tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47771674490936151692024-02-07T04:20:21.032-08:00Ali Atwood's PlaceAuthor of Contemporary, Paranormal & Sci-fi Romance Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-67183569632459275312019-02-04T06:16:00.003-08:002020-01-14T03:02:08.309-08:00<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="color: #e06666;"></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><b></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Hi, everyone! Welcome to my webpage. I’ve come back from the future to write a contemporary romance.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>The book includes steamy love scenes intended for mature readers.</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Order here</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://mybook.to/AccidentalLove" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="font-family: "quot"; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; outline: rgba(150, 150, 150, 0.7) dotted 1px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">mybook.to/AccidentalLove</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e47878; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Delaney Cole has no interest in love and marriage, at this time. She’s a computer whiz, aiming to become a force in Silicon Valley. To pay the bills, she teaches computer science at the local high school. When a fellow teacher is murdered, Delaney discovers the body and finds herself the focus of a psychopath’s fantasies.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e47878; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #e47878; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Enter Jake Torrance, Special Forces veteran, now a homicide detective with the Boston PD. Jake's commitment to his work was a factor in the breakdown of his marriage. The follow-on slugfest divorce was a life lesson he won't soon forget.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e47878; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #e47878; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the murder investigation unfolds, and the killer circles closer, Jake and Delaney dance around their unexpected attraction to each other. The charismatic detective fits the image of Delaney's fantasy love to a T, but he's arrived too early and at the worst possible time.</span><br />
<span style="color: #e47878; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #e47878; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jake struggles to stay professional, but Delaney stirs emotions he thought he could no longer feel. He starts to believe she might be his second chance at happiness--if he can keep her alive.</span><br />
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-36225206890411108722018-05-05T03:50:00.001-07:002018-06-01T02:59:55.102-07:00COMING IN JUNE<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">HARD CONTACT (Guild Enforcer Book 1)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Gay/Erotic/Paranormal Romance</span></strong></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "book antiqua"; font-size: large;"></span></strong> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSRwPHllsNrbgcBnYx7598K_aChQwn-sym8bHWOkKwauAPSQ8v7Pw1tMqK8kw3FtwhQZvlyasSGozLY04Sueir8YI-793poLS9jZnUFAjAbgUfx_uFIDZoSW2Uv3J5Zh0tSnDnGPFJyw/s1600/High+Res+ebook+cover+Hard+Contanct.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSRwPHllsNrbgcBnYx7598K_aChQwn-sym8bHWOkKwauAPSQ8v7Pw1tMqK8kw3FtwhQZvlyasSGozLY04Sueir8YI-793poLS9jZnUFAjAbgUfx_uFIDZoSW2Uv3J5Zh0tSnDnGPFJyw/s400/High+Res+ebook+cover+Hard+Contanct.png" width="283" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "book antiqua"; font-size: large;"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hard Contact is the first book in the
Guild Enforcer Series. It’s a sexy, action-packed m/m romance with no
cliffhangers and a HEA ending</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the surface, Ty Lighthorne is a successful
bounty hunter based in Boston. Undercover, he’s part of a covert task force regulated
by the Fae Justice Guild. Ty and the team pursue paranormal criminals who’ve
escaped to the human realm to avoid punishment. Since Ty is a hybrid, half
human and half Fae, he’s totally at home in both dimensions.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reed Harrison’s dream of becoming a
piano soloist was in his grasp until tragedy ripped his world apart. When the
justice system fails him, he devises his own method of retribution reinventing
himself as a licensed bounty hunter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Ty and Reed are
polar opposites, but events force them into partnership and the sexual sparks
fly. <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Reed maintains his distance
because he’s all about the mission—hell-bent on revenge. Ty is a mix of toughness and devil-may-care with a strong allegiance to the Justice Guild. He knows better than to trust anyone with his secrets. A hot-blooded affair could threaten both their futures.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Excerpt</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reed looked up sharply at the sound of Ty Lighthorne’s
rumbling voice. It had come as a jolt seeing him in the bar. Matching the image
he’d recently scoped out online.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At thirty
two, Lighthorne was one of the country’s top-ranked bounty hunters—ex-military,
Army Ranger, with a chest full of medals and a master’s degree in Criminal
Justice. People in bail bond circles tended to talk about him in hushed voices.
It was common knowledge he went after the underworld heavyweights, and his
success rate was legendary. Despite the media’s interest in him, he refused to
be interviewed, which generated more interest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">In the
flesh, Lighthorne looked as powerful as his reputation. Wide shouldered, narrow
hipped, with legs that went on forever. He was handsome in a been-there-done-that
kind of way. His face was seasoned by sun and wind, his dark hair was thick and wavy, and his deep blue eyes conveyed cool confidence. He looked exactly like an actor who would have been cast to play a bounty hunter in an action movie.</span><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reed felt
equal parts of awe and frustration that the famous hunter had stepped in to
wield the upper hand. He’d known there was a primary bond agent when he’d
signed up for a side deal. He should have figured Lighthorne was the lead.
Doubtless the bond companies fought to enlist his services.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Reed watched
him as he turned attention to the bail skip. “Last chance, Jesse, give me your
supplier’s name and a location or else.”<o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Apparently, Lighthorne’s
reputation, as a man who played by his own rules was well-known on the streets.
Butler swallowed noisily and caved. “His name’s Lonnie Bryant.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Lighthorne
nodded. “Last known address?”<o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Butler’s
dark eyes darted fearfully, as if seeking another escape way. “I told the truth
on that. I don’t know where he lives.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lighthorne
cuffed Butler upside the head. “Then it’s jail for you, my man. I need contact
information on Bryant.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Butler
looked increasingly muddled and scared. “Okay, okay, gimme a minute.” He squeezed his eyes shut, scrunching his brows, as if to search his memory for any small scrap of information. His eyes popped open, and he flashed his buck
teeth. “I do know a place. But it’s not a house. It’s a club, called Mulberry's, over on Dawson Street. I heard Lonnie spends a lot of time there
because he’s got the hots for a female bartender.” He flicked his hopeful gaze back
and forth at their faces. “I cooperated. That’s all I got. Swear ta God.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lighthorne
held Butler’s gaze, as if to gauge his honesty. He nodded. “You can go. Next
time you won’t be so lucky.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reed moved
to remove Butler’s restraints, then watched him scurry away. He was disappointed
they hadn’t gotten more information. Wondering what his next move should be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">“Maybe you
should make your bones with a less dangerous case.”<o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reed spun.
“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lighthorne’s
intense blue eyes were narrowed speculatively. “I’m guessing you’re really
tracking Dominic Salazar?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reed
hesitated, but there was no reason to deny it. “Yeah, I’m looking for him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lighthorne
nodded. “Okay, since you’re a freshly minted hunter, you're probably not aware that Salazar
is forging links with the Russian Mafia.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Reed hadn’t known that. But even if Lighthorne was trying to help him, it still
rankled to be underrated by the top dog. <span style="line-height: 150%;">“Look I might be a newbie, but I'm not a damn candy ass. I don't back down from a challenge.” He raised his voice to emphasize, “I'm going to nail Salazar, and you can take that to the bank.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lighthorne
studied him through those razor-sharp blue eyes. The punch of power behind them
was unnerving<span class="a-size-base">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="a-size-base"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="a-size-base"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Standing this close, Reed could breathe him in, and he
smelled so damn good, oozing virility. </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;">When his groin tightened, Reed
shifted his weight feeling his face heating. “Right then, I’ll be on my way.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lighthorne’s
white teeth flashed in the darkness, as if he were aware of Reed’s reaction. He
gave a two-fingered salute. “I wish you luck, Agent Harrison. Don’t get in my
way.”<o:p></o:p></span></span>
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reed’s heart
was pounding as he watched Lighthorne head toward a pick-up truck. The top
hunter’s long-limbed gait was fast and fluid, as enjoyable to look at as the
rest of him. He was dangerous and sexy. Reed didn’t doubt that men and women
were queuing up to be with him. When he found himself speculating on the size
of Lighthorne’s unfettered dick, he blanked the image.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Jesus Harrison. Dial it back.</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%;"> The last thing he needed was horny
thoughts short-circuiting his brain. He turned to climb into his own car,
listening to Lighthorne’s vehicle firing up and then the heavy purr of its ultra-powerful
engine as he drove away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-14132528407576759982017-05-18T03:12:00.000-07:002018-04-29T09:06:05.714-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">SCORING THE BOSS</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Gay/Erotic Romance</span></strong></span></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqyYPI4SwG1HMmKeVYPpNIt7FFBI0_2ximaLk24-8vtL16juxaAlJu2W0x-9ZPPPPc9WCSTrmbw9XcMP9reE-jgHPzwxOzmu7csaBLvqRRy6KoFpyNTI2ckAg3GTyUSJJ6-ct3EGb4nM/s1600/Scoring+the+Boss+Cover+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqyYPI4SwG1HMmKeVYPpNIt7FFBI0_2ximaLk24-8vtL16juxaAlJu2W0x-9ZPPPPc9WCSTrmbw9XcMP9reE-jgHPzwxOzmu7csaBLvqRRy6KoFpyNTI2ckAg3GTyUSJJ6-ct3EGb4nM/s400/Scoring+the+Boss+Cover+jpg.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;">Cody Madrid wasn’t born into
privilege. He grew up in a trailer park and suffered a childhood from hell. The
gritty start to life didn’t break him. It honed him. With discipline, hard work
and some unexpected luck, he founded Starwest Industries and built it into a multimillion-dollar
empire.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;">Ben Jackson grew up in a loving family, enjoyed a
picture-perfect childhood and aspires to become a fine artist. He’s vacationing
in Greece when he literally falls at Cody’s feet. Their meeting is electric,
but forestalled when Ben receives tragic news from home. As a result, he puts
his artistic ambitions on hold, and looks for a full-time job to help support
his family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;">When Ben is hired by Starwest Industries, he has no idea that
Cody Madrid owns the company. Their professional relationship means Ben has to
work closely with the most compelling man he’s ever met without falling in love
with him. Though Cody is still closeted, he finds himself falling hard and fast
for the blond, blue-eyed Ben. But Cody has issues to work on, and someone has a
hold on Ben. He’s been trapped into living a lie that could ruin any chance of
a future with Cody.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
</span><br />
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</div>
Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-14407151720084956992016-11-17T11:35:00.004-08:002016-12-01T11:33:27.114-08:00<div class="date-posts">
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<strong><span style="font-family: "book antiqua"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">FIRST READS GIVEAWAY</span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "book antiqua"; font-size: medium;"></span></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOQJ8792HBrq5wUUAb7C71AyK18hseOOBPloxOO5zN8Zah2rbtEAClEKgJKEdQP9HN20Sl8CUIxg71L6HQ71kolCzKNuCMyHK51q0Fp9LUEYgMZUIgcJW2Aoitz8WnFfFUFoaS0avA5E/s1600/Cover+-+Second+Shot+2.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOQJ8792HBrq5wUUAb7C71AyK18hseOOBPloxOO5zN8Zah2rbtEAClEKgJKEdQP9HN20Sl8CUIxg71L6HQ71kolCzKNuCMyHK51q0Fp9LUEYgMZUIgcJW2Aoitz8WnFfFUFoaS0avA5E/s400/Cover+-+Second+Shot+2.2.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Gay/Erotic Romance</span></strong></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hello,</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for dropping by.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;">Second Shot <span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;">(A Straight to Gay Contemporary Romance) </span>will soon be available for preorder. It's going live on December 8 2016. You can read an e<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;">xcerpt below.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;">In the meantime, I'm giving away three First Reads digital copies.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To enter the draw, please leave a comment below with your contact information. If you would like to register as a follower on this blog, you will have two chances to win. The contest runs until midnight November 30 2016.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Good luck!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dillon McQueen has magic in his
blood, but it’s untrained and hard to control. His spells don’t always hit the
mark. He wishes there was someone he could turn to for guidance, but he was
abandoned as an infant, and his heritage remains a mystery. Out in the everyday
world, Dillon has a law degree from Harvard, but opted to work independently,
on the investigative side of things.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enter Nick Montana,
former Army Ranger, still connected to Special Forces, presently working
freelance. Six years ago, Dillon had a mad crush on the enigmatic Montana, but
his feelings went unfulfilled, as Montana is straight. Now the ranger steps
back into Dillon’s life to ask him to team-up and rescue a young boy who was kidnapped
by human traffickers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the two men go undercover at a
male strip club, to play the roles of gay men, Dillon inadvertently casts a
spell that has interesting repercussions.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">EXCERPT</span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When a tall figure moved behind the concierge’s
desk, the hair on the nape of Dillon’s neck stirred. He glanced up and froze in disbelief. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My God,
it’s him</i>. As much as Dillon had taken the dream that was Nick Montana to
heart six years ago, he’d never expected to see him again. Unsure now if he
should approach and say hi, or pretend he hadn’t seen him.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The decision was made when Montana
flicked his gaze in Dillon’s direction. He hesitated for a split second, then made an abrupt turn and
strode straight toward Dillon.<o:p></o:p></span></span>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Though he'd carried a
dazzling image of Nick Montana in his mind for six years, Dillon had almost convinced
himself it was part of his credulous youth, and was not based on reality. In
truth, none of his recollections came close to the present reality. Montana looked
taller and more rugged than Dillon remembered and sexy as hell<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i> Dillon thrust his hands into his
pockets and did his best to look casual.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At six feet even, Dillon was
shorter than Montana, and had to tilt his head to look at the older man, who
flashed him a quick smile. “Hi Dillon, I’m glad I caught you.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dillon’s befuddled brain wasn’t
following. “Caught me?"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Matt Ellis sent me. He tried to
contact you, but your cell’s not working.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Oh, yeah, charger’s on the blink.”
