Those are the two things I’m choosing between when I walk up those stone steps and into the church. Heaven or hell. Pain or pleasure. But sometimes, pleasure brings more hurt than pain.
I’ve learned my lesson the hard way and that’s why I’m doing this, giving up everything I know and love for a whole new life. A life dedicated to something, someone, other than myself.
The thing is, sometimes fate has other ideas.
Out of all the churches in town, I picked this one. This building with its vaulted ceilings and stained glass and all its secrets.
This building that houses them.
My five worst sins.
My five most awesome pleasures.
What is the biggest influence/interest that brought you to this genre?
Mostly from the books I read. I’m utterly obsessed with Reverse Harem romances at the moment and they’ve totally ruined me for reading traditional M/F romance!
When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process(outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)? Creating characters! Names and personalities, appearance etc.
When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing?
I tend to read mostly Urban Fantasy and Paranormal as its an escape from what I write.
If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose?
Probably either Tate James or CM Stunich… or both if they’d consider a threeway? I’m a huge fan or their works and they’ve been such an incredible help to me starting out.
Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"?
I’ve always wanted to write and have done so for a while in another genre under a different name, but this is my first foray into romantic suspense!
Author Bio:
Kate Morgan is a sassy girl from the coast who likes sun, surf, and reverse harem romance with a naughty twist. If you like a little steam, a little taboo, but always a happy ending with your RH reads, you've found the right woman to get you there.
Kate's books are hot, sassy, and sexy. Plus, this isn't her first rodeo, so you're in good hands. ;) This is a pen name for another popular RH author, but can you guess who?
Kyle is a cowboy who has lived on a ranch in the Australian Outback all his life. He is also gay and hasn’t yet found the courage to come out.
Luke’s father owns a prestigious law firm and as the only child and heir, he’s expected to become a lawyer and rule by his father's side. Problem is, Luke has other ideas and one is to be as far away from his asshole father as possible.
Wendy is the only daughter from a ranching family. She has four brothers, is Kyle's foreman and best friend, not his lover. So, why she is at his ranch and not at her father's?
Can Kyle break down the barriers and discover the secrets to help the two people he cares about more than anything else in life?
Can Wendy and Luke learn to trust?
CHAPTER ONE
KYLE
I gathered the reins on Grifter, my majestic black gelding and scanned the horizon one last time before turning toward home. I hoped I'd done enough to prevent the feral cats and foxes from taking down any more of the cattle. Electrifying the boundary fence had been costly and time consuming but, I couldn't keep Dufus in the barn for the rest of his days and couldn't risk losing my prized bull. The randy bull produced high quality calves which sold for a small fortune and it was what kept us making good money rather than just scraping by.
I galloped my mount across the open paddocks and felt the strength between my thighs as his muscles rippled and flexed. The horse's strides were lengthy, he loved to gallop flat out and he ate up the ground in no time. When I slowed to approach the barn, I noticed my foreman, Wendy, talking with someone. Someone who caused my groin to tighten and heart to beat faster. Even with his back to me, I knew who the curly blonde locks belonged to.
His shoulders were much broader than the last time I'd seen him, his hair longer and it lifted in the slight breeze. The jeans he wore were molded over one helluva sexy ass.
Wendy waved when she saw me approach and the man spun around to face me. My heart missed a few beats when he smiled, pressure mounted behind the zipper of the jeans as my cock thickened with interest.
"Luke Kelly." I barely whispered the words. It had been fifteen years since I'd last seen the man who'd haunted my dreams for more than half of my life. He'd gone off to university in the big smoke to study law and his family had moved away shortly after. I'd assumed Luke would be working in his father's legal practice in Brisbane. So, what was he doing here? It wasn't as if we'd ever been friends.
Wendy took the reins I held out and I dismounted. Luke took two long strides toward me, his hand outstretched. I knew it was a mistake the moment our fingers touched. A shudder cannoned through me and I fought to keep my composure as we shook.
"Kyle Walker, been a long time."
