RELEASE WEEK HAPPINESS WITH: Against the Tide (The Brodies of Alaska #3) by Kat Martin

Against The Tide by the incomparable Kat Martin is a veritable roller coaster ride of action and suspense with a sizzling romance that grabs the attention.

Olivia Chandler has been on the run from a criminal element and ends up in Valdez, Alaska as the new owner of the Pelican Cafe. She tries to lead an under the radar life, but when it comes to boat captain Rafe Brodie, under the radar is a bit difficult.

Rafe Brodie is not going to sit idly by and let the murderer of one of his boat hands go free. When Liv and Rafe combine forces to hunt for the murderer they are in for a more than they bargained for including an attraction to one another that cannot be denied. For as much as Liv has been attemepting to steer clear of the attractive Rafe, he welcomes the most evident sparks that ignite quickly. 

Along with the imminent danger that follows the pair, the budding romance that drifts between Rafe and Olivia makes Against the Tide a must read. Rafe and Olivia are strong characters with a lot of conviction and determination. They play well off one another and following along with their trials and tribulations is a thrilling quest. 

~Kimberly~ 

AGAINST THE TIDE

By Kat Martin

Release date: 5/26/15

BACK COVER COPY

Secrets—and safety—melt under a midnight sun…

Liv Chandler is running for her life, and the cops haven’t been able to do a thing to help. But there’s one man who makes her feel safe, no matter what…rugged charter boat captain Rafe Brodie.

To Rafe, Liv is a beautiful mystery, one he can’t ignore. He means to unearth her secrets, and in the process, if luck is on his side, maybe the spark between them will ignite.

But Liv’s past is more dangerous than Rafe could guess, and when his first mate turns up dead, she fears that she’s next. That there’s something else coming she can’t see. That even Rafe and the remote village of Valdez, Alaska can’t protect her forever…

SHORT BLURB

Secrets and Danger Threaten in the Land of the Midnight Sun…

Liv Chandler is running for her life.  She can’t trust anyone, not even the one man who makes her feel safe—rugged charter boat captain, Rafe Brodie.

Rafe is determined to uncover Liv's secrets,  but the beautiful café owner has a past more dangerous than Rafe can guess.  Something terrible is coming…and even in remote Valdez, Alaska, Rafe can’t protect her forever.

REVIEW QUOTES

“Martin’s latest novel leaves readers breathless with the absorbing combination of mystery and romance.” —RTBookReviews

“This book is action packed. It has plenty of suspense and I love that the story wasn't just given away. It all evolved into something fabulous. It will have you looking for the other Brodie books.” —Crystal’s Reviews

What are readers saying about AGAINST THE TIDE?

“A sexy romantic thriller I didn't want to stop reading.” —Paige, Mertztown, PA

“Thrilling, suspenseful and keeps you hanging on till the very end! And...delicious romance!” — Misty, Galt, CA

 “This book was a great read!  Characters were intriguing.  Story was easy to get swept away with.” —Elissa, Collegeville, PA

“Awesome book from start to finish. I was hooked right away & couldn't put it down!” —Amy, Las Cruces, NM

“Sexy and Intriguing read. A must read if you love to get caught up in love and romance and danger.” —Kristen, Oklahoma City, OK

“I loved it! Kat martin describes the scenes with such detail it feels as if you're right there in the story. Loved the characters and the whole plot.” —Lisa, Slippery Rock, PA

LINKS

TIDE CONTEST: http://www.katmartin.com/contests/

Website: http://www.katmartin.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/Yfajue8HliQ

Netgalley Link: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/63760

BUY LINKS

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Tide-Brodies-Alaska-Book-ebook/dp/B00ONTR60Q/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/against-the-tide-kat-martin/1120138025?ean=9781420133868

Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420133868

SOCIAL MEDIA

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22812429

Twitter: @katbooks https://twitter.com/katbooks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatMartinAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/luvromance/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kat-Martin/e/B000AQ0OJQ/

IDENTIFIERS

ASIN: B00ONTR60Q

ISBN: 9781420133868

ISBN-10: 1420133861

ISBN-13: 978-1420133868

New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History.   She is married to L.J. Martin, author of western, non-fiction, and suspense novels.

Kat has written more than sixty-five novels.  Sixteen million copies of her books are in print and she has been published in twenty foreign countries, including Japan, France, Germany, Argentina, Greece, China, Russia, and Spain.

