I​'m very pleased to host Olivia Night as she wraps up her series The Men of FTI with a sexy romp set in Scotland.

Blurb

She never thought she’d see him again. Not after what she’d done to them… Sarah Cosgrove wakes from labor and emergency surgery to find her soul mate staring down at her. It’s been six years since she’s seen the face of the only man she’s ever loved. Since she broke Logan’s heart.

Logan Harper, a skilled killing machine and top ranking member of Fairlane Trade International, entered a hostage situation, expecting the task to be quick and easy. It becomes anything but when he finds Sarah giving birth to another man’s baby. When she tells him her life is in danger from the powerful and abusive father of her child, Logan has no choice but to protect the woman he once loved and her newborn baby, but he vows to never love her again.

As they trek through Europe to get to safety, the mystery of the last six years begins to unfold, sparks fly, and emotions rise to the surface. Can Logan keep the love of his life safe without letting her back in his heart? Can Sarah learn to trust a man again after being abused? Will soulmates reunite?
 
Excerpt

“Sarah?” She blinked at him. A small smile formed on her lips. She looked tired, but happy. Her eyes seemed to hold a secret. Like there was something she had just learned that made everything all right. Logan watched as the light in her blue eyes grew dim, but the smile remained. “Sarah.” Logan put his hands on either side of her face. His fingers speared through her hair. “Take care…of her, Logan. Don’t let him find her. He can’t find her.” She pulled in a shallow breath. “Always loved you. Was always yours,” she whispered to him. She smiled a bit more, and then that was it. Her eyes closed gently. Her chest slowly fell. The heart monitor flat lined. Logan stared, unwilling to believe his eyes. Unwilling to believe his ears. He could hear the baby was still crying as they checked her over. Her lungs sounded healthy. He listened as the other doctors worked between Sarah’s legs, one pushing on her stomach. Sarah’s limp body moved from the pressure of the doctor’s hand. And then reality came crashing in at the same time a wave of heat spread over his body like fire. Sarah’s chest didn’t move. He watched another beat, not believing what he was seeing. No. Logan roared. His face never left hers as he roared to the fates. His whole body shook with anger and disbelief as he bellowed his denial. “Sarah! No! No! Help her!” he howled to the doctors. A middle-aged male nurse was suddenly next to him and tried to push Logan out of the way. “Sir!” The nurse had his hands on Logan’s arms. No one would be able to move him from her side without his approval. “Sir, you need to move so I can help her.”  The nurse spoke in heavily accented English. Numbly, Logan moved away from the one woman he had ever loved, from the one person who could bring him to his knees. He stumbled back as he watched the doctors and nurses work frantically to bring her back. Another nurse walked over to him and placed something in his arms. He gazed down. And he saw the most beautiful baby in the world. And just as Sarah was and had always been, so too, was Madeline. She was his.

Buy links
Amazon 
 https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Olivia+Night&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Olivia+Night&sort=relevancerank
 
Barnes and Noble 
 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Olivia%20Night%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

iTunes 
 
 https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/olivia-night/id1020494788?mt=11
 
Kobo
    https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/search?query=Olivia%20Night&fcsearchfield=Author
 
Website   www.olivianight.weebly.com
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/olivianightauthor
Twitter ​@olivianightread
 

Reviews for The Men of FTI Series
 
Night Owl Reviews - Top Pick!
 
“Seduction in Sierra Leone has a great combination of action and romance. This book is well written and fast paced. There is enough hot sex to keep you reading and cheering on the couple. I recommend this book to all suspense and military romance readers. I’m looking forward to next book.” 
 
 Nerd Girl Official 
 
We are taken on a wild ride and I loved every minute of it. It is very well written and the characters are great. I look forward to reading more from this author.
 
Goodreads
 
Great storyline with action and steamy romance. There has obviously been great thought put into the characters. Olivia has a great writing style that pulls you in immediately and grips you, hard.
 
Ravens Reviews
 
The characters are so well developed in this story. They have an incredible depth and chemistry that makes them so compelling. Right from page one, you can feel for them and want them to succeed. I can’t recommend this book enough. If you are a fan of romantic suspense, you won’t want to pass this one by. So exceptionally well written.
       
