Aloha to Julie Brannagh and GUARDING SOPHIE (part 1)

Now that baseball has a world champion, all eyes are on the football race ... and Julie Brannagh's new release, GUARDING SOPHIE:

Hearts beat and sparks fly when two people find shelter in each other

Seattle Sharks wide receiver Kyle Carlson needs to escape and Noel, Washington, is the perfect place for him to do it and figure out his next step. He likes the seclusion and predictability of the small town…until the biggest surprise of his life turns up in the local grocery store.

Sophie Hayes has her own reasons for disappearing without a trace and moving to Noel. This mountain town makes her feel safe for the first time in a long time. But her quiet routine is threatened when Kyle walks back into her life. Growing up in the same Florida town, she always had a little thing for the sexy football player. This tie to her old life, though, could mean she has to run again, even if her heart wants to stay.

When the reason she fled shows up in Noel, Kyle and Sophie, with a little extra help from his teammates, must decide to stay and fight for the life, and love, they’ve found together.

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

USA Today Bestselling Author, Julie Brannagh has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. She lives in a small town near Seattle, where she once served as a city council member and owned a yarn shop. She shares her home with a wonderful husband, two uncivilized Maine Coons and a rambunctious chocolate Lab.

When she’s not writing, she’s reading, or armchair-quarterbacking her favorite NFL team from the comfort of the family room couch. Julie is a Golden Heart finalist and the author of contemporary sports romances.

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Avon Impulse offers an excerpt from GUARDING SOPHIE:

Kyle Carlson wore sunglasses, but they were no match for the brilliance of Noel, Washington’s late-spring sunshine. Noel was a mountain pass and a ninety-minute drive away from his life in Seattle. The small town was the perfect place to get lost for a while.

He shielded his eyes with one hand as the real estate agent and interior decorator he’d hired drifted into view. The real estate agent held out a shiny new set of house keys to him.

“It’s all yours, Kyle. Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” he said. “Everything’s ready to go?”

“Of course,” the decorator said. “You wanted simple but comfortable and earth tones. I hope you’ll love it. If you have questions or need anything else, please give me a call right away.” She dug into what Kyle knew was an expensive designer handbag and extended her brightly-patterned business card to him. “Thank you for the business and enjoy.”

“Take a look inside,” the real estate agent said. “I think you’ll love it.”

“I’ll do that,” Kyle said. “Thanks again.”

The real estate agent and interior designer shook hands with him and got into their car. He raised a hand in farewell as they followed the winding, narrow road back to downtown Noel, I-90 and civilization as quickly as possible.

Kyle longed for privacy like other people wanted drugs or alcohol. He hadn’t always been so anti-social. The past seven years of dealing with scores of family members, “friends” and others who thought he was their personal ATM machine since he was drafted into the NFL had finally taken its toll. He realized that his profession didn’t really lend itself to anonymity. Maybe he should have become a plumber or an auto mechanic instead of the starting wide receiver for the world champion Seattle Sharks. If he’d had a more unobtrusive life, he’d go to work from seven to four or so, go home, put his feet up, have a beer and quit worrying about the problems that came when one was lucky enough to earn a staggering income for catching a football six months a year.

Kyle walked up the front path and climbed two stairs to the A-line’s wraparound front porch. The front door of his new cabin was hardwood inlaid with baguettes of beveled, leaded glass. Two stories featured floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over a view of blue skies, puffy white clouds, and endless evergreens. Instead of the rustic, unfinished structure most people would imagine when hearing the word “cabin”, his new place was as luxurious as the stylish Seattle hotel he’d just checked out of. It was also the perfect place to hide out for a couple of months.

He stepped over the threshold of the cabin he’d spent a shocking amount of money on and took a deep breath. Sun-warmed, lemon-scented air surrounded him. The front door shut behind him as he glanced around.

The floors were hardwood. The furnishings were earth tones, man-sized, with a few brightly colored accents to draw the eye. A gas fireplace with a stone surround dominated most of one wall in the living room. A long staircase led to a loft that overlooked the first story and three bedrooms. He’d thought long and hard about the extra two bedrooms before buying the place. If he had nowhere for anyone else to sleep, they’d be a lot less likely to visit, which worked for him.

