"Forged with Trust" by Gabriella Mahoney (Historical Romance)

Genre:  Historical Romance, Scottish Romance

Summary:  Book 3 of the Heart of the Highlands Series. 

Betrayed by his mother and left by his betrothed, Payton Reid has no reason to trust women. Especially the woman that broke into his forge to steal his tools... twice. He has every reason to turn the spirited lass in yet the information that she knows could stop the violent attacks on the broken MacKinloch clan. But will his clan be the only thing Payton ends up saving?

This short novelette is approximately 11,300 words.

Excerpt:

Beatrice Duff blew into her hands in a futile effort to warm them. A few hours ago the split second of hot breath seemed to make a slight difference, now it made none. She wasn’t sure if it was because her hands were utterly frozen or if her breath had dropped in temperature. Perhaps both. Having dry boots was a distant memory at this point. The only thing that kept her from freezing to death was the fact that her spying spot by the stables provided a buffer from the wind.

If only that damned smithy didn’t take so long! How many hours did it take to craft a sword? Beatrice was sure at this point that he had exceeded the average. She had thought that it wouldn’t be long before his muscles would tire, making him turn in for the night. She was wrong. The man seemed to be an endless font of energy. Cooling the blade, reheating it, hammering, cooling, reheating… it was acute torture to watch as her every limb froze and he became more and more sweaty.

Still, it was a pleasant view. She may be turning into an icicle but she would have to be a corpse not to appreciate the way the smithy’s thick, brown hair fell across his face as the muscles in his back rippled in the glinting firelight. Beatrice also didn’t miss the look of intense focus on his face, like nothing else in the world mattered but the task at hand. She wondered what it would be like to have a man look at her like that while he leaned in for a kiss. The thought made her shiver in pleasure.

It was well past midnight by the time the smithy seemed to reach a stopping point. After inspecting it carefully he set the newly formed blade on a table and went through a back door that must have lead to living quarters. Beatrice wanted nothing more than to leap on the now-cooling embers in an effort to thaw but she forced herself to be patient. She had already made it this far. She couldn’t afford to get caught. Not now.

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"Love Heals All" by Gabriella Mahoney (Historical Romance)

Genre:  Historical Romance, Scottish Romance

Summary:  Book 2 of the Heart of the Highlands Series. 

Cora Rosach is the daughter of a condemned witch and protégée of the MacKinloch clan's old midwife. Her exceptional healing abilities are put to the test when the man she loves is dropped at her front door after being attacked by a raiding party. She is able to bandage his external wounds but, to her horror, discovers that he doesn't remember her at all. Will her love be strong enough for the both of them?

Excerpt:

Cora snuggled closer to Evan’s warm body. The sun had set and the fall breeze was making her shiver. But all the snow in Scotland couldn’t make her move from this spot. “Some say the red is the mark of a bad omen.”

He chuckled. “Do you really believe that?”

Cora’s eyes grew serious. “It was one of the reasons used to convict my mother of witchcraft.”

Evan shifted their positions so he was above her, cradling her face between his large hands. “Never think that, lassie. Laird Campbell was an evil man. You said yourself your mother spurned his advances."

Cora turned so he couldn’t see the tears welling in her eyes. “Aye, she did.”

“Besides, your hair is darker with hints of red. That seems to me an omen that you’re a spirited troublemaker,” he teased.

She laughed. Evan could always bring her out of her darkest moods. It was one of the things she loved best about him. The insistent pressure of his now firm manhood against her thigh was another thing.

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"The Romance Section" by Viola Solaro (Contemporary Romance)

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Summary:  I'm an introverted, gamer-geek librarian. Which is pretty much the perfect recipe for modern-day spinsterhood. And now the dreaded trifecta of holidays is approaching: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. They used to be my favorites growing up until somewhere along the way I crossed that hazy line where I was supposed to be “dating” someone and my relatives seem to have fewer and fewer qualms about setting me up. It's not like I want to be alone forever. I just want to find a guy that is willing to sometimes talk about things other than gaming. Someone who has dreamy brown eyes and reads science fiction. Someone like that man who just walked into my library...