"Luke Kelly. It has been a long time. I guess you're working with your father, how's the legal business going? What brings you back here to Clearlea?" More specifically, my ranch.
"Didn't much like the business of being a lawyer so I joined the police force, worked out of the Gold Coast. I tired of being in the city though, missed being here in the country. I got a promotion to Detective Senior Sargent and requested a transfer here to take charge of your town."
"Congratulations, but why my place?"
"I heard your dad left the property to you and wanted to come by and say hi. I know we weren't friends or anything in school but, I always admired your ability to ignore those around you and get on with what you wanted to do."
"It wasn't hard to melt into the background when you're a country geek surrounded by football studs and cheerleaders."
"We never purposely ignored you, we…."
I waved my hand in the air. "Long time ago, Luke, water under the bridge. You still haven't answered me though, I find it hard to believe you only came out here to say hello. Was there something you needed?" Me? Please say me. Get your fucking head on the right way, Walker. Football Player. Cop. Straight!
I caught the glance he shot in Wendy's direction and it hit me. Straight guy remember and Wendy is one gorgeous woman. One very single, straight, gorgeous woman.
"Oh, sorry, you're here to see Wendy, I'll leave you to it."
I stepped away but was stopped in my tracks when Luke's large hand gripped the top of my arm.
"No, it's you I need to speak with. I kind of need a favor."
Author Bio:
I have always loved to write and have a vivid and overactive imagination.
In my spare time, when I’m not writing, I love to walk, read and shop.
I believe no mountain is too hard to climb, no river is too wide to span and no journey is too difficult to complete. I follow my dreams and I urge and encourage others to do the same.
With a positive attitude, the impossible can become possible.
Brooke Anderson dreams of escaping her troubled past and starting her own business as an event planner. When she crosses paths with her childhood crush, Adam, she falls hard for him and their relationship promises to be her salvation.
But Brooke's ex-boyfriend, Carlos, is a vengeful drug dealer, who will not let go of her easily. As Brooke struggles to free herself from his control, an earthquake rattles the city of San Francisco, threatening to bury Brooke and her dreams of love in the rubble.
Will her ex destroy her chances of love or will Brooke find a way to put an end to the violence and stalking?
By the time she arrived at a ramshackle parking lot, the sun slipped behind a blanket of fog and Hunter’s Point descended into darkness. Adjusting her vision to the twilight, Brooke identified the bulky shapes of rusting ship hulls. The mammoth iron frames obstructed most of the shoreline.
Brooke released her hands from the steering wheel, turned off the ignition and removed her seatbelt. Hesitating briefly, she reached for the handle and opened the car door. Emerging into the chilly, damp air, she cocked her head and listened to the churn of the restless ocean, splashing and soaking the docks. Normally the sea offered solace. Tonight it sounded different—threatening and powerful.
She scanned the parking lot, searching for his vehicle.
Decades-old spools of rusted cable and random piles of rotting wood littered the cracked asphalt. Brooke cursed at the debris surrounding her, flicking her gaze between the lot and the shore, unable to spot his car. It didn’t matter. She knew he was here somewhere. It wasn’t like him to miss an opportunity to engage in cat-and-mouse games.A feathery flap of wings sailed past her head. Brooke involuntarily gasped, watching as a gull soared toward the open water. Instinctively, she reached out for the car door, leaning against it for support. Brooke paused a moment longer, finally closing the car door to extinguish the light emanating from the interior.
She gripped a small flashlight in her hand, raising it in front of her body like a talisman.
A familiar mixture of briny fish and seaweed filled the air. Something else lingered here too—a cloying, sweet smell laced with a hint of chemicals. Moisture clung to Brooke’s skin. Shivering, she eyed the waterfront. The roiling movement of the sea was barely discernible against the twilight. The sound of metal thudding against the pavement alerted her to danger. She braced herself, waiting for Carlos to emerge.
