his way out of the courtroom he had threatened to strangle this woman.  And now they were married. Unbelievable. 

Her eyes locked with the woman beside Trace and Ronnie Rooks full red lips curved to spotlight her perfect white teeth.  Carrie ran her hand over her own hair, which she’d done nothing to except pull back in a haphazard ponytail that morning.  She hadn’t worn makeup since Sean died three years ago, so she knew she must look a mess in comparison to the striking woman. 
 
“Wow,” was all Carrie could push past her frozen vocal chords.

Trace hugged Ronnie to his side.  “The honeymoon is over and Ronnie has an election to win,” Trace informed with a surprising smile for the beautiful redhead. “But I wanted to stop by to check on you and the kids.  I’ve uh, been meaning to do that for a while.”

What Carrie wanted was to get Trace out of there.  His stopping by, or worrying about her at all was astonishing to her.  She was embarrassed at the nasty things she’d said to him at the courthouse as they led him off to jail.  Those words should have assured she would never see him again.  But here he was.  Typical Trace.  He never knew when to leave well enough alone.  Even though he’d been a player, he was a good man.  It was the reason he had been Sean’s best friend.  When someone needed help, Trace was always there.  He was the one who should be wearing the white leather suit. 

Well, Carrie didn’t want his chivalry or his concern. She’d been doing just fine on her own for three years now.  Seeing him just reminded her of Sean, dredged up old memories she had been trying to bury since her husband died.  The kids would feel the same.  Chris and Izzy had enough problems right now, and so did she.

Carrie sucked in a breath and forced a smile.  “Oh, that’s sweet, Trace, but I’m fine—”

His eyes narrowed.  “It’s obvious that you’re not fine, Carrie,” he grated.  “Seth might be an asshole, but he didn’t lie about what was going on with you.  You moved out here because the kids were out of control, and you lost your house.  I want to help you, if you’ll let me.”  Trace’s eyes fell to her left hand, and Carrie hid it behind her back.  “It’s been three years since Sean died, and you’re still wearing your wedding ring?” he asked incredulously.

Because in her mind she was still married to him. The man she had dated in high school then married when she was eighteen had been the love of her life.  Yeah, they’d had their problems, but Carrie knew Sean would always be there for her.  Unless he was working, which he did most of their married life.  Or he did something stupid.  Like get himself killed. 

Anger and grief warred inside of her and Carrie spun the ring around her finger with her thumb.  Trace Rooks of all people knew how much she loved Sean, how much he had meant to her.  He had been Sean’s best friend and the best man at their wedding.  Him questioning her about still wearing her ring, like she didn’t have a right to do that, pissed her off.  She didn’t owe him or anyone else any explanations about how she handled her grief.  “I don’t want any help,” Carrie said firmly. 

His arm fell from around Ronnie’s shoulder, and his hands clenched into fists at his side.  “Well that’s too damned bad, you’re getting it,” he said taking a step toward her.  It’s the summer, so the kids are out of school right?”

Carrie’s neck rocked back on her shoulders to meet his eyes.  What the hell did that matter?  “Yeah, they’re out of school.  Why?”

“You ever hear of the R & R Ranch?” Trace asked.

Ranch?  That place was a spa for rich people who were looking for adventure.  Not somewhere she would ever visit in this lifetime.  “Yeah, I’ve heard of it.”

“The owner is a friend of Ronnie’s and we’ve made arrangements for you to go there for a week.  You need a damned break.  Ronnie and I will keep Chris and Izzy for the week,” he said.  The woman beside him gasped, and Trace glared down at her, before looking back at Carrie.  “I want to see them anyway.”

Before Sean’s death, Trace had been a fixture in her kid’s life.  She had tried to shield them from the ugliness of the murder trial, because they considered him an uncle, but Chris knew.   She couldn’t keep him away from the television when the trial was going on.  The more he watched behind her back, the angrier and more withdrawn he became.  Carrie hadn’t had a chance to talk to her son since Trace had been cleared.  “Um, that’s probably not a good idea.”

“Why the hell not?  I want to talk to him.”

Carrie didn’t miss the hurt in Trace’s tone.  He loved her kids as much as Sean had, but they didn’t feel the same now.  Because Carrie hadn’t had time to talk to them.  “Chris doesn’t know you’ve been cleared,” she admitted looking away.

“Why haven’t you told him?” he demanded.

