#AuthorInterview with Jean Adams

My guest today is New Zealand writer Jean Adams. Her latest contemporary romance, HONEY'S GREEK BILLIONAIRE, released on January 27, 2017 from The Wild Rose Press. Welcome Jean!

Where did you get the idea for your new novel, HONEY'S GREEK BILLIONAIRE? 

I was sitting at work one day, day dreaming about plots (as you do) and had one of those what-would=happen=if moments, and lo and behold a book was born.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read this book? 

I’d like then to smile, read the last couple of pages again and think aaahhhhh, I really enjoyed that.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

One day I’d really love to have a crack at mystery, a la Agatha Christie, but I have a few more books to wrote before that happens.

Do you work on more than one book at a time?

Usually. Then if I go flat one I can turn to another. Currently I’m  working on five right now, a contemporary, a trilogy and an archaeological paranormal.

Do you have any words of advice to beginning writers?

Never, never, never give up and don’t listen to nay-sayers or dream stealers.

What comes first for you – plot or character? And why?

Usually the plot, but occasionally the characters. It depends on what grabs my attention first.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a plotter. I used to be a pantser but got fed up with having to go over the story every time I had a new idea that didn’t work anyway. Plotting keeps my thoughts disciplined.

Tell us a bit about you. Where do you live, and how long have you been writing?

I was born in England but now live in New Zealand. I have been writing for several years (can’t remember exactly how many.)

If writing is your first passion, what is your second? 

Archeology would be my second passion but I’ve never taken part in a dig. Would love to though, either in Egypt or Greece.

How do you think your life experiences have prepared you for writing?

I have called on some of my travel experiences.

If you could get rid of something in your life that would give you more writing time, what would it be?

Probably my TV, but then again I use it for a lot of historical research material.

What did you want to be (occupation-wise) when you were a child?

I wanted to be an air hostess but alas, it was not to be.

What do you like best about your hero, Paris Magdalinos, in HONEY'S GREEK BILLIONAIRE? 

He’s a delicious sexy Greek who lives on an Aegean island.

What do you like best about Honey, your heroine? 

She’s very much her own woman who gets sideswiped by Paris and realizes that love is the greatest gift if all.

How do you choose the names and physical characteristics of your characters? Do you base them on real people?

I had trouble with his name until I came across the name by chance in an article.

How can readers reach you or find you online? 

I don’t do much on Facebook (Facebook hates me), my website is www.jeandrew.co.nz  I do have a Twitter account but I don’t do a lot of promotion online, something I intend to change this year.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why? 

You could start with No Other Love set in Los Angeles and Greece. It’s a story I’m particularly fond of.

Tell us a little about your current release.

Honey works for a Greek company in London. Her Greek boss takes a fancy to her and flirts with her making her feel uncomfortable. A friend tell her that the way to stop him in his tracks is to ask him to marry her. To her surprise, instead of laughing it off, he accepts. I thought it was a fun idea to play with.

Blurb:

In an effort to stop his embarrassing flirtations, Honey Preston jokingly asks her billionaire boss, Paris Magdalinos, to marry her. Much to her surprise, he accepts, and no amount of wriggling on her part will induce him to let her off the hook. Besides, she doesn't believe she's good enough for him.

Paris has his own agenda. He's using Honey's innocent proposal to help him out of a sticky situation. And their marriage will only be for a short time...until he kisses her and discovers she's the woman he's been seeking. She's perfect for him, and he wants to stay married. But Honey's beliefs are hard to shake.

Excerpt:

“And this is Honey Preston, Mr. Magdalinos.”

Snapped out of her daydream, Honey focused her attention on Brian Armstrong, the overall office manager. Oh lord, I’m about to be introduced. Should I offer my hand for a handshake? Please don’t let me do anything stupid like curtsy.

“It was Miss Preston who alerted me to the problem. She was Mortimer’s assistant for a year and a half.”

“Honey?” A light dancing in the chocolate-colored gaze collided with hers. Her face burst into instant flame. Oh, my goodness. Paris Magdalinos gave a short nod and bestowed on her his sexiest smile before his amused, sparkling eyes moved on to the next person.

Hot in here all of a sudden. The need to fan her face became an urgent priority after the heated brown eyes moved away. But she didn’t dare move so much as a finger in case any movement, however slight, attracted his attention again. She wasn’t sure she could handle another helping of his dark-eyed scrutiny. It was as though his eyes had undressed her.

