Preorder blitz for Naughty or Nice , A #Holiday #Regency #Anthology Never before published #historicalromance from your favorite authors

 

 Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Steamy and Sweet romances

Published Date: E-Book releases October 18, 2022

Publisher: WOLF Publishing

 

This wintery holiday collection of seven never before published Regency romances by seven of your favorite historical romance authors will bring you dreamy gentlemen and fierce ladies that share swoon-worthy kisses, heart-pounding nights, and magical happily-ever-afters.

On WOLF Publishing's Naughty or Nice list, you'll find captivatingly sweet tales that melt your heart as well as sizzling romances that heat up your nights!

Find out who's been naughty and who's been nice this year, in...

 

Bree Wolf's: Once Upon an Aggravatingly Heroic Kiss

Once upon a time, our beloved Grandma Edie began her career as the best matchmaker in known history by using her extraordinary talent to bring about her own happily-ever-after...

Determined to perform a Christmas miracle by seeing her friend wed to the man she loves, Edith finds herself distracted from her task by a teasing gentleman with wicked eyes and a devilish smile.

 

Sydney Jane Baily's: A Diamond for Christmas

In a Regency Romeo and Juliet, heady desire blossoms between a lord and a lady from warring families.

Lord Geoffrey Diamond is the heir to an earldom with dash-fire to spare. There is no lady in London he ought not to be able to woo and win. Except one. Lady Caroline is vexed to learn the only man who makes her tingle is prohibited. Forbidden even to dance with Diamond, she finds herself breaking all the rules in order to follow her heart.

When they take a desperate chance on happiness, will it lead to a Christmas miracle or a Christmas calamity?

 

Tracy Sumner's: The Governess Gamble

He's a devil of a rake. Can an accidental governess teach him life's most important lesson?

To repair her scandalous reputation, American heiress Franny Shaw flees to London in search of a desperate nobleman with a title for sale. An impulsive decision places her in the path of lonely libertine, Chance Allerton, at Christmastide. Can a make-believe governess teach a wicked viscount a sizzling lesson in love or will it take a holiday miracle?

 

Fenna Edgewood's: The Countess's Christmas Groom

She is his ideal match. The woman he has been waiting for all of his life. The only problem? He's her servant.

This Christmas, two very unlikely individuals are about to realize they are one another's ideal match. And once mutual desire has been sparked, they will never be parted, no matter the price they must face.

 

Charlie Lane's: A Very Daring Christmas

Christmas is the most daring time of the year.

Crowded London streets, eccentric shop keeps, violent-minded maids, and chaotic coffeehouses. A daring but reluctant debutant and the steward who adores her will brave it all to find the elusive perfect gift that could win their hearts desires.

 

Jennifer Monroe's: Gentleman of Christmas Past

A lady determined to find love. A gentleman wanting her hand in marriage. A Christmas story you will never forget.

Miss Agnes Fitzimmons and Mr. Phillip Rutley each have a Christmas wish—to marry one another. Yet with financial burdens threatening to keep them apart, it will take a Christmas miracle to have the happily ever after they deserve.

 

Meredith Bond's: Christmas Intrigue

Can the joy of Christmas, and a beautiful woman, distract him from his duty?

Is it a recipe for disaster? Not even close. Whether Markgraf Alexander Kottenfurst thinks the spirited Prudence Torrington is naughty or nice will determine if this Christmas intrigue will lead to something wonderful.

 

Authors

Bree Wolf, Sydney Jane Baily, Tracy Sumner, Fenna Edgewood, Charlie Lane, Jennifer Monroe, Meredith Bond

 

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Suspense #action #adventure from guest #author @marteekakarland for #teaserTuesday with an excerpt from #MCromance Chase on #preorder now @changelingpress

 

 

Bones MC

Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense, Action & Adventure

Date Published: 09/30/2022

 

Cotton: When I avenged my sister’s murder, I knew the consequences. I didn’t expect anything less than prison. I got it. In spades. I survived ten years of hell. I was just fifteen when I was sent away but I never regretted taking the law into my own hands. But the father of the man I killed is now a judge, and the ten years I gave the state might not be enough.