He tried to focus. “Matt sent you?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">”He wants us to team up on a
mission, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">if</i> you don’t mind cutting
your vacation short.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dillon stared. “Team up?” Even if
he could only look, it was a gift from heaven.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Is that going to be a problem?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“What? Oh, no, no problem. I was
about to check out anyway. Always happy to help Matt out—” He forced air into
his lungs. “What kind of mission?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“A rescue attempt, which we can we discuss
over a cup of coffee? I’ve been traveling for twenty-two hours and I haven’t
slept in thirty-eight.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They chose the restaurant
on the hotel's mezzanine floor. It was large and pleasantly decorated in shades of
blue, most of the tables were occupied by holiday makers, enjoying a light meal after a
lazy day at the beach. Dillon and Montana sat down at a four-top, facing each
other.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since it was impossible to tell
from Montana’s expression what was going on in his head, Dillon used his
psychic power to try and get a fix on his thoughts. It had failed him in the
past, and frustratingly, it still did, which meant he still had no idea if Montana
knew he was gay. Dillon suspected he didn’t, or he wouldn’t have accepted him
as a partner. Most straight men didn’t want to hang with a gay guy. In case
others started to question their masculinity.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A cheerful, dark-haired waitress
hurried over to take their orders. Glancing at the menu, Nick asked for roast
beef on rye, with all the trimmings.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dillon just ordered coffee. He was
too jittery to eat with Montana sitting across from him oozing his special brand
of charisma. While men had always come easy to Dillon, few had stimulated his
chemistry adequately to merit more than a few dates, probably because he’d been
using Montana’s image as a bench mark for six years. Despite the water under
the bridge his heart still ached for the unattainable, which meant he was bound
to get hurt again if he took this mission. He wondered, in the interest of self-preservation, if he
should try and finagle his way out of it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">”So how’s life treating you, Dillon?
Last I heard you were heading to law school.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dillon blinked back, looked into
Montana’s expressive dark eyes and knew there was no way he could pull out of
the assignment. Not without looking like an idiot. Whatever else happened, he
didn’t want to lose Montana’s respect. He gave a small smile. “Yes, I went
ahead and got my law degree, even though I’d already decided to work on the
investigative side of things.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“And how are you finding it?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Managing to stay busy.” Because he
was dying to know what Montana might be thinking about him, as he was now, he added, “I’m
surprised you agreed to take me on as a partner. I recall you saying you preferred
to work solo.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Montana nodded. “I do, but this
mission is complicated, and you come highly recommended by Matt.” He looked up
and smiled as the waitress placed his sandwich on the table and poured them
coffee from a thermal jug.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dillon waited until she left, then
went on, “So, how long have you worked for Matt?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“A few years, off and on."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dillon was intrigued to realize he’d
had a connection to Montana through Matt and hadn’t known it. He watched as Montana
poured cream into his coffee, thinking how the angles of his broad cheekbones
and strong nose were a sharp contrast to his generously curved mouth. He couldn't count the times he'd dreamt about kissing that mouth— He glanced away, told himself to stick to business.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Tell me about the mission."</span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-89256887064762897462016-05-08T07:40:00.002-07:002016-06-19T09:04:20.446-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">NEW RELEASE</span></strong></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "book antiqua"; font-size: large;">ARCHER(URBAN WIZARDS BOOK #1)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uQv6nGaTdrYrbRX50Wichc2laNbKmF3tEUPELyBTSXFguSqlM2OqSdd8jWoC1JrUVEQ5QvVh-7SRK8fFd35KVep_gchJgWfeolCiA-UAD2hvM3kQ9gHnIjII31ZuTfBCLMjNd4zMAsk/s1600/archer+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uQv6nGaTdrYrbRX50Wichc2laNbKmF3tEUPELyBTSXFguSqlM2OqSdd8jWoC1JrUVEQ5QvVh-7SRK8fFd35KVep_gchJgWfeolCiA-UAD2hvM3kQ9gHnIjII31ZuTfBCLMjNd4zMAsk/s400/archer+%25282%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Gay/Erotic Romance/Magick/Paranormal</span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">WHEN DARK FORCES MERGE, ARCHER AND KIRBY ARE CAUGHT SQUARELY IN THE MIDDLE</span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Archer McKenzie is a modern day wizard whose heritage dates back to the sixteenth century. While Archer has a wealth of magical talents at his disposal, he chooses to live under the radar, with a day job as a private investigator.</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua";"></span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"> Popular artist, Kirby Langston, believes the man he’s been dating could be The One, until a violent street encounter throws him into the path of the lethally seductive McKenzie.</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua";"></span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"> When Kirby hires Archer to find his missing brother, everything changes. Archer and Kirby must fight against the black magic wrought by a powerful enemy in the ultimate battle for survival.</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Excerpt</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby was still struggling with his chaotic thoughts, trying to make sense of the whole thing. He wondered for the umpteenth time if he was dreaming it all. Archer was certainly dream-worthy and that was becoming a big problem. Even if he was only thinking it, he was still betraying Marcus. </span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">He glanced up when Archer handed him a glass and sat down opposite him. Sipping his own wine while he studied Kirby. “Okay, shoot, ask your questions.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby hesitated, not sure where to start, trying to recall what he knew about the occult. “Are you Wiccan?” It was the first thing that came into his head. “I understand they practice a benevolent type of witchcraft.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Archer’s mouth curved into a small smile. “I’m not Wiccan, and I don’t belong to any society, though I do come from a long line of sorcerers.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“So you were born and bred with your special abilities?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Yes, my family’s heritage dates back to the sixteenth century.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby took a sip of wine. He still couldn’t believe he was talking to a supernatural being. “So how did your family acquire their special abilities?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Archer shrugged. “No one knows how or why the power to cast spells was given to us, only that the gift should be used for Good.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby absorbed that. “Okay, since every element supposedly has an opposite, what about the power of Evil, does it exist?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Yes. There are countless devil worshipers all over the world.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby took a gulp of wine. “Is that what you think we’re dealing with here? Is someone working black magic on Derek?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Archer nodded slowly. “It would appear so.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby grimaced at the idea. Though he’d always thought of himself as a spiritual person, in as much as he enjoyed nature and wildlife, he’d never considered himself to be religious person. Yet now he was being told that not only did Evil exist, but he would have to go up against it. “Obviously, you see farther than I do with this stuff. So how do we proceed?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“We take protective measures and wait for them to make the next move.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Them? You think there’s more than one person involved?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Thirteen to be exact, the number that makes up a coven.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby knew his eyes must be as large as saucers. Sorcerers, witches, covens, devil worshipers. His head swam. For a second he wondered if Archer was making that all up, but the truth was visible in his gaze. “How can you defeat that many?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“The number doesn’t matter. When it comes down to it, It’ll be me against their leader.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“And you believe your magic’s stronger?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Good against Evil is always a tossup.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Not very reassuring.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“I don’t want to lie to you, Kirby. You need to be prepared for what might come. And the best thing you can do right now is get some rest.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Fat chance, with images of horned beings stuck in my head.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“So sleep in my bed.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby blinked. “What?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“You can rest easy with me. My clairvoyant genii will alert me at the first sign of danger.” He paused, holding Kirby’s gaze. “The offer comes with or without sex.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby couldn’t prevent the flash of lust that streaked through him before he thought of Marcus with a pang of guilt. Betraying him mentally was one thing. Everybody went fantasy-window shopping now and again, but doing the down and dirty with Archer behind Marcus’ back was something else again.</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Added to that, it didn’t seem as if the wizard’s sentiments were involved. For him it was probably just an itch that needed to be scratched, and giving in would be wrong. Then again, staying close to Archer for safety’s sake sounded reasonable and sensible. He wasn’t a coward, but the things they were dealing with were enough to give any mere mortal the heebie-jeebies. He drained his drink. “Okay, I’ll sleep in your bed, but no sex. I’m seeing someone.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"> <strong><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">An hour later, Kirby was stripped down to his white jockey’s, lying as close as he could to the edge of Archer’s king size bed without falling out. Sleep was all but impossible. Firstly, he couldn’t stop thinking about that group of devil worshipers out there planning who knows what. Secondly, he’d glimpsed Archer getting undressed and knew he was buck-naked on the other side of the bed, which was driving him mad with desire, wondering about the size and shape of the wizard’s sex. He tried again to relax his muscles, closing his eyes while he drew in some slow deep breaths, visualizing a white sandy beach with palm trees and gently lapping waves.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Still awake?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby snapped his eyes open. “What? Ah, yeah…” He hoped the other man couldn’t read minds.</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Want me to sing you a lullaby?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Glancing over his shoulder to see Archer’s white teeth flash in the darkness,</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"> <strong><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Kirby had to laugh. “Thanks, Mom, but I’ll pass.”</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“How about a good night kiss?”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“Cut it out.”</span></strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">“<strong><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Cut what out, this?” Archer reached over and laid a gentle hand on Kirby’s shoulder. He let his fingers glide down over the bicep and forearm to Kirby’s palm, which he softly stroked, making the blood shoot to Kirby’s dick. “I may be taking advantage of the situation but sex is a great antidote for tension.”</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 145%;">Kirby, whose pulse was as jerky as his breathing, couldn’t disagree. Nor could he look away from McKenzie’s dark gaze, glowing with erotic promise.</span></strong></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-33086316281344589772016-02-01T06:34:00.002-08:002016-11-17T11:39:20.329-08:00BIKER'S RUN GIVEAWAY<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">FIRST READ GIVEAWAY</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">BIKER'S RUN</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Shifters and Lovers Book 3</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Coming from Extasy Books, February 15 2016</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can Logan stop running from himself?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Will Noah stand up for his own happiness?</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Erotic Romance/Gay/Paranormal/Shapeshifter</span> </strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2lkbqc7AQqqUo5Z3Ne3locbIDlsZMoofkhZLYhAbfdQBQ3apVz1VviEr7x4D_n70WeCBsWiAG7S4SEi4b_UmWFmMBayKQIHwyScMa4ajC_mgedZUL2MT3m_FFA0CgEdYsu2sy_oC_OU/s1600/bikersrun300+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2lkbqc7AQqqUo5Z3Ne3locbIDlsZMoofkhZLYhAbfdQBQ3apVz1VviEr7x4D_n70WeCBsWiAG7S4SEi4b_UmWFmMBayKQIHwyScMa4ajC_mgedZUL2MT3m_FFA0CgEdYsu2sy_oC_OU/s400/bikersrun300+%25283%2529.jpg" width="265" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strong><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hello everyone,</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for dropping by.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;">I'm giving away three First Read digital copies of Biker's Run (Shifters and Lovers Book 3 ). For those of you who haven't caught up with the series yet, each book can be read as a stand-alone, but the stories do include crossover characters.</span></div>