 
 
About the author
 
Olivia Night, a fictional character herself, has always been an avid reader and writer. She found the romance genre in college and has never been able to get enough. One sleepless night, the main characters of Book One in her Men of FTI  series sprang from her head fully formed. They demanded she tell their story; so she did. As they revealed themselves, so did two other intriguing characters. Those characters convinced her to give them their own books because their stories were worth telling too. And so Olivia suddenly became a romance author. When Olivia is not writing, she has the best job in the world, which, too, will remain a secret. In her free time, she reads, write, drinks wine, or is, most likely, out emulating Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Olivia lives in one of the most diverse and vibrant cities in the U.S.—Baltimore. She lives with her cat, who she is convinced was a gladiator in his past life. Olivia plans to continue being awesome at this thing called life. Really, that’s her only goal.
 
Enter to win a $15 gift card to Amazon
 
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1f9af1760/

About the author
Susan V. Vaughn understood the meaning of sarcasm before she could walk.  Her childhood in the suburbs of Detroit was spent mainly trying to outwit her six creative siblings.  When she wasn’t working on the next soul-crushing jab, she sharpened her imagination on romantic literature and daydreamed about her knight in shining armor.
It didn’t take long for Susan to take her passion for reading romances into writing her own unique love stories.  Susan lives her life finding laughter in all situations and delights in marrying sarcasm with romance to create realistic falling-in-love stories in the unlikeliest of scenarios.  
Susan lives on the shores of Lake Huron with her real-life knight in shining armor and enjoys watching their three children learn the art of sarcasm and wit.

Follow Susan
Website    www.susanvvaughn.com
Twitter    @susanvaughn1124
Facebook   www.facebook.com/Susan-V-Vaughn-123758787958942/
 

Welcome to Laurel Richards, who gives us a taste of her new romantic comedy-mystery novel and also interviews her leading man and lady.
 
Blurb: Nothing ever happens in a small clamming town like Fatmire. At least, that’s what Mitch Chase thinks until he teams up with eccentric mystery writer Cassie Wynn to solve a murder. Vicki Cash is found facedown in her seafood dinner after someone at the Clam Festival slipped her a deadly ingredient. Now Mitch and Cassie have to eliminate suspects, but that’s easier said than done. Vicki wasn’t exactly well liked. She took her ex-husband for everything he was worth, evicted the town’s most successful clam farmer, feuded with her sister, and bad-mouthed the mayor’s wife. As they investigate, Mitch discovers this small town isn’t what it seems, and he’s attracted to more than Cassie’s powers of observation. With his quirky and intriguing partner by his side, he’s sure to lose his heart while he catches a killer.
 
And now for Laurel's interview with Mitch and Cassie.
 
LAUREL: “Hello, Cassie. Hi, Mitch. Why don’t you start by introducing yourselves?”
 
MITCH: “I’m Mitchell Chase, and I recently moved to Fatmire, FL. I’m staying with my grandfather in the retirement village for the moment. I used to work the city crime beat, but now that I’m in this small town, I’m working freelance for the local paper.”
 
CASSIE: “And he’s considering taking over as Fatmire’s new PI. I think Mitch is perfect for the job. As for me, I’m a writer like you, Laurel and Annette. Only I write murder mysteries under the pen name Dusty Zain. You might be familiar with some of my works. They include The Big Top Secret, about a circus ringmaster who was found squashed, and X-Caliber, about a murderer who uses a custom-made gun. For some reason, though, the bookstores keep putting my books in the humor section.”
 
LAUREL: “I see. Let’s talk about why you’re here today, Cassie, I understand your neighbor Vicki Cash was found dead.”
 
CASSIE: “Yes. I was the one who found her with her face buried in a plate of take-out seafood.”
 
MITCH: “Official cause of death was anaphylaxis. Someone hid chunks of peanut in Cash’s seafood dinner, and the victim was highly allergic to nuts. Cassie and I are investigating.”
 
LAUREL: “What’s it like working together?”
 
CASSIE: “Mitch is amazing. With that full head of brown hair and those sharp blue eyes, he could be one of the heroes from my books.”
 
MITCH: (Closes those eyes for a moment.) “I am not a martial arts master, a Navy SEAL, or Special Ops, and you’re not going to convince me to carry grenades or nunchakus.”
 
CASSIE: “But he does have pepper spray. And really, Mitch’s most lethal weapon is his mind.”
 
MITCH: (chuckles) “Cassie certainly makes this small town more interesting. As a local, she knows all the history and gossip. Although she drives me crazy, I really like spending time with her.”
 
LAUREL: “Thanks for taking time to talk to us, and good luck with your investigation. I’m sure we’ll see more of you both.”
 
To learn more about The Clam Festival Murders, read the excerpt below or follow the links.
 