But anonymity was not to be.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Honeys-Greek-Billionaire-Jean-Adams-ebook/dp/B01N2ML37Q/

The Wild Rose Press: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/4847-honey-s-greek-billionaire-paperback.html

Author Bio:

Jean Adams is a firm believer in happily-ever-after and enjoys writing books with happy endings.

She has published nine romance novels and is currently working on several other books, including a trilogy set in ancient Egypt.

She likes dark, mysterious heroes and strong heroines, who are their perfect match. They are soul mates, and their love for each other goes soul deep.

Jean is the founder of Romance Writers of New Zealand.

Margaret Fieland has an Amazing Story!

Science Fiction author Margaret Fieland is here to tell us an amazing story about her time in Europe as a college student. Her story proves that Mom knows everything. Please welcome Margaret Fieland!



ET, Phone Home

I am the author of four science fiction novels that take place on an alien planet, Aleyne, several hundred years in the future. Many of the problems my characters experience were informed by my own, especially those from the summer I spent as a co-op in the Netherlands and then traveling through Scandinavia.

During my sophomore year at the University of Michigan, I discovered an organization that placed students in math and science in other countries for practical work - for what would now be called co-oping. The organization's primary objective was to exchange students among the various European countries, but we managed to start a branch at U of M. I eagerly joined, and successfully lobbied a couple of my math and computer science professors who agreed to sponsor a foreign co-op student for the summer.

When I applied for a placement the summer between my sophomore and junior years, I thus had a preferred status; as someone who had worked for the organization, I went to the front of the queue, so to speak. Since I speak fluent French, I asked for France, Belgium, Luxembourg, or Switzerland, countries where French is spoken.

But placements for students from the United States were limited, and I was offered a spot in the Netherlands, at the Agricultural University of Wageningen, assisting a professor of mathematics.

I had a room with a family that lived a mile or two outside of town. They showed me what would be my room, which had a comfortable bed, dresser, sink, and a window with a view of the surrounding countryside.

“And your bath will be on Saturdays,” my hosts concluded.

Once a week? I was used to washing my hair every morning in the shower. So I phoned my mother. Fortunately Mom was a lot more cosmopolitan than I.

“Water is expensive,” she said. “Try offering them more money and see if they'll let you bathe three times a week.” She even suggested an amount.

It worked {phew.}

After borrowing an old bicycle from my hosts, I went into town, where my first stop was the bicycle repair shop and my next was to introduce myself to the professor I'd be working for.

His first task for me was correcting the students' latest set of exams. He provided me with two things: a paper with the correct answers, and a list of phrases in Dutch. One of them was the Dutch for “Nonsense.” I still grin every time I recall that.

In relatively short order, I found a sorority willing to make me a member for the summer and ballet class in town - I was passionately fond of ballet at the time - and signed up for lessons. It was there that I had my next lesson in cultural insularity.

"I'm an American," I responded when asked where I was from.

"Oh, so am I," a diminutive student replied. "I'm from Nicaragua. How about you?"

"I'm from the United States." And that is how, to this day, I respond when asked what country I'm from.

But soon, being then as now, a voracious reader, I faced the knotty problem of finding reading material in a town without any large bookstores. Hurrying down to the local library, I asked what I needed to do to join: pay a small fee and fill out a form.

The library's supply of books in English was quite small, but fortunately they had a couple of bookcases full of books in French, including a lot of Georges Simenon. So I spent my summer reading through the library's entire supply of Simenon's Maigret novels, some of his others, various memoirs about the war, a memoir by a French doctor, and several French science fiction novel, as well as a French translation of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

My French was fluent, but reading science fiction in French was still a challenge; it's hard to make sense of a made-up word when the word it's derived from fails to spring to mind. All of this went into the experiences of my characters as they struggle with an alien language and culture.

After classes broke up for the summer, I went to visit a friend. She lived in North Holland, way out in the country, and not everyone spoke English. Still, I managed with gestures and the piece of paper with my destination written on it.

When my internship was over, I deposited most of my luggage in the depot in Brussels and spent three weeks traveling through Scandinavia. I barely managed to retrieve my things, as the day I'd allocated for it turned out to be a religious holiday. Fortunately, the depot opened at 6 AM, and my flight wasn't until 10 AM.

What would I have done if I'd failed to pick up my things in time? You guessed it: phone Mom again.

