2016-10-30

Going Wild by Sydney Somers

Going Wild by Sydney Somers
A Spellbound/Sapphire Falls Story

Love at first sight, or a past they don’t remember?

More about the story!
Artist Angel Lancaster is determined to get out on her own, and away from her overprotective family and their secrets—at least for a little while. Sapphire Falls is the last place anyone would expect her to go, and the perfect spot to map out her new life. If only she knew what that was supposed to look like. The one thing it doesn’t include? Men, like smokin’ hot country boy Cade Marshall.

Cade doesn’t really believe in love at first sight…until Angel walks into his life. From the first moment he lays eyes on her vibrant smile, pink-tipped hair, and mysterious green amulet, he’s sure they’ve met before. Angel doesn’t quite see it that way, but he’s not letting that minor detail stop him from uncovering the truth behind their too-hot-to-handle connection. Angel might be hiding something, but so is Cade. It’s October in Sapphire Falls and he knows his hometown’s reputation, especially when it comes to falling in love.

More about Sydney!

www.facebook.com/sydneysomers

Going Wild
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2016-10-28

Going for Brook, by Kinsey Holley

Today I'd like to welcome Kinsey Holley, my partner in crime! Aiken the hero of her story, Going for Brook plays an integral part in my book, Going Back to Find You. And my hero, Jason, does Aiken a couple of favors in return in Kinsey's book, Going For Brook. There's also a cat that we share. lol! Jaiken is the best bromance ever, yo!

He can’t live with her, he can’t leave without her.


Brook’s parents passed away four years ago. They were happy in Sapphire Falls, but because they, and Brook, were…different, they didn’t let her spend as much time with kids her age as she wanted. Grown-up Brook is enjoying the friendships she’s formed with Hope Bennett, Peyton Wells, Delaney Bennett, and others. She loves Sapphire Falls and doesn’t want to leave.

Aiken Kavanagh came to Sapphire Falls from Silicon Valley right before the car wreck that claimed Brook’s parents’ lives. Charlie Lyall was one of Aiken’s closest friends. They went back a long way—a very, very long way. Aiken promised Charlie he’d stick around Sapphire Falls until Brook was ready to leave.

Because she has to leave. She’s only got a few more years before people start asking questions she can’t answer.

More about Kinsey!

http://kinseyholley.com/

Going for Brook
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2016-10-27

Going Haywire by Rachelle Ayala

Today's special guest is Rachelle Ayala, whose character, Honey Meyers, had an interesting encounter with my character Liz. Check out Going Haywire to read more about Liz’s encounter with Honey, and a zombie! And also, to find out what was really going on Saturday night at the bonfire!

Welcome, Rachelle!

Giving up sugar right before Halloween. Brilliant.
Going on vacation with an ex. Not so bright.

Honey and her ex-husband, Max, travel to Sapphire Falls to give their two young children the perfect Halloween treat. Max wants Honey back, and he’s counting on the magic of Sapphire Falls to seduce her into a second chance.

Honey is leery of Max and his tricks, but when he woos her with a Halloween romance complete with bonfires, hayrides, parties, and paintball, Honey warms to the idea of a new beginning.

Unfortunately, there's something off about Max that Honey can't put her finger on. When their vacation goes haywire, Honey must decide whether the treat of true love is worth all the terrible tricks life can play.

Excerpt:


