He claimed her cover. Can he claim her heart, too?
A brand new book with no cover A graphic artist, in the hospital
When Natalie is faced with inevitable doom Nate steps in and accepts the job.
Handsome, suave, and genuine, Nate likes Natalie. Yet, Nate is a seductive, hot model. A man never lacking for female companionship.
Will meeting Nate fill a void Natalie didn’t know exist? Or will Natalie walk away from Nate- a man that seems too perfect?
Publisher Note: Contemporary Romance. M/F. BBW. HEA. Standalone story. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.
Excerpt
“Wait. How did you get a copy of it when it’s not available?”
“I signed up for her- what do you call it- ARC team and got a copy for free for my honest review.”
“Oh lord… Is it bad? Tell me, please.”
She snorted. “She has you in all kinds of sordid scenes, if you know what I mean.”
He went silent. What in the hell did that mean? Was the book an erotic romance? Good gods! Did she place him in precarious situations? Granted it was pure fiction so why should he care. Yet, the fact that his mom read Off Limits- the only book, so far, that had his half-naked body plastered all over the cover- He slapped the palm of his right hand against his forehead, and uttered a strained sigh. Holy shit. This was embarrassing.
“Mom, remember I was placed on the cover after the book was written.”
“Yeah but don’t authors search for a type of man that resembles the character they’re writing about?”
She had a point- a very bad one- but still, a point.
He peered over at the back of the door, concerned with the length of time that had passed, and wondering what his temporary roommate was up to. He didn’t know her, at all, solely bringing her to his home, for the night, to engage in carnal pleasures. He hoped she wasn’t taking the opportunity to steal from him. He’d watched too many movies where that happened with strangers. He decided to cut the conversation short so he could find out what was going on back in the bedroom. “Look, I don’t know what she wrote but I have to get back to what I was doing before. I’ll call you, later.”
“Oh, you’re not curious? I can tell you about one scene that peaked my interest.”
He knew his mom liked reading explicit sex scenes, but he wasn’t really interested in hearing any of them. He’d seen enough hard-bodied men, and soft, enraptured women romantically intertwined across the covers of her books adorning the coffee table of their old house when he was growing up. It had him both curious and embarrassed at the same time as his friends ventured over. He imagined what she had read in Natalie’s apparent scathing book.
“I’ll just say this. It has you, and your girlfriend in an interesting position over your desk.”
He slapped a hand across his eyes, covering them, completely. Then, he groaned. “Okay, mom. Well, I gotta go now. I love you.” He ended the call before she had a chance to reply.
Our world is a depressing place sometimes. Just watch the news.
Ah, but in another world …!
In another world, a werewolf might go on the hunt for a human mate. In another world, the stars might shower us with sexy cowboys. Perhaps a pair of serial killers will fall madly in love, or a crumbling manor reveal itself as the gateway to another reality. Perhaps a fallen ‘goddess’ will seek refuge in the mortal world, or maybe a mysterious redhead will save her people from certain doom. Hell, Frankenstein’s monster might even re-emerge from the shadows!
Welcome to a kaleidoscopic collection of tales by the bestselling, award-winning author Virginia Wallace. For even in madness there is often an element of love, and love itself would soon become meaningless without the necessary contrast of horror …
They are the rejected. The ignored. The barely tolerated. They are the ones no one wants to talk about. The Unwanteds.
These are the stories of six of them.
Rose enjoyed her co-worker’s company. Yet, one night when she witnesses something startling, she wonders if she ever really knew him, at all. Daphne’s trip to the local bar turns into an amazing, unforgettable night with a stranger. Can she give him more than one night? Pietro was hired to be the janitor. Yet, when he takes off with the Alpha’s betrothed to save her from a fated, loveless marriage, will he survive the pack’s vengeance? Hopper was, only, searching for his next meal. He never expected a reunion with a girl from his past. A girl who has matured in ways that leave him wanting. Cameron’s next-door neighbor proves to be exactly what he is searching for. Yet, there is one major problem. A respected, powerful shape shifter, living next door, who also has his eyes on her. After losing her job of fifteen years, Jaela wants nothing more than one night of sheer, unadulterated bliss. Yet, her escort is no ordinary man and Jaela plans to win him. The only problem is, she doesn’t know his name.
Publisher note: Book Fest awards Fall 2023 winner: Honorable Mention, Fiction- Paranormal Romance. Paranormal romance, anthology, short stories, shape shifters, M/F, HEA. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.