He let out a contented sigh as he realized the only sound was his breathing. He’d bought the house in the name of a trust his family and friends knew nothing about. He’d moved out of his huge house in Newcastle two days ago and used the proceeds from its sale to fund the house he was currently standing in and a one-bedroom condo in a Bellevue high rise, also in the name of the trust. It was his choice who found out where he was and what he was doing from now on.

He’d have almost two months of solitude before training camp started. He couldn’t wait.

Other books in the Love and Football series 

Aloha to Melissa West and RACING HEARTS

I was born in Kentucky ... so I happy to welcome Melissa West to SOS Aloha.  She is celebrating the release of RACING HEARTS, Book 1 in the Hamilton Stables series.

In the lush heart of Kentucky, the Hamiltons are horse racing royalty, born to produce champions. To win takes heart and soul—and to love takes the wild spirit of the land itself…

The oldest of three headstrong brothers, Trip Hamilton is considered the best horse trainer in the world. But he learned long ago to keep his focus on the horses and away from the riders. He’s seen the way heartbreak can waylay a career, and he’s determined not to risk it—until a stubborn, sexy rider thunders into his life, breaks his resolve, along with several of his rules, and takes his heart right out of the gate…

Emery Carlisle has a point to prove. She’ll be the first woman to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby, if only Trip will hire her, and let her ride the spirited colt she fell for at first sight. He won’t—unless she agrees to train with the horse at Hamilton Stables, under his guidance. It’s supposed to be strictly business, but as the race approaches, and their undeniable chemistry builds, Trip and Emery may be headed for the greatest win of all—as long as the losses of the past don’t gain on them…

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Melissa West writes heartfelt Southern romance and YA sci-fi romance, all with lots of kissing. Because who doesn't like kissing? She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.

Connect with Melissa at melissawestauthor.com or Twitter @MB_West. For sneak peeks at upcoming titles, prizes, and more, join Mel's madhouse: facebook.com/groups/MelsMadhouse.

Kentucky's country roads in Blue Grass
Public Domain (link)

Hi there! My name is Melissa West, and I am the author of RACING HEARTS, Book 1 in the Hamilton Stables series, featuring three Southern brothers and their struggles through life and love. 

Today I wanted to share one of my favorite scenes RACING HEARTS that summarizes the three brothers perfectly. I hope you enjoy it!

“Glad to see it’s not just me who finds this awkward.” Emery started away as Trip

reached for her hand, stopping her. And damn it all to hell. Warmth spread through him, every nerve ending at full attention, attuned to the feel of her hand in his, its softness, the scab on her palm that had yet to heal. His eyes flicked down and then up to hers, and he knew he needed to pull away, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go.

“Don’t go,” he whispered. “You should meet them formally.”

“Why?” Emery asked, and despite her facade, he heard the hitch in her voice. Was she feeling what he felt? Like eight years of pent-up emotions had burst free, refusing to stay contained another second.

“Because, I—”

“Hey, brother,” Alex said, smacking Trip on the back just enough to cause him to lurch

forward into Emery, her forehead connecting with his chest.

“Ow.” She stepped back, rubbing the spot, which sent Alex into hysterics.

“Dude, you hit his chest. Not his head or even his chin. His chest. What are you, four-eight?”

Nick, the forever nice guy, reached out to her. “Are you okay?”

But her eyes were on Alex. “Five-two and a half, thank you. What are you? Five-ten instead of six-two or -three like them? I bet you needed psych sessions as a kid to boost your self-esteem, didn’t you?”

Alex grinned over at Trip. “I like her. You can keep her.”

Emery started to bark out a retort as Trip stepped between them. “All right, then, show’s over. Emery was just asking me to help her aunt lift something heavy.”

But when they all turned toward Annie-Jean’s booth, it became apparent that their little exchange had an audience. A large audience. Trip peered down the long row of booths, and every one of them had a town resident half-hanging over his or her table or just straight in the path, readying their gossip.

“Christ Almighty.” He sighed heavily and eyed his brothers. “Go, please, before they publish an article in the morning Tribune.”

Alex smirked, then spread his hands out like he was showcasing a news headline. “Sexy jockey gets it on with the Hamilton brothers. Full story on pages six and nine.”