Honey Myers had never been known for making good decisions.
If she had, she wouldn’t have:
1. married and divorced Max Wolff
2. agreed to go to Sapphire Falls with her ex-husband
and
3. decided to give up sugar right before Halloween.
So here she was, waiting at the taxi stand at a tiny airport in the middle of Nebraska with her son, Mattie, age four, and baby daughter Sara, barely sixteen months.
Problem? The last taxi had left the stand, the other passengers were busy piling into assorted pickup trucks, jeeps, and large jalopy sedans.
“Mommy? I’m hungry,” Mattie whined.
Sara babbled, chewing on her fingers and drooling, clearly overdue for a feeding.
“Where are we?” Mattie’s voice grew more high-pitched. “Why isn’t Daddy here?”
Good question.
When ex-Max, that was her nickname for him, had suggested a fun, family-filled vacation to the annual Sapphire Falls Halloween festival, Honey had been resistant. After all, ex-Max grew up in that small town and couldn’t escape it fast enough. He’d hated it and told her a million reasons why he would never, ever set foot in that boring one cow town till his dying day.
Clearly, he wasn’t dying, or one could hope. But as ex-husband’s went, ex-Max wasn’t too bad. He paid child support, he didn’t flaunt his dates around her, if any, and he even affirmed her decisions for Mattie’s preschool. He was also a good father during the few weekends he was around.
And not being around was his major failing.
Like now.
“I’m cold and I want a hotdog.” Mattie looked up at her with the pale blue eyes he inherited from his father. “Please?”
Sara squirmed in her stroller and her face scrunched, letting out an irritated cry for food.
Honey scrambled in her bag and handed both her children juice boxes, yes, full of sugar, but being abandoned by her ex-husband at a Podunk airport called for emergency rations.
She barely felt guilty as she fumbled with her cell phone for the Uber app to find a driver. They’d had a long flight and she had to get to the Rise & Shine Bed & Breakfast and find food or risk a double toddler meltdown.
“Ma’am, I can take you where you want to go,” a deep, booming male voice said, as a man jumped out of his extended cab pickup truck.
“Are you an Uber driver?” Honey narrowed her eyes at the broad-shouldered man who’d started picking up her luggage. As country boys went, this guy wasn’t bad at all. Square jaw, pale blue eyes, and dark brown hair made him quite the package. She could easily see him on a billboard selling tractors.
“Nope, this here’s Ford country.” He hefted her suitcase into the truck bed.
“Wait, I can’t go with you if you’re not from Uber.” Honey grew up in the big city, and she wasn’t about to become another statistic.
“I’m hungry,” Mattie shared with the towering farm boy who wore bib overalls, a plaid flannel shirt and a brown corduroy jacket.
“Here, have a Tootsie pop.” The man dug two wrapped Tootsie pops from his pocket.
Honey held up her hand. “I’m afraid we can’t accept that or the ride. Please take my luggage from your truck.”
But did anyone pay attention to her? Her son took the candy and gave the man a high-five.
Her daughter squealed with delight and clapped her hands, and her suitcases were soon joined by her roller bag and Sara’s stroller.
“It’s getting dark,” the man said, helping her into the cab. “Max said I’d find you here. He’s already at the Rise & Shine waiting for you.”
Which was why he was the ex-husband and she was going to need a lot of chocolate to get her through this haunted Halloween weekend. Except she couldn’t have chocolate—at least the kind with sugar in it.
“I’m Troy Caine, Max’s best buddy growing up.” The man introduced himself after making sure both Sara and Mattie were strapped into their car seats.
If it hadn’t been for the kindness of strangers, Honey wouldn’t have even made it to the taxi stand with luggage, children, and all their paraphernalia. But then, this trip had been the first time Max was able to leave his investment banking job for four days straight, and he wanted the kids to enjoy a small town Halloween.
Honey, too, had always been curious about Max’s love-hate relationship with Sapphire Falls, so when he'd mentioned an all-expense paid trip to his hometown, she’d jumped at the chance—right after she’d bet her sister, Candi, that she could kick her sugar habit, cold turkey.
“Well, thanks for picking us up.” Honey remembered her manners. “How far is it to Sapphire Falls?”
“About thirty minutes.” Troy steered the pickup onto the interstate.
They drove by miles and miles of empty fields with grain silos sticking like sentinels every so often. The sky was a cloudy gray and the landscape was flat.
“Is there really a waterfall in Sapphire Falls?” Honey imagined a trickling spray of bright blue water.
“No actual waterfall, but we do have an awesome river.”
“That’s not the same thing. How can you get away with the name Falls in a town without an actual waterfall?”
Troy snickered and rubbed his nose. “That’s because it’s not water that’s falling at Sapphire Falls.”
“Come again?” Honey noticed the sign on the turn off for Sapphire Falls, population 1221. Someone had put a line through the 1221 and painted 1388.
“It’s people.” He slowed down as the road narrowed. “They come and fall in love, and they never leave.”
He ended that sentence with a wicked laugh.