I thought I could disappear into the little Kentucky town and keep my head down and keep my nose clean. What could be so hard about that? But I'm on parole and everything is stacked against me. When the only place that will hire me happens to be a biker bar, staying out of trouble might be too much for me to manage. Then Chase steamrolls into my life and I know I have much more than my freedom to lose. This man has the power to tear out my heart.

Chase: I’ve spent the better part of my life in the shadows. Before Bones MC, my team worked for some shady people -- as assassins. I thought I was sacrificing for the greater good. Turns out I was just one more bad guy working for more bad guys. I can’t seem to atone for the sins of my past. No matter what I do, those demons still haunt me.

The second I spot Cotton, everything changes. Everything about the girl screams “battered woman,” but she’s more than that. There is death in her eyes. She’s killed, but she’s not a killer. No matter what, no matter who comes after her, I will protect her till my last breath. Because she is my only salvation. She’s my woman.

EXCERPT

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2022 Marteeka Karland

“Let me go. Now.” That was another thing I’d learned in prison. You put up or shut up. Once I’d set a boundary, I had to follow through or this would never end. And this guy would get what he wanted.

He squeezed my arm harder, this time standing and pulling me against him. “You’ll get under that fuckin’ table and suck my fuckin’ dick like the good little whore you are, or I’ll carry you outa here and we’ll all have a fuckin’ go.”

His buddies laughed and clinked beer bottles like it was one big party. There was no way I could keep these guys from doing whatever they wanted unless someone came to my rescue. Which this guy had obviously planned for. It was a dark corner fairly close to the door. All he had to do was get me outside before anyone noticed. Assuming anyone cared. But I had the feeling the guys from Bones might take exception to anyone outside their territory taking an employee out of their bar. That’s the way it was in prison. Bones may not claim me as one of their own, but they would absolutely not allow another gang to disrupt their business or mess with their employees. At least, that’s what I was counting on.

The second the words were out of his mouth, my hand shot between his legs and grabbed his crotch. I squeezed his balls as hard as I could, thankful he’d grabbed my left arm and not my right. He gave a strangled cry and doubled over, letting go of my arm, trying to pry my fingers loose but unable to do more than weakly tug at my wrist. I squeezed just that little bit tighter, putting every ounce of strength I had into hanging on and tugging with a sharp jerk. The big guy fell to his knees and I let go, stepping back quickly. I gripped my heavy serving tray in both hands, bringing it back like I was readying myself to hit him with it even as I continued to back away.

I bumped into someone and a big palm landed on my shoulder. I thought I was in big trouble, but the hand pulled me back gently, and a huge guy stepped in front of me, putting himself between me and the three men at the table.

“There a problem here?”

“Yeah, there’s a fuckin’ problem! Bitch threw herself at me then tried to back out. Tried to crush my fuckin’ balls for no fuckin’ reason!”

“In my experience, women like Cotton don’t put their hands on men like you willingly.” Oh, my God! Could this night get any worse? The man who’d come to my rescue was Chase Dutton. I knew he was a member of Bones, but I tried to stay away from him as much as I could. It was no secret his brother was a police officer and the last thing I wanted was to have another set of eyes on me. I had no idea why Pops and Cain had hired me, but I didn’t want any complications in case they changed their mind.

“Why, you son of a bitch!”

The big guy lunged at Chase, but Chase simply caught him by the throat, pulling a gun and bringing it to the man’s temple in one smooth move. The second the barrel touched his head, Chase cocked it.

“No one touches the servers. Especially when they don’t want it.”

“But she --” He was cut off when Chase brought the butt of the gun down on his head once before putting the barrel back to his temple. The guy’s knees threatened to buckle, but he kept his footing. Barely.

“Don’t matter if she did. When you touched her, she changed her mind. That’s all that counts. So you and your buddies here are all gonna fuckin’ leave the bar. Now. Don’t come back.”

