On the Road with SCP - A SIren's Romance - Lauren Pilla

 A SIREN’S REVENGE

Blurb

All Annabelle desired in life was her Prince Charming and a fairytale ending. So when she felt the presence of her soul-mate, she was more than ready to meet him and have her happily ever after. However, the first meeting with her one and only proved to be extremely disappointing.

Aaron, the angry immortal, didn’t want a relationship let alone a soul-mate. He’d been down that road before and wished never to repeat it. His duty to protect as many supernaturals as he could was his first and only priority.

After Aaron heard a group of people went missing, Annabelle offered her help. Aaron reluctantly accepted. However, the more they worked together to find the missing people, the more Aaron fell in love with her. Just when he thought he’d be able to completely give his heart, the true intended victims were revealed. Was he doomed to repeat his history?

Excerpt

With incredible speed and strength he quickly planted his feet on the ground, and walked toward the dress shop. Being immortal had its perks, sometimes. Aaron dressed in all black, complete with black sunglasses. A sheath was strapped across his back to carry the sword of Harpe.

He moved lightning quick across the street, but no one seemed to notice a six-foot-six muscled man with a sword. Once inside the dress shop, he stood paralyzed. It was literally a whole store of dresses. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered. Where the people outside were oblivious to him, inside a few women raced toward him. He tensed.

“Are you here with someone, sir?” one woman asked.

“You can’t see the bride in her dress,” the other said.

He relaxed his fighting stance giving the ladies a quizzical look.

“If I can’t see her in the dress, why wear it?”

“It’s tradition, sir. Now are you here with your bride?”

How to answer that one?

Ignoring the nuisances, he headed toward where he felt Annabelle. As both women began to follow after him, he quickly turned around and growled. Immediately, they stopped in their tracks and shrank away. Thank the gods. Finally at the back of the store, he easily crept in the dressing area undetected, quickly jimmied the lock to Annabelle’s dressing room, and slipped in.

Aaron stood behind her in the corner of the rather large dressing room. He leaned against the wall resting one foot over the other while crossing his arms at his chest. Her high blonde ponytail fell forward as she fumbled with a periwinkle colored halter top dress. His mouth watered watching her in a strapless white bra with matching string bikini panties. Then she turned around.

“You!”

Aaron raced to place his hand over her mouth before she alerted the whole store.

“Shhh,” he said, removing his hand.

“You,” she whispered, poking him in the chest.

“Why have you been hiding from me? I know you been watching me, I could feel you. Are you like a pervert, getting off on stalking me?” She poked him again.

Well, he certainly had that coming, didn’t he?

“No, I was doing research.”

“Research!” she whispered loudly. “Oh really, how do you like your findings or do you need to do more reeeesearch?”

“Listen to me, Annabelle—”

She gasped. “You know my name?”

“Yes, now let me finish.”

“But how?”

Aaron sighed. “You know I’ve been watching you. You can feel me like I can feel you. I also can hear things. Now I’m only here to tell you this, me and you,” he pointed to himself, then her, “will not work out. You need to move on, find someone else.”

“But you’re my soul-mate, asshole. I’m supposed to move on with you!”

“Well, I’m sorry, princess, but it’s not going to happen. Now leave me alone and stop looking for me.”

“What the fuck? Are you kidding me?” she asked whispering loudly again.

Aaron hid a smile, hearing her curse. He liked her fire. She wasn’t afraid to say what she thought. She was feisty, perfect, his. What? No, not yours! You’re here to tell her to leave you alone.

Annabelle slapped him across the face. “You jerk! Why did you come here? Why didn’t you just leave? Why didn’t you run far away?” He almost smirked thinking he saw steam coming out of her ears.

He couldn’t answer and frankly he didn’t know why he stayed either. He did know the sight of a fired up Annabelle made his black jeans very uncomfortable.

She poked him with her index finger until his back was flush against the wall. “You don’t know, do you? I know though. You. Are. My. Soul-mate. You jackass!”

Annabelle pressed up against him breathing heavily. Her hands balled in fists against his chest.

“Don’t poke me again.”

“What are you going to do about?”

The hell if he knew.