Carrie heard the unmistakable sound of a pump shotgun being racked and spun toward the barn door.  Her tall, lanky thirteen-year-old son stood there with her father’s shotgun to his shoulder, eyeing down the sight at Trace. 

“Get out of here murderer,” he growled trying to sound fierce, but his voice trembled.

 
Fear shot to her throat.  Carrie swallowed it down and tried to force calm into her tone, “Chris, put the shotgun down.”

It was true.  Chris was out of control, but she had no idea how to help him.  Counselors hadn’t worked, suspension from school for smoking pot hadn’t worked, grounding for the summer hadn’t worked.  Moving away from the nasty group of friends he’d been hanging out with at the old house hadn’t worked.  Carrie was afraid he was going to end up dead or in jail if she didn’t do something.  She just didn’t know what to do.  He needed a man in his life, a good man other than her father who was just too old to deal with teenagers any more.

Trace stepped forward and spread his arms.  “Shoot me,” he invited and Ronnie and Carrie gasped at the same time.  “If it will make you feel better and you think it will bring your daddy back, just do it, kid.  I loved him too, and I love you.”

Carrie thought Trace must’ve lost his mind.  The gun shook in Chris’s hand, and she thought he might do accidentally shoot him.  Trace was even bolder though, he showed no fear as he took a step around her, then another toward Chris.  Carrie saw Chris’s eyes fill, but his grip on the gun got tighter.  His finger moved into the well of the trigger.

“I love you, Chris.  I want to help you,” Trace said taking another step toward him.  “I didn’t kill your daddy.”

“They sent you to jail.  You killed him!” Chris said in a higher voice.

“Seth Copeland killed him,” Trace countered taking another step toward him.  “Ask your mother,” he said gruffly shooting a glare over his shoulder at Carrie.

“It’s true, honey,” Carrie said with a waver in her voice.  “He’s in jail, and Uncle Trace has been cleared.  It was all a mistake.” 

Chris swung his eyes toward her, then back to Trace. The barrel of the gun lowered a few inches, and his shoulders relaxed a little.  Carrie’s did too, but Izzy picked that moment to run around the side of the barn yelling her brother’s name.  Chris tensed again and swung the gun in Izzy’s direction.  Carrie screamed, Ronnie gasped, and as if in slow motion, Trace shot forward to tackle him around the waist.  The gun exploded and Carrie squeezed her eyes shut, because she just couldn’t look.  Her ears rang as the sound reverberated through the trees, and she prayed that she hadn’t just lost her daughter too.
 
 
About Becky McGraw

 

Becky McGraw is a married mother of three adult children, and a Southern girl by birth and the grace of God, ya’ll. She resides in South Texas with her husband and dog Abby.

A jack of many trades in her life, Becky has been an optician, a beautician, a legal secretary, a senior project manager for an aviation management consulting firm, which took her all over the United States, a real estate broker, and now a graphic artist, web designer and writer.  She knows just enough about a variety of topics to make her dangerous, and her romance novels interesting and varied. Being a graphic artist is a good thing for her too, because she creates her own cover art, along with writing the novels.

Becky has been an avid reader of romance novels since she was a teenager, and has been known to read up to four novels of that genre a week, much to the dismay of her husband, and the delight of e-book sellers.

She has been writing fictional short stories and novels for fun, as well as technical copy for her jobs for many years. She was a member of the Writer’s Guild on AOL, as well as a founding member and treasurer of the first online chapter of the Romance Writers of America, From the Heart Romance Writers. Currently, she is a PAN member of RWA and a general member of FTHRW.

You can find Amazon Bestselling Author Becky McGraw at: 

www.beckymcgraw.com

facebook.com/beckymcgrawbooks
Texas Trouble Series by Becky McGraw:
Book #1 – My Kind of Trouble (Cassie & Luke) 
Book #2 – The Trouble With Love (Sabrina & Cole)
Book #3 – Double the Trouble (Karlie & Gabe)
Book #4 – Looking for Trouble (Jess & Wade)
Book #5 – Trouble in Dixie (Katie & Tommy)
Book #6 – Asking for Trouble (Jazzie & Beau)
Book #7 – Chasing Trouble (Jenny & Chase)
Book #8 – Here Comes Trouble (Terri & Joel)
Book #9 – Worth the Trouble (Ethan & Roxanne)
Book #10 – Royal Trouble (Wes & Leigh Ann)
Book #11 – Trouble With The Law (Trace & Veronica

