Holding Out For A Hero: SEALs, Soldiers, Spies, Cops, FBI Agents and Rangers (2 page)

CIA Operative John Burke doesn't believe her claim of innocence. When an attempt is made on her life, he believes her accomplice has turned on her. But something doesn't add up about Eve and her role in this crime she's accused of. Burke has too many questions, including--has his judgment been compromised by his fierce attraction to her?

It’s a question Burke asks himself again and again but when he learns Eve’s would-be assassin is close, he goes on the run with her. It's a temporary solution--running will not keep her safe. Burke must find the assassin--or die trying.

About the Author: Karen Fenech

THERE’S A NEW WITCH IN TOWN
by
Tawny Weber,
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author

Her magic, his town, their love... is it enough? Or will a witch just regaining her powers have to choose between saving a cursed town, or giving up everything she’s come to care about?

Legend tells that many years ago, deep in the Idaho mountains, Hiram Ross saved a beautiful woman from a mountain slide and earned her everlasting gratitude. The woman, per the legend, was a witch who blessed the town with peace and prosperity as long as they welcomed faith, magic and love. With this once prosperous town now on its last legs, can a new witch be their salvation?

A wayward witch…

Born to a long line of witches, Miki Lansing renounced her magic to marry a mortal. When he dumps her, her powers return along with a karmic curse. Retreating to a rundown property in Idaho, all Miki wants is to reverse the curse, get her unstable powers under control, and figure out her life. Too bad the townspeople hate her. And too bad her sexy handyman is another troublesome mortal.

A mistrustful mortal…

Gideon Ross knows far too much about magic. His ex-wife was a witch. The real, magic-making, up-to-no-good kind. Now she’s determined to take over his beloved town. And his enchanting new client’s kisses are far too distracting. Then he discovers he’s falling for another witch. Gideon can’t subject the town to the capriciousness of another woman with that much power.

A town in need of magic…

Then Gideon’s ex-wife issues an ultimatum: unless Miki and Gideon are out of town by the full moon, she’ll destroy the town and claim it for her cult. Gideon’s had it with witchy women, and Miki already lost everything once before to a mortal. But if they’re to save the town, they’ll need a little faith, a lot of love, and a very special kind of magic.

About the Author: Tawny Weber

QUEEN OF HEARTS
by
Lisa Hughey,
USA Today Bestselling Author

Queen of Hearts...the next installment in the Family Stone Romantic Suspense series featuring Shelley Stone (Jess's mom and Connor, Riley and Jack's stepmom) is a second chance at love romance. This 40,000 word novel features former Navy, Enrique "Bulletproof" Santana, and Shelley Stone and is set in Las Vegas.

Ric Santana is in Las Vegas for his friend’s wedding and some much needed R & R. But the vacation turns awkward when he discovers his smoking hot one night stand is actually his pal’s stepmother. When Shelley’s life is threatened, Ric doesn’t hesitate to step into the role of bodyguard and protector. But as Ric grows closer to Shelley, he can’t help but wonder, can he save her life or will they be too late for love?

About the Author: Lisa Hughey

IN TOO DEEP
by
Amber Carew,
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author

Angel is experienced in a lot of things but love isn't one of them.

Angel has been deep undercover in the mob for too many years. Love is the last thing on her mind. Until Frank walks into her life once again. She almost fell in love with him four years ago, but had to betray him to the mob to protect her cover. He barely got away with his life, and now he hates her.

Too bad they've been partnered to work together. As man and wife.

About the Author: Amber Carew

BLACKOUT
by
Denise A. Agnew

Brooding ex-marine Neal Griffin's mysterious past is in the shadows. Yet when the world goes to hell, he realizes he’d do anything to protect Cassie, even if it means exposing the very things that could make her hate him.

The house at the end of the street has always been haunted. When a solar flare challenges the world to remain civilized, one man and one woman will face an evil lying in wait for all who dare enter…

Cassie Kovac has spent the last ten years rebuilding her life. She’s vacationing in the high mountain town of Bowmount, Colorado when a solar flare takes out the grid. Fear tears apart the little community, and the only thing standing between her and certain disaster is a man with a cloudy past.

Ex-marine Neal “Griff” Griffin’s life is shadowed in darkness. He won’t talk about his mysterious past. His childhood was marred by the unspeakable, his life spent erasing things too horrible to dare remember. Until he sees Cassie, and primal male instincts to protect come to life. When the world goes to hell, he realizes he’d do anything to protect her.

When Cassie and Griff face the haunted house, they don’t expect the building to come alive with a personality all its own. Fighting against the unknown threatens to rip apart the fabric of their minds, and make their survival and new love one step closer to impossible.

About the Author: Denise A. Agnew

EMBRACE THE NIGHT

by Caridad Pineiro

Embrace The Night: Chapter One

Zack Taylor sped across the waves, fighting for balance atop the surfboard. Awkward at first, but gaining stability as he adjusted his legs into a wider stance and bent his knees.

He rode the wave as far as he could and then kicked out, sending the board flying in one direction while he sank into the cool water. As he rose to the surface, the familiar pull of the leash registered on his leg and he swam toward the board so he could climb back on.

