What's News in Writing This Week

1. New Release Intimate Details by Tina Donahue

Blurb:

As a computer hacker, she demands justice.
As a woman, she craves two powerful and commanding men.
    Shana’s been hacking one of Manhattan’s most corrupt executives, making him pay for what he’s done to his victims. Using her skills, she convinces Mike and Cody to hire her at their intelligence-gathering firm, where intimate details help their clients.
    Never has Mike met a woman as delicious as Shana. Smart as hell, curvy and assured, she’d be a delightful challenge in bed. Cody’s carnal hunger is equally intense. He and Mike want to know everything about her.
    She won’t divulge the secrets of her past. All she can offer is unquenchable desire and her heart.
    During weeks of shameless lust and pleasure, Mike and Cody peel away the layers of Shana’s life. The stunning truth changes everything. They’ll do all that they can to keep her safe…and in their arms.

Excerpt:
    The doors hissed open.

Shana staggered from him, her mouth still wet from his kiss and Mike’s. She’d mussed his hair. Cody’s tie was askew. Backing out of the elevator, she murmured, “Good night.”

Before either of them could respond, Shana turned to flee. No way could she ever come back here.

“Whoa.” Mike grabbed her wrist as he had in the suite.

The guard at the front desk leaned up in his chair. His beer belly hung over his belt. His expression said the security cameras had shown him what had just gone down in the elevator. “Everything okay, Mr. Russo?”

“Is my driver out there?” Mike asked.

The guard craned his neck to see. “Yes sir, he is.”

“Please tell him we’ll be out in a few minutes.”

“Yes sir.”

The middle-aged man hurried outside. Mike held Shana’s wrist gently but firmly. “Good night?”

His lower lip shone with the moisture she’d left on him. Several locks dangled over his forehead. Unable to help herself, Shana eased them back. “I need to go home.”

Mike’s gaze remained lifted to her smoothing his hair. “Yeah, we get that.” Cody had just joined them. Mike spoke quietly. “You’re taking off after what just happened in the elevator?”

She lowered her hand. “It shouldn’t have.”

Cody frowned, his expression a mixture of confusion and disappointment. “Why not? Clearly, we all enjoyed it. You did, right?”

More than anything Shana could recall. Their strength was thrilling and protective, an amazing combination she longed for but couldn’t risk.

Her throat tightened. Tears threatened.

Suddenly, she felt beyond weary and so alone she rested her head against Cody’s shoulder. Stupid, she knew, but Shana couldn’t help herself.

Cody hesitated a moment, then ran his hand down her hair. Mike played with her fingers.

She fought against smiling and crying. Crap, her emotions were all over the place.

“You okay?” Cody murmured.

Shana nodded then shook her head then nodded once more.

“You’re hungry and tired,” Mike said, speaking softly. “You’re not yourself.”

She laughed, unable to stop. “How can you say that? You don’t know me.”

“We want to,” Cody whispered.

Her belly clenched with worry. What they were asking for wouldn’t work. Shana knew they’d never harm her deliberately. They weren’t that kind of men. However, they were human and eventually they’d hurt her. It was what people did to each other, whether they meant to or not. Best not to get involved. She needed peace. They deserved a better woman than she could ever be.

“We can talk about it in the car,” Mike promised.

Shana eased away from Cody then memorized his and Mike’s features because she couldn’t see either of them again.

“Really, we can,” Cody said.

Smiling sadly, she straightened his tie then patted the knot, drinking him in, loving the gentleness in his expression, his rough good looks.

“What?” he asked, as Mike had earlier.

Shana’s emotions raged, battling with her thoughts. What she knew she had to do.

The guard returned from the outside.

She glanced at him then the glass door swinging closed.

Mike and Cody shifted their weight as though they expected her to bolt.

Shana should have. Leave, she ordered herself. Now.

The guard looked at her curiously.

She turned from him before he could read her expression. Mike and Cody studied her.

Both of them were everything she’d ever wanted in a man, in a friend, and far more than she’d hoped for.

Go.

“Yes,” she said, speaking before she could stop herself. “I enjoyed every second.”

They smiled.

“And I’d like more,” she added, admitting what was in her heart.

Now, they grinned.

