Elle Kennedy – Guest blog and giveaway!

She wears a thousand deadly identities.
He sees through them all.

A master of disguise, Isabel Roma spends her life pretending to be other women.  Normally, her emotions are reined in tight—but sexy mercenary Trevor Callaghan has a knack for getting under her skin. The elite operative’s quiet strength and raw magnetism affect her in ways she’s never felt before, a distraction that can quickly turn deadly in their dangerous line of work.
 
After putting his tragic past behind him, Trevor is ready to focus on his future—and he damn well intends for Isabel to be in it. When their entire operation is thrown into chaos, Trevor enlists Isabel’s talent for deception. And as they attempt to save their team in a world where the stakes are high and the danger is grave, Trevor must convince Isabel that the woman beneath all the disguises is the one worth having…

~~~*~~~*~~~

 

Top 3 Challenges when writing Midnight Games

 

1) Research, research, research!

 

When I’m reading a book, I don’t spend much time thinking about all the research the author had to do to make the story come alive. I just soak it all in and get lost in whatever world the author has created for me. But once the book is done, the writer in me realizes just how much work went into creating that believable world for reader me.

 

As a writer, I spend hours and hours researching. Plot points, settings, character backgrounds. Google is my best friend. Travel is my second best friend. And of course, I could never live without the friends and fellow writers who let me IM or call them at all hours with questions about anything and everything. Midnight Games required a ton of research. A lot of it probably landed me on Internet watch lists. And who can forget the look on my pharmacist’s face when I asked, “If I wanted to knock somebody out using a drug that won’t show up on tox reports, what would I use?”

 

 

2) Giving my characters sexy times in the middle of a dangerous mission

 

A lot of readers I know can’t seem to suspend their disbelief when it comes to characters having sex when there is danger all around them. I get it. It’s not crazy realistic—I mean, who has time to get naked when there’s stuff blowing up all around you and people trying to kill you?

 

In Midnight Games, creating those little opportunities for Trevor and Isabel to connect both emotionally and sexually was tough. But definitely necessary. Romantic suspense needs the romance part, even when the suspense is at an all-time high. One of the biggest challenges I faced was finding that balance, and allowing for my hero and heroine to get some action in the middle of so much action 😉

 

 

3) Killing off a character

 

I knew from the moment I started writing this story that a sacrifice would be required. I would need to kill someone off, which would result in hurting one of my characters deeply. I also know that someone else has to die in future books. Killing characters I care about is seriously painful for me. It’s like losing a good friend. Heck, one time I injured a dog in a book and cried about it for hours afterward. So when you’re reading Midnight Games and you reach the part I’m hinting about, trust me when I say that writing that scene was not fun. At all.

 

With that said, I hope you all enjoy the book! The Killer Instincts series holds a soft spot in my heart. The characters are fun, exciting and feel like my friends, and the situations I throw them into are always a blast to write about.

 

I’m giving away a copy of the first two books in the series to one commenter. Midnight Rescue and Midnight Alias feature Trevor and Isabel, the hero and heroine of Midnight Games, so if you haven’t read their journey yet, comment on this post for a chance to see how they got to where they are now!

 

Elle

www.ellekennedy.com

 

Midnight Games buy link:

http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Games-Killer-Instincts-Novel/dp/0451240022/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371440102&sr=8-1&keywords=midnight+games

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Cover Goodness – Unbreakable by Stephanie Tyler

Weee! Earlier today Jason Vendryes (cover model for Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton) tweeted Mad to share the news of a new cover he’s on. And it is HOT! Plus, the book is by Stephanie Tyler who happens to write kick-ass romantic suspense. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one!

A cabal of operatives with dangerous pasts team up to work black ops missions. Their weapon: deception. Can they help one of their own before he goes too far?

When Gunner agreed to help out Section 8, he didn’t realize he’d be pulled back in to the shadowy world he’d thought he’d escaped forever. The son of double agents, Gunner was initiated at a young age into the cold world of espionage when his father forced him to work for international smuggler Drew Landon. And when Gunner’s past with Landon threatens the other mercenaries, and most importantly, Avery, he makes an impossible choice…and disappears.

