Second Chances
Currently available from Sapphire Blue Publishing
Gallery owner Kristin Shepherd is resigned to living a life on her own in London, England after losing her husband to cancer. That was before she met handsome Scottish actor David McDougal.
David swears the relationship with his fiancé, Sophie Miller, is for public convenience only, but Kristin finds Sophie’s unwillingness to release her hold on David quite a complication to the chemistry that exists between them.
Within David’s dark eyes, will Kristin find the courage to trust enough to love again? And, are there such things as Second Chances?
Excerpt:
Kristin smiled and shook Bernard’s hand, then turned to David. As she took his outstretched hand, a small electric current traveled through her body at his touch, making her insides tingle.
Startled at the sensation, she glanced into his face and found herself immersed in the darkest, most piercing eyes she had ever seenebony pools that she was sure she could get lost in. Not wanting to drown, she released his grip, probably a little too quickly.
"Pleased to meet you both." David smiled widely, but his gaze never broke the direct contact with Kristin’s. Small shivers traveled along her spine as his light brogue washed over her.
A small dimple deeply indented his right cheek when he smiled, a smile that brightened the room around her as well as his handsome face.
Kristin took a deep breath to try to regain some amount of internal control. She didn’t want Ingrid to catch on to whatever was happening between her and David. All she needed was for her friend to latch onto her attraction to him, as it would strengthen the age-old argument of Kristin entering the dating scene again.
When she glanced over at Ingrid, the devious glimmer in her friend’s blue eyes made her realize it was too late. "Bernie dear, I do have something pressing I need to discuss with you. Let’s go find some drinks, shall we?" Ingrid didn’t miss a beat as she grabbed Bernard’s arm and led him away.
Ingrid turned and winked at Kristin. "I’ll be back in a moment, love."
Kristin now had no choice but to deal with her attraction as she turned to David, and his gaze encompassed her once more. The intensity was mesmerizing, like he could see through her to those places she chose to keep safely hidden from the world. That kind of vulnerability came unexpectedly, and small spikes of fear danced around her already-racing heart. But then he blasted her with that smile again, and melted away a little of her apprehension.
Summon Me Swiftly
Currently available from Sapphire Blue Publishing.
After a disappointing night fending off drunk suitors at her friend's Halloween party, Amanda Swift is completely disenchanted with the dating scene. She's even more fed up with being alone, and wishes she'd finally find that perfect guy to sweep her off her feet and make her toes curl with ecstasy. But Amanda's evening quickly switches gears when she walks into her bedroom and discovers a very handsome - and very naked - hunk, who wants to please her in every way. But is this a case of be careful what you wish for?
Excerpt:
"You think such a man exists in this world, Juni?" I stared into the shimmery eyes of my cat, mesmerized by the intelligence I always saw in their depths. But then a wave of foolishness washed over me, the icy ripples sobering me up completely. Was I really postulating over my dream guy with my cat?
"And what guy wouldn't want a catch like me, the weird lady who talks to cats like an idiot?"
Juni stepped backwards and raised her chin, giving the air a prominent sniff. Looking abashed, she jumped down off the counter and sauntered away, her tail twitching indignantly behind her.
"Great. And now it seems I've pissed off my only friend. Absolutely wonderful."
Suck it up, Mandy. You always knew that life had the ability to suck relentlessly. Now you just have to be a grown up and deal with it.
Wishing my inner voice would drop dead and leave me alone, I wearily trudged into the bedroom to change my clothes. I hurriedly peeled the costume from my body and slipped into a pink cotton cami and shorts that sufficed as pajamas. In the bathroom, I scrubbed the makeup from my face. After a rinse of cool water, I studied my reflection in the mirror.
I wasn't a knockout by any means, but I could call myself pretty. Large, dark eyes stared back at me from a smooth, ivory complexion. I'd always toyed with the idea of coloring my mousy brown hair, but never had the guts to follow through with it. I did finally summon up the courage to cut it a month earlier, so it skimmed my jaw in a sleek bob.
A few extra pounds rounded out my figure, but not so much that I considered myself to be fat. Curvaceous, maybe. But not fat.
So what's so wrong with me that I can't locate a decent man for any amount of looking?
I stuck out my tongue at my reflection, then plodded back to the bedroom, head hanging low. So it was with utter surprise that I plowed directly into the solid chest of a man. A solid, naked, chest, to be precise.
"What the..." My heart shifted into overdrive as my gaze travelled up to find two chocolate brown eyes regarding me intently. I swallowed and took a shaky step backwards as cold panic zipped through me like a ricocheting bullet.
"Amanda Swift, your summons has been heard, and I am here to serve." He bowed at the waist, the elegant gesture a little odd for someone I realized wasn't wearing any clothes.
Holiday Hell House
Currently available from Sapphire Blue Publishing
There’s no place like Hell House for the holidays… At least that’s what Danielle Stewart hopes for as the director of Hellsner Halfway House for Troubled Paranormal Teens. But all her plans come to an abrupt halt with the help of bickering teens, unannounced zombies, and a portal to hell, among other things. When the arguing leads to things quite literally going up in smoke, will Danielle find that her true calling lies elsewhere, or will the help of an unexpected angel show her the family she has longed for is right before her eyes? Excerpt: "You're doing it all wrong! Danielle, tell him he's screwing it up!"