Read the rest of the chapter HERE


About Rachelle:

Rachelle Ayala is a bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She writes from sweet to steamy and believes that everyone should find love as often as possible, even if it's within the pages of a book. Rachelle is working on a sweet series of romances with pets and firemen, Have a Hart Romances, and one full of bad boys, Bad Boys for Hire. She also writes sports romances in both football and baseball, as well as many holiday romances, both sweet and spicy. She has won the 2015 and 2016 Readers Favorite Gold Award and the 2015 Angie Ovation Award.

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/RachAyala
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/rachelleayala
Website: http://rachelleayala.me


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We're Going to Make It by PJ Fiala

Today I'd like to welcome author PJ Fiala to my blog. My character, Liz, from Going Back to Find You, appears in PJ's book We're Going to Make It. PJ's characters Viv and Sage were some of Liz’s first customers, and she remains very grateful for their patronage. Thanks again, PJ and welcome!

A special thank you to Pg for allowing me to hop on her blog today and a warm welcome and thank you to all of her readers for stopping by.

Working on this story was a journey for me.  First of all I am excited to be included with all of these wonderful ladies.  Secondly, I love Sapphire Falls.  But, I had the added stressor of creating new characters to me, who will also spin off on their own journey in a new series for me titled the Bluegrass Security Series.  So, there were many elements to work around and with.  I found myself stressed out at times and then so excited at others that I couldn't type fast enough.  I hope you all enjoy my story of Sage and Levi and their escapades.  Oh, and how about a little excerpt?

Blurb:

In the security business things can happen fast – the same is true in the business of love.

Levi Jacobson spent 25 years serving his country in the Army. After his fiancée and the love of his life sent him a Dear John letter telling him she was marrying his best friend, he dug into his career with a vengeance, marching up the ranks to Major, right after vowing to stay away from women. Now retired from the military, and managing his security firm in Sapphire Falls, he can finally spend his days as he wants, earn a bit of money and enjoy small town life.

Sage Reynolds joined the Army at 18 to escape her small hometown and finally live her life as the woman she was – a tomboy. She excelled in everything Army; shooting, interrogation and surveillance. When her father became sick, she found herself back home in the small town she’d left as a teenager. A year later, her father gone, she needs a job and preferably in the big city. Overdue bills and no prospects force her to accept a job in Sapphire Falls for a man who is sexist, obnoxious and terribly attractive.

Levi and Sage need each other, at least as far as business is concerned. But, what about personally?

Excerpt:

Standing in front of the door to LJS, Sage took a deep breath. She needed this job; she had to keep reminding herself of this fact. Once it was over, she could head south and open her own security firm and walk her own path. Opening and closing her fists she dipped her head and continued.
She opened the door and stepped into the office. The atmosphere was…non-existent.  Pale green walls, two metal desks from the fifties strewn with papers and empty coffee cups sat to the left of the front door. To the right was a little rolling cart with a coffee maker, sugar and creamer, both of which had been spilled and not wiped up, and a stack of Styrofoam cups. The wooden coat rack screwed to the wall next to the door was graced with one coat and three empty brass hooks. Her stomach dropped. Living in Army barracks over the years, the one thing drilled into her head was neat and tidy. Orderly. Unplanned inspections kept her on her toes.
A creak sounded, and she turned to see the man from the diner sitting behind one of the desks, his soft brown eyes sizing her up. She watched as his eyes traveled the length of her body, not in an overtly sexual way, just an assessment. Probably trying to determine if she was armed. She smirked when she saw the recognition register on his face. She stepped forward and held out her hand.
“Sage Reynolds reporting for duty. I assume you’re Levi Jacobson.”
His brows raised into his hairline, his jaw tensed, and his back turned rigid. “Is this some sort of joke?” His voice was deep, edgy, and tinged with unhappy.
“Excuse me? Joke?” She tried keeping the edge from her voice but wasn’t all that successful by the look on his face.
He stood, and instead of taking her hand, placed his on his hips. “I hired a man named Sage Reynolds to work security here with me.”
The snark tinted her voice. “You hired me—Sage Reynolds. We never discussed my gender. Quite frankly, it shouldn’t matter. I’m trained, dependable, reliable, and ready to work with you. For two weeks, that is.”
He took a deep breath, seemingly to keep his irritation in check. “I don’t think this is a job for a woman. I hired a security specialist. A black belt in Jujitsu. An expert in surveillance.”
She placed her hands on her hips and dug her fingers in to keep herself in check. She needed a job and a paycheck. “Maybe not any woman. But then again, I’m not like most women. I’m your security, Jujitsu black belt, and surveillance specialist.” Her heart hammered. Sexist. Figured.
The door opened, and a cool blast of air circled the room and turned up the corners of the papers sitting on Levi’s desk. A large man breezed into the room. That is, he breezed as much as a man his size could breeze. He was six-foot-four, broad as a refrigerator, and weighed about 320 pounds. He had sparkling blue eyes and blond hair in need of a trim, but he had a face that looked…happy.
He skirted around Sage and stopped at the coffee maker. Pouring a cup, he laced it with sugar and turned toward her. He glanced down to her Army boots and then back up to her eyes. A big smile creased his face as he held out his hand. “Chuck.”
She turned to face him head on, glanced at his offered hand and placed hers in it. She squeezed as she shook his hand. A firm handshake is the best introduction you can give someone, her father would say. “Sage.”
Chuck’s eyes grew big and round. With disbelief in his voice, he said, “You’re the new guy?” He turned his gaze to the man behind the desk.
“She’s not working here,” he clipped.
“You hired me to do a job, yet you’re firing me because I’m a woman? I’d say you’re a sexist and about ready to be served with a lawsuit.”

