"Divorce, Interrupted" by Jill James (Contemporary Romance)

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Summary:  Book 1 - The Lake Willowbee series
Newly-divorced Todd and Lisa Miller are stranded at their mountain cabin. There to divide a lifetime of memories, they soon are in danger from more than the anger between them. A vicious storm forces them to rely on each other to survive.

Can they trust the one person they lost belief in? Or are their hearts in danger from more than floods and frigid weather?

Romance heat level:Hot

Book 2 is Dare To Trust
Book 3 is Defend My Love

Excerpt:

The wind crashed against the bay window in the front of the cabin. Lisa Miller jumped up and knocked over her chair. Her shaking hand flew to her chest. Her heartbeat pounded. “That one sounded like it went through the window.”

She peered around the doorway to the living room. She sighed in relief. The glass was still in one piece, although a large pine bough sat on the front porch. The wet needles stood out in bas-relief against the graying sky.

This had been a bad idea, she berated herself. She could’ve waited for the storm of the century to pass before she came up to the lake. Even with her husband, Todd, coming next week, she could’ve waited. A sob caught in her throat like a burr. Todd, her newly, the ink hardly dry on the divorce decree, ex-husband.

She righted the chair and fell into it. How had it come to this? She’d been in love with Todd for as long as she could remember. He’d been her first boyfriend, her first lover, and she’d been sure, her last.

Throwing her head back, Lisa stared at the ceiling. Finding no comfort in the familiar cedar logs, she brought her head down and gazed into space. Her sight unfocused, the kitchen viewed through a haze of tears she refused to shed.

Twenty years. Gone in an instant. Her abrupt decision to take her boss up on his umpteenth attempt at flirting. A nano-second to throw it all away. For what turned out to be mediocre sex at best. Todd had ruined her for any other man. He loved her with his heart and soul, and she’d trampled it for half the allotted time in a tawdry motel with hourly rates and smelly, overused sheets.

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"Young Hearts" by Gabriella Mahoney (Western Romance)

Genre:  Western Romance

Summary:  Orphaned at an early age, Katherine Parker has been forced to be practical her entire life. She has been a been a nanny, a cook and now a school teacher. 

At twenty-six she has just about given up hope of ever finding a man that might see her as more than just the hired help. That is until Alex Dermott, her best friend growing up, comes back into down and seems interested in being far more than just friends...

This short, steamy western romance is approximately 5,000 words long.

Excerpt:

Katherine wasn’t entirely certain why she had made such a rebellious statement. It was totally uncharacteristic of her. Normally she was very careful about presenting a respectable public image. Nor was she entirely certain why a hint of tenderness crept into her heart as she draped the quilt over Alex and watched him sleep for a moment.

Her normal, practical self said that she was being ridiculous. That she was simply enamored with his looks. And what woman wouldn’t be? He was entirely too good-looking for anyone’s well being. And certainly far too attractive to be interested in the likes of her. He probably had scores of women wanting to be with him.

Refusing to be one of the many who had fallen prey to his charms, Katherine fixed herself some supper and then lit a fire in the living room fireplace so Alex wouldn’t get cold. Then deciding that she didn’t want to leave him alone in case he became feverish, she sat down in the armchair by the sofa to work on some mending.

“Why aren’t you married?” she heard Alex ask again softly about an hour later, causing her to look up from her sewing.

She considered how to answer this for a moment. “Well… I’m poor for one. For another, I’ve been a nanny at some point to virtually every man my age in this town. That’s not exactly the groundwork for romance.”

Alex moved closer to one side of the sofa and motioned for Katherine to come sit in the empty space he had made.

Katherine later rationalized this as being caught up by the intimate setting the fireplace made. At the moment, she walked over and sat on the sofa without so much as a second thought. The feeling of being so close to his warm, male body felt inexplicably right and made her shiver with pleasure.

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"Claire: the Lost Fae" by Aithne Jarretta (Paranormal Romance)

Genre:  Contemporary Paranormal Romance

Summary:  Solitary CLAIRE BRINAWELL moves from place to place chased by the forces of darkness. Even in slumber when dreaming usually fills the mind and soul with beauty, a hateful hound from Hades finds his way in with deadly intentions. Claire isn't safe anywhere.