This SHORT novelette is approximately 8,500 words long.

Excerpt:

Working in a library also makes me feel like I’m putting my double majors in literature and business management to good use. My true passion is literature but my parents refused to help pay for college unless I studied something “useful.” It’s an opinion but unless you’re really one of those go-getter types I think that business management has to be the most useless major. For one thing, who doesn’t have one? Makes it a tough sell to any potential employer. Plus, I’m not a go-getter.

Anyway, so here I am. Working at the city library in a suburb outside of Seattle no one has ever heard of. I’m twenty-eight. And to top it all off the dreaded trifecta of holidays is fast approaching: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. To be fair, I have nothing against these holidays and what they represent. They used to be my favorites growing up until somewhere along the way I crossed that hazy line where I was supposed to be “dating” someone.

It was subtle at first, most inquisitions are. Only the last two years or so have things bordered on intolerable. I know my family loves me but getting set up on a blind date with my aunt’s hairdresser’s son is going a little too far. I swear I can practically hear the alarm on my mother’s grandbaby biological clock going off.

It’s not like I’m some sort of man-hating, anti-marriage woman. I’m just picky. Blame my introverted tendencies if you will but there are only a handful of friends I can tolerate being around for an extended period of time. Why would dating be any different? If I already know the guy is going to be a complete idiot then I would much rather spend my evening reading a book or grinding out levels in Guild Wars 2. At least then I can destroy any annoying people with a well-placed mace to the face… in the computer game, of course.

This pretty much sums up my (lack of) dating experience. And I’m sure you can understand now why I’ve been torn between faking a horrible disease and biting the bullet for the sake of eating turkey. The arguments for both sides are rather compelling. Which is a good thing since today was a slow day at the library. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t rain constantly in Washington. It rains in bursts. It’s pretty rare to have days of non-stop downpours.

Washington natives aren’t easily daunted by weather but after three days of driving rain your motivation to go outside is low. I didn’t even want to go in to work today but reconsidered when I realized I had nothing else to do except mope around my apartment and watch BBC dramas. A decision I was beginning to regret. I had run out of things to do hours ago. Every bookshelf was immaculately organized (I checked). All the returns had been put away. I even dusted the archives. The only think I hadn’t done was vacuum the carpet but that was next if no one showed up in the next hour (you have to pace your time-killing projects).

Fortunately I heard the glorious jingle of bells on the front door. I tried not to appear too obvious as I peered over the counter to see who it was. We librarians get a bad enough rap as it is. No need to add “creepy” to the list.

In walked a guy in his early thirties. He was cute in a geeky sort of way with scraggly brown hair, a rumpled jacket and the shadow of a beard from forgetting to shave. My heart did a mild flip. If I ever had a “type,” this guy would be it. Call me weird but I don’t like men looking more groomed than me. Most days I sport a vintage looking shirt, jeans and Converse. I do just enough to my curly hair to keep me from turning into a frizz monster. Makeup is only applied on very special occasions that don’t involve my mother (can’t have her getting any ideas).

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, I believe you can.” He pulled a rumpled piece of paper out of his raincoat and handed it to me. “I’m wondering if you have any of the books on that list?”

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"Rules of the Heart" by Gabriella Mahoney (Historical Romance)

Genre:  Historical Romance, Scottish Romance

Summary:  Book 1 of the Heart of the Highlands Series.

Years of war and occupation have left the MacKinloch clan in ruins. The old laird is dead and Alec is left to inherit little more than a broken down castle and a marriage contract to a woman he has never seen. So long as his wife knew her place and didn't fuss when he claimed his husbandly rights Alec would consider it a good arrangement. Little does he realize that that his new bride has some ideas of her own...