E-book available from:
Amazon US │ Amazon UK │ Amazon CA │ All Romance eBooks │ Omnilit │ B&N │ Kobo │ iTunes │ Inktera │Scribd
 
Trade paperback available from:
Amazon US │ Amazon UK │ Amazon CA │ Createspace │ B&N
 
 
Excerpt
 
“Detective, based on your appearance here, may I assume Vicki Cash’s death wasn’t an accident? Do you suspect foul play?”
 
Cassie overheard the question and watched the man who had asked it from her vantage behind the side garden of her house. The profusion of plants prevented people on the street from seeing her small paved patio with its table and chairs, but she could observe them and much of the rest of the neighborhood at her leisure. That’s why she liked to sit here in the afternoons.
 
Today, what she saw held her full attention. The man speaking was a stranger to her, which was unusual in the small town of Fatmire, Florida. He was currently questioning Shane Waters, their local detective.
 
Her next door neighbor, Vicki Cash, was dead, and the newcomer—a reporter, apparently—seemed to realize there was more to the case than met the eye. Keen intuition and tenacity were two qualities Cassie gave to all her novels’ heroes. She was pleased and intrigued to learn they were part of this fellow’s character, as well.
 
Of course, Cassie also liked to make her heroes attractive. This man certainly had the right look with his strong physique, sharp blue eyes, and thick light-brown hair. She didn’t know his name, but she was hoping it was something wonderfully exotic or macho like Falcon or Axel. Maybe he was a martial arts expert or a former covert agent or sniper. The possibilities fired her imagination.
 
Barely breathing, she continued to eavesdrop on his conversation with Shane. They were standing outside Vicki’s house, which had been tidily cordoned off with police tape. Cassie saw Shane pause for a moment and rock back on his heels.
 
“We’re still investigating the matter,” the detective replied. “All I can say right now is that there were no signs of forced entry, burglary, or violence. The evidence thus far indicates that Ms. Cash died alone while in the middle of eating supper.”
 
“Who discovered the body?”
 
Cassie held perfectly still when Shane pointed at her house. “That would be Miss Wynn next door.”
 
Her new hero glanced her way and jotted something down in his notebook. Had he seen her? With his sharp eyesight and advanced military training, he probably could have spotted her in a sea of replicas. He was so focused on his interrogation, though, that it appeared he’d missed her behind her blind.
 
Cassie took a second to write the word replicas in her writing journal before she lost the thought. It had potential as a plot device.
 
“How old was the deceased?” her hero asked next, snagging her attention again. “Do you know if she had any pre-existing conditions?”
 
Shane’s lazy expression never altered. “Ms. Cash was in her late forties and wasn’t suffering from any chronic health problems that we know of.”
 
“Choking?”
 
Not a bad question, considering Vicki had died during dinner.
 
“In a manner of speaking,” Shane answered as he returned to his car. “Apparent cause of death was anaphylaxis. Good day.” These last two words were uttered over his shoulder as he opened the driver’s side door and hopped in.
 
“One more question.” Her hero didn’t give up. He leaned down to look at the detective. “What was Vicki Cash eating when she died?”
 
This time, Shane smiled. “Got herself some shrimp from the Clam Festival. You should head over there yourself. It lasts all week.” He punctuated this remark with a muffled slam of his car door and started the engine.
 
Cassie watched her hero eye his own vehicle before turning and walking toward her house. When he reached her door, he studied her front garden with a small frown of concentration. Perhaps he was a botanist or herbalist who liked to experiment with various elixirs. Or maybe he was looking for signs of a trap.
 
Just as he was about to knock on her door, she cleared her throat. “She’s not home. You’ll have better luck if you come over here and talk to me.”
 
She could see she’d surprised him. The way he shifted—had he been ready to fall into a crouch? Was he poised for action every moment, in constant peril while dealing with the terrible scars of his past?
 
Cassie sighed. “You poor man. Why don’t you sit down and have some tea? You can keep your back to the wall if you sit over there.”
 
About the author
 
Laurel Richards is a fiction author with a passion for shifters, space travelers, and other memorable characters. She has gathered inspiration from lots of different sources throughout her life and is here today to share her imagination through storytelling. Laurel writes sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal, and funny mysteries, all with various degrees of romance mixed in.
 
Website │ Twitter │ Amazon Page │ Goodreads │ Google+
 
 Hashtags: #humor #mystery #romance

Today's guest post by author Marianne Rice deals with a favorite obsession of hers and mine: perusing pictures and other content on Pinterest, as well as using it for book promotions. Take it away, Marianne.

