50% off all books SALE!!

All books at Evernight are 50% off until the 13th!

Quick links to my ebooks:

Saved by Perseus
Venus in Fur Coat
Love's Labyrinth
Pleasure Android 7.1 (Free)

Welcome Jorja Lovett!

Please welcome Jorja Lovett to my blog today with her new release from Evernight, "Seduced by the Daredevil"!

Thanks for hosting me today, and sharing in the release day madness! Seduced by the Daredevil goes on sale from 4^th September and is a bit of a departure from my usual style. It started life as a medical romance, but there are definitely moments of rom com in there, as you can see from the excerpt…

Blurb

Sparks fly when 'Miss Stuffy Knickers' Andrea Bolan meets her match in daredevil Matt King. There's nothing quite like a passionate kiss to motivate a girl to jump off a building in the name of charity. With her inhibitions left far behind she begins to see the benefits of no-strings fun and sets her sights on her sexy abseiling instructor, but things don't go exactly to plan. 

Adrenaline junkie Matt fights his demons by living his life on the edge and an uptight dietitian definitely isn't his usual type. But, when they're thrown together at work there's no denying the chemistry. Lust is easy for him to deal with, but he doesn't do commitment. 

A sizzling affair catches them both by surprise but if they're not careful their pasts might just cost them any chance of future happiness. 

Excerpt

Matt was eternally grateful he had bought the apartment close by, overlooking the River Lagan. He had enough trouble keeping his hands off Andrea for the duration of the five-minute journey. Small talk with a driver in no obvious hurry was the last thing he wanted, with seduction on his mind. He held it together until they pulled up outside the apartment block.

"Cheers, mate." He threw a few notes through the window and pulled a giggling Andrea from the passenger seat.

Lust fuelled their journey and they half-ran to the entrance of the exclusive new complex. The few steps leading to his front door were taken in such a frenzied rush to reach their destination that Andrea stumbled on those impossibly high heels.

"Are you okay?" On autopilot, he knelt down to her crumpled position on the step and carefully removed her shoe to check for any swelling.

"I'm fine." She giggled again and held up the broken heel of her shoe.

"Thank goodness that's the only casualty," he said, and swept her, and the broken stiletto, up into his arms to carry her the rest of the way. With one hand fiddling with the lock and the other cradling Andrea close to him, who said men couldn't multitask?

Once inside, he set her back onto her feet and closed the door shut with the force of his body pinning hers against it. He wanted her naked, and that damn sweater which had teased him all day needed to go. Andrea didn't resist when he lifted it to reveal the bounty beneath, but tugged at his T-shirt in response until pressing his naked skin to hers became as necessary as breathing. He impatiently hiked her top higher to strip her completely of it.

"Hold on a sec." Andrea's muffled voice came from the tangle of blue wool wedged around her head. He yanked until her head popped free, leaving that once-silky hair a veritable bird's nest.

"That's better," she said. "Now you."

He broke contact to get rid of the barrier, and those few seconds let him drink in the sight of her. In a white bra and jeans, hair mussed, and lips swollen from his tending, she was a far cry from the priss-miss he'd first encountered.

Man, what a turn-on.

The rapid rise and fall of her chest mesmerized him, but restrictive cotton denied him the full effect of her voluptuous cleavage. Eager to free her from all conservative binds, his fingers sought to unhook the fastening of her bra. A well-rehearsed tug and flick failed to open the catch, and he distracted her with a passionate kiss while he worked on it. First with one hand, then with two, he pushed and pulled to no avail.

Finally, he had to admit defeat. "I can't get this bloody thing open, Andie."

Resisting the urge to rip it off, Matt waited while she reached to undo it herself. She whipped her underwear off to release her pert breasts into view, and slung it in his direction. The bra catapulted directly into his face, the tail end popping him in the eye. Instinctively he clutched his eye and stifled a verbal wince.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Through a watery haze, he saw her hand fly to her mouth in horror.

"Don't worry, Andie. It's not your fault." He tried to blink back the watery sting to ease her guilt, but full apology mode had already kicked in.

"That was a stupid thing to do. I don't know what I was thinking."

His one good eye saw her bend to retrieve the makeshift weapon. She stood up and accidentally head-butted him between the legs, his groin suffering the next hit. His tongue nearly didn't make it either, he bit it so hard to stop from crying out. The crippling agony doubled him in two and he fought to breathe through it. When, oh when, had his tried and tested methods of seduction turned into a comedy of errors?

