From the Other Side of the Fence: News from Natalie Acres

My other pseudonym has been busy lately and I'm stopping by to share some news. 

Cowboy Boots and Inconspicuous Motives is coming to Siren-Bookstrand on August 29th! 


If you loved Cowboy Boots and Untamed Hearts, wait until you read the explosive novella dedicated to Brock and Sydney!

BROCK DONOVAN'S ENEMIES FOUND HIS WEAK SPOT
Sydney Kane Donovan is her husband’s whole world. Now his enemies know what it will take to bring one powerful man to his very knees.

SHE PUT AN ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AT RISK
Sydney’s need for some independence places her in enormous danger. Now, the Underground Unit teams are facing an unknown enemy in order to save her life.

HE IS FULLY PREPARED TO MEET THEIR DEMANDS
Sydney understands what’s at stake. The authority’s enemies have band together and they want Brock to trade his life for hers.

HIS ENEMIES WILL ATTACK FROM ALL SIDES
Operatives from around the country join Brock’s rescue effort, but as the identities of the Donovan rivals are revealed, Brock realizes there’s more at risk than Sydney’s safety. The Underground Unit operatives and their families have bounties on their heads and at the going rate, it won’t be long before the danger moves close enough to destroy the operatives and all they hold dear.

Coming to Siren-Bookstrand on August 29th!
Be sure to check http://bookstrand.com/natalie-acres for other Cowboy Boots installments! 

Spotlight on Author Tamara Hoffa with character interview for Chance from Roping Love

Today, it's my pleasure to welcome fellow Secret Cravings Publishing author Tamara Hoffa.

Tamara stopped by to tell us about her latest release, Roping Love, available now at Secret Cravings Publishing and most third party retail sites. As a special treat, we also have the pleasure of introducing Chance Ryan, too. Chance is Tamara's hero from Roping Love.





Blurb for Roping Love
Ten Years ago love slipped through Chance’s lasso. This time “He was going after her and she didn’t stand a chance, just like a calf in a chute, he was going to rope her with his love and ride back into her life.”

Carrie Stewart is a dedicated horsewoman. She runs a successful breeding and training program. She is a good friend, a good sister and a favorite aunt, but she has been burned by love. Carrie has never gotten over her first love, Chance Ryan. After ten years of absence Chance shows back up in her life. Should she risk her heart again, with the man who left it broken at her feet in the past? Chance has some serious work ahead of him to win back the one woman he could never forget.


Excerpt taken from Roping Love
It had been ten years since Carrie was last at Congress. She was a competitor then. She’d almost forgotten how exciting it all was, so many people, so many beautiful animals, adrenaline running high, and everyone hoping for the performance of a lifetime. On the AQHA circuit, the All American Quarter Horse Congress was the star. Winning here meant fame, acclaim and in many cases money, if not from the win itself, then from the increase in your horse’s worth, especially for stallions and mares, where their show history dictated their stud fees and foal prices.

They watched the calf roping from a good spot in the center of the stands through the first two eliminations, Tyler talking non-stop through it all. It was amazing how much her nephew knew about the sport for only being ten years old. He was enthralled and obviously having a ball. Around lunch time they headed to the exhibition building. The trade show didn’t start for a few more days, but, there were already plenty of vendors set up to sell their wares. You could buy anything you wanted for a horse or rider at these big shows. Saddles, bridles, blankets, hats, boots, jeans, belts, and the jewelry. It always amazed Carrie how much jewelry was available at these things, everything from one of a kind, hand-crafted pieces, to mass produced costume jewelry. If racing was “the sport of kings” then the AQHA was “the sport of queens”.

The people here had money and loved to spend it.

They found a hot dog stand and grabbed a couple footlongs and strolled through the displays.

“Before we head over to the Coliseum for the roping, I need to check out the auction barn” Carrie told Tyler.

“There are a couple mares I want to check out. Okay?”

“Yeah, that’s cool.”

Damn, she really hoped the mares she’d spotted in the catalogue looked as good as they sounded. After checking the map and locating the barn they needed, they made the long trek across the grounds to Barn H. Horses up for sale in auction were housed in this area with their information sheets tacked to the stall doors.

