Wednesday, July 31, 2019

BOOK REVIEW for "Good Guy (Rookie Rebels, #1)" by Kate Meader


Good Guy (Rookie Rebels, #1)
by Kate Meader
Published: July 30th, 2019

He's a Special Forces veteran making his pro hockey debut. She's a dogged sports reporter determined to get a scoop. She's also his best friend's widow...

Fans can’t get enough of Levi Hunt, the Special Forces veteran who put his NHL career on hold to serve his country and fight the bad guys. So when his new Chicago Rebels bosses tell him to cooperate with the press on a profile, he’s ready to do his duty. Until he finds out who he has to work with: flame-haired, freckle-splashed, impossibly perky Jordan Cooke.

The woman he should not have kissed the night she buried her husband, Levi’s best friend in the service.

Hockey-stick-up-his-butt-serious Levi Hunt might despise Jordan for reasons she can’t fathom—okay, it’s to do with kissing—but her future in the cutthroat world of sports reporting hangs on delivering the goods on the league’s hottest, grumpiest rookie. So what if he’s not interested in having his life plated up for public consumption. Too bad. Jordan will have to play dirty to get her scoop and even dirtier to get her man. Only in winning the story, she might just lose her heart...
 

~ BOOK REVIEW for Good Guy ~

****(4) out of 5 Stars!

Levi Hunt truly is a Good Guy!  In fact, this guy is almost too good to be true!  Luckily for Jordan Cooke, however, the more we get to know him, the more we discover just what a gem he really is. 

Things don’t start out well for these two.  When the story begins, Jordan is given the assignment of writing a profile on Levi.  Of course, this is only because he was friends with her late husband.  And he’s never cared much for her… or at least that’s what Jordan believes.  Come to find out, however, Levi does have some very strong, long-standing, and not all negative feelings for her. 

As these two get more/reacquainted, they start to have an effect on how the other sees the world.  They also begin to suss out their very complicated feelings for one another.  There are quite a few tense moments in their relationship, as they learn things about each other that they didn’t know.  But mostly they realize what a good person the other one is, and they how much they have to offer each other.  Of course, there are disagreements and misunderstandings along the way, some with rather high-stakes results for both the two of them and others around them.  But there are a lot of feel-good moments too, as well as some slow but sure realization of how happy they make each other.

Apparently, this book is the first in a spin-off series from the author’s Chicago Rebels and Hot in Chicago series.  There were several characters with a back-story that was heavily alluded to, that perhaps was covered in more detail in these other books.  However, this was my first book by this author, let alone in this world of hers, and I did not feel the least left out or confused.  This came off wonderfully well as a self-contained story.  I look forward to reading more stories by her in the future. 

There is a delightful supporting cast in this tale!  Levi’s hockey teammates are all quite interesting and personable.  I especially enjoyed Theo, Eloise, Joe and (of course) Cookie.  I’m hopeful that we’ll see more of all these characters in future volumes of the series.

I recieved a free eBook copy of this title from NetGalley, 
and have willingly provided an honest review.


Friday, July 26, 2019

BOOK BLITZ for "Fate of Dragons (Dragons Rising, #1)" by Alisha Klapheke

Fate of Dragons 
(Dragons Rising, #1)
by 
Alisha Klapheke
Publication date: March 27th, 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Romance,
Young Adult
An Earth Queen desperate to wake her magic. 
An elven prince fighting a ruthless betrayal. 
A flood is coming. The Sea Queen has a mad plan to drown the world. 
Only the magic of the Earth Queen can stop her. Vahly, the last human, was born to fill that role and wield the power necessary to battle the rising oceans and save the dragons and elves. 
But Vahly is the world’s biggest disappointment. She possesses no magic whatsoever. 
When she finds an ancient scroll that mentions a human power ritual conducted deep in the homeland of the elves, she gathers her dragon allies and journeys to see the king of that great forest-dwelling race. 
Welcomed by a handsome royal cloaked in dark magic, will Vahly find answers or will a twisted and powerful elven lord destroy her chance at saving the world?
Only 99¢ for a limited time!

Author Bio:
When USA Today Bestselling author Alisha Klapheke isn't busy creating new fantasy worlds, she teaches martial arts (specifically Muay Thai kickboxing, Krav Maga, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), loves on her two amazing kids, and travels the world with her ninja husband. 

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The world knows Samantha Brooks as the violin prodigy.
She guards her secret truth—the desire she harbors for her guardian.

