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Except when it comes to Priscilla, the childhood friend he’s loved for what seems like forever.
New York City police detective Priscilla Gutierrez has never been afraid to go after what she wants. Second guessing herself isn’t a thing she does. But lately, the once-clear vision she had for herself—her career, her relationships, her life—is no longer what she wants.
What she especially doesn’t want is to be stuck on a private jet to the Dominican Republic with JuanPa, the one person who knows her better than anyone else.
By the end of a single week in paradise, the love/hate thing JuanPa and Pris have been doing for sixteen years has risen to epic proportions. No one can argue their connection is still there. And they can both finally admit—if only to themselves—they’ve always been a perfect match. The future they dreamed of together is still within reach...if they can just accept each other as they are.
Now available
Pride made him what he is.
But desire might change him forever…
Millionaire CEO Joshua Lowell earned his icy reserve and arrogant pride through painful experience. He refuses to allow gorgeous but determined reporter Sophie Armstrong to dredge up his family’s dark past—or circulate rumors of his secret child. But Joshua’s fierce pride is at war with his heated desire for Sophie, the only woman who could ruin him…or save him from himself.
Available May 1st
Excerpt, RUTHLESS PRIDE by Naima Simone
One man’s betrayal can destroy generations. Ten years ago, a hedge-fund hotshot vanished with billions, leaving the high-powered families of Falling Brook changed forever. Now seven heirs, shaped by his betrayal, must reckon with the sins of the past. Passion may be their only path to redemption. Experience all Seven Sins in the Dynasties: Seven Sins miniseries!
“The Black Crescent Scandal: Fifteen Years Later.”
Joshua gripped the Monday issue of the Falling Brook Chronicle so tightly, it should’ve been torn down the middle. She’d done it. Sophie Armstrong had run with the story, placing his family’s sordid and ugly history on the front page as fodder for an always scandal-hungry public.
He lifted his gaze to stare out the windshield of his Mercedes-Benz at the Black Crescent building. He knew every railing, every angle, every stone inch of the modern midcentury building built into a cliff. His father’s aim had been for the headquarters of his hedge fund to stand out in the more traditional architecture of Falling Brook. And he’d succeeded. The building was as famous—or infamous—as its owner.
And his infamy had made page one of the local paper. Again.
Studying the imposing structure offered the brief-est of respites. Almost against his will, he returned his attention to the newspaper crinkling under his fists. He’d already read the article twice, but he scanned it again. It recounted his father’s rise in the financial industry, his seemingly perfect life—marriage to Eve Evans-Janson, the pedigreed society daughter and darling whose connections further installed Vernon as a reigning king of Falling Brook; his three sons, who’d shown great promise with their Ivy League educations and fast-track career goals; the meteoric success of his business. And then his epic fall. Millions of dollars missing from the hedge fund’s accounts. The death of Everett Reardon, his father’s best friend and CFO of Black Crescent, who’d crashed his car while trying to elude capture. Vernon’s disappearance.
The ten clients his father had stolen money from plunged into a nightmare of bankruptcy and destitu-tion. The company’s—Joshua’s—agreement to pay back the families so they wouldn’t file a lawsuit. How some of them still hadn’t recovered from Vernon’s selfish, unforgivable and criminal actions.
And then Joshua.
The artist turned CEO who had stepped into the vacant shoes of his father to save Black Crescent. Yes, it shared how he’d left his promising art career and turned the company around, saving it from ruin, but it also painted him as Vernon’s puppet, coached and raised to take over for him since Joshua’s birth.
Which was bullshit. At one time, his path had been different. Had been his.
The article also cited that no one had heard from Vernon in a decade and a half, but despite rumors that he’d been killed in retribution for his crimes, there was also the long-held belief that his father was alive and well. And that his family was secretly in contact with him. That Vernon still pulled the strings, running Black Crescent from some remote location. Which was ridiculous. After his father initially vanished, his mother had hired a team of private detectives to locate him. Not to mention the FBI had searched for him, as well.