"Why don't we take this somewhere safer? Like the bedroom?" he asked in shallow bursts amid ragged breaths.

Andrea placed a self-conscious arm across her chest and limped to his bedroom, one foot shoeless and the other wobbling on a stiletto. He followed when the ache down below receded enough to allow movement.

Buy Links: All Romance, Amazon, Bookstrand, Evernight Publishing

Author Links: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Website

Welcome Doris O'Connor!

Please welcome Doris O'Connor today with her new release from Evernight. Another amazing cover and a steamy tale to boot!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today. J

What do you do on an island of sexual abandonment? That is the question Astrid asks herself as she speeds toward the shoreline. Having been bullied and cajoled into accepting the all expenses paid trip of a life time—you can’t really turn down a birthday present like that—Astrid is ill prepared for her encounter with the enigmatic Prince Rashid.

She never reacts to complete strangers like that. There must be something in the water, or maybe this newly emerging submissive side of hers is who she truly is?

I had great fun in writing this story, and I hope readers will like it too. Previously published as Awakening, this has been completely revised and is considerably longer than the original version. I knew there was more to Astrid and Rashid’s story and this is it. And it’s the start of a new series, called services to sisterhood, where fantasy fulfilment is the aim.

Sometimes you don’t know what has been missing from your life until you’re shown who you truly are…

Blurb:

Services to Sisterhood, 1                                   

Loosen up and awake your inner Sex Goddess...call it services to sisterhood.

The mere thought of an all-expenses paid trip to a tropical island of sexual abandonment makes straight-laced school teacher Astrid break out in a heat rash. What fantasy is she supposed to live out, exactly? You kinda need to have them to re-enact them, right? However, she can’t really turn down a birthday present, even if her outrageous best friend would let her.

Everything changes when she wakes up in her very own Arabian Fantasy. Prince Rashid expects her complete obedience, and Astrid can’t help but respond to the demands of the enigmatic Sheikh. Maybe it’s just the ambiance of this place but Astrid finds new strength in her submission, and the sex is out of this world.

What happens, however, when reality beckons? Can she hold onto the fantasy?

Be Warned: BDSM, f/f interaction, anal play, rimming, spanking

                             

Buy links:

Evernight

Amazon  Amazon UK   

ARe

Bookstrand

Excerpt:

“Naughty girls need to be punished.”

Punished? What on earth did he mean? Before she could question him he spun her around in his arms. One hand pinched her nipple hard. The pain was more arousing than she would have thought possible, and his other hand fisted in her hair and yanked her head up. He pinched her again, harder this time. The desire she saw in his dark eyes as he assessed her reaction made the pain spiral down towards her pussy.

“Stop, you’re hurting me!” Is that breathy denial really my voice? Her heart turned into a jackhammer as she waited for his next move, and arousal warred with fear.

He tugged her closer into his solid wall of muscle. A small smile played on his lips at her sharp intake of breath when the move brought her clit in direct contact with the broad tip of his cock. It nudged at her through the thin fabric of both their clothing.

 “You don’t want me to stop.”

The growl in her ear, combined with another sharp pinch to her other nipple sent her breathing into erratic overdrive as one large hand cupped her wet folds. Heaven help her, a stab of pure lust made her knees tremble.  His low chuckle had to be the sexiest sound she’d ever heard. His stubble grazed her neck as he suckled on her skin and sank his teeth into her flesh at just the right side of pleasuring pain.

He took her moan into his mouth, and his tongue dueled with hers, before he nipped at her bottom lip hard enough for her to taste her own blood. Startled, she tried to pull away from him. His iron grip wouldn’t let her, however, and his predatory smile held her captive. “I can smell your pussy, and I’m going to taste you until you scream for my cock to fill you, deep and hard, right here.”

Astrid gasped at the sudden rip of her dress, and cool air hit her naked flesh. Rashid thrust one finger into her juices before inserting that digit right into her anus, pulling her closer still. The shock of the unexpected invasion made her sink her teeth into her lips to stop herself from moaning. “No, please, Rashid.”

Another finger thrust deep, and lifted her up on her tiptoes until her hands had to grab his shoulders for support.

“That’s no, my lord.”

 At the shake of her head, a third finger stretched her further, and she couldn’t help the startled sob he caught in his mouth in a bruising kiss.