Excerpt - ROB'S REBELLION:

This is a scene involving Terran Federation Senator George Cromwell, one of the secondary characters in the novel. In the midst of tricky treaty negotiation, which are not going well, Cromwell decided to visit his brother, who is working some distance from where the hover bus let him off. Cromwell probably knows about as much Aleyni as I did Dutch.

Cromwell nodded. Perhaps Tom's duties prevented him from taking the morning off. Cromwell followed his benefactor across the almost-empty market square.

“Avan,” his benefactor said in Aleyni, “I have a favor to ask of you. My companion here needs a ride out to the camp the Terran scientists have.”

“You mind riding in my cart?” The farmer pointed to where a single shaggy nagga was harnessed to a wooden cart. A couple of baskets, one of purple fruit, the other of an orange vegetable, waited to be loaded.

“I would be grateful for your kindness,” Cromwell replied in Aleyni.

Shortly thereafter, he found himself seated beside the farmer, Avan, while they jounced along. By using a mixture of Common, Aleyni, and the occasional gesture, they managed to keep up a lively conversation. The orange-skinned vegetables, his companion informed him, made an excellent stew, when sliced and cooked along with the beans reposing in a third basket.

“Do you soak those beans?” Cromwell asked. “My mother always soaked hers overnight.” He mimed pouring water.

“These I do. The little brown ones, you don't have to.” The man paused. “How long you here for?”

“A while, I expect.” They'd arrived at the dig, and Cromwell descended.

“Thank you for the lift. If you make it to Aleyne City, I'm at the Port Hotel. I'd be delighted to treat you to a meal.” Cromwell stared at the farmer's retreating cart. The man had gone out of his way to drop Cromwell off here, simply because his table companion, some kind of relative, asked him to. They'd been as kind as his grandfather and his cronies. Not like the scum scrambling around the Federation Senate, seeking only to line their own pockets. Cromwell frowned. His preconceptions were suffering a major rearrangement. Still, he'd come to visit his brother, and that's what he planned to do.

Blurb -  ROB'S REBELLION:

Colonel Rob Walker always does his duty, even when it means risking  shaky relationship with his family. When he's ordered to bring the treaty negotiations between the Terran Federation and the Aleyni to a successful conclusion, he's determined to do just that, even when both sides would rather he fail. How can Rob pull off a miracle and avoid a war, one where both sides could be destroyed?

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lRxFdOJp6Q

Buy Links:

On publisher's website:
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/series/robs-rebellion-detail

Rob's Rebellion on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Robs-Rebellion-Novels-Margaret-Fieland-ebook/dp/B0198UXBF8/


Social Media Links:

Website:
http://margaretfieland.wordpress.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MargaretFielandAuthor/
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/margaretfieland/

Author Bio:

Born and raised in New York City, Margaret Fieland has lived in the Boston area since 1978.  She is an avid science fiction fan, and selected Robert A. Heinlein's “Farmer in the Sky” for her tenth birthday, now long past. In spite of earning her living as a computer software engineer, she turned to one of her sons to put up the first version of her website, a clear indication of the computer generation gap. Thanks to her father's relentless hounding, she can still recite the rules for pronoun agreement in both English and French. She can also write backwards and wiggle her ears. Her poems have appeared in journals such as Melusine, Front Range Review, and All Rights Reserved.  She is the author of  Relocated, Geek Games,  Broken Bonds,  and Rob's Rebellion published by MuseItUp Publishing, and of Sand in the Desert, a collection of science fiction persona poems.  A chapter book is due out later this year.

Devon McKay: In the Spotlight with BETTING ON KINCADE

Fellow Wild Rose Press author Devon McKay makes a return visit with a brand new novel which is releasing today. Congratulations Devon! Happy Release Day!

Betting On Kincade by Devon McKay

Contemporary Western Romance

The Wild Rose Press

Betting On Kincade Blurb:

Everyone Cassie Wilcox loved is gone. And now, thanks to her drunken stepfather, her house and family business will be taken from her, too, unless she can find a way to buy back the ranch from the new owner. With less than two months to come up with money she doesn’t have, her options are running out, and apparently, her common sense as she rents out rooms to an eclectic group of strangers.

Returning home for Dalton Kincade is bittersweet. Not a damn thing has changed. Two years on the rodeo circuit weren’t able to shake free the memory of the feisty redhead who’d broken his heart into a thousand pieces. Nor the sting of her parting words…Never trust a Kincade.

