Saturday, January 24, 2015

Saturday's Series Spotlight: Cut and Run Series by Abigail Roux & Madeline Urban



Cut & Run #1
Summary:
A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case. Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic cliche: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer. Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again - this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife.



RATING:  

Sticks & Stones #2
Summary:
Six months after nearly losing their lives to a serial killer in New York City, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are suffering through something almost as frightening: the monotony of desk duty. When they're ordered to take a vacation for the good of everyone's sanity, Ty bites the bullet and takes Zane home with him to West Virginia, hoping the peace and quiet of the mountains will give them the chance to explore the explosive attraction they've so far been unable to reconcile with their professional partnership. Ty and Zane, along with Ty's father and brother, head up into the Appalachian mountains for a nice, relaxing hike deep into the woods... where no one will hear them scream. They find themselves facing danger from all directions: unpredictable weather, the unrelenting mountains, wild animals, fellow hikers with nothing to lose, and the most terrifying challenge of all. Each other.







RATING:  

Fish & Chips #3
Summary:
Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are back on the job, settled into a personal and professional relationship built on fierce protectiveness and blistering passion. Now they're assigned to impersonate two members of an international smuggling ring-an out-and-proud married couple-on a Christmas cruise in the Caribbean. As their boss says, surely they'd rather kiss each other than be shot at, and he has no idea how right he is. Portraying the wealthy criminals requires a particular change in attitude from Ty and Zane while dealing with the frustrating waiting game of their assignment. As it begins to affect how they treat each other in private, Ty and Zane realize there's more to being partners than watching each other's backs, and when the case takes an unexpected turn and threatens Ty's life, Ty and Zane will have to navigate seas of white lies and stormy secrets, including some of their own.







RATING: 

Divide & Conquer #4
Summary:
Baltimore, Maryland, is a city in alarming distress. Rising violence is fanning the flames of public outrage, and all law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are catching blame. Thus the FBI’s latest ideas to improve public relations: a municipal softball league and workshops for community leaders. But the new commitments just mean more time Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have to spend apart when they’re happily exploring how to be more than by-the-book partners.

Then the latest spate of crime explodes in their faces—literally—throwing the city, the Bureau, and Ty and Zane’s volatile partnership both in and out of the office into chaos. They’re hip-deep in trouble, trying to track down bombers and bank robbers in the dark with very few clues, and the only way to reach the light at the end of the tunnel together requires Ty and Zane to close their eyes and trust each other to the fiery end.





RATING: 

Armed &  Dangerous #5
Summary:
Left alone in Baltimore after his unpredictable lover bails, Special Agent Zane Garrett takes his frustration out on everything in his path until he is ordered to Chicago to back up an undercover operative. When he gets there, though, he finds himself face to face with his wayward partner, Special Agent Ty Grady. They have to deal with the uncertainty lingering between them while they work to retrieve their intended mark, a retired hit man and CIA wet-works operative named Julian Cross.

Ty, once a marine and now an FBI hotshot, has a penchant for being unpredictable, a trait Zane can vouch for. Zane is a man who once lived for his job but has come to realize his heartbreaking past doesn’t have to overshadow his future. They're partners, friends, lovers, and the go-to team for unusual cases. With Cross and his innocuous boyfriend, Cameron Jacobs, in tow, Ty and Zane must navigate the obstacles of a cross-country trek, including TSA pat-downs, blizzards, their uncooperative prisoners, CIA kill teams, a desperate lack of sleep or caffeine, and each other. Ty and Zane are determined to get Julian Cross to DC in one piece, but it’s starting to look like it might be                                                                              the last thing they do.
RATING: 

Dine & Dash #5.5
Summary:
A Ty and Zane ficlet. Takes place between Armed & Dangerous and Stars & Stripes.


Stars & Stripes #6
Summary:
Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have managed the impossible: a few months of peace and quiet. After nearly a year of personal and professional turmoil, they're living together conflict-free, work is going smoothly, and they're both happy, healthy, and home every night before dark. But anyone who knows them knows that can’t possibly last.

When an emergency call from home upsets the balance of their carefully arranged world, Ty and Zane must juggle family drama with a perplexing crime to save a helpless victim before time runs out.