Author Bio:
Kim Hotzon writes romantic suspense and time travel romance. Her books have been nominated for several awards, including The Romance Review's Readers' Choice Awards and the prestigious RONE Awards. Her latest novel, A Time for Love in Paris, was a finalist in the 2017 RONE Awards.
She loves penning stories with exotic locations and plot twists driven by determined heroines.
Kim's novels are inspired by travel and life experience and she never turns up an opportunity to head to a far-flung destination. In October of 2012, Kim embarked on a humanitarian trip to Rwanda, Africa, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Upon her return to Canada, she began her first contemporary romance novel, Hands Full of Ashes. The book was published with Soul Mate Publishing in January 2015 and was nominated for The Romance Review's 2015 Readers' Choice Awards and the 2016 RONE Awards. Kim has also published a short story, The Snow Bird, part of an anthology Sizzle In The Snow: A Soul Mate Christmas Collection (published by Soul Mate Publishing).
Though she lived for a time in Japan, she remains a born and bred British Columbian. When not writing romance, Kim unleashes her passion and energy with dragon boat racing and her wedding design business.
Kim is a member of the Romance Writers of America.
Summary:
Mystery lovers will need to hold on to their hats for this follow-up to City of Gold, which reviewers described as “a fast-paced action adventure” that is “akin to an Indiana Jones story set in modern times.” Now, the second in the series promises to bring much of the same excitement! Join archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor and his friends as they go after the Emerald Tablets to save the world in The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh.
In Egypt’s Western Desert lies the tomb of an unnamed pharaoh that hides a secret so powerful, it could destroy the world as we know it.
Archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor has made a career of finding legends the world has all but forgotten. Though there’s one in particular that has fascinated him for years—the Emerald Tablets. Myth says that they possess the knowledge of the universe, allowing humankind to traverse Heaven and Earth, and have the power to bestow wealth and wisdom upon whoever possesses them. But if they fall into evil hands, it could cause a global disaster.
So when a former colleague stumbles across an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic map that promises to lead to a pharaoh’s tomb and the Emerald Tablets, there’s no way he’s turning down her invitation to join the dig. He only has one stipulation: his best friends Robyn Garcia and Cal Myers come with him.
The road ahead isn’t going to be an easy one, and their shared dream of recovering the Emerald Tablets is being crushed at every turn. And just when they think it’s all over, they learn there are a few clues they have overlooked. But they’re no longer the only ones searching for the Tablets. Now, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and soon they’ll find out that when it comes to hunting legends, they can’t trust anyone.
“If you like action-packed adventure books that will keep you reading well into the wee hours, I would recommend The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh.” –Jennly Reads
If you can take the heat, grab your hat and sunscreen and strap yourself in for an unforgettable adventure. Order your copy of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh today.
Snippet from the prologue of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh (Matthew Connor Adventure series):
The sun had barely broken the horizon, but Alex was wide-awake and strapped into her safety harness. She had dreamed of this moment her entire life, and now that it was becoming reality, she could hardly believe it. Here she was at the age of forty and leading her first archaeological dig in Egypt’s Western Desert. Even more incredible was the fact that she and her team were on the brink of a monumental discovery.
They had detected a manmade tunnel that ran thirty-five feet beneath the ground and over 3,600 feet to the east. Where the tunnel ended, there was in a large open space that the ground-penetrating radar couldn’t identify.
Alex stood at the opening of the hole with her site foreman, Jeff Webb; a hieroglyphics expert named Jasper Blair; and two of four laborers, Seth and Timal. They would be responsible for lowering her down.
She took a deep breath, preparing her mind for the descent and the cramped space. Her team had only dug out a well of about four feet in diameter. The position she was in when she went down would be the way she’d stay, as there would be no room to flip over.
She wiped the back of her arm across her forehead to wick away the sweat that kept dripping down her face. She pinched her eyes shut, wishing she had her favorite blue sweatband from high school, when wearing one had been all the rage—back around the time when belonging to a Tape of the Month Club was the thing to do.