Thanks again and welcome to Sapphire Falls!

About the Author

I am a wife of thirty years, a mother of four grown children and the grandmother of four lovely grandchildren. When not writing a new story, I can be found riding my motorcycle and exploring this fabulous country of ours. My writing revolves around people anyone would love to spend time with. No self-absorbed billionaires for me.

Earning my Bachelor's Degree later in life fulfilled a dream for me. Then, I found the courage to write and I haven't looked back. I have several published books and continue to write daily. I have served as the VP of Communications for WisRWA and devote a large amount of my time helping other authors slog their way through this thing called publishing. 

I come from a family of veterans.  My grandfather, father, brother, two of my sons, and one daughter-in-law are all veterans.  Needless to say, I am proud to be an American and proud of the service my amazing family has given.

I love to hear from fans, so look me up and touch base.

PJ Fiala
We live in the land of the free, because of the brave.









Authorgraph:

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2016-10-25

Going Back to find You

Today is release day! Whoo-hoo! The Sapphire Falls Kindle World Halloween novellas are finally here--including my own book, Going Back to Find You.

My hero, Jason, made a very brief appearance in the first Children of Night book, In the Dark. Ever since then, I've wanted to tell his story. But it just didn't happen. Until now!

Because even a vampire deserves a second chance.

When Jason Cook boarded the train to San Francisco, he didn’t plan on coming back. He never really thought he’d see Nebraska or Lizbeth Petersen ever again. But when an unexpected turn of events threatens the woman he’d loved and lost, he has no choice but to go back and try to make things right.

Lizbeth never thought she’d see Jason again, either—and she’s not so sure she wants to see him now. Her life’s a mess, but at least it’s her mess. And after a lifetime of other people making decisions for her, she’s looking forward to finally figuring out some things on her own. Besides, Jason already left her once when she needed him. Why should she trust him not to do the same again now?


Warning: This is not a drill. Vampires are invading your favorite, small Nebraska town this Halloween. Does this mean Type-O flavored booze will soon be the new rage in Sapphire Falls? Hopefully, it won’t come to that. But you never can tell…

Excerpt: 