From the mountains of West Virginia to a remote Texas horse ranch harboring more than just livestock and childhood memories, Ty and Zane must face their fears—and their families—to overcome an unlikely enemy and bring peace back into their newly shared world.






RATING: 

Touch & Geaux #7
Summary:
After having their faces plastered across the news during a high-profile case, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have become more useful to the Bureau posing for photo ops than working undercover. Just as Zane is beginning to consider retirement a viable option, Ty receives a distress call from a friend, leading them to a city rife with echoes from the past.

New Orleans wears its history on its streets, and it’s the one place Ty’s face could get him killed. Surrounded by trouble as soon as they land, Ty and Zane are swiftly confronted with a past from which Ty can’t hide—one with a surprising connection to Zane’s.

As threats close in from all directions, both men must come to terms with the lives they’ve led and the lies they’ve told. They soon discover that not all their secrets are out yet, and nothing lasts forever.







RATING: 

Ball & Chain #8
Summary:
Home from their unexpected deployment, the former members of Marine Force Recon team Sidewinder rejoin their loved ones and try to pick up the pieces of the lives they were forced to leave behind. Ty Grady comes home to Zane Garrett, only to find that everything around him has changed—even the men he went to war with. He barely has time to adjust before his brother, Deuce, asks Ty to be his best man. But that isn’t all Deuce asks Ty to do, and Ty must call for backup to deal with the business issues of Deuce’s future father-in-law.

Nick O’Flaherty and Kelly Abbott join Ty and Zane at the wedding on an island in Scotland, thinking they’re there to assuage Deuce’s paranoia. But when bodies start dropping and boats start sinking, the four men get more involved with the festivities than they’d ever planned to.

With the clock ticking and the killer just as stuck on the isolated island as they are, Ty and Zane must navigate a veritable minefield of family, friends, and foes to stop the whole island from being destroyed.


RATING: 

Untitled #9
Summary:
Riptide Publishing is thrilled to announce the upcoming publication of Abigail Roux’s final book in the Cut & Run series! The final teaser campaign for Cut & Run is "surprise release."

Yes, that’s right. No title. No cover reveal. No galleys. No #miniontorture. No details whatsoever.

So you know what that means, right? No readers, reviewers, or even media–no one at all–will have access to this title until the exact same moment on release day. That way everyone can experience the final release at the exact same time. No sneak peeks allowed!

But . . . those crafty readers who pre-order the title here through Riptide Publishing website will, as always, have access to the ebook 48 hours before anyone else.

Okay, so here are some details. Domestic paperbacks will ship on the Thursday before release day, and international paperbacks will ship on the Tuesday before release day. (This means they won't arrive until after release day, possibly fairly far after for international orders, so you may wish to consider ordering the discounted print + ebook combo if you want a print copy but also want to read the book two days early.) Paperbacks will be available on third-party sites slightly after release day. Ebooks will be available on third-party sites sometime on or slightly after release day, but not necessarily at midnight like usual. 

From the time I started reading M/M books till I broke down and read this series was nearly two years.  By the time I was barely halfway through Cut & Run, I was berating myself for waiting so long.  I fell in love with Ty and Zane so hard, I barely took a breath until I was completely caught up.  I understand that some people were able to tell the difference when Abigail Roux took over the series by herself once Madeline Urban retired but I could not.  Had I read the books without the author names, I would never have been able to tell you which book the transition occurred.  I love the blend of humor, drama, mystery, and of course sexual tension.  I don't think I can say this is my favorite series in the M/M genre but it's damn close to perfect though.  I am eagerly awaiting the next and final installment of the series.  It will be read with a heavy heart because I will hate to see the final page knowing there won't be another but as Miss Roux's Sidewinder series takes place in the same universe, I'm sure we will see Ty and Zane again, even if it's only in passing.



Author Bios:
Madeline Urban
Madeleine Urban is a down-home Kentucky girl who’s been writing since she could hold a crayon. Although she has written and published on her own, she truly excels when writing with co-authors. She lives with her husband, who is very supportive of her work, and two canine kids who only allow her to hug them when she has food. She wants to live at Disney World, the home of fairy dust, because she believes that with hard work, a little luck, and beloved family and friends, dreams really can come true.