“You can’t throw us out!” One of his buddies had stood but made no move to get help. In fact, he had his hands up and backed up a couple steps, belying his statement.

“He can,” Pops said, coming up behind me. Again, he moved me gently out of the way, putting himself between me and the three men. “So can I. We both say to get the fuck out.”

The bar had quietened near us, but the other side seemed oblivious. I looked around to see a couple at my tables raising nearly empty glasses or bottles wanting refills. I desperately wanted to duck my head and just go on about my job, but I had no idea what was expected of me.

“You good, Cotton?” Chase asked, not looking back at me but still eyeing the men who’d yet to leave.

“Yes,” I said softly. Automatically. My arm hurt, but I wasn’t about to draw more attention to myself. “May I go back to work?”

He glanced at me then and I quickly looked away. Chase Dutton was the sexiest man I’d ever seen. And a man I had no business even looking at. He also seemed to hate me on sight. Cain and Pops both assured me they would keep my incarceration to themselves, and I didn’t want to take a chance on anyone else finding out. Which Chase likely had. Things always changed when anyone found out. People I thought were friends suddenly wanted nothing to do with me. I couldn’t really blame them, but it hurt that no one thought me important enough to find out my side of the story. I’d kind of been crushing on Chase from a distance, and to have him affirm that I wasn’t worth befriending -- even though I already knew that’s what he thought -- would hurt worse than when it had happened before. Because I was stupid to let my emotions get the better of me like this.

“What?” Chase glanced back at me, then snapped, “No you can’t go back to work! Get your ass to the office! I’ll talk to you after I’ve taken out the trash over here.”

 

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Young actress Nina Landau is living in New York City, trying to make it on Broadway in the early ‘70s. #newrelease The Understudy #romance #historicalromance

 

 

 Romance, Historical Romance

 Publisher: Hansen Publishing Group

 

Young actress Nina Landau is living in New York City, trying to make it on Broadway in the early ‘70s. Travel back in time with The Understudy—a book actor Stacy Keach calls a “…must read for all lovers of theater...” Follow Nina as she braves auditions and eventually succeeds on the Broadway stage. Discover the backstage drama, how Broadway actors brave the occasional mistakes and celebrate opening night at Sardi’s! Although Nina's adventure is from another era, her love story is timeless.

About the Author

Ellen Tovatt Leary is an actor and writer born in New York City. She performed in theaters across the country, including Broadway, off-Broadway, and many regional theaters. She worked with Hal Prince, Maureen Stapleton, James Hammerstein, and many others. After a life-long career in the theater, Ellen started writing. For fourteen years, she was on the writing staff of the Carnegie Hill News in New York. She has published short stories, poems, and two widely acclaimed books: her memoir “Mother, Once Removed” (2015) and her novel “The Understudy” (2020).

 

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OUT NOW—The Proposal Laughbox (Laughbox Boxed Sets, Book 2) by Julia Kent (@jkentauthor) #romcom #boxset #newrelease

 

The Proposal Laughbox contains THREE full-length novels and TWO novellas - ONE ALL NEW! - from New York Times bestselling romantic comedy author Julia Kent’s series.

 

Who doesn’t love a funny, heartwarming proposal? Diamond engagement rings, flowers, candy, romantic dinners — it’s all in here in rom com style.

 

Julia Kent’s madcap style, that is.

 

Future brides swallow engagement rings, paparazzi crash tender moments when billionaires pop the question, mistaken identity causes mayhem, small-town lumberjacks ask their girfriends for their hands in marriage, and rock stars make grand gestures on New Year’s Eve.

 

Laugh, swoon, blush and let your imagination heat up as you read across varying series, different heat levels, but all connected by love.

 

This boxed set includes:

 

Shopping for a Billionaire’s Fiancee

Random Acts of New Year

Shopping for a CEO’s Fiancee (A USA Today bestseller)

Random Acts of Yes

 

and an ALL NEW novella, Love You Fiancee, featuring Kell and Rachel from Love You Right, as Kell pops the question during the I Will Always Love You festival in his hometown of “Love You,” Maine - where every day is Valentine’s Day.

