Teaser Tuesday - Gemini (Sneak Peek)

Blurb ~ Springhill publishing is a place where drama is created and sold for profit. When events surrounding the staff of Springhill start rivaling the dramatic pros of their authors it’s anyone’s guess what is going to happen next and who will be the latest victim.

Tess opened the door to Dusty's Bar & Grill. Packed, she weaved her way to their designated table. She hadn't seen Aidan since he stormed out of the office and she was beyond worried.

"Where've you been? We were about to give up on you." Melanie said in a whiny voice.

Perched on bar stools around the table, Melanie, Cheryl, Victoria, and Hettie gave her big grins when she slumped into a seat. "Sorry, something came up."

"Everything okay?" Hettie asked.

"No, but there's nothing I can do about it now."

"Sorry, hun sounds like you could use a drink."

"Yes, please." Melanie pushed an apple martini toward her. She sloshed it down and squeaked out the word, "More."

Not a regular drinker, the second apple martini worked its magic in minutes. But she couldn't stop thinking about Aidan and his bad news. The man was wrong. He needed to go home, and face whatever he was avoiding.

Aidan never talked about his past or the state he called home--Oklahoma. In fact, Tess wouldn't know from where he hailed, but she'd been responsible for getting his yearly taxes to the accountant on time. A task that made her privy to sensitive information about her boss.

As far as she could tell, the brothers grew up on a working ranch passed down through four generations of Durrant's. Upon their father's passing ten years ago, the farm and all holdings went to Daniel, the younger of the two. A year later Aidan showed up in New York, and as long as she'd known him, he'd never gone back.

She would never betray Aidan's trust or confidence, but at the same time, common sense told her logic and stubbornness didn't mix. Maybe she shouldn't have booked the flights to Oklahoma. She no longer knew, and to be honest, the more martinis she consumed, the less she cared. Tap on the shoulder and Tess beheld an old friend, Emily Bell. "Emily!"

The woman pulled her into a hug, "Tess!"

"Oh my God, what are you doing here?"

"I'm in town on business, I called the office, and Steven told me you were here. Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all, sit," Emily slid her muscular, curved form onto the stool beside Tess. Bobbed blonde hair, deep brown eyes, a gentle smile, and Aidan's assistant before Tess. "So how is the Bureau? You kicking ass and taking names?"

Emily flagged down the waitress ordering another round of drinks, "I wouldn't go that far, I am an analyst, not a field agent."

"Tell me about the job, that is of course if you can. You know, leaving out all of that classified stuff. What are you working on?"

"White collar cases, bank accounts, documentation, authentication, and a lot of research, the devil is in the details."

"Sounds exciting."

"It is and the best decision I ever made. Tess, you would rock the analyst job."

"Recruiting Em?" Their drinks arrived. Clinking glasses, they took a sip.

"I'm always recruiting. To be honest, I'm shocked you're still here. I figured you'd be heading out after two years, tops."

"Why would I leave?"

"Come on! You can't tell me you’re satisfied being Aidan's beck and call girl."

Tess's jaw dropped at the insinuation, "I'm not Aidan's call girl, I'm his executive assistant. I happen to enjoy my job and find it very fulfilling."

"Getting Aidan's dry cleaning and keeping his calendar?" Emily snorted a laugh and Tess jabbed her in the arm.

"You know full well my rules about that!"

"Has to be your idea."

"For your information, working for Springhill has opened a lot of doors for me, and I take on new projects all the time."

"Whatever you say," Emily shook her head before winking at her. "I just know how amazing you are and I hope to God, I'm not the only one giving you the credit you deserve."

Tess nodded, staring down into the neon green of her cocktail, "Thanks, Em, I do appreciate it. I've debated leaving a few times."

"What the hell is stopping you?"

Tess contemplated the question, taking another sip of her drink.

An entourage of suited men elbowed their way to the bar, getting everyone's attention. Tess joined her little circle of friends, including Emily observing the display of tight asses as they passed their table. "I need a round of shots. Patron with lime!" one of the men shouted.

Tess's heart dropped, and her jaw hit her chest.

"Tess?" Emily asked.

"Other than I can't believe my eyes... nothing."

"What's wrong?"

"Him, that's what's wrong." Tess locked her eyes on the man in the middle of the entourage, her boss, Aidan Durrant.

****

The tequila slid down his throat smooth as silk. Patron always did, and he wouldn't regret drinking it in the morning. Tess's sad expression from the afternoon emerged behind his eyes. He wondered if that image would be seared into his brain forever. The alcohol had done little to dispel their conversation. Yes, he was irrational and selfish in this case. Some might call him a cold bastard. His family and his decision.

Another shot plopped into Aidan's hand. He drank it without thought. His companions slapped him on the back and commented on the ladies seated at a nearby table.