What if you found yourself in a different reality… same face, but different you? Whitney Ann Rhodes bounces into the alternate realities of Whit and Annie. Can she navigate Whit’s complicated and volatile life or survive Annie’s dystopian world living under the rule of a global authoritarian leader and his military regime? Will she resist or comply? Afterward, can Whitney return to her world and face what lies ahead?
EXCERPT: from Whitney’s first bounce: Whit’s World:
Jay pulled his chair over next to her. “You’ll have to explain each one to me in full detail. And you know what this means, don’t you?” He lifted her long dark hair and put it to the side over her shoulder and whispered, “We’ll just have to spend a lot more time together alone. He spotted the head of a dragon draped in roses that were left exposed from the scooped back of her sleeveless little black dress. Jay slowly leaned down and kissed the back of her neck. Shivers raced down Whitney’s back and she closed her eyes. He put his lips up to her ear. “I like your dragon. I would like to see the whole thing.”
She opened her eyes and turned to look at him. She bit the inside of her lip and chewed nervously on the side. He flashed the edges of his bright white teeth and gazed into her eyes. “Stay with me tonight?”
Whitney scraped the edge of her teeth against her bottom lip. “I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.” She inhaled and slowly released her breath. “I’m still fresh from a nasty break-up.”
He sat back in his chair. “Take all the time you need. You’re worth waiting for.”
It’s been awhile since I’ve done an interview so this is fun to get back into.
Here’s her bio:
Award winning, International Bestselling author, TK Lawyer writes sexy and heartwarming paranormal and contemporary romance with HOT alpha males and curvy women. Her books often toe the line, straying from traditional ideas and opening readers’ minds and hearts to unlimited possibilities. She loves exploring new ideas and new ways of thinking. When she isn’t reading or writing, she is likely spending time with her husband/best friend or catering to their lovable American Foxhound misfit who steals all the attention in their house.
Tell us about yourself.
I am author TK Lawyer. I write spicy, sexy, alpha male stories with curvy women because that’s what I am- a curvy woman. And what curvy woman doesn’t deserve a loyal, hot-blooded, muscle-bound man in her life with a sense of humor and a slightly possessive streak?
I like romance, watching romantic movies and romantic comedies and I write what I like. I also enjoy taking a concept, playing with it and molding it into something that makes readers think. I like broadening minds and ideas and I hope I do that with my novels.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
Well, I actually never wanted to become an author. I thought the “job” was more like a hobby and I never thought anyone made money unless you were Dean Koontz or Stephen King or someone big and famous like that. I only started writing because I was at a low point in my life where I was going nowhere with my job and I needed something else to feed the contained passion inside of me. Writing was, and still is, my outlet and I am grateful for this skill that I have nothing to do with (I credit everything to spirit) that helps entertain readers.
What genres do you like to read? Are these the same genres you write in?
I like to read paranormal romance, occasionally, depending on the story and the plot line but, what I adore reading the most is actually monster romance. LOL. I know. A lot of people don’t know that about me. I like steamy so you can imagine the monster romance I read. Sci-fi, space alien romance stuff is my go-to in my Kindle reader. It’s too bad that stuff isn’t true but it’s great entertainment.
Is your book for adults, young adults or children?
I have more than twenty books available and all of them are steamy, spicy and sexy. They have open door scenes that my readers love so, yes- they are, primarily, for adults (18+).
It is a book I had in my mind for years now that has finally come to fruition. A steamy, angel paranormal romance, The Way Back to Heaven is filled with comedic scenes, a feisty heroine and a formidable angel that is bewitched by the one woman who comes across his path that is not supposed to be there.
Tell us about the key characters:
Josiah is an “usher” to Heaven. He is the one who determines your fate after death. Whether you pass by him or you drop into an abyss is, entirely, based upon how you lived your life. All decisions are final and they are determined, solely, by him. Everything goes smoothly until he meets a woman who is not meant to be in the line of souls awaiting his decision…
Damaris exits Earth early and doesn’t realize where she is. With the help of her Guardian, she meets Josiah and makes a decision Josiah is not expecting. Josiah is baffled and cannot seem to forget her, even after she is gone.
What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?
Will Josiah let you pass, or will you drop into an unknown abyss?
As an usher to the Other Side, meeting the fabled Josiah means your Mortal Life is gone.
Your fate shall be measured by the decisions made in life.