“Yield to me, my bad, bad girl, or your punishment will be worse.”

Oh. My. God. He couldn’t mean that, surely. But what did she know about this dark stranger? Nothing but her body’s complete arousal in his presence. Even now, hovering between the pain and pleasure his relentless fingers up her ass were giving her, she wanted his cock inside her so badly she could scream. What is wrong with me?

His gaze locked with hers, his breathing harsh, his pupils so dilated his eyes were almost black. He pushed deeper into her, the pain bringing tears to her eyes as he almost lifted her off the floor entirely. “Yield to me, my pretty, now! Trust me.”

Astrid couldn’t resist. Something in that dark gaze pulled her right into his barely controlled power. “Yes, my lord.”

The brilliant smile took her breath away, and she winced as his fingers slowly and carefully withdrew.

“Good girl. Now shut your eyes.”

“Why?” She couldn’t help but utter the question, even though her insides churned at the thought of his displeasure.

Sure enough, he growled in answer, the sound so low and animalistic that every feminine cell in her body just melted, until she had to fight the urge to sink to her knees in front of him. He raised his eyebrows, moved to stand behind her, and then slapped her ass hard enough to make her gasp. Gooseflesh broke out over her exposed skin when he tugged her head back on his shoulder and she saw his sinful grin. Astrid’s breath stalled in her lungs at the first of several more openhanded swats to her behind. They left her butt on fire. Heat traveled over her skin and sent her arousal up another notch. Surely being spanked like this should not turn her on even more, and make her wish he would bend her over his knee and do the job properly? By the time he’d delivered that last stinging swat, she gasped her answer.

“Yes, my lord.”

“That’s better, my pretty.” She could hear the smile in his voice and feel it in the butterfly kisses on her shoulder blades as he circled her. The swish of cool silk over her sensitive tummy made her pull in the muscles there in anticipation. The silk moved higher, a bare whisper across her engorged breasts, before it settled over her eyes. His warm hand grasped hers and lifted her arm high as another slow, tantalizing swish of silk slid up her body before he tied it around her wrist, and secured her arm high above her head. The tickle of yet more silk started on the inside of her thigh this time, and brushed across her clit repeatedly. It caused more of her juices to moisten her already wet pussy lips, and beads of perspiration broke out on her skin. Astrid could smell her own arousal in the air, mixed with the unique scent of the man breathing into her ear. His sharp intake of breath told her he was as affected as she was. The whispered Arabic words breathed against her flesh sent shivers of awareness down her spine. Rashid lifted her other arm so high, she had to once again stand on tiptoes.

“My lord?”

*****

Author Bio:

Glutton for punishment would be a good description for Doris... at least that's what she hears on an almost daily basis when people find out that she has a brood of nine children, ranging from adult to toddler and lives happily in a far too small house, cluttered with children, pets, dust bunnies, and one very understanding and supportive husband. Domestic goddess she is not.

There is always something better to do after all, like working on the latest manuscript and trying not to scare the locals even more than usual by talking out loud to the voices in her head. Her characters tend to be pretty insistent to get their stories told, and you will find Doris burning the midnight oil on a regular basis. Only time to get any peace and quiet and besides, sleep is for wimps.

She likes to spin sensual, sassy, and sexy tales involving alpha heroes to die for, and heroines who give as good as they get. From contemporary to paranormal, BDSM to F/F, and Ménage, haunting love stories are guaranteed.

Stalking Links

Website Blog Twitter  Facebook Pinterest  Evernight Publishing

              Amazon All Romance E-Books BookStrand Barnes&Noble

Welcome Raven McAllan!

Please Welsome Raven McAllan, here today with her new release from Evernight!

When I sat down to write this blog, I realized how lucky I am, doing what I love, writing stories. The fact people seem to enjoy them is a bonus, and one I never stop giving thanks for. I couldn't not write, I feel as if something is missing if I don't connect with my characters every day, even just for a few minutes. As my long-suffering hubby says, have lap top will travel. (It's amazing how much you can write on long haul)

Double Jackson, or Jackson for short is one of those stories that hit you, and demand to be told.

I've no idea where the idea came from, I just know I woke up one morning and started to write it. It was very definitely character driven, and one of the minor characters, Tina the housekeeper, nagged me all the time I wrote. It was as if she were in the room with me, looking over my shoulder…

Not only does she keep all the characters in the book in their place, she very definitely did it to me as well.

I think it worked.