One of the employees interrupted them. “Are you okay, miss? Your sister said to check on you while they are still getting their dresses fitted to be altered.”

Annabelle kept a pleasant tone, never looking away from him. “I’m fine.”

“Okay then, miss, just yell if you need me. I will be outside putting some dresses away.”

Annabelle backed away from him. If Aaron was uncomfortable before, now, his dick screamed in pain. He knew she felt him, she practically wore nothing anyway.

“I like the pink one,” he said as he left. He winked, passing the woman who interrupted them. “She’s all yours.” The woman’s face reddened.

Annabelle stuck her head out of the dressing room to yell to him. “This isn’t over. I will find you and you better believe we are working this out.”

He laughed. “I have no doubt, princess. But, I warn you, you’ll be the one who gets hurt.”

Buy links

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Secret Cravings Publishing 

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Allromance

Bookstrand

Bio

Lauren lives on the East Coast. She has been fascinated by magic and all things paranormal since a very young age. Now she spends her time creating her own fantasies.

Contact link

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4484633.Lauren_Pilla

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-Pilla-Author/304322266296329?ref=hl

Blog- http://laurenpilla.blogspot.com/

Pinterest- http://www.pinterest.com/mrslp/

Other Books

Buy links

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Sirens-Revenge-Lauren-Pilla-ebook/dp/B00HYMOJR2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418341482&sr=1-1&keywords=a+siren%27s+revenge

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Barnes and Nobles- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sirens-revenge-lauren-pilla/1118139974?ean=2940045749541

Allromance- https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-asiren039srevenge-1400658-340.html

Bookstrand- http://www.bookstrand.com/a-sirens-revenge

Buy links

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Halloween-Lauren-Pilla-ebook/dp/B009NMO2NC/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418341706&sr=1-3

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Allromance- https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-avampireforhalloween-970024-149.html

Bookstrand- http://www.bookstrand.com/a-vampire-for-halloween

Buy Links

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Demon-Protector-Lauren-Pilla-ebook/dp/B00FW4XLCI/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418342002&sr=1-4

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Barnes and Nobles- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demon-protector-lauren-pilla/1109597972?ean=2940148815921

Allromance- https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-demonprotector-1318660-149.html

Bookstrand- http://www.bookstrand.com/demon-protector

Buy link

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Sinn-Lauren-Pilla-ebook/dp/B006SP1TBK/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418342209&sr=1-5

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Barnes and Nobles- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hotel-sinn-lauren-pilla/1107918947?ean=2940046050851

Allromance- https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hotelsinn-667871-149.html

Bookstrand- http://www.bookstrand.com/hotel-sinn

On the road with SCP - Choice Matters- Jamie Salisbury

Choice Affairs (Book #2-Southern Heat Series)

Choice Affairs - Blurb

Political intrigue, new marriage, dark secrets.

How will Apolo and Caitlyn face the Washington fishbowl?

How far can Apolo push his bride in the sensual arena?

Encore! - Excerpt

"Apolo, who are you calling?" I inquired, as though I didn't know.

"Your mother! I've been more than patient with the woman. I've overlooked things she has said or done that ordinarily I wouldn't. She was the entire reason we waited to start preparations. So that she would be safely back in Ireland. Now, less than a week out, she decides to ignore everything we implored upon her not to do. She's selfish, Caitlyn. The woman thinks of no one but herself, and it stops now."

I bit my lip, trying desperately not to smile. That wouldn't be a good thing to do right now. Apolo Choice did not tolerate anyone, not even family, doing as my mother just had.

He caught my amusement anyway. "What?" he bellowed, his eyes dark and menacing.

"Are you done ranting?"

"No! I'm just getting started. She has to be taught a lesson, and I know the perfect way to get her attention. While I'm doing that, I want you to get Izzie and Eloise on the line. The four of us have some meddling-mother-of-the-bride counter attacks to plan out."

"What are you up to, Apolo?" I gazed warily at him as he found my mother's number and let the games begin.

"You'll see."

That's what I was afraid of—Apolo Choice and my mother, Susan Pickett White, having a blow up mere days before our wedding. I sat, grimacing, waiting for her to pick up. Or would she? As savvy as my mother was, she was probably screening her calls, anticipating Apolo's response.

