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on sale on May 23, 2023
USA Today bestselling author Christina Hovland returns with a sparkling romantic comedy that proves that what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas—especially when he’s the sexy stranger you just accidentally married…
The StepsistersPaperback: 416 Pages
Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (May 25, 2021)
Once upon a time, when her dad married Sage’s mom, Daisy was thrilled to get a bright and shiny new sister. But Sage was beautiful and popular, everything Daisy was not, and she made sure Daisy knew it.
Sage didn’t have Daisy’s smarts—she had to go back a grade to enroll in the fancy rich-kid school. So she used her popularity as a weapon, putting Daisy down to elevate herself. After the divorce, the stepsisters’ rivalry continued until the final, improbable straw: Daisy married Sage’s first love, and Sage fled California.
Eighteen years, two kids, and one troubled marriage later, Daisy never expects—or wants—to see Sage again. But when the little sister they have in common needs them both, they put aside their differences to care for Cassidy. As long-buried truths are revealed, no one is more surprised than they when friendship blossoms.
Their fragile truce is threatened by one careless act that could have devastating consequences. They could turn their backs on each other again…or they could learn to forgive once and for all and finally become true sisters of the heart.
“Is Sage still in LA?” Daisy asked. “I thought she lived in Rome.” That was what she’d told Krissa.
“Not anymore. She’s back in Los Angeles and living with Joanne.”
Oh, joy, Daisy thought.
“I’ll let Esmerelda know,” she said, keeping her voice light. “I think the upstairs guest room would be best. There are big windows and lots of space.”
“I agree that’s a good choice. They’re emailing me a copy of her records. I’ll forward them to you as soon as I get them. Once you look them over, you’ll have a better idea of what she’ll need. Esmerelda can get it all in place.”
“No problem, Dad. We’ll figure it out.”
They spoke for a few more minutes before hanging up. Daisy stared at the blank screen, wishing there had been a way to say no. But she’d been unable to—
“Dammit, Dad!”
She stood and shoved her phone into her handbag as she dealt with the fact that she’d just been played. There had been no reason for her father to ask her to tell Sage about Cassidy’s accident. According to him, Sage was living with her mother and he had said he was calling Joanne. No doubt Joanne would tell her daughter about the accident. But he’d made Daisy promise to get in touch with Sage.
She heard the beep that alerted her to a text message. Probably her father forwarding Sage’s contact information. And because she’d said she would, now she would have to call, because not keeping her word wasn’t an option.
She was thirty-six years old and her father was still messing with her life. One day she was going to have to deal with that, although in truth, the more pressing issue was the fact that her half sister was about to move in. Daisy would be forced to deal with her injuries, nurses in and out of the house, while living with someone who disliked her. And trying to hide the fact that her husband had moved out. The same husband who had once been engaged to her former stepsister—and that same stepsister had loudly promised to love Jordan forever right in the middle of his wedding to Daisy.
“Later, there will be wine,” Daisy promised herself. “And possibly chocolate.”
Because some days, that was all that stood between her and madness.
Sage arrived home to an empty house. Grateful she wasn’t going to have to deal with her mother, she went to her room and quickly changed into jeans and a T-shirt. While she was willing to admit to a little anticipation about her evening with Adam, she didn’t want him to know that. And she’d learned the best way to tell a man an evening with him was no big deal was to dress as if it didn’t matter at all.
She went into the bathroom to brush her hair before pulling it back into a simple ponytail and tried not to notice the hint of wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. She knew she still looked good, but for how long? Five years? She really needed to start saving up to get some preventative work done. Something she would add to her money to-do list, along with an apartment and possibly putting aside a few dollars for a savings account.
“Not going to think about that right now,” she whispered, before returning to her room and collecting the bottle of tequila and the limes.
She walked over to Adam’s house and knocked. He opened the door and smiled at her.
“I have the blender ready to go,” he said, stepping back to allow her inside.
She held up the tequila and the limes. “Good, because we wouldn’t want these to go to waste.”