Some of the owners were milling about to answer questions or groom their horses. Carrie walked down the center aisle scrutinized the information sheets in search of the horses she wanted to see.About half-way down the aisle she spotted the Palomino mare. As she stepped up to the stall door the two men inside turned at her approach. Her heart stopped in her chest. It couldn’t be-God couldn’t be that cruel to her. She blinked, certain her eyes were playing tricks on her, but no they weren’t, staring back at her was Chance Ryan.

The man who had broken her heart ten years ago.




About the author:

Tamara Hoffa lives in central Tennessee, with her husband of 30 years, her three grown children, two grandchildren, 5 dogs and 1 cat. Tamara started reading when she was four years old and has rarely been seen without a book at hand since. At home you will usually find her in “nana’s chair” with her kindle, her laptop or one of her precious, precocious grandson’s in her lap. Tamara is a reviewer, a professional reader and can now add author to her repertoire. Tamara is proof positive that it’s never too late to reach for your dreams.

Contact Links:

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Character Interview with Chance Ryan from Roping Love by Tamara Hoffa

Available now at Secret Cravings Publishing!

We asked someone close to character Chance Ryan to interview him for our author spotlight today. Take a look below and meet the sexy Chance Ryan from Roping Love!

Introduce yourself. What book are you from? Are you the hero, heroine, villain?

Hi, I’m Chance Ryan, the hero (I guess) from Roping Love.

 

How did you come to your author’s attention?

 

Believe it or not, she saw a picture of a “hot cowboy” on Facebook, and I was born.

 

Did you give your author a hard time when she was writing your story?

 

No, I think Carrie was the troublemaker in Roping Love (shh, don’t tell her I said that!) or maybe my brother Chase, he’s a royal pain in my a**

 

What do you do for a living?

I run a cattle ranch, breed a few horses and I do some roping and cutting in the rodeo.

 

Who is the love of your life?

Carrie is and always had been the only one for me.

 

What was the first thing you noticed about him/her?

I was a young dumb kid when I first met her, so I guess I’d have to say her beauty was what I noticed first. What I discovered later was that her beauty was more than skin deep.

 

What’s your greatest fear?

Dying young. My father died when I was only twenty, and I don’t want to leave my kids without a father or my wife alone and lost, like my mother was.

 

What’s your motto in life?

Go big or go home

 

How do the other characters in your book view you?

I hope they see me as a hardworking man. One who cares about family, honor and integrity.

 

What do you think reader will find interesting about you?

I ain’t too awful interestin’ Just a good old boy who loves horses, ranching and his family.

What is the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done?

You really wanna get me in dutch with my lady dontcha? Well she and I …(a scream from the other room “Chance Michael Ryan! You better shut your pie hole!” See now, I knew you were trouble. I ain’t saying more, ‘cause you know if momma ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy, and I got plans to be happy tonight.

 

Will we be seeing you in future books?

Well now, Tamara told me the other day that she just might have a story or two for kid brothers rolling around in that crazy head of hers, so you never can tell.

 

What makes you happy?

Riding out for a picnic with my family on a clear spring day, when the dogwood’s are blooming and sun is shining.

What makes you mad?

Too many things. I have a bit of a temper. My meddling brothers for one.

 

Buy Links for Roping Love

Amazon

All Romance Ebooks

BookStrand

Secret Cravings Publishing

Cowboys for Christmas

Julie Kensworth opens her door to more than a blizzard and greets two wayward cowboys. She realizes right away she's headed straight for the eye of the storm.

http://www.bookstrand.com/cowboys-for-christmas-destiny-blaine

Excerpt: 

Quinn gave Julie his undivided attention. She arched a brow and studied her cards. Undoubtedly, she wanted this win. A win would put her at ten.

As much as he’d like to see Julie victorious, in this particular situation, Quinn was cheering for Brandon. With Brandon, they were guaranteed a good time.

Winner’s choice. Quinn could almost see her rocking back and forth between them.