“But it’d only be sex,” she said, low enough so the guard wouldn’t hear. “Having a good time. Nothing personal. Ever. You guys couldn’t possibly want that. You deserve more.”

“Wait,” Mike said, again keeping her from leaving. “Who said we’re looking for a commitment for god’s sake. What’s wrong with just being friends?”

“Yeah,” Cody chimed in. “We already know what kind of lattes you like and that you’re into cheesecake brownies. That’s personal. As far as I can see the world didn’t screech to a stop when we found that out.” He glanced around then shook his head. “Nope. It hasn’t.”

Mike leaned close, delivering his wonderful fragrance. “We’ll keep it fun. Promise.”

“Nothing personal,” Cody said. “Strictly surface crap. We’ll talk about work, clients, sports, films, food, books. Stuff like that.”

“Why?” she asked, stirred by what they’d said, frightened as hell too.

Smiling, Mike brushed Shana’s hair from her shoulder and stroked the side of her neck. Her breath caught.

“Because we like you,” he murmured. “That’s what friends do. However, I do have one personal question, and I want an answer.”

Her skin got clammy. She stepped back.

He followed. “Are you in trouble or in some kind of danger? Is that what this is about? If so, let us know, please. We can help.”

Shana stared at him.

“Is someone trying to hurt you?” Cody asked.

She thought about Raptor, the threat he’d presented in the past. What he’d do now if he were lucky enough to find her.

“No,” she lied. “No one’s after me.” She faked a laugh. “Seriously, you guys were really in military intelli—”

Cody interrupted, “We just want to help, all right?”

Sobering, Shana nodded.

“We won’t grill you on anything personal,” he said. “But you can’t ask us anything either.”

    “That’s right.” Mike took her hand. “No more hacking into our accounts either, business or otherwise. Remember, our lives are as private as yours is. Come on.”

Buy Link:

Siren: http://www.bookstrand.com/intimate-details

2. New Release Don’t Go by Beverley Bateman

 

Blurb:
    Don’t Go is a dark romantic suspense that takes place predominantly in Reno.  Sam is a Washoe Sheriff detective with a background of sexual abuse. Now she works in teen chatrooms to catch sexual predators.  A serial killer is targeting blonde teen girls in chatroms and one of the girls from Sam’s chatrooms is now missing.

    Devlin is a Reno cop who like undercover work and doesn’t do missing kids – except they’re short staffed and he’s assigned a missing girl. He doesn’t believe in relationships and likes one night stands. Now he’s stuck working a case with a computer smart detective who obviously doesn’t do one night stands and has no use for Reno police.

    Reluctantly, they must work together to solve this case. Can they resolve their personal issues and bring down a serial killer?

Excerpt:
RENO - WEDNESDAY, MAY 25^th

“No! It can’t be happening again. Not again. I’m supposed to protect these girls.” Detective Sam Brennan stood and paced the room in a circle.

“What’s up, Sam?” The heavy set woman at the computer next to her asked while rolled her chair back.

“One of the girls is missing from my chatroom, Kerensa.”

“Hey, we can’t keep track of them all.”

“That’s my job. That’s why I transferred to this unit, to protect girls so they didn’t go through the hell that can follow a rape.” She stopped in front of her computer, her fists clenched at her side. A tear drifted down her face. “She has no idea what she’s doing.”

“You got that right. Look, we can only do our best. Other people, like parents and teachers, should take some responsibility for the kids.”

“I know. But parents don’t do a great job. I know.”

“I can’t imagine what you went through, but you do a good job.”

“Not good enough, not if she’s gone to meet him.

“Look girlfriend, I know you live and breathe this job, but maybe you need to learn to step back. It’s not good for you to relive your life through these kids. The Washoe County sheriff’s office is just a job.”

“Not for me. But you’re right. I can’t help it.” Sam flopped into her computer chair. “The truth is, I hate it when one of these young girls goes into the chatrooms, then falls prey to the pervs who hang out there. Drives me crazy. I want to catch all those bastards and put them behind bars.”

“You catch a lot. I bet you have one of the best records in the country.”

“I don’t give a damn about records. I wish we could figure out a better way to keep the pervs off the internet for a very long time.”

“You got it. Maybe one day. Can I do anything?”

Sam glanced up as her fingers moved the mouse around. “No, I’m going to start re-checking last night’s chats and see what I’ve missed.”