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</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To enter the draw, please leave a comment and your contact information. If you would like to register as a follower on this blog, you will have two chances to win. The contest runs until midnight February 13 2016. The winners will be announced on February 14.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good luck!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Logan Ripley is an agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration. He’s great at his job but lousy with people. Raised by a drug abusive father, he knows that some feelings are better kept hidden.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Noah Nicklin is a security specialist and lion shifter, whose inbred senses, strength and speed is sought after by the DEA. The Federal Agency is conducting a sting operation, using undercover agents to infiltrate an outlaw biker gang and take down a dangerous drug lord.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An enthusiastic Biker, Noah is thrilled to be part of the covert mission, especially since he’ll be teaming up with Logan Ripley, a wet dream come to life.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Logan Ripley walked back to Securecon’s offices with alarm bells going off in his head. He’d have to watch himself around Noah Nicklin. He could read faces as well as he could shoot, and Noah Nicklin’s eyes had communicated sexual awareness, which could prove to be a problem.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not that the shifter wasn't his type, he definitely was, with his fair hair and slim muscled torso and those intriguing eyes, the color of golden honey. However, when it came to a rumba between the sheets, Logan had two simple rules. The guy had to be hot, and have no expectations of a future relationship. Logan had come to terms with his personal issues years ago, accepting that he was doomed to spend the rest of his life alone.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The early morning air was already heating up when Noah and Brand met up with the DEA agent. Noah had barely slept last night. Unable to shut off his mind as it filled with Ripley's image.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At present, Noah rubbed the hint of blond whiskers on his chin while he admired the strong line of Ripley's jaw, darkened by sexy stubble. </span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The agent was dressed in black leather today, radiating testosterone as he slid his sunglasses down his nose to study the shifters’ bikes. Noah’s silver and black Harley was relatively new. He’d saved for a year to buy it and it had plenty of power behind it.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Good machines," was all Ripley said before he turned and walked toward his own top-of-the-line Harley.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Noah studied the agent’s wide shoulders and well-rounded ass beneath his tight leathers, imagining again how he would look naked. It was going to be tough controlling himself when Ripley was near.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"You’re hot for him, aren’t you?"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Noah glanced up guiltily at Brand’s whispered remark, looking in Ripley’s direction to make sure he hadn’t overheard. "Yeah, I’m attracted," he said, watching Ripley throw a long leg over his bike and fire it up, "but I doubt it’ll amount to anything. The agent obviously has a firm grip on his emotions, even if his looks could make any guy's dick come in an instant."</span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Brand chuckled at the aside. "I’ve never known you to give up so easily when you’re in lust with a guy."</span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As much as Noah would love to get the mercurial Ripley between the sheets, he didn’t want to make a fool of himself. "We'll see how it goes."<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-8142947089757117522015-08-07T15:51:00.001-07:002015-08-22T07:25:22.597-07:00ROMANCING THE GUARDIAN<div align="center">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">FIRST READS GIVEAWAY</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Categories:</span><u1:p></u1:p>
<span style="color: red;">Erotic
Romance/Gay/Paranormal/Shapeshifter</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Pdmza6RJB7Ilo3FdVa3lxSVHKnY6R8Bl7agdctzOeWkLteQThXjDJZv4Py-YSsJ6vDzJ9N4Mbnq8xMlSw3tdZinpiMiLQZXW0xQzhrFRugMdz9NtHwC3CEk2haHbkbB4OBqVZ25LdU/s1600/admin-ajax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Pdmza6RJB7Ilo3FdVa3lxSVHKnY6R8Bl7agdctzOeWkLteQThXjDJZv4Py-YSsJ6vDzJ9N4Mbnq8xMlSw3tdZinpiMiLQZXW0xQzhrFRugMdz9NtHwC3CEk2haHbkbB4OBqVZ25LdU/s400/admin-ajax.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hi All,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thanks for dropping in. I hope you'll come back often for updates on my books and details on contests and giveaways. To celebrate the release of Romancing The Guardian (book #2 in the Shifters and Lovers series) I'm giving away three digital copies. See excerpts below. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To enter the draw, please leave a comment and your contact information. If you would like to register as a follower on this blog, you will have two chances to win. The contest runs until August 28 2015. The winners will be announced on August 30.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Good luck! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Who knew the mission would come with rewards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rick Cantrell is an up and coming actor, who’s been featured in the top ten of the sexiest men’s polls. He also has stalker on his trail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Jordan Riker is a lion shifter with a difficult past. He quit his pride due to his controlling father’s demands, and he was burned by his boyfriend shortly after. Now, he’s a newbie bodyguard, assigned to protect the seriously hot, Rick Cantrell. Though Jordan is immediately drawn to the charismatic actor and recognizes the connection between them, he resists Cantrell’s sexual advances to uphold his professional standards and guard his heart from further hurt.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rick Cantrell is a never-take-no-for-an-answer kind of guy. Despite his bodyguard’s best efforts to push him away, Rick thinks he may have the man of his dreams in Jordan Riker.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">Excerpt #1:</span></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“So Brody Maitland and his husband joined your clan shortly before you left?”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Yes, they started Securecon about a year before I left the pride.” As he spoke he was aware that Cantrell was watching his mouth. “Later," he said, "when they learned about my circumstances, they offered me this job.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“They sound like decent guys.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“They are. I have tremendous respect for both of them.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Do you always wear your hair in a ponytail?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The abrupt change of topic jolted Jordan. “What?”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Just wondering.” The actor’s gaze dropped to Jordan’s crotch, making it clear he was speculating on the color of his pubic hair, which made Jordan’s pants tightened. <em>Damn it. </em></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cantrell’s continuous flirting was wearing him down. Thank god, Noah Nicklin was flying in as backup. It would save him from spending any longer than was necessary with the alluring actor.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A few beats of silence followed while Cantrell continued to watch Jordan over the rim of his glass. “What would you say if I told you I have an overwhelming urge to kiss you?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Jordan’s heart jumped. “I’d say that’s a bad idea.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Why? You can’t deny there’s a strong attraction. I know it would be good between us. Plus, I’m certainly not going to tell anyone that you’re gay, if that’s what’s bothering you. I have to stay closeted myself, or risk losing the leading roles.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Jordan avoided a straight answer because he was too conflicted to voice one. Again, he fell back on his professional code. “I have consider what impact our getting involved could have on this case. Your stalker could be out there planning who knows what. If I’m distracted by sex, I can’t function at my top level.” He paused, picking up his water glass as he eyed the actor. “Plus, I don’t figure you for a person who does idealism. You seem to be a right now kind of guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A twinkle came into the actor’s blue eyes. “Does that mean you’re looking for true love?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Jordan’s fingers tensed in his lap. “Even if I were on the lookout for someone special, my present situation doesn’t lend itself to a long-term relationship.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Cantrell watched his face closely. “Short-term’s better than nothing.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Jordan huffed out a breath. “Can we change the subject please? Why don’t you tell me about you?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The actor’s lips curved. “Am I looking for true love, you mean?"</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Excerpt #2:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">After a hard swim of fifty laps, Rick climbed out of the hotel pool, pushing his dripping hair away from his face as he walked to a secluded spot and flopped down on a lounger. Unfortunately, the cold water had done nothing to damp down his semi-erection, which pressed against his black swim briefs. As discreetly as possible, he adjusted himself, then pillowed his head with his arms and glanced at the cause of his discomfort.</span><br />
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Riker was sitting upright on a chase lounge, wearing an orange t-shirt and gray swim shorts. Ostensibly he was reading a mystery novel while he watched the goings on in and around the pool area. Rick lowered his gaze to Jordan's crotch, wondering again how much meat he was packing behind his sensible swim shorts... When his cock moved, he dragged his gaze away, wondering if he should give his stand-in and occasional fuck buddy a call. What would Riker think of that? Would he leave them alone in the suite to do their thing, or stay because he was duty-bound?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He blew out a breath. The problem was he didn't want anyone but Riker, his mouth, his cock, but since they weren't going to fuck, all he could do was fantasize and self-serve. With the daydream running through his mind and the sun warming his back, Rick didn't recall drifting off, but he came sharply awake when a hand fell on his shoulder. "Yeah, what's up?" Turning onto his back, he rubbed his eyes, squinting up at a face haled by the sun. "Jordan?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"You've been asleep for almost an hour. I was worried you'd get burnt."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rick had to laugh. "Well, thanks, mom. Do you want to rub sunblock on me?"</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-5845804677286432662015-05-07T08:19:00.002-07:002015-07-08T16:05:38.513-07:00BOUND TO BRODY<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bound To Brody</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now available at all online book stores.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> B</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ook #1 in the
Shifters and Lovers series</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read the synopsis and
adult excerpt below</span></span></span></span>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-size: large;">Amazon US </span><a href="http://ow.ly/MGI3g"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Book Antiqua; font-size: large;">http://ow.ly/MGI3g</span></a><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amazon
UK <a href="http://ow.ly/MGIfv"><span style="color: blue;">http://ow.ly/MGIfv</span></a></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3H7mWE7ruNQrv_YggN_neq5wy6dhyphenhyphenwQzbCRRLLFW_5-_NjfTeQFQRu6jo0Eo_NRueawG5W2VH5nAOf-_af-p6esBgExGiZFrybigMMhTD6GIZyHZLu3dYNiqraPQYV1oKNudsbo9Bq0/s1600/BoundToBrody300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3H7mWE7ruNQrv_YggN_neq5wy6dhyphenhyphenwQzbCRRLLFW_5-_NjfTeQFQRu6jo0Eo_NRueawG5W2VH5nAOf-_af-p6esBgExGiZFrybigMMhTD6GIZyHZLu3dYNiqraPQYV1oKNudsbo9Bq0/s400/BoundToBrody300.jpg" width="265" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Does
a second chance at love have a price?</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 13pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Zac McQuade is a
former marine living two lives. On the surface he’s a special agent for the
FBI. Undercover, he’s an assassin for the Secret Intelligence Service. When Zac
returns to his childhood home for his niece’s christening, the last person he
expects to see is Brody Maitland, his former college crush. Though Zac’s
attraction to Brody has gone unfulfilled, he still thinks of him as the one who
got away</span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dr. Brody Maitland is
a practicing psychologist with a few secrets of his own. Though he has always
admired Zac, he thinks he is terminally straight. Currently, Brody is
conducting an off-the-record investigation, in search of a young male
patient who’s gone missing. Believing Zac’s cover story, Brody enlists his help
to solve the intricate case, plunging them both into a deadly game of intrigue
and deception. As the attraction between the two very different men heats up,
they are faced with the ultimate test of love and loyalty.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Excerpt</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Zac pushed open the
door to The Decoy Club and almost fell back from the blast of thumping music
and raised voices. He grinned as he snaked his way through the mass of bodies.