Liam North got custody of her six years ago.
She’s all grown up now, but he still treats her like a child.
No matter how much he wants her.

No matter how bad he aches for one taste.
Her sweet overtures break down the ex-soldier’s defenses,
but there’s more at stake than her body.
Every touch, every kiss, every night.
The closer she gets, the more exposed his darkest secret.

She’s one step away from finding out what happened
the night she lost her family.
One step away from leaving him forever.

"A seductive and utterly addicting story of temptation and forbidden desire." - Sarah Castille, New York Times bestselling author

Thursday, July 25, 2019

BOOK BLITZ for "Meant to Be (Four Irish Brothers Winery, #2)" by Nan Reinhardt

Meant to Be 
(Four Irish Brothers Winery, #2)
by Nan Reinhardt
Published by: Tule Publishing
Publication date: July 18th, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Can a near-tragedy help two best friends realize they’re meant to be so much more? 
Best friends since grade school, high-powered Chicago attorney, Sean Flaherty, and small-town mayor Megan Mackenzie have always shared a special bond. When Sean is shot by a client’s angry ex, Megan rushes to his side, terrified she’s about to lose her long-time confidant. 
Upon his return to River’s Edge to recuperate, Sean discovers that his feelings for his pal have taken an undeniable turn for the romantic. While Megan struggles with an unfamiliar longing for Sean, she worries that he may be mistaking a safe place to land for love. 
Can Sean help her realize that they are truly meant to be so much more than friends?

Excerpt:

“Stop.” Tossing the cane on the settee, he grasped her shoulders in his big hands. “Stop now, Meggy, talk to me.”
They were standing so close Sean could feel the heat of her blush radiating off her cheeks and even that set his heart to pounding. He breathed deeply, inhaling the familiar and yet somehow brand-new scent of Megan Mackenzie.
“What would you like me to say, Sean?” Megan wasn’t looking at him.
Instead her glance darted around the room, making her appear like a frightened doe. She grabbed the tea towel he’d tossed over his shoulder, just like Da always did when he cooked or was working in the wine cellar. After drying her hands briskly, she shoved the scrap of terry cloth at him as she twisted out of his grasp and stepped around him.
“I think I’ve pretty much reached my humiliation tolerance for one night, so... see ya.” Before he could catch his breath, her footsteps clicked on the hardwood floor of the foyer.
Geez, that woman moved fast... and he couldn’t, dammit.
“Megan, wait!” Sean hopped on his left leg, trying to get turned around in the narrow space between the settee and the trunk without falling over. She was gone, the front door shut softly behind her. He hobbled to the door and yanked it open just in time to see her backing out of the driveway.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
He sagged against the doorjamb, watching the little Honda’s red taillights disappear in a cloud of gravel dust. Suddenly, he was exhausted. When he shut the door, he stopped for a moment to rest, leaning back on the heavy wood. His right leg ached, as did other parts southward—something that both delighted and astonished him. How long had it been since... he tried to recall the last time that kind of desire had hit him with such force and he couldn’t. He flexed his fingers, remembering Meg’s soft skin, how she’d shivered when he kissed her, and the hunger that hadn’t yet fully subsided grew inside him again.
He wanted her. He wanted his best friend.

It was that simple... and that complicated.


Author Bio:
Nan Reinhardt is a USA Today-bestselling author of romantic fiction for women in their prime. Yeah, women still fall in love and have sex, even after 45! Imagine! She is a wife, a mom, a mother-in-law, and a grandmother. Nan has been a copyeditor and proofreader for over 25 years, and currently works on romantic fiction titles for a variety of clients, including Avon Books, St. Martin’s Press, Kensington Books, and Entangled Publishing, as well as for many indie authors. 
Although she loves her life as an editor, writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. Her latest novel, Meant to Be, Book 2 in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series from Tule Publishing releases on July 18, 2019. A Small Town Christmas, which is the first book in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series from Tule Publishing, is available now, and she is currently hard at work on Book 3. 
Visit Nan’s website at www.nanreinhardt.com, where you’ll find links to all her books as well as blogs about writing, being a Baby Boomer, and aging gracefully…mostly. Nan also blogs every sixth Wednesday at Word Wranglers, sharing the spotlight with five other romance authors and is a frequent contributor the RWA Contemporary Romance blog, and she contributes to the Romance University blog where she writes as Editor Nan. 
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Tuesday, July 23, 2019

BOOK REVIEW for "Rumpel's Redemption (Twisted Ever After, #3)" by Tamara Grantham


Rumpel’s Redemption
(Twisted Ever After, #3)
by Tamara Grantham

Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: July 22, 2019
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Young Adult

Kardiya Von Fiddlestrum, a dark elf, yearns for adventure. But when she gets kidnapped by Rumpel Stiltskin and taken to a foreign magical realm, she realizes not all adventures are created equal. 