He led the way into the kitchen. She had a brief impression of newish appliances and a lot of leather furniture in the open-concept family room.
About Susan MalleryNo.1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives – family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur.
A long, hot summer with her secret crush…
What could possibly go wrong?
Nissa Lang knows Desmond Stilling is out of her league. He’s a CEO, she’s a teacher. He’s gorgeous, she’s…not. So when her house-sitting gig falls through and Desmond offers her a place to stay for the summer, she vows not to reveal how she’s felt about him since their first—and only—kiss.
Desmond should’ve known better than to bring temptation into his house. He decided long ago that his best friend’s sister was too sweet, too good, for him. She deserves a guy who can give his heart. For her sake, he’s stayed away. But as her laughter breathes life into his lonely mansion, he’s not sure how long he’ll be able to resist.
From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Twitter: @susanmallery
Facebook: @SusanMallery
Instagram: @susanmallery
SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship, romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations,” and readers seem to agree—40 million copies of her books have sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.
Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two ragdoll cats and an adorable poodle who think of her as mom.
Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (March 9, 2021)
Fast-paced and brilliantly unpredictable, J.T. Ellison’s breathtaking new novel invites you to a wedding none will forget—and some won’t survive.
Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets.
From the moment Claire sets foot on the island, something seems amiss. Skeletal remains have just been found. There are other, newer disturbances, too. Menacing texts. A ruined wedding dress. And one troubling shadow hanging over Claire’s otherwise blissful relationship—the strange mystery surrounding Jack’s first wife.
Then a raging storm descends, the power goes out—and the real terror begins…
7
Villas and Pearls
Up close, the Villa is even more magnificent than I expected. Five stories of imposing wind-worn stone crouch on the side of the hill, holding on to the cliffside for dear life. It wraps around out of my sight. From the water’s view, I know that hidden edge is where it meets up with the walls of the ancient fortress. Plenty of room for us, our guests, Jack’s family, and of course, the staff.
Staff. Something else I’ll have to get accustomed to.
Like the terrace above, overflowing pots of petunias flank the front doors, two massive slabs of weathered wood thrown open in welcome. A wide grass-and-slate courtyard with iron tables shaded by jaunty striped umbrellas waits to our right. Ahead are stairs down to a second courtyard that looks out over the water. The only thing that feels off are the cameras, mounted on every corner. An elaborate, state-of-the-art security system enhances the feeling that we’re standing in front of a fortress.
It is impossible to take it all in, the sheer size and beauty of it.
I wander toward the patio, drawn to the water. The gray stone is warming in the sun and two cats—one calico, one tuxedo—nap on the ancient stacked stone wall overlooking the sea. The dogs bark at them, but I can tell it’s a game—the cats ignore them.
The view. The view. Roman kings and explorers and ancient witches had killed to possess this spot, to gaze at the sea, at the jutting knees of volcanic rock ringing the island. These con querors would stand in this very spot and think themselves safe. They could see their enemies approaching, have days to make preparations. They thought they could never be overthrown.
All things, all people, can be conquered. I’m not silly enough to believe otherwise.
The beach below is raked clear of rocks and seaweed; there are chaise longues and umbrellas, though currently being stacked and lashed to the rocks in preparation for the storms to come. Two stone jetties abut each side of the beach, creating a natu ral cove. The Hebrides, looking even more imposing and elegant from afar, is back in full view, being serviced by the crew at the pier. The hydrofoil has put in at the other pier and people are wandering off, taking pictures or simply staring up at the Villa, then getting in line for the funicular that will bring those less inclined for a hike to the top of the hill.
It’s such a shame that everyone’s taken a week off to be with us and it’s going to rain most of the time. About as fair as get ting your period for the wedding night. Ah, well. Life is cruel.
I scan the people disembarking for familiar faces. Most of our guests are friends Jack has collected over the years, and the Compton family. I’m expecting only my mother and stepfather, my sister Harper, and my best friend Katie. I don’t see any of them.
