#New Release ~ Winning it All

#NewRelease ~ Fall in Love in Paradise!

Title: Love's Ride (McCallister's Paradise - 4)

Author: Chantel Rhondeau

Release date: November 24, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Family Saga Romance

Brad McCallister has always felt estranged from his family. He thought taking over as manager of their paradise resort would make him feel more connected but that hasn’t happened. To top it off, his siblings are finding life partners and settling down while Brad’s still single. If only he could stop obsessing over the island's psychologist, Chelsea Taylor.

Chelsea loves working at McCallister's Paradise. She enjoys the large family of employees and feels at home in the sand and sunshine. The only thing missing is the spice of adventure. She longs to explore the island and conquer her longstanding fears.

After Brad’s sister schemes to bring Brad and Chelsea together things go horribly wrong, but Brad refuses to give up without a fight. A two-week island adventure will not only help fulfill Chelsea’s lifelong dream of being a survivalist, it will give them a chance to get to know each other—away from his meddling family.

This couple gets more than they bargained for when survival takes on a new meaning in paradise.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1N0mO7Q

Nook: http://bit.ly/1RpPbR8 

Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1035524163 

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1RpPfk2 

~~Excerpt~~

She pouted slightly as she thought, her full red lips begging him to suck on them. “I felt like dinner went well the other day, but…” She paused and scarlet flared against her cheekbones.

“Dinner did go well,” he agreed. “I wasn’t sure you thought so, but I had a great time.”

“I was surprised when you left so fast.” Looking down at their hands, she avoided his eyes, seeming unsure and flustered. “I thought you’d want a goodnight kiss.”

She felt insecure because he hadn’t kissed her? Well, hot damn!

Brad chuckled and tugged her hands, pulling her close to his chest. She was enough shorter than him that when her hair swished around her face the silky strands rubbed against his chin, catching slightly in the evening stubble he hadn’t had time to shave.

Pressing his lips against her forehead, Brad released one of her hands to caress her cheek and slide his hand down her neck.

The passion he felt in being so close to her was echoed in the soft trembling of Chelsea’s body against his and the sweet, contented sigh she released.

Wrapping both arms around her, Brad held her close to his heart, enjoying having her so near after spending several days apart. If only work would slow down and he could see her more often. He knew it was too sudden to be sure that he wanted things to work out with Chelsea, but holding her felt right. Since the moment she arrived on the island, Brad hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her, wishing he could call her his lady. Now he might have a chance.

Chelsea’s arms circled him, and she rested her head on his shoulder. The soft puffs of breath coming from her mouth bathed his neck with their warmth, making him wish he were less of a gentleman.

“You smell delicious,” she whispered, sniffing deeply. Her lips brushed his collarbone, setting his heart rate racing. 

If he didn’t stop this soon, the problem twitching to life in his pants could make a family dinner awkward. Kissing her forehead once more, Brad gently gripped her shoulders and pushed her away.

About McCallister's Paradise: 

Fall in love with the strong men and smart women of McCallister's Paradise!

At their tropical island resort, the McCallister family works hard. Life in Paradise should be perfect. After all, the place is great for a romantic getaway. Unfortunately, the five McCallister siblings are still searching for their happily ever afters... and romance always seems just out of reach. 

But determined hearts won't be denied. And when love is on the line, a McCallister doesn't fall halfway!

Series:

Happy Endings (Quinn)

Diving Into Love (Parker)

For Love or Charity (Sydney)
Love's Ride (Brad)
Cooking Up Love (Shane - coming soon)

Available at these vendors:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1QVSBwP

Nook: http://bit.ly/1Mr4VF9

Apple: http://apple.co/1WgwPZ8

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1O5Z5td

~~About the Author~~

Bestselling Author Chantel Rhondeau once thought a mystery or fantasy book with strong romantic themes was the highest level of reading bliss. After reading her first romantic suspense, she never looked back. Chantel is author of six romantic suspense novels, three Christmas novellas, a sports-themed novella, and the McCallister’s Paradise contemporary romance/family saga series. She lives in the western United States and when she's not writing, she loves playing cards with her family, bowling on leagues, and snuggling with her lazy kitties.

Want to contact Chantel?