 

Sink into five fun books that leave you with all the feels, loads of laughs, and strange looks from people around you as you read, giggle, and fall in love.

 

Note: each of these books can be read as a standalone, but they are part of larger series. All of my Laughbox boxed sets are designed to give readers a taste of my books, centered on a specific concept (in this case, proposals and engagements). Full disclosure for readers.

 

 

Buy Links: 

 

Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/Proposal-Laughbox-Boxed-Sets-Book-ebook/dp/B0B4MSM9XM/

 

Amazon UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Proposal-Laughbox-Boxed-Sets-Book-ebook/dp/B0B4MSM9XM/

 

Amazon AU:  https://www.amazon.com.au/Proposal-Laughbox-Boxed-Sets-Book-ebook/dp/B0B4MSM9XM/

 

Amazon CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/Proposal-Laughbox-Boxed-Sets-Book-ebook/dp/B0B4MSM9XM/

 

Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-proposal-laughbox/id6443007900

 

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-proposal-laughbox

 

Nook:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-proposal-laughbox-julia-kent/1141675800?ean=2940185730058

 

Website:  https://jkentauthor.com/books/book-bundles/

 

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-proposal-laughbox-laughbox-boxed-sets-book-2-by-julia-kent

 

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61371661-the-proposal-laughbox

 

 

Author Bio:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 4 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.

 

From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire she met in a romantic comedy).

 

She lives in New England with her husband and three children where she is the only person in the household with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.

 

She loves to hear from her readers by email at julia@jkentauthor.com, on Twitter @jkentauthor, on Facebook at @jkentauthor, and on Instagram @jkentauthor. Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com

 

Social Media Links:

 

Website:  http://jkentauthor.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jkentauthor

Newsletter:  http://bit.ly/2PIBi9n

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jkentauthor/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-kent

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3238619.Julia_Kent

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Kent/e/B00A99V268/

 

Read a teaser  from Love You Fiancee

 

His lemur was limp.

And it was all his fault.

His and his alone.

That’s what Kell got for ordering a lemur costume online instead of finding a store and trying one on, or having one made to order. Two-day shipping was the biggest selling point, and though he’d bought the most expensive option, there hadn’t exactly been a plethora of choices.

Of all the bungles: He’d planned his marriage proposal down to the last detail, but forgot about the lemur costume until it was almost too late.

Leo the Limp Lemur would have to do.

Scott Quinn has done the best he could, floating under the radar. #teaserTuesday #newrelease #scf-ifi #paranomalromance from @writingmaf and @changelingpress

 

 

Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi, Shapeshifters

Date Published: 09/16/2022

 Phoebe Walden finally has it all. She’s met the love of her life, and she has a family she can tolerate, who accept her and love her no matter what. But there’s a darkness shadowing her, waiting to destroy her chance at happiness. Not on Phoebe’s watch. However it’s not just her happiness at stake, but all of theirs if she makes even one mistake.

Scott Quinn has done the best he could, floating under the radar. Hard choices have made it difficult for him even to face himself in the mirror. But things finally looking up. He’s found the perfect woman, who seems to be into him as much as he’s into her. Yet Scott has secrets. He knows who he is and what he’s done will cause friction. And always in the shadows lurks the harsh reality that his freedom has been an illusion all along.

 

EXCERPT

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2022 MA Freeman

 

Scott

Something wasn’t adding up here. Scott Quinn frowned at the data scrolling across his computer screen while comparing it to the file sizes collated at the bottom. None of this made sense. Not the file sizes nor the access times or the user accounts identified with random files. To be honest, it looked like accidental typos or errors, yet there were too many of them to write off.

Movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention. He couldn’t help but smile at the window separating his office from the IS pool. She had arrived. Scott watched with interest as Phoebe Walden entered the outer office and took her place at her assigned computer. Only a few months had passed, but Scott was used to how she captivated all aspects of him.

Those instincts, the ones that had kept him alive, had been explicit in their need the first time he had laid eyes on her. They wanted her in their den, where they could keep her forever.