“Quinn?” Brandon asked, snapping his fingers. “Are you still with us?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I said, ‘what do you think winner’s choice should be’ and you’re over there zoned out. Guess I’m on my own, huh?”

“Like hell,” Quinn said, looking at the table. “Who won?”

Brandon snickered, turned up his cards, and said, “With a straight flush, I’m betting on me.”

Julie cleared her throat. “That is a pretty hand.”

Brandon chuckled. “Yes indeed.”

Julie studied her cards again, delaying the outcome and congratulations due the probable champion. “You cheated, didn’t you?”

Quinn held his breath. Brandon was a poker player through and through. When he won, he won fair and square.


“Turn ’em up,” Brandon said, obviously agitated.

Reluctantly, she flipped her wrist and showed her straight. “I was hoping for winner’s choice.” 

Brandon gathered the cards and stacked them in the middle of the flat surface. Then he backed away from the table, retrieved three tumblers, and poured a round of blueberry shine. “Let me guess, you would’ve asked for a backrub?”

“How’d you know?”

“I know women.”

“I bet you do.”

“He can vouch for me,” Brandon said, pointing to Quinn.

“No doubt,” Quinn supported him, unable to look at Julie. Sensing her disappointing defeat, he finally asked, “How far are you willing to go?”

She gulped.

“That far, huh?” Brandon teased her.

“You’ll never know unless you ask,” Julie said, standing.

Quinn’s pulse took off at a running go. Julie just said the right thing to two horny men.

Brandon tossed back his fruity liquor. Quinn followed his lead, and Julie was right behind them. Brandon cleared his throat, and Quinn prayed Brandon found the voice he’d apparently lost.

A few seconds passed, and no one moved a muscle. When the tension became thick enough to choke them, Brandon bravely broke the silence.

“Well, Julie, I’m asking.” His gaze caught hers, and with a wicked smile, he added, “Honey, in fact, I’m not just making a polite request. I’m groveling like a man in heat. What’d ya say we get naked?”

http://www.bookstrand.com/cowboys-for-christmas-destiny-blaine

Cowboy Boots and Untamed Hearts by Natalie Acres

Kevin opened the door wide and kept an open palm on his lower back right next to his gun. He focused on the man in front of him, but his eyes didn’t stop moving around the yard. If someone else was out there, he wanted to see them before any shots were fired.

“Can I help you?”

Riley was behind him with a pistol lowered to his side out of the visitor’s view.

“Sure,” he said in a slow drawl. He turned around and studied Kevin before he acknowledged Riley with a tilt of his head. “Mighty cold out here. Do you fellows always run around without a shirt in the dead of winter?”

Kevin started to say something.

Riley beat him to it.

“What can we help you with?” Riley asked. This time he stepped away from the door, enough to let their visitor see his weapon.

Amused, he glanced down and then said, “I’m here to see Sydney.”

“Sydney is busy,” Riley snapped. “Real, busy.”

“She is?” he asked in a deep baritone voice before adding a chuckle. “I imagine you’re right. I bet little Sydney has her hands full here.”

“Yes, she does,” Riley said defensively. “Can I relay a message to her?”

Kevin studied the man in front of them. Something was strangely familiar about him. He didn’t like the fact that he couldn’t spot a vehicle anywhere. Then again, the guy may have walked in from the gates. He might have the access codes if he worked for Sam, but why the hell would he bother in this weather?

“Are you from around here?” Kevin asked before the guy had the time to answer Riley.

“Yeah, I am. Just tell her Brock stopped by. She knows me and she knows I’ll be around.”

“Brock, you gotta a last name?” Riley stuck his hand out in an attempt to shake it and knowing Riley, tug him inside and start a good ole southern brawl.

“Yeah, I do.” He said when he reached for Riley’s hand, took it and shook it. “It’s Brock Donovan,” he let the dark glasses fall to the bridge of his nose. “I’m your brother,” he nodded at Sydney as she nearly tumbled down the stairs when she heard the news. “And she’s my girl.”

If You Enjoyed Cowboy Sex and Cowboy Boots by Natalie Acres....