The Friday before Halloween…
Jason scanned the area around Sapphire Falls’ town square, searching for others of his kind and coming up blank. Not a huge surprise. He’d been hanging around town for over a week, following up on a tip he’d received from Nate, a former nest-mate, and he had yet to find any sign of vampires. He was starting to wonder if perhaps Nate’s informant hadn’t been bled a little too hard. It was possible the man had been making stuff up toward the end, or no longer knew what he was saying.
Oddly, there was no dearth of paranormal activity occurring in and around Sapphire Falls this Halloween season. Jason had already had some interesting encounters. Just the other night he’d come to the aid of a Sidhe lord, a woman and…and something else. Something that looked human but was probably an elemental of some sort. They’d been in trouble and asked for his help, so he’d driven them all (along with a full complement of dogs) down to York to get medical help from some other creatures he hadn’t immediately recognized.
That had been an eye-opening experience. But as far as vampires went, they were scarcer than ghosts. There didn’t even seem to be any rumors floating around.
It was still pretty early, however—just coming on sunset—and most of the people currently enjoying the festival were families with young children. Not the most promising of settings for anyone wishing to feed unobserved. But just because Jason couldn’t sense any other vampires in the vicinity didn’t mean they weren’t here. Or that they couldn’t sense him.
He growled softly in frustration. Time was running out for the Allen vampires.  If he didn’t catch up with them soon—before they were too far gone or before they did something irredeemably stupid—they’d be screwed. He should have already contacted Marc, or even Conrad, and told them what he’d learned. But it wasn’t much and it wasn’t good. So he’d waited.
He understood why he’d been chosen for this mission. Given his familiarity with the area, and his past relationship with some of Felicia’s family, it made sense for Conrad to have sent him here, rather than one of the others. And, if he were honest with himself, he’d wanted this. He’d have asked for it, if it hadn’t been offered. He’d have been disappointed as hell if the assignment had gone to anyone else. But, his personal feelings and experience aside, surely there must have been someone they could have found better suited for the task?
He wasn’t supposed to confront the ferals, he was merely supposed to track them and report back. To track them, for fuck’s sake.  Might as well hire an opossum in place of a bloodhound.
It wasn’t often that Jason wasted time bemoaning his fate. Things were the way they were, and all the wishing in the world wouldn’t change that. He’d never asked to be a vampire. He hadn’t thought it would be “cool” to live forever. He’d felt no need to be faster or stronger—or, lord knows, more flammable—than nature had intended. It had happened, all the same, without regard to his wishes; and he’d accepted that. Along with all the pluses and minuses that were part of the package. Because, what other choice did he have?
But, if he had to be made Vampire, was it really too much to ask that he be made a moderately competent one?
In his human life, he’d at least had that. He might never have been the best at anything, but he’d still managed to be better than most at pretty much anything he’d tried his hand at. Becoming Vampire had taken that away.
So many of a vampire’s individual abilities were dependent upon the strength, at the time of his turning, of the vampire who’d sired him. The ease and distance at which he could recognize other night-walkers; his susceptibility to sunlight; even the frequency at which he must feed—all were determined by that one event.
Attempting to create too many spawn in too short a timeframe could wear a vampire out, leaving him or her temporarily the worse for wear. But for the unlucky spawn, the weakness was permanent. Not that Floyd had cared about that.
Floyd Hall had been a pompous ass; greedy, opportunistic, unwarrantedly cruel. Jason didn’t think he’d ever been particularly strong, even at the best of times, but when he’d sired Jason, he must have been abysmally weak. A fact Jason hadn’t been in any condition, at the time, to even comprehend. It was only after he’d begun to have dealings with vampires who actually were powerful that he’d learned to tell the difference.
His current sire, Conrad Quintano, was generally acknowledged to be one of the strongest vampires alive. It was only natural that those he’d turned would be exceptionally strong as well—or even uniquely gifted, like Marc, possessing skills that not even Conrad could lay claim to. Useful, potentially life-changing abilities. Such as the talent for rehabilitating vampires who’d gone feral.
It was that particular ability, and the fragile hope that hung from it, that had brought Jason back to Nebraska, that had brought him here to Sapphire Falls just in time for Halloween. Of all the rotten luck. Talk about bad timing!
Everywhere Jason looked, he saw reminders of the holiday. From the artificial jack-o’-lanterns grinning at him from every lamppost, to the amiable scarecrows and sheaves of corn that lined the sidewalks. There were gauzy ghosts hanging from the branches of trees in the park, comical “gravestones” in front of the haunted house. It was all so charming and picturesque and playful--and depressing as hell.