I’m not the type to surround myself with acquaintances. The curse of the introvert, Jack calls it. I don’t see it as a curse at all. I just don’t play well with others.
“It’s quite grand, isn’t it?” Jack asks.
“What? Oh, the Villa? It’s absolutely beautiful. But what did you want to tell me, Jack?”
He walks me to the stone wall. The calico blinks and yawns, and I run a hand down her silky back. The cat’s eyes slit with pleasure and she stretches two long front legs contentedly, claws unsheathed, purring like an outboard motor.
“That’s Rosa and the tuxedo is Nina. They’re my mother’s cats.”
“They’re beautiful.”
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J.T. Ellison writes standalone domestic noir and psychological thriller series, the latter starring Nashville Homicide Lt. Taylor Jackson and medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens, and pens the international thriller series “A Brit in the FBI” with #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter. Cohost of the Emmy Award-winning show, A Word on Words, Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband.
Step into the vineyard with Susan Mallery’s most irresistible novel yet, as one woman searches for the perfect blend of love, family, and wine.
Mackenzie Dienes seems to have it all—a beautiful home, close friends, and a successful career as an elite winemaker with the family winery. There’s just one problem—it’s not her family, it’s her husband’s. In fact, everything in her life is tied to him—his mother is the closest thing to a mom that she’s ever had, their home is on the family compound, his sister is her best friend. So when she and her husband admit their marriage is over, her pain goes beyond heartbreak. She’s on the brink of losing everything. Her job, her home, her friends, and, worst of all, her family.
Staying is an option. She can continue to work at the winery, be friends with her mother-in-law, hug her nieces and nephews—but as an employee, nothing more. Or she can surrender every piece of her heart in order to build a legacy of her own. If she can dare to let go of the life she thought she wanted, she might discover something even more beautiful waiting for her beneath a painted moon.
Chapter Five
Stephanie opened the closet by the front door and pulled the rolled decorative flag out of the corner. As she opened the front door, she gave the pole a little shake to unfurl the flag, then stepped onto the porch and slid the pole into place. A light breeze caught the fabric, causing the print of the giant cookie to ripple slightly.
In addition to the six dozen cookies she’d baked for Carson to take with him, she’d made four dozen more for the family. A few years ago, Mackenzie had started the tradition of putting out a flag whenever she baked cookies. Avery and Carson had gone running to grab a few and bring them home. Now that Zeus, Galaxy and Eternity were big enough to roam the compound, they watched for the cookie flag, as well.
Stephanie went back inside and carried two disposable containers up to her son’s room.
Carson’s large suitcase was ready to go. His carry-on backpack stood open on the desk. Her son was stretched out on his bed, his gaze locked on his tablet.
“I made you cookies for the trip,” she said. “And the first few days of camp.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
When he didn’t raise his gaze, she sighed heavily. “Look at me, Carson.”
He did as she requested. She waved the two containers. “These are your cookies. The ones in the red container are peanut butter. You’re fourteen, Carson, so I’m trusting you to be responsible with them.”
The corners of his lips trembled as if he were trying not to smile. “With cookies, Mom? I think I’m up to the challenge.”
“Peanut butter cookies. Just the thought of you carrying them with you makes me break out in a sweat. Remember that some kids are allergic. It’s a real thing. Do not go passing them around without talking to everyone first. Peanut butter cookies can trigger nut allergies.”
His dark eyes crinkled as he grinned. “Didn’t you put walnuts into the chocolate chip cookies?”
“What? Crap. What was I thinking?”
He dropped his tablet onto the bed, stood and wrapped his arms around her. “Mom, don’t sweat it. No one I know is allergic to nuts.”
“What about at camp? Forget it. You’re not taking these with you. No kid is dying on my watch—not because I made cookies.”
He took the containers from her hands and dropped them into his backpack. “We’ll be fine. I’ll make sure everyone I bunk with is okay with nuts. There’s four of us in a suite, Mom. The cookies won’t last the night.”
She knew he could be trusted to be responsible. “Okay, just be careful. Maybe I’ll text your counselor.”