He’d always enjoyed the high energy of gay clubs, and this one was one of the best,
crowded with guys of all ages and from all walks of life. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heading for the bar,
Zac was lucky enough to snag a seat at the far end. Above him on the mezzanine,
there were rows of men leaning over the balcony railing, watching the action
below. Zac was aware of the speculative glances being cast in his direction. It
was liberating and reassuring to see so many like-minded men, knowing every one
of them accepted him for who he was.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, hello,
good-looking. I haven’t seen you in here before.”</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Glancing up at the
smiling bartender, Zac automatically clicked into cover mode. “Yeah, I’m
visiting friends in the area.” In truth, he’d been in the club several times
over the past few years.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bartender held
his gaze. “Well, if you’re looking for company, I get off eleven…”</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Tempting,” Zac said.
“But I’m waiting for someone.” Then again, if Brody wasn’t on the scene, this
guy was exactly Zac’s type, fair-haired and well-built without being overly
muscular.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well, if your date
doesn’t show, or you change your mind, I’m right here.”</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Good to know,” Zac
said, “and I’ll take a beer.”</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*
* * *</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brody entered the
noisy Decoy club in a state of high excitement. Though he didn’t expect that
Zac and he would have sex tonight, he hoped they would make a start in that
direction. It had been hell holding his feelings in check while he worked the
case alongside his walking wet dream, and after that kiss…<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He stopped dead when
his beast detected a familiar scent. He turned his head to see Zac sitting at
the dim end of the bar. God, Brody thought, he looks sexy as hell, all dressed
up in his cute button-down shirt. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Brody had deliberated
over his outfit, not sure if he should wear jeans because Zac might. He was
glad he’d changed his mind and worn tailored black trousers to go with his new
burgundy Armani shirt. As he drew closer to the bar, his heart began to pick up
a beat. He skirted around a group of men in business suits, and ended up a few
paces behind Zac, reaching out to tap one of his muscular shoulders. He froze
when Zac turned abruptly with a fierce look on his face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Uh, hi,” Brody
stammered, taking a step backward. “Has something happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Zac gave a slight
shake of his head. “Sorry, coming up behind me like that can spook me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brody surmised the
reaction was left over from Zac’s army days, where soldiers counted on their
heightened senses. Now, he watched Zac’s features soften into a slow gorgeous
smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“So, Doctor Maitland,
can I buy you a drink?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gazing back into those heavily lashed
electric blue eyes, filled with sexual promise, Brody felt the blood pooling in
his groin, stiffening his dick...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-14715577828309577952015-04-20T06:57:00.001-07:002015-04-29T09:39:28.870-07:00<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">FIRST READS GIVEAWAY<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8btrOFc144z-JZmxVsAvoeQDYHiARjBA8A2XcEgCnGcoYnAiFZwn2XXIV5p1EWCSOu-CJ7cMXCe87yGOn6HoehNrHm3oRP3g7QmeHBorbMht9HpBhyN_7DjmYm0muf-ADdWIQbjujNhU/s1600/BoundToBrody72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8btrOFc144z-JZmxVsAvoeQDYHiARjBA8A2XcEgCnGcoYnAiFZwn2XXIV5p1EWCSOu-CJ7cMXCe87yGOn6HoehNrHm3oRP3g7QmeHBorbMht9HpBhyN_7DjmYm0muf-ADdWIQbjujNhU/s1600/BoundToBrody72.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Genres: </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Erotic Romance/Gay
GLBT/Paranormal/Shapeshifter</span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></b><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for dropping in. I hope you’ll
come back frequently for updates on my books and details on contests and
giveaways. At present I’m giving away three digital copies of Bound To
Brody, the first book in the Shifters and Lovers series—release date May 1 2015.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The synopsis and excerpt are posted below. To enter the
draw, please leave a comment and your contact information. Also, if you would like to register as a
follower on this blog, you will have two chances to win. The contest runs until
April 28 2015. The winners will be announced on April 30.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good Luck!<o:p></o:p></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does a second chance at love have a
price?</span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Zac
McQuade is a former marine living two lives. On the surface he’s a special
agent for the FBI. Undercover, he’s an assassin for the Secret Intelligence
Service. When Zac returns to his childhood home for his niece’s christening,
the last person he expects to see is Brody Maitland, his former college crush.
Though Zac’s attraction to Brody has gone unfulfilled, he still thinks of him
as the one who got away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dr.
Brody Maitland is a practicing psychologist with a few secrets of his own.
Though he has always admired Zac, he thinks he is terminally straight.
Currently, Brody is conducting an off-the-record investigation, in search of a young male patient who’s gone missing.
Believing Zac’s cover story, Brody enlists his help to solve the intricate
case, plunging them both into a deadly game of intrigue and deception. As the
attraction between the two very different men heats up, they are faced with the
ultimate test of love and loyalty</span>.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Excerpt</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Zac pushed
open the door to The Decoy Club and almost fell back from the blast of thumping
music and raised voices. He grinned as he snaked his way through the mass of
bodies. He’d always enjoyed the high energy of gay clubs, and this one was one
of the best, crowded with guys of all ages and from all walks of life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heading for
the bar, Zac was lucky enough to snag a seat at the far end. Above him on the
mezzanine, there were rows of men leaning over the balcony railing, watching
the action below. Zac was aware of the speculative glances being cast in his
direction. It was liberating and reassuring to see so many like-minded men,
knowing every one of them accepted him for who he was.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Well,
hello, good-looking. I haven’t seen you in here before.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glancing up
at the smiling bartender, Zac automatically clicked into cover mode. “Yeah, I’m
visiting friends in the area.” In truth, he’d been in the club several times
over the past few years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
bartender held his gaze. “Well, if you’re looking for company, I get off eleven…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Tempting,”
Zac said. “But I’m waiting for someone.” Then again, if Brody wasn’t on the
scene, this guy was exactly Zac’s type, fair-haired and well-built without
being overly muscular.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Well, if
your date doesn’t show, or you change your mind, I’m right here.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Good to
know,” Zac said, “and I’ll take a beer.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brody entered
the noisy Decoy club in a state of high excitement. <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though
he didn’t expect that Zac and he would have sex tonight, he hoped they would
make a start in that direction.</span></span> It had been hell holding
his feelings in check while he worked the case alongside his walking wet dream,
and after that kiss…</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He stopped
dead when his beast detected a familiar scent. He turned his head to see Zac
sitting at the dim end of the bar. God, Brody thought, he looks sexy as hell,
all dressed up in his cute button-down shirt.<o:p></o:p></span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brody had
deliberated over his outfit, not sure if he should wear jeans because Zac
might. He was glad he’d changed his mind and worn tailored black trousers to go
with his new burgundy Armani shirt. As he drew closer to the bar, his heart
began to pick up a beat. He skirted around a group of men in business suits, and
ended up a few paces behind Zac, reaching out to tap one of his muscular
shoulders. He froze when Zac turned abruptly with a fierce look on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Uh, hi,”
Brody stammered, taking a step backward. “Has something happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Zac gave a
slight shake of his head. “Sorry, coming up behind me like that can spook me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brody
surmised the reaction was left over from Zac’s army days, where soldiers
counted on their heightened senses. Now, he watched Zac’s features soften into
a slow gorgeous smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“So, Doctor
Maitland, can I buy you a drink?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gazing back
into those heavily lashed electric blue eyes, filled with sexual promise, Brody
felt the blood pooling in his groin, stiffening his dick...</span></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-89497121413202781792015-04-04T14:44:00.000-07:002018-04-29T09:45:14.437-07:00<div align="center">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Huntress Chronicles</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Best Seller</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">FIRST CHAPTER </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Private Investigator,
Kat Monroe, is a woman to be reckoned with, an inborn huntress with predatory
speed and lightning fast reflexes. Now a sadistic killer has her in his sights.
Aiming to take her forward in time, where she’ll be forced to fight in a gladiatorial
arena.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enter Max and Brett Jericho, time traveling supercops on
assignment to bring the killer to justice. Even as her world becomes deadlier,
Kat is blown away by the gorgeous, future cops. When they all end up in bed
together, each man fulfills Kat’s long suppressed desires.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Determined to beat the killer at his own game, Kat opts to
travel to the future and set herself up as bait. With her shifter supercops
watching her back, what could possibly go wrong?</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Huntress For Hire</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Copyright © 2012 Ali Atwood</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISBN: 978-1-77111-110-2</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cover art by Angela Waters</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Published by eXtasy Books</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Huntress For Hire</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Huntress Chronicles One</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ali Atwood</span></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter One</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Boston Massachusetts.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Present day</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hey, I’m back. Flew the redeye in from LA and met a great guy
on the plane.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The words came through Kat Monroe’s earpiece
as she gunned her SUV through an orange traffic light. Steel-belted radials
screeched as she edged her way between a belching metro bus and a suicidal bike
messenger.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Finding humor in the madness, Kat’s husky
laughter rippled through the cell link. “Hey, bestie, welcome home. I’m
battling a traffic jam from hell here. Did you say you’d met a new guy?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes, he’s a freelance photojournalist who lives here in Boston.