Read more HERE

More about PG! 

 Going Back to Find You


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2016-10-23

Character Interview with Katey Hawthorne and Kinsey Holley

We’re here with Matt Antonin and Thackeray from Katey Hawthorne’s Praesidium, Aiken Kavanaugh from Kinsey Holley’s Going for Brook and Jason Cook from PG Forte’s Going Back to Find You.

Welcome gentlemen. It’s good of you to join us.  It seems you’ve all been involved with paranormal incursions, of one sort of the other this Halloween season.  So let’s start our questions there. Why don’t you tell us one thing that you found particularly challenging this Halloween?

Matt: Thackeray.

Thackeray: Matt.

Aiken: My mother. And vampires.

Jason:  Um, let’s see…there were feral vampires, evil fae, enchanted potions, shifters—yeah, I can’t decide. Let’s just say ‘all of the above’ and be done with it.


I understand that some of you are romantically involved with each other, while others are not, but I believe you all saw a little romantic action this Halloween. So why don’t you tell us a little bit about that?

Q#2: Do you believe in love at first sight?

Matt: No.

Thackeray: Definitely not.

Aiken: No. Lust, yes. Love takes a bit longer.

Jason:  I don’t know if it was love or lust—call it what you want. I’m going to say ‘yes’ to the question because all’s I know is I took one look at Lizbeth and I was a goner. Of course, she was naked at the time… Yeah, I’m sticking with ‘yes’.


Q#3:  Describe your perfect date?
Matt: Oh, you know, stopping crazy witches from inviting demons into our world.
Thackeray: Anything that doesn't involve stopping crazy witches from inviting demons into our world. Or demons at all.

Matt: Is Seir pouting in your head?

Thackeray: Oh yeah.

 Aiken:  Home, in bed, with wine and Brook. She says I’m boring, I say why not just skip to the good part, yeah?

Jason: A blanket by the river, a snack that’s big enough for the two of us to share. Maybe a threesome, if we’re in the mood and/or the snack gets lucky…

 Q#4 Finally, why don’t you tell us a little more about yourself?  For example, do you prefer daytime or night?

Matt: Night. It's quiet at night. And no one wants you to work.

Thackeray: Day. Less shit demonic goes down during the day. Usually.

Aiken: Night, definitely.

Jason: Night, for sure. I am a vampire, after all. Um…it’s okay to say that here, right?



Q#5:  What is your typical day like?

Thackeray: Look at the internet, map out paranormal activity, let a demon annoy me.

Matt: Work. Programming. Consulting. Witching. Laughing at a demon annoying him.

Aiken: A lot of time on the computer with clients. Nights in with Brook. Sometimes dinner out with friends.

Jason: Wake up at dusk. Go out and see what I can scare up for breakfast. Make love to Liz whenever I can. Try and stay out of Conrad’s way.


For more of this interview, please visit authors Katey Hawthorne:   and Kinsey Holley: 












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Going the Extra Mile by Katy Alexander

Today's very special guest is Katy Alexander. And Going the Extra Mile marks Katy's debut as an author. So please give her a great big welcome! Congrats, Katy! 

Small town. Big hearts. But can one little secret tear it all apart?

Abby is a vivacious student teacher in the charming little town of Sapphire Falls, renting a room in the quaint B&B and flirting with Mike, the hunky coach who makes her heart flutter. When a tipsy post-game kiss leads to more, Abby quickly finds herself falling for the small-town charmer.

But however sweet his kisses and however badly she wants to stay, Abby knows the secret she’s keeping will change the way he sees her forever. Unless she can trust the townspeople enough to open up her heart, Abby will have to leave Sapphire Falls behind and never look back.

Excerpt!

Abby glanced up at the clock in the hallway. She had about twenty minutes before most of the faculty would start arriving. She’d learned several weeks ago what time to get to Sapphire Falls High School for uninterrupted copy machine use. Even so, she walked a little faster than necessary. The average person would probably find it comical what a hot commodity a copy machine was in a school. And private, uninterrupted, “no one tapping their foot as they wait” time was almost unheard of. If you were lucky enough to find that magical time, you took advantage of it and kept it a secret, like a fisherman’s sweet spot.