He winced. “Don’t set me up to be that freaky little kid who can’t be away from his mommy.”
“That’s so judgmental.”
“You know I’m telling the truth.” He zipped up his backpack, then slung it over his shoulder and grabbed his suitcase. “It’ll be fine. Have a little faith.”
“I should go with you to the airport,” she said.
“Mom, stop. I’m driving to Seattle with Grandma and Giorgio. Dad’s meeting me there and getting me to my gate. I’m fourteen years old. I’ll be fine.”
She wanted to protest that he was still her baby, only she knew he wouldn’t appreciate that. So instead of telling him he had to stay little forever, she followed him downstairs and found Rhys sitting on a stool by the island. Four and her three kids were there, as well, all eating cookies. Because in this family everyone came by to say goodbye. Mackenzie had stopped by that morning, as had Jaguar, and Avery had seen her brother before she’d gone off to work.
“Excited?” Rhys asked his nephew.
Carson grinned. “Can’t wait.”
They hugged. Four was next, whispering something in his ear. Carson chuckled but didn’t respond. He hugged and kissed his cousins before heading out front. Stephanie went with him.
Right on time her mom and Giorgio pulled in front of her house. Giorgio popped the trunk of the late-model Mercedes and helped Carson with his luggage. Stephanie hugged her youngest.
“Text me the second you get to California,” she said. “From the airport and then again when you arrive at camp. If you don’t text me, I’ll call your counselor and pretend that I’m crying and then you will be the freaky little kid who can’t be away from his mommy.”
Carson sighed. “Mom, you don’t have to do that. I’ll text you, I swear.”
“Threaten to fly down and stay with him,” her mother offered from the passenger seat in the car. “Remember when I had to do that with you?”
Stephanie did her best not to shudder at the memory. She’d been a bit chatty in high school and was constantly in trouble for talking to her friends. When the usual punishments—detention and being grounded—hadn’t worked, her mother had told her that whatever was happening at school must be so very interesting, what with Stephanie unable to stop talking about it. So Barbara would come with her to every class, unless she could learn to be quiet.
Stephanie hadn’t spoken for nearly four days.
“Text me or I’ll come stay with you,” she told her son. “Look into my eyes and see how much I mean that.”
“You’re scary sometimes,” he told her as he kissed her cheek. “Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too.”
Twitter: @susanmallery
Facebook: @SusanMallery
Instagram: @susanmallery
SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship, romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations,” and readers seem to agree—40 million copies of her books have sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.
Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two ragdoll cats and an adorable poodle who think of her as mom.
My name is Andrew Joyce and I write books for a living. Empress DJ has been kind enough to allow me a little space on her blog to promote my new book, Mahoney. So I thought I might entertain you with a story about the publishing business.
My first book, Yellow Hair, was a 164,000-word historical novel. And in the publishing world, anything over 80,000 words for a first-time author is heresy. Or so I was told time and time again when I approached an agent for representation. After two years of research and writing and a year of trying to secure the services of an agent, I got angry. To be told that my efforts were meaningless was somewhat demoralizing, to say the least. I mean, those rejections were coming from people who had never even read my book.
“So you want an 80,000-word novel?” I said to no one in particular, unless you count my dog, because he was the only one around at the time. Consequently, I decided to show them City Slickers that I could write an 80,000-word novel!
I had just finished reading Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn for the third time, and I started thinking about whatever happened to those boys, Tom and Huck. They must have grown up, but then what? So I sat down at my computer and banged out Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer in two months. I had them as adults in the Old West. Then I sent out query letters to literary agents.
A few weeks later, the chairman of one of the biggest agencies in the country emailed me. He loved the story and suggested a few changes. They were good suggestions, and I incorporated about 80% of them into the book. We signed a contract and it was off to the races, or so I thought. But then the real fun began: the serious editing. Seven months later, I gave birth to Huck and Tom as adults. And just for the record, the final word count was 79,914. The book went on to reach #1 status in its category on Amazon (twice) and won the Editor’s Choice Award for Best Western of 2013. The rest, as they say, is history.