Damn. He gritted his teeth against releasing the roar in his throat, but his head echoed with it. What did he have to do to redeem himself? What more did he have to sacrifice? He’d stayed, facing judgment, scorn and suspicion to rebuild the company, to restore even some of the money lost. He’d stayed, doing his best in the last fifteen years to repay those affected clients at least part of the fortune they’d lost to his fa-ther as promised. He’d stayed, enduring his brothers’ ridicule and disdain for following in dear old Dad’s footsteps. He’d stayed, caring for their mother, who’d become something of a recluse.
He’d stayed when all he’d wanted to do was quit and run away, too.
But he hadn’t gallivanted off to Europe or found sweet oblivion in drugs and parties. Pride and loy-alty had chained him there. Fatherless. Brotherless. Friendless.
And Sophie Armstrong dared insinuate he hadn’t busted his ass all these years? That his father had done all the soul-destroying work.
His sharp bark of laughter rebounded against the interior of the vehicle. Its serrated edges scraped over his skin.
Introducing Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series—the emotions and intensity of Chicago Fire with the raw, natural elements of Man vs. Wild.
Danger lurks everywhere for Central Oregon’s fire crews, but the biggest risk of all might be losing their hearts…
Smoke jumper Lincoln Reid is speechless to see Jacob Hartman among his squad’s new recruits. Linc had promised his late best friend he’d stay away from his little brother. And yet here Jacob is…and almost instantly, the same temptation Linc has always felt around him is causing way too many problems.
Jacob gets everyone’s concerns, but he’s waited years for his shot at joining the elite smoke jumping team, hoping to honor his brother’s memory. He’s ready to tackle any challenge Linc throws his way, and senses the chemistry between them—chemistry Linc insists on ignoring—is still alive and kicking. This time, Jacob’s determined to get what he wants.
Close quarters and high stakes make it difficult for Linc to keep his resolve, never mind do so while also making sure the rookie’s safe. But the closer they get, the more Linc’s plan to leave at the end of the season risks him breaking another promise: the one his heart wants to make to Jacob.
Now Available
When the 'thief' caught driving his stolen vintage car turns out to be a stunning runaway heiress, Mercury Steele is conflicted. On the one hand, Sloan Donahue, broke and on the run from her tyrannical family, triggers the billionaire playboy's protective instincts. But she also triggers red-hot desire. Mercury refuses to think his simple seduction is becoming something deeper, especially when Sloan is keeping secrets...
Mills & Boon Desire -- Indulge in secrets and scandal, intense drama and plenty of sizzling hot action with powerful and passionate herces who have it all.
Now Available
Excerpt,
SEDUCED BY A STEELE by Brenda Jackson
A
feeling of relief swept through Mercury when he located his car. Parking in the
space beside it, he quickly got out and glanced around the shops in the mall,
wondering where the driver had gone.
He
was pissed when he pulled his phone out of his jacket to call the police again
to give them his exact location. Putting his phone back, he walked around his
car and was glad not to see any dents. Other than need-ing a good wash job, the
old girl looked good. Deciding to check the interior, he pulled his car keys
out of his pocket to open the door.
“Get
away from my car!”
Mercury
snatched his head up and was instantly mesmerized by the beauty of the woman’s
dark brown eyes, shoulder-length curly hair that cascaded around an oval face,
high cheekbones, the smooth and creamy texture of her cocoa-colored skin and
one pair of the sexiest lips he’d ever seen on a woman.
He
immediately flashed her one of his wolfish smiles and was about to go into
man-whore mode until what she’d said stopped him. Then he became blinded to all
that gorgeous beauty. “Your car?”
“Yes,
my car. Now get away from it before I call the police.”
He
crossed his arms over his chest. “This is my car. It was stolen from me three
nights ago.”
“You’re
lying,” the woman snapped.
Calling
him a liar was a big mistake. The one thing he despised more than anything was
for someone to question his integrity. “If you think that, then by all means
call the police. However, you don’t have to call them since I already have.
You’re the thief, not me.”
“I am
not a thief,” she said, feeling brave enough to step closer and glare at him.
“Nor
am I a liar,” he said, glaring back. Suddenly a police cruiser with flashing
blue lights pulled up and two officers quickly got out. One was Sherman Aikens,
one of Jonas’s old high school friends. “I see you’ve found your car, Mercury.”