Emery’s face lit with fresh rage. “Cute. You know, you really are a piece of—”

Trip gripped Emery’s hips and spun her around, easing her toward Annie-Jean’s booth.

“Yes, yes, he is, but you saying it out loud with Pastor Reagan in earshot won’t change it.”

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Wednesday's Warriors - Aloha to Lindsay McKenna and TANGLED PURSUIT

It is my pleasure to spotlight TANGLED PURSUIT from Navy veteran turned romance author Lindsay McKenna .... just in time for the Marine Corps' birthday and Veterans Day:

Navy SEAL Chief Wyatt Lockwood is fascinated by Marine sniper Captain Talia Culver. But she wants nothing to do with him after learning of his reputation as a heartbreaker. The cocky Texan refuses to take the hint and keeps placing himself in Tal’s path. When she agrees to help him tend to needy families in an Afghan village, she learns there’s more to this SEAL than meets the eye. But is she strong enough to risk having her heart broken again?

Wyatt can’t stay away from the beautiful, surly Marine. Tal is fascinating—and frustrating—and he is determined to crack through her tough exterior and get to know the soft woman he knows lurks beneath the surface. When he joins Tal on a sniper mission in the Afghan mountains, their bond continues to grow. But the mission takes a dangerous turn. Has he lost his chance with Tal forever?

TANGLED PURSUIT is Book 2 in the Delos series.

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Lindsay McKenna lives her life as a risk taker, and it shines through the books she loves to write: romance, adventure and suspense. She started writing at age thirteen and continues to hone her writing skills to this day. She sold her first romance novel in 1981. The rest is history.

Because she went into the military, this experience became the backbone of her writing—she is credited with writing the first military romance novel (Captive of Fate, 1983, Silhouette Special Edition) and has created a thriving sub-genre within the romance field! As a New York Times Best Selling author, she has sold 23 million books and in 32 foreign languages in her career thus far. Her many experiences in the U.S. Navy are backdrop for her understanding of the military in general, and also her very successful Morgan’s Mercenaries, which is an ongoing series in Silhouette to this day! Forty-five books strong!

Lindsay has gone Indie in 2015 and has created a new family saga on par with Morgan’s Mercenaries It is known as the DELOS SERIES. There will be paperback and eBooks created under Blue Turtle Publishing, her company for her fans. Readers who love Morgan and his family are bound to fall in love with the Culver family. Delos is romantic suspense, which Lindsay is well known for. It took her five years to create and bring DELOS to her readers. It was worth the wait, but we’ll let you decide that.

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Lindsay offers an exclusive excerpt from TANGLED PURSUIT:

Chief Wyatt Lockwood kept his gaze averted but was still able to find Captain Talia Culver, U.S. Marine Corps, who stood restively in the Bagram chow line. She was with her brother, Matt, and her sister, Alexa. He knew Matt well because they’d worked together on a number of black ops missions over the years. Alexa was an unknown simply because she was an Air Force combat pilot and he was a ground-pounder.

As he hungrily scooped up his second helping of six eggs, along with a tray piled high with bacon and toast, he smiled to himself. His “animals,” the other SEALs in his platoon, had their heads down, concentrating on wolfing down as much protein their empty stomachs could hold.

But he had other fish to fry. Namely, Tal. Damn, she was an Amazon-warrior knockout. Of course, he’d never tell her that. She’d get royally pissed off, turn on her heel, and leave him in a huff without another word. She was like that, quick to give him an icy glare. She didn’t have the time of day for him, which her body language had told him again and again—for three years, in fact.

He watched Tal and her sister, noting that Tal was taller than most women, although Alexa was only two inches shorter than her. Tal had a lean body that he found himself fantasizing about on far too many nights. Despite her height, she couldn’t have hidden her femininity if she tried.

Granted, out here in the badlands, women didn’t wear makeup or perfume—especially a sniper like Tal. The scent would carry on the wind, straight to the Taliban. They’d follow it and discover her hiding place. He couldn’t even think about what might happen after that.

Turning to his breakfast, he shoveled more eggs into his mouth, delighting in the line of sight he had on the woman he wanted in his bed—one way or another.

Wyatt had always danced away from serious, long-term relationships. Hell, he’d seen too many SEAL marriages fail horribly. A 90 percent divorce rate didn’t offer him the odds he’d need to even consider the idea, which was why he kept his hookups light and short-term.