If you enjoyed Sex Party, Cowboy Boots and Untamed Hearts, and Sex Games, I think you'll like Breakfast by the Sea too. Writing as Natalie Acres, I enjoyed writing the action-packed drama and suspense found in Cowboy Boots and Unfinished Business and Cowboy Boots and Untamed Hearts. However, I can't remember ever creating a character quite like Jeff Jacobsen from Breakfast by the Sea. He grabbed my heart and wouldn't let go and I sincerely hope this tortured hero will stay with you long after you read the last page of Breakfast by the Sea. Available now at Siren Publishing as a pre-order selection, this novel releases on November 17th.

Much love,

Destiny Blaine/Natalie Acres

www.destinyblaine.com

Other excerpts found here: www.destinyblaine.blogspot.com

Breakfast by the Sea

By: Destiny Blaine | Other books by Destiny Blaine | Notify me of Destiny Blaine's new releases
Categories: Erotic Romance, Menage a Trois/Quatre, Romantic Suspense, Western/Cowboys
Word Count: 77,410
Heat Level: SCORCHING
Published By: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc.

AVAILABLE: Wednesday, November 17th

This new release is offered at a 15% discount for four weeks.

[Menage Amour: Erotic Cowboy Menage Romanctic Suspense, M/F/M/M/M/M, M/F/M]

A beautiful woman with a checkered past runs a legitimate bed and breakfast on Jekyll Island. Several young men posing as cowboys move in Breakfast by the Sea and things become chaotic right from the start when the oceanfront B&B turns into a command center for a very determined group of special Super-Op Forces.

Pursuing a man known as the King of Hearts, five tough operatives fall for a woman they’re supposed to eliminate. When the team discovers Paige Lambert is in fact the Queen of Hearts, they can’t ignore their handler’s orders. Is the bed and breakfast owner destined to die for her past crimes or will she end up under the protective custody of the men hired to kill her?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpt
STORY EXCERPT



God, he was mad. He couldn’t believe they were protecting a target. He was good and damn furious. What was Adam thinking?

Jeff was fucking pissed off. He wanted an explanation. He deserved one. “Wasn’t it bad enough that you spent the last five years with a woman who seemed bound and determined to make you look like a fool?”

Adam flinched. “I deserved that. Everyone tried to tell me. I wouldn’t listen. When I took my vows, I took them to mean I’d be with the same woman until death do us part, like the minister marrying us suggested.”

“Yeah, well, congratulations. You stuck by those vows, and look where commitment and loyalty got you.”

“This isn’t about me.”

The tide rolled in and out, in and out. Jeff had been sitting there for a long time, listening to the waves break around him, staring up at the black sky, and wondering what kind of woman grabbed a man at first sight. He’d gasped for air when he’d first met her, meeting as it was, and yet he could’ve killed her in the same breath, angry when he realized her face existed in their fucking deck.

“What has gotten into you?” Adam asked, concern in his voice.

“I thought about asking you the very same thing.”

Silence. Adam mastered the gift of negotiation. He used every tactic he could to make his marks talk without giving into the need for violence.

Jeff, on the other hand, didn’t have the patience. He liked to beat the truth out of his targets, find out what they knew, and then laugh when he destroyed the kind of monster most deserving of the fate he was hired to deliver.

An eye for an eye, and based on his history, it would eventually be how he died. Men like him didn’t die old or retire to a porch swing.

Jeff knew the score. He kept a tally. The time would come when he paid the ultimate price. It was the way the universe kept a balance. The eye for an eye thing eventually got them all—good guys, bad guys, men with badges, thugs dealing drugs—every last one of them. In the end, they all met the same challenging fate.

“Do you think we’re held accountable for the things we do?”

Adam cleared his throat. “You mean for the hits?”

“Yeah,” Jeff replied thoughtfully. “Do we face the same outcome? Are we any better than those killing innocent people?”

“I think so. We put a stop to illegal activity. We hunt animals, not decent men and women.”

“Is that what you tell yourself when you drag a man away from his dinner table while he’s sitting across from his wife and small children?”

“I do,” Adam said. “If I take out one of these guys on their front lawn, I don’t think about who’s watching from inside, but that’s me.