Born in Bakersfield, California, Kat currently resides in Missoula, Montana, on a small ranch in the beautiful Sapphire mountains.

Her last eleven books have hit the prestigious New York Times bestseller list.  Both AGAINST THE WILD and AGAINST THE SKY, her latest release, took top ten spots.  AGAINST THE TIDE the 3^rd book in the Brodies of Alaska series will hit shelves in a couple weeks!

Visit Kat's website at www.katmartin.com 

Or look for her on Facebook  at Katmartin/author.

HERO AND HEROINE:

Finding Just the Right Match

When I come up with a story idea, one of the most import aspects and sometimes the most difficult, is to find the right romantic match.  The right hero for the right heroine, two people who, by the end of the novel, will fit perfectly together.  Since AGAINST THE TIDE centers around Rafe Brodie, a rugged outdoorsman, man of the sea, a hardworking male with a very high sex drive, I needed a woman who was his equal.  That meant she had to be tough, strong, hardworking, and though she might not realize it at first, a woman with a very passionate nature. 

Olivia Chandler is all of those things but she’s also a woman with secrets.  Though she’s drawn to Rafe, she knows they can never share a relationship.  Her life is in jeopardy.  Very powerful people want her silenced, and involving Rafe might wind up getting him killed.

But a mutual friend has been murdered and Rafe and Liv are both determined to find the man who killed him.  As the two of them work together trying to help the police solve the crime, Olivia comes to respect and admire Rafe, and she is wildly attracted to his dark good looks and amazing body.

Still, she might have to flee Valdez at a moment's notice.  And there is possible threat her past poses to Rafe.

As the story develops, Rafe comes to believe Olivia needs a man in her life, one strong enough to stand up to a woman like her.  He wants Liv in his life, but from the start, he has knows she's a woman with secrets.  For their relationship to work, Rafe needs to know what those secrets are.

As trouble deepens for Liv, another danger surfaces, one even more threatening. 

AGAINST THE TIDE was a fun and interesting book to write, and matching the two of central characters, finding ways to bring them together during their dangerous, desperate adventure added to the mix. 

I hope you enjoy AGAINST THE TIDE, and next year watch for INTO THE FURY, Rafe's cousin Ethan Brodie's story.

Till then, happy reading and all good wishes, Kat

GIVEAWAY ALERT! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Kiss for Lady Mary (The Marriage Game #6) by Ella Quinn

Mary Tolliver has been hiding from an unscrupulous cousin who wants to marry her for her dowry. All Mary wants is to marry for love and if she can't have that, she would rather be alone. If she can stay hidden for a year, until she reaches her majority, she will be free to live as she sees fit. After a close call with her cousin, Mary's unconventional grandmother devises a plan for Mary to live on an estate as the absent owner's imaginary wife.

Bachelor Kit Featherton runs from the idea of marriage but when he discovers that an impostor is parading around his estate as his wife he rushes to the long untended estate to find his "wife" taking care of all he should have been. When he finds Lady Mary is much more than the poser he thought, he mindset changes and he begins to see a future with this woman. Lady Mary, however is holding out for love or nothing at all and if Kit Featherton thinks that his roguish good looks will sway her, he is very wrong. 

With a little help from Mary's and Kit's grandmothers and their matchmaking scheme, the chase is on to see if Mary indeed will become the wife in fact or will she take on a season she never had and find another suitor. 

A Kiss For Lady Mary by Ella Quin is the sixth installment of The Marriage Game series and it is a delightful read. There are more than a few times that I would have quite enjoyed smacking both Kit and Mary in the head and yelled "snap out of it". This hard-headed pair has such a time admitting what they have is the real thing that it's frustrating to sit back and watch and not be able to intervene. I adore Kit's sense of honor and his protective stance when it came to Mary and her awful cousin and I do admire Mary's aptitude and intelligence. A Kiss For Lady Mary is a well calculated chase that is a charm to read.

~KIMBERLY~

No Gentleman for Georgina (The Notorious Flynns) A Novella by Jess Michaels

Some of the advantages of being friends with a duke as well as being the manager of his elite gentleman's club, is being invited to his parties where the ton gather. Paul Abbott also enjoyed the ability to be able to catch glimpses of the woman he has had feelings for going on two years. 