MADELEINE URBAN RETIRED
Nov. 17, 2011 - I have made the personal decision to stop writing, for reasons that are important to me, including focusing on my family and my health. Writing and publishing comes with a whole set of expectations and pressures, and I find that it's just too much. While I am sad that this will upset and/or even anger readers, this is the right decision for me.
Abigail Roux will be continuing the Ty and Zane series, and I know she'll do a great job.


Abigail Roux
Abigail Roux was born and raised in North Carolina. A past volleyball star who specializes in sarcasm and painful historical accuracy, she currently spends her time coaching high school volleyball and investigating the mysteries of single motherhood. Any spare time is spent living and dying with every Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers game of the year. Abigail has a daughter, Little Roux, who is the light of her life, a boxer, four rescued cats who play an ongoing live-action variation of 'Call of Duty' throughout the house, a certifiable extended family down the road, and a cast of thousands in her head.


Madeline Urban

Abigail Roux
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EMAIL: abiroux@gmail.com



Cut & Run
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Sticks & Stones
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AUDIBLE  /  KOBO  /  GOOGLE PLAY

Fish & Chips
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Divide & Conquer
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Armed & Dangerous
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AUDIBLE  /  KOBO  /  ITUNES  /  GOOGLE PLAY

Dine & Dash

Stars & Stripes
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ITUNES  /  RIPTIDE  /  ARe  /  GOODREADS TBR

Touch & Geaux
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Ball & Chain
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Untitled


Release Day Blitz: Protective Hearts by DS Williams

TITLE: Protective Hearts
AUTHOR: D.S. Williams
EDITOR: Tracie Williams
GENRE: Paranormal Romance Thriller
LENGTH: 137,000 words
PUBLICATION: January 24, 2015
COVER DESIGNER: Hellvis
Summary:
After being kidnapped by the Chicago Heart Ripper, Finn O'Flaherty is his only surviving victim.

Rescued by her brother, Finn suffers heartache in the aftermath as she struggles to come to terms with what happened and battles the amnesia that prevents her from identifying the serial killer.

Caleb Sheppard is determined to protect Finn out of respect and a sense of duty towards his friend's younger sister. He suspects there is more to the prolific serial killer than meets the eye, and one question haunts him: Why was Finn kept, and not killed?

It's a race against time to retrieve Finn's memories, keep her out of the Ripper's clutches, and discover the secrets of his identity.

What Finn doesn't realize, is that Caleb and his family are hiding secrets of their own – some of which Finn may not be able to accept.


He stared at the finger of whisky

Glowing golden amber

in the bottom of the glass.

He focused on

his heart, his love, the link to her.

Finnola. Where are you?


“Finn! It’s okay. You’re safe now. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Shep’s anxious voice reached me and I returned to present day in a rush, found myself wrapped firmly in his arms. I inhaled raggedly, my cheeks wet with tears.

Shep drew away, cupping his hands against my jaw tenderly. “It’s okay. It’s over now, baby.” He stroked his thumbs across my cheeks, brushing the tears away and fury was evident in his startling green eyes. “I won’t let him hurt you again, Finn. Not ever again.”

I drew a shuddering breath, inhaling the rich male scent of Shep’s skin, wondering abstractly what cologne he wore. Whatever it was, I loved it. A subtle mix of pine and bergamot, the aroma calmed me, soothed away the horror of what I’d heard and imagined in the darkness.

“I promise you. I won’t let him get to you. I swear I’ll protect you,” Shep said huskily, still brushing tears from my cheeks.

For a long moment, I watched him, welcoming the calm assurances he offered. Shep returned my gaze and the fury in his eyes faded, replaced with another emotion I couldn’t grasp. Inhaling another shaky breath, I watched Shep swallow deeply, his attention dropping from my eyes to my lips.

Shep suddenly cursed, turning away abruptly, and placing the kitchen bench between us. “Bad idea,” he muttered. “Drink your coffee, kitten. I’m heading up for a shower.”

I obediently picked up the coffee mug, holding it between my hands as both my mind and senses reeled. What just happened? For one second, I’d thought Shep was considered kissing me; in fact, I was positive the thought crossed his mind. Why did he pull away?

Shep strode away, leaving me alone with my tangled thoughts. With a sigh, I got up and went in search of something to eat, pushing the thought of Caleb Sheppard firmly to the back of my mind.