Winning her beloved ranch in a drunken bet is the last thing he expected to happen, but at least he saved it for her. Now, he has to figure out how to break that news to a woman who never wants to see him again. Renting a room in the house he now owns might be a risk, but it’s nothing compared to betting his heart on winning back the love of his life.

Betting On Kincade Excerpt:

“Are you going to play or just sit there?” Gary Evans slurred in drunken angst as he kicked back his chair and leaned over the table. Not waiting for a reply, he picked up the crisp piece of paper lodged between them, waved it in the air, and then, slammed the deed to the Wilcox land back down on the hard pressed wood.

Cautiously, Dalton stationed a deadly stare on the intoxicated fool and noted the shimmering of glee highlighting the steel gray of the man’s eyes. Tapping the top card, he slowly trailed his finger along the swirled red print.

He was a loser no matter the outcome. Should’ve just walked away. Ignored Gary’s foolish bet and the taunts that followed once the hook had been set. It wasn’t as if Cassie would appreciate his effort anyway. Regardless, he couldn’t walk away and let her lose it all.

Clenching his jaw, he folded his fingers around the squared edges and paused before picking up the pile.

“Read ‘em and weep,” Gary squealed gleefully as he tossed his cards next to the deed. “Four deuces.” He stumbled from the end of the table, closing the gap between them in one stride, before managing to shove a quadruple of stubby digits in front of Dalton’s face. “Four.”

Dalton studied his hand with guarded fury, then stifled the drunkard’s premature victory with a flick of his wrist.

Betting On Kincade Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Betting-Kincade-Devon-McKay-ebook/dp/B01MQXJWK9

The Wild Rose Press: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/4921-betting-on-kincade-paperback.html

ASIN:  B01MQXJWK9
ISBN(s):
978-1-5092-1266-8 Paperback
978-1-5092-1267-5 Digital

Devon McKay Bio:

Devon McKay writes contemporary romance with a western flair. If she's not writing, she's busy with chores on her small ranch, working on a stained glass project or walking one of her three dogs through the woods. Her greatest joy is putting a smile on a reader's face and hearing from fans.

Please check out Devon’s website at: http://Authordevonmckay.com or contact her by email at: dev.mckay@yahoo.com. You can also follow her on face book at:
https://www.facebook.com/DevonMcKay2014 
and on twitter at: https://twitter.com/devonmckay2014

Fall in Love with Romance Giveaway

#ABA Valentine Blog Hop - A Simple Romantic Dinner

A list of all the blogs in the hop and a Rafflecopter of prizes follows at the end of this post!

Valentine's Day is definitely a time for love, but it's also a time to eat a romantic dinner with your sweetie!

I love going out with my husband for a nice meal at a great restaurant on Valentine's Day. But sometimes it's fun (and more economical) to stay home and cook together. Here's an easy dinner just special enough for Valentine's Day.

Here's the menu for a Valentines Dinner for Two:

Salad greens with apple, walnuts and brie

Sumptuous Seafood for Two

White or Brown Rice (optional)

Roasted Asparagus

Deluxe Brownie Dessert

Start with a crispy salad.

Salad Greens with Apples, Walnuts and Brie 
Prep time: about 10 minutes

1 tbsp. cider vinegar
3 tbsp. (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. (5 ml) Dijon mustard
2 tsp. (10 ml) honey, or to taste
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 cups (1 litre) baby salad greens, washed and dried
12 to 16 thin, half slices of red apple
2 to 3 tbsp. (30-45 ml) walnut pieces
75 g brie cheese, cut into small cubes

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Season the dressing with salt and pepper. Divide and mound the salad greens on two salad plates. Top with the apples, nuts and cheese. Drizzle with salad dressing and serve.

Check out the great Valentine reads at The Wild Rose Press - Candy Hearts 40% off!

Next, the main event!

Sumptuous Seafood for Two
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:11-13 minutes

1/4 cup (60 ml) white wine
2 tbsp. (30 ml) butter
1 tbsp. (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
pinches of paprika, cayenne pepper and dried tarragon
1 - 3 1/2 to 4 oz. (100-115 g) lobster tail, thawed if frozen, split in half lengthwise
4 large scallops
4 large shrimp or prawns, peeled with tail portion intact
1 6 oz. (170 g) fish filet, such as halibut, cod or salmon
1 tbsp. (15 ml) chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. (230 C) Place the butter, wine, lemon juice, garlic, spices and tarragon in a small pot. Set over medium heat and heat 3 to 4 minutes, just until the butter is melted. Remove pot from the heat.