Rumpel Stiltskin wants revenge on Kardiya’s grandmother for the curse that turned him into a goblin. Now free of that curse and in human-form again, the young prince knows he can use Kardiya to get to her grandmother. But revenge isn’t Rumpel’s only motivation. He’s also seeking the child of the dark elves from an ancient prophecy – only she can save his home, which has been infiltrated by the Sa’hadov. Could Kardiya be this elf? It may not matter, since she’s refusing to cooperate either way. But things change when she learns a hard truth…

Agreeing to help her kidnapper wasn’t her first choice—but neither was falling in love with him.

Rumpel’s Redemption is the third and final book in the Twisted Ever After series.


~ BOOK REVIEW for Rumpel's Redemption ~

****(4) out of 5 Stars!

I think this was my favorite book of the Twisted Ever After series!  Kardiya and Rumpel worked well together, even though she started out doing so under duress.  Due to past experiences, some of their making but much of other people, neither has much reason to trust the other.  And yet, as they struggle physically and mentally to overcome the hardships inflicted upon them and their traveling companions as they try to fulfill the prophecy and save both of their worlds, they become quite close.  At times melodramatic, they are both still at heart decent people, trying their best to help save the world.  The ending has a few good twists and turns, but does eventually lead to their happily-ever-after.  I do wish, however, that we'd learned what Kardiya's family thought of Rumpel after all of this, more about what became of Rumpel's brother after their adventures, and such.  But overall, it was a delightful and intriguing fantasy novel.

I recieved a free eBook copy of this title from the author as part of her review team, 
and have willingly provided an honest review.



READ THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES FOR FREE!

The Witch’s Tower 
(Twisted Ever After, #1)
by Tamara Grantham 
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: March 11th, 2019
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Young Adult
Gothel is a witch. Punished for the actions of her mother, her choice is simple: either she stands guard over Princess Rapunzel—or she dies. But just because a choice is easy doesn’t mean it’s pleasant. Protecting Rapunzel means watching as the princess lays trapped in a tower, bedridden by hair that is so long and heavy it’s slowly driving her insane. Gothel’s life has become one of imprisonment and solitude as well—until a prince and his handsome squire appear at the tower.
Only one object can cut Rapunzel’s hair and end the curse: a pair of magical shears. But the shears are guarded by the most terrifying witches in the land, who also happen to be Gothel’s aunts. As Gothel and the prince’s squire, Raj Talmund, work to form a plan, she finds herself more and more drawn to the mysterious young man from the Outerlands. Unfortunately, his destiny is far more dangerous than she wants to admit: to save a princess, he must kill the witch who’s been forced to guard her.
The Witch's Tower is the first in an inspired new series of fairy-tale retellings from award-winning fantasy author Tamara Grantham.

READ TODAY FOR FREE:


Author Bio:

Tamara Grantham is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books and novellas, including the Olive Kennedy: Fairy World MD series and the Shine novellas. Dreamthief, the first book of her Fairy World MD series, won first place for fantasy in Indiefab’s Book of the Year Awards, a Rone award for best New Adult Romance of 2016, and is a #1 bestseller on Amazon with over 200 five-star reviews. She has recently signed with Clean Teen Publishing for a fairytale retelling trilogy.
Tamara holds a bachelor’s degree in English. She has been a featured speaker at numerous writing conferences and a panelist at Comic Con Wizard World speaking on the topic of female leads. For her first published project, she collaborated with New York-Times bestselling author, William Bernhardt, in writing the Shine series.
Born and raised in Texas, Tamara now lives with her husband and five children in Wichita, Kansas. She rarely has any free time, but when the stars align, and she gets a moment to relax, she enjoys reading, taking nature walks, and watching every Star Wars or Star Trek movie ever made.

GIVEAWAY:

Enter Tamara Grantham’s five days of giveaways over on her Facebook page.            (Search daily for that day's prize contest.)
She’s also got a $50 Amazon Gift Card grand prize giveaway powered by Rafflecopter! Enter here.