She’d hinted to the students that there would be a pop quiz on the first three chapters of Lord of the Flies today, and if she didn’t follow through, she’d lose all credibility with them. Being a student teacher was tough enough, but she’d learned quickly from veteran teachers that not following through would only make it worse. Abby had stayed up late typing the quiz and arrived extra early to print it out, then headed as quickly as she could without flat-out running to the copy room.

Abby felt a tap on her right shoulder. Someone had certainly snuck up on her, because she hadn’t heard a thing. When she turned to look, no one was there. She didn’t have time to contemplate that weirdness. Thinking it must have been her imagination, Abby had turned to continue her fast walk to the copy room when Mike jogged by her on the left, letting out a “Woot!” as he passed.

“Damn it, Mike!” Abby said, loudly enough for Mike to hear but not loudly enough that anyone nearby would.

Mike turned around and jogged backward down the hall. “You snooze, you lose,” he said with a smirk.

Abby was glad she’d worn flats, because heels totally would have sucked when she took off running after him.

Mike stuck his arms out to block her way with a grin on his face. Abby faked left and ran to the right, swiping at the papers in his hand, and she giggled as she passed.

Abby slowed back to her fast walk and called, “I hope you have a good defensive coordinator helping you with that football team, Coach!”

“Ah, Miss Sanders, it’s nice to see you can do smartass so early in the morning,” Mike called with a chuckle.

Abby glanced back to see him snatching his papers off the floor and rising into a run like a sprinter out of the starting blocks. Unable to contain her squeal and laughter, Abby took off running. They were almost to the copy room and she wasn’t taking any chances he’d beat her.

They arrived at the door at the same time and crashed into each other as they both tried to fit through.
“Ladies first,” Abby sing-songed as she slipped under the arm he’d used to stop himself in the doorway.

“Aw, come on, Abby. I’ve got these health tests I need to get run off for today, and you English teachers take forever,” Mike said as he accepted defeat and walked toward the teacher mailboxes.

“You shouldn’t have waited if you needed them today,” Abby said with a smirk, and pushed the buttons on the machine. She was truly thankful for secretaries who arrived early and turned the machine on so there was no wait for it to warm up.

“What about you?” Mike asked as he checked his mailbox.

“Mine is a pop quiz, so it was a last-minute thing,” Abby said smugly. “Plus I’m new. I’m just learning.” She batted her eyes and punched the start button.

Mike held up several catalogs for dancewear, prom decorations, fundraisers, and office equipment. “I want to again thank you for signing me up on catalog.com for all these wonderful catalogs I’ve been receiving daily.”

Abby laughed. “You started it when you covered my Jeep in Post-it notes.”

“The look on your face… Man, I wish I’d had a camera.” Mike smiled as he scanned the mailboxes with the catalogs in hand.

Abby knew what he was up to. He was going to put them in the mailbox of some unsuspecting teacher, who would be thoroughly confused.

“Don’t stick your junk in my box,” Abby said with an eyebrow raised and pursed lips.

Mike flashed a grin her way and started to put the magazines in her mailbox.
“You don’t want me to fill your box with my junk?” Mike asked with eyebrows raised of his own.

“Oh Coach, you know you don’t have an adequate amount of junk to fill my box,” Abby said, feigning a pout and shaking her head.

Mike chuckled and put the magazines in the box above Abby’s. It was the business teacher’s mailbox. Abby was impressed. Not only was she the senior sponsor for the prom, but she was often found pulling catalogs out of the trash for economics lessons. Mike paid attention to his coworkers. That was nice. He’d turned what could just have been a silly prank into a genuinely thoughtful gesture.
Abby gathered her stack of quizzes and headed for the door. “It’s all yours.”

“Is it, now?” Mike looked her up and down from head to toe and winked.

“Don’t you wish?” Abby laughed and turned for the door.

“Hey, Abby, I did want to ask you if there was any improvement in Brody’s English grade,” Mike said.

Abby stopped and leaned on the door jamb. “A little. He seems to be making more of an effort, so hopefully he’ll bring it up by the end of the semester. How about for you?” Abby asked.

“Same for me. I’m going to stay on him. There’s no excuse, he’s a smart kid.”