Excerpt:

Lara didn’t even so much as flinch when two screaming boys tore through her room in the midst of a wooden sword fight. Frankly, she was glad of the distraction as it kept her from thinking too hard about the fact that she was going to be married to a complete stranger in just a few hours.

As she put the finishing touches on her hair she could hear her father outside hooking up the cart that would take her to the chapel. Her mother bustled about with the energy of someone half as young and not eight months pregnant. Lara had no idea how her mother managed but she supposed that after four miscarriages and eight living children the woman was more used to be being pregnant than not.

Even though Lara was terrified over the prospect of leaving home she kept these fears to herself since she knew her family, especially her mother, was absolutely thrilled over the match. More than once she had overheard an uncle or a cousin bragging to any random merchant that would listen that the Thompsons would be forming an alliance with the MacKinlochs. They would be related by marriage to a laird.

It was all well and good for them to brag. They didn’t have to share a bed with man that could be twice her age for all she knew. Lara tucked and plaited the MachKinloch plaid that was to be her wedding dress. The dark reds and blues flattered her fair complexion and seemed to make her eyes appear even more intensely green. At least something had worked in her favor that day.

Her mother came over and helped her to straighten the plaits. “Oh, my dear, you are truly a bonnie lass. The laird is a lucky man to be marrying you.”

Lara gave a thin smile. She loved her family and she knew her mother would miss her. But she also knew it would be a great relief to have one less mouth to feed, especially with a new little one on the way. Her brothers stopped fighting for a split second to express their admiration. “You look like a fairy princess!” the youngest one exclaimed.

Lara genuinely grinned at that. “A fairy princess that can still beat your arse in a wrestling match!”

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"The Butterfly Papers" by Pepper Carlson (Fantasy Romance)

Genre:  Fantasy Romance

Summary:  Natália was used to keeping her own company and always traveling alone. As she headed to Los Angeles International Airport, the day seemed like any other day. She wasn’t traveling far, just an hour flight, and yet she was feeling something she couldn’t quite put her fingers on.

There was a stirring deep within her daring her to step out of her comfort zone. She knew the Universe would collaborate in her favor the elements usually did. But she would soon learn there was more to her than meets the eye when a series of ordinary events would produce extraordinary circumstances.

Excerpt:

I was brought to life protected by a canopy of dense rainforest somewhere deep in the Amazon jungles of Brazil while my mother chased a dream. It was the part of the rainforest that holds the most secrets and only a few select shamans traveling by the Yekuana hallucinogenic have been rumored to see the truth. My mother was convinced the truth had come to visit her on many occasions and they had fallen in love. But to me it was just a story and this was my life.

It was a perfect 80-degrees with 90 percent humidity. Well perfect, if you like the kind of heat that sticks to you like a second layer of skin. I could smell the precipitation and taste the fresh water on my lips. It was high rain season but it wasn’t raining. The earth touched me comfortingly and the butterflies came in and out of view as they ceased to blend with the trees. The wilderness whispered in my ears as the butterfly wings brushed against me. There were hundreds of wings fluttering around me in all shapes and sizes. The different hues blending together created a kaleidoscope of color as if the forest was laughing and happy.

My mother was near. In what capacity I couldn't be sure but I always knew when she was close. Her scent was a combination of jasmine and lily. Her long brown hair cascaded around her like early morning mist and her omniscient jade colored eyes sparkled brighter than stars in the sky. She was as beautiful as a Pixie Angel and as protective as a Lioness. She loved me as much as she loved the forest and I could hear her magical voice singing in Portuguese as I drifted off to sleep.

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"Healing Touch" by Gabriella Mahoney (Historical Romance)

Genre:  Historical Romance

Summary:  Albert Halton is young, ambitious doctor with a promising career ahead of him. A man in his position cannot afford distractions and when he marries it will be to a demure woman that has no problem living in the shadow of her husband's work. 