Welcome Palessa/Portrait of Gray

24 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Ginger Ring in Guests

≈ 2 Comments

 

Portrait of Gray
Portrait of Gray by Palessa

Blurb

Continue the Baxter Family Saga with book 2 

Grayson Baxter, first born of Julian and Joan, has always been the prodigal of the Baxter clan. He has also been heavily into drugs since he was a teenager. As his brother Cass enters a new phase in his life and is headed towards taking over the family business, Grayson’s drug use worsens. When he attempts to break away from the family that hates him, something goes terribly wrong. After tragedy strikes and with the help of a unique rehab facility, Grayson gets his life back. He discovers and pursues his desire to become a therapist and fall in love with Bindi Gail. Just as they start a life together, one fateful decision tears them apart. Through life’s twists and turns he finds his way from lost to found and learns to love again, Grayson’s journey to survive and realize his path as a Baxter makes his redemption more satisfying.
 

Excerpt

It was the day of Cass’ return and even though the house seemed quiet, there was a little bit of a spark in the air. Julian was planning to have a party the next day, inviting some of the most elite of Gables society to show off his son. As Grayson walked downstairs to the pool, he met his father coming out of the home office.

“Grayson,” Julian began, “Cass will be in late tonight. We’re planning to have breakfast tomorrow at the Biltmore. Can you possibly make it a priority to show up on time?”

Grayson grinned. “What’s the matter, Father? Afraid I’ll be fashionably late and upset the golden boy?”

Julian looked at his son steadily, unsmiling. He had no idea what he needed to do to get to Grayson, but one day he vowed he would before it was too late. Grayson looked at his father and then looked away. He hated being stared at, especially by the inscrutable Julian Baxter who saw everything and said little.

Grayson sighed and shook his head. “Fine.” He could never get the better of the old man and there was no use in wasting time. Giving him one last look, Julian walked away. Grayson ambled to the patio and made a mental note to call Jerry. He needed a little extra boost to last him through his brother’s return.

Grayson jumped in one of the cars and headed over to Jerry’s place. He desperately needed a hit of something to take the edge off, and the only place he’d get some peace to enjoy it was outside of the manor.

“And then he looked at me and I just stood there,” Grayson said as he took a hit of the weed.

“At least he gives a shit,” Jerry replied. “Mine was too busy beating the shit out my mother and me to even say ‘boo.’ He blamed my mother for his sorry state. She worked her fingers to the bone and when she got pregnant, he beat her so bad she lost the baby. Then blamed her for it.”

“Damn, man.” Grayson was stunned. Grayson had known Jerry for over ten years and he rarely talked about his family life. It was only when they were in college that he learned Jerry’s father was dead and his mother was in jail, but he never knew why.

“The day my mother offed my father was the happiest day of my life.” Jerry stared unblinking at nothing and Grayson could see the grip his memories held him in. “She’d just had enough of the beating, the screaming, the yelling…and she decided it as time.” Grayson sat and listened. His life was a fairy tale in comparison, and for a moment he felt like a brat. “But my mom was smart.” Jerry leaned over and looked at Grayson with a smile on his face. “She’d gotten a special insurance policy on my father and made me the beneficiary. She set it up special so that when my father died, I’d be taken care of and the money wouldn’t be spent willy-nilly by my uncle.” Jerry nodded, tapping his forefinger on his temple. “She set up some trust or whatever that paid for school and books and college. She set aside some money to pay my uncle to take care of me, but she did what she thought she needed to do.”

Grayson listened and wondered if Joan would have ever done anything like that for him or any of his siblings. He didn’t even have to answer because he already knew and it made him sick.