By the time I’d located a box of pop tarts and placed two in the toaster, I was convinced the moment with Shep was a figment of an overly stressed mind. I was pouring a second coffee when I heard a car in the drive, announcing Shelby and Taylor’s arrival.

Shelby greeted me with a hug and glanced around the dilapidated kitchen with unconcealed disgust. “It’s not too late, you know. You can still come back to Chicago with us,” she offered, a tiny crease wrinkling her smooth brow. “Ash can’t keep you here in Hicksville, if you don’t want to stay.”

“I’m fine,” I reassured her. “I like it here.” Catching the cynical roll of Shelby’s eyes, I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I want to stay, Shel. I feel safer here.”

It was true, even if Shelby didn’t believe me. I couldn’t go home; the killer knew where I lived. After being released from hospital, I’d given up the lease on my apartment. Although living there had been wonderful, I would never feel safe there again.

After the kidnapping, I’d stayed with Shelby’s parents, who welcomed me with open arms and warm hearts. It was exactly what I needed, Shelby’s parents had always treated me as a second daughter, and their love, and support, was vital in the first few dreadful weeks after Bryan’s death. Ash wasn’t convinced of my safety in their suburban home however, insisting on this move to Massachusetts. Even Chicago’s finest wouldn’t know where I was and Ash had taken a lot of heat for his decision. I was the only living witness to the Ripper’s murderous activities—if they caught him, my testimony would ensure a death sentence.

If I could remember enough to be any help.

“I want you close to us, Finn,” Shelby persisted. “If he finds out where you are, you haven’t got any protection out here! There isn’t even a phone for Christ’s sake!”

“She’s got a cell,” Ash countered, walking into the kitchen. “She’ll be in constant contact with Shep and me.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead and gave me a reassuring squeeze as he met Shelby’s gaze. “Trust me, Shelby. This is the safest option for Finn right now.”

“Finn needs her friends around her!” Shelby argued vehemently, crossing her arms over her chest. “She’s fragile right now, you know that Ash! How can she possibly be comfortable out here alone?”

“She’s going to be fine. We’ve talked about it and Finn and I agree this is the smartest option,” Ash responded calmly. “You need to trust me on this, Shelby. Having her stay in Chicago is dangerous. We haven’t even got a handle on the Ripper’s identity.”

“So leaving her to fend for herself is the sensible idea? You aren’t giving me much confidence in the abilities of Chicago’s finest!”

“You’re beginning to piss me off, Shelby,” Ash growled. “Finn knows she’s secure here. There’s a security system, she’ll be in constant contact with me, and if there’s the slightest sign of trouble, I’ll have the Rockport Deputies on the doorstep, faster than you can take a breath.”

“I’m pissing you off?” Shelby said incredulously. “This isn’t about you, Ash! Finn needs to be with people she knows!”

“Could we stop talking about Finn like she isn’t even here?” I muttered miserably. Shrugging free from Ash’s arm, I pulled the pop tarts from the toaster and threw them onto a plate. “When did this become a situation in which I have absolutely no control?”

“When you were taken by the Ripper, kitten.”

Shep stood in the entrance, his dark hair damp from the shower. He gazed at me calmly, his expression impassive and for a long moment I stared at him, frustrated by what I’d lost. My life had been whole, complete before this happened. I’d been happy and confident, in charge of my own decisions. Having that control taken away was a bitter pill to swallow and I stalked from the kitchen, stomping through the sun porch and onto the balcony. I slammed the door behind me and was glad of it, wanted the others to know how angry I was.

The temperature was cool, the sky overcast despite it being the middle of summer. A vigorous breeze blew hair around my face as I leaned on the handrail, watching water crashing onto the rocks below. The house stood at the edge of the cliff, looking out across the rolling Atlantic. The smell of seawater reached my nostrils and I inhaled deeply, calmed by the rugged tranquility of the landscape. On both sides of the house, the forest almost touched the edges of the cliff, leaving a narrow pathway that snaked along the rocks. Majestic pines stood tall and thick, making it possible to believe this was the only inhabited building on earth.

Rebel crept up beside me, dropping to his haunches by my leg. Since waking this morning, he’d been constantly at my side, and I welcomed his quiet company. Rubbing a hand idly across his head, I found his fur was smooth and silky beneath my fingers. “I wish they would go away and leave us alone,” I told the wolf as I scratched behind his ears, “they’re all gonna drive me nuts.”

