Title: Strike Zone Author: Eva Haining Genre: Sports Romantic Comedy
Love isn’t a BALL GAME… it’s a CAGE FIGHT!
A STANDALONE, enemies-to-lovers, sport romantic comedy.
Lincoln Nash is the top hitter in major league baseball, and a World Series Champion. He’s impossibly charming, with swagger for days, and is known for being a ladies man. When his best friend marries the sister of UFC fighter, Dee Lex, he’s eager for an introduction. She’s strong, fearless, effortlessly beautiful, and the only woman he’s been told not to hit on.
When Diana Lexington, aka Dee Lex, meets the bad boy of baseball, she’s intrigued. He’s hot, sexy, and from his reputation, he’s down for a hookup with no strings attached—just the way she likes it. Having been told to steer clear of each other, they find themselves in Vegas together…
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Right?
Their chemistry is undeniable, but there’s only one problem… they can’t stand each other.
Will this feisty, fierce UFC fighter give Linc a chance to prove his worth, or will she pin him to the mat before leaving him in the cage? Join Linc and Dee for a comedy of errors, enemies-to-lovers, steamy romance.
Strike Zone is another hilarious read from Eva Haining, and is a standalone, sports romantic comedy.
I’m happiest when wandering through the uncharted territory of my imagination. You’ll find me curled up with my laptop, browsing the books at the local library, or enjoying the smell of a new book, taking great delight in cracking the spine and writing in the margins!
Eva is a native Scot but lives in Texas with her husband, two kids, and a whizzy little fur baby with the most ridiculous ears. She first fell in love with British literature while majoring in Linguistics, 17th Century Poetry, and Shakespeare at University. She is an avid reader and lifelong notebook hoarder. In 2014, she finally put her extensive collection to good use and started writing her first novel. Now writing in three sub-genres of romance, Eva is currently working on some exciting new projects for 2021.
Cressa Langtry escaped an abusive home to live on her own terms. Now she’s known as Pandora, the best cat burglar and safecracker on the West Coast. Hounded by bounty hunters, one successful job would go a long way in clearing what she owes.
With an unfortunate twist of fate, Cressa’s debt is turned over to the city’s most notorious and ancient vampire – Devon Trelane. Complete one mission and she can leave the vampire world, and his home, free and clear.
Devon has lived a long life—many of them excommunicated from the Vampire Council. Though still a successful businessman, he can’t forgive the one vampire that cost him his seat on the Council.
Unrest builds between the vampires and shifters, discontent that could be avoided if the Council would see reason. One vampire stokes the fires of division, the one who forced Devon from the Council through lies and deception. The one person who holds the secrets that could return Devon to a seat of power and stop the war that threatens.
Luckily, a thief has fallen into Devon’s lap. A woman with the skills he requires to take down his greatest enemy.
There’s only one hitch—a simple business arrangement is complicated when their dreams collide and engulf them in passion.
“This particular job will put you in the heart of vampire society. High society. You’ll be mingling with the city’s most respected and most dangerous vampires. To fit in, you’ll need to have a particular look with discerning tastes. And you’ll need to eat what vampires eat.”
I sat back, the grease of my breakfast threatening to revolt.
He laughed. “I’m not asking you to drink blood wine. But I do expect you to eat nutritious, organic meals. Besides excellent hearing, we have a unique sense of smell.” He tapped his nose. “We can smell someone’s blood when they get close. We can tell its purity and the contents of their last meal. For example, if I were to meet with you in two hours, I’d know you had garlic and onion in your meal. It wouldn’t stop me from drinking your blood if I had a mind, but that very scent would tell another vampire that you probably don’t belong to anyone. I’m far too old to worry about having to drink very often, so I don’t keep humans in the house. But younger vampires require a drink more frequently. Even those a century old still keep humans close for feeding.” He shrugged. “They don’t need to; they just prefer the old ways.” He shook his head as if he found that disgusting. Perhaps just uncouth. Either way, it made me feel a little better. I shouldn’t have to worry about him sneaking into my room in the middle of the night looking for a sip. I reflexively rubbed my neck.
He glanced down when his phone vibrated. His jaw clenched, and he held his cup so tightly, I thought it would shatter. Not good news. After a couple long minutes, he took a deep breath and turned to me, returning to our conversation as if never reading his message.
“My point is, where we’ll be going, you’ll need to not only act the part but smell the part as well. Otherwise, no one will believe why you’re with me.”
He stood. “I’m afraid I have something to attend to. Anna will start your training this morning. I should be back this evening for our session. A couple of rules for your stay here. You have the freedom of the yard, garden, and anywhere in the house on the first and second floors. The third floor is completely off-limits. Any questions before I leave?”
I had a dozen, but it was obvious I wouldn’t have his full attention. And I preferred trying to get answers from Anna. “Just one.”
He tucked the phone in his pocket then gave me his undivided attention.
“What am I being trained for?”
He gave me a slow perusal, and this time, it was more heated. The desire to squirm returned. Then, he gave me that million-dollar smile. “To be my human lover, of course.”
Kim Allred lives in an old timber town in the Pacific Northwest where she raises alpacas, llamas and an undetermined number of free-range chickens. Just like AJ and Stella, she loves sharing stories while sipping a glass of fine wine or slurping a strong cup of brew.