Grabbing the rails of the board, he slid across the surface, but thumped one edge with his prosthetic leg as he struggled to get on. The surfboard swayed side-to-side with the sudden imbalance before he steadied it.

A little shaky, but it felt awesome to finally be able to go surfing again.

It almost felt like flying
, he thought as he paddled out to wait for another set of waves.

Surfing was one of the few things he’d missed when his family had moved from place to place during his dad’s Army service. He had picked up the sport when his dad had been stationed close to the Delaware beaches and he’d kept surfing any time that their latest deployment had been near the ocean.

Even during his tours of duty, he would find a way to surf if a beach was nearby. There was something about the ocean and its vastness with which he identified. Sitting there, in that great aloneness, waiting for just the right wave, suited him.

As an Army brat, he’d been alone for most of his life. Except for family, of course.

It had just been too difficult to make friends and then lose them every time his dad transferred to a different base.

Surfing had gifted him with something else: Patience.

He’d learned it was far better to bide his time to earn a perfect ride then hurry up and wipe out in a bad wave.

When he reached the spot where a few other surfers waited for the next set, he sat up and straddled the board, his legs dangling over the edge. Well, his one leg and three quarters of his left with the durable prosthetic. He floated there, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the wash of the water all around him.

Enjoying life and appreciating just how fragile it could be.

It had taken him a long time to get to this point. To get past the pain and anger at his loss and be thankful that it hadn’t been worse. To be grateful for the path on which he’d been set that had brought him here.

He gazed back toward the shore and to the growing crowd of people on the beach. He could make out his boss and friend Mark Smith and his wife Bridget as Mark hauled the volleyball equipment down to the sand. Following them like baby ducks chasing after their mother were another group of his friends. His work buddy and former Navy Seal Rafe Castillo and his wife Elena. Marine Lieutenant Trevor Mason and Maggie Sullivan, Bridget’s younger sister, visiting again from New York City.

His friends.

It was weird to say that after the many years that he hadn’t had any.

And he knew that chances were that Samantha would be joining them soon.

Lieutenant Commander Samantha Whittaker.

She’d snared his attention the very first time he’d joined Mark and his wife at one of these gatherings and later again at the other parties held by the many veterans who lived along this stretch of the Jersey Shore.

He’d be lying if he said that it had been anything other than a rockin’ hot bod and stunning face that had made him take notice the first time. But it hadn’t taken him long to see past her beauty to the strong and smart woman inside. One who laughed often, but whose gaze was shadowed by pain.

He wondered a lot about what had put the darkness there and what would drive it away.

He also wondered if he’d misread something else in that gaze: Desire.

He thought he’d seen it after the first couple of times that they’d talked. A hesitant half glance and that look that said she maybe wanted more, but was afraid to say so.

Which puzzled him considering the kind of woman she was.

Independent. Determined. Capable.

Ex-Navy, she was now in the Coast Guard and used to dealing with men on all levels.

He’d thought she’d be a little more direct about what she wanted.

But then again, maybe he could be a little more direct as well.

He wanted to get to know her better. Emotionally. Physically.

The latter thought made his gut twist painfully.

He glanced down at lefty and wondered what she would think when she realized. How she would handle the revelation. Would she not care or shy away?

Fuck that
, he thought.

Today was going to be a day for firsts.

His first time surfing in two years.

His first time asking a woman out since he’d been wounded.

Maybe even another first if they hit it off.

A man could dream after all
, he thought and as the ocean surged beneath him, he flattened onto the board and paddled into the wave.

As he caught it just right, he popped to his feet and flew toward shore, smiling all the way.

Embrace The Night: Chapter Two

Samantha Whittaker had never seen Zack surfing before. Some of the people at their beach parties would arrive early and paddle out if the waves were good, but not Zack normally.

It occurred to her that he was obviously not a beginner, but he seemed a little uncomfortable, as if it had been a long time since he’d been on a board.

She laid out her blanket, sat, and leaned back on her arms, trying to appear cool as she took in the sight of him out in the water. At six years his senior, she felt like a cougar admiring his lean muscled body, but then again, she hadn’t made a move on him and he hadn’t made any moves either.

But she wanted to, hell yeah, she wanted to despite the age difference and despite the fact that she wasn’t sure if she was ready for any kind of relationship now or ever.

She had a lot of baggage.

It would take a strong man to shoulder that kind of burden.

Zack was physically strong. She suspected he was emotionally tough as well. The war had damaged him as it had so many others, but in the six months since he’d started working for Mark and hanging out with them, she’d discovered a man who seemed at ease with himself and with others.

A man who carried the scars of war on his body and yet could smile with unabashed joy, as he was doing now as he rode in a wave, his big body more graceful than it had been just moments earlier. Almost poetic as he cut back and forth on the crest of the wave until he kicked out of the wave and eased into the water.

After he retrieved his board, he paddled a few feet toward the beach, got to his feet, and picked up his surfboard. With powerful strides he cleared the wash near the shore, but stumbled slightly on the softer sand before regaining his balance.