BOOK BLITZ for "Vanished (ALIAS, #3)" by Lisa Hughey

Vanished
(ALIAS, #3)
by Lisa Hughey
Publication date: July 23rd, 2019
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
He will do anything to find his brother’s killer, even pretend to love his enemy. 
His final opportunity… 
On an unsanctioned quest, Scottish officer Hamish Ballard tracks his brother’s killer across the world… until he hits a dead end at Adams-Larsen. Jillian Larsen knows more than she admits, and he’ll do anything to uncover her secrets, even fake an attraction to her. But that fake attraction turns all too real, and using her when she was just a name in a report was easy, but he’s falling for his target. 
Her first responsibility… 
Jillian Larsen’s mission in life is helping people disappear to keep them safe. She has never betrayed a client, and when the Scottish hottie accuses her company of hiding a criminal, she has no intention of revealing her client’s whereabouts or giving in to her inconvenient attraction for the pain in her ass. Giving in means giving up and she’s never going to abandon her principles. But what does she do if the woman she helped turns out to be a killer? When her business partner vanishes along with their complicit client, can she use Hamish to track them down without risking her heart? 
Their only chance… 
He needs her resources. She needs his intelligence. Working together is the only logical choice, but it means jeopardizing everything.

Excerpt:

Edinburgh, Scotland

“What now, Officer Ballard?” Fiona Thomas, Hamish Ballard’s boss at the National Crime Agency, let out a long-suffering sigh.
“I was able to trace Brianna Walsh to America.” Hamish leaned forward, perched on the edge of the uncomfortable chair across from his supervisor, as if he could will her to get excited about his success. He had exhausted all his leads on the woman responsible for his brother’s death. Until today. Finally, one of his connections at MI5 had managed to give him highly classified information about Brianna. Her last known contact was at some public relations firm, Adams-Larsen Inc. and Associates, in Washington, DC. “She’s using the name Beatrice Winter. I want to go—”
“You’ve got to let go of this obsession.” She put her head in her hands.
Brianna Walsh needed to pay. And she needed to be stopped before more people died. “But—”
“No more. If you keep pursuing information about Brianna Walsh, your job is in jeopardy.”
He kept his mouth shut but his expression must have given him away. Family was everything. He’d been raised to stick together. He’d forgotten that lesson for a while. But he would never forget again. Blood, family was everything—even in death, blood prevailed.
“Do you understand?” she pressed.
He didn’t answer.
Couldn’t answer. The rage and frustration that had fueled him for the past year had only grown after it seemed as if Brianna had just…vanished.
“Officer Ballard?”
“Aye, ma’am.” Hamish Ballard stood in front of his boss’s desk like a little kid in front of the headmaster and nodded while he lied through his teeth.
“Go on holiday for a week and get your head on straight. When you come back, I don’t want to hear anything else about the Walsh family. Her father and brothers are in prison. The rest of their empire is in disarray. The Walsh cousins are impotent and ineffective without them. Brianna served the Crown with her testimony. Leave. Off. Full stop.”
Hamish had no intention of dropping his quest for justice. He hadn’t been there for his brother in life, he wasn’t about to abandon him in death. “Aye, ma’am.”
“Get on with your fuckin’ life, Ham.”
He left the office…and headed to the airport.
He’d find his answers in America. In Washington, DC. At a public relations firm of all things.
He had one week to find Brianna Walsh. No fucking way was he letting this—her—go.



Author Bio:
USA Today Bestselling Author Lisa Hughey has been writing romance since the fourth grade, which was also about the time she began her love affair with spies. Harriet and Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys later gave way to James Bond and Lara Croft and Jason Bourne. 
Exploring the complex nature of a profession that requires subterfuge and lies fascinates her. She loves combining her two passions into fiction. As evidenced by her Black Cipher Files series. 
Archangel Rafe was her first foray into the paranormal but after spending time in the Angelic Realm, it won't be her last. At their heart, the Seven novels are about the dynamics of family relationships. But the really hot Archangels don't hurt. 
And recently she's been immersed in the Stone Family novellas, four stories about a blended family of brothers and sister who have a lot more in common than they realize. But of course she couldn't just write about family and romance. There are complex plots, bad guys, and suspense too. 
Lisa loves to hear from readers and has various places you can connect with her, although, shh, Twitter is her favorite.