Just what I need a distraction from what happened today... from reality

One of his friends pointed to a brunette with long hair. "There's one for you Durrant!" Curvy in all the right places, her thick hair falling in a veil of shiny satin. Powder blue sweater and black skirt, she was about to get away. Aidan pushed through the crowd to meet her, imagining grasping a silken lock and reveling in sweet-scented abandonment. Stumbling onward, he reached for her slender arm. "Excuse me--" swinging her around and trapping her against his chest; he leaned down, kissing the unknown woman. His body surged, pulsing from the heat of the embrace. The kiss broke, and he opened his eyes.

 Fire is shining in her familiar eyes, his heart plunged. "Tess." He pushed the words from his lungs. "I had no idea...."

"Obviously. " Yanking herself from Aidan’s grasp, Tess stormed through the masses to the door.

~

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Friday Author Spotlight Interview - V.J. Allison

Interview 

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

I’d probably choose Halifax or Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. I love both spots, and although I’ve already set a book in Halifax, I would love to do one for Annapolis Royal too, it’s a historic town and so pretty!

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?
I am ultra-disorganized, and although I am quite picky about the way things are set up inside of my computer and mostly my manuscripts, chaos seems to rule my everyday life.

How do you come up with names for your characters?
It’s extremely random. Sometimes I see a name somewhere and like it enough for a character. Others, I’ve had people shout ideas at me in Facebook or other social media. In some cases, like the one I’m writing now, I’m exploiting a side character from another story, so their name is already chosen.

Give a shout-out to a fellow author.
Maggie Blackbird, JS Frankel, Denise N. Wheatley, and Curtis A Cooper.

What would the logline be for your book?
Book of my life? I’d probably pick “Cats and word processing: How VJ became a hermit”.

What is your favorite word, and why?
Synchronization. It just sounds so cool to my ears!

Describe your writing space.
It’s in the northeast corner of my kitchen, my computer and Hubby’s computer dominate the entire kitchen table. To my right is the wall with our family calendar of events, etc on it, along with two power bars filled with cords for the computers, the routers, and charging cables for my phone and our son’s tablet. My monitor sits upon my husband’s (the family) computer, while my huge desktop tower is directly in front of me. To my left is a low cupboard topped with a breadbox, my old Acer system’s tower, and my printer – covered in blankets so our cat Marnie can look out the window and watch the neighborhood.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
So far, it’s four books – technically five, but one was a rewrite, so it’s really four in total. It’s tough to pick a favorite because I love them all in their unique way, minus the one that will never see the light, or even get a rewrite, it was so bad! I love Away to Me because I could draw on my own experiences for Rikki finding out Kelsey was her biological mother. Stricken was my first novel, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Under Your Scars (coming in 2020 from eXtasy Books) wasn’t an easy one to write, but it is a great story because of that.

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book(s)?
That sometimes those tangents turn into great storylines. I also never thought a practice story would be my best one so far!

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.
Rikki Hunter Falcon, Neil and Kelsey’s daughter in Away to Me. I wrote her to be a lot like my niece Katy was at 14 years old, and because of that, she’s one of my favorite characters of all time.

Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
I don’t like to give away anything unless a book is published, or it’s on the way there. I feel like I jinx myself if I say anything.

Does one of your main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
So far, it’s Ewan Campbell from Stricken. He’s a softie, and was so understanding with the love of his life, Marti, even after she left him without any explanation. His romance with Marti was the first full length novel I finished, so he has an extra bit of space in my heart.

If one of your books was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
Stricken: I’d love to have Nathaniel Arcand play Ewan, and I’d probably have Mila Kunis as Marti.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share

with your readers about?
I’ve been editing and proofing my upcoming novel, “Under Your Scars” with eXtasy Books, and I’m currently working on trying to finish a companion story for my first novel, Stricken. As a rule, I don’t talk much about works I haven’t finished yet, I’m scared I’ll jinx myself if I do.

How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
So many! I want to get Tri-Town 3 off the ground, which I hope to be an MM erotic romance. It will be set in either the town of Mahone Bay or Lunenburg, NS. I’m not sure how it will work out yet, the ideas are still developing.

As for other ideas, I’d rather not talk about them. Again, I’m scared I’ll jinx myself.

What are you reading now?
Renewed by my dear friend Maggie Blackbird.

What famous author do you wish would be your mentor?

It’s a toss-up between Nora Roberts, Stephen King, and Margaret Atwood.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Read or spend time with my husband and son.

What is the best part of your day?
The coffee after my son goes to school.

Would you rather be in a room full of snakes or a room full of spiders?
Neither!

What is your least favorite word?

Sopping. I don’t know why, but it sounds gross to me.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Creatively? The smell of good coffee.
Spiritually? The ocean.

What turns you off?

Drama and bull shit.

What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck. I use it at least 20 times a day.

What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of my cat purring. It’s so soothing.

What sound or noise do you hate?
People humming while they’re shopping. UGH.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Psychologist or Medical Examiner.