Georgina Hickson is very much the proper miss. Leaving her life plans to her father is a trial she can no longer endure. For  some time she has garnered hidden emotions for Mr. Abbott and the time has come for those emotions to come to light. Georgina's attraction to Paul is a revelation for the man who feels she is too above him for a relationship to work. Leave it to a woman whose passion has been sparked to fight for what she ultimately wants, especially when the thought of an arranged marriage hangs over her head. 

No Gentleman for Georgina by the indomitable Jess Michaels is a wonderful continuation in the Notorious Flynns saga. This novella is teeming with passion, desire and fulfilment. Paul Abbott has always been a distinctive character in the previous tales and this tale and finally he gets his day in the sun. Georgina is superb. Once the lady knows her mind, there is no stopping her. Every word Ms. Michaels puts to the page is a joy to read. No Gentleman for Georgina may be a novella but it is a memorable one that will capture your attention and make you believe in love.

~KIMBERLY~

Defying the Earl (Regency Charms #1) by Anabelle Bryant

His estate is almost in ruin. Valerian St. David, the handsome Duke of Dashwood is in dire straights after having inherited his title and all the debt along with it, as well as a spendthrift gambling, inventor of a brother who always sees the bright side of things instead if facing the problems head on. Putting their heads together to find a solution to their problems, Jasper suggests that Valerian become an anti-matchmaker for money. He would break apart the budding matches of the ton's sons and daughters at the bidding of their rich mamas and papas. Very inventive!

After having lost her parents in a carriage accident that also maimed her beloved sister, Wilhelmina Montgomery decides that becoming a matchmaker will help to pay for the costly treatments her sister needs in order to get well, and her first job would be any easy one since she is sure that the pair already are close to an engagement and they only need a slight push. Only problem is the handsome man she met on the street prior to a dinner party where the man, Valerian St, David now is trying to thwart her efforts with the couple. 

Never wanting to marry himself, Valerian does not fully see the implications of what he is doing, only the pounds that will go to repair his home and pay the help's wages. Honestly, what would a poor aristocrat have to offer a wife? When Valerian actually opens his eyes and truly sees the beauty and intelligence before him in the form of Wilhelmina, who is so aptly nicknamed Whimsy, he knows he could be in trouble in more ways than one. 

Whimsy holds Valerian at arms length at first, not knowing his true intentions, but once she opens her lonely heart to his, his acceptance of that it half the battle. Can two wayward souls with two seemingly different agendas that inevitably hope for the same outcome see what is in front of them? Read the clever and fast-paced tale that answers those questions, Defying the Earl by Anabelle Bryant. 

This first tale by skillful storyteller, Anabelle Bryant, in her Regency Charms series, Defying the Earl is thoroughly entertaining with it's twists and turns. Poor Valerian is at the mercy of the would-be groom's father and his political ambitions. When the father flip flops on the wanted outcome of the anti-matchmaking efforts Valerian has devised, the game changes completely, leaving Valerian in the middle of a mess on one end and with a potential romance on the other. I do so like him, even in his emotional ignorance, which actually makes it more adoring when he wakes up. Whimsy is one hell of a heroine, with guts, a big heart and loads of determination. Defying the Earl is yet another notch in Anabelle Bryant's buckle that deserves a resounding yes in the must read territory.

~KIMBERLY~ 

LET'S PLAY 20 QUESTIONS WITH ANABELLE BRYANT

1.       Morning, noon or night?   

     Morning

2.       How do you like your steak?

  Never (sorry)

3.       Last film that you saw?

  Cinderella

4.       TV Show?

 Naked & Afraid and Married at First Sight (bet you didn’t see that coming – Lol)

5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?  London with frequent visits to Paris

6.       What was breakfast today?

      Coffee & toast – damn, I’m boring.

7.       Favorite cuisine?

      Mexican

8.       What kind of car do you drive? 

   Mercedes

9.       Favorite clothing accessory? 

   Bracelets (lots of them)

10.   Weapon of choice? 

     Sarcasm

11.   Gemstone? 

  Diamond…are there others?