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Saturday, July 13, 2019

BOOK BLITZ for "On a City Street (A Becker Family Novel)" by Pat Wahler

On a City Street 
(A Becker Family Novel)
by Pat Wahler

Publication date: July 9th, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
The cure for a painful breakup requires drastic measures. And quite often, a moving van… 
When veterinarian Carolyn Becker catches her fiance cheating, her problem-solving skills come to the rescue. She swears off love and leaves suburbia for a fresh start in St. Louis to launch a low-cost animal clinic… and bury the past. 
But new beginnings can be complicated. A mysterious man, a troubled teenager, and an injured dog trigger unsettling questions. Before she knows it, Carolyn’s best-laid plans unravel, and solutions are farther from her reach than Mars. Sometimes even a problem-solver can use a little help. 
Especially when it comes to mending a broken heart.

Excerpt:

“A reminder, Dr. Becker. If you run into anything unusual, tell me.”
She tried to make sense of what he said. “You mean at the clinic?”
“I mean anywhere. I’ve noticed you tend to run hell-bent into situations you don’t know anything about. It’s a good way to get yourself into a world of trouble.”
Carolyn mulled over his comment. “I wouldn’t do anything stupid.”
“All the same, take care.”
He certainly didn’t have much confidence in her good sense. It ought to make her furious. Instead, her body tingled. Was it the wine? Carolyn wasn’t sure. He moved closer. So close, she could feel his warm breath on her face. His expression remained impassive, yet she detected something within the silvery depths of his eyes.
His palm cupped her cheek and he said, “Are you sure it’s wise to trust me?” She didn’t have an answer since blood pounded through her veins in a most disconcerting way. His eyes held hers, and he leaned closer. Her lips parted, and she let her eyelids close against the magnetic attraction of his gaze. Would he kiss her? She waited expectantly.
A cell phone shrilled, and her eyes flew open. He uttered a soft curse and retrieved his phone. One glance at the screen darkened his face.
“What is it?”
“Sorry. This is important. I’ve got to go.”
“But…” She felt disembodied, as though abruptly awakened from a deep sleep, and pointed toward the oven. “What about dinner?”
“We’ll have dinner another day, but next time it will be on me.”
With one wicked grin, he retrieved his jacket from the chair where it hung. She watched until the door closed behind him, then pondered how to interpret what he said. Dinner? On him? What did he mean by that? A sudden burst of giggles erupted, which quickly turned into hiccups. She held her breath and counted to twenty. The hiccups subsided, but a wisp of smoke curled from the oven. Carolyn leaped up and raced for the kitchen.


Author Bio:
Pat Wahler is an award-winning writer who aims to pen stories a reader will savor. She lives in Missouri with her family, including a Peek-a-poo pup named Winston; and Bogey, a tabby with an attitude. A fan of good books, history, humor, animals, and the arts (her dream job would combine all of these); Pat draws inspiration from family, friends, and the critters who supervise her time at the keyboard. 
A frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, Sasee Magazine, and Not Your Mother's Book anthologies; her work has also appeared in Reader's Digest, Storyteller Magazine, and other publications. 


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Friday, July 12, 2019

BOOK BLITZ for "The Jade Hunters (Sinner’s Grove Suspense, #3)" by A.B. Michaels

The Jade Hunters 
(Sinner’s Grove Suspense, #3)
by A.B. Michaels
Publication date: June 22nd, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Suspense
A Fortune in Stolen Jewels, a Centuries-old Vendetta: Let the Shell Game Begin. 
Award-winning jewelry designer Regina Firestone is proud to exhibit her famous grandmother’s multi-million dollar “bauble” collection at the grand re-opening of The Grove Center for American Art, known among the locals as “Sinner’s Grove.” 
The fact that she’s considering modeling the jewels in the nude like her grandmother did infuriates photographer Walker Banks, a co-owner of The Grove who’s in charge of the exhibit. Neither is willing to admit the real reason for the sparks between them. 
Their spat takes a back seat when Reggie discovers that one of the most compelling pieces in the collection is not at all what it seems. Tracking down the truth will take the couple into the dark heart of a quest that’s lasted more than a century, one in which destroying human lives—including Reggie’s and Walker’s—means nothing in the pursuit of a twisted sense of justice. 
The Jade Hunters is Book Three of Michaels’ contemporary series, “Sinner’s Grove Suspense.” The series follows the descendants of characters introduced in Michaels’ historical fiction series, “The Golden City.”  
The Golden City: The Art of Love, The Depth of Beauty, The Promise, The Price of Compassion, and Josephine’s Daughter. 
Sinner’s Grove Suspense: Sinner’s Grove, The Lair, and The Jade Hunters.
Note: All of A.B. Michaels’ novels are stand-alone reads.
For more information, please visit abmichaels.com.