She let her long, blond hair down from the ponytail she’d had it in and redid it, tighter this time, pulling it into a messy bun. Back home in northern Michigan, she rarely put her hair up, reserving that for times when she was focused on her work or studies, but in this part of the world, she often wore it up. Even a warm breeze on the back of her neck was better than none at all.
“Good thing you skipped the second course last night,” Jeff teased her.
Not that size was an issue for either of them. She was lean and athletic, and while Jeff had a solid build, he was trim with narrow shoulders.
“Same goes for you,” she tossed back with a smile. She’d known him for years and worked on several digs with him. He’d been the one who had removed two of the stone bricks from the tunnel’s ceiling to create the small opening through which they could descend. He’d been down there to set up a radio module and transmitting antenna that enabled communication between whoever was underground and whoever was on the surface.
Jeff moved behind her and tightened her harness. “Ah!” She sucked air in through gritted teeth. “Maybe just leave enough room for me to breathe.”
He loosened the restraints slightly. “Good?”
She managed to slip her fingers between the straps and her rib cage. “It’ll do.”
He turned to face her again. “Here’s your radio.” Jeff handed her an earpiece that worked with the radio he’d put in place.
“Talk into it for me,” he told her.
She tapped a button on the earpiece and said, “Hello, hello, hello.” She smirked at her mock echo.
Jeff laughed. “I heard you loud and clear. In surround sound, actually. All right, one more thing.” He popped a miner hat on her head, and she fastened the chin strap. “I think it’s best if we lower you feetfirst so that you can be positioned upright in the tunnel.” Jeff’s demeanor became serious.
Alex nodded and looked down again. It was a good thing that she wasn’t claustrophobic or afraid of being suspended by a rope and lowered helplessly into the ground. And while she might not battle with many fears, part of her was as terrified as she was excited about the prospect of setting foot where no one—besides Jeff briefly—had likely been in thousands of years. But this was just meant to be a brief look-see, and she’d be going solo. When she set out in earnest to explore the tunnel, she’d take members of her team with her.
She reached for the gold chain around her neck and pinched the tiny pendant that dangled from it. The Eye of Horus, also known as the Eye of Ra, was an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection. Out here in the desert, she needed all the help she could get. She kissed it and tucked it back beneath her shirt.
“Are you ready?” Jeff asked.
She met Jeff’s eyes and flicked on the headlamp. “I’m ready.”
Jeff pulled an LED flare from his back pocket, turned it on, and tossed it into the hole. Watching the light descend emphasized just how far down it was to the tunnel.
Once it hit the ground, Jeff rolled his hand toward Seth and Timal. “You heard her. Down she goes.”
More sweat dripped from her brow, and she wiped her forehead again. And things were just heating up out here—if you could call already being a hundred degrees “just heating up.” As it was, waves of heat were cutting through the air like ribbons on the horizon, and it was only eight o’clock in the morning.
She looked around at her crew, steadying her thoughts and locking on to her resolve to make history. Great men and women made a habit of stepping outside their comfort zones, living on the edge, and testing out unchartered waters. And she wanted to be among them, to make a difference in the world by unearthing what remained of long gone great empires. Sometimes that required delving into the unknown.
She shook her fanciful musings aside. After all, they may not have discovered anything more than an empty tunnel.
She sat on the ledge, dangling her legs inside the hole. She tugged on the rope secured to her harness, which was connected to a rigging system that Seth and Timal would use to lower her. She glanced at Seth and Timal, confident in their abilities to guide her safely down and back up again. And with one more look at Jeff, she pushed off, letting herself become suspended.
Her heart thumped against her rib cage as she was lowered. She reached out and touched the makeshift walls that her men had put in place to prevent a cave-in. Her fingertips brushed against some sand, and it was slightly cool to the touch, but the air around her was still hot. A few of the granules sprinkled down the shaft.
About six feet beneath the ground, she felt incredibly alone. Although, it was also quiet and peaceful.