Blurb…

Jackson Carrick at Tits and Bum Club—gay in more ways than one.

As morning wake up calls go, those damning headlines made for a rude awakening. The renowned actor is a one man guy, thank you very much, so why would a doppelganger set out to discredit him, and more importantly, who is it?

As the mystery unravels and loyalties are tested, Jackson has to rely on his husband, housekeeper, and friends to keep his reputation from swirling down the drain.

Fortunately, Jackson's husband Collum knows just how to keep his man from worrying. Only one thing to do when you're stuck inside waiting for news—lots of mind-blowing sex.

Excerpt

(Fizz is Tina's twin, and Jack's agent.)

Jack took hold of the phone as if it were a time bomb about to go off. Which, Coll decided it might well be. He stared at Jack, and willed his positive thoughts to be heard as Jack connected the call.

"Hi, Fizz. Hold on, I want to put this on speakerphone so I don't have to repeat it to Coll."

"Where are you? No don't tell me if it's too much information. Are you at home?" Her voice was loud and tinny in the room. "Do you have today's paper handy? Is there a clock or three around? Are you decent?" The staccato questions came thick and fast. "Jack?"

Coll's eyes widened and he shook his head at his lover's silent question. He had no idea what the inquisition was all about.

"Kitchen? With iPad and phone?" Jack could be as brusque as the next person when it was warranted. "Naked."

"That'll do." Fizz's voice ebbed and flowed as the signal changed strength. "Well, not the naked bit. Clothed. Plus a paper or two and remember, decently dressed. Do it now and send it to me please. I'll be with you as soon as I can. About ten minutes, I reckon." The phone went dead.

Jack looked at Coll, who raised one eyebrow.

"Oh, shit."

"Oh, fuck. Her ten is five. I don't think she means in our birthday suits." Jack pinched Coll's left nipple and rolled of the bed to land on his feet.

"Bastard. I wish I was that agile." Coll sat up, stretched and then stood up slowly.

"Ha. If you had to do the stuff I do in this series you'd be limber as well. Problem is at the end I'll be arthritic and stiff as an excited cock everywhere, not just in my dick." He jogged into the bathroom, and with a wry grin, Coll followed him.

Jack had the shower on full blast. As Coll watched he spun round under the water three times and got out.

"Over to you. I'll go hunt up iPads and stuff." Jack rubbed his hands over his hair and snagged a towel as he moved swiftly away.

"Cover up your jiggles then," Coll called after him. "No cock rock on display."

 A whistle was his reply.

Coll wasn't under the water much longer than it took to wash any traces of sex from his body, and soak his sweat-slicked hair. He flicked a towel across his body in the hope some water would be caught and absorbed and then pulled on a clean t-shirt before he ignored boxers, and thrust his damp legs into linen trousers and deck shoes. The material of the trousers chafed his skin and he wriggled uncomfortably. Maybe he should have donned underwear after all. The last thing he wanted was a rash on his cock from the nylon thread they used in his clothes.

It was too late. He heard the deep-throated rumble of a powerful motorbike and guessed Fizz had arrived.

Coll took the stairs two at a time. He arrived in the hall as the knocker crashed onto the wood with such force he wouldn't have been surprised to see it emerge through the panel and an attached hand still thumping away.

He pulled the door open and Fizz almost fell into the foyer.

"Have you taken that picture yet?" she demanded in a breathless voice as she took off her helmet and put it on top of an old-fashioned hat stand.

"Good afternoon, Fizz. Not yet, sorry. How are you, Coll? I'm fine, thank you, Fizz, how are you?" Coll said sarcastically. "Would you like to take a breath before or after you hit me over the head for my tardiness?" The look he received would wither the hardest cock.

"Funny, ha, ha. I need that photo like an hour ago."

"Difficult." Jack had entered the hall unnoticed. "We didn't know you wanted it, and it would have been a TMI photo."

Fizz made a noise like a particularly upset wildcat. Jack sniggered. "Knickers in a twist, Fizz?"

"No, but your nuts will be in a nutcracker before you can say walnut or pecan if we don't get stuff sorted out pretty damned quick. Let me take a damned photo." She snapped the words irritably. "Where?"

"Kitchen. I was setting it up."

 "I don't want a set up," Fizz followed Jack into the kitchen, and Coll followed the two if them.

If he was a ladies’ man, then Fizz's ass would be everything you could ask for. Not for the first time he wondered why she was single with no guy—or woman in sight.