Avery’s not willing to give up on Gunner. The attraction between them has been there from the start and she rallies Section 8 to help him. She knows there’s only one way to keep Gunner safe: fake his death and take him off the grid. But when she finally locates him, Gunner is a changed man, harder, more desperate, and on the edge of self-destruction. And only Avery can find a way to free him from Landon—and from the demons of his past—before it’s too late.

November 5, 2013

stephanietyler.com

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Review – No One Left to Tell by Karen Rose

The blurb:

A car crashes in front of rookie PI Paige Holden’s home. And suddenly, she finds one of her pro bono clients dying in her arms—from a gunshot wound. With her last breath, the woman whispers cryptic words into her ear and hands her a blood-smeared flash drive.

Five years ago, State’s Attorney Grayson Smith put a murderer behind bars. But when Paige Holden shares the flash drive with him, its contents cast doubts on the conviction—and lead him and Paige into a world of blackmail, dark secrets, and a decades-long string of murders. An investigation they’ll survive only by trusting each other—and the truth.

 

I’ve enjoyed Karen Rose’s books for years and this was no exception. While I’m usually all about her heroines, Grayson was the star of this one for me. He was hot, protective, and his core of integrity made him absolutely delicious. When he is threatened with the secrets of his past, he still takes a stand and fights for justice. Paige was a strong heroine from the first page and was perfect for him. I loved that the romantic conflict was concluded around halfway through the book and the rest of the time, they spent getting closer and trying to stop a murderer.

The suspense portion was packed full of twists and turns that kept me guessing and showed once again that Karen Rose is a master of romantic suspense. Definitely a recommended read for any fan of the genre.

4.5 stars

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Format: Print and digital

Order:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

 

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Review – Midnight Alias by Elle Kennedy

Luke Dubios and his team are called in to find a missing DEA agent and their surveillance is focused on Diamond Mine, a strip club where Olivia Taylor is a dancer. Luke never imagined he’d be attracted to a stripper but from the first sighting of Olivia, he can’t deny what he feels. And when word comes in that Olivia may be the key to finding the wayward agent, Luke grabs the opportunity to get close to her.

This isn’t what Olivia had planned for her life. All she wanted was a life of stability, to finish her education, make enough money to support her family, meet Mr. Home Every Night For Dinner and settle down. Instead her mother was diagnosed with cancer for the third time and Olivia has been taking off her clothes for the last year to pay the medical bills. The first six months weren’t too bad, then a customer attacked her in the parking lot, kicking off a chain of events that leaves her in debt to Vince Angelo, strip club owner and mafia member. Now she’s his girlfriend and doing whatever she can to stay out of his bed.

When Luke approaches her about helping his team, she refuses out of fear but when she uncovers some horrifying truths about Vince, she knows Luke is her only chance at saving herself and her mother. As they work together, they give in to the attraction but both agree it can never be serious. Luke isn’t looking for a commitment and Olivia knows the former SEAL can never give her the stability she needs. Soon, they discover that love isn’t always logical.

I was a big fan of Midnight Rescue, book 1 in this series, and while Midnight Alias has a much different feel it’s every bit as good. It’s not quite as dark and Luke is a little bit goofy. His feelings for Olivia are something he’s never experienced before and leaves him befuddled, causing him to blurt out things he never planned to say. Some were funny, some were sweet, and all were honest, making Luke a fantastic hero. I wasn’t as invested in Olivia but the two of them together were perfect.

Heart pounding suspense with plenty of steamy scenes, Midnight Alias is definitely a recommended read for any romantic suspense fan.

4.5 stars

Favorite quote:

He hadn’t realized how perturbed he was until he sat down his coffee, opened his mouth, and something unexpected popped out: “I want to fuck her.”
Trevor’s mouth fell open.
It suddenly occurred to him that he was in the vicinity of the world’s last remaining gentleman. “I mean, have sex with her. Make love to her, whatever.”
“I know what fucking is,” Trevor said dryly. “I’m more perplexed by why you felt that was something you needed to share with me.”