Unless you’ve been living in the wild and don’t have access to the Internet, you’ve probably heard of Pinterest. I’m addicted.
 
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Pinterest, here’s the basic gist. You make a “board” and give it a title (desserts, quotes, writing tips, hero inspiration etc.) Your page can have as many or as few boards as you’d like. Totally your choice. When you search within Pinterest for whatever the heck you want to search for, click “pin” and select which board you want the image/website/link to go to. Easy peasy and organized for future reference. Most Web sites and blogs have a direct “Pin” link so you can click and pin even when not on Pinterest.
 
I started using Pinterest years ago as a way to save recipes I found online. At first I only had a “Recipe” board and quickly learned I needed subcategories to help organize my bazillion recipes I saved. I now have boards for desserts, breakfast, snack, main dishes, soups…you get the picture. My son was diagnosed with celiac disease two months ago so now I have Gluten Free Desserts, Gluten Free Snacks etc.
 
So how do I use Pinterest as an author? Research. I have a “Hero Inspiration” board where I keep pictures of beautiful men. I have a “Heroine Inspiration” board as well (not sure why I don’t have as many images there as I do in my Hero board. Hmm). I also have a board for each book, whether it’s published yet or not. If there’s a hero or heroine whom I use as inspiration or who looks like my characters, I pin them. I also pin quotes or other “things” that have to do with my books.
 
There are times when I’m working on edits for one book, writing another and pimping yet another. Sometimes I forget what my hero/heroine look like! I refer back to my Pinterest boards and sigh and stare and drool…and then get back to writing.
 
And, yeah. Because I have an itsy bitsy shoe addiction, I have a Shoe Porn board. And a Dessert board. And a Girly Drink board. It’s not all writerly stuff. Visit me at https://www.pinterest.com/mariannericeaut.
 
Is Pinterest a time suck? Heck, yeah. And I love it. Come visit me on Pinterest. You can follow all my boards or select which ones inspire you. Check out my board for Then Came You, which came out last week (it’s FREE on Kindle Unlimited). Here’s a little taste…
 
Excerpt

“I kind of have this love-hate relationship with you.”
The look of shock on his face made her laugh. “Okay. Maybe not such strong emotions. How about like and dislike? One minute you’re sweet and kind and gorgeous and the next minute you’re too caught up in work and image but still working the gorgeous angle.”
“Is being gorgeous good or bad?”
“You seem to work it in no matter what you do. You can’t help it. You’re pretty.”
“Guys don’t want to be pretty.”
“Yeah. They do. But you’re hot, too. Pretty and hot.”
“Can’t you just call me pretty hot and call it good?”
“See, and then you throw in a dash of humor and I’m a goner.”
“Goner? Really?” Grayson set his hands on her waist and tugged her closer. She shivered from the heat, from the chill, from the anticipation.
“It was easier when I thought you were a jerk,” she whispered, her mouth dangerously close to his.
“Why is that?” he whispered back, his breath mingling with hers.
She swallowed, her throat tight and hoarse, and licked her lips. “Because then I wasn’t tempted to do this.” Thyme stood on her tiptoes and gently pressed her lips against his.
 
Amazon   bit.ly/thencameyou
Amazon UK   http://www.amazon.co.uk/Then-Came-Wilde-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B01D10A52I/
Amazon CA  https://www.amazon.ca/Then-Came-Wilde-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B01D10A52I/
Amazon AU   https://www.amazon.com.au/Then-Came-Wilde-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B01D10A52I/
 
 Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll be automatically entered to win free stuff every month! http://www.mariannerice.com/connect.html
 
Read more about Marianne and her books here: amazon.com/author/mariannerice
https://www.facebook.com/mariannericeauthor/
http://www.mariannerice.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mariannericeauthor/
https://twitter.com/mariannericeaut
https://www.goodreads.com/MarianneRice

Her first and also her once.

Jonathan and Rebecca’s paths cross at exactly the right moment, when each most needs to hear what the other has to say.

But Jonathan is three days from entering the priesthood, and Rebecca leaves him to his peace. But he is unable to find peace.

Without each other’s comfort and strength, they must each struggle to forge a new path, with only memories of the one day that changed everything.

But are they able to forget and let go?

Will be released July 2, 2016 from Inkspell Publishing.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29630603?source=ebfg_tw
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Once-Book-1-MS-Kaye-ebook/dp/B01DQ6JVE0
>
> Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/once-20

Author bio
M.S. Kaye has several published books under her black belt. A transplant from Ohio, she resides with her husband Corey in Jacksonville, Florida, where she tries not to melt in the sun. Find suspense and the unusual at www.BooksByMSK.com.