Will your soul pass through the gates to utter bliss or plummet into darkness, agony, and pain?
Judgment is made by him, and it is final.
When Josiah meets Damaris- a woman who was not yet expected to appear –his decision becomes one he may later regret.
Still, he must know her.
Will Damaris allow Josiah to love her? To care for her in a way no human can, or will she turn her back on what may be her greatest opportunity to find happiness in the arms of an angel?
Share an excerpt
Damaris continued her pleas. “I know…I know…I’m already dead, so you can’t truly kill me. It’s just a thing people say, but still…” She placed her hands together, gluing them tightly as if in prayer. “Please, whatever your name is, please be kind to me. Don’t throw me to the wolves or whatever you did to that last lady. I know. I know. I wasn’t perfect, but I did try. I didn’t have the best childhood. I know a lot of people say that and use that as an excuse to get out of sentencing or to atone for their shitty actions and decisions they made in life.” She slapped one hand over her mouth. “Oh my god, I just cursed and to you, an angel. Oh shit…I am going to die, aren’t I? Oh hell…”Damaris sank to her knees.
Damaris didn’t know what to expect from this important angel who had her fate in her hands, but she did know the last thing she expected was laughter.
She jerked her head up to witness him throwing his head back and roaring with glee.
Her jaw was released. Ready to whip out insults to this angel—whoever he was—laughing at her demise. Yet, she held back the unspoken insults when she recalled the poor lady in front of her who had dropped to her death—or was it to her eternal life—in Hell.
Mr. Unnerving suddenly stopped and stared at her for several long minutes that seemed an eternity. Shivers ran up her spine as the abject silence continued. Her hands trembled the longer she waited.
“Please have mercy on me. Please, whoever you are. Don’t make me go down there like she did. I don’t think I deserve that.” Damaris lowered her head, embarrassed, as tears began to fall, splashing over the rims of her eyelids and splattering across her cheeks.
She swiped angrily at them, wanting to display courage instead of fear, but they still came. Wiping at more of them, a hand reached out and stopped her. Mr. Unnerving grabbed ahold of her hand while his other swiped at a stray teardrop rolling down her left cheek. He brought his index finger directly in front of his green eyes, scrutinizing the swaying liquid bubble as if he had never seen the substance before.
“Curious. Others have cried in front of me before, but none quite like you.”
Damaris swallowed back the dry sensation creeping up the back of her throat.
His emerald green eyes landed on hers. A not-unpleasant shiver skittered up her spine.
His large wings spread behind him. Damaris stared in awe and fascination as they grew wider longer, taking up almost the entire space. She blinked to clear her eyes when she spotted glitter floating through the air around him, completely surrounding him in a magical, beautiful aura. She closed her eyes, figuring she must be seeing things, yet when she opened her eyes again, the sparkles remained.
Blinking once more, she found the glittery beauties coated across the back of each pure white feather. He closed his eyes and, happily, sighed as if releasing his wings gave him a sense of satisfaction.
“Wow,” Damaris muttered in awe.
He lightly chuckled.
The man was gorgeous. She couldn’t help the thought popping up into her mind. Did she think him scary before? His smile, somehow, warmed a part of her that used to hold her heart.
He smiled at Damaris as if he, somehow, sensed her feelings. Her gaze scanned over the incredible being from head to toe, stopping to marvel at his broad, massive, muscular chest. He was built like a God, but he wasn’t. There wasn’t an inch of fat to him that she could tell. Damaris supposed he didn’t have to worry about his weight like human beings did.
“You are beautiful.” She blurted, obviously, from delirium. She had no idea what possessed her, but she couldn’t help it. The urge to let him know overtook her, and she couldn’t hold back. If he didn’t already know, someone had to tell him how handsome he was.
He chuckled beneath his breath. “That won’t sway my opinion…Damaris.” He sounded out every consonant and every vowel of her name as if it were the loveliest word he ever spoke.
She shook her head in protest. “I’m not trying to—”
He raised one eyebrow. “It was a joke. At least a weak attempt at one-”
“Oh…I see. That is a good one, then. But still, where are we-uh…um…what’s your name?”
“Josiah. My name is Josiah, Damaris.”
Compared to her Guardian’s tone of voice, this guy—this hunky Josiah—Mmmm…his husky tone of pure male dominance had her insides writhing in a crazy, pleasurable sort of way she had yet to experience with anyone.