Use a paper towel to pat and remove any excess moisture on the seafood. Arrange seafood, setting the lobster cut side up, in a single layer in shallow-sided baking dish. Drizzle seafood with wine/butter mixture. Bake 11 to 13 minutes, or until the shellfish and fish are just cooked. When cooked, fish and shellfish should feel slightly firm, not hard (overcooked) and not soft (not cooked through). Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Roasted Asparagus
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 12 - 14 minutes. The asparagus has the same cooking time and temperature as the seafood, so they can go into the oven together.

12 - 14 asparagus spears, stems trimmed
1 1/2 tbsp. (22 ml) olive oil
1 tbsp.  (15 ml) balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 C). Bring a wide skillet of water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook 2 minutes, until bright green, but not quite cooked through. Drain well, cool asparagus in cold water, and then drain well again. Place the asparagus in a casserole dish just large enough to hold it in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Roast 11 to 13 minutes, or until hot and delicious.

CHILL OUT is 40% off! Read the blurb and excerpt.

And for dessert, let's go real easy with ready made store bought brownies. Or make your own, if you're so inclined.

Deluxe Brownie Dessert
Prep time: 10 minutes

8 small to medium fresh strawberries
1 tbsp. (15 ml) icing sugar
1/2 oz. (150 ml) orange liqueur, or to taste (optional)
2 squares or wedges of brownie
2 scoops mango or other fruit sorbet

Place strawberries and icing sugar in a small bowl and toss to combine. Flavour with orange liqueur, if using. Divide and spread on two dessert plates. Set a brownie on each plate. Set a scoop of sorbet on top of each brownie. You can garnish with a sprig of mint if you like. Enjoy!
Enter the Rafflecopter. We've got two $50 Amazon gift cards up for grabs!

To hop back on the ABA Blog Hop and check out more interesting blogs, go to http://casimclean.com/a-time-for-love/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#AuthorInterview with SciFi Author Adera Orfanelli

Science Fiction writer Adera Orfanelli is my interview guest today. What does a science fiction writer have in common with a chicken? Read on and find out! 

Why did you choose this genre?

I love science fiction and have from a very young age. This serial actually began some time ago as part of a website that has since closed down, and I love the episodic feel of a serial, much like watching episodes of a beloved television series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

I tend to write when I can. So for example, when I worked at a major bank, I used to write in the 30-60 seconds between calls. I literally crafted some of my work a sentence at a time. I’ve cultivated the habit of being able to write whenever I have the opportunity.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

I’d love to do some steampunk or alternate history.

Did you always want to be a writer?

Yes, as a teenager my career goals were to write romance novels and work on a horse farm. Well, I live on a homestead with 3 horses, which means I made it, I guess.

Do you work on more than one book at a time?

I tend to work on a couple of different projects at once, though usually they are in separate genres like fiction and nonfiction.

Tell us a bit about you. Where do you live, and how long have you been writing?

I live on a homestead in the Ozarks right on the Missouri/Arkansas border and I’ve been writing for over twenty-five years and I’ve been published for fifteen of those (more if you count numerous newsletter/magazine publications.)

If writing is your first passion, what is your second?

Chickens! Seriously, I run a website called charmedchicken.com, which is under some renovations, but is my farm-to-table advocacy site. I love my chickens. They provide laughter and breakfast. I consider them my stress relief.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it? Does it help you with your writing?

I am a technical goddess. I’ve done technical support for about a dozen years and currently work as a virtual assistant to authors and entrepreneurs through my company Unscramblet Author Solutions. (www.unscramblet.com). I also have My Author Home, which offers free websites to authors (www.myauthorhome.com) as well as numerous promotional opportunities. I love the technical side of things and it allows me to work a different part of my brain from writing, yet I’m still able to help authors.

How can readers reach you or find you online?

Facebook: http://fb.com/mwaowmk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mwaowmk
Website: http://marywinter.com

What’s your tagline? Why did you choose it?

For my main pen name, Mary Winter, my tagline is Seasons of Passion, and it’s something I’ve used for many years playing off the seasonal nature of my last name.

Do you have an event coming up you’d like to tell us about?