Hold on…” Switching her cell phone to her other ear, Lora Harrison retrieved
her luggage from the carousel and walked from the terminal building to wait for
the airport limo. “I gave him my number and we’ll see if he calls.” She sat on
a bench, stretching out her shapely legs. “So dish, Monroe. What’s happening
with you?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kat blew out a breath. “Same old, working my ass off trying to
sign new clients.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The women had hooked-up in college and stayed
best friends, despite the fact that they were polar opposites in looks and
temperament. Kat, an ex-cop turned private investigator, verged on Amazonian
proportions, standing a little over six feet. She had silvery-gray eyes accentuated
by her dark, sable hair. She was feminine enough to wear it long though she
normally braided it for work. Since she’d been forced to conceal a large part
of herself from an early age, she could appear aloof at times.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Lora Harrison, an executive chef for a large,
catering company, had just returned from a short, business trip to Southern
California. A petite, blue-eyed blonde with a bubbling personality and
boundless energy, she was nothing if not forthright.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Stopping stalling, Monroe, I want deets.
Have you done the naked deed with anyone since you dumped Josh?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Passing a high-sided truck, Kat slowed for
red light. Her expressive face moving into grimace. “Nada on the sex.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Huh. So what is it now, four months?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Closer to six and a half.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Prior to resigning from the Boston PD to open
her own investigation agency, Kat had dated Josh Harper, a fellow homicide
detective. Though he was fifteen years older than Kat with craggy features that
couldn’t be called handsome, he kept his tall, rangy body in good shape and Kat
enjoyed his keen sense of humor. Three months into the relationship, Kat walked
into the supply room early one morning to find Nancy Murphy, from human
resources, on her knees with Josh’s dick in her mouth.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The episode hadn’t been a heartbreaker, since
Kat’s heart hadn’t been on the line. Still, she had expected the affair to
remain exclusive for as long as it lasted. Since she couldn’t avoid running
into Harper on the job, she’d put up a good front. But the incident had played
on her insecurities. Lately, she’d begun to wonder if there were any men out
there worth shaving her legs for.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “What you need now, girl, is a well-hung guy
to erase the memory of that asshole. And since I’ll be in town for a while, I
can help you prowl for a likely candidate.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat released a heavy sigh. “Truthfully, Lora,
the only thing I want to pursue at present are my career goals.” Her outgoings
in the last few months had done some serious damage to her bank account. She
needed to pull in some lucrative contracts. “You know as well as I do that a
woman trying to build a reputation in a male dominated profession has to work
twice as hard to win even a modicum of respect.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Lora made sympathetic noises. “I hear you,
hon. I really do. But <i>mmm, mmm</i>, male dominated. Summons all kinds
of erotic images.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat rolled her eyes. “Is there anything that
doesn’t summon erotic images for you?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Lora chuckled. “Nope, I’m a simple woman. My
mind undresses every man I meet.” She paused. “Look, sweetie, you know I love
you to bits, but the truth is, you’re driven to a fault and it can’t be
healthy. You need to lighten up. Forget about work and come clubbing with me
tonight. We can analyze the benefits of hot sex over a pitcher of cold
Margaritas. With luck we’ll find a couple of guys to help us follow our line of
investigation.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat hesitated, thinking about her upcoming
appointment with the client that she was hoping to sign. A Mr. Dawson who was
keen to find his missing wife and, the large sum of money Mrs. Dawson had
lifted from the couple’s joint savings account. To give Dawson confidence in
her abilities, Kat had planned to do some preliminary research this evening.
“The thing is…I’d envisioned a quick, nuked dinner before I pull an all-nighter
for a prospective case.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> There was a short silence. “All right, I want
you to be straight with me, are you, A-genuinely bogged down with urgent
investigation work, B-determined to hide from men because you’re secretly
nursing a broken heart over Josh Harper, or C-avoiding my company because I’ve
inadvertently done something to piss you off?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “What! No. God, Lora, no, it’s got nothing to
do with you. You’re my best girl pal forever.” In truth, Kat would like nothing
more than to confide in Lora about her sudden fear of sleeping. But she didn’t
dare, in case her friend thought she’d gone loopy. Instead, she offered a
half-truth, “If I’ve seemed a little off, it’s because I’ve been suffering with
insomnia for a couple of weeks. It makes it difficult to concentrate during
working hours.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Lora made a relieved sound. “Okay, well
that’s not so bad. So you’ll do a few hours of office work this afternoon, have
a night on the town with me, where you might possibly meet someone you want to
take home for an uncomplicated fuck. Hey, presto! You’ll sleep like a baby
tonight.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat had to laugh. Lora never failed to lift
her spirits. “Alright, done, I’m yours to command for the evening.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “There you go again, conjuring those sexy,
bondage images.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kat pulled a comical face to herself. “Tie me up, tie me down. I
suppose you want to have dinner first?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Lora chuckled. “I’ll see if I can get us a
table overlooking the harbor at our favorite restaurant.” Lora’s cousin owned
the seafood restaurant. “What time should I book?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Hmm. Eight o’clock, that’ll give me time to
get some of the work done.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> There was silence and then a <i>damn </i>from
Lora. “Gotta go, hon, the new pastry chef I hired just texted me a
nine-one-one. See you at the restaurant.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Lora hung up as Kat pulled her
four-wheel-drive vehicle into the wide, shrubbery-edged driveway leading to her
redbrick fixer-upper. Turning off the engine, she popped the trunk, grabbed her
briefcase off the passenger seat and walked to the rear of the vehicle for her
groceries. As she cast a fond eye over her garden, she noticed the rhododendron
bushes were covered with deep, pink blossoms. To her mind, their blooming
always marked the transition from winter to spring. She paused to savor the
perfect day, lifting her face to let the May sunshine warm it, the spring
breeze snagging wisps free from her braid.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Simultaneously, she felt a sudden stirring in
the air as her inner wavelengths signaled that something unforeseen was at
hand. Turning on her heel, Kat looked back along the length of her gravel
driveway, watching a tall man in a long, black coat walk through the entrance.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Thanks to her special abilities, which Kat
kept hidden, she didn’t fear strangers the way the average woman might. All the
same, she watched the newcomer speculatively until she saw a large, black dog
running to catch up with the man who paused to attach a leash to the dog’s
collar. With that, Kat assumed the stranger was one of the townies who
regularly scouted this area, looking to buy one of the older properties that
sat on a large plot. Most of the buyers, like Kat, had reconstruction in mind.
Perhaps this guy had walked too far and lost his bearings.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> As man and dog approached through the
tree-dappled sunlight, the stranger’s features were obscured, but it was clear
he was youngish. With a professional eye, Kat logged the rest of his
details—height around six feet, weight in the region of one eighty, dark,
longish hair and his black coat appeared to be made of leather. Since it was unbuttoned
and flapping in the breeze, it reminded Kat of something a cowboy might wear.
She almost expected to see a pistol strapped to his hip.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Her gaze drifted down to his canine
companion. A large dog with a glossy, black coat that looked to be a cross
between a Labrador and a German Shepherd. She was amused to see it had a doggie
version of a backpack strapped around its middle.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The stranger waved a hand in greeting. “Good
afternoon. A lovely day, is it not?” His voice drifted across to her like a
soft rumble of thunder. It was strangely accented, not quite American.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat offered a politely enquiring smile. “Yes,
a beautiful day.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She was distracted when the dog started to pull on its leash,
making excited, snuffling sounds, obviously eager to greet someone new. Kat
loved dogs and hoped to adopt one when she wasn’t working quite so many hours.
Now she gazed down into an appealing, canine face, dominated by large,
intelligent, brown eyes. The dog wagged its tail in apparent response to her
instinctive smile.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Hello there, sweetie.” She bent to stoke its
satiny, black head while the dog licked her fingers. Then it looked up into her
eyes and woofed softly, completely charming Kat. “Well aren’t you a darling—”
she glanced at its genitals— “boy?” She stroked its head a couple more times
before she came upright to speak to the man. Finding her gaze level with the
strong column of his throat inside the neckline of his black sweater, she
amended his height to six-six or -seven. Plus he was bigger framed than he
looked from a distance with an impressive width of shoulders that all but
filled her vision</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When she swept her gaze upward, she felt as
if the air had been knocked out of her. The eyes watching her with piercing
intensity looked as though they’d been fashioned from molten gold, emphasized
by inky lashes. His hair was blue-black, waving as it wished in sexy disarray.
A quick study of the rest of his face with its smooth, bronzed skin and
beautifully sculptured mouth showed there wasn’t anything about him not
attractive. Even the small scar running along the right side of his jaw added
to his appeal. Kat could almost hear Lora shouting from the other side of
town, <i>Seize the moment, girl. Don’t let this one get away</i>.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mentally Kat shook her head. He was way too
beautiful for her or any average-looking woman’s peace of mind. While she had
never had occasion to use the term eye-candy, this guy was confection to die
for—a creamy chocolate type you could become addicted to, if you were lucky
enough to get a taste in the first place. Doubtless, he dated the type of
star-spangled women you saw in the glossy magazines.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She spoke in a neutral, neighborly tone, as
if she wasn’t affected by his looks, “Since you don’t look like somebody
selling magazine subscriptions, I’m guessing you’re new to the area, in need of
directions.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> For a second her mysterious visitor looked
puzzled, supporting the theory that English was not his first language. Then
his eyes filled with laughter, his mouth curving into a smile that upped his
appeal quotient from hot to sizzling. “No, I’m not a door-to-door salesman and
Mrs. Patel, at the corner store, pointed me in this direction. I’m looking for
Kathryn Monroe.” His gaze steadied on her face. “Would that be you?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Staring into his extraordinary eyes, the
woman in Kat lost her train of thought, but the ex-cop picked up the threads.
“Yes, I’m Kat Monroe. And you are…?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> This time his smile was quick and apologetic.
“Sorry, I should have introduced myself straight away. I’m Max…Jericho.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He held out a large hand and Kat shook it. It
was callused and felt like rock. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Jericho, I’m curious
why Mrs. Patel would send you to me. This house isn’t for rent or sale. As you
can see, I’m still renovating.” She indicated to the builder’s scaffolding
covering the side of the house where the brickwork was undergoing repointing.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jericho flicked his gaze to her house. “And
I’m sure it’ll look splendid when finished. However, that’s not why I’m here. I
need your professional help.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She blinked. “You want to hire me?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Yes.” He watched her face. “I’m hoping you
can start right away.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Off balance, she quickly considered. Mr.
Dawson was coming to see her the day after tomorrow. It was hard to estimate
how much time it would take to track down the errant Mrs. Dawson. But she had
juggled two or more cases before. “I’m sure I can find the time to help you.”
She was curious. “How did you hear about me?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jericho hesitated. “I found you online, but
somehow misplaced your office address on the way here.” He gave an elegant
shrug.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He didn’t strike Kat as a man who would
misplace anything.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Fortunately, Mrs. Patel was able to help.”
His eyes twinkled. “She considers you to be an asset to the neighborhood by the
way.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Listening to his rich rumbling voice that
made everything he said sound fascinating, Kat did what she usually did with
prospective clients, opened her para-senses to probe his chi. She found his
emotional levels were deep and inconsistent, making it hard to get a fix on
him. But since she didn’t get any red warning signals, she relaxed, as much as
any woman could relax when faced with so much masculine beauty. If it crossed
her mind to have a word with Mrs. Patel regarding privacy issues, she dismissed
it. The woman had done her a service after all.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “In what area do you need my help, Mr.