“You really mean that?”

Startled by the sound of Shep’s deep voice, I whirled around to face him. “Stop creeping up on me!” I snapped angrily.

Shep shrugged indifferently, leaning against the weathered railing beside me. “Sorry, kitten. Wanted to check if you were okay.”

“I’m fine,” I muttered. I’d assumed Shelby would come search me out and Shep’s sudden appearance had me unbalanced. “And stop calling me kitten.”

Shep shifted against the railing to face me, his green eyes intent. “I’ve always called you kitten.”

I crossed my arms against my chest. “Yeah, well you can cut it out. I’m not your damn kitten.”

“No,” he retorted mildly. “When you’re in a mood like this, you’re more like a tiger.”

“Go away, Shep.”

He reached into the pocket of his shirt, pulling out a packet of cigarettes and lit one, inhaling deeply. “Why are you so angry with me, Finn?”

“I thought you gave up smoking?” I retorted sharply, watching as he blew perfect smoke rings, which dissipated rapidly in the brisk breeze.

“I did. Having you kidnapped by the Ripper tested my resolve.”

“Why the hell would you care?”

Shep’s eyes darkened and he scowled. “Of course I care, Finn.”

“Well you can relax, I’m perfectly fine. Go back to Chicago and whichever bimbo you’re banging currently.”

Shep dragged on the cigarette as he considered my words. “Sounds a bit like jealousy to me, kitten.”

I turned and stalked along the balcony to escape him. The last thing I needed was an argument with Shep, which skirted this close to personal issues. I’d kept my feelings secreted away, but the earlier moment inside the house, combined with shredded nerves was making me careless.

Instead of taking the hint, Shep followed to where I stood gazing across the ocean. “Go away, Shep. I don’t want to talk to you.”

“I need to teach you the commands for Rebel.”

With an exasperated sigh, I turned around, searching his eyes for the truth. “Were you going to kiss me this morning?” I questioned bluntly.

For almost a minute, I thought he wouldn’t answer, but he inhaled heavily and his expression softened. “I thought about it,” he admitted huskily.

“But it’s a bad idea?”

His gaze flickered across to the crashing waves, avoiding eye contact. “Yeah. It’s a lousy idea.”






Author Bio:
D.S. Williams is the author of the supernatural romance series 'The Nememiah Chronicles'.

Wife and mother to four demanding teenagers, D.S. Williams started writing at the age of five, when life was simpler and her stories really didn't have to make much sense. When you're five, happily ever after always ended the story and how you got there didn't matter so much.

Older and wiser, D.S. Williams has continued to write... and write... and write. With the support and encouragement of her husband and friends, she has finally come to the conclusion that she can't keep hiding from the world forever and should try sharing the numerous novels which have been written over the past 40+ years.

D.S. Williams enjoys writing (obviously), reading (voraciously) and making lists (obsessively). She's enjoyed a lifelong addiction to foods starting with 'ch' - cheescake, chocolate and chips - and when it comes to books, she loves a really good cliffhanger. Be warned!

She shares her life with her husband of twenty eight years, the Gang of Four and the current furry residents, Tuppence the Groodle and Angus the Bull Mastiff.


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Love and Other Lies by Madeline Ash

Title: Love & Other Lies
Author: Madeline Ash 
Published by: Destiny Romance
Publication date: January 20th 2015 
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Summary:
Small town vet Abby Benson has fled to the country to put her shameful past behind her. She’s just beginning to find her feet again when handsome stranger, Rue Thorn, arrives in town and begins to stir things up. Rue is gorgeous, kind and thoughtful and the two share an instant attraction.  But convinced he’ll despise her if he learns about her history, Abby reluctantly keeps him at arms length.

Determined to win Abby over, Rue tries to reshape himself as the sort of guy he thinks she might be interested in. And for a while it seems his act is working.  But when he finds out that Abby has been lying to him, it isn’t long before everything start to unravel …

A moving story of trust, forgiveness and the power of love from the author of Uncovered by Love and The Playboy’s Dark Secret.