 
 
 Amazon   http://amzn.to/1idVinz
Facebook Author Page  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPalessa
Blog   http://authorpalessa.wordpress.com/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7765546.Palessa
Twitter https://twitter.com/authorpalessa
Amazon Author page  http://www.amazon.com/Pal…/e/B00IMLM4VW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

 

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Palessa bio

Palessa started reading her first romance novel, at the age of 11. Then she got introduced to V.C. Andrews, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Anne Rice and many more notable contemporary authors as well as some of the classics, A Tale of Two Cities, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Great Gatsby and others. It was during her teenage years that she dabbled in writing. First, it was in her diaries, then she started creating characters, stories about romance, the supernatural and much more. Being an International Baccalaureate student as well as entering college, left little time for writing and so she put it and the ideas aside to pursue a career. It would take almost 20 years, a radical move from the city she grew up in, Miami, FL back to her Caribbean birthplace, and a chance Facebook meeting with Sable Hunter to start the juices flowing again. After some fits and starts, the Baxter Family Saga was born. Unchained Hearts is Palessa’s first published fiction book with Beau Coup Publishing. She considers herself just a storyteller that sees no reason to shy away from the juicier romantic elements. She currently lives in the mountains of Jamaica with her crazy, cracker-munching-mutt Ivy and a farm, primarily managed by agribusiness partner, also known as Dad.

 

 

 

Welcome Lynn Rae & Peri Elizabeth Scott/Prohibited

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Ginger Ring in Guests

≈ 1 Comment

Prohibited features a handsome owner of a speakeasy, when prohibition is a watch word. He hides another secret, one that could get him killed, given his public flaunting of societal conventions. When he meets a modern woman who disapproves of his career choice, their courtship is stormy, but it’s her innate sense of honor that saves him in the end.

prohibited with corrections

Excerpt:

Making her way up the wide stone steps to the porch, Lilly shifted the pie to one hand and pressed the doorbell with the other. There was a barely discernible chime through the leaded glass and walnut door but no other sound. She waited and pressed the button again. The door opened with a rattle and creak.

When she recognized the person glaring at her, all the breath left her body in a gasp. It was Mac Adair. Of course. Of all the people in Lima who could have purchased this house next to hers, it would have to be that man.

He narrowed his eyes at her and propped his arm across the door opening as if to deny her entrance. He was wearing a soft-looking red shirt with far too many buttons unfastened, and sturdy black trousers. When she realized he wasn’t wearing an undershirt and she could see the tanned muscles of his chest, her arms weakened and the pie wobbled and dropped from her useless hands.

Stifling a shriek, Lilly flailed for the pan but it was too late to catch it. Spraying its contents, the pie landed on the porch with a sickening squash and the entire pastry top cracked apart as reddish goo welled up like heart’s blood. Scarlet gobbets clung to her forearms and the front of her embroidered linen dress.

Horrified, she looked up to find Mac Adair still staring at her, although his features had smoothed away from the frown he’d worn earlier. The corners of his mouth twitched with disgust or amusement at her predicament. Lilly knew her own mouth was gaping open but she was frozen with embarrassment and powerless to close it.

****

Stricken might be too strong a word for Mac to apply in this circumstance, but it came damn close. Perhaps another might find humor in this beauty brought to her knees by some version of slapstick, but he was mortified for her.

It wasn’t lost on him, this neighborly gesture of welcome, although no doubt she’d have painted a black daub on his door to warn others had she known he lived here after the way he’d treated her in his speakeasy. Mac fumbled for his handkerchief.

“Here, let me…” He squatted to reach out and pat the worst of the spill from her wrist then thought better of it and offered the cloth to her to apply instead.

Trembling fingers snatched it from his grasp, the slight contact sparking a frission of static up his forearm. Lil patted at the sticky fruit and flakes of pastry, lips set in a thin line as she visibly regained her composure. Not that her full, bee-stung mouth could compress into a truly regimented grimace.

“Thank you.” A quiet, dignified murmur at last. She raised her coffee brown eyes to his again, the long lashes sweeping up to unveil returning self possession. His heart pounded harder, and another part of his anatomy responded as well, refusing to listen to his brain scold.

As awkward as a boy in the company of his first crush, Mac struggled to his feet, offering her the hand not occupied with the detritus of the pie as he did so. Lil reached out to take it, and their fingers met amidst the gooey residue as he helped her up. He felt his lips twitching and registered a similar movement of Lil’s. Laughter bubbled over, a welcome warmth that enveloped his senses, and he guffawed in response.

“Mac Adair.”

“Lilly Townsend.”

“My pleasure to meet you, Miss Townsend. Please come in and you can freshen up.”

“I think it will take more than a mere freshen up. And it’s Mrs. Townsend, but please call me Lilly. After our two, um, disparate meetings…”

She was married? How had he missed that fine gold band? Married to that sap.

“Ah—” What in hell was that man’s name she was with last night? “So, Walter is your husband.”