But not quite.
Now we come to the crux of the matter. My readers really enjoyed the book. Reviewer after reviewer said they would love a sequel, but given how I ended the story, I could not envision that being possible. Then I started getting emails and phone calls from my agent, badgering me to continue the adventure. At first I ignored him. Finally, to stop the badgering, I started MOLLY LEE, a “sort of” sequel. It’s a stand-alone book, a parallel story, if you will. (Molly was a minor character in Redemption.)
Then, of course, I had to do a sequel to the sequel, hence RESOLUTION: Huck Finn’s Greatest Adventure.
After I got done with Huck, Tom, and Molly, I turned my attention to my first novel, the one I couldn’t sell to an agent. I whittled it down from 164,000 words to 132,000 and published it myself. And guess what? It won Book of the Year from one outfit and Best Historical Fiction of 2016 from another.
So, I reckon the moral of the story is: Stay true to your vision, but along the way, it’s all right to conform to the norms people try to place on you.
In this compelling, richly researched novel, author Andrew Joyce tells a riveting story of adventure, endurance, and hope as the Mahoney clan fights to gain a foothold in America.
In the second year of an Gorta Mhór—the Great Famine—nineteen-year-old Devin Mahoney lies on the dirt floor of his small, dark cabin. He has not eaten in five days. His only hope of survival is to get to America, the land of milk and honey. After surviving disease and storms at sea that decimate crew and passengers alike, Devin’s ship limps into New York Harbor three days before Christmas, 1849. Thus starts an epic journey that will take him and his descendants through one hundred and fourteen years of American history, including the Civil War, the Wild West, and the Great Depression.
Andrew Joyce left home at seventeen to hitchhike throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. He wouldn’t return from his journey until years later when he decided to become a writer. Joyce has written seven books. His first novel, Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, was awarded the Editors’ Choice Award for Best Western of 2013. A subsequent novel, Yellow Hair, received the Book of the Year award from Just Reviews and Best Historical Fiction of 2016 from Colleen’s Book Reviews.
Pre-order Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RNLR4M5
US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RNLR4M5
Publication Date: 8th July
It’s been two years since glamorous and ambitious Violet Smith fell head-over-heels in love with blacksmith Jimby Fairfax, and moved back home to the North Yorkshire village of Lytell Stangdale to be with him.
Life couldn’t get much sweeter. Their romance is blooming and Romantique – the business she set up with Jimby’s sister Kitty, designing luxurious underwear and burlesque costumes with the odd wedding dress throw in – is thriving.
But on a romantic weekend break, a face from her past triggers a series of events which send Violet into turmoil. She finds herself with no alternative but to reveal a secret she’s buried deep for the past sixteen years. A secret she hasn’t shared with anyone, not even her best friends, Kitty and Molly, and they share everything.
With the revelation forcing a wedge between herself and Jimby, heartbroken Violet fears that he won’t ever be able to think of her in the same way again and won’t want anything more to do with her.
As ever, Kitty and Molly rally round, offering their advice and support but Vi is worried that keeping her secret was just a step too far for Jimby.
Will she succeed in showing him their love is strong enough to overcome it?
The Secret – Violet’s Story is book 3 in the Life on the Moors Series.
Author Bio – Eliza lives in a 17th-century cottage on the edge of a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden. Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favorite things: tea and cake.
Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming stories with happy endings.
Social Media Links
Blog: Eliza J Scott – elizajscott.com
Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1
Instagram: Eliza J Scott – @elizajscott
Facebook: Eliza J Scott – @elizajscottauthor
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ElizaJScott
London, 2019. Life has been easy for Maxim Trevelyan. With his good looks, aristocratic connections, and money, he’s never had to work and he’s rarely slept alone. But all that changes when tragedy strikes and Maxim inherits his family’s noble title, wealth, and estates, and all the responsibility that entails. It’s a role he’s not prepared for and one that he struggles to face.