"Susan," he bellowed into the phone. "What in the name of hell were you thinking this morning? Going on some gossip show and telling the world every detail of our wedding. How dare you! Now, I’ve called to tell you that the ceremony is off. Thanks to you, the one day we asked for privacy has been ruined."

He stood, facing me, listening to my mother pleading. He was obviously having great fun toying with her.

"No, you may not speak to Caitlyn. Your daughter is too distraught by your selfishness to talk to anyone at the moment. I merely thought I'd let you know first-hand that the wedding has been cancelled. But you know, come to think of it, perhaps I should have gone on one of those shows you seem to relish and announced it to the entire world. Now, if you'll excuse me."

He hung up on my mother. Not many live to tell about doing that.

Excerpt #2

"So, can you tell me about the suits? What's going on?"

"I'll leave that to Apolo to share."

The smell of pizza and a deep voice, invaded our space. "Let Apolo share what?"

"Apolo, you sly devil. You steal Caitlyn and bring her to the land of dirty bedfellows. Shame on you!" Izzie loved to tease him, had since they first met. Thank goodness, he didn't mind.

He brought the box over and placed it on the coffee table. He glanced at us both, leaning over and kissing me first. "Pizza? I thought you went out to get things to cook?"

"I did. Izzie wanted pizza so that we could talk instead."

He sighed, shaking his head. He removed his suit jacket and laid it over one of the chairs while he walked over and poured himself a glass of whiskey. I knew what he was thinking. If Iz and I had discussed it before she left, I wouldn't have had to go out. Thus, no accosting by brothers. "Have you brought Izzie up to speed on what's been going on around here?" he asked taking a sip of his drink.

"Only about my mother. I thought I'd leave the rest to you to tell."

"Yeah," Izzie chimed in. "What's with all the suits, Apolo? I know you're a big cheese now Jacob was obviously speaking with FBI or something."

Apolo sat down across from us and took a long pull off his whiskey, almost downing the glass. He told Izzie pretty much everything that had happened to me with Tom and Anthony. I could see the look of concern on his face. We hadn't had any time together since it'd happened.

Izzie's eyes grew wide in disbelief. "This is some stuff. I knew Tom has always been shady. We've all known it. But Anthony?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so. I've been having him watched for a while now. Something about when he opened his restaurant never smelled right, if you'll forgive the pun. The people he was hanging out with. His answers never added up."

Just then Jacob and two men appeared off the elevator. Apolo rose and, taking his drink, went to meet them. "Ladies, if you'll excuse me. I need to speak with these gentlemen. We'll use my office. Enjoy your pizza."

Izzie and I watched the foursome disappear from sight.

"Damn, Caiti. This is like all James Bond-y."

"Welcome to the world of Senator Apolo Choice, Izzie."

Buy Links:

Amazon

Secret Cravings Publishing

Barnes and Noble

Bio

Writing romance stories with passion and sass, Jamie Salisbury has seen several of her books soar to #1 on Amazon. Her novella, Tudor Rubato was a finalist in the 2012 RONE (Reward of Novel Excellence) awards. The cover won for Best Contemporary Cover. Now in 2014, her novel, Life and Lies was nominated for a RONE in the Erotica category. Her books are both self published and now include several published through Secret Cravings Publishing.

Music, traveling and history are among her passions when not writing. Her previous career in public relations in and around the entertainment field has afforded her with a treasure trove of endless story ideas.

Contact Links

Website

Blog

Facebook Author Page

Twitter: @JamieRSalisbury

Queen of Speed- G.W. Gibson

It’s not easy being a girl in an all-male world. Penny McIntyre has to fight every day to hold her place on the race track. Her lifelong dream of sponsorship is realised when she is offered the chance to ride as part of a Justin Byrne’s 600cc motorcycle team. At long last her dreams are in reach.
Her world is turned into upside down when her mechanic is injured and she discovers Bryce Huntington, her childhood sweetheart, is back in town.  Even though he shattered her heart ten years ago she has no other choice but to enlist Bryce’s help in the pit. What she hasn’t counted on is the animosity between Justin and Bryce which threatens to throw her world into chaos. Everything she has worked for is in danger of disappearing.
She has to choose who to trust, who to protect and who to let go.

