Title: Feisty Author: Diana A. Hicks Series: Raven Duet #1 Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance
I wanted her since the moment I saw her. I didn’t even care she’d been promised to someone else. Then we kissed, and I realized I was her first. I became…Obsessed
A Note from Diana: The Duet is now Complete. Binge Read Today! Fallen Raven is book one in the Raven Duet, which is a standalone romance in the Crime Society World featuring Don Enzo Alfera and Aurora Vitali. This star-crossed lovers romance is about never letting go. Check TW
Technically, I’d never been touched before. I’d never had anyone look at me like this before, let alone kiss me.
“What’s it to you?”
He furrowed his brows and dropped his hands to his sides. He watched me with curiosity as I brought my arms around my belly. Tears stung my eyes because I knew he’d say something cruel again. I knew I was going to have to deal with the fallout come Monday morning. I made to leave, but he blocked me, caging me in again.
“Let me show you how.”
What? As in, teach me? “Why?”
“Because I want to.”
He wanted to kiss me? Or teach me? “Why?”
“Tell me to go to hell.” He unraveled my arms from around my body and brought my palm to his face. “Say the words. Enzo. Go. To. Hell.” He enunciated every word.
The raspy quality of his voice was so sexy and hypnotizing; I wasn’t going anywhere.
“What happens if I do?” I moved my fingers ever so slightly. I was afraid if I did more, he’d shut me out again like before.
Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy romantic suspense and science-fiction romance.
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys hot yoga, kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta and loves spending time with her two children and husband. Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.
Title: Blackout Trail Author: Linda Naughton Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian
Doctor Anna Hastings is no stranger to disasters, having spent much of her career as an aid worker in conflict zones around the world. Yet when an electrical phenomenon known as an EMP brings down the power grid, Anna faces catastrophe on a scale she never imagined. She must learn what it means to be a doctor in a world deprived of almost all technology.
As the blackout causes planes to fall from the sky, Anna crosses paths with devoted father Mark Ryan in the chaos at the airport. Mark convinces Anna to travel with him and his seven-year-old daughter Lily to their family’s cabin in remote Maine. There Mark hopes to reunite with his wife, and find a safe refuge from a society on the brink of collapse.
Journeying across a thousand miles of backcountry trails, they will face a daily struggle against nature. Their biggest peril, though, may come from their fellow survivors. As Anna grows closer to Mark and Lily, she resolves to see them safely home. But can she hold onto her humanity in a world gone mad?
It became a familiar refrain, everyone hoping that someone else’s phone was working. It soon became apparent nobody’s was. Coupled with the cars all dying, the realization left a hollow fear gnawing at the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t worry about the hows and whys right now, though. There were dozens of people injured, and so far not an ambulance in sight.
Most of the evacuees had congregated in a grassy area between the short-term parking garage and the open parking areas beyond. The flat, grassy stretch was criss-crossed with access roads and stalled cars. There had to be more injured in the terminal, and on the far side of the lot where the second plane had torpedoed the cars. Right now, though, I had my hands full just with the people I could see.
I knelt down beside the middle-aged woman who had called for help. She was with a man —her husband, judging by their matching rings. Leaning against the wheel of a car, he clutched at a bloody gash on his thigh. “I’m Anna, I’m a doctor. Let me see?”
He obliged, but as soon as he removed his hand, the wound spurted blood up into the air. It splattered my shirt, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. Oh shit. I managed to keep the exclamation to myself, clamping my hand over the wound.
Jerry, my volunteer assistant, recoiled. “Damn, that’s a lot of blood.”
Seeing the panicked look on the injured man’s face, I shot Jerry a brief glare. “It’s all right,” I assured my patient. “I’m going to take care of you. Jerry, can you hold pressure here? Tight as you can.” I guided his hands to the right spot, then looked at the wife. “Ma’am, I need your scarf.” Trembling hands fumbled to oblige without question. “Do you have a pen or pencil in your purse?” While she looked, I wrapped the scarf around her husband’s upper thigh, just below his hip.
“Here, will this work?”
She handed me a pen, which I slipped under the knotted scarf. I turned it like a winch, drawing the scarf tight around the leg. The husband groaned at the pressure. “I know, I’m sorry. It’s not comfortable, but it’s going to keep you from bleeding to death.” I secured the makeshift tourniquet in place, then had Jerry remove his hands from the wound. The bleeding had slowed to a trickle. “Okay, that’ll hold you till help arrives. Ma’am, you keep an eye on that. If it comes loose, you tighten it back again and come find me, okay?
Linda Naughton is a writer, software engineer, paramedic, and mother of two. She’s the author of several novels, gaming products, and the blog Self-Rescuing Princesses. A proud geek and gamer girl, she enjoys TV, movies, video games, and role-playing games. Visit her website at https://lindanaughton.com.
Title: Defy the Stars Author: Cathrina Constantine Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Circus grunt. Charmer. Fire wrangler. Growing up within the grind of the enchanted Circus Faire, Crew’s unique talents have blossomed. Though, he’s been warned that the King of Hawkswing is determined to eradicate a certain species, and for his own sake Crew must keep his formidable gifts under wraps.
Relations between interspecies caused an imbalance of power and now are strictly forbidden. Dolorans, like Sage and her sister, are being hunted and persecuted because of their intense powers, leaving them no choice but to run to escape the genocide of their kind.
She possesses a forceful energy for good and evil. His untapped powers are growing stronger by the day. Survival will demand they rely on each other.
When Crew learns a dark wizard is holding his brother captive, he enters into a deal with him in hopes of getting close enough to free those he has imprisoned. Yet, what he uncovers is far more sinister than Crew could ever imagine. Can Crew harness the strength within him to save his brother and Sage and all those in the wizard’s clutches? Or will he be trapped by the wizard’s wicked plan?
“When this is over, promise me—you will never come back to Alderwood. Ever again.” He inhaled a hissing breath. If they managed to survive this predicament unscathed, he would leave, like he did before. He’d leave her wanting, breaking her heart, letting her life essence drain into the ground like a forever weeping willow.
Crew stiffened. Several breaths passed until he articulated, “That’s really what you want?”
No! I want you to stay with me—always! “I…I think it—” Before saying another syllable, his hands slipped out of his pockets and cupped her face.
“Don’t say it.” He leaned in and kissed her. His hands smoothed into the sides of her hair, and he moved in closer.
She brought her hands to his shoulders, intending to thrust him off. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers into his downy hair. His tongue traced her mouth and a carnival of sensations skittered over her skin. He was chipping away at her hardened resolve and she parted her lips, taking him in.
The tips of Crew’s fingers scored down her spine, the desired result had her arching her body into his chest. He kissed the curve below her bottom lip and moved to her temple and then pressed his full, soft mouth to her forehead. He positioned his hands on her shoulders and stepped back, building room between them. “I promise.”
I am blessed with a loving family and forever friends. My world revolves around them.
I grew up in the small village of Lancaster, NY, where I married my sweetheart. I’m devoted to raising 5 cherished children, and now my grandchildren.
I love to immerse myself in great books of every kind of genre, which helps me to write purely for entertainment, and hopefully to inspire readers. When not stationed at my computer you can find me in the woods taking long walks with my dog.