     Wednesday morning, Abby checked her watch as she hurried out of the bakery, paper bag in hand, ten minutes late for work. All Rue’s fault. If he would stop being seen around town – browsing the market, enquiring about nature walks, eating lunch with a healing Spindle in tow – everyone would leave her alone. But this was the third morning in a row that she’d been sidled up to and asked whether he’d persuaded her yet.
     These people seriously had no shame.
     She slid the change into her wallet and glanced up to see Rue leaning against her four-wheel drive, parallel parked on Main Street. She halted, stomach hitching. He was looking away, one ankle crossed over the other, hands in the pockets of those faded denim jeans. He wore sunglasses, the burnt brown lenses and thin gold rims working with the dishevelled hair to push him into clandestine superstar territory.
     He’d been detected. Curious faces peered through shop windows, and Tanya loitered on the street corner, typing on her phone with eyes set on Rue. When she noticed Abby, she gave an outrageously obvious wink.
     This was going to necessitate an official change in her working hours.
     Abby hadn’t seen Rue since he’d visited the vet. Two days with nothing but a light on across the street to show he was still in town. Two days to remember how darkly she could hurt people and know for absolute certain she couldn’t run the risk of hurting him too.
     As she considered hightailing it, he spotted her. He pushed off the car and started towards her. His walk was smooth, assured. The possibility that he was going to ask her out again sent nerves sprinting from her heart to her toes and back again.
     She would have to say no.
     No to that determined stare meeting hers as he shoved his shades onto his head. No to that kind heart and beautiful body. No to everything she wanted. Just no.
     When he was a few strides away, she inhaled. ‘Rue—’
     ‘Hold that thought,’ he murmured as he reached her, sliding a hand behind her head and bringing his mouth down to hers.
     Startled, Abby dropped the bakery bag. His body came closer, hand still cradling the back of her neck, the other skimming down her waist to tug her fully against him. Heat and contact met her skin and shot deeper, raging in her chest, tangling in the base of her stomach. He slanted his head and the warmth of his mouth shifted, tongue sliding over her bottom lip, not demanding entrance, but working for it. Working, playing, teasing – whatever he was doing, he did it like no man had before.
     She could smell his skin. Hear the pounding of her pulse. His thumb caressed the hollow behind her ear and the tenderness of that touch tore through her body like a scream.
     Deafened by it, she opened her mouth and drew him in.
     His taste was an ache against her tongue, so pure and perfect that she missed it even as he pushed deeper. She circled her arms around his middle, holding on, feeling her breasts and belly and thighs press against muscle. She felt like she could never speak again and that would be all right, if she could stay right here. No lies, no restraint, just Rue’s kiss and the truth of her body’s response.
     He’d probably be okay with that.
     Those wide hands slid down to grasp her hips. Holding her steady, he broke away from her mouth and kissed up and along her right cheekbone. Abby closed her eyes as his lips reached her ear, tingles breaking out down her spine.
     ‘I hardly know you,’ he murmured, nudging the curl of her ear with his nose. ‘So how is it that I feel like I’ll always know you?’
     She didn’t speak. Didn’t dare.
     ‘I can feel you in my head,’ he said, forehead on her temple. ‘You make me feel like there’s something urgent I haven’t done yet, and I can’t put my finger on what it is, but every day that I get closer to leaving this place, I get more uneasy. So I need to do something about it. About you.’
     His mouth found hers again and it occurred to Abby that everything Rue knew about her was real.      There was a pit of things he didn’t know – but the things he did know, those were real.
     She had never kissed a man who knew real things about her.
     He pulled back again, tucking hair behind her ear, and her pulse tumbled. ‘You must like being the subject of gossip,’ she murmured.
     His back was to the street. A sparkle lit his eyes. ‘Observers?’
     ‘Loads.’
     ‘All armed with opinions about such a lascivious public event?’
     ‘Over-armed, I imagine.’
     ‘Friday,’ he said. ‘I’ll pick you up at seven.’
     ‘About that—’
     ‘Okay, seven-thirty.’ Then, as suddenly as he’d kissed her, he lowered his sunglasses and turned away, cutting past the delighted spectators. Abby watched his retreat, breath short. Arousal kneaded at her body from the inside out, like greedy fingers reaching after him.
     As far as truth went, her response to Rue was absolute. It felt whole and untainted, pounding hot through her veins. It felt honest.
     ‘Well,’ she said, accepting her fate. ‘Seven-thirty, then.’