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Format: Print and digital

Preorder:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

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Dire Wants by Stephanie Tyler – Giveaway!

 

The supernatural world is rising up against the human one. The weretrappers want control, and only the immortal Dire wolves stand in the way of total destruction. Stray, a Dire, and his long-lost brother, Killian, emerge as the leaders of their pack. To keep themselves and the humans safe, the Dires need a witch as powerful as Seb, who betrayed the Dires to work for the weretrappers.

They find what they are looking for in Kate, a human who survived a horrible car accident that left her back scarred with a handprint no one else can see. Stray senses Kate’s abilities as a witch and recruits her to help the Dires — all the while knowing she is so powerful they will need to kill her once she helps defeat the weretrappers.

Stray doesn’t expect the powerful connection that he feels with Kate, or his irresistible need to protect her. They cannot hide their feelings for each other, and what once was taboo now seems inevitable…

stephanietyler.com

 

GIVEAWAY!

For a chance to win DIRE WANTS, book 2 in Stephanie Tyler’s Eternal Wolf Clan series, just leave a comment below. The winner will be announced on Sunday. Open to U.S. residents only.

*Giveaway sponsored by the publisher

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Laura Wright’s MOTV Quiz and Giveaway

Ever since his abduction by the Eternal Order of Vampires, Gray Donohue has finally found his true calling: vengeance. He will stop at nothing to bring his fellow Impure vampires the freedom they deserve. Now if he could just release his primal need for the beautiful vampire who saved his life-and rules his thoughts and desires . . .After nearly killing the senator she was assigned to protect, Dillon is now in mortal danger. The jaguar within her has been unleashed, and she can no longer control it. Sex is the only thing that can tame her shift. And Gray is the only man who can make her surrender to a passion strong enough to overpower her inner beast. But she doesn’t want to surrender-she wants her life back. Because she is determined never to belong to anyone, especially not Gray-the man who destiny claims is her mate.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Q1)  What shape is Alexander Roman’s True Mate markings on both his cheeks?

a) key shaped

b) heart shaped

c) star shaped

d)  none of the above

Q2)  Which one of the Roman brothers has ribbed fangs?

a) Lucian

b) Nicholas

c) Alexander

d)  None of them have ribbed fangs

Q3)  Which character in the Mark of the Vampire series has the ability to hear the thoughts of others?

a)  Alexander Roman

b)  Synjon Wise

c)  Lucian Roman

d)  Gray Donahue

Q4)  Which one of the Roman brothers  is known to be sarcastic and crude?

a)  Alexander

b)  Nicholas

c)  Lucian

d)  None.  They are all perfect gentlepavens.

Q5)  Which character in the MOTV series is has a twin mutore (beast) brother?

a)  Alexander Roman

b)  Nicholas Roman

c)  Lucian Roman

d)  Gray Donahue

Q6)  Which Roman brother has the ability to mask himself from another’s view?

a)  Alexander Roman

b)  Nicholas Roman

c)  Lucian Roman

d)  None of the brothers have this ability

Q7)  Which Roman brother is known to be secretive and highly sexual?

a)  Alexander Roman

b)  Nicholas Roman

c)  Lucian Roman

d)  I can’t decide.  I’m stuck on the highly sexual part.

Q8)  Which character in the MOTV series has pale hair and eyes and is referred to as an albino?

a)  Alexander Roman

b)  Nicholas Roman

c)  Lucian Roman

d)  Gray Donahue

Q9)  Which character in the series is serious, driven and said to have “magic hands”?

a)  Alexander Roman

b)  Nicholas Roman

c)  Lucian Roman

d)  Gray Donahue

Q10)  Which is YOUR favorite character in the MOTV series?

a)  Alexander Roman

b)  Nicholas Roman

c)  Lucian Roman

d)  Gray Donahue

If you picked mostly A’s you are attracted to Alex.  If you picked mostly B’s you want to get naked with Nicky.  If you picked mostly C’s you are lusty for Lucian and if you picked mostly D’s you are gaga for Gray.   If you have a combination of all the letters you are hooked on Laura Wright’s MOTV series and can’t wait for your next MOTV fix.