What profession would you not like to do?
Gynecologist.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Well, Heaven just went to Hell!”

~~~

V.J. Allison was born and raised in southern Nova Scotia, Canada, and her work reflects her strong Maritime roots. She is a stay at home mother to a son on the autism spectrum, married to the love of her life, and “mama” to a rescued Maine Coon cat named Marnie.

She has been writing various stories of novel length and short stories since her school days, and sees writing as a vital component to her life.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to read romance and science fiction novels (notably Star Wars); listen to music (heavy metal, rock, alternative); watch various crime and forensic dramas; watch science fiction television shows and movies; and spend time with her large family and many friends.

This self-proclaimed geeky rocker chick is an advocate for and warrior of various chronic illnesses including Occipital Neuralgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Diabetes, Migraines, and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia. She is also an advocate for the prevention of animal cruelty and is a voice for Autism Awareness.

Links:

Website – Word Processor, Romance, Cats, Kids and Creed (blog) – Twitter – eXtasy Books – Facebook Profile – Facebook Fan Page – VJ’s VIPs (Facebook Group) – Away to Me at eXtasy Books – Stricken at eXtasy Books

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Awesome Excerpt Thursday - Project X by Cheryl Headford

Blurb

Morgan Bentley is a bastard. Matthew knows this absolutely—until he doesn’t.

Matthew and his friend Cory are thrilled to attend one of the most prestigious universities in the UK. On their pre-entry visit, they met Morgan Bentley and his stuck-up friends. Matthew takes an instant dislike to the arrogant, conceited, self-obsessed, beautiful, intelligent, and charismatic boy. Throughout the next year, Matthew harbours his dislike, never missing the opportunity to complain to his best friend, Cory, what a bastard Morgan is.

Then, an unexpected turn of events catapults Matthew, Morgan, and Cory into a nightmare, and all the things Cory had said about Matthew’s true feelings about Morgan come crashing down on his head, and he realises that what he thought was hatred and anger was, in fact, growing attraction and begrudging admiration. But when the deadly nature of the elusive Project X is revealed, it seems their budding romance is doomed before it begins, as one of them is unlikely to survive.

Excerpt

Morgan Bentley was a bastard. An utter, complete, A-one, cut-glass bastard. He was arrogant, selfish, cold, standoffish, cruel, and completely heartless. His history was peppered with broken hearts and broken people attesting to the fact. There was no doubt about it—he was a bastard.

Morgan didn’t have any friends. What he had was an entourage: people who cared less for the person he was than for the prestige his company brought. At the moment he had a girlfriend, the undoubted Alpha Female of the university, a bitch called Charlotte Lethbridge, whose father owned half of Mayfair. The relationship wouldn’t last, though. They never did. And next week it could just as easily be a boyfriend.

No one ever said no to Morgan. No one outside his circle of “friends” ever said anything at all unless he invited them to, which he rarely ever did.

Cory often said Morgan was sad—he had to be. He had to be lonely and sad because he had no real friends, no lasting relationships, no one to share with. Not like us. Sometimes I had to stop myself laughing when he said that. Morgan Bentley sad? Not bloody likely. He had everything. I mean everything.

His father was a research chemist, heading a huge multinational corporation. They manufactured drugs and engaged in research projects, sometimes for the government. I think that’s why Cory was so fascinated with Morgan. He was getting a degree in biochemistry and wanted to be a researcher himself. Cory was awesome...but he had flaws, and his fascination with Morgan was one of them. Personally, I wouldn’t care if I never saw his smug face ever again. Hell, I’d have been so much happier if I hadn’t.

 ~

For a different perspective on how Morgan felt about that initial meeting you might like to read the Prequel. This gives away spoilers if you haven’t read the book, but is a nice, currently free,  introduction to the boys and how their different perspectives work.

Project X - Prequel

Project X - eXtasy Books

Project X - Amazon

Author Bio - Cheryl Headford

Cheryl was born into a poor mining family in the South Wales Valleys. Until she was 16, the toilet was at the bottom of the garden and the bath hung on the wall. Her refrigerator was a stone slab in the pantry and there was a black lead fireplace in the kitchen. They look lovely in a museum but aren’t so much fun to clean.

Cheryl has always been a storyteller. As a child, she’d make up stories for her family and they’d explore the imaginary worlds she created in play.

Later in life, Cheryl became the storyteller for a re enactment group who traveled widely, giving a taste of life in the Iron Age. As well as having an opportunity to run around hitting people with a sword, she had an opportunity to tell stories of all kinds, sometimes of her own making, to all kinds of people. The criticism was sometimes harsh, especially from the children, but the reward enormous.

It was here she began to appreciate the power of stories and the primal need to hear them. In ancient times, the wandering bard was the only source of news, and the storyteller was the heart of the village, keeping the lore and the magic alive. Although much of the magic has been lost, the stories still provide a link to the part of us that still wants to believe that it’s still there, somewhere.

In present times, Cheryl lives in a terraced house in the valleys with her son, dog, bearded dragon and cats. Her daughter has deserted her for the big city, but they’re still close. She’s never been happier since she was made redundant and is able to devote herself entirely to her twin loves of writing and art, with a healthy smattering of magic and mayhem

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