“Walter? Heavens, no! My husband passed four years ago.”

The rush of relief at the news made his knees weak—he was a total bastard for welcoming such news. “I’m sorry for your loss, Lilly.”

“Thank you.” She stared at him expectantly and he shuffled backwards into the foyer. Lilly gracefully followed, only to come up short.

“Do you have a powder room on the main floor?”

“There’s a newly constructed bath just off the foyer.”

Carefully disposing of the ruined pie in his sterile kitchen, he hustled back to the porch with a rag and a small basin of water. He hadn’t cleaned a floor on his knees in, well, ever, but the flies were gathering.

When Lilly emerged, the stuff of her dress sported large, spreading damp spots tinged with an unfortunate hue of pink, the same hint of blush remained on her cheeks.

“I had no idea you were my aunt and uncle’s new neighbor.” The frost was back in her tone.

“Or you wouldn’t have deigned to make me a welcome to the neighborhood pie. Let alone cross the threshold.” Damn it, he was biting back as a dog snaps at flies.

She flinched at his comment and held her head even higher. “I definitely wouldn’t have. You own a speakeasy! Your reputation—”

“My reputation? I’m a businessman, Mrs. Townsend. I serve the public, at least those who seek my services. And if memory serves, you were in my speak just last night. How might that have impugned your reputation, I wonder? Or perhaps it reflected who you are beneath the trappings.”

If he could have ripped out his tongue by its very roots he would have done. Lilly’s breasts lifted and fell rapidly in response to his set down and he tore his eyes away from that bewitching sight to meet her very hurt gaze, swiftly being hidden by outrage and disdain.

“I know who I am beneath my trappings. Mr. Adair. Who or what do you hide behind yours? My slight lapse in judgment last evening, correction, serious lapse in judgment won’t be repeated. Of that I can assure you!”

Hell’s teeth, she was lovely! All flashing eyes and high color. He couldn’t resist pushing her harder.

“I knew my first impression of you was correct.”

She sputtered. It was fascinating to observe, those succulent lips parting with fury.

“If you consider calling me priggish and straight-laced an insult, sir, you’re sorely mistaken. I’m simply fine with your assessment. At least I’m contributing to the moral compass of this world, unlike some people who undermine the very fabric of—oomph.”

It was just too much. Too much of everything. She had slipped a verbal dagger between his ribs and pierced his conscience. Coupled with her intense appeal, he felt pushed over the brink and reacted to both quiet her and soothe his abraded soul.

Her wealth of hair spilled from its gathered twist on the back of her head as he pulled her roughly into his arms, soft curves imprinting against his chest. He caught a glimpse of her wide, startled eyes before taking her mouth with his own in fierce possession, plundering the seam of her lips. Groaning with the effort of suppressing his lust—he longed to sweep her up and carry her into the parlor where a fainting couch reposed—Mac contented himself with kissing them both senseless.

 

Extra bits from the authors:

My coauthor Lynn Rae did a lot of research with period newspapers and some secondary sources, especially when it came to women’s reproductive health. In a former life she was an archivist and the Teens, Twenties, and Thirties were decades she had a lot of experience in.

 

One interesting fact about the Twenties that plays a part in our book is during that decade, the Ku Klux Klan was very popular in Ohio and had ties to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the group that was instrumental in bringing about the twenty-first amendment to the U.S. constitution.

 

 

Writing with a partner had its moments, particularly when it came to the sex scenes. Making love to one another’s characters was a little weird at first, lol. Our styles are very different and yet we worked so well together and melded our scenes. I’m a total pantser and dragged Lynn right along with me until she showed the voice of reason because of her amazing research. I watched my in box like a hawk for the next installment.

 

 

The next book in the series is set later in the twenties, when things are a tad less roaring as the country edges toward the Great Depression. It features some of the characters from Prohibited, another unlikely couple who are another wonderful example of how love conquers all.

 

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/prohibited-by-lynn-rae-and-peri-elizabeth-scott/

 

 

Lynn Rae is a romance writer residing in Columbus, Ohio.  With professional experience in fields ranging from contract archaeology to librarianship along with making donuts and teaching museum studies, Lynn Rae enjoys incorporating her quirky sense of humor and real-life adventures into her writing (except the naughty parts). She writes both sci fi and contemporary romance, and Prohibited is her first historical romance.