Excerpt:

“The Modeling Session”
Taking a breath and turning to the box, Reggie put on the necklace. The bright yellow citrine was cold against her breast, a welcome chill to the flame building inside of her.
“Now, if you’ll sit on the couch and hand me your robe, we can get started.”
She did as Walker instructed, foolishly turning away from him as she took off her covering, as if doing so would shield her any more than facing him would. When she turned back, he was adjusting a nearby lamp and re-checking his camera, which he’d set on a tripod. She waited for him to finish, and when he looked up, she handed him the robe.
Those eyes again. Focused on her. “Are you ready, then?”
She smiled nervously. “As I’ll ever be.”
The professional in Walker took over at that point. He began to instruct her in a tone that could only be called “matter-of-fact.”
“Sit with the vase behind your right shoulder; cross your legs, look to the left … click click click … now the right click click …now straight at me. You … you are meeting your lover and you are wondering where he is … click click … now you are confident he is coming home to you…”
At one point he moved his tripod closer, adjusted one of the standing lights and leaned in to adjust the stone, which nestled within her cleavage. His hands brushed her skin as he straightened the chain and her body responded immediately, her nipples tightening. Fortunately, he didn’t comment on it.
He continued in that manner, directing her in a calm, dispassionate voice. She, on the other hand, was positively humming inside, titillated beyond belief that he was fully clothed and she was completely naked. What did he think of her? He had to be comparing her to the historic photos of her grandmother. Was she measuring up? She shivered involuntarily.
“Would you like me to turn up the heat?” he asked.
It can’t get much hotter than this, can it? Except if maybe you were naked, too. “No, I’m warm enough,” she managed.
After the citrine shot came the tigers. He retrieved them from the jewelry box, asked her to stand while she put them on. They reminded her of the theft and her simmering anger bubbled to the surface. “Will anyone know they aren’t the originals? I would be mortified if they could tell.”
He smiled slightly. “No one but us will know and I promise we’ll re-shoot with the real tigers once we get them back, all right?”
She smiled her relief. “That was the absolutely right thing to say.”
Then she froze because Walker had begun to put his hands in her hair. To do so he moved very close to her, close enough that their bodies almost touched.
“The original had Mandy’s hair up like so,” he said, carefully twisting and arranging her hair.
Oh, she thought, but said nothing. The scant space between them arced with electricity.
As he continued to fold her mane into a loose chignon, she took in his scent; it was a cross between leather and wood and male. She fought the urge to close the distance. How could he stand this? Was she the only one feeling this way?
He stepped back from her for a moment and tilted his head while he perused her. Then, smiling faintly, he pulled a few long hairpins out of his back pocket. She held her breath as he strategically placed them out of sight, his arms encircling her. She knew it wasn’t his intent, but still she felt protected; sheltered; even treasured.
Then it was over and he stepped back, once again examining his work. She let out a careful breath and cast about for something to say that wouldn’t betray how she was feeling. “How do you know how to do that?” she asked, almost afraid of the answer.
“Tricks of the trade. On a fashion shoot you’re working with two diametrically opposed concepts: perfection and time constraints. Fixing hair quickly helps bridge that gap. I always keep a few pins in my camera case out of habit.” His eyes gleaming wickedly, he leaned in as if to let her in on a secret. “They’re also good for keeping ties from flapping, applying glue to false eyelashes, and most importantly, closing half-empty Dorito bags.” He matched her smile briefly before stepping back and once again assuming a professional demeanor. “That should do it. Ready to continue?”
She nodded, unsure how much more of this she could take.
He captured several poses and then, as he’d done with the first stone, took the camera off its stand and took a series of hand-held shots from various angles. As he moved, he’d call out a running patter of gentle commands and comments like, “Look here,” “Turn quickly,” “That’s it” and “Give me sultry.”
He paused with his camera by his side. “You really have no idea, do you?” His voice held a touch of wonder and he murmured, almost to himself, “No idea at all.”



Author Bio:
A native of California, A.B. Michaels holds masters’ degrees in history (UCLA) and broadcasting (San Francisco State University). After working for many years as a promotional writer and editor, she turned to writing fiction, which is the hardest thing she's ever done besides raise two boys. She lives with her husband and two spoiled dogs in in Boise, Idaho, where she is often distracted by kayaking, playing bocce, and trying to hit a golf ball more than fifty yards. Her historical fiction series, “The Golden City,” explores America’s Gilded Age and its effect on characters, both real and fictional, while her contemporary series, “Sinner’s Grove Suspense,” follows descendants of The Golden City as they navigate today’s equally treacherous waters. 
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