www.laurawright.com

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of ETERNAL BEAST by Laura Wright plus swag. Good luck! 😀

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Heather Snow’s Blog Tour Continues

Where our Heroine recovers nicely…

 

Lady criminologist, Miss Emma Wallingford, unknowingly finds herself tangled in the dangerous final mission of Lord Derick Aveline, a spy who also happens to be her long lost first love. But when deception, however sweet, is the name of the game, no one can be trusted. And every love—and every life—is at risk.

 

Hello! Heather Snow here and I am thrilled to be continuing my blog tour for Sweet Deception here at RR@H Novel Thoughts and Book Talk. Thank you for having me back again! What I am doing for this tour is pulling back the curtain of Sweet Deception a bit, sharing a few of my favorite passages from the book each day while letting you in on the thoughts behind them. You can keep up with the stops (or go back and read ones you missed) either on my website (www.HeatherSnowBooks.com) or my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherSnow).

 

Yesterday, we talked a bit about how Emma momentarily reeled at being faced with the one man she’d always loved after not seeing him for years and the realization that her feelings were not as buried as she’d thought. Yet, intrepid heroine that she is, she soldiers on…

 

“I’m certain Lord Scarsdale will agree that explanations can wait until after we find his missing upstairs maid.”

Crack!

The sharp, sizzling pop of lightning served as harsh punctuation to her pronouncement. A low rumble of thunder followed quickly behind. Emma glanced over her shoulder at the window in time to see the first fat drops of a summer storm splash against the panes. Fig! If Molly were outside and injured . . . Emma mentally kicked herself for the bit of time she’d squandered mooning like a schoolgirl over a man who obviously didn’t even remember her. She returned her eyes to the table and scanned the map again.

“My missing upstairs maid?” Derick repeated, sounding dubious.

“Yes.” Without raising her gaze to him, Emma held up a hand to forestall any more questions. She ran her finger over the map. If her calculations were correct, the only feasible place Molly could be that they hadn’t already searched was this area to the east of—

“Miss Wallingford,” Derick growled, in a voice that demanded her attention.

So he did remember her.

“As these are my resources you seem to be marshaling,” he said, “I expect an explanation.”

She looked up at him then, annoyed. Had he just referred to his staff, and some of hers for that matter, as his resources? Emma narrowed her eyes, considering the possible ramifications of ignoring him completely. She had more important things to do than appease his “lord of the manor” sensibilities, particularly when this lord hadn’t bothered to grace this manor with his presence in more than a dozen years.

 

I had a lot of fun creating strong characters who were great foils for one another. On any other mission, our aristocratic master of espionage is accustomed to being fawned over, or at the very least, obeyed. So of course his heroine would have to be a girl who ‘knew him when’. Emma cuts Derick very little slack, taking away his tried and true methods and making him work harder than he’s ever had to in order to achieve his goals. And, of course, pushing him to become the man only she could help him to become…

I hope you enjoy Derick and Emma’s journey as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Please look out for SWEET DECEPTION, available now, wherever books are sold. I’ll be happy to give away a copy of my debut, SWEET ENEMY, the first book in this series. To enter, simply leave me a comment and answer the question: Do you enjoy books where the main characters already have a history? What are some of your favorites?

 

 

 

Heather Snow is a historical romance author with a degree in Chemistry who discovered she much preferred creating chemistry on the page, rather than in the lab.  She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two rambunctious boys and one very put upon cat.  Find out more or connect with Heather at:

www.HeatherSnowBooks.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherSnow

Twitter www.twitter.com/HeatherSnowRW

 

 

SWEET DECEPTION Available NOW:

Rainy Day Books (my local indie)
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Amazon (Mass Market Paperback)
Barnes and Noble
The Book Depository (free shipping worldwide)

Books-A-Million
IndieBound
I-Books
Walmart

 

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Cover Goodness – Dire Wants by Stephanie Tyler

DIRE WANTS

Book 2 of The Eternal Wolf Clan series

The supernatural world is rising up against the human one. The weretrappers want control, and only the immortal Dire wolves stand in the way of total destruction. Stray, a Dire, and his long-lost brother, Killian, emerge as the leaders of their pack. To keep themselves and the humans safe, the Dires need a witch as powerful as Seb, who betrayed the Dires to work for the weretrappers.