Scott knew it was crazy. But he was used to it after all these years, coming to terms with behaviors by no means human. The trick was learning to coexist with them, to incorporate them into his human life. To trust they would never lead him down the wrong path.

That meant he was planning to ask the delectable Phoebe out on a date. Now granted, there were issues to overcome. One, he was her direct supervisor, so there was an element of inequality within their power dynamics. Two, there was a company policy about fraternizing among coworkers that he was planning to disregard completely. And three, there were the secrets he carried with the potential to drive a wedge into any trust they might share in a relationship.

Scott watched through the glass. His smile widened into a grin. Phoebe had a little ritual she followed every day shortly after she arrived. It was the highlight of his morning to watch her perform it. After a thorough cleaning of everything on her desk, she would carefully unpack her messenger bag. He was amused while extremely curious about the little knickknacks she placed on her desk in full view of everyone, but mainly her.

There was a small folding picture frame and a small silver orb he thought might be a ball bearing, of all things. And last, a small wrench she propped atop the picture frame. Such a weird combination of items, yet Scott knew every one of them was significant in representing aspects of Phoebe’s life. He couldn’t wait to delve deep. To know her. To understand all the quirks that made her up.

Ping.

Scott frowned at the Instant Messenger alert. He clicked it open with a sigh. It was from his boss.

M. Foltz: Did you complete the audit?

Of course, he wanted to know if the audit was complete. Scott rolled his eyes, annoyed Miles wanted an update already when the e-mail dictating the assignment had only come out this morning. But God save him from people who were tech illiterate. Or, in Miles’s case, tech dumb.

S. Quinn: The audit is going to take the better part of a week to complete. If you allow me to bring in help from the IS pool, it can be completed in three days.

Ping.

M. Foltz: No, the data is sensitive. It requires the highest of clearances. Complete it as soon as possible. Send regular updates.

He scowled. Not only was this going to be another case where Miles took credit for all his hard work, but to complete it quickly would require more than a few nights of burning the midnight oil. His plans for the delectable Phoebe were being put on hold.

S. Quinn: I’ll do my best. There will be an initial report by the end of the day.

Fuck. Miles was really starting to get on his nerves. A low growl worked its way up through his throat while his nails scratched a set of grooves into the wood of his desk. Maybe it was time to be more proactive at home. To thin the herd.

“Ahem.”

Scott’s head jerked up to see Phoebe standing in his doorway with her eyebrows slightly furrowed. How much had she seen? Shit, how much had she heard? Because that growl was in no way human-sounding.

“I did knock.” Her voice was professional, but her face still indicated she had witnessed his less than human annoyance.

“Do you need something?” Scott cringed internally. His voice sounded sharp. Too sharp. Damn Miles.

She smiled with those fire-engine-red lips. They had him shifting uncomfortably in his chair. “Something’s wrong with my headset. It’s nothing but static. Do you have another one I can use?”

He wasn’t surprised. They worked for a multibillion-dollar conglomerate that provided substandard products for its departments. Scott got up from his desk to get one out of the supply cabinet. He always made sure to order the crap items in bulk for this very reason.

“Of course.” He grabbed a box with the right headset in it. “Here you go. Are you settling in okay?”

Phoebe gave him a genuine smile. “Yes, things have been great. I was worried I wouldn’t be cut out for this, but so far, so good.”

Scott blinked and had to yank his more animalistic instincts back. The attraction was strengthening so much, so it briefly stunned him. “I’m glad. Don’t hesitate to ask if you do need something.”

That earned him another smile before she returned to her desk to get to work. Shaking his head to clear the lust-filled fog she had caused, Scott returned to his desk. As he got back to work, a portion of his brain was dwelling on Phoebe and the best way to go about working his way into her life or her into his.

 

About the Author

M. A. Freeman lives near Wilmington, NC and never makes it to the beach. Any free time is consumed with books, either reading or writing. An avid traveller and self proclaimed geek, trips abroad and to cons such as DragonCon in Atlanta are always on the agenda. Currently working full time in healthcare and attending school to obtain a Master of Library and Information Science degree to compliment the Bachelor's of Arts in English and Creative Writing.