To receive news on upcoming releases, sign up for email updates on her website.

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Google+  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  TSU  |  Pinterest  |  LinkedIn

Once & Again, book two
Will be released September 4, 2016 from Inkspell Publishing.

She was once his secret desire…will she be again?

Father Aiden, an ex-marine and new priest, falls in love with Maylynn, but he struggles to stay away from her. He’s successful for many years, though he can’t keep her out of his dreams.

Then one day she shows up for a pre-marital counselling session with her fiancé, Davis. Aiden soon realizes Davis isn’t who he says he is, but what does that mean for Maylynn, and for himself?

Once & Forever, book three
Will be released December 2016 from Inkspell Publishing.

Eden, a nun, is constantly struggling against her dark past of living on the streets, and her attraction to Trace, an ex-convict farm worker. After a twelve-year separation, Eden is finally reunited with her brother, Thomas, but why hadn’t she reached out to him in all those years? As Eden and Trace grow closer, confessing their pasts to each other, will they be able to resist getting too close?

Excerpt from Once
“What’s the answer?”

He paused. “A switchblade.”

With my fingertips, I reached out and traced the scar across his cheek. “Did you win?”

He removed my hand and closed his eyes. “Yes.”

I slid his Book back to him. “This says we can find forgiveness.”

His eyes still closed, his jaw clenched. He bowed his head. “It also says ‘Thou shalt not kill.’”

I took his hand in both of mine, petted his rough skin, and then brought it to my lips. He had a talent for guiding invisibly, but I didn’t know how to do that.

He watched me again. His eyes were intense, like the black of the night sky, and his forehead was furrowed, as if his emotions were scattered, as if he was shocked at my reaction, as if he had been sure his answer would drive me away. But I knew him. Already, I knew him.

“You’re still a good person,” I said.

His jaw clenched. “I’ve been trying to believe that.”

“I have faith in you.”

He continued to watch me. His forehead never smoothed, as if he was fighting for strength, but his eyes softened. He slid around the booth, closer to me.

I didn’t move, not sure what to do, what was right, what he wanted.

He leaned closer.

I only watched him.

He touched his lips to my cheek, the faintest pressure. I struggled to sit still, to keep my hands in my lap, not to grab hold of him. And then his lips were gone, such brief contact that I couldn’t be sure if he had actually kissed my cheek or if I wanted his contact so much that I’d imagined it.

He spoke in my ear. “You must be some kind of final test.”

My heart pounded into my ribs, against the point of the blade. “Are you going to pass?”

His lips brushed against my jaw. “I don’t know.”

He trailed to my neck, his mouth softly pressing. My hand curled into his hair, the other on his shoulder, holding, clutching. His mouth found mine, barely touching. His warmth invaded my head.

“God give me strength,” he murmured.

The door slid open, and the compartment filled with laughter.

He closed his eyes. Then he slid away from me.

The incomparable Bella J has another new book almost ready for release, and she's included us in the unveiling of her stunning cover. Thanks for joining us, Bella J.
 
Stiletto Secrets
Fairy Tale Bastards #1
Release Date:  4/25/16
Contemporary romance, adult Fairy tale

Nicholas Blake is your typical class A, rich bastard who loves getting what he wants. He’s spoiled, selfish and enjoys all the lavish pleasures life has to offer—especially those that involve women and getting naked. Nicholas’ life is just damn near perfect. But one night out on the town with his friends and everything changes. One encounter with a stripper in stilettos who fittingly calls herself Cinderella, and his life suddenly doesn’t seem so goddamn perfect anymore.

As if that isn’t enough, there’s also Emma, the new maid in his father’s mansion that immediately piques his curiosity with her sweet smile and blue-green eyes. He finds himself drawn to her and wants nothing more than to seduce her into his bed, to make her his. But he just can’t seem to stay away from the stripper that makes him burn in ways he never knew possible.

The more he starts to care for Emma, the stronger his obsession grows for Cinderella.

Insane? Absolutely.

Twisted? Yes.

Completely screwed up? Hell yes.

A decision needs to be made; he needs to choose. But will Nicholas be able to make that choice when he finds himself all tangled up in a giant cluster of love, lust and stilettos?

 ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST ON GOODREADS
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29401223-stiletto-secrets

Excerpt

“Pick one.”

Nicholas jerked his head to the left in the direction from where the woman’s voice came, and noticed the dark-pink curtains. 