He often told himself that he was doing women a favor by walking away in the morning. To lead a woman on by making her think there was hope for a serious relationship would be a dark falsehood. SEALs who were in love, he thought, had to lie to themselves about their odds of keeping a marriage together, given their brutal rotation cycle and the fact that they were often away from home for six months or more at a time. He wouldn’t put himself or a woman he wanted to love through that kind of minefield. Wyatt was always upfront with a woman who interested him—that it was for a night of sex, and that was it. If she agreed, they both walked away satisfied and happy the next morning.

Didn’t the woman ever get horny? Hungry for sex? God knew he did! But then, she was a woman, and her hormones were different from a man’s, although he did know plenty of women who liked having sex. Too bad Tal wasn’t more like them.

Wyatt had once heard Matt hint that there were two main reasons Tal wasn’t interested in him. First, he was enlisted and she was an officer. The UCMJ rules were very clear that it was taboo for men and women in those categories to get together. Of course, Wyatt never worried about that. SEALs had a hell of a reputation for breaking rules in the military and living to tell about it.

In fact, he knew plenty of officers and enlisted here on this base who would eagerly fraternize with one another. The key, of course, was keeping it hidden from a superior officer or individuals who might want to make trouble for the couple. If an officer was caught fraternizing with an enlisted, his or her career could go to hell pretty damn fast.

Maybe he could convince Tal Culver that he’d personally guarantee that no one on this base would ever find them out. He’d say whatever he had to in order to get her into bed. Then again, he’d have to get her to talk to him first, so the chances were slim to none that he’d have to bother with guarantees!

The other reason Matt had given him was cause for serious concern. He’d told Wyatt that Tal had lost the man she loved, a Marine sniper, six years ago. The couple had been deeply in love, Matt confided.

Wyatt had wanted to continue their conversation and was frustrated that he’d have to wait to learn more—if Matt was in the mood then to continue his confidences. Maybe she was still grieving. Wyatt had never been in love, so he didn’t understand someone having to work through years of grief.

The strangest thing was, he had a feeling—call it intuition—that deep down, Tal actually respected him. That was the thing about being a SEAL, working for years under life-and-death conditions. A SEAL’s intuition was so developed, it often flew off the charts. He’d seen intuition save a man’s life, and Wyatt’s psychic ability was damn near in the paranormal range. His platoon knew about his gift and always deferred to him on a DA when he told them to stop, that there was a Taliban ambush ahead of them. And he was never wrong.

He watched Tal lead the way from the chow line to the opposite end of the hall from where he and his team sat, and smiled. Yeah, she knew exactly where he was sitting and was going to avoid him big-time. Pushing the emptied tray away from him, he picked up his mug of coffee and finished it off. God, how he’d missed good, strong espresso. Six months without a sip of it had been starting to stress him out.

Tal move between the tables. His body responded as he silently observed her. She had one of the nicest-shaped asses he’d ever seen on a woman. He could tell by the way she walked, the way her loose-fitting Marine outfit flowed over her hips, that she would be exciting to explore. His hands itched. Damn. He had it bad for his ice queen.

Other books in the Delos series ...

Aloha to Lynnette Austin and THE BEST LAID WEDDING PLANS

Top 5 Reasons Magnolia House is 

the Perfect Wedding Destination

White roses, tulle, and lace. Beaded gowns and champagne. Jenni Beth Beaumont wants to spend the rest of her life up to her neck in weddings. And Magnolia House, her ancestral home, is the perfect venue—or it will be once she finishes it. Brides will come from all over to marry here. First, though, she has to restore the once stately, now crumbling, antebellum home to its original glory. To do that? She’ll have to accept help from Cole Bryson, the man she’d loved, the man who’d broken her heart. An architectural salvager, he has different plans for her home.

“You know, sugar, I could make us all a fortune from that place.”

“No. You tear down the houses you buy. Sell them off piece by piece.” She lowered her voice. “You’re not getting so much as a nail out of Magnolia House to sell to some yuppie who wants an—” She waggled her fingers to indicate quotation marks, “‘authentic piece of history’ in his upscale renovated city loft.”

“You done?”