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A bitter Scotsman and a French lass find themselves running from a painful past and toward a shared future #historicalromance #Regency #romance #newrelease from Bree Wolf #newrelease

 

#6 Love’s Second Chance Series: Highland Tales

Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Highland Romance, Scottish Romance

Date Published: September 8, 2022

 

In this Regency romance by USA Today bestselling and HOLT Medallion winning author BREE WOLF, a bitter Scotsman and a French lass find themselves running from a painful past and toward a shared future…if only they knew.

 

Ian MacDrummond is no more. He died three years ago off the Scottish Coast. In his stead, IAN STEWART now stands upon the deck of the Chevalier Noire, a French privateer. Tasked with a most urgent mission, Ian comes to realize that his past may not be as dead as he had thought—or hoped!—when his path crosses that of a young woman.

NOELLE CLEMENT had been happy once. Happy and in love. Now, all is lost—even her precious child. Unwilling to give up, Noelle accepts aid from the Duret family, who place a rather taciturn Scotsman at her side. Still, before long, Noelle comes to see that they have more in common than she thought.

As they rush to unearth the whereabouts of Noelle’s daughter, an old enemy closes in on them, threatening not only their tentative bond but also those they hold dear. In the end, it all comes down to one question: how far are we willing to go for those we love?

 

About the Author

 USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the LOVE'S SECOND CHANCE SERIES. Bree Wolf has always been a language enthusiast (though not a grammarian!) and is rarely found without a book in her hand or her fingers glued to a keyboard. Trying to find her way, she has taught English as a second language, traveled abroad and worked at a translation agency as well as a law firm in Ireland. She also spent loooong years obtaining a BA in English and Education and a MA in Specialized Translation while wishing she could simply be a writer. Although there is nothing simple about being a writer, her dreams have finally come true.

"A big thanks to my fairy godmother!"

Currently, Bree has found her new home in the historical romance genre, writing Regency novels and novellas. Enjoying the mix of fact and fiction, she occasionally feels like a puppet master, forcing her characters into ever-new situations that will put their strength, their beliefs, their love to the test, hoping that in the end they will triumph and get the happily-ever-after we are all looking for.

If you're an avid reader, sign up for Bree's newsletter at www.breewolf.com as she has the tendency to simply give books away. As a welcome gift, you also receive a book for FREE. Find out about freebies, giveaways as well as occasional advance reader copies and read before the book is even on the shelves!

 

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A Sisters of Sin novel #newrelease Femme Fatale, Jealousy #romanticsuspense #thriller Dive into an elite assassin organization that brings justice to the world. @LoloPaigeAuthor

 

 

Romantic Suspense, Romantic Thriller

Release Date: September 5, 2022

Publisher: Avoca Press Publishing

 

My code name is Jealousy, and I take the moral high road…most of the time.

Righting wrongs where no justice exists.

In life. In death. And in love.

 

My sniper dot targets the red-hot Irishman as The One. He’s The One, all right…the one that steals what no one else can…my heart.

He lies.

He cheats.

He steals.

And so do I…we’re the perfect match.

But when jealousy is a weapon for an assassin faced with a life-or-death choice,

Love doesn’t stand a chance.

Dive into an elite assassin organization that brings justice to the world.

 

We are the Sisters of Sin: A new thriller romance novel series you’ll die for.

 

 

Excerpt

Chapter 16 - Shayla Byrne

 

Code Name: Jealousy.

Bratislava, Slovakia.

 

When the wheels touch down in Vienna, I take a train to Bratislava under a fake name. I want to view the countryside on the ground, since this is my first foray to Eastern Europe. Trains relax me, unlike hurtling through the air in a metal sausage tube that could fall out of the sky at any given moment.