“Pick one what?” He scanned the room.  “The shoes. Pick a pair,” a soft, sultry voice replied.

Then Nicholas noticed movement behind the curtain. Whoever it was dragged her hand along the fabric while leisurely pacing, apparently waiting for him to choose.

Instantly intrigued, he glanced at the cabinet and then back at the curtain. “You want me to choose a pair of shoes?”

“Yes, pick a pair and I will wear them.”

Nicholas felt a little tingle in the back of his neck when she spoke. He had only been in this room for five minutes and whoever was behind the curtain already had all his attention.

He moved a little closer to the curtain. “You know, a lot goes into choosing the right pair of shoes. For example, I’d need to know what you’re wearing first.” He tried to get a better look at the woman behind the curtain, but the fabric was just too damn dense for him to make out anything other than a silhouette.

“Why don’t you just pick a pair under the assumption that I’m not wearing anything,” she replied with soft, smoothly spoken words. Somehow it reminded him of melted chocolate.

“Why don’t you let me see for myself what you’re wearing?”

“That’s not how it works, Mr. Blake.”

The curtain swooshed a little as she moved behind it.

Nicholas turned to the glass cabinet with the shoes. How in God’s name was he supposed to choose? It was like telling a kid to choose one item in Willy Wonka’s candy factory. Im-fucking-possible.

After inspecting each pair, he finally opened the door and reached for a white pair of stilettos with a little diamond bow on top. A simple design, but it was the pair with the sharpest heel, and Nicholas loved those damn heels.

"So what do I do with these?” Nicholas inspected the shoes more closely.

And then a hand reached out from the other side of the curtain. Nicholas noticed the freshly manicured nails and beautiful dainty fingers. “Now you give them to me, and take a seat, Mr. Blake.”

Nicholas looked to the chair before handing her the shoes.

“On the table next to the chair you will see a pair of handcuffs and a blindfold. You need to sit down, lock one of the cuffs around your hand, put on the blindfold and then place both hands behind the back of the seat.”

Nicholas frowned. “Okay, I’m not sure I’m entirely comfortable with this. I thought this was a show. How am I supposed to enjoy the show if I can’t see anything?”

“Mr. Blake, I have three different types of shows I present. See, feel, and touch.”

“See, feel, and touch?” he mimed silently with his mouth.

“You can’t experience all at once.”

“Well, I’d sort of feel cheated then.”

“When you lose one of your senses, the other senses get heightened, Mr. Blake.”

Nicholas could not get over the beautiful sound of this woman’s voice. It was like her voice had a direct line straight down to his cock.

He started to leisurely pace around the room. “So I’m just curious, which show did my friends book me for?”

“Feel,” she replied.

Being the smart-ass that he was, Nicholas asked, “Isn’t that kind of the same thing as touch?”

“No, it’s not. With touch you would be allowed to use your hands, guided by me of course. With feel, you will only feel what I want you to feel.”

Okay, now he was really damn curious.

As he turned to the table and eyed the contents, he contemplated what his options were. Either he turned around now and then got labeled as a pussy by his friends, or he could put on the mask and the cuffs and see where this all went. But honestly, there was no way in hell he would be able to walk away now.

“What will it be, Mr. Blake?”

Nicholas shrugged and picked up the cuffs. “I guess we should get this show started then.”

About the author

Bella J lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her husband, two kids, & chihuahua. Her love for writing started in eighth grade when she received her first writing assignment—which she flunked. But the positive side of her failure—her newly found passion for writing. The negative side—now she’s completely spaced out half of the time living in her little pretend world of romance, love, & insanely hot heroes

Get in touch

www.bellajauthor.wix.com/sassy
www.facebook.com/BellaJ1983
https://twitter.com/BellaJ_Author

Other titles by Bella J
 
 Resplendent Ruin (Resplendence #1)
Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26319763-resplendent-ruin?from_search=true&search_version=service
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Resplendent-Ruin-Resplendence-Book-1-ebook/dp/B016TQFI00
 
 Resplendent Rush (Resplendence #2)
Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28018678-resplendent-rush
Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Resplendent-Rush-Resplendence-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01AGZATK4
 
Resplendent Rage (Resplendence #3)
Release date: 3/28/16
Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28693569-resplendent-rage
Pre-order link   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/resplendent-rage-j-bella/1123483698?ean=9781622103454

Jessica Cale has written a terrific new installment of her Southwark Saga, and I'm pleased to host her so she can tell you about it. 

A paranoid king, a poison plot, and hideous shoes…it’s not easy being Cinderella.     
 