Website: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com 

Mailing list: http://bit.ly/1qKSN0q (FREE copy of Season For Love for new sign ups!)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChantelRhondeau 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chantelrhondeau 

Google +: https://plus.google.com/107690373644293021555/posts 

Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/chantelrhondeau/ 

Join my Facebook Group: http://on.fb.me/1JlKFNC

New Release ~ Beyond the Ivory Tower

In real life, next is one of my favorite words. Think about it, you're in line at the bank, waiting to cash your check. You've already endorsed it, and it's burning a hole in your pocket. There are three windows that have a "closed" sign, and the line moves forward about as fast as traffic on the 405 in the middle of rush hour. Suddenly the teller calls: "Next!" And it's you! Your turn! 

Or maybe you're at the pharmacy, waiting for your prescription to be filled. Or at the post office. 

"Next!" 

Hot diggity-dog! Yes! That's me, next!

The only expression that may be even more exciting to a writer is: "The End." After toiling for weeks, months, maybe years, on a manuscript, you finally get to the point where you can type those words. The End.  Wow! You're done!

Well, okay, not quite. There are still multiple rounds of editing, and proofreading, and approving the cover, and thinking about marketing....But, seriously, nothing is as satisfying as reaching the milestone marked by those two little words.

So today I’m celebrating. I've written "The End" on my latest novella, Beyond the Ivory Tower. The release date is November 11, but you can pre-order the book now on Amazon.

You know the best part about one-clicking? No lines. You’re always next!

Beyond the Ivory Tower

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Mature content, 18+. Heat level: 4 (out of 5)

Length: 40K words

If there’s one thing math professor Anna Lazarev believes in, it’s the value of higher education. So when her younger sister announces she’s dropping out of college, Anna places the blame squarely on the man who inspired her sister’s rebellion.

Venture capitalist Ethan Talbot claims the US academic system is broken. His solution? Pay top students to “opt out” and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams without wasting time and money on a university degree.

In a passionate battle for the hearts and minds of a new generation, Anna will do whatever it takes to prove Ethan wrong. But when his demands take a more personal turn, will she sacrifice her principles to come out on top?

Release date: November 11, 2015

Pre-order your copy now!

The Santa Monica Trilogy Boxed Set is here!

The Santa Monica Trilogy Boxed Set (3 books in 1)

http://amzn.to/1JajJEB

Book 1: Without a Net ~ Eva & Max
Book 2: Coming Home ~ Grace & Logan

Book 3: Balancing Act ~ Angie & Zach

*Please note: this collection contains adult themes and explicit language, and is meant for adults 18 and over.*

__________________________________________________

Without a Net (Book 1)

Betrayed by her husband, single mom to her young son, struggling to keep head above water, the last thing Eva needs is another philandering male. But when her best friend's older brother offers her a job, can Eva resist what may be the biggest adventure of her life?

__________________________________________________

Coming Home (Book 2)

Eight years after she leaves for New York, scandal sends Grace fleeing home and into the arms of her old college boyfriend. But can their second chance at love triumph over the damage of past betrayals?

__________________________________________________

Balancing Act (Book 3)

When Angie goes head to head against her old nemesis Zach, "backroom negotiation" takes on a whole new meaning. As lawyers on opposite sides of a case, they've got plenty to argue about. But legal wrangling takes a backseat when their mutual attraction threatens to spin out of control.

__________________________________________________

Special bonus: sneak peek at my newest release 

Beyond the Ivory Tower

(coming to Amazon November 2015)!

If there's one thing math professor Anna Lazarev believes in, it's the value of higher education. So when her younger sister announces she's dropping out of college, Anna places the blame squarely on the man who inspired her sister's rebellion.

Venture capitalist Ethan Talbot claims the US academic system is broken. His solution? Pay top students to "opt out" and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams without wasting time and money on a university degree.

Locked in a passionate battle for the hearts and minds of a new generation, Anna will do whatever it takes to prove Ethan wrong. But when his demands take a more personal turn, will she sacrifice her principles to come out on top?

__________________________________________________

What readers and reviewers are saying about the books in this collection:

“erotica for the thinking woman” 

–Alia, on Goodreads

“Witty and well-written, this is a tale of taking risks, jumping at opportunities, and following your heart.” 

–Sandra Lopez, YA author

“a lighthearted romance with a side of humor” 

–Amy, DRC’s Review Team

“a welcome addition to the contemporary romance genre” 

–LJT, on Goodreads

“Very well written with interesting characters and a story that keeps you turning the page.” 

–Bette Hansen, on Goodreads

The Santa Monica Trilogy

The Santa Monica Trilogy

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Mature content, 18+. Heat level: 4 (out of 5)

Without a Net (Book 1)

~ Eva & Max ~

http://amzn.to/1ECGWz3

Betrayed by her husband, single mom to her young son, struggling to keep head above water, the last thing Eva needs is another philandering male. But when her best friend’s older brother offers her a job, can Eva resist what may be the biggest adventure of her life?