What Makes a Hero?
In Love & Other Lies, Rue is a good guy hero. He’s kind-hearted, thoughtful, and easy going. Unfortunately this is exactly the wrong kind of man for Abby. She’s a reformed compulsive liar, terrified of a relapse, and can’t bear the thought of dragging a decent man into her mess. She doesn’t consider that he’s exactly the right kind of man for her, because he can see she needs support and gives it without question.
Funny how the wrong man turns out to be her hero!
Now, on the topic of heroes…about a year ago, a friend of mine commented that romance heroes aren’t actually heroes. She believes it’s a misnomer – they’re hardly saving the world. This made me wonder what makes a romance hero heroic? Why are they called heroes at all? I can’t answer on behalf of all lovers of the romance genre – there are many types of romance hero – but there are certain qualities that all the heroes in my books possess to make them worthy of the title.
My heroes are:
Admirable. The hero needs to act in a way that others admire – including the heroine.
Courageous. They always find the courage to fight their demons – and to fight for the heroine’s love.
Strong: My heroes are resilient, often having to endure internal conflict.
Kind: Even burdened by internal conflict, they never act inexcusably.
Combined, these qualities are all it takes, in my opinion!
What are the ideal traits of your perfect hero?

Morally Dubious Heroine
Hello, and thanks for having me on your blog!
The heroine Abby in my latest release, Love & Other Lies, is a compulsive liar.
I had the idea for her years ago, but I had to work up the courage to write a morally dubious heroine. From what I’ve noticed, romance readers don’t like heroines that aren’t good for the hero. I’m including myself in that generalisation. I mean, the hero is our man – so the heroine needs to be worthy to receive his love on our behalf ;-)
But Abby called to me, and finally, I wrote her story. Now, I’m so happy that she’s found contentment.
Before writing, I asked myself, what would be the most unsuitable match for a (reformed) compulsive liar? Because I’m not going to make it easy on her. She has a past of lying – she’s got to suffer for love! And along came Rue.
A really, really good guy.
Abby is terrified of screwing up someone’s life again, let alone the life of a decent, honest man. He’s the worst possible man to share chemistry with (and boy, do they share chemistry). He thinks the best of people, so never suspects that she’s hiding a dark secret. 
I’m not saying he’s a pushover. He’s just a gorgeous beta hero!
My writing buddies find Abby intriguing and strangely relatable. Despite her morally questionable past of lying, I do feel that she deserves Rue’s love.
Do you have trouble accepting characters whose morals have slipped in the past? Or does it all come down to what motivated them? I’d love your thoughts!

How would you describe your latest novel?
Essentially, Love & Other Lies is a redemption story. The heroine Abby has lied pretty badly in the past and feels unworthy of love or companionship. She has pulled herself into a better place, keeping herself in line, and has coping strategies to stop herself from lying again. The hero Rue is a gorgeous ‘nice guy’ type. Initially he seems like her worst match – Abby believes he deserves to love a flawless soul, not a mess like hers. But he is determined to show her that she’s worthy of good love.
Share something small about your characters.
Abby loves the colour green. She wears it a lot, from dresses down to underwear. This isn’t supposed to be a subconscious reflection of jealousy or anything like that. It’s just her favourite colour!
As for the hero, Rue, he grew up on a vineyard in the Yarra Valley, Australia. He still owns and runs it, although he meets Abby while on a road trip around the country.
Secondary characters – yes or no?
Yes, absolutely. All my novels have strong secondary characters. Not strong in the sense that they’re on page a lot and dominate the story, but I know their personalities as clearly as that of the main characters. I believe secondary characters bring out traits of the hero and heroine that readers wouldn’t otherwise get to see. We all react differently to different people – I find it important to have the leads interact with a range of characters so that we can see their personalities in all lights.
Can you provide an excerpt from Love & Other Lies?
Of course! This takes place the day of their first date. Abby has been resisting him, not fully explaining why – she doesn’t want such a good man to know that she’s acted so poorly – but determined not to pull him into her mess. Rue, of course, has other ideas…

Author Bio:
Madeline lives and writes in Melbourne. She is an author with Destiny Romance and Tule Publishing.

Online, she calls madelineash.net home, although she does have capricious blogging tendencies so might not always have fresh tea ready for visitors. That's not to say she doesn't welcome company.

She writes contemporary romance.


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