They find what they are looking for in Kate, a human who survived a horrible car accident that left her back scarred with a handprint no one else can see. Stray senses Kate’s abilities as a witch and recruits her to help the Dires—all the while knowing she is so powerful they will need to kill her once she helps defeat the weretrappers.

Stray doesn’t expect the powerful connection that he feels with Kate, or his irresistible need to protect her. They cannot hide their feelings or each other, and what once was taboo now seems inevitable…

Available November 6, 2012

www.stephanietyler.com

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The Double Life of Erin Knightley

AN UNCOVERED BETRAYAL

When his family abandoned him at  Eton , Benedict Hastings found an unexpected ally in his best friend’s sister. Her letters kept him going—until the day he had to leave everything behind.  Years later, Benedict has seen his share of betrayal, but when treachery hits close to home, he turns to his old friend for safe haven….

 

AN UNWANTED ATTRACTION

After five torturous years on the marriage circuit, Lady Evelyn Moore is finally free to live her life as she wishes. So when her brother shows up with a dashing stranger, she finds herself torn between her dreams…and newfound desires.

 

AN UNSTOPPABLE INTRIGUE

Despite his determination to keep Evie at a distance, Benedict cannot deny the attraction that began with a secret correspondence. Yet as they begin to discover one another, the dangers of Benedict’s world find them, threatening their lives, their love, and everything they thought they could never have…

 

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Hi, my name is Erin Knightley, and I lead a double life.

 

Most days, I wake up at around nine, throw on the old yoga pants, tie my hair in a messy knot at the top of my head, and sit down at the computer for the next, oh, 18 hours or so. After breaks for lunch, dinner, hubby time, and a midnight snack, I’ll finally slink off to bed at around 2 am.

No makeup, no real pants (hubby is shocked if I wear jeans) and no interaction with anyone save my three loyal pooches.  (Admit it: the writer’s life is more glamorous than you ever dreamed)

But, when I realized a year and a half ago that I could only handle so much of my own company—plus I was beginning to need a crowbar to get me away from the computer—I decided to pick up a part-time job at a local jewelry store.

So one to two days a week I’ll get up at a respectable hour, put on actual makeup and curl my hair, roll on the pantyhose (yes, the do still make them! I wasn’t sure before I started working there), and head to work.

All day long, I’ll greet the customers cheerily, lead them through the transaction with professionalism and pleasant smiles, and send them on their way with a “Thank you, have a lovely day!”

But little do they know . . . I’m not just Erin Knightley, jewelry sales-person extraordinaire.  I am Erin Knightley, romance author!  And you know what? I love it. I love that I have that fun, unusual secret tucked under my belt.  I feel like some sort of secret agent, carrying around a top secret um, er, secret.

Of course, not everyone has as much fun as I do carrying around secrets. Benedict Hastings, the hero in my debut novel, MORE THAN A STRANGER, is not happy when he’s suddenly thrust in the role of having to keep secrets—especially when the person he’s keeping them from just happens to be the woman he shared a five year correspondence with when he was at Eton. There was a time he would have given anything to meet the girl, but now that they are face to face, at the worst possible time, he must fight to hold her at arms distance. Lord knows there will be hell to pay if she ever learns he’s more than a stranger:

One second, Benedict’s brain had been frozen from the shock of discovering that the incredibly beautiful blond goddess before him was, in fact, Evie. His Evie. The Evie who was supposed to be in London, far away from the house he sought refuge in.

The next thing he knew, he was jerking into action, opening his mouth without a clue about what he would say, only suddenly very sure that Evie could not know he was Hastings. “Mr. James Benedict, at your service, my lady.”