“Yes, I am.” Hot color warmed her cheeks, as she grabbed her purse and dug through it for money to pay her bill.

Cole reached across the table and snatched it from her. “Hold on. No need to get your panties in a twist.”

“My panties are none of your business.” She all but hissed the words.

“They could be.”

Her heart squeezed. There it was again, rearing its ugly head. That silly crush she’d developed when Cole and her brother had run around together. She’d been so sure Cole was the love of her life.

And later...

Stuff happened and the crush ended.

“In case you’ve forgotten, you and I, Cole? We’re history. Your decision.”

Casually, he stretched his legs out in front of him. “Actually, I beg to disagree. But that’s not what I came to discuss.”

She stared at him, open-mouthed. How could he say something so preposterous, and then just...just table it. Stick it in his back pocket for later. No. She jerked herself back. A head game. Cole Bryson was toying with her.

So what is it that makes Magnolia House the perfect wedding destination? Here are the top five reasons:

1. What girl doesn’t want to get married at an authentic Southern plantation? Haven’t we all watched Gone with the Wind and wondered what it would be like to say our vows at Tara? Since General Sherman spared much of the Savannah area, most of Magnolia House is original. Any bride would want to walk down the magnificent, sweeping staircase to her groom.

2. The rose garden. Maybe the bride’s soon-to-be husband hasn’t promised her a rose garden, but Magnolia House does. Many of the fragrant bushes date back to her great-great-great-grandma’s mama as did their silver.

Her mother held up a silver cake server and gravy ladle. “These are part of the house’s original set.” She traced a finger along the intricate design on the cake server. “The Beaumont servants wrapped them in heavy felt and buried them in the rose garden in case any Yankees came snooping around.”

What better place for an outdoor wedding, surrounded by the scent of the roses, with the renovated antebellum home as a backdrop?

3. The stately oak trees draped in Spanish moss. Doesn’t this photo say it all?

4. The architecture of the house itself. Cole, with his architectural salvage company, Traditions, is able to dig up the columns, hardware, and whatever else Jenni Beth needs to renovate the house. When she decides to turn the old brick carriage house into her office, Cole finds the most incredible chandelier for it. It’s a…no, I think I’ll keep that a secret. You’ll see it when you read The Best Laid Wedding Plans!

As part of my research, I visited Pinch of the Past in Savannah. They deal in architectural salvaging, and, if you’re ever in town, you really owe it to yourself to stop in and take a peek. This photo shows one little corner of this incredible store!

While I was there, I found a great doorknocker for my office. It’s the yellow chicken!

5. The love that has been poured into Magnolia House. Jenni Beth and her family have loved this home for generations.

Jenni Beth and her father made their way slowly across the yard, her grandmother’s gilt-edged mirror between them. Maneuvering it through the door, they rested it against the carriage house wall. Beside it, on the window ledge, Ms. Hattie’s African violet was lush with deep purple blooms.

Her dad draped an arm around her waist and together they stared at their reflection. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head.

She moved back to the mirror, reached out to run a finger along the edge, and imagined she saw her grandmother’s face staring back at her.

“Thanks for this, Gram,” she whispered. “The house will be full of life and love again.”

Surrounded by that much love, any Magnolia House bride and groom will be sure to take some of it with them into their new life!

::Sigh:: I’m tempted to call Jenni Beth. Maybe I can talk my husband into renewing our vows at Magnolia House! Wouldn’t that be fun? The Best Laid Wedding Plans!

SOME DREAMS ARE WORTH WHATEVER IT TAKES

Jenni Beth Beaumont left her broken heart behind when she took her dream job in Savannah. But after her brother's death, Jenni Beth returns home to help mend her parents' hearts as well as restore their beautiful but crumbling antebellum mansion. New dreams take shape as Jenni Beth sets to work replacing floors and fixing pipes to convert the family homestead into the perfect wedding destination. However, some folks in their small Southern town are determined to see her fail.

Cole Bryson was once the love of Jenni Beth's life, but the charming architectural salvager has plans of his own for the Beaumont family home. As the two butt heads, old turmoil is brought to the surface and Cole and Jenni Beth will have to work through some painful memories and tough realities before they can set their pasts aside and have a second chance at their own happily ever after.