It gives me time to prepare for my first official assignment with the Sisters of Sin and review a few Slovak phrases I’d practiced. I settle into a comfortable seat in the dining car and place my dinner order. Brushing back strands of my blunt-cut red wig, I resist the temptation to scratch my itchy scalp. I hate wearing these wigs and miss my trusty black knit cap I wore in Ireland.

Mother has made it clear I’m to do a better job of keeping up my appearance, especially for situations like this job I’m on now. I’m anxious about working more in the open; I miss the dark blanket of night where appearance wasn’t the major concern in our family’s operation back home.

My appearance wasn’t high on my priority list until Collin Stedman swept me off my feet—and swept my virginity along with them. I wonder what he’s doing right now. I miss how easy I am with him. He accepts me as I am without bombarding me with questions about my past.

Unlike our family operation back home, Mother wants us to know who our marks are and why we remove them. She had assigned Vanity to brief me about this job before I left headquarters in Rome. Vanity’s specialty was dealing with the traffickers. She’d explained that my target is a powerhouse in the human trafficking industry that snatches young girls and women from Eastern Europe and trafficks them to Western Europe.

I sit up in my seat and open my tablet to read the encrypted email from SOS intel, then I scroll down to the photos section. The bald, middle-aged man with an ever-so-charming smile and expensive suit emulates a successful CEO on the cover of a business magazine.

How quaint.

I move my finger down to note the name of his front company: EuroComm. I frown at the subheading. The leading edge of Europe’s 5G wireless network.

Not true. Declan says China has now usurped that desirable distinction.

My eyes narrow. It makes sense this guy would run his trafficking business solely by digital means. Cousin Declan had explained how cybercrime investigation bureaus had hacked into encrypted email between the man in this photo and other ‘independent contractors’ to trace sources and IP addresses. The bureaus had followed his pathway through dozens of servers around the world.

But this sleaze runs a sophisticated network, staying ten steps ahead of everyone.

Until now.

Apparently, someone had become fed up with Mr. Sleaze’s operation and relayed his intel to one of the three remaining Conexus board members, Jeff Lynsey. In the name of humanity, he’d directed Mother to assign this trafficker as a prioritized hit.

Thanks to Cousin Declan—who taught me well—my affinity for navigating the dark web, hacking into mobile phones and email has come in handy. I’d traced the most recent online IP address to Bratislava, and turned it over to Finn Rogers, Mother’s right-hand man. He and his staff oversee all things technical, and they’d flushed out the details of where and when the mark would be most accessible.

I’m not crazy about doing this hit in an up close and personal proximity. As part of my apprenticeship, Mother is evaluating my ability to execute close contact hits when situations require it.

My reasoning to accomplish this job from a sniper’s distance fell on deaf ears. Mother wanted me out of my comfort zone to ‘become more flexible.’ She didn’t realize what she was asking of someone with an autistic obsessive-compulsive brain—I refuse to invoke the word ‘disorder.’ I don’t have a disorder—I just interpret information differently.

The Uncles call it my extra special gift.

Collin told me I’m not disordered. He made it sound I was more normal than normal people. And all my life I’d thought of myself as defective.

I let out a shaky breath, wishing this hit wasn’t my first SOS assignment.

There is more than enough potential for me to mess this up.

 

 About the Author

LoLo Paige is an award-winning author and former wildland firefighter, whose debut novel, Alaska Spark, received three awards: An Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion, an Eric Hoffer award, and a Next Generation Indie Book award for romance. Alaska Spark and Alaska Inferno have ranked No.1 on the Amazon Bestseller Lists for action adventure and romantic suspense in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The true story about LoLo’s fire crew escaping a runaway wildfire won an Alaska Press Club award and inspired her fire series.

Back in 2021 LoLo was invited to collaborate with five other award-winning and best-selling authors to write in the shared universe of the Sisters of Sin series, and it has been a wild adventure ever since! It has been an honor working with these five super talented authors to write Jealousy.

LoLo also has other books under the romance umbrella. Hello Spain, Goodbye Heart, and Irish Thunder, are two romantic comedies being published by The Wild Rose Press. Sign up for LoLo's email list to learn more about her books.

 

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