“Okay then, I’m on a break. Back in ten. I need sustenance.” Kerensa stood, glancing across at her. “You sure you don’t need help?”

Sam stared at the screen.

“Don’t beat yourself up, hon. You’ll find her. You sure you don’t want a coffee or anything?”

“No, I’m good. I hope you’re right.”

“I won’t be long.” Detective Kerensa Washington bounced her well-padded body out the door and into the squad room.

Sam didn’t hear the door close as she scanned through the messages posted in the chatroom. She squeezed her eyes shut, clenching and unclenching her fists.

     Damn these guys. She’d like to get one of them in an alley--just once. She reached into the bottom drawer of her desk for a chunk of dark chocolate.

“Damn it. Where the hell is she?” She popped the chocolate in her mouth and chewed slowly, moving her mouse around the Washoe County mouse pad. She scanned the cyber-chatroom one more time. “Damn. I can’t lose another one. She has to be here somewhere.”

Sam leaned forward, lips pursed, eyebrows crinkled. “Come on; come on, ‘Invisible-Melissa’, check in, please. Don’t go to meet him. He’s not who you think. You have no idea what he can do to you. Please baby, don’t go.”

Desperation wrapped around her like an iron boa and squeezed so she could barely breathe. Another tear trickled down her cheek.

With a few more clicks she scanned the names of those in the online chatroom. ‘Searching- for-You’ hadn’t checked in since last night either.

 “Damn. That’s probably who she’s gone to meet. How did I miss it? Don’t these kids know you never go meet some stranger you’ve only talked to online? They should have learned that back in the sandbox.”

She leaned back in her chair. Her forehead squeezed against her skull, shooting barbs of pain to her eyes. The chocolate hadn’t helped the stress.

“How did I miss this one?” She punched her fist into her palm. Insidious memories crept from the dark corners of her subconscious, spun a cocoon around her and dragged her back into the dark, tangled web of her own past.

The sickening sweet smell of overpowering aftershave snaked up her nostrils; fat, sweaty palms grasped at her thighs. She knew what was going to happen. She was unable to scream, unable to escape…no one to help her.

The images crashed over her, scattering years of counseling like broken shells on a beach, covering her soul with the spray of desperation and anger.

Sam scrubbed at a tear drifting down her cheek, and forced the images back into the darkness, back into the locked box.

It’s not about me. It’s about this girl and another predator creep.

With clenched fists she white-knuckled the arms of the chair to keep from throwing the damn computer against the wall.

“Find anything?” Kerensa strolled back into the computer room, a partially eaten sugar donut in her fingers. A faint white trail drifted behind her. “They got a whole box of these out there if you want to grab one before the other detectives get back and scarf them all.”

“Damn it! I should have seen it coming. Where the hell are they?” Sam kicked her chair away from the computer and stood. “No thanks. Those things can kill you. I’d have to work out an extra hour tonight.”

“Hey, they’re no worse than that stash of chocolate you hide in your bottom drawer.”

“A girl has to have something to combat the frustration. Besides, dark chocolate is good for you.”

“Right, if you say so. You know, girlfriend, you need to learn to relax, enjoy life, and find a man who likes his woman well-padded.” Kerensa patted the green uniform shirt stretched across her protruding belly. A safety pin protected a button from popping off.

“Like Tim?” Sam allowed a faint smile to tug at the corners of her mouth. “You’re lucky. Chocolate is my replacement for men. Chocolate won’t screw with me.”

“Too bad, ‘cause being a natural blonde with a great bod, you could probably get any man you wanted.”

 “Yeah, right.” Sam shook her head and walked toward the door. “I’m taking a break, but not to get donuts. I need to think.”

“Take your time, girl. Hey, if there’s any of those donuts left, bring one back for me, will ya?”

Sam nodded. She rubbed her temples with her fingers, trying to exorcise the images of what the girl would go through if she met that damn creep. A sigh slithered out into the squad room as she headed toward the pot holding the day-old coffee.

“You okay?” Pete Sandusky nodded in her direction.

The acrid, slightly burnt odor of chicory and rancid coffee beans made her wrinkle her nose before she even reached the coffee maker.

She shook her head, poured a half cup of the sludge, and rested her butt against the table beside the box of sugar donuts. “No. Not really.”