 

http://lynnraewrites.com/

 

 

Peri Elizabeth Scott lives in Manitoba, Canada. She and her husband have a wonderful son, and a houseful of animals. She closed her part time private practice as a social worker and child play therapist to spend more time with her husband. Peri has written for years, mostly short stories and poetry, and reads everything she can lay her hands on. She enjoys penning contemporary romance, and has published dark erotica under another pen name.

www.perielizabethscott.com

 

RONE Nomination/Time to Vote

07 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by Ginger Ring in My Thoughts

≈ Leave a comment

I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to have my book Getting Down to Business nominated for a RONE Award in the erotica category. I need your help to get it into the finals. Please vote at http://www.indtale.com/2014-rone-awards-week-five   THANK YOU!!!!2013_RONE_Nominee_640 (1)

The RONE Awards is put on by InD’Tale Magazine, a great emagazine that you can receive for free by signing up at http://www.indtale.com/user/register

Thanks again!!!

perf5.000x8.000.indd

 

 

Welcome Emma Fitzgerald/Oceans Apart

04 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by Ginger Ring in Guests

≈ 1 Comment

 

EmmaBannerI’m so excited for my friend Emma Fitzgerald. She is a new author and is revealing the cover of her first book!!! Read more about it below and click on the link at the bottom of the page to enter a great giveaway!!!

Oceans Apart

 

Nobody ever cares for second place.

 

Talented public relations associate, Annie Scott, knows second place well. She has never been anyone’s priority and is sick of wallowing in self pity, sick of being an option. In a snap decision, she flees her hometown of Nashville for the unknown shores of Sydney, Australia. There she can be whoever she wants to be. Perhaps, the enforced solitude will give her back her identity and kickstart a new path in life.

 

Professional surfer, Cam Hart, is home on leave from the Pro Tour, and in desperate need of some rest, relaxation and maybe, a little female company. All extremely achievable at his home in Bronte, Sydney. There will be women willing and waiting for him, of that he has no doubt. He’s never been a relationships kind of guy, and after his embarrassing defeat for the recent World Title, the idea of losing himself in between the sheets for some no-strings fun, definitely has appeal.

 

Fate throws Cam and Annie in each other’s path. Their attraction to each other is immediate. Cam believes he has found the perfect girl to distract him for a few weeks, while Annie is ready to throw caution to the wind and dive into a holiday romance. The two drifting souls soon realise that their chemistry and passion is more than they bargained for.

 

Cam has never wanted to entrust his heart to anyone again. But, with Annie, he sees that he may indeed want a future, a change from his impulsive and wild ways. Could Cam actually be capable of such change? Should Annie consider Cam to be more than a summer fling, or will she be bound by her insecurities and not believe him worth the risk? Will she return to her hometown, the same as she left it: alone.

 

 

Blog – http://emmawritesromance.wordpress.com/
Twitter – @EmmaFitz_Writer

https://www.facebook.com/emmajane01

Click on link below for giveaway!!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2d087f43/ 

 

Welcome Emily A. Lawrence/Unforgettable Hearts

03 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Ginger Ring in Guests

≈ 1 Comment

Continuing the Soul’s Desire Series with book 2 Unforgettable Hearts Ellie Benton lost all contact with her childhood friend, Tyler Stuart, when she moved with her family to New York. For seven years she’d mourned the loss of the copper-haired boy whom she’d secretly admired her entire life. Saddened by the thought that he’d forgotten her, Ellie carried on with her life, but nothing could fill the void he’d left in her heart. When an unexpected trip reunited them after such a long time, Ellie found herself unable to resist the strong pull she felt toward him, nor control the feelings she’d fought so hard to keep at bay. Tyler’s initial coldness at the sight of her made her question if he’d ever cared about her, but soon she discovered things she’d never even dared dream of, secrets that turned her soul inside out and brought her more joy than she’d ever experienced. Tyler proved to be the man of her dreams, exactly how she’d imagined him. But, as they embarked on a passionate relationship—just when she thought she’d finally found her happiness—demons from their past and present threatened to separate them. Will their love overcome all the obstacles they have to face?