But his biggest challenge is fighting his desire for an unexpected, enigmatic young woman who’s recently arrived in England, possessing little more than a dangerous and troublesome past. Reticent, beautiful, and musically gifted, she’s an alluring mystery, and Maxim’s longing for her deepens into a passion that he’s never experienced and dares not name. Just who is Alessia Demachi? And can Maxim protect her from the malevolence that threatens her? And what will she do when she learns that he’s been hiding secrets of his own?
From the heart of London through wild, rural Cornwall to the bleak, forbidding beauty of the Balkans, The Mister is a roller-coaster ride of danger and desire that leaves the reader breathless to the very last page.
Download your copy today:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2T0zMwJ
AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2HjnVsb
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TheMister
Nook: http://bit.ly/2T3CzWb
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2O0pYC6
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2HixZSr
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2TzCEWE
Audible: https://amzn.to/2u3HU5x
ABOUT E L JAMES
E L James is an incurable romantic and a self-confessed fangirl. After twenty-five years of working in television, she decided to pursue a childhood dream and write stories that readers could take to their hearts. The result was the controversial and sensuous romance Fifty Shades of Grey and its two sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. In 2015, she published the #1 bestseller Grey, the story of Fifty Shades of Grey from the perspective of Christian Grey, and in 2017, the chart-topping Darker, the second part of the Fifty Shades story from Christian’s point of view. Her books have been published in fifty languages and have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide.
E L James has been recognized as one of Time magazine’s “Most Influential People in the World” and Publishers Weekly’s “Person of the Year.” Fifty Shades of Grey stayed on The New York Times Best Seller List for 133 consecutive weeks. Fifty Shades Freed won the Goodreads Choice Award (2012), and Fifty Shades of Grey was selected as one of the 100 Great Reads, as voted by readers, in PBS’s The Great American Read (2018). Darker has been long-listed for the 2019 International DUBLIN Literary Award.
She co-produced for Universal Studios the Fifty Shades movies, which made more than a billion dollars at the box office. The third installment, Fifty Shades Freed, won the People’s Choice Award for Drama in 2018.
E L James is blessed with two wonderful sons and lives with her husband, the novelist and screenwriter Niall Leonard, and their West Highland terriers in the leafy suburbs of West London.
For more information about E L James, visit:
Website: https://www.eljamesauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ELJamesAuthor/
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2XTO0TM
And Instagram: http://bit.ly/2TO6vdd
Colel, The Mistress of Bees
(Stand Alone)
Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
Synopsis:
COLEL
Book #5, the Immortal Matchmakers, Inc., Series
WARNING:
This book contains foul language, gratuitous sex against a truck, outrageously rude immortal warriors in leather pants, snow, pigheaded gods, a sexually frustrated goddess, a very hot and hunky florist guy with a bad attitude and a big secret, Brutus bubble baths, a sneaky invisible unicorn, unrequited love, bees, bees, and more bees, and chocolates. SOMETIMES LOVE BITES AND SOMETIMES IT STINGS. Colel, the Goddess of Bees, has been looking for Mr. Right for over seventy thousand years. So when she meets the hunky owner of a small-town flower shop and explodes with flutters and tingles, she’s almost certain that he’s the one. Only two problems: her tiny black-and-yellow army suddenly won’t let her anywhere near him, and…is that a freaking epinephrine pen in the fridge? “Dear gods! He’s allergic to bees? Say it isn’t so.” If simply dating the guy will kill him, how will she ever know for sure if he’s really the one? Colel has a solution, but it’s drastic. Even for her. And what if he says no?AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA | AMAZON AU | AMAZON Other
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About the Author
MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling romance author with over a million books sold worldwide. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dream. Mimi lives with her Latin Lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and the rat terrier duo, Snowflake and Mini Me, in Arizona. She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.
Sign up for Mimi’s mailing list for giveaways and new release news!
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THE SAVIOR
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series
by J. R. Ward
On Sale: April 2, 2019
Get your copy and Murhder can be all yours:
The Black Dagger Brotherhood has a new SAVIOR:
Sneak Peek at J.R. Ward’s Brand-New Newsletter:
The Caldwell Courier Journal
Sign-up for exclusive Black Dagger Brotherhood original content:
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Who better to ask for honest, snarky relationship advice than Vishous?