12.   Sport? 

     Baseball

13.   Nickname? 

    Anabella

14.   Pets?

   No – but I really want a golden lab

15.   Alcoholic beverage? 

   Mojito

16.   Color?  

  Pink

17.   Pet peeve?

  Not getting what I ordered, discovered after I leave the drive-thru

18.   Flower?

 Daisy

19.   The one thing you can’t live without?

 Internet service

20.   Last words?

 I wish I could have listed more pet peeves…

Twice a Texas Bride (Bachelors of Battle Creek #2) by Linda Broday

Working his own ranch has always been one of Rand Sinclair's fondest dreams. Finally a place all his own and near his beloved blood brothers, Rand struggles to put his past behind him. but it's a difficult thing to do when there are constant reminders of his time in the orphanage. Feeling broken makes a man not want to share his future with anyone, and Rand has vowed to never marry. 

Callie Quinn has not had a stellar life. After her precious sister marries a criminal, their lives inevitably end up troubled. Callie's sister dies, presumably by her husband's hands, but before her last breath, she begs Callie to take her son Toby and run. Callie runs to the only place with any good memories, the home she and her sister were raised. The home no longer her family's, Callie and Toby take refuge in the barn during a Winter storm, only to be discovered by the new owner, Rand.

Callie trusts no one, but Toby has taken ill and she needs Rand to help. Rand opens his home and his heart to the strangers who are obviously hiding things from him, but deep down he knows he must help, no matter what those secrets Callie holds tight. Rand offers for Callie to be the very much needed cook that his ranch needs and she takes the job, but with reservations. She needs to keep Toby out of his father's hands and running is the only way to get the job done.  Bit by bit both Callie and Rand cautiously open their minds and hearts to one another but they both have those inner issues nipping at their heels.

Danger soon comes calling in the form of Toby's outlaw father and uncles, but once Rand has claimed Callie and Rand as his own, nothing will stop him from protecting what is his. Will Callie trust Rand enough to allow him to be the man he wants to be, Will she be able to overcome the losses she has had to endure to allow Rand in? Find out by reading Twice a Texas Bride by Linda Broday!

Twice a Texas Bride by Linda Broday is the second story in the Bachelors of Battle Creek series. I really enjoyed both Rand and Callie's characters, although I must admit to wishing I could swat Callie in the head a few times. I found Rand to be an awesome hero. Once he finds he can't live without Callie and Toby he is quite the determined man. The plot is a wonderful one but the pacing is a tad slow. My mind began to wander at times and I had to make myself come back. Once the action picks up it's really a great ride!

~KIMBERLY~ 

The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3) by Valerie Bowman

Miss Jane Lowndes and Lord Garrett Upton have always enjoyed a bit of chiding banter back and forth, but the bluestocking and the lord never thought they would never come to terms with the attraction they have for one another. 

Hoping to thwart her parent's insistence she find a husband, Jane continues the concoction of an upstanding companion so she can attend her friend's pre-wedding celebrations without hindrance of a proper chaperon. Jane is happy being a single lady and if she can hold out long enough to be declared "on the shelf", her parents might actually leave her alone to wallow in spinsterhood. The ex-soldier and confirmed bachelor, Garrett knows that Jane is up to something, as usual, but keeping away from Jane's schemes are an impossibility. Garrett has too much baggage in his past to make him believe he would be a good husband to anyone, but when he kisses a beautiful lady at a masquerade his passion is unleashed. When he deduces that the mysterious lady he kisses is none other than his nemesis, Jane, his head is going in all different directions. Needless to say, sparks are flying between the bachelor and the bluestocking and those sparks are to evident to be denied. Oh how the mighty will fall.

The Unlikely Lady by Valerie Bowman is such a clever and enlightening tale. Both Jane and Garrett are characters who stick out with their determination and intelligence. Neither one could see what was coming, but once that desire is unchained Jane and Garrett have no where to go but forward. Ms. Bowman has cemented her place as one of my favorite authors, her stories are smart and entertaining and always leave me with a smile on my face. 

SNEAK PEEK MONDAY ~ HER WILD HERO by PAIGE TYLER

Title: Her Wild Hero

Author: Paige Tyler

Series: X-Ops, #3

Pubdate: May 5^th, 2015

ISBN: 9781402292156

Department of Covert Operations Training Officer Kendra Carlsen has been begging her boss to let her go into the field for years. When he finally agrees to send her along on a training exercise in Costa Rica, she’s thrilled.

Bear-shifter Declan MacBride, on the other hand, is anything but pleased. He’s been crushing on Kendra since he started working at the DOC seven years ago. Spending two weeks in the same jungle with her is putting a serious strain on him.