With her mug clutched in both hands, she stared across at Pete. He was a good cop. He’d been there about twenty years and looked everyday of it. Gray fringe around a shiny pate; round, gold-rimmed glasses perched on a short, flat, boxer-type nose, and an inner tube that had settled around his waist under the dark green uniform.

“It’s a feeling I’ve got.” After a quick sip of the disgusting liquid she stuck out her tongue. “Yech. Why doesn’t someone throw this crap out?”

Pete shrugged. “What doesn’t feel right?”

“I think I’ve lost one of the kids from the chatroom. She’s not online.”

“Sure her parents haven’t cut off her computer privileges?”

“No, I don’t think so. She’s been saying the usual teenage girl crap. She doesn’t fit in, doesn’t have any friends and all the typical teen angst about her parents not understanding her. Then there’s this other guy, who says he’s sixteen, but is probably at least thirty, who keeps saying he understands, and is going through the same problems at home and school. The bastard has been playing to her weaknesses, and at the same time building up her ego, leading her on, trying to get her to meet him.”

“It doesn’t mean she will.”

“I know, but I’m afraid he might have convinced her to do it. She’s been off line since last night. I’m guessing she’s on her way to meet him as we speak, if she’s not already there. Damn it. I should have seen it coming.”

“You’re not a mind reader, Sam.”

“I should have picked up on this one.”

 “Know who the kid is?”

“No. I can trace her, but it will take awhile. I should have done that before, but most of the time they don’t actually go to meet the bastards. Has anyone reported a fourteen year old girl missing?”

“Not that I’ve heard.”

“Parents probably don’t even know she’s gone yet. It’s pretty sad when I can figure it out before the parents do, but then a lot of parents fail to protect their kids on the internet--and in other places.” She stared out the window and tried to visualize where the girl might be going. Heading toward a man, probably a pedophile, she didn’t know and thought was a boy; heading toward a life changing experience. Maybe one she wouldn’t survive.

“It’s not always the parents’ fault, Sam. Sometimes they don’t understand, or don’t know what to do.”

“Yeah, maybe. Or they’re embarrassed because they failed their kid and want to cover up their own failures. Best case scenario for this girl is she meets the guy for coffee and decides to come back home. That happens with the majority of the cases.”

“So don’t beat yourself up. She may be home by dinner tonight.”

“Thanks Pete. I hope so. The worst case scenario involves the hard core pedophiles. If he was one of those…”

 

Buy Links
Amazon - http://amzn.to/1whWek8
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/don-t-go-3
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Beverley_Bateman_Don_t_Go?id=akbdBAAAQBAJ&hl=en or  http://bit.ly/10g0BT6
itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dont-go/id931554378?mt=11
Nook http://bit.ly/1tG0jBB

3. Contest – Tina Donahue is running a contest

Win 3 of Tina’s backlist erotic romances from this list:
1. Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT
2. Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Holt Medallion Award of Merit
3. Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award
4. In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT
5. Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT
6. The Yearning – Top Ten Bestseller
7. Take Me Away – #1 Pick, Miz Love Loves Books
8. Unending Desire – Best Book Rating LASR
9. SiNN – Nominated for Book of the Week LASR
10. Sinfully Wicked – Magnificent – Romancing the Book
11.  Claiming Magique – Top Pick – NOR
12. Illicit Desire – Four Stars Romantic Times
13. Come Fill Me – Five Stars – Guilty Pleasures
14. Losing Control - Four and a Half Stars - Sensual Reads
15. Shameless Desire - Four and a Half Stars - The Jeep Diva
16. Illicit Intent - Four and a Half Stars - Sensual Reads
17. Deep Within Me - Four Stars - Romantic Times
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 4. Goodreads Choice Awards is now open until November 8^th. The link is

https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2014?utm_campaign=launch_vote&utm_content=logo&utm_medium=email&utm_source=GRCA_2014

I’ve added our  cookbook Bake Love Write by 105 authors to the Food and cookbooks section. You can find it here https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-food-cookbooks-2014

We’d appreciate you dropping by and voting for it.

5. Contest – Advance notice of our suspense writers contest. It will run December 4TH TO 10TH (Wednesday to Wednesday) with giveaways of gift certificates and lots of books. Stay tuned for more info.