Secret Cravings Publishing

Flight Risk- Jillian Chantal

Vivian Bowker swore off men when her last love, an amateur pilot, was killed on his first solo flight. She lives near Edwards Air Force base in California but avoids all contact with the flyboys stationed there. Working as a campaign aide in Dwight Eisenhower’s reelection campaign forces her into close proximity with one of the very type men she likes to avoid. A hot shot pilot with no fear.

Frederick Logan, known as Rick to his pals, is determined to go to into space. His life goal is to leave the Earth’s atmosphere. He joined the Air Force for that chance. When he meets Vivian, he’s attracted to her and hopes they can form a relationship. She pushes him away but soon, their fragile friendship forces them to confront certain issues. She must face her fears and he must face that he could lose his dream.
http://store.sweetcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=10&products_id=227

Guest Post- Stacy Deanne- Celebrating HIV positive Character in Romance

Worth the Risk: 

Hi All,

Stacy-Deanne (Dee-Anne) here and I want to share a bit about my new release, Worth the Risk!

About the Book:

Houston music critic Alvin Zak becomes smitten with violinist Madeline Deever from the first moment she lays her bow to her violin to perform a concerto. Sent to review the orchestra, Alvin becomes so enraptured by Madeline that he asks her if he can do a feature on her. The polite, yet elusive Madeline agrees to think it over while declining Alvin’s invitation for coffee. Alvin does not understand Madeline’s abrupt refusal to his invite and it makes him even more interested in getting close to her.

The last thing Madeline is looking for is love since she is harboring a secret that has the power to ruin any potential relationship. Convinced no man would love her enough to accept her situation, she fights off Alvin’s advances, but begins to fall in love with him.

Can Alvin convince Madeline to trust him and give into her feelings or is Madeline destined to spend her life alone?

Available August 30th from Secret Cravings Publishing

Check Worth the Risk out on Goodreads and add it to your shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22596061-worth-the-risk

Why I Wrote the Book:

Worth the Risk will always hold a special place in my heart. So far, it is probably the most important book I’ve written. I wrote it in honor of my cousin who has been living with HIV for over a decade. The type of person she is and the struggles she’s been through made me want to base a character of her. I also wrote the book because I feel that it is important for fiction, especially romance, to focus on people from all lifestyles. One thing my cousin has to deal with is finding friends and lovers who understand her situation. I wanted to write this book for others with HIV so that they have faith that they can find love and romance like everyone else.

Why I Feel the Book is Important:

I believe fiction should sometimes show the harsher side of life. I also think it is important that people have characters in which they can relate. People with HIV fall in love and are in relationships the same as others, yet we don’t see many romances focused on them. I don’t know why that is. Maybe some writers don’t know much about HIV and are intimidated to write about it. Maybe some writers feel like audiences would not want to read a romance with an HIV-positive character. All I can say is that so far, reactions from readers and reviewers have been positive toward my book. In fact, a Facebook Group influenced me to follow my heart and write this. I had someone tell me that no one would want to read about an HIV heroine, but when I asked about this I got so many others who said that wasn’t true. I like to follow my heart in my writing so I couldn’t let it go, so the story was born. This a lesson to all writers to listen to your heart. If you feel strongly about something, write it no matter what.

The Importance of Romance Books for Everyone:

As a black child, I didn’t have any books that centered on people like me. None of the children’s books I read and enjoyed had little black girls in them. I always thought about that.

When I was a teenager, I never saw romance books or many other books outside of literary fiction with blacks as characters or on covers. Romance especially weren’t being written for blacks. It was very hard for black authors to get their romances published. Until BET Books and Kimani came along, romance books rarely focused on blacks. I always thought about that.

Now, read what I just wrote and you’ll see why I feel it’s important to have books everyone can relate to. I feel this way because it’s something I’ve experienced. I wondered how many people with HIV who love romance novels ever go, “Hmm, wonder why they don’t write more romances for people like me?”