Coll made a beeline for the coffee pot. "Coffee?"

"After." Fizz didn't look up from her phone. "Okay, it's still okay. Get sorted. No, not like that. Who lines up three clocks and props a newspaper up for a selfie for no reason? I want natural."

"If we'd known an hour ago you could have had au naturel."

***

If you enjoyed the teaser and want to read more, Here's the buy links

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/double-jackson-by-raven-mcallan/

http://www.amazon.com/Double-Jackson-Raven-McAllan-ebook/dp/B00N6I4W98/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409462034&sr=1-1&keywords=Raven+McAllan

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Double-Jackson-Raven-McAllan-ebook/dp/B00N6I4W98/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409462034&sr=1-1&keywords=Raven+McAllan

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-doublejackson-1612827-149.html

http://www.bookstrand.com/double-jackson-mm

*** 

Raven McAllan

If you want to check out my and my other books, please pop over to

www.ravenmcallan.com where you'll find all you need, and learn a wee bit about me.

Thanks for reading,

Love R x

Welcome Melissa Hosack!

Welcome Melissa Hosack, who is joining us to share a little bit about her new release!

Lily Watson meets the man of her dreams at a costume party on Halloween. After a night of passion, she wakes to discover that Nathan's costume is a reality. He wasn't just pretending to be a ghost. He is one. After four years of wandering aimlessly without a soul able to see him, Nathan is shocked when sweet, enchanting Lily starts up a casual conversation with him at a party. Even more shocking, he's able to touch her. In a complex relationship between woman and ghost, the pair must wonder how long they'll be able to keep Lily's human friend from asking too many questions about the boyfriend she never sees. More worrisome, they must wonder how long Nathan will be permitted to live in the mortal world.

Available at:  

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/for-your-eyes-only-by-melissa-hosack/

Flirting with the Dead…

Overcome with boredom, Lily swirled the straw in her rum-and-coke. "I feel like I'm going to be stuck here for all eternity."

"Tell me about it."

The man's voice was smooth as silk, sending a shiver of delight down her spine. She savored the sound of it for a moment before turning to face its owner.

If she'd found the man's voice alluring, that made his looks to die for.

Light-brown hair spilled onto his forehead and into intense hazel eyes. A plain, black T-shirt covered his chest but did nothing to hide his muscle tone. He wore faded blue jeans and a pair of black sneakers. He appeared to be at least six foot, complimenting his thin frame to make him look sinewy and graceful.

Lily let her gaze scan over him, her knees going weak. He was the most gorgeous man she'd ever laid eyes on. That thought brought a frown to her lips. Men like him didn't seek out wallflowers like her.

He could have any woman in the entire club. He should be hitting on one of the blondes with big breasts, like the rest of the hound dogs here. That meant he was seeking something else—her table.

"This table's taken. Sorry," Lily said, sounding anything but. "You and your buddies will have to find somewhere else to sit."

The man didn't even respond at first. He simply stared out into the busy club, a wistful expression on his face. Then suddenly he jumped as if startled. His gaze swung to her in astonishment. "Are you speaking to me?"

Lily stared back at him for a moment, surprised at his apparent cluelessness. She made a show of glancing around them before saying, "I don't see any other men encroaching on my table. Do you?"

The man looked down at the table where his elbow rested. He jerked it back as if it burned. "I-I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to encroach." He rubbed at his elbow, a thoughtful expression on his handsome face. Then he shook his head with a grin. "Also, I wasn't trying to charm your table away from you. I'm here by myself."

"Then why don't you leave?" Lily asked with a frown. Realizing how that must have come off, she added, "The club, not the table." On his confused look, she explained. "You agreed it felt like you would be here for all eternity. If you're here alone, why don't you just go?"

The man stared into her eyes so deeply that Lily's heart skipped a beat. Then he leaned down, resting both elbows on the table in front of him. "I don't know. Habit?" He shrugged. "I suppose I was feeling lonely, though places like this don't help. They only intensify the feeling."

Lily laughed and swirled her straw in her drink once again. "Lonely in a room full of people."

He shrugged, gazing out toward the dance floor. "No one here even sees me."

"Poetic," Lily said with a small smile. "I get what you mean, though. Everyone is putting on a face at places like this. They can't see you because of the masks they wear."

He blinked at her for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yes. That's exactly what I meant." He looked at her hesitantly. Finally, he lifted his hand up and held it out almost reluctantly. "I'm Nathan."