When the team gets ambushed, Kendra and Declan are forced to depend on each other. But the bear-shifter soon discovers that fighting bloodthirsty enemies isn’t nearly as hard as fighting his attraction to the beautiful woman he’ll do anything to protect.

Paige Tyler is the USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines who fall in love with them. Visit her at www.paigetylertheauthor.com.

***

Check Out This Sneak Peek of Her Wild Hero:

“He’d tried to catch Kendra’s eye for years and fallen flat on his face every time—because she was too busy obsessing over that jerk Clayne Buchanan. It had taken Declan a while, but he finally realized he was wasting his time—and his life—waiting for her and had decided to move on.

And it had been working. He’d gotten to the point where he didn’t think about her 24/7, didn’t subconsciously sniff the air to catch her scent the minute he drove onto the DCO complex. He’d even dated a few women he’d thought might have had long-term potential. There might not have been that same animal attraction he felt with Kendra, and he’d have to hide his shifter side, but that wasn’t too high a price to pay to be normal, right?

Before today he thought he’d been well on his way to forgetting about Kendra and getting on with his so-called life. Then John had decided to send her on this mission and everything Declan thought was in the past came right back and smacked him in the face.

For the first time in forever, he wanted to put his fist through a wall. But as he felt his anger rise again, he realized he wasn’t angry at John or Tate or even Kendra. He was mad at himself for being so screwed up that the mere thought of being in the same jungle as the blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty could get him so twisted up in knots.

Damn, he really was pathetic.”

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1FKSfzH

Apple: http://apple.co/1E2qQyb

BAM: http://bit.ly/1GKI2Zx

B&N: http://bit.ly/1ILcZ0y

Chapters: http://bit.ly/1zh2Zna

Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1E2rRqe

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1CKug2Q

Sinful (Bitter Creek #13) by Joan Johnston

Unbeknownst to either one, Connor Flynn and Eve Grayhawk had crushes on one another during high school, but instead of them exploring that crush back in the day, Connor ends up with Eve's best friend. Connor marries, starts a family and loses his wife while he is serving his country. All this time however, each has still held that flame for the other deep within their hearts. This poignant tale of second chance at love begins when widower and  former Delta sergeant, Conner Flynn returns to Wyoming and must fight his in-laws for custody of his son and daughter. 

A family feud between the Flynns and the Grayhawks has been going on for what seems like an eternity and when Eve testifies on Connor's behalf her father isn't thrilled with her. Things are about to change big time due to the fact that her father, King, has basically handed over the ranch to the son who abandoned the ranch decades before, leaving his daughters without the only home they have ever known. More personal for Eve, her brother wants the horses she rescued from certain death off the ranch immediately.

In the meantime, with Eve's testimony, Connor now has his son and daughter back in his home but the kids are he are having a tough time adjusting. Having not spent much time with their father, the children are bereft until Aunt Eve is called to help them with their fears. Connor knows he can't go it alone and when Eve divulges her issues to him, Connor thinks the only solution to both of their problems is to marry.

Marriage to Connor is something Eve has always dreamed about, but marriage to him without the assurance of love makes her hesitate. Add to that the resistance from their families creating more hurdles for this couple to overcome. With patience and understanding Connor and Eve begin to build a relationship that has taken decades to come to fruition, but without admitting their true feelings all could go to waste. 

Ok don't shoot me, but Sinful is the very first book I have had the pleasure to read in the Bitter Creek series by Joan Johnston. That being said, I have already added all the previous books to my must read list. This book is a breath of fresh air with it's second chance at love theme. Connor and Eve are destined to be together even if they both don't fully understand that at first. The circumstances surrounding their lives make them a strong pair. Eve is a force to be reckoned with and I adore her for it. The honorable man Connor is has a big part in why I love this book in the first place. Just the fact that he was able to ask Eve to marry him in the way he did and then proceed to try to be the best man who could possibly be, makes his character hold a special place in my heart. Sinful by Joan Johnston is a wonderful read and I hope you all think so as well.