On February 19, I have a free webinar on having a storefront on your website to drive sales to your page. You can register for this free event here: https://charmedchicken.webinarninja.co/my/wnwebinarlist/index?webinar_id=52285

Book release:
The Tobine Chronicles: Episode 3
In the battle to save the planet she loves, one woman must discover the truth about her past, and if she has the strength necessary to not just save Tobine–but rule.

Episode Three - As Tenni learns more about the Vilos' plans, she wants nothing to do with the frog-like creatures. With the slave Kavin, she begins to make plans to escape only to discover that she's been given a horrible twist of fate.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tobine-Chronicles-Episode-3-ebook/dp/B01N0IR2JV/
My website: http://marywinter.com/shop/tobine-chronicles-episode-3/

Linda Palmer and MOST WANTED

My guest today is fellow Uncial Press writer Linda Palmer. She's sharing the story of the inspiration for her Psy Squad series. I love stories about psychics so this sounds right up my alley! Please welcome Linda Palmer.

It all started with a movie called Vampire Academy, based on the first novel in Richelle Mead's delicious six-book series. I read them all and was sucked right into that supernatural world--no pun intended. Around this time, I also watched Divergent, a movie based on the first novel in Veronica Roth's dystopian trilogy. I loved that world, too. While the series were very different from each other, they had one thing in common: the hero and heroine fall into inconvenient, unwanted, and inappropriate love. No wonder I got so caught up. I mean, what's more tantalizing than forbidden attraction?

The result of all that was my novella Most Wanted, set slightly in the future when psychics have gone underground to escape public persecution. Kate Lawless, a waitress temporarily suspended from her job, is nineteen and fatally poor when she sees a World Security League all-call for anyone who has ever had "women's intuitions" or "gut feelings" that turned out to be right.

Is this a trick to lure mentalists out of hiding? Or does this reputable organization really need help? It honestly doesn't matter to Kate once she reads the small print that promises monetary reimbursement for simply showing up. She's weeks behind on her rent, and her car is stuck in the shop until she can scrape up enough money to pay for repairs. If the WSL is promising cash, she's going to be there. Never mind that she's not one bit psychic. All she has to do answer a few questions, get paid, and get the heck out of there.

Easy, huh?

Um…not so much.

It turns out that Kate shows promise. Even more shocking, the WSL wants her to undergo further testing. Meanwhile, she'll be paid a per diem, put up in a very fancy St. Louis hotel, and mentored by Nikolai Zycov, a several-years-older guy whose East European accent, alone, takes her to her knees. Never mind his formidable size and good looks.

Of course she agrees. Nikolai drives her to her apartment to pack a bag, dropping her off at the entrance.

The moment I unlocked my door, I shrugged off my jacket and began frantically straightening up. Dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Dirty clothes in the hamper. I made up the Murphy bed before folding it into the wall, kicked spare shoes into the closet, and tried to think what else deserved my attention. Realizing I was down to clutter that had no place to go, I grabbed an overnight bag and began cramming everything I might need into it.

While getting my toothbrush, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the bathroom mirror and groaned. No wonder Nikolai had helped me cross the street. The winter wind had done a job on my long hair and somehow erased my make-up, making my oval face appear younger than usual. I pulled the snarled strands into a messy ponytail, all the while wishing I had time to hide my freckles with some foundation. But I didn't. In fact, a knock on the door made me jump even though I'd been expecting it. A quick peek confirmed it was Nikolai in the hallway. I unlocked the door. "That was fast."

Nikolai stepped inside, his cool gaze sweeping me and then the entire room that was my apartment. I wondered what he thought of the place. Trying to see it through his eyes, I guessed it must look pretty shabby, from my second-hand couch to my boxy, outdated TV. There were movie posters on the walls—Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, Spiderman. I did love my superheroes. And while the idea of being rescued by a man would only appeal to me if I was flat out of options, these guys were eye candy that brightened my walls. 

"No Christmas tree?"

"Actually, I will have one this year. I'm just a little late putting it up."

Nikolai's gaze lingered on the book cases on each side of the bed frame, in particular a Harry Potter snow globe. "Just the one bag?"

"Yes."

We left the apartment. Once my door was locked, I turned to Nikolai. "I have to make one more stop before we go."

He nodded.

We rode the elevator down to ground level. "Stay here. I'll be right back." I pushed open a door with Office on it. "Hello, Mr. Bruno."

"Katydid. Come to pay me this month's rent? You're now three weeks late."