Unforgettable Hearts

 

Excerpt

 

– Unforgettable Hearts Emily A. Lawrence I saw Tyler’s fingers tighten around the glass, squeezing it so hard I feared it might shatter in his hand. It only took seconds. First there was a crack, then his eyes became slits, and before I could react, the crystal glass broke, slicing his palm open. “Tyler!” Caitlyn jumped, a look of horror on her face. “Dammit!” Tyler growled and grabbed a towel, pressing it against his bleeding wound. I felt my stomach lurch and my heart beat a hundred miles per hour. “Son, what did you do? Let me see that!” Alfred was by his side, but Tyler got up from his seat and stormed out of the dining room, causing several heads to turn. “I’ll go,” I said and rushed after him. “Tyler, wait up! Tyler!” I managed to catch up with him when he stopped to open his door. “Go back, Ellie. I’m fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “No, you’re not. You’re bleeding!” I followed him into the bathroom and watched him turn on the cold water, getting his blood all over the faucet. He put his hand under the clear water and grunted when it poured over his wound. He rinsed off as quickly as he could, but it didn’t stop the bleeding. “You might need some stitches—” “No, it’s not that deep.” I opened the medical cabinet on the wall. “At least let me put some alcohol on it. You don’t want it to get infected, do you?” After opening the bottle I grabbed his wrist to hold him in place and poured a bit on the bleeding wound. Tyler growled, then mumbled all kinds of despicable things, half of which I couldn’t understand. He thrust his hand under the stream of water again and waited until it ran clean from his wound. The pain seemed to be subsiding since his body relaxed. He examined the wound closely. “It’s not as severe as I thought it was. It still burns, though.” “Sit down and let me bandage you,” I said, taking what I needed from the cabinet. He sat down on the edge of the tub, but stuck his hand behind his back when he saw me grab the bottle. “Oh, no. No more alcohol.” “Don’t be such a baby. Come on. The faster I finish this, the sooner I’ll leave you alone.” Saying those words hurt, but it was the painful truth. Whatever pain he was feeling, mine was multiplied by thousands of times at the thought that he didn’t want me around him. His jaw clenched, and said nothing in return. I had half expected him to tell me I was mistaken, but he didn’t. Giving me his hand, he let me clean and bandage his wound. The proximity was killing me slowly, and it took all I had to keep from wrapping myself around him and settling into his arms. I ached to hear that he’d missed me and have the harrowing weight lifted off of my heart, but his lips remained sealed and not one word came out as I attended him. Saddened, I reflected deeply on our past relationship and how much it had meant to me, feeling the poignancy of everything we’d shared in good times and bad. I wondered if perhaps this was the beginning of the saddest time of all, as the pain I felt in all the years we’d been apart was nothing compared to the way I felt now. Holding my breath to avoid inhaling his masculine scent, I tried to swallow the raw pain scraping its way toward my mouth as a scream demanded its exit. “There…you’ll be okay, but maybe you should let your dad have a look at it—” “Stay away from that man,” he said and grabbed my wrist unexpectedly. My heart jumped into my throat, blocking my windpipe. My throat contracted around the emotions which threatened to leap up and out of my lips, my stomach tensed and my insides felt like they were tied into a knot. “What?” I barely whispered, glaring at him perplexed. “You heard me. Stay away from that Andrew whatever.” Tyler was dead serious, his voice dry as bones. Was that what had caused his anger? Him seeing me with the other man? There was a small flutter of hope in my tummy, but I wasn’t sure what to think anymore.

Amazon http://amzn.to/1ojhgPp

Emily Lawrence

BIO

 

Emily A. Lawrence lives in Transylvania with her family, hence her love for vampires and paranormal books. She is extremely passionate about fiction and has been writing stories, mostly fan fiction, for years now, but only began thinking seriously about publishing approximately a year ago. Having her family’s support, and encouraged by friends and fellow authors, she pursued her dream of becoming a published author.

 

Emily loves creating new characters with whom readers can identify themselves, and losing herself in their worlds. Usually, she writes contemporary romance in three heat levels: sweet, sensual and erotic. However, she would like to try her hand at other genres one day, such as paranormal or mystery.

 

When she’s not writing, she enjoys traveling and experiencing new cultures, new sceneries, food and meeting new people, or simply reading a good book.

Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/author.emily.a.lawrence

 

Beau Coup Page http://emilyalawrence.beaucoupllc.com/

 

Blog http://authoremilylawrence.blogspot.ro/

 

Twitter https://twitter.com/EmyALawrence

 

 

 

 

 

 

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