I shot a long-suffering look in Sora's direction. Her scowl spoke volumes, made even more dramatic by the midnight black lipstick that always outlined her pouting lips.
"I'm hanging ornaments on a tree. How can I be screwing that up, your highness?" Derrick, the cause of Sora's irritation now and most days, pulled another red globe from the box he was holding and dangled it in front of his face.
I took a deep, calming breath. "Guys, can't you please call a cease fire long enough for us to decorate the Christmas tree? Is that too much to ask?" My gaze bounced back and forth between the two teens, a silent prayer for peace at the ready.
Sora toyed with the small silver lip ring she wore, her scowl deepening. "Then tell dog-boy to stop hanging all the red ornaments on the same side. It's making the color scheme unbalanced."
Derrick laughed and placed the ornament in his hand next to the one he'd just put on the tree. "Like you're one to talk about color schemes. All black. All the time. Even your own people got tired of it."
Sora tugged absently at the hem of her black leather miniskirt, then her hand fluttered to twist one of the spikes of her jet black hairdo.
"Derrick..." I managed to infuse my voice with just a hint of warning.
"What? It's true. All the other fairies kicked her out of fairy land because they were tired of her depressing butt. And her bossiness." He set the box of ornaments on the dining room table to his right.
Sora had been banished by her people ultimately because she refused to fit in. But that didn't mean he needed to point it out to everyone. Repeatedly.
Silence filled the room for a long moment that I feared would ruin the little holiday spirit I had managed to dredge up with a bit of tree decorating. I glanced over at Sora and found her black lipstick scowl replaced by a smirk.
"You're one to talk, disowned by your own pack." Her gaze flicked to me. "We'll have to keep a good eye on the Christmas tree, Danielle. The mongrel might decide to pee on it, given the manners he seems to lack." Her dark eyes glinted with scorn.
Derrick ran a hand through his dark blond hair, leaving it ruffled and messy. His amber eyes sparkled mischievously as he crossed his arms over his T-shirt clad chest. "Nah, I took care of that already in your closet."
Sora's expression froze for a moment, then her eyes widened. "You didn't!"
Derrick shrugged. "Guess you'll just have to see for yourself."
Snorting in disgust, Sora stalked away, her heavy black boots pounding the floor. She practically flew up the stairs, muttering who knows what curses under her breath.
I peeked over at Derrick, smugness oozing from him. "You really shouldn't goad her like that. It only makes things worse."
A small shriek sounded from the upper floor. Rolling my eyes, I frowned at Derrick's grinning face.
"She should just be glad I shifted into a dog first." He sauntered into the living room, leaving me to finish the tree.
Sighing, I picked up the box of forgotten red ornaments from the table. These kids were going to be the death of me. Six months as director of Hellsner Halfway House For Troubled Paranormal Teens and I was afraid I wouldn't make it through another six days.
Tail From The Goddess
Currently available from Sapphire Blue Publishing
Julie Sanderson’s Valentine’s Day didn’t quite go the way she’d hoped. Instead of a romantic dinner, her boyfriend broke up with her, and she spent the evening drinking butterscotch martinis with her girlfriends trying to drink Danny off her mind.
When she wakes up the next morning with both a very sexy man and woman in bed with her, she’s not sure what’s going on.
Little does she know the day is about to get even more strange…
Excerpt:
Julia Sanderson pressed her palm to her forehead.
Where am I, and what did I do?
She opened her eyes to find herself in her own bedroom, but something was off. Maybe it was just the hangover. She rolled out of bed and swayed a little as her head throbbed. She closed her eyes against the morning sunlight hammering at her through the window and walked blindly toward the bathroom.
As she reached the bathroom door, she heard something rustle in the bed. Something that sounded much larger than her cat, Pyewacket.
Every hair on the back of her neck stood up, and she opened her eyes wide.
She took a deep breath and turned toward the bed.
How did I miss that?
A gorgeous man with stunning green eyes smiled at her. “Good morning.”
“Uh, good morning. I…” Julia stopped mid sentence as she realized somebody else was in the bed next to the gorgeous hunk.
A blond river of curls tumbled over the side of the bed and a delicate, well-manicured hand with red fingernails gently pulled the sheet down to reveal sparkling blue eyes. “Good morning.” Tiny creases at the edges of the blue eyes gave away a smile beneath the sheet.
A thrill scurried up Julia’s spine. She had never seen one, much less two, such gorgeous people in her bed before. Julia was suddenly aware of her nakedness and stammered for something to say to these two complete strangers in her bed. “I, uh. I’m just going to take a shower.” She hurried into the bathroom and closed the door.
Oh, boy! They’re both gorgeous, and I’ve never been averse to the idea of a threesome. But, I sure wish I could remember what happened last night!