LEESON, Worthy Prince of Baderon in Annwn, lives Earthside of the magical Annwn veil. He has been sent to find Claire. Leeson arrives at a pivotal moment and confronts two Hounds of Hades in a battle over Claire.

Triumphant in his first skirmish with the darkside, they must return to San Francisco's sacred pyramid. Leeson discovers Claire has a mind of her own. His stubbornness meets Claire's feisty determination. Will they unite in purpose and free Claire of her daemons?

Excerpt:

Claire tilted her head and stared up into blackness. An odd sensation gripped her throat. She fought through the fear, and finally squeaked, "And exactly what destination is that?"

"Up the rungs and through a stone on your left."

"Wonder if I believe that one." She started climbing. "Heights," she muttered. If there was anything she truly didn't like, it was being high in the air. Give her the ground under her feet. A car or even a train was her idea of perfect traveling.

Claire climbed. Magical lights on either side of them lit the earthly shaft with just enough glow to see their direction.

Higher and higher up through the earth they journeyed.

After what seemed like fifty rungs, she stopped and looked down. "Whoa!"

Leeson's wand, stuck from a loop on the back of his long coat. The tip lit the shaft.

Seeing how far they had climbed sent spikes of fear through all five senses. Her knees went weak.

She gripped the rung in front of her and took several breaths. The smell of earth soothed frazzled nerves.

Claire couldn't help but think of the old well behind the convent. There had been a legend about a young boy surviving a fall into the wet depths.

Claire shivered as the memory passed through her thoughts.

"Nice view, isn't it?" Leeson's voice came up to her edged with laughter.

"You better not mean my butt!"

"Now that you mention it..."

She shoved her right foot downward. The only thing her foot found was empty air. Embarrassment made her flinch. The worn leather sole of her left boot slipped off the ladder rung.

"Ahhh!" Heart pounding, Claire realized her fingers were slipping. She kicked empty air. Fingers seeking something to grip scratched at the walls.

Panic!

"Easy."

Strong arms surrounded her.

Claire gasped and sputtered. Masculine scent filled her lungs. Words eluded while supercharged heat raced through her veins. The fabric of his coat was suddenly the dearest lifeline.

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"Reunited" by Gabriella Mahoney (Western Romance)

Genre:  Western Romance

Summary:  With her husband seven months overdue from his trip, Jessica Carver is left to imagine the worst. Alone on her ranch, she is forced to put up with the unwanted advances of a man with less than honorable intentions. 

Fortunately, Ethan Carver is not as far away as Jessica might think and is ready to reclaim his wife with a steamy reunion.

This short, sexy western romance is approximately 3,000 words long.

Excerpt:

Ethan Carver melted back into the cover of the trees so as to remain unseen by Steven Thompson as he rode back toward town.

That bastard, Ethan silently raged to himself. Who does he think he is? Making a move on his woman while he was gone.

Of course, Ethan was sensible enough to realize that he had no one but himself to blame for all of this. If his foreman hadn’t turned on him during the cattle drive and stripped him of everything he owned it wouldn’t have taken him nearly so long to get back. He should have chosen his hired help more carefully.

The thought of returning to Jessica had been all that had kept him going at times. The memory of her laughing or the look of blissful oblivion on her face as he sunk into her was all he had needed to stay warm on those miserable nights out in the wild with not a shred of dignity left.

Up until he was about ten miles from home he had been eagerly anticipating seeing his wife again. Then it suddenly struck Ethan how long he had really been gone. Nine months was a long time for a woman to be alone in these parts. Especially when the woman thought her husband was dead or, worse, had left her.

Jessica could have remarried by now. Lord knows that she deserved someone better than he to protect and provide for her.

Unable to shake these thoughts for his head, Ethan had decided to observe Jessica undetected before just barging back into her life. If she had remarried he swore to himself that he would do the honorable thing and stay away from her. But he made no promises about not smashing in the face of her new husband.

The exchange between his wife and Steven Thompson had been all affirmation he needed. Jessica was still his. And it was high time that someone reminded Steven of the fact.

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