Jericho?” Recently she’d been involved with a couple of industrial espionage
cases. However, the vast majority of her work dealt with missing persons the
police had failed to find.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I’d like you to help me locate a thief who
made off with four-point-five million in uncut diamonds.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat blinked slowly. “Well, that’s certainly
out of the ordinary.” Not many PIs were offered sexy cases tied to millions of
dollars’ worth of diamonds, let alone a sexy client to go with it, even if all
she could do was look. The Josh Harper disaster had cured her of mixing
business and pleasure. “I’m assuming you’re an insurance investigator, since
law enforcement is not in the habit of hiring PIs.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “No, they’re not, but I’m foreign law
enforcement without jurisdiction. I come from a small European country called
Baltrania. And the victim is a Baltranian diplomat.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat had never heard of the place. And she had
to wonder why a foreign diplomat would be carrying millions in uncut diamonds.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “The local police are looking into it,”
Jericho continued. “But since there are no leads so far, I decided to add an
outside investigator with local knowledge.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> His melodious voice flowed through Kat’s
senses like warm honey. She was curious to know why he’d chosen her when there
were three male PIs with offices in the vicinity. “If the Boston PD can’t find
your felon, what makes you think I can?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I liked what I heard about you from my contacts
in the department. The word is you handled yourself flawlessly while you were
on the job, showing an exceptional talent for tracking criminals.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat didn’t respond to that particular
comment. “What makes you think <i>your </i>perp is in the Boston area?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Something flickered in his eyes and was gone.
“The man we’re after has ties to this location. We’re certain he’ll be drawn to
here. To that end, I have an appointment with a realtor shortly in regards to
renting a property for a long-term stakeout.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat knew from her years on the force that
family ties had led to the arrest of many a criminal.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I’d like to give you a report to read and
we’ll go from there.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> While he looked down and dug around in a deep
coat pocket, Kat couldn’t help but dart another look at his fine mouth,
wondering how it might feel moving against hers, kissing her breathless.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Here you go.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She whipped her attention down to the
plastic-covered disk he was offering. She took it carefully, avoiding contact
with his hands so as not to think about how they might feel on her skin. Now
that Jericho was a client, he was strictly off-limits. And not just because of
her determination never to mix business and pleasure. The PI profession had a
very efficient grapevine, as you might expect. If it got around that Kat Monroe
slept with clients, she would lose all credibility. And that was the main issue
in her mind. Her livelihood had to be sufficient to support her and her sisters
until they graduated from college and embarked on their chosen careers.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat read the name written on the disk’s
plastic cover, “Viktor Kalsiak. That definitely sounds European, but your name
doesn’t.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I have American heritage. My knowledge of
the US is the reason I was given this assignment.” His gaze rested on her mouth
for a moment before he glanced down at his watch. “I have to go meet with that
realtor. So I’ll wait to hear from you.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I may not get back to you until tomorrow.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “No problem—hold still!” His hand snaked out
and brushed against the skin behind her left ear, sending a thrill racing up
her spine.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You had a little beetle on your hair.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She gave a breathless laugh. “I guess it is
that time of year.” <i>Lord, I really do need to get laid</i>.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Before you go, I’d like to give you this.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Her jittery gaze darted up to his and then
dropped to the sealed envelope he was offering her.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “It’s a thousand dollars, as a consultation
fee.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> As much as Kat’s dwindling bank account badly
needed an infusion, she shook her head. “It’s too much. My normal consultation
fee is two hundred dollars.” The fact that he <i>was </i>offering so
much made her suddenly question if he was legit. For all she knew, he could be
a con man using her to find a double-dealing partner.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Please take the money,” he urged. “I can
afford it.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> That increased her suspicions, but common
sense told her not to look a gift horse in the mouth, she settled for, “All
right, I’ll use the extra as a retainer. But if I decide for any reason not to
take the case, I’ll refund your money, minus two hundred dollars.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Very well.” He handed her the envelope.
“We’ll talk when you’re ready. My contact’s listed on the first page.” He
glanced down at the dog, sitting perfectly still all this time. “Okay, Bowwow,
it’s time for your run in the park.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat looked down at the sleek, black dog in
bemusement. It wagged its tail, its mouth opening in a doggy grin. “You named
him Bowwow?” It seemed disrespectful to give such a beautiful animal a
ridiculous name.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When Kat looked back at Jericho, the corners
of his mouth lifted in another beguiling smile. “I did warn him people would
remark on the name, but he wouldn’t listen.” With that, the pair turned and
walked away.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat had always appreciated a quirky sense of
humor. And studying Jericho’s fluid stride, she wondered what his backside
looked like. “You’ll never know, Monroe.” Slipping the disk into her jacket
pocket, she managed her grocery bag and briefcase as she walked to unlock her
front door.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Stepping into her wood, tiled-floor foyer, she
tossed her keys and purse onto the small mahogany table by her staircase,
crossing to punch in her passcode, disarming the security system. She shrugged
out of her navy jacket and hung it on the coat stand, leaving the disk in her
pocket for later.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She carried the grocery bag into the kitchen,
setting it on the counter. Her first step, as always when she came home, was to
fill the kettle to make tea or coffee. Once she set the water on the stove to
boil, she opened kitchen cabinets and quickly put away the groceries, her
thoughts returning to the alluring Mr. Jericho.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> She was still feeling slightly dazed by the
encounter and curious to see what was on his disk. At the same time, she warned
herself not to dwell on her reactions to him. Though maturity had moved her
from the gawky group into the attractive set, men, even ordinary looking ones,
didn’t exactly fall over themselves to get to her. Some were put off by her
height and attitude—she had plenty of it. And, of course, she was in the law and
order business, which intimidated many men. Her biggest problem was the
under-the-radar existence she’d been forced to live, never being able let her
guard down. More than anything, she wished there was someone she could open her
heart to.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> With the thought, she touched the
intricately, detailed, gold pedant her mother had given her on her twelfth
birthday—supposedly an old Celtic design. Kat still grieved for her beautiful
mother, Davina, who was tragically taken from her two years ago in a car accident.
Davina had made a living as a fine artist while she’d trained as a downhill
skier for the Olympics. She was a brilliant champion who’d won five, gold
medals.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat had never known her father who supposedly
died shortly after she was born. Kat suspected she was the result of a brief
affair. But it didn’t matter. Her mother had been a warm and generous woman who
had cherished Kat along with her half-sisters, Brigitta and Lexine, twins, who
were born when Kat was seven. The twins’ father, Malcolm, sustained a serious
head injury in the same accident that killed Davina. Fortunately, Malcolm had
come out of his coma and was improving daily, able to be part of his daughters’
lives again.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It was shortly after her half-sisters were
born that Kat began to notice she was feeling and sensing things differently,
scents and sounds suddenly seemed sharper. When she was in school or out in
public, she was more aware of movement around her and she sometimes heard
whispered words in her head.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Of course, she was still too young to
comprehend what her new sensitivity signified. When she finally mentioned it at
home, her mother sat her down to gently explain that she wasn’t an ordinary
child. She’d descended from a long line of females endowed with powerful psychic
skills and the ability to move at great speed.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> At that time, Davina did not consider her
daughter needed to be shown what was written in her great grandmother’s
journal. She simply told Kat she was experiencing the inception of a gift that
would strengthen at puberty.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat was thrilled. “So I’m kinda like a
supergirl?” She visualized herself fending off bullets like Wonder Woman. She
couldn’t wait to tell her school friends and see the amazement on their faces.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I’m afraid your legacy must remain a
secret.” Doubtless Davina had feared the authorities might step in and take her
daughter away to be tested.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The little girl had cried. “But what’s the
point in having special powers if I can’t show them off to my friends?”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Davina took hold of Kat’s hands to make her
point. “Because your gift comes with responsibly, Kathryn, it must never be
used for personal gain, only to help and defend others.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> As Kat grew from girl to teenager, she would
have died rather than reveal the truth about her herself. Her gift had become
the bane of her existence. At fifteen, she was biologically taller and more
powerfully built than the rest of the girls her age, feeling little better than
a bull in a china shop. She safeguarded her secret by pretending to be a
fitness fanatic who spent a lot of time in the gym. At the same time, she was
careful to keep her physical abilities in check when she played sports,
especially in front of boys. It wasn’t until she was into her senior year of
college that she could risk wearing high heels to social events. By that time,
she didn’t tower over the majority of males on campus. Not that it helped much.