The luxury of staying home when the weather turns nasty, of working in PJs and bare feet, and the fact that daydreaming is not only permissible but encouraged, are a few of the reasons middle school teacher Lynnette Austin gave up the classroom to write full-time. Lynnette grew up in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Mountains, moved to Upstate New York, then to the Rockies in Wyoming. Presently she and her husband divide their time between Southwest Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. A finalist in RWA's Golden Heart Contest, PASIC's Book of Your Heart Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers' Maggie Contest, she’s published five books as Lynnette Hallberg. She’s currently writing as Lynnette Austin. Having grown up in a small town, that’s where her heart takes her—to those quirky small towns where everybody knows everybody...and all their business, for better or worse.

authorlynnetteaustin.com
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Sourcebooks offers an excerpt from THE BEST LAID WEDDING PLANS ...

Her experienced gaze scrutinized the scene, took in both the setting and the people, alert for any problems. The arbor, with its draping of wisteria, had turned out beautifully and smelled like heaven itself. The bride’s family, the groom’s family—both wore expressions of happiness mixed with a touch of relief.

Jenni Beth’s eyes drifted to the flower girl. Daniella was antsy, her little fingers busily plucking the lace from the basket that held rose petals. And what in the world was Ricky, the ring bearer, doing to his shoelaces? Her eyes narrowed. Had he tied them together? Oh, boy.

As the sun set, the minister announced the newly joined Mr. and Mrs. Talbot, and Jenni Beth clapped with the rest of the guests while checking to make sure the walkway remained clear. The music began on cue, and the happy couple started down the aisle, hands laced, smiles bright.

When the ring bearer tripped, the best man scooped him onto one shoulder, diverting a minor catastrophe. She’d have to remember to thank him for the quick thinking.

If the reception went as smoothly, she could congratulate herself on a job well done.

While the bride and groom funneled their guests through the receiving line, Jenni Beth bolted to a separate section of the garden to make sure the cake, the bubbly, and the band were in place. She did a last-minute check on table settings, place cards, candles—the list was never ending.

The music started, the bridal party wended their way to the area, and the celebration began.

As the evening wore on, Jenni Beth relaxed.

A familiar voice whispered in her ear. “Dance with me.”

Cole Bryson. She hadn't seen his name on the guest list.

Shivers raced down her spine, and her heart stuttered. It had been too long, not long enough. “No.”

She wouldn't turn around, wouldn't meet those mesmerizing eyes.

His hands settled on her bare arms, and she nearly jumped. As the work-roughened hands moved over her skin, her stomach started a little dance of its own.

“I'm working, Cole.”

“Nothin' needs doin’ right now. Come on, sugar.”

Knowing she shouldn't, she turned to face him. Mistake. She always had found him irresistible, and that hadn't changed. He'd perfected that slow Southern drawl, had the sound of a true gentleman. But the twinkle in his eyes gave him away. Revealed the bad boy tucked not far below the surface.

Right now, dressed in a dark suit and tie, the man looked like every woman's dream. He appeared smooth and debonair, but beneath lay the wild.

He took her hand, and, God forgive her, she followed him, weak-kneed onto the portable dance floor, telling herself she didn't want to, that she only did it to keep peace. Knowing she lied.

A full moon shone overhead and candlelight flickered. When he drew her into his arms and pulled her close, she sighed. One hand held hers, the other settled south of her waist.

“You smell good, Jenni Beth. You always do.”

His voice, low and husky, sent goosebumps racing up and down her arms. Despite herself, she rested her head against his chest, seduced by the strong, steady beat of his heart, the illusion he could make everything and anything all right.

Other books from Lynnette Austin

Aloha to Grace Burrowes and DANIEL'S TRUE DESIRE

 

You Might Be A True Gentleman or Gentlewoman If…

by Grace Burrowes

How do you know if your Sig-O is a true gentleman/lady? Ask yourself a few questions…

First, do his or her best moves, smoothest lines, and cleverest flirtations only come out in public, or are the housework sessions equally likely to produce the verbal roses and melting glances from across the laundry pile?

The hallmark of a player is that their repertoire is best displayed when there’s an audience to play to. The true gentleman or lady isn’t playing, so the good stuff can come your way any old day or night of the week.