Which is why his future wife will certainly be nothing like Tessa Alcott. The outspoken spinster is far too blunt and has an unfashionable taste for her own independence. Such a woman couldn't possibly be good for him... could she?

Excerpt:

Tessa rolled her eyes and looked at Albert, desperate for any kind of support. Albert felt his breath hitch as their gazes locked. His first impression of Miss Theresa Alcott was a pretty but unrefined creature. Stray locks of curly brown hair slipped out from her white cap and her simple gown was clean but faded. A love of books and a mind of her own had probably sealed her fate as a spinster. Most men were not comfortable with intelligent wives that might question their stupid decisions. Indeed Albert had always imagined that when he married it would be to a nice, quiet sort. The type that would run his house smoothly and keep their children out of his way so he could devote most of his time to his research and career.

But when she looked at him… his heart leapt in recognition. They had only met minutes ago and yet it was as if she was an old friend he hadn’t seen in years. He knew exactly what she was thinking. He shared her same exasperated frustration with the world they lived in. Being full of ideas that no one wanted to listen to or, if they did, lacked the ability to understand those ideas. At that moment he realized she wasn’t bad-tempered or hysterical. She was bored. Trapped as a woman in a culture that felt females should have no interests other than getting married.

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"Playing With Fire" by Rose Francis (Contemporary Romance)

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Summary:  Despite dumping her unfaithful fiancé, Janet Cooper has a hard time getting rid of him as he continues following her around, begging for her forgiveness.

Janet soon realizes her troubles are just beginning, especially since her new business partner Eric is an irresistible hunk and she has promised herself a three-month hiatus from sex.

But as her ex-fiancé gets more and more aggressive in his pursuit of her, she turns to Eric for strength and friendship, sending her ex into jealous rages.

The least of her problems becomes her fantasies of Eric and resisting her urges as she begins to see that playing with fire could leave her scarred for life.

Playing With Fire is the first in the Sweet Redemption series.

Excerpt:


As Janet reached the elevator and the doors were about to close, she heard a male voice call out:

“Wait!”

She held the elevator.

For a moment, she wished she had let it close when the man entered, for she was struck by something she hadn’t felt since she was eighteen when she fell madly and completely in love for the first and only time with a guy who broke her heart irreparably a few years later.

The vision before her was a man like she thought only existed in movies, and only then with the right lighting and camera angles: tall, broad shoulders, smoldering blue eyes, thick, glossy dark hair.

When he smiled at her, she thought for a moment that she had literally turned into a puddle. Then she felt silly when she realized her eye level hadn’t actually changed and she was still human, so she managed to smile back.

Her embarrassment didn’t help—she knew her cheeks had flushed at being stuck in such a small space with such a specimen, and that it would show even through her brown skin.

She couldn’t think and felt like her brain had shorted and shut down. She could only feel, emotions whirling in side of her for the minute or so it took to get to the seventh floor. At least it felt like a minute, as her body screamed at her—desire, longing, and shame coursing through her.

She tried not looking at him, focusing on the elevator buttons, then the floor—everywhere but at the Adonis next to her in a suit. But even his smell mocked her valiant efforts. His cologne, after-shave—whatever it was almost made her dizzy.

She thought she saw him smiling at her discomfort out of the corner of her eye, so she looked directly at him and immediately regretted her mistake.

His devastating grin erased her plan to firmly and confidently say hello.

How am I suddenly fourteen? she wondered. Some cute guy, clearly very fit under his suit with a firm jaw, and a beautiful smile, standing about six feet four and looking the epitome of an alpha male—and she loses it?

Get it together! she told herself as the elevator door opened.

The man indicated for her to exit first and she managed to do that, but she stood there, trying to get her bearings and remember why she was on this floor in the first place.

“708,” he said in a voice that climbed up her spine. “I take it you’re here for the Cooper reception?”

She nodded dumbly, then fell into step with him.

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