Not once in all her years of wishing had she found a man she felt she could
trust with her secret, one that wouldn’t consider her a freak. Now that her
mother was gone, Kat had no one to confide in. She wished she had asked more
questions when her mother was alive. Maybe huntresses weren’t supposed to fall
in love. Perhaps that’s why her mother hadn’t kept a permanent man in her life.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> With her mother’s death, Kat had become the
family leader, helping to support her sisters. That’s why she needed to pull in
some profitable contracts to offset the cost of tuition and the renovation to
the house.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Kat sighed heavily. As much as she needed
someone to confide in, her sisters were dealing with the usual teenage
tribulations, starting college and their own burgeoning powers. She wasn’t
about to burden them with her sudden fear of sleeping.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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When the kettle started to whistle, she shut off her detour of self-pity and
focused on the work she had to get through plus the report from Jericho. She
opted to make a pot of tea.</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-57442078122537973272015-02-22T09:17:00.002-08:002015-04-09T14:59:01.307-07:00<div align="center">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Romance’s Popularity Keeps Growing</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7p_GnfbLfnaxperMLhdcVeSzHvz-EL1A9ZIj6YdhyphenhyphenMd4fc_LdpuI4qwnWlm8UxwXpS3uyKK_1fJ_W9mwr66EkGTftKRTGa7h0JZIAsQlR7nrHLiiOp6dbjLwBGfn6zwOk0GsPj2n2bc/s1600/Romance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7p_GnfbLfnaxperMLhdcVeSzHvz-EL1A9ZIj6YdhyphenhyphenMd4fc_LdpuI4qwnWlm8UxwXpS3uyKK_1fJ_W9mwr66EkGTftKRTGa7h0JZIAsQlR7nrHLiiOp6dbjLwBGfn6zwOk0GsPj2n2bc/s1600/Romance.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">While the publishing industry reported another decrease in net revenue during the last quarter, romantic fiction sales have remained relatively steady, beating out both mainline, mystery and classic fiction. Romance also made a strong appearance on the best-seller lists under various imprints. And ebooks sales are racing away. <br /><br /> So despite the detractors who sneer at the genre where women are most dominant, it’s all good news for readers who like to lose themselves between the pages of a romance novel. The market revenue is estimated to grow, no matter the format. </span><a href="http://www.aliatwood.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">www.aliatwood.com</span></a>Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-30640679021141220942013-12-16T06:55:00.003-08:002014-03-21T16:27:53.836-07:00THREE TO TANGO<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Menage / BDSM/Shapeshifter/ Sci-fi (soft)</b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://aliatwood.blogspot.ca/p/free-read.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Book Antiqua; font-size: large;">READ THE FIRST CHAPTER</span></a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiWG9FkNsnlrPr6Dc-mQ0ZFUR2R9ZD-m_hcxO3D3PvpjdJ5bIUUpLaD32VIH4jWOix5MUzRZU97IHVwotPeMAdr5sU0y9GnHJH3NKB76QuBG21yB2YAURrOxGYIo62IS0kGewFjWAUvI/s1600/ThreetoTango+2x3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiWG9FkNsnlrPr6Dc-mQ0ZFUR2R9ZD-m_hcxO3D3PvpjdJ5bIUUpLaD32VIH4jWOix5MUzRZU97IHVwotPeMAdr5sU0y9GnHJH3NKB76QuBG21yB2YAURrOxGYIo62IS0kGewFjWAUvI/s1600/ThreetoTango+2x3.png" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Remy Adara has been waiting for a chance to
even the score with Jett Vega—he’s the
hotter than hot ex-lover who hung her out to dry last year, causing her to lose
her dream job with Starfleet Galactic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Fate takes a surprise
swing when Vega contacts Remy and wants to talk. While Remy journeys to confront him, she runs into Bric
Rayder, a Starfleet instructor she’s lusted after for years. It turns out that
Jett and Bric know each other, and there’s more to the hunks than meets the eye...</span></div>
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<a href="http://aliatwood.blogspot.ca/p/free-read.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Book Antiqua; font-size: large;"><strong>READ THE FIRST CHAPTER</strong></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">BUY LINKS:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></h4>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Three-Tango-Ali-Atwood-ebook/dp/B00HRH6KNU/ref=la_B003O9MCWS_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391123309&sr=1-1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">AMAZON</span></span></a></h4>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/ali-atwood/three-to-tango/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>EXTASY BOOKS</strong></span></span></a></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-84061817031942822642013-11-05T12:10:00.001-08:002013-11-05T12:10:09.859-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJgghWc4icKmid9GetP1i-SDKWt94A20fkFyHqDHGbG_NBJDGMS49pw_eSuERTup7EaOpI4i4adSaAHWG4XVffgTfSmPnc6crjqv7AqUuAmrr-oknRYZ3bNnypoBA7UlgVgw6rNRfo8A/s1600/Guy+Fawkes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJgghWc4icKmid9GetP1i-SDKWt94A20fkFyHqDHGbG_NBJDGMS49pw_eSuERTup7EaOpI4i4adSaAHWG4XVffgTfSmPnc6crjqv7AqUuAmrr-oknRYZ3bNnypoBA7UlgVgw6rNRfo8A/s400/Guy+Fawkes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Remember, remember the fifth of November ... today is known as Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night and Firework Night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Read more about Guy Fawkes</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes </span></div>
Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-21048126885467250202013-09-14T08:57:00.002-07:002015-04-06T04:37:06.994-07:00A Snippet From The WIP<div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: .2in;">
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Remy
Adara wasn’t sure what would happen when she came face-to-face with Jett Vega
again. His brief message had offered no clues. <i>If you come to my home on Corvis</i>, <i>you will learn more about past events</i>. He’d signed it JV, and
included an access link for prepaid transport.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Remy’s first instinct was to tell him to go
to hell, but she was curious. Why, after eighteen months of silence, had Vega
decided to talk to her? She considered it might be a ploy, but figured that if </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">Jett Vega</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> had wanted to harm her, he
would have done so long before now. The deciding factor was closure. She needed to put the
painful episode behind her—</span></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-64025712461830922772013-09-08T08:00:00.002-07:002013-09-08T08:00:15.215-07:00Guest Blogging with Dawn Roberto<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Today I’m Guest Blogging over at Dawn Roberto’s
Reading Nook.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> Come join me there! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2013/09/getting-to-know-ali-atwood-today.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2013/09/getting-to-know-ali-atwood-today.html</span></a><img alt="Share the Dawn's Reading Nook Button" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvuG9XCkRk4/TmzqExxbA8I/AAAAAAAACsI/lJqlIJQojWM/s350/DawnsReadingNook-300_02.jpg" /></div>
Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-53491214991564077752013-08-02T12:55:00.000-07:002013-08-04T20:19:24.573-07:00<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 36pt; font-weight: bold;">Welcome to The Summer Lovin'</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 36pt;">Blog Hop</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 36pt;">!</span></b></div>
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<a 1="" href="http://www.lovelustandlipstickstains.co.uk/p/blog-hops.html.imageanchor=" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7ff9oqT0T3z-KhSGIqArud82EVL21oSJJVP_xx6bi0jSwlzAqvxoWmWLyYf7mn57bQFkAng3ZCGeRatywVXUDyOowsp49FoH19S-BgrceLbf6ig6RNJbZ-kc2jiXrPDRHwJUzElUSBo/s640/SummerLovinBlogHop.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over
fifty authors and bloggers have joined together to give you the chance to win
an awesome bundle of books, and read some great stories about summer love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The hop will run from the 5th to the 8th of August. Be sure
to hop to each blog and comment with your email to increase your chances of
winning. Each comment counts as an entry!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our
lovely bloggers are also offering individual prizes, so be sure to check them
out.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Leave a comment and email below for a chance to win a digital book</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> from </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">The Huntress Chronicles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> (three copies available)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">You choose the title.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, if you would like to join this blog as a follower, it will count as an extra entry! </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 24pt;">THE HUNTRESS CHRONICLES</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.theromancestudio.com/blue/features/atwoodblue0613.htm"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">An interview
with the Romance Studio</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p></span><br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://aliatwood.blogspot.com/p/free-read.html"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Read the first chapter of Huntress for Hire</span></a></span></b><b><br /></b>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Private Investigator, Kat Monroe, is a woman to be reckoned with, an inborn huntress with predatory speed and lightning fast reflexes. Now a sadistic killer has her in his sights. Aiming to take her forward in time, where she’ll be forced to fight in a gladiatorial arena.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enter Max and Brett Jericho, time traveling supercops on assignment to bring the killer to justice. Even as her world becomes deadlier, Kat is blown away by the men from the future. When they all end up in bed together, things really start to get interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Determined to beat the killer at his own game, Kat opts to travel to the future and set herself up as bait. With her supercops watching her back, what could possible go wrong</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">My American Summer</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The summer I turned
twenty, I was living in Britain, attending university while the usual events
were happening in my family’s lives. My parents planned to spend their summer
vacation in the south of England, in the same cottage they had rented for the past
ten years. Naturally, they expected my two brothers and me to travel along with
them. As much as I loved my family, I was looking for a little more excitement
during the summer break. As if on cue, my best pal, Yvonne, called to ask if
I would like to accompany her on a trip to visit her grandparents in Florida. I
was over the moon. All it would cost was airfare, and I would get to try my
luck with American men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first day on the
beach in Fort Lauderdale, Yvonne and I were surreptitiously drinking beer out
of paper cups while we studied the local talent. The guy who caught my eye was running
the parasailing concession, and he was totally my type with shoulder-length dark
hair, and a body that was well-built without being hulky and disproportionate.
In my tipsy state, I told Yvonne I was going to have him before I went home.
She laughed and told me to go for it. She had her eye on the guy who ran the
Banana Boat Rides.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next day, wearing my
new minuscule yellow bikini, I sucked in my belly and approached my target. His
name was Jeff, and what I hadn’t seen from a distance were his electric blue
eyes. We clicked immediately, chatting about anything and everything. He was
starting law school in the fall, and I was planning a career in advertising. After
that, we saw each other every day. We swam in the ocean, and took long walks
along the beach at night. I lost five pound in the next week, doubtlessly due
to my constant state of excitement. Boy, could he kiss.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 150%;">I tried not to think
about it ending, but the last day arrived, and</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> it was
difficult not to get emotional. Jeff drove me to the airport, and I asked the
couple standing </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;">in line</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> behind us to take our photo with my camera. Finally, I
said goodbye and started toward the boarding gate. Jeff pulled be back and
kissed me hard. We hung onto each other for long moments before he released me.
We both understood that he had to stay, and I couldn’t. On the journey home, I
cried in the airplane bathroom. When I got back to England, we wrote and called
a few times, and talked about seeing each other again. We never did. I still
have the photo from the airport, and I’ll forget those beautiful blue eyes…</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> For more chances to win, drop by the participating blogs listed below.</span></div>
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-89176534779457283672013-06-18T14:47:00.001-07:002018-04-29T09:45:14.347-07:00<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Giveaway Contest - The </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Huntress Chronicles</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4Lt76d-hkmBlJizuiV-xFp5WDN8QLa6FqkpnbJGYsLKUfWgWYuAh48TEkOEbWTlWZE6_zwhBNb3ZOMH6ZKFd20HtwuKyXzgoL7SFvhWkxdGiG1Eyynw3O3robxzF_9Q_7bzr26wBvK0/s1600/Huntress+Chronicles+Banner+aatwood_thc_0613.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4Lt76d-hkmBlJizuiV-xFp5WDN8QLa6FqkpnbJGYsLKUfWgWYuAh48TEkOEbWTlWZE6_zwhBNb3ZOMH6ZKFd20HtwuKyXzgoL7SFvhWkxdGiG1Eyynw3O3robxzF_9Q_7bzr26wBvK0/s400/Huntress+Chronicles+Banner+aatwood_thc_0613.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Huntress Takes All (book # 3)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Is now available at all online bookstores</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>To celebrate the completion of the Huntress</b></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b> Chronicles, I'm giving away the complete trilogy ( PDF format) to 1 lucky winner, plus 10 people will receive a copy of book #1</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The random winners will be chosen on</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>To enter, please leave a comment and contact.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b> If you would like to join this blog as a follower, your name will be entered into the draw twice.</b></span><br />
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-23297247008653495322013-01-14T12:37:00.002-08:002013-01-14T12:38:18.809-08:00CAPA NOMINEE<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxGs7iYKqmKPOQq5R0RF1hIei12-tuo9hzrd-V7WM0h_0tn2TzWkIfbli7LFhLtAU5Fq0q0c1mWfKo1QFSC5PfNDZp0KAC02TUPS2RONGa6U6mWVtCMFL2DqPfdyzTFnzaLkCDDycfRA/s1600/capa_2012_nom.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxGs7iYKqmKPOQq5R0RF1hIei12-tuo9hzrd-V7WM0h_0tn2TzWkIfbli7LFhLtAU5Fq0q0c1mWfKo1QFSC5PfNDZp0KAC02TUPS2RONGa6U6mWVtCMFL2DqPfdyzTFnzaLkCDDycfRA/s1600/capa_2012_nom.gif" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello everyone!</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I’m pleased to announce that Huntress for Hire is </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">nominated