The lie was like vinegar in his mouth, and he gritted his teeth with the effort to keep his expression neutral. God, what had he done? His gaze shot to Richard, who stood just to the right of his sister. At any other time, his face would have been comical. Not then. No, at that moment, Benedict could do nothing but pray his old friend wouldn’t call him out right then and there.

 

So tell me, have you ever kept a particularly delicious secret? Or if you could have an alter ego, what would it be? Comment for a chance to win one of dozens of prizes! You have TWO chances to win!

1. Everyone who comments will be entered in my Sealed with a Kiss blog tour giveaway! Prizes include tons of signed books, lots of fun swag, stationery, a custom iPhone case, and gift cards from Starbucks and Amazon! For details, click HERE. Drawings will be made June 15^th!
2. You’re already a winner! If you’d like a signed bookmark (or more – let me know how many!), simply say so in the comments section, and I’ll send post haste! Offer good for the first 40 requests per blog.

*Be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact winners, or email me at erin@erinknightley.com if you don’t wish to list publically* I’ll ship anywhere in the US, Canada, or Mexico

http://www.ErinKnightley.com

http://www.Twitter.com/ErinKnightley

http://www.Facebook.com/ErinKnightley

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The Alpha Heroine’s Perfect Match by Elle Kennedy

Dangerous. Ruthless. Savage.
And she’s the good guy.
 
Abby Sinclair had a desperate childhood until she was rescued and adopted by a retired army ranger who molded her into a master of self-defense. Now, she’s a cunning and fearless assassin thrust into assignment after dangerous assignment, using everything she has—nerve, resilience, strength, sex—to come out on top. Her only rule: never trust anyone.
 
Abby’s latest assignment is in Columbia: go undercover and snuff out a dangerous arms dealer active in the underground sex trade. But when Abby purposely blows her cover in a last-ditch attempt to free the helpless victims, deadly mercenary Kane Woodland is recruited as back-up. His mission: get Abby out of that hell hole.
 
The last thing Kane expects is to feel primal attraction for Abby. But when she convinces him to join her on her perilous mission, their newfound passion could put the lives of their whole team at risk.

 

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

 

This week I’ve been blogging a lot about powerful women, since Abby Sinclair, the heroine of my latest release, MIDNIGHT RESCUE, is just that—a powerful woman.  But as much as I love Abby’s strength and determination and stubbornness, she probably wouldn’t be as fun if she didn’t have an alpha male to go up against.  So today I’m blogging not about the kickass heroine, but the alpha male.

 

Here’s the thing—in real life, I’m not sure I want some bossy, hot-headed man ordering me around.  I don’t want someone making demands of me, or making decisions without asking for my input, or doing all those other annoying things alpha males do.

 

But in a romance?  Bring it on!  There’s nothing sexier than a hero who knows what he wants, doesn’t apologize for it, and goes after it, especially when what he wants is a woman who’s going to make him work for it.  That’s actually my only caveat—don’t give me an alpha hero if the heroine doesn’t have a little alpha in her too.  Shrinking violets drive me nuts, and I want a heroine who can stand up to the big, bad tough guy in her life and doesn’t let him walk all over her.

 

The hero of MIDNIGHT RESCUE, Kane Woodland is definitely a little domineering.  Fine, a lot domineering.  But when you’re dealing with a woman as tough and emotionless as Abby, what else is he supposed to do?  He’s gotta wear her down somehow, so if it means being bossy and arrogant and pushing her at times, well, he’s totally up for the task.

 

My favorite romances are the ones in which the hero and heroine are equals.  They can both kick butt and they order each other around.  To me, that sounds like way more fun!

 

So what about everyone else?  Do you like the alpha hero with an alpha heroine or a “beta” heroine?  What’s your favorite alpha male quality? Who’s your favorite alpha hero in a romance?

 

I’m giving away one copy of MIDNIGHT RESCUE to anyone who stops by and comments today, so comment away!

 

Also, if you want to know more about me or my books, stop by my website (www.ellekennedy.com), “like” me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AuthorElleKennedy) or follow me on Twitter (@ElleKennedy)

Buy link:

Amazon

 

*Open to US/Canada residents only

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