“I think about the guys and gals who didn’t go home from work because of one of these creeps. I wonder what their victims miss in life, the Christmas holidays, the summer vacations, who they’ll never see grow up or graduate from college. That’s what I think about.

“To hell with what the thugs leave behind. I consider the blameless. I ponder what these criminals took away from those who didn’t deserve a life cut short. Then, I think of the lives I saved because I did my job and stopped a man or woman with criminal intent.”

“Do you have any idea how many shots I’ve been required to fire while the target sat with his or her family?”

“I’m sure a lot. We all have.”

“Twenty-seven,” Jeff informed him.

“And out of that many, how many do you regret?”

“Not a damn one,” Jeff admitted. “The targets all had numerous kills, and the women? Oh, God, they were the worst. Still, the older I get, I wonder if there’s a better way.”

“You’re questioning yourself?”

“Not exactly, but sometimes I ask why me? Why did I pull the trigger?”

“You chose this line of work. This isn’t the kind of job that reaches out and grabs you. Our operatives understand what they’re getting themselves into, and they realize when they enter our training program that if they ever leave, we’re unable to protect them.”

“I ain’t leavin’, so don’t worry about me,” Jeff drawled.

“Sounds like you’ve considered going somewhere.”

“No, but lately I’ve spent a lot of hours thinking about life and death. You know, about my time, and how much I have left.”

“Your time will come, whether you’re with our team or not.”

“Don’t you worry that if you live by the gun, you’ll die by its bullet?”

“If you’re behind a misguided missile fighting for the wrong cause, then yes, I believe you’ll die as you’ve lived. But we’re the good guys. We stand for what’s right, what’s worth defending. We save others by destroying evil, savage individuals who take the lives of those who had a life worth living. If you don’t find peace in anything else, hold fast to that, Jeff.”

“I still say that woman may ruin you,” Jeff changed the subject.

“Maybe, but probably not.” Adam chuckled. “I’m the rock, remember?”

“You’re the backbone of this operation, that’s for sure.”

“Rocks don’t roll uphill.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jeff asked.

“Don’t worry about Paige. She’s out of my league.” Adam slapped Jeff on the back and walked away.

Maybe Adam thought Paige Lambert—Carpasia—was out of his league, but as far as Jeff was concerned, they were in the same class.

They were all killers. She’d killed before. He’d bet on that any day of the week and twice on Sunday. The lady wasn’t clean-handed.

Females rarely purchased guns for show. Since his fellow operatives had fallen victim to Paige’s womanly ways, Jeff would do his homework. He would find out Paige Lambert Carpasia’s secrets. Then, he’d expose her. His team had a right to know with whom they were dealing.

In the meantime, he’d stay away from her, keep as much space between them as possible. Otherwise, he couldn’t be responsible for his actions.

Publishing with Amazon Kindle

Authors—This post is for you

How many of you are publishing through AMAZON KINDLE right now? If you are, I’d love to hear from you. What has your experience been? Why did you choose to publish directly through Amazon Kindle? What pros and cons have you experienced?

I want to hear from you so come on out today and say hello!

Hugs,
Destiny Blaine
www.destinyblaine.com

Two Cowboys Are Always Better Than One

Jules and Brogan Evans aren’t in any position to help out with their brother’s daughter, but they aren’t the kind of men to turn away family when one of their own is in need. Besides, surely they can manage a teenager for one month. They stand by that belief until their eighteen year-old niece shows up with match-making ideas on her mind and the perfect candidate at her side.

Serena Evans doesn’t understand why her uncles are so upset. They were willing to open up their home to her, why not her best friend, Jenna? Most men love Jenna, after all.

And there lies the problem.

Jules and Brogan run a large cattle ranch, a successful livestock operation by day and the city’s favorite hang out spot at night. They’re known around town for the parties they throw but when their niece and her friend show up, all good things come to an abrupt end, until Serena returns home to sit by her mother’s bedside. That's when the Evans brothers discover Jenna has no place to go and little motivation to leave.



Excerpt:

“You could’ve said no,” Jules told him for the fifteenth time.