"Lily." She took his hand in hers and raised her eyebrows at his uncertainty.

At her reaction, he shook his head, and his lips melted into an adorable smile. "Sorry. It's just been a really long time since I've done this. Most women act like I don't even exist."

Lily couldn't keep her eyes from traveling to his broad chest. "I find that hard to believe."

"Well, believe it. Women brush past me without even a glance, and I pretty much give them the same treatment. You're the first girl I've felt like hitting on in a really, really long time."

Lily ducked her head, staring into her glass so she could hide her smile. When she looked up, her expression was composed. Her green eyes searched his. "You feel like hitting on me?"

Nathan's grin widened. "You tell me." His fingers tapped against the tabletop. He glanced down at them for a moment before his gaze lifted to her face. "I started this night thinking it was going to be miserable. Now, all I can think about is how cute you look in that costume."

Lily jerked in surprise. She glanced down at her skintight top with a grimace. "I hate to disappoint you, but I don't normally dress like this," she said with a blush.

"Really?" Nathan asked with mock surprise. "You don't wear sparkling, green wings and fishnet stockings around the house? Bummer."

Despite her initial reluctance to fall for his charms, Lily giggled. "Can't say I do. I usually wear my bunny costume for lounging days.”

"Cute," Nathan said with a crooked smile. "Very cute."

"Good, because that's what I was aiming for." Lily crossed her legs under the table as she studied his clothing once again. "Speaking of costumes, what are you supposed to be?"

"I'm a ghost.”

https://sites.google.com/site/melissahosack/

https://twitter.com/MelissaHosack

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Hosack-Author-of-Paranormal-Romance/119951088073763

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaFrost

Welcome Naomi Clark!

Please welcome Naomi Clark today to share a little about her new release with Evernight Publishing!

Blurb

Wildlife photographer and cryptozoology blogger Emma Jordan came to Birch Hill expecting to find another urban legend. The rumours of a big cat stalking the woods around this quiet town surely had to be just that - rumours. But when the evidence starts to pile up that Birch Hill really does have a killer cat on the loose, Emma finds herself caught in a confusing game of cat and mouse. And her blossoming relationship with Abi Blakely might just be pushing her further into danger.

Available from:

Amazon US - http://www.amazon.com/Beast-Birch-Hill-Romance-Go-ebook/dp/B00MT8D454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408620478&sr=8-1&keywords=the+beast+of+birch+hill

Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Beast-Birch-Hill-Romance-ebook/dp/B00MT8D454/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_6

ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thebeastofbirchhill-1602828-182.html

Evernight http://www.evernightpublishing.com/the-beast-of-birch-hill-by-naomi-clark/

Excerpt

 A couple of hours later, showered, changed, and feeling human again, Emma headed back to Abigail's Bakes. She told herself she was just looking to grab a quick lunch and sit somewhere pleasant while she updated her blog. Privately she had to admit it would be nice to just look at Abi while she worked.

            The place was much busier than it had been that morning; it was full of kids and families jostling for table space. Abi and a younger girl worked the counter with cheer and ease, and cafe was filled with chatter and laughter. Emma joined the queue, trying to catch Abi's eye. When Abi saw her, she waved and favored Emma with that infectious smile.

            “How was your hike? Did you catch the Beast yet?” she asked Emma as she served her.

            “Not yet. Maybe later.” Emma picked out a bacon and cheese strudel and a spiced apple muffin. “Do you have wifi in here? I need to get online.”

            Abi passed her a slip of paper with a password on it along with her food. “Help yourself. Catch you later.”

            Emma smiled, hoping the words weren't just a mere formality. She found a table tucked away in the corner and flipped open her netbook. Her main source of income was her photography, supplying stock images for websites and brochures, entering as many competitions as she could, and doing the occasional teaching course if she wasn't traveling. It was steady money, and a hefty inheritance from a grandparent she'd never met allowed her to live in comfort and indulge her other passion – the alien big cat stories. Her blog, After Dark All Cats Are Leopards, was one of the better-regarded in both the cryptid and sceptic communities and she had a steady following. When she'd announced last week that she was heading for Birch Hill, her views had skyrocketed, and even though she didn't have much news to add yet, it was probably a good idea to update now.