Ask At Your Own Risk.
Dear Vishous, Agony Aunt Column
(with help from Mary)
Dear Vishous,
First of all, thank you for doing this. I need another perspective. I am a 27-year-old woman, about fifteen months out of a five-year relationship. I started dating a guy about two months ago. I’ll call him “Evan.” We met on Match.com. We both workout. We like a good time out at the clubs and the bars. We’re both Sox fans. He’s funny and he’s been good about keeping in touch when he travels frequently for work.
My problem is this. He told me he was twenty-eight. A week or so ago, when we were playing pool at our local, he told me to snag his wallet and pay for the next round at the bar. While I was getting money out, I saw his driver’s license. It said he’s thirty-six and the address listed was in a different area of the city than he told me he lives in. I got the drinks and put his wallet back in his pocket, and tried not to think about it.
But I can’t shake the idea he lied, and it’s causing me to obsess about things that are probably no big deal. Like, he only comes to stay at my place. I’ve never been to his apartment, and when I asked about this, he said he has two roommates who get on his nerves and he prefers the break he gets when he sleeps at my apartment. And I’ve introduced him to my friends, but he’s never offered to do the same. At first, I was psyched because my ex never wanted to hang with my people. But now? I guess I’m uneasy and looking for shadows everywhere.
I don’t care how old he is, and I know that some times folks on Match fudge their age to make them more attractive. And maybe it’s just an old license. I don’t want to ruin a good thing by looking like I’m second guessing him about stuff that only appears iffy and for which there is a reasonable explanation.
Please advise,
On The Fence In Beantown
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Vishous: Here’s what you need to do. Go to your local Stahp ‘n Shahp and get some Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ. Then get a good knife. After you slice his b*lls off, marinate them and then pan fry ‘em. Serve them to him hot and spicy and-
Mary: Okaaaaaaay. Let’s just all take a deep breath here.
V: I know, because the BBQ sauce smells great, right?
Mary: Ah, no. It’s because we should not settle this type of conflict through bodily harm.
V: Whatever, that lying sack of sh*t with the fake Match profile doesn’t deserve a set of nuts. S’all I’m sayin’.
Mary: I think we’ve heard your point of view loud and clear. And now, I’d like to offer a more nuanced opinion. On The Fence, it’s clear that there are some reasons to be concerned about this guy. One of the things that I tell people in my practice is to always trust your instincts. As much as you want to believe the best-
V: Fine. No BBQ sauce, then. Just slice, dice and toss ‘em in the pan. He doesn’t deserve Sweet Baby Ray’s.
Mary: …………….
V: What. Oh, come on, don’t look at me like that.
Mary: I’ve never actually said this before to someone, but why don’t you light up a cigarette and take a few deep drags.
V: I thought you’d never ask.
Mary: Anyway, On The Fence, my suggestion is that you have a frank, face-to-face conversation with “Evan.” Share your concerns calmly and succinctly. See what his answers are. Based on how he responds, you should be able to tell a lot. Is he listening to you and taking you seriously? Is he offering to have you stay over at his place? Or is he defensive and turning everything back on you-
V: And his Red Sox card is revoked. He has to root for the Yankees now.
Mary: -in a way that makes you uncomfortable? At the end of the day, you deserve to be in a relationship with someone who’s as honest as you are and treats you the way you’re treating them.
V: I have to agree with Mary on this one. Even though you’re a human, being with a lying sack of sh*t is whack.
Mary: Remember, your physical safety comes first, and fast on its heels is your emotional health. Please do not sacrifice your happiness just because you are hoping that “Evan” is the one-
V: I think you’re going to find out he’s got a wife and kids and he’s playing you. Which brings us back to my solution to the problem-
Mary: -and let us know how it goes, please. Best of luck!
V: F**k him! Go get a real man- and that skillet.