</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">for a CAPA award in the best Sci-fi
category! </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://t.co/NXwx3hH0" target="_blank" title="http://trsparties.com/2012/12/23/nominees-for-best-sci-fi-in-the-2012-capa-awards-are/">http://trsparties.com/2012/12/23/nominees-for-best-sci-fi-in-the-2012-capa-awards-are/…</a></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What's
Better Than a Gorgeous Time Traveling Supercop? Two of Them</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Erotic
Romance/Ménage a Trois/Shape-shifter/Time Travel </span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8vmxOSu1Ehrs-XbNCWF0iSMlmmyIKXH3Y6MjzsgX-1HcJ5TNEaL14Zb-a8MXnxJ5CA2SWEMSj5bmrfizvxc5lep5kFedaFxrr8eIn_AVURpTOFgw8gbz3xj5D2hNeQw__2Y9grAPcjo/s1600/Huntress+from+Extasy+site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8vmxOSu1Ehrs-XbNCWF0iSMlmmyIKXH3Y6MjzsgX-1HcJ5TNEaL14Zb-a8MXnxJ5CA2SWEMSj5bmrfizvxc5lep5kFedaFxrr8eIn_AVURpTOFgw8gbz3xj5D2hNeQw__2Y9grAPcjo/s1600/Huntress+from+Extasy+site.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Amazon:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b><a href="http://amzn.to/Tmb8Ux"><b><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://amzn.to/Tmb8Ux</span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Extasy Books:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b><a href="http://bit.ly/AsthXY"><b><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://bit.ly/AsthXY</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ARE books:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://bit.ly/H5D8bU"><b><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://bit.ly/H5D8bU</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-10972469279837794962012-12-07T04:56:00.000-08:002012-12-26T05:49:14.026-08:00CHRISTMAS UNEXPECTED<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">NOW </span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">AVAILABLE FROM</span></b><br />
<b style="color: blue; font-size: xx-large;"> </b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Amazon:</b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://amzn.to/Umc7Vr"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://amzn.to/Umc7Vr</span></a><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><b>Extasy Books</b><span style="color: blue;"><b>:</b> </span></span><a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/christmas-unexpected/" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.extasybooks.com/christmas-unexpected/</span></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">She’s a frustrated pilot. He’s strictly off-limits.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Her past
could be the death of her.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLJSt9n82Bgb1qbpOEDDlVtiFx00mHRVqsRJh-_14Px01SGBdR6W9IGaz1Vn7z7F31VBn1730AQAihLCu4anjSzEcCNmqJrYf-0Df27S6Yg7gWclVj1CeUJd5r6NXWojyirh1-3ZvDM0/s1600/christmasunexpected72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLJSt9n82Bgb1qbpOEDDlVtiFx00mHRVqsRJh-_14Px01SGBdR6W9IGaz1Vn7z7F31VBn1730AQAihLCu4anjSzEcCNmqJrYf-0Df27S6Yg7gWclVj1CeUJd5r6NXWojyirh1-3ZvDM0/s640/christmasunexpected72dpi.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">When Lieutenant
Kina Tamar graduated with honors from the Starfleet Academy, she was aiming for
a pilot berth aboard a premier warship. Her dreams are shattered by backroom politics
and she ends up skippering a Starfleet freighter. Bored beyond belief, she’s about
to resign when she’s implicated in a smuggling ring.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The officer
sent to interrogate Kina is Colonel Jake Lancaster—her charismatic instructor
from the Academy. Soon there are shadowy assassins on Kina’s trail, and she’s
on the run with Lancaster. Along the way, she cracks the hot colonel’s
resistance and enjoys a wild night of lust. Later, when she learns the truth
about the Christmas tragedy that destroyed her family, she’s forced to make a
devastating choice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kina couldn’t help but remember the exciting weight of his body covering
hers during the laser fire. She wondered if he was talking shop to keep her
mind off the danger or the fact they were alone in a hotel room. Not that she
thought there was chance he had a secret interest in her. For all she knew he
could be married or seriously attached. Unfortunately for her self-control,
he’d loosened the top of his uniform tunic and she couldn’t keep her gaze off
his strong bronzed throat, wondering how it would taste if she licked it. It
didn’t help that the beds were just a few feet away, and at some point they’d
probably be moving onto those beds to get some rest. Then again, if she knew
for sure he was taken that would kill her obsession and her hormones could
stand down—she’d never knowingly slept with a mated man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Since we’re here,” she
ventured, “maybe we could exchange some personal details.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> His violet-colored eyes
came up to study her for a moment. “What would you like to know?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Where were you born to
start?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Earth…Seattle,
Washington. Now, I live in California.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Do you still have family
living in Seattle?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> He took a sip of wine.
“Yes, my folks still own the house I grew up in. Dad’s a retired general and
mom teaches art in junior school.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Any siblings?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Three, a younger sister
who’s still in college and two brothers, both pilots with Starfleet…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As he spoke, Kina was
suddenly aware that alertness flickered in the back of his eyes. With that came
the tantalizing notion that he might actually be attracted but hiding it. <i>What the hell, nothing ventured…</i> “Can I
ask if you’re married or attached?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> He hesitated, deliberately
setting his wine glass down on the table. “No, I’m not attached. But if you are
about to suggest what I think you are about to suggest, the timing is wrong.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Knowing he was single was
a wonderful relief, but now she had to wonder if he was heading her off because
he wasn’t attracted, or he didn’t want to take advantage of the situation, or
he was afraid she would try to make more of it. Whichever is was she didn’t
care if he thought her shameless. This was an opportunity not to be missed. “I
assure you, I’m not looking for anything more than one night in your bed…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-808931922226191442012-12-05T05:18:00.002-08:002012-12-05T06:18:50.255-08:00Xmas Party Time<br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-top: 15.0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Come Party with Extasy
Books and Devine Destinies<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-top: 15.0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Stop by
the chat room and meet the authors. Your name will be entered in the drawing to
win some fabulous </span><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Prizes</b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">:</span><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </b><a href="http://extasybooks.net/essenceofextasy/?p=1524" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">http://extasybooks.net/essenceofextasy/?p=1524</a></h3>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where: <a href="http://www.extasychat.com/" target="_blank">http://www.extasychat.com/</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEnDdf6OWmvheUb7xOmmBtn_0Fqaf3g3QNz2pKMF2fS6fB9HvogSE1SwVSf1wFbpWrjyWdjSTiMkU6EJnQggNcOJhTP_BIZ2pc95s6Sy-C5-_CyTdWSjJNIKEUfGxXlGc1GROiiYdyug/s1600/22_XMASBANNER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEnDdf6OWmvheUb7xOmmBtn_0Fqaf3g3QNz2pKMF2fS6fB9HvogSE1SwVSf1wFbpWrjyWdjSTiMkU6EJnQggNcOJhTP_BIZ2pc95s6Sy-C5-_CyTdWSjJNIKEUfGxXlGc1GROiiYdyug/s320/22_XMASBANNER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-86612705823690011742012-11-30T08:03:00.000-08:002018-04-29T09:45:14.226-07:00<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Writer's Quirks</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB">I wonder
how many readers are curious about the writing process. From the time I began
writing seriously, when I was about twelve, I wanted to know what inspired
authors and what routines they followed</span>. I’m still fascinated by method. <span lang="EN-GB">Do the majority of
writers work best in the morning or late at night? Do they plot with a pen in
their hand or visualize and type? How do they handle writer’s block? Perhaps
some bash away, scribbling rubbish until their muse takes pity on them. Others
might pace the floor cursing at the blank computer screen.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">For personal and household reasons, I
operate best in the early morning. And I spend a great deal of time staring out
the window while I work through scenes in my mind. Regardless of routine, every
writer I know admits to having trouble writing. It takes a tremendous amount of
time and focus to create an entertaining tale with engaging characters and
realistic dialogue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Is the slog worth it? Absolutely. For me
it’s a miraculous feeling to read a book I’ve finished and know it came about
because I followed my bliss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB">If an
aspiring author were to ask for my advice, though I’m still somewhat of a
newbie myself, I would tell them to write every day, even if you only have ten
minutes to spare. When you start a new project, set a realistic deadline and
stick to it. Keep moving forward. Don’t waste time revising your first draft.
Too much fiddling on the first run may prevent those quirky muses from popping
in to lend a hand. And definitely do not let rejection discourage you. </span>Sylvia Plath said, <i>The
worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.</i><span lang="EN-GB"> So keep
writing, keep improving and keep submitting your manuscripts.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-86848572246324668802012-11-04T06:42:00.001-08:002012-11-11T04:15:16.476-08:00November Giveaway<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3jYZQ_HmPjUq7A7EzGhKC1Er6Ei2tMY9Ac-vl7pNb8hQrJbuxipnyytng8fRXIJeZljCHtQtaMUd8PgNCtsDia0k2gu1l2495ordr9Eh18qCJ2pCezizDMKxSg4gNpejEA_FkjYb7Ts/s1600/Ali+Avatar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3jYZQ_HmPjUq7A7EzGhKC1Er6Ei2tMY9Ac-vl7pNb8hQrJbuxipnyytng8fRXIJeZljCHtQtaMUd8PgNCtsDia0k2gu1l2495ordr9Eh18qCJ2pCezizDMKxSg4gNpejEA_FkjYb7Ts/s1600/Ali+Avatar.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thank you for stopping by my new BlogSpot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you would like a taste of my writing, the first chapter of</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Huntress for Hire is</span><span style="font-size: large;"> on the Free Read page</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> If you join the blog as a follower, you
could win a free ebook</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">or a $10 Amazon E-Gift Card.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To enter the November draw, leave your contact info in the comments section.</span><br />
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-64655466236583812632012-11-02T07:14:00.001-07:002013-06-27T11:34:28.131-07:00Empress Karena<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">E</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">mpress Karena</span></span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;">Extasy Books Tarot Series 2</span></span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">E<span style="font-size: large;">merald-eyed Karena is the empress of Trudane, a land where the
women run the show and the men, who are considered brutal lesser creatures, are
maintained in harems. Several times a year, bands of Trudanese females visit
other worlds to hunt males to be sold as breeding slaves.</span></span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When Luc Van Starr is captured and transported to Empress
Karena's palace, he finds an intelligent, disarming beauty whose appetite for
sensuality matches his own. While the imposing Karena revels in Van Starr's
magnificently sculptured body, she's unaware there is a lot more behind her
captive's handsome face than it appears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://aliatwood.com/empresskarena.php"><span style="color: #6666cc; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Excerpt:</span></span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-24537563779754727682012-10-25T11:36:00.002-07:002018-04-29T09:45:13.815-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Come And
Celebrate The Spookapalooza</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;"> at
The Romance Studio</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif";"><span style="color: #a64d79;">The event
will be held exclusively at the</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif";"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></b></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: '', serif, '', serif;">TRS </span></b><a href="http://trsparties.com/"><b><span style="font-family: '', serif, '', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">PARTY SITE</span></span></b></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif";"> From
October 27-31, 2012.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif";">Times? All
day</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit","serif";">!</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "inherit","serif";">I Will Be
Giving Away 3 Ebooks</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: large;">Reader's
Choice of Title</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Romance Studio are giving away a</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><b><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-simple-touch-with-glowlight-barnes-noble/1108046469?ean=9781400501717"><span style="color: #cc0000;">NOOK</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to one lucky
reader and a lot of</span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">other prizes from the TRS prize vault and participating authors.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The winner of the NOOK (a resident
of the United States or Canada) will be selected at random on November 1,
2012.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777167449093615169.post-74180301990784802902012-10-21T15:57:00.001-07:002012-11-02T07:00:45.666-07:00A GIVEAWAY<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 6; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">New Blog / Halloween Giveaway!</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Hello Everyone!</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Welcome
to my new blog.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">To enter
a drawing for a book of your choice,</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> tell
me what kind of paranormal powers you would most like to have.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On
Halloween, I’ll choose 3 random winners<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Cheers!</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ali Atwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08680135497508676895noreply@blogger.com21