Do you have a favorite scene?
Yes! There is a scene in there I equate with “Alice in Wonderland” because Damaris literally bounces off a tree and the limbs reach out and grab her, cushioning her in their embrace. Damaris is in Heaven and is giddy, happy, and filled with joy. It is just a lovely scene and it was great to write it.
What advice would you give a beginner?
Your first book will not be the best but don’t let that dissuade you. Your writing gets better the more you write. Just like with any skill or talent, you get better at it the more you do it. People say this all the time but it is incredibly true when it comes to writing. Just make sure you have a good editor to help polish up your books and you will be fine.
Dante is a grey character… sort of. He protects his own. He’s willing to take on the seedier side of New Orleans including drug dealers and organized crime. He had a rough childhood and now he keeps everyone but his four brothers at arm’s length. Until Mila walks in looking for a job. Mila is hiding. She keeps everyone at a distance and keeps to herself but Dante noticed her and wants her. She’s his employee so she’s off limits. At least until people start trying to kill her. Then Dante’s all over making sure she’s safe.
Hackett has created some shady brothers. They can get their hands dirty but fall on the right side of the line of right and wrong. This story is well paced and written. The characters are well developed and the story is believable. There’s more romance, a bit of alpha dominance, and a lot of heat. I gobbled this one up and enjoyed it thoroughly. I like how balanced Hackett made her characters. I like how she allowed Dante to be vulnerable but still alpha male. I like how she made Mila at risk but strong enough to fight her way out of things.
This was a 3.5 for me edging towards a 4 so I’m leaning into the 4. Ren and Halle have known each other for years. On her 20th birthday they shared a kiss and then Ren disappeared. The problem? Halle’s dad is Ren’s best friend. So she’s off limits. Until she isn’t.
This story has heat and danger. It’s got mystery and action. The storyline is good. But I felt like Hackett leaned on the characters knowing each other too much. I, as a reader, don’t know the characters and I wanted more character development.
Excellent writing and story telling but I wanted more in the way of knowing the characters. She’s 23 and he’s in his 30s I think. I’m not sure it was ever mentioned about his age but he was older.
It was a good story. Solid and worth reading. I’m not sure I’ll revisit it but I enjoyed it and didn’t want to be bothered with other things while I read it.
Hackett is brilliant with her military series. She creates action filled dynamic stories which seem plausible even as they are out there.
Stone or Knox is the new guy in New York. His first day on the job and he’s kissed one of his co-workers sister. He wants her but the code is not to mess with family. So he steps back… at least until her life is in danger and then he does everything in his power to keep her alive.
Magnolia is bored with men but she wants what her best friend and half brother have – love, marriage and a baby. When she meets Knox, she boldly tells him she is interested and wants to spend more time with him.
This story is fast paced and a quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the dynamic. I wanted more – but that’s because of how well Hackett writes and develops her story.
This was a great addition to the Sentinel Security series!
I am not allowed to read Moon’s books after 10 pm at night. I stayed up until 4 am reading the conclusion to this duology.
Moon does an amazing job connecting Lola to her pack. She develops individual relationships among all seven members. The men she developed are believable and unique. None of them seem like carbon copies. The story and world is engaging and unique. Her intimate scenes are steamy, intimate and delightfully different.
I’ll be diving into her back catalog to discover more of her stories.
Moon put out a duology for this story. Part One does not have a HEA and it shouldn’t. This was a brilliantly written story which takes the reader through all the feels – good and bad.
Lola is just getting on her feet after a traumatic event. She’s a beta and feels like she’s nothing. She has anxiety attacks when she’s in close proximity to alphas but her best friend is an Omega.
There’s a book 1 in this series but I have not read it. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything as I started this book. The story stands as is. While there isn’t an HEA at the end of this book, Moon has created a strong story. The pacing is excellent – and for many reasons she needed this to be two books. It wouldn’t have done well as one book. Her characters are well developed. The plot is strong and a little convoluted.
The Pack (non shifting) Lola gets involved with has a beta, omega, and four alphas. She meets Leo and is drawn to him but he’s got an alpha mark so she runs from him. At her new job, she meets up with him again. She ends up meeting his omega and the three of them make connections. The relationship with the three of them is sweet and loving. They help her overcome the trauma from her past.
Moon created a story which drew me in and while I am firm about wanting an HEA, this first installment with Lola did not need an HEA. She wasn’t ready for it.