~KIMBERLY~ 

BOOK BLITZ AND GIVEAWAY: Beneath the Broken Moon: Part One by Sarah Mäkelä

Genre: New Adult Post-Apocalyptic Shifter Romance

Publisher: Kissa Press LLC

Date of Publication: April 28, 2015

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DpPTo1

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1b3QlSm

Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1HHJJWA

Amazon CA:  http://amzn.to/1FohnAt

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25368926-beneath-the-broken-moon

Book Description:

Werewolf relationships are all about influence and offspring, especially as they are becoming extinct. But Carmela Santiago resents that type of life. She dreams of falling in love, not following the example her parents have set.

When sensual vampire Derek Ashmore rescues her from dangerous hunters, she tumbles head over heels for him. Not a wise decision since werewolves and vampires are mortal enemies.

Meeting her caring mate-to-be Brendan Kelly has her further questioning the future. Regardless, her life has forever changed now that she’s met not one, but two men who pull at her heartstrings...

Excerpt:

Bullets peppered the big screen of the Teatro de la Noche. Screams rang out around me, and I dropped to the floor, pulling my cousin Chandra down with me. Tension ached in my shoulders, and my heart pounded in my chest like a trapped animal, desperate to escape.

Gunpowder stung my sensitive nose, but through the overpowering scent, I caught a whiff of a hunter heading our way. “Chandra, we have to move.”

If Chandra and I didn’t get out of here we’d end up dead—or worse, test subjects for the Cazador—human hunters ordered to scour the land of nocturnes by the plutocratic government.

“How? They’re all around us.” Chandra peeked over the seats before dropping back down beside me. “A few of them are chasing down those who ran from the first assault, but two more are heading straight for us.” She ran a manicured hand through her honey-brown hair, which was only a shade darker than my own. “Come on. I have a plan. Let’s try to sneak out the side door.” She crawled in the opposite direction, down the row of seats.

The sight of my cousin’s butt cheeks hanging out of her short skirt filled my vision; some things were better left unseen. I lowered my gaze, particularly since Chandra had forgone panties. She almost always held herself with an air of power and purpose. Perhaps that’s what it took to get attention from other werewolves. Chandra got it in heaps, but her lower social status stopped a lot of relationships.

While it was a horrible time to second-guess my modest fashion sense, I couldn’t help wonder if I should take a lesson from my cousin. My own blouse and dark blue jeans had much less pizzazz. But I doubted my father would allow me to dress like Chandra; we had a privileged image to uphold.

I bit my lip, struggling to turn my thoughts back to the problem at hand. This was all too much. How could we get out of here unscathed when the roar of gunfire continued to close in?

We reached the end of the aisle. Chandra moved to glance over the seat, when a shout came from the opposite end, startling us both.

“Run, Chandra!” I barely kept my voice to a whisper.

She sprinted toward the bright red exit sign at the front of the theater, and I chased after her, trying to keep my pace natural though her long legs made it challenging. Maybe if they suspected we weren’t nocturnes, they’d leave us alone.

The stomping of heavy boots on the theater’s plush carpets said otherwise. Then again, they weren’t opposed to taking their fellow humans down too. The very rich in power thrived on oppressing those less fortunate. What better way to keep the populace down than to have their thugs strike whenever possible.

“We should split up.” Chandra shoved a heavy trashcan in front of the door, but that wouldn’t be much of an obstacle to the pseudo-military bastards.

“What?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “No way. If we do that, we’ll—” The trashcan scraped the cement as the hunters tried to open the door. Maybe she was right. If we were together, there was a better chance of them catching us both. Alone, we might survive the night.

I nodded to her, and we took off in opposite directions down the alleyway behind the Teatro. The door slammed open, smacking the wall hard, as I turned the corner and headed toward the main street. I had to find somewhere to hide out before the hunters spotted me again.

In front of me, another group of Cazador chased a few werewolves down the main road. I slowed to keep my distance from them, but if I didn’t get somewhere fast, they were going to catch me. Ugh. As much as I loved getting out of the house and going to the movies, I wished I’d listened to my instincts tonight and stayed home.

Two sets of feet pounded the sidewalk behind me. Perhaps they’d spotted me before I reached the corner.

I picked up speed a little, pumping my arms as I struggled to keep to a human speed while staying out of range. The temptation to race through the streets nearly drove me to action, but I glanced back, seeing my pursuers for the first time.