“Agreed. I gotta run and finish my coffee before the kids get here. Will I see you later?” Abby asked.

“I don’t know. It depends.” Mike gestured toward the copier. “You know what sucks about giving a health test?” he asked as he pushed start.

“What?”

“Grading them.”

“I hear ya.”


Abby headed out the door.


More about Katy!
www.facebook.com/authorkatyalexander

Going the Extra Mile


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2016-10-21

Going to Be Yours by Samantha Chase

Today's special guest is Samatha Chase, author of Going to Be Yours Welcome, Samantha!

They’ve been in an intimate relationship for three years, they’ve just never met.

How is the story connected to Sapphire Falls?

Will Campbell was born and raised in Sapphire Falls and he works for Sapphire Falls Auto Care.  Serena Hughes is from Lincoln, NE, but her cousin Peyton lives in Sapphire Falls.  And it’s through that connection that Serena has been coming to the local festivals for the last three years.  She’s kissed Will at each of those festivals while he’s worked the kissing booth and she’s finally ready to formally  meet him.

More about the story:

Will Campbell has been in an interesting relationship for the last three years – with a woman he
doesn’t know!  He’s been kissed by the same mysterious woman at all of the Sapphire Falls festivals
while working at the kissing booth, but he has no idea who she is and she disappears after every steamy
kiss.  But this year?  This Halloween festival?  He vows to stop her and convince her to do more than just
kiss and run.

Serena Hughes is that mystery woman and she’s tired of this crazy game of kissing and running.  It had
started out as a dare, but now she wants more.  She wants to know who this sexy man is who kisses like
a dream and has her anxiously awaiting the next Sapphire Falls festival.  When she hears of the first-ever
Halloween festival coming to the small town, she vows that this is going to be the year where she’s
going to kiss and then stay put.  And maybe – just maybe – she’ll get a jump start on the festivities.

While Will’s planning his strategy, he never expects to run into his mystery woman while driving down
the street.  And once he sees her and confronts her, there’s only one thing he can do – kiss her.  And
keep kissing her until she promises to give them a chance beyond the next festival.


More about Samantha!

www.chasing-romance.com.

Going to be Yours
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2016-10-20

Going Strong, by EmKay Connor

Welcome EmKay Connor, today's featured author!

Ember Jones-Roseman needs a reminder that life is about the journey, not the destination, and Ford Slater is the perfect man for the job.

Ford Slater, six-time national BBQ cook off champ and Montana cattle rancher, might be the perfect blend of down home sex appeal "Good Grub" needs to become the next nationally syndicated cooking show. But not if TV producer Ember Jones-Roseman fails to get the laid-back cowboy across the country to Atlanta in time to audition. Ford has a fondness for back roads and the slow lane that might run Ember's career straight into the ditch, although his lazy smile and whiskey-smooth voice are enough to tempt her to take a detour off her fast-track to success.

Ford promises Ember they can hit the highway, but only if she agrees to spend one night in Nowhereville U.S.A. Will the small-town magic of Sapphire Falls be enough for an easygoing, sweet-talking cowboy to convince an OCD, Type-A overachiever that life is meant to be savored, not conquered?

Book 1 in The Natural Love Series, featuring sisters Ember, Sierra, Brooke and Windy.

More about EmKay!

www.sexysassyromance.com

Going Strong
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2016-10-19

Going for Wilder by Trish Edmisten

Welcome to Trish Edmisten, today's featured author.

It’s been ten years since Jackson walked away from the only woman he ever loved. Maybe it’s time he did something about that.

Some things are just meant to be. Jillian Somers falling in love with Jackson Wilder was one of those things. Everything changed when Jackson’s mother died. They drifted apart until the distance between them became impossible to overcome. 

 In the ten years since they’ve spoken, Jillian has done everything she can to forget about Jackson and move on with her life. She’s even tried dating other men, but it’s never seemed to work out. When her ex comes to town, it’s clear he’s there for more than just the festival. Now Jillian has to decide if she’s going to give Garrett another chance or if she’s going for the one man she’s always wanted.


More about Trish!

www.trishedmisten.com

Going for Wilder
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