"I know. I know. And that's actually why I'm here. I've got some money coming in a few days, so if you can just hold off a little longer—"

His heavy sigh said it all. Blowing him a kiss for his patience, I turned and smacked into Nikolai, who'd apparently followed me inside. My face flushed. Unable to look him in the eye, I slipped past and hurried outside. 

Back in the Jeep, I stewed a little, imagining what he must think of me. "I usually carry more cash. I mean, my job more than pays the bills, plus I always get good tips. But I got suspended without pay from my waitressing gig a couple of weeks ago."

Nikolai gave me an incredulous look. "Why?"

"I poured a glass of iced tea over some jackleg's head."

He considered that for maybe two seconds before inserting his key in the ignition.
Was he judging me? "He deserved it, okay? Tried to feel me up. How was I supposed to know he was my boss's third cousin?"

Nikolai pulled out of the lot and drove for a good ten minutes before he spoke again. "You're what? Seventeen?"

Ouch. "Nineteen almost twenty."

That clearly surprised him. "Well, your parents should still help so you don't have to work in a place like that."

"I don't have any, and the grill is usually okay."

"What about siblings?" That word had never sounded so sexy.

"No family."

"Cousins, aunts, uncles…"

"No family at all."

I'd surprised him even more. "You're alone in this world?"

That sounded so dramatic that I laughed. "Me and a zillion other people. And I'm not that alone. I do have friends." I hoped he wouldn't ask how many.

"Boyfriends?"

"Nosy much?" I tried to change the subject. "What about you? Parents? Siblings?

Girlfriends?"

"Yes and no."

"No which?"

"Girlfriend. There isn't time."

"You're what?" I took a wild guess. "Twenty-one?"

"Older."

"Well, don't wait too long. Love might pass you by."

"Love isn't for everyone."

I snorted a laugh even though I actually agreed with him. "Several of the friends I mentioned, male and female, are single. I could set you up."

"I'm not gay, and your female friends would be too young for me, just as you are."

Double ouch. "So you've given this some thought?" I could hope.

He didn't answer. We made the rest of the trip in silence. At the hotel, he simply made a left, crossing traffic to drive under the overhang. Realizing he was scattering protestors by dropping me off at the door again, I climbed out of the Jeep and got my bag from the back seat. "Will I see you around?"

"No."

"May I have your cell number?"

"No."

"Do you want mine?"

"No."

"Actually, you already have it. My number is on my registration form. Call me if you change your mind about my friends. Any one of them would love to go out with a babe magnet like you."

His jaw dropped. 

I pivoted on my toe and went straight into the hotel.

Uncial Press released Most Wanted in November 2016. By then, my editor had suggested that I give one of the secondary characters, Miles, a book of his own. The result was Psychic High, which became book two in a series I'm calling Psy Squad. The third installment is Here and There, also already written. Both novellas will be released this year. These novellas have been a lot of fun to research and write.

Why? you ask. Because I'm a believer, of course.

Linda Palmer

Blurb, Most Wanted:

Kate Lawless, nineteen, is all alone in the world and struggling at the moment to make ends meet. Although answering a World Security League all-call for psychics is dangerous in these phobic times, she is tempted by the promise of reimbursement for just showing up. Screenings take place in a hotel conference room. When hers goes very well—a shocker—she is checked in so that she can undergo further testing. Staying at the ritzy hotel is quite a treat for Kate. The Christmas decorations are beyond beautiful. The festive background music reminds her of past holidays, most of them celebrated with a foster family or with other kids living in the youth ranch or orphanages that have been her life since the age of two. Her holiday plans this year? Enjoy this surprise vacay to the max, take the money, and pay her past-due rent.

 Nikolai Zycov, a Russian member of the WSL team, is assigned to her. While he claims that he's only interested on a professional level, he won't stop meddling in her personal life. He comes off as deliberately distant one minute; helpful, the next. Although annoying, this actually intrigues Kate, as does the fact that her clairvoyance gets a psychic boost whenever Nikolai is physically close.
Distracted by her growing feelings for him, she finds it harder and harder to lock onto Mbali Tinibu, the ruthless Sierra Leone civil war criminal she is helping the WSL locate. Kate finally asks to work alone and is given permission in spite of Nikolai's objections. Only then does she realize how unpredictable and dangerous her psychic gifts can be. And having an annoying Russian around? Well, sometimes that's not a bad idea.

Buy link: http://tinyurl.com/j6q668g

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