After saving the life of the glamorous Marquise de Harfleur, painfully shy barmaid Alice Henshawe is employed as the lady’s companion and whisked away to Versailles. There, she catches King Louis’ eye and quickly becomes a court favorite as the muse for Charles Perrault’s Cinderella. The palace appears to be heaven itself, but there is danger hidden beneath the façade and Alice soon finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue, murder, and Satanism at the heart of the French court.
 
Having left his apprenticeship to serve King Charles as a spy, Jack Sharpe is given a mission that just may kill him. In the midst of the Franco-Dutch war, he is to investigate rumors of a poison plot by posing as a courtier, but he has a mission of his own. His childhood friend Alice Henshawe is missing and he will stop at nothing to see her safe. When he finds her in the company of the very people he is meant to be investigating, Jack begins to wonder if the sweet girl he grew up with has a dark side.
 
When a careless lie finds them accidentally married, Alice and Jack must rely on one another to survive the intrigues of the court. As old affection gives way to new passion, suspicion lingers. Can they trust each other, or is the real danger closer than they suspect?
 
“Really brilliant writing that's so engaging with such endearing characters! I especially love the way Jack and Alice are both so devoted to each other! I was totally absorbed in this exciting and fascinating world Jessica Cale created from the very first paragraph to the last! I read this all in one sitting, staying awake late to finish, just had to!” – Romazing Reader
 
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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28499321-the-long-way-home
 Buy links
Amazon   http://www.amazon.com/Long-Home-Southwark-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B01CBY47CO

Barnes & Noble   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-long-way-home-jessica-cale/1123469513?ean=9781622103393

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Kobo    https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-long-way-home-62

Liquid Silver    http://www.lsbooks.com/the-long-way-home-p1126.php
 
Find the rest of the series here: http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Cale/e/B00PVDV9EW

A Field Guide to Historical Poisons
The Long Way Home takes place in the court of Louis XIV during the Affair of the Poisons. During this period, many people from all walks of life were employing poison to dispatch rivals and even family members to improve their fortunes or standing in court. As you can imagine, poison plays a large part in the plot of The Long Way Home. Here are three that are featured in the book along with symptoms so you'll be first to know if your enemies have dosed your wine. You know, just in case.

Arsenic (also known as Inheritance Powder)
Arsenic was the most commonly used poison at this time, and was used alone or to add extra toxicity to other lethal concoctions. It was the primary ingredient in Inheritance Powder, so called because of the frequency with which it was used against relatives and spouses for the sake of inheritance.

Tasteless as it was potent, arsenic usually went undetected in wine or food, although it was also added to soap and even sprinkled into flowers. It could easily kill someone quickly, but was more commonly distributed over a long period of time to make it appear that the victim was suffering from a lengthy illness. The symptoms begin with headaches, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal problems, and as it develops, worsen into convulsions, muscle cramps, hair loss, organ failure, coma, and death.

Unusually for a poison apart from lead, arsenic has had many other common uses throughout history. It was used as a cosmetic as early as the Elizabethan period. Combined with vinegar and white chalk, it was applied to whiten the complexion as a precursor to the lead-based ceruse popular in later centuries.

By the Victorian period, arsenic was taken as a supplement to correct the complexion from within, resulting in blueish, translucent skin. Victorian and Edwardian doctors prescribed it for asthma, typhus, malaria, period pain, syphilis, neuralgia, and as a nonspecific pick-me-up. It was also used in pigments such as Paris Green, Scheele’s Green, and London Purple, all of them extremely toxic when ingested or inhaled. A distinctive yellow-green, Scheele’s Green was a popular dye in the 19th century for furnishings, candles, fabric, and even children’s toys, but it gave off a toxic gas. It may have even played a part in Napoleon’s death. While it took nearly a century to discover the dangers of the pigment, it was later put to use as an insecticide.

Cantharides (also known as Cantarella or Spanish Fly)
Cantarella was a poison that was rumored to have been used by the Borgias (among others). Although it appeared in literature as something that could mimic death, cantarella was probably made from arsenic, like most of the common poisons of the era, or of canthariden powder made from blister beetles, and was highly toxic.

Cantharides are now more commonly known as Spanish Fly.

Although it was rumored to have been used by the Borgias, it was definitely associated with the Medicis. Aqua Toffana, or Aquetta di Napoli, was a potent mixture of both arsenic and cantharides allegedly created by an Italian countess, Giulia Tofana (d. 1659). Colorless and odorless, it was undetectable even in water and as little as four drops could cause death within a few hours. It could also be mixed with lead or belladonna for a little extra f*** you.