Mercury
frowned over at him. “No thanks to you guys who should have been looking for
it. And my car was never lost, it was stolen, and she’s the person who has it.”
“It’s
my car!”
Both
officers glanced over at the woman and Mercury glowered. Instead of saying
anything, they just stared at her, male appreciation obvious in their gazes.
“For crying out loud, aren’t you going to ask to see her papers on the vehicle
since she claims to be the owner?” he snapped out at the officers.
Sherman
broke eye contact with the woman to frown at Mercury. “I was going to get to
that.” In a voice Mercury felt was way too accommodating, considering the
circumstances, Sherman said, “Ma’am, I need to see papers on this vehicle,
because it resembles one reported stolen three nights ago.”
“It
is the one that was stolen three nights ago,” Mercury snapped while ignoring
Sherman’s frown. As far as Mercury was concerned, Sherman could become smitten
with the woman on someone else’s time.
“Stolen!
That’s not possible, Officer,” the woman said, looking alarmed. “Why would
anyone want to steal that car? Look at it. It’s old.”
Mercury
glared at her while Sherman and the other officer unsuccessfully tried hiding
their grins. “It’s a classic, and if it’s so old for your taste, why did you
buy it like you claim you did?” Mercury asked her.
“Because
I needed transportation and it was in my budget,” she said, pulling papers from
her purse. “I just bought it yesterday.” She handed the papers to Sherman.
Mercury
thought it took Sherman longer than necesary to switch his gaze from the woman
to the papers. He then said in a too-apologetic voice, “Sorry, ma’am, but these
papers are fake.”
Shock flew to her face. “Fake? But
that’s not possible. A nice gentleman sold the car to me.”
“That
‘nice’ man conned you into buying a stolen car,” Mercury said, ignoring
Sherman’s narrowed gaze as well as the woman’s thunderstruck expression.
Switching
her gaze from Mercury to Sherman, she said, “Please tell me that’s not true,
Officer. I gave him three hundred dollars.”
“Three
hundred dollars?” Mercury asked, not believing what she’d said.
Lifting
her chin, she added, “Yes, I knew the car wasn’t worth that much, but the man
looked a little down on his luck and needed the money.”
Mercury
shook his head. “You got that car for a steal, no pun intended. Do you not know
the value of that car? It’s worth over two hundred thousand dollars easily.”
She
rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Ridiculous? She had bought a stolen car
from some-one who she thought was a nice man, and she thought he was being
ridiculous? He was about to give her a scathing reply, but Sherman’s look
warned him not to do so.
“Yes,
ma’am, unfortunately that man did run a scam on you,” Sherman said. “I hate you
lost all that money. I need you to come down to police headquarters and give us
a statement, including a description of the man who sold you the car. We will
be on the lookout for him.”
“Like
you guys were on the lookout for my car?” Mercury said under his breath, but
when Sherman shot him a disapproving glare, he knew he’d been heard regardless.
Sherman
turned to him. “We’re going to have to impound the car. You and Miss Donahue
need to come down to police headquarters to give statements.”
“But
I’m on my way to a job interview,” the woman said, suddenly looking distressed.
Mercury
refused to feel an ounce of sympathy for her since he too would be late for an
interview with a potential new client. Now he would have to reschedule. Every
sports agent alive would want to sign on Nor-ris Eastwood, but the parents of
the high school senior with plans to go straight into the NBA had sought out
Mercury. He hoped being a no-show this morning wouldn’t be a negative against
him. If it was, then he had this woman to blame.
“Are
you okay with that, Mercury?”
When
he heard his name, he glanced up. “Am I okay with what?” He saw the other
officer had pulled the woman off to the side to take down some information.
“Giving Miss Donahue a ride to the police station,” Sherman said.
“Don’t
you have room in the police car? That’s the normal way you transport criminals,
isn’t it? For all we know, she could be in cahoots with the person who stole my
car.”
Sherman
rolled his eyes. “You don’t believe that any more than I do, Mercury. It’s
obvious she’s an innocent victim who doesn’t belong in the back of a patrol
car. She’s no more a thief than we are. Look at her.”