Her spirit of adventure has taken her on many journeys including a ten-day dogsledding trip in northern Alaska and sleeping under the stars on the savannas of eastern Africa.
Kim is currently working on the next books in the Mórdha Stone Chronicles and Masquerade Club series.
Title: Hearts on Fire Author: Christina Berry Genre: Contemporary Romance
I never meant to stay. The plan was to fix up the farmhouse, sell it, and leave. Then I met Drew.
I’m a stranger in this place. When a car accident nearly killed me, Mom took me away from my father and this small Texas town. Now, I’m back, and while everyone seems to remember the little girl I used to be, no one knows the woman I’ve become. That’s okay. I’m not here to reconnect or fix what’s broken between my father and me. I’m just here to fix the house I inherited, sell it, and go.
Then I meet Bodhi, the three-legged cat who keeps peeing on my porch. And along comes Bodhi’s dad, Drew, the protective firefighter with rough hands, a smooth smile, and such a dirty mouth.
Drew has a reputation for rescuing strays. Is that what I am, another stray for him to rescue? Or this time, maybe I’ll be the rescuer.
Hearts on Fire is a dual POV, small town, scorching hot, firefighter romance with an HEA. Contains mature language and themes.
“You’ve been busy.” I sound impressed because I am. “Did you get all that wood out of here by yourself?”
She nods, beaming, then adds, “I can handle a little wood on my own.”
Did she just…? Why, yes, I believe she did just open the innuendo door. And here I come to bust through it like the fucking Kool-Aid Man. Oh yeah! “But how are you at handling big wood?”
Her eyes go wide, and she practically spits out a laugh. “You got some big wood around here that needs handling, Drew?”
Oh, Chloe, Chloe, Chloe, it’s game on now. You have no idea the beast you’ve unleashed.
To throw her off balance, I point to the pile of fresh lumber. “Well, there’s this big pile of wood right here.”
She raises a brow, trying to read something into my words. But there’s nothing there. That would be too obvious, and that’s not how I play this game. With my most earnest expression, I suggest, “Let’s get to work. I’ll help you get this wood into place.”
I use the ladder to climb into the attic, crouching where the first beam will go. From here I have an excellent vantage point for watching Chloe bend over to retrieve a piece of big wood. Her ass is a masterpiece, sculpted by the gods and probably lots of squats. I want my hands on it. I want my hands on every part of her, followed by my mouth.
She stands and turns with the board on her shoulder, looking like a total badass. I blink to wipe the nefarious thoughts from my head and focus on the job at hand.
Clearing my throat, I ask, “Do you need to cut these down to size, or are we going to let them run wild?”
“Big wood should run wild, don’t you think?” she says with a wink as she hands one end of the wood up to me. Nice. Chloe wants to play.
I hold my end in place while she moves the ladder and takes her end to the far side of the room, fitting it up over the load-bearing wall. When she grabs her hammer and a nail, I lend her some encouragement in my bedroom voice. “That’s it, Chloe. Right there. Nail that wood.”
“Oh my God!” She laughs so hard she nearly smashes her thumb—whoops.
I wait for her to collect herself and position the nail against the joist again. “Fuck, yes, that‘s the spot.”
Laughing, she shakes her head and focuses on hammering.
“Harder!” I demand. “Faster!”
I can’t help noticing she hits that nail a little harder, moving a little faster. I like how well she takes direction.
“Don’t stop, Chloe. All the way in. Yes. Just like that, nice and tight.”
When the joist is attached, she gives me a grimace and a raised eyebrow. With a wink, I nail my end to the joist that spans the other half of the house. I swing down out of the attic and hang from the joist we just nailed to execute one, two, three chin-ups before I let go. My boots hit the floor with a boom.
“You thirsty?” I ask, my voice low, my question dripping with double meaning.
She climbs down the ladder. “Do you really think that’s all it’ll take to make me thirsty?”
Stepping into her space again, I wait for her to look up at me before I say, “Well, I’m thirsty for something sweet. You got anything to wet my mouth and whet my craving?”
She stares at my mouth and licks her lips. Oh yeah, she’s thirsty all right.
My gloves come off so I can brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “How about some juice?”
Her eyelashes flutter a bit before she furrows her brow. “Huh?” She blinks, clears her throat. “Uh…”
“Orange, apple, grape… I’m not picky. I’ll help myself if you don’t mind.” I walk into her kitchen, light on my feet, acting like I don’t know I’ve just melted her panties.
Chloe
At this rate, I’m going to jump his bones before we get even half these joists up. Good Lord, the man is sex incarnate. Every syllable of what he’s said makes me want to see his dick. I’ll bet it’s pretty. If his self-confidence is any measure, he’s got to be sporting some pretty big wood.
He returns from my kitchen nursing a little glass of OJ and winks at me over the rim. I could laugh, but I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.
Inez was right; this guy is trouble. Not red-flag trouble, but definitely yellow.
Christina Berry writes sex-positive, contemporary romance. Her debut novel, Up for Air, won “Sexiest Consent” in the 2021 Good Sex Awards, as well as the 2021 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner in Romance – Sizzle, and the 2021 Independent Press Award in Romance.
A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Christina is originally from Oklahoma, and currently resides in Austin, Texas. When not writing, she’s usually helping her husband with their never-ending home remodeling adventure or marathon watching British crime dramas.