That is the question I had in my head when writing Worth the Risk and it made me more determined and proud for writing this story.

What I Hope Readers Get From This Book:

What I hope people get from this book is simple, entertainment. I also hope that it expands the minds of people who don’t have firsthand experience with HIV or with those who have it. Worth the Risk is an interracial romance before anything else, except the heroine is living with an incurable disease. Madeline is still a woman with feelings and desires like any other woman. What I don’t want is for people to overlook the book because they are afraid of the subject matter. Once again, this is a romance above all else and I hope people see that.

Excerpt:

Madeline ran out the door and hurried down the sidewalk toward her dark-blue Mazda.

Come on!

She dug in her purse for her keys.

The last thing I need is anyone asking questions.

“Madeline?” Alvin busted out the door. “Madeline?” He ran up behind her. “Wait!”

She stopped and sighed.

What do I say if he asks why I’m here? Of course, I can tell him to fuck off but then what? I wake up and the next thing I know another feature of me will be in the magazine?

She turned around.

Hold on. Why the hell is he here?

“Hey.” He squinted. “You okay?”

“Why?” She held the prescription note behind her back. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?” She raised an eyebrow. “You saying I don’t look okay?”

“You look beautiful actually.”

Compliments.

She brushed her hair behind her ear.

I do like the way I feel when he looks at me. But, I can’t trust this man. He did a feature on me without my permission. Who does that?

She tilted her head.

I can’t lie and say I’m not a tiny bit attracted to him. Why does he like me though? Is he really interested in me or just my music?

“What are you doing here?” She avoided meeting his gaze.

“I’m here for my yearly checkup.” He swung his arms. “I gotta get my blood pressure medicine refilled.”

“You have high blood pressure?”

He rolled his eyes. “No, I just take the medicine because I like it.”

She grinned. “I guess your job can get stressful, huh? I’ve seen how some react when you give them bad reviews. I saw what that musician did to you on Twitter last year. I couldn’t deal with stuff like that.”

“No one likes a critic.” He clasped his hands in front of him. “That’s the nature of the job, but I love what I do. I love music, so that’s why I like to judge it and study it.” He gestured to her. “Why are you here?”

“I had to see my doctor.”

“Dr. Fox too?”

“No.” She crumpled up the prescription note. “It’s another doctor.”

“Oh.” He nodded. “Who?”

“Who?” She exhaled. “Is that really your business?”

He shrugged. “No, but I told you the name of my doctor.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t ask did I?”

His smile faded.

I hate being a bitch to him. He seems to be a nice guy but I can’t give him an inkling something can be between us when I know it’s impossible. Better to reject him now than hurt him later.

“Alvin, I told you I didn’t wanna see you again.”

“You don’t wanna see me because of the feature or something else? I’m sorry if doing the story hurt you. It wasn’t my intent.”

“Do you realize how many emails I’ve been getting since you wrote about me?” She touched her hair. “I mean…they’re nice and stuff but I didn’t want this to happen. You should’ve given me the choice.”

“I apologize, but I thought you’d be happy once you saw it.”

“Well, I wasn’t.” She held her arms to her sides. “I wasn’t.”

 “I don’t know how to be with you.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Things that I thought would impress women don’t work on you.”

“I don’t like games or tricks. I’d rather know off the bat what you want. No bullshitting.”

“Okay.” He swallowed. “I wanna go out with you, and I wanna know more about your music.”

She sighed.

“How about I give you a chance to tell your own story this time?” He touched her arm. “I really am sorry if the piece offended you.”

“It didn’t offend me. It was a very flattering feature but—”

“You didn’t want it?”

She nodded. “I don’t like people doing things behind my back.”

“You might be glad to know it’s gotten a lot of attention. I got people calling me asking me more about you and how to reach you.”

“I don’t want anyone to reach me.”

“Why, Madeline?” He moved closer. “You’ve got a wonderful gift that you share with the world, but you don’t wanna share yourself?”

“I can’t.” She closed her eyes. “I can’t share myself with anyone else again.”

“Including me?”

She looked into his eyes. “Especially you.”

Website: http://www.stacy-deanne.net
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