Mercury
didn’t want to look at her, but he did any-way. He immediately thought the same
thing he had when he’d first seen her. She was a very beautiful woman. Her
features were just that striking. And then there was that delectable-looking
figure in a navy blue pencil skirt and white blouse. Sexy as hell. But still…
always in the driver’s seat…
Is this playboy ready
for the wildest ride of his life?
Agreeing a PR stunt would be good for business, trucking CEO Gannon Steele invites reporter Delphine Ryland to hitch a ride cross-country. Soon, he’s keeping his eyes on his sexy passenger instead of on the destination ahead, and when the trip turns from strictly business to strictly pleasure, the consequences might be more than this rough-and-ready bachelor can handle…
Available May 5th
Excerpt, CLAIMED BY
A STEELE by Brenda Jackson
“Mr.
Steele has arrived, Ms. Ryland, and he’s ready to see you.”
Delphine
smiled over at Gannon’s secretary, not sure if she was ready to see him.
“Thanks.”
In
reality, she’d already seen him. From where she sat in the lobby, she had a
good view of the parking lot. She had known the exact moment Gannon had parked
his car in his designated CEO spot, and later entered the building through a
side door.
She
had sat there fascinated by seeing him wearing a dark suit and could barely
keep her heart from racing. The man looked good no matter what he wore. Drawing
in a deep breath, she stood and headed down the long corridor to his office.
When she reached the closed door bearing his name in huge print, she in-haled
and then exhaled before knocking.
“Come
in, Ms. Ryland.”
He’d
called her “Ms. Ryland” instead of “Delphine.” Did that mean they were back to
being for-mal again? Was that how it was supposed to work when he was in more
businesslike attire? she wondered. She would find out soon enough and decided
to follow his lead.
When
she opened the door, their gazes connected.
For a
second, Delphine felt weak in the knees. He stood when she walked in and she
immediately noticed that he had removed his jacket and loosened the tie around
his neck. And, of course, she didn’t miss the one button at the top of his
white dress shirt that was undone. Why did seeing him so relaxed have an effect
on her?
But
then, she could say the same for him. He was staring at her the same way she
was staring at him. She knew she was fully dressed and the last time she
checked her hair was in place. What was going on here?
She
knew the answer. Lust. Something she definitely wasn’t used to. It was kicking
both their butts. Lustful vibes had been strong yesterday, but they were even
stronger today.
That
wasn’t good. Whenever he looked at her, she got overheated. Today his look was
almost setting her on fire. This was her last day and she needed to take
control of the situation or burn to a crisp right in front of him.
Clearing
her throat, she said, “I hope things went well at the meeting you had this
morning with your shipper.”
As if
the sound of her voice broke whatever spell he’d been in, he blinked and then
said, “Yes, they did.” Then, shoving his hands into his pockets, he added,
“However, there’s a matter I need to handle.”
She
nodded. “I understand. I can come back—” “No. Let’s wrap things up with the
interview now because I’ll be busy for the rest of the day.”
Was
that his way of letting her know he was tired of this process? Tired of her
doing the interview? More than anything, she wanted to believe his change in
attitude had nothing to do with her, but was connected somehow to that meeting
he’d had earlier.
“I’ll
be quick,” she said, taking the chair in front of his desk. The same one she’d
sat in yesterday. “I just have a few more questions.”
“Fine,”
he said, moving to sit down at his desk. “Ask away.”
For Sierra, time with Jamie is a much-needed escape. She takes her work as a social worker seriously, but with budget cuts threatening her job, there’s a lot riding on the fund-raiser she’s planning with Jamie. The fact that it means working closely with the sexy older tattooist is a bonus—a deliciously tempting bonus. Sierra isn’t one for relationships, but she’s never felt such a strong desire to mix business with pleasure.
Sizzling chemistry quickly erodes Jamie’s fears of being too old for Sierra, but navigating a romance with someone who’s at such a different stage in life is no easy task. They’ve each come to rely on themselves more than anyone else, but having a future together will mean letting their guards down and accepting each other as a safe place to fall.
Now Available
One winner
Winner's choice of one of the books shown here
Burn zone sounds cool.
ReplyDeleteburn zone
ReplyDeleteRuthless Pride sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI'd pick Ruthless Pride. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteBurn Zone sounds really good!
ReplyDelete