In case you’re wondering how one would catch enough blister beetles to do away with one’s enemies, cantharides were surprisingly easy to come across. They were also used as an aphrodisiac. In small quantities, they engorge the genitals, so it must have seemed like a good idea at the time. In larger quantities, however, they raise blisters, cause inflammation, nervous agitation, burning of the mouth, dysphagia, nausea, hematemesis, hematuria, and dysuria.

Oh, and death.

The powder was brownish in color and smelled bad, but mostly went unnoticed with food or wine. More than one character in The Long Way Home has come in contact with it, and it even plays a part in the story.

Pennyroyal (also known as Piliolerian)
Pennyroyal was not often used to intentionally poison anyone, but I’m including it in this guide because of its toxic effects. Usually drunk as tea, is was used as a digestive aid and to cause miscarriage. It was also used in baths to kill fleas or to treat venomous bites.

Although this is the least toxic of the bunch, the side effects are much more worrying. Taken in any quantity, it may not only result in contraction of the uterus, but also serious damage to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. It’s a neurotoxin that can cause auditory and visual hallucinations, delirium, unconsciousness, hearing problems, brain damage, and death.

Along with Inheritance Powder and Cantarella, Pennyroyal also appears in The Long Way Home and causes some interesting complications for a few of our characters.

All of these poisons were common and easily obtainable in much of Europe during the time this book takes place. The use of Inheritance Powder in particular is very well-documented and it played a huge part in the Affair of the Poisons as well as commanding a central position in The Long Way Home.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

About the author
Jessica Cale is the award-winning author of the historical romance series, The Southwark Saga. Originally from Minnesota, she lived in Wales for several years where she earned a BA in History and an MFA in Creative Writing while climbing castles and photographing mines for history magazines. She kidnapped (“married”) her very own British prince (close enough) and is enjoying her happily ever after with him in North Carolina.

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Excerpt
“Do you have a sweetheart?”

Alice’s spine went rigid at the question. Why would he care?

“That is to say, a man. A person, rather. A lover?” Jack cleared his throat. “That’s none of my concern, really. I apologize. Forget I asked.”

How could she answer that? She couldn’t very well tell the strange man Jack had grown into that she’d dreamed of him to the exclusion of all others for eight years. If her freakish memory didn’t frighten him off, her obsession definitely would.

She turned, very slowly, and forgot what she was thinking when she saw him. Jack was reclining on his elbows, looking at the stars. The odd posture only really drew attention to the span of his chest, the slight rise and fall of his breath. He’d dressed in a hurry and his collar had come undone, revealing an inch of collarbone and hinting at the lean muscle beneath. His dented chin was pointed heavenward, lengthening his bare neck. If Alice stared any harder, she’d be able to see the blood flowing within.
She thought about putting her lips on his throat and the fluttering she usually felt in her heart moved decidedly lower.

That was new.

“Just you.” She sighed and then cringed as she realized she’d said it aloud. “Married, remember?”

Jack turned and gave her a boyish smile that made her toes go numb. “I suppose we are. What do you make of that?”

Alice blinked. It was everything she’d ever wanted, but Jack...he was young, handsome, kind, wonderful, and everything that was right in the world. He could have any woman he wanted. Or could have, before she ruined that for him. She wiped away another tear. “I’m sorry, Jack.”

He shrugged. “Whatever for?”

“You deserve a wife of your own choosing,” she said, feeling brave.

He lay on the roof, stretching his arms behind his head with a smile. “Don’t shed any tears for me. I got the prettiest Henshawe girl. The boys back home will be sick with envy.”

Alice’s laugh came out as a snort. She held her nose in embarrassment. “Don’t jest.”

“Who’s jesting?”

Alice curled up on her side facing him, reasonably certain she was dreaming. The cool tile beneath her cheek was real enough. She contracted her nails against the rough surface, wondering if she imagined the vibration in her fingertips. Any moment now, she would wake up.

“I don’t expect you to keep me, of course. That would be something, wouldn’t it? You stuck with someone like me?”

He laughed.

Alice didn’t.

“This will be good, though, truly. I can protect you, and we can spend some time together, like the old days.”

Alice sighed. Yes, like the old days, but I’m talking to you now, and making a mess of it, and you’re all grown and gorgeous while I’m more awkward than ever.

Jack smiled, his teeth bright in the night. “It’ll be great fun to pretend to be married.”

Alice fell onto her back with a disappointed grimace. “Fun.”