As Jeff’s form continued to become smaller above her and the space she was in became more shadowed, brief apprehension lanced through her. But the allure of what lie ahead silenced her anxiety.
City of Gold #1 Summary:
Action-adventure books for the mystery lover. Does treasure hunting excite you? What about the thought of traveling the globe and exploring remote regions to uncover legends that the world has all but forgotten? If so, strap yourself in for an adventure with modern-day archaeologist Matthew Connor and his two closest friends. Indiana Jones meets the twenty-first century.
Finding the Incas’ lost City of Gold would be the discovery of a lifetime. But failing could mean her death…
Archaeologist Matthew Connor and his friends Cal and Robyn are finally home after a dangerous retrieval expedition in India. While they succeeded in obtaining the priceless Pandu artifact they sought, it almost cost them their lives. Still, Matthew is ready for the next adventure. Yet when new intel surfaces indicating the possible location of the legendary City of Gold, Matthew is hesitant to embark on the quest.
Not only is the evidence questionable but it means looking for the lost city of Paititi far away from where other explorers have concentrated their efforts. As appealing as making the discovery would be, it’s just too risky. But when Cal’s girlfriend, Sophie, is abducted by Matthew’s old nemesis who is dead-set on acquiring the Pandu statue, Matthew may be forced into action. Saving Sophie’s life means either breaking into the Royal Ontario Museum to steal the relic or offering up something no one in his or her right mind would refuse—the City of Gold.
Now Matthew and his two closest friends have to find a city and a treasure that have been lost for centuries. And they only have seven days to do it. As they race against the clock, they quickly discover that the streets they seek aren’t actually paved with gold, but with blood.
This is the perfect book series for fans of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, National Treasure, and The Relic Hunter.
To celebrate the release of my second action adventure The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh, I’m offering up my largest prize pack to date! But, first let me tell you about the book…
When it came to writing The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh, I wanted to create a story in the same vein as City of Gold, maintaining what reviewers described as “a fast-paced action adventure” that is “akin to an Indiana Jones story set in modern times.” So in this second installment, archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor and his two closest friends set off for Egypt to save the world. I even splashed in a bit of the police action my readers know and love.
“Why does the world need saving?” you may ask, possibly skeptical. Well, an old friend and colleague of Matthew’s has discovered ancient hieroglyphics that hint at the whereabouts of an ancient Egyptian tomb and a mysterious treasure that is said to contain the knowledge of the universe. Beyond that, it can grant humans the ability to traverse Heaven and Earth, and it bestows whoever possesses it with great wealth and wisdom. Now, imagine something like that falling into the hands of terrorists or world powers set on domination… Needless to say, it could lead to global annihilation!
My hope is that The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh will provide readers with a thrill ride that digs into the depths of human nature when one is tempted by power. But if you’re looking for a slow build, this isn’t the book for you. Readers are immediately thrown into the heat of Egypt’s Western Desert, where Matthew’s friend Alexandria Leonard is about to make a life-altering discovery.
Author Bio:
Carolyn Arnold is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series and has written nearly thirty books. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark, POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers.
Saying goodbye to plastic bags with an environmentally friendly grocery tote.
By exchanging their plastic water bottles with an environmentally friendly stainless-steel water bottle.
By foregoing the paper cup and opting for an environmentally friendly stainless-steel travel mug.
They’ll also receive:
A premium square keychain
A signed hardcover copy of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh
The ability to name a character in one of Carolyn’s upcoming books!
Contest Deadline: Sunday, April 22nd
How to Enter:
Buy The Secret of the Lost Pharaohin e-book before April 22nd.
In the Table of Contents, you’ll see a chapter entitled “SAVE THE WORLD GIVEAWAY.”
Click the “SAVE THE WORLD GIVEAWAY” chapter link, and there you’ll find the link to the entry form.
Complete the form by April 22nd and you’re entered.
The winner will be selected randomly on April 23rd and notified by Hibbert & Stiles Publishing via email by May 1st and contacted for their shipping information.