Second, does he or she deliver the fun and flirtation in you statements (“You look good in anything… and in nothing at all.”) Do they keep to the I-statements when the topic is difficult? (“I can come off irritated any time we talk about money because I’m afraid I’m not pulling my share of the load. I don’t mean to sound that way, and I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”)

The guy or gal who lapses into the you-always, and you-never accusations in the middle of a difficult conversation hasn’t learned to fight fair. Time to whip out a few remedial lessons from the relationship Code Duello, or find another waltzing partner.

Third, does he or she have the touch? Always respectful in public—even when respectfully affectionate—always cool with your respectful affections too?

The ladies and gents who treasure us the most know better than to cross that line, and we treasure them right back for their gallant attentions.

Fourth, do they listen to us? We’ve all had the experience of being on a date or in a discussion, and the person we’re with has checked out. They’re eying the door, the clock, their cool new app, or if there’s a mirror on hand (store window, shiny plate, mirror app), themselves. Um… that would be a no.

Fifth, are they honorable? Do they give you the sense that at all times, the person you’re with will be guided by kindness and honesty, even when neither is convenient for them? If that’s the consistent vibe—truth and compassion as their defining values—you are in the company of a true lady or a true gentleman.

Here’s the best part: True ladies and true gentlemen tend to be discerning people, for all they are also gracious, kind, honest, and excellent company. If you’ve found a true lady or gentleman for your very own, and they reciprocate your regard, chances are they have found a true lady or gentleman in you too!

An honorable life
Daniel Banks is a man of the cloth whose vocation is the last comfort he has left-and even his churchman's collar is beginning to feel like a noose. At the urging of family, Daniel attempts to start his life over as vicar in the sleepy Kentish town of Haddondale, family seat to the earls of Bellefonte.

Challenged by passion
Lady Kirsten Haddonfield has resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood. Then the handsome new village vicar, Reverend Daniel Banks, becomes a guest of the Haddonfield family while the vicarage is being renovated, and Kirsten finds herself rethinking her position. Lady Kirsten does not know that Daniel's past is about to cast a shadow on love's future.

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes' bestsellers include The Heir, The Soldier, Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal, Lady Sophie's Christmas Wishand Lady Eve's Indiscretion. Her Regency romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Grace is branching out into short stories and Scotland-set Victorian romance with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland.

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Sourcebooks is hosting a giveaway at this link.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Other books in the True Gentlemen series ...

Weekly Winners

We have two weeks of winners at SOS Aloha!

WRW Reader Luncheon
- BN100 wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Sharon Hamilton's SEAL BROTHERHOOD - BAND OF BACHELORS: LUCAS

- Daneille D. wins the pink camo bag from Sharon

Lia Riley's BEST WORST MISTAKE

- Kim H. wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Cynthia Eden's SHATTERED

- Martha L. wins a print copy of SHATTERED

From my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND

- Danielle M. and Catslady each win a book choice from my convention stash.

Winners, please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

November romances Marines, Veterans, and Thanksgiving

11/1: Weekly Winners plus Books I'm Grateful I Read Giveaway Hop with Valerie from Stuck in Books
11/2: Grace Burrowes' DANIEL'S TRUE DESIRE
11/3: Lynnette Austin's BEST LAID WEDDING PLANS
plus
11/4: Wednesday's Warriors with Lindsay McKenna's TANGLED PURSUITS
11/5: Melissa West's RACING HEARTS
11/6: Julie Brannagh's GUARDING SOPHIE
11/7: Kirsten Lynn's THE AIR I BREATHE
11/8: Weekly Winners
plus Alexandra Brown's The Great Christmas Knit-Off - Book reivew
11/9: Lorraine Heath's FALLING INTO BED WITH A DUKE
11/10: USMC's Birthday
11/11: Veterans Day
11/12: Eileen Dreyer's THE PRINCESS & THE PEA
11/13: Jo Ryleigh's THE DUKE'S TEMPTATION
11/14: Julie Rowe's MEN OF ACTION
11/15: Weekly Winners
11/16: Annie Burrows' THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS BRIDE
11/17: Sarah MacLean's THE ROGUE NOT TAKEN
11/18: Victoria James' FALLING FOR HER ENEMY and Ophelia London's KISSING HER CRUSH
11/19: Megan Frampton's NO GROOM AT THE INN
11/20: Cathy Maxwell's THE MATCH OF THE CENTURY - Book Review
11/21: Celebrate Little Victories with LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS
11/22: Weekly Winners
11/23: Susanne Lord's IN SEARCH OF SCANDAL
11/24: Mingmei Yip's THE WITCH'S MARKET
11/25: Wednesday's Warriors with Lisa Olech's WITHIN A CAPTAIN'S HOLD
11/26: Thanksgiving with Cathy Maxwell's THE MATCH OF THE CENTURY
11/27: Elizabeth Hoyt's SWEETEST SCOUNDRELS
plus Burning Bright: Four Chanukah Love Stories by Megan Hart, KK Hendin, Stacey Agdern and Jennifer Gracen
11/28: Eileen Richards' AN HONORABLE WISH
11/29: Weekly Winners
plus Monica McCarty's THE STRIKER
11/30: Christy English' HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOT

12/1: Melinda Curtis' A MEMORY AWAY 
plus Hope Ramsay's A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
12/2: Wednesday's Warriors - ML Buchman's TARGET ENGAGED
Collette Cameron's HEARTBREAK & HONOR
12/3: Annie Raines' WELCOME TO FOREVER
12/4: Darcy Burke's THE IDEA OF YOU
12/5: Toni Blake's Take Me All the Way: A Coral Cove Novel
12/6: Weekly Winners
12/7: Pearl Harbor Day
12/8: Oliva Dade's BROKEN RESOLUTIONS
12/9: Wednesday's Warriors - Lindsay McKenna's FORGED IN FIRE
12/10: Samantha Chase's I'LL BE THERE
12/11: Jade Lee's ONE ROGUE AT A TIME
12/12: Celebrate Little Victories
12/13: Weekly Winners
12/14: Linda Broday's FOREVER HIS TEXAS BRIDE
12/15: Heather Boyd
12/16: Wednesday's Warriors - Anne Elizabeth's A SEAL FOREVER
12/17: Lori Wilde's I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
12/18: Jill Shalvis' MY KIND OF WONDERFUL
plus Bronwyn Evans' A WHISPER OF DESIRE
12/19: Celebrate Little Victories
12/20: Weekly Winners
12/21: Marilyn Pappano's CHANCE OF A LIFETIME
12/22: Sharon Struth's HARVEST MOON
12/23: Wednesday's Warriors with Diana Cosby
12/24: Open
12/25: Christmas
12/26: Celebrate Little Victories
12/27: Weekly Winners
12/28: Anthology - ONCE UPON A TRUE LOVE'S KISS with
Julie Johnstone, Katherine Bone, Collette Cameron, Jillian Chantal, Samantha Grace, Alanna Lucas, Lauren Smith & Victoria Vane
12/29: Sophie Barnes' THE EARL'S COMPLETE SURRENDER
12/30: Wednesday's Warriors
12/31: Jayne Fresina's HOW TO RESCUE A RAKE

1/1/16: Loretta Chase's DUKES PREFER BLONDES
1/2/16: Celebrate Little Victories
1/3/16: Weekly Winners
1/4/16: Nancy Lee Badger's MEDIEVAL REDEMPTION
1/5/16: Lindsay McKenna's BROKEN DREAMS
1/6/16: Wednesday's Warriors
1/7/16: Nicole Helm's REBEL COWBOY
1/8/16: Jennifer Bernard's CAUGHT BY YOU
1/9/16: Celebrate Little Victories
1/10/16: Weekly Winners
1/11/16: Eileen Dreyer's A FINE MADNESS
1/12/16: Open
1/13/16: Wednesday's Warriors
1/14/16: Open
1/15/16: Open
1/16/16: Celebrate Little Victories
1/17/16: Weekly Winners
1/18/16: Reserved
1/19/16: Reserved 
1/20/16: Wednesday's Warriors
1/21/16: Open
1/22/16: Open
1/23/16: Celebrate Little Victories
1/24/16: Weekly Winners
1/25/16: Open
1/26/16: Jodi Thomas' RUSTLER'S MOON
1/27/16: Wednesday's Warriors
1/28/16: Open
1/29/16: Open
1/30/16: Celebrate Little Victories
1/31/16: Weekly Winners