            She plugged her digital camera into the netbook and uploaded the photos she'd taken, eating as she worked. The strudel and the muffin were both perfectly delicious, and she allowed herself a brief fantasy of kidnapping Abi and making her bake for her full-time.

            She didn't notice Abi had joined her until the other woman pushed a cup of coffee to her. “Looks like thirsty work,” Abi remarked.

            Emma jumped, then grinned. “Bloggers are powered entirely by caffeine. Thanks.”

            “So I looked you up after you left,” Abi said. “Why big cats?” She leaned her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands. Her dark curls framed her face perfectly, her expression attentive and interested. Emma squirmed a little under her keen gaze.

            “When I was a kid I wanted to find Bigfoot,” Emma confessed. “My dad used to take me out hiking in the Rocky Mountains and tell me stories about Bigfoot and skinwalkers, all kinds of stuff. I just loved it. Then I grew up and decided there wasn't much chance of Bigfoot really being out there. But big cats? Definitely.”

            “You're so sure? Even though nobody's found a breeding population of wild tigers anywhere?” Abi asked with a grin.

            “America's a big country. There's plenty of space for wide-roaming animals to hide. And big cats are generally elusive in their natural territories anyway. Yeah, I'm sure. People brought lions and tigers over here with circuses in the nineteenth century and there are thousands of people keeping them illegally today. There are orphanages for abandoned exotic animals up and down the country. It's not completely ridiculous that some escape or are released into the wild. And cats are so adaptable. Even if we're not talking big breeding populations, I think it's more likely that there are non-native big cats out there than not.”

            “You love this stuff, don't you?” Abi said, looking thoughtful.

            Emma flushed. “Was I rambling?”

            “No, it's interesting! I wish I could come out big cat hunting with you, but Jed probably wouldn't let me.” She stuck her tongue out as if she'd eaten something distasteful.

            “Well, he's not coming either,” Emma said. “I take it he's more than just prickly with you?”

            Abi shuffled Emma's empty plates around, looking embarrassed. “Oh, we just...clash. He's pretty conservative and I'm not. He thinks I lower the tone of the neighborhood.”

            “Not a fan of baked goods?” Emma joked.

            “Baked goods or lesbians,” Abi said with a shrug.

            Emma's heart gave a little twist, but she kept her tone calm and amused as she replied. “Oh dear. I'd better not answer any personal questions he asks me then.”

            Abi gave her a thoughtful look again that turned into a shy smile. “So what are you doing for the rest of the day? I'm off this afternoon.”

            “I'm going back into the woods this evening but I'm free til then. Maybe...” Emma searched for something that didn't sound too forward but still made it plain she liked Abi. “Maybe we could hang out?” Ugh. Lame.

            Abi didn't seem to notice. She flashed a dazzling smile. “How about a guided tour of Birch Hill? There's not much to see, but with the right company it has a certain charm.”

            “It's a date.”

            Abi stood, grabbing Emma's plates. “Give me an hour and we're on.”

            Emma watched her sashay away with a flutter of excitement. If the Beast of Birch Hill didn't show up, Abi might prove just as exciting.

About the Author

Naomi likes writing, perfume, fancy tea, and unfathomable monsters from the dark spaces between the stars, not necessarily in that order. She has been writing stories ever since she learned how to write, but is still trying to master the art of biography writing. When she's not dealing with werewolves, demons, or sea monsters, she's hanging out with her cat and probably watching a documentary about Bigfoot. If the cat isn't available, she's with her fiancé watching cookery shows and silently plotting her next book.

Find me online:

Blog - http://naomiclarkwrites.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/naomi_jay

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/naomijclark

Labor Day SALES!!

Just popping in to let everyone know that All Romance EBooks is having a 30% off end of summer sale! All my books, including my new release "Saved by Perseus" are 30% off, so be sure to take advantage of that great offer.

Evernight Publishing is having a 25% off end of summer sale, so all my books are on sale there as well. Direct links are in the sidebar - just click on the covers!

Happy Labord Day weekend everyone. I hope you all have fun plans. I don't have anything too exciting going on - I'm going to get a little time to catch up on some work (regular work, not writing unfortunately), and do some scrapbooking. I'm on a scrapbooking design team so I have a few projects due monthly (and in return, I get tons of awesome supplies throughout the year for free). Tomorrow going to go to my parents and visit them, as well as my brother who will be visiting from NY. And hopefully relax and do something fun with the kids on Monday. Such a bummer that nothing good came out in the theater for the long weekend!