Brogan was sick of hearing his mouth flap. He grabbed a bale of hay and slung it more at Jules than the wagon and thanks to his tantrum, he missed both. Brogan swatted his palms together briskly, and then shook his head.

They glared at one another for a few more turns of tossing hay. Jules threw one bale and Brogan moved another.

“Tell you what. I’ll call him right now. Tell him to turn around and head straight back to Birmingham. You’re right. We don’t want two little women moving into our world and ruining our party.”

“Uh-huh,” Jules moaned.

“How about I tell him to give Fiona a kiss on each cheek for us? Maybe he’ll tell her how sorry we are that we couldn’t keep the kid because we had women to screw and pussies to tap this summer. What about it, Jules? Sounds like a good enough excuse, doesn’t it?”

“Shit, man,” Jules gritted his teeth. “What I mean is I don’t see why Serena had to bring a friend along. It doesn’t make sense. If her momma is dying, why doesn’t she stay with us for the summer and let us spoil her? Why bring a gal pal too? I don’t need two teenagers looking for trouble around here. If they start prowling around this town on a search for some, they’ll surely find plenty. With our reputations and this place here, every boy in his late teens will be looking our way. We’re askin’ for trouble’s all.”

“Heath said the gal with Serena has no where else to go. She’s been staying with them. Serena and this kid go everywhere together.” Brogan nodded toward the driveway. “Speaking of which, they’re here.”

Jules jumped off the large wagon, pulled his fingers away from his work gloves and tossed them aside. He swiped the sweat from his thick brow with a tented hand closed over his forehead. Trying to block the sun didn’t work. It only made it more difficult to see the sleek SUV moving toward them. The automobile looked like a black giant inching closer and closer. Maybe they should have taken it as a sign, a real warning.

Brogan felt an odd feeling, a true sense of dread wash over him all at one time. He shook off the sensation and decided it was the heat. As if he saw the whole thing in slow motion, he glanced over at Jules and saw his eyes widen about the time Serena and her father closed their doors simultaneously.

The back door opened and the first thing Brogan saw was a pair of long, slender legs. Golden curls bounced lightly on shapely, bare shoulders as a woman—maybe the most beautiful he’d ever seen—stepped away from the car.

“Shit,” Jules said. “That’s no kid, Brogan.”

“Maybe it’s Fiona,” he fired back. “It’s been two years since we’ve seen her.”

“Fiona never had boobs…or curves.”

“Maybe she grew five inches, lost fifty pounds along with twenty years in there too. Heaven help us if that’s Serena’s friend.”

“Uncle Jules! Uncle Brogan!” Serena waved wildly. “Hurry up. I want you to meet Jenna!”

The men stared at one another. Brogan felt his upper jaw twitch and Jules lost his color. They glared at their little niece like she wasn’t just the culprit in planned mischief but she was also the red-haired, freckled-face, favored child of the devil himself.

“Damn it to hell,” Brogan said before he reminded Jules, “I seem to recall Heath saying the friend staying with us was, in fact, named Jenna.”

“Sweet mercenary,” Jules whispered.

Both men started down the hillside and Brogan warned. “Not a word. Heath is counting on us. If he can stand to be around her, we can too. Maybe she has a quirk or two.”

“It’s not a visible one, if she even possesses a flaw. Besides, you’re forgetting Heath is a saint compared to us. Remember, Daddy always said he belonged to the milkman.”

“Preacherman is more like it,” Brogan muttered under his breath. “But I still remember a time when Heath liked the same things we do. He always liked his women young and willing to train.”

“He’s married for crying out loud!” Jules walked ahead of him. “And I don’t think he’s capable of thinking straight if he brought that to us!”

“He may have a ring on his finger, but he ain’t blind!”

Jules chuckled. “Remember that old adage. They say love is capable of all sorts of things. Heath must have full blinders on. No man in his right mind would drop that girl off here."

Maybe there was the problem. Why, sure, it explained everything. Heath just wasn’t in his right mind.



http://aspenmountainpress.com/erotica/contemporary/domination-plantation/prod_270.html