One of the men had greying hair and a rounded belly, which explained the slower, heavier footfalls, while the other guy appeared younger and super-athletic. No wonder I was having trouble getting away. If he hadn’t been so scary, he might’ve been attractive. Pure masculine aggression raged through him, tensing his shoulders as his gaze focused solely on me, his prize. Each man carried a large-caliber handgun. I was just glad they were too busy running to try to shoot me...for now, at least.

My sandal hit an uneven patch of concrete in the sidewalk. My body lurched forward, but I caught myself before I could go down. I should’ve been paying more attention to the street. Up ahead on the opposite side of the road, I spotted a dark alleyway running alongside a row house. If I cut through, I could safely turn up the speed without exposing myself, and lose them.

The older hunter slowed; his breathing had become increasingly labored. He cocked his revolver’s hammer, and I darted across the empty road, making a beeline for the alley. The last thing I wanted tonight was to see Dr. Matthews. Just a little bit farther. A bullet smacked the ground at my feet, hitting me with fragments of pavement. I bit back a yelp, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of knowing my fear.

“I got this one, old kook,” the younger hunter grumbled, and his footsteps slowed too.

Another gunshot pierced the hazy night air. White-hot pain rocked my shoulder, nearly toppling me to the ground. I screamed, unable to hold it in, and picked up speed, no longer caring if I appeared human or not. The faint creak of a door barely registered before a pair of arms wrapped around my waist, jerking me inside the dark row house.

My rescuer softly shut the door, careful not to make a sound, and shoved a hand over my mouth. “Sshhh,” he whispered. “I won’t hurt you. You’re safe.” His voice was deep, with an English accent. He pulled me away from the door and hunched down in the darkened room, holding me close, waiting and listening.

About the Author:

NYT & USA Today bestselling author Sarah Mäkelä loves her fiction dark, magical, and passionate. She is a paranormal romance author, but she’s written all over the romance spectrum with cyberpunk, sci-fi, fantasy, urban fantasy...even a sweet contemporary romance!

A life-long paranormal fan, she still sleeps with a night-light. In her spare time, she reads sexy books, watches scary movies (and Ghost Adventures), and plays computer games with her husband. When she gets the chance, she loves traveling the world too.

http://www.sarahmakela.com

http://eepurl.com/ed_Dz

http://www.twitter.com/sarahmakela

http://www.facebook.com/authorsarahmakela

http://www.goodreads.com/sarahmakela

Rafflecopter Giveaway ($50 Amazon gift card):

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/357da22441/

The Scoundrel and the Debutante (The Cabot Sisters #3) by Julia London

Penelope has always been the "good" Cabot sister on the straight and narrow following the scandals brought to the family by her older sisters, but she's done with it. She wants to finally live and see what all the fuss is all about. Guilty by association anyway, so why shouldn't she live? 

On her way to a friend's estate to see her beloved friend and new baby, Penelope get waylaid by a handsome American in search of his wayward sister who remained in England instead of returning home to fulfill her marriage promise to a local man of means. 

Roan Matheson needs to find his sister and soon. The financial stability of his family depends on it. When he finds the assistance of an unaccompanied woman at one of the stops on the road, he is taken with her but cannot be swayed from his given path. Unknowingly to Roan, Penelope gives up her seat on a private coach to her destination in lieu of an adventure with the handsome American. When danger strikes the public coach they have been traveling in, Roan and Penelope begin a journey that will change both of their lives forever. 

Roan also has a planned destiny to  fulfill, but Penelope is temptation in disguise. Together on the search for Roan's elusive sister the sparks between them ignite into a full blown love affair that threatens to change his plans as well as tarnish Penelope's reputation even further. Both Penelope realize that what they share can't go further than the now even though it hurts more than either could have ever imagine to admit. Once Roan finds his sister, their futures need to be secured and what Roan's well-meaning but misunderstood sister says to Penelope not only breaks her heart, but frees Roan from a future with her. 

The third installment of The Cabot Sisters series, The Scoundrel and the Debutante by Julia London is a great addition to the series. Coming to know each of the Cabot sisters in their own rite is a pleasant journey, coming to understand their motivations and feelings is a wonderful surprise. I love Penelope's path to coming into her own and her throwing caution to the wind when it comes to her attraction to Roan. Even after his initial bout of arrogance, I found myself liking Roan immensely and hoping for the perfect HEA for this couple from two different walks of life who both deserve the love that has grown between them 

~KIMBERLY~