  

Coming Home (Book 2)

~ Grace & Logan ~

http://amzn.to/1ECFKeU

Eight years after she leaves for New York, scandal sends Grace fleeing back home and into the arms of her old college boyfriend. But can their second chance at love survive when past betrayals threaten to undermine their newfound trust?

Balancing Act (Book 3)

~ Angie & Zach ~

http://amzn.to/1PANxM3

When Angie goes head to head against her old nemesis Zach, “backroom negotiation” takes on a whole new meaning. As lawyers on opposite sides of a case, they’ve got plenty to argue about. But legal wrangling takes a backseat when their mutual attraction threatens to spin out of control. 

Balancing Act ~ #NewRelease #ContemporaryRomance

The Santa Monica Trilogy: Angie & Zach

Balancing Act (Book 3)

When Angie goes head to head against her old nemesis Zach, "backroom negotiation" takes on a whole new meaning. As lawyers on opposite sides of a case, they've got plenty to argue about. She's an environmentalist. He's in-house counsel for a land developer.

But handling difficult clients, interfering family and friends, and courtroom battles proves easier than facing a growing mutual attraction that threatens to spin out of control. While Angie wants to believe there's more to life than legal briefs, she's been burned before. Can she learn to trust Zach, or will complications of his playboy past derail any chance of a happily-ever-after?

(Please note: Though this is the third book in the Santa Monica Trilogy, it can be read as a stand-alone novel.)

Release date: May 11, 2015

Available for pre-order on Amazon

_______________________________________________

“Heard your dad’s company is getting sued.”

Zach dove for the ball, slamming his shoulder against the floor. “What?”

Mike gave him a hand up. “Saw it in the CNS dinger on the way over. You didn’t know?”

Zach scowled. As in-house counsel for Stewart & Landry LLC, it was his job to know. That’s why he regularly monitored the Courthouse News Service, and kept tabs by phone and email. It figured this would happen the one day he headed out the door without checking.

He swiped an arm across his sweaty forehead and readjusted his grip on the racquet. “Your serve.”

Another minute passed in silence, punctuated by grunts and the slap of the ball against polyurethaned hardwood and tempered glass.

“So who’s the plaintiff?” Zach asked when the volley ended.

Mike shrugged. “Some woman claiming CEQA violations.”

No surprise there. The California Environmental Quality Act was the bane of every developer’s existence, and a cash cow for any shady real estate lawyer who could find a tree-hugger willing to take up the cause.

“Damn leeches,” he muttered.

“What’s that?”

“You’d think people would be grateful that we’re infusing life into a sluggish economy.” He struck the ball with such force that it rebounded off the back wall and would have hit Mike if he hadn’t jumped out of the way. “If not for us redeveloping the area, they’d have nothing but urban blight on their hands. Some of those buildings are barely standing, with so many code violations they should have been razed decades ago.”

“Hey, don’t kill the messenger. If you want to be angry, take it out on the plaintiff’s attorney.”

“And who’s that?”

“Judge MacDowell’s daughter. Alice? Anna? Something with an A.”

Zach drew up short. “Angie?”

“Angela. That’s it. Pretty hot commodity in real estate law, from what I hear.”

“Yeah.” Zach forced his attention back to the game.

“Pretty hot in all respects, come to think of it.” Mike grinned. “The ass on that babe…”

Zach gritted his teeth. “Grow up, would you?”

“Oh, please. Like you haven’t thought the same thing?”

“Not about her.”

“What, are you blind?”

“No. But her sister’s a friend of the family.”

Mike blinked. “Then what’s she doing suing you?”

“I don’t know. But I’m sure as hell going to find out.”

~

The raised voices outside her office gave Angie a few seconds’ warning before the door burst open and a glowering Zachary Stewart stormed in.

“What is this crap?” He flung a large manila envelope on her desk.

“Hello, Zach.” She got up slowly. “I see the process server found you.”

“What the hell are you trying to pull here?”

Angie took her time responding. It wasn’t every day that six feet of ripped, fire-breathing male invaded her office. Her gaze slid down the broad shoulders and lean waist. Oh, my. The things he did for a navy pinstriped suit and oxford shirt should be illegal.

By the time she’d worked her way back up to meet his gaze, she could almost feel the anger rolling off of him in waves.

“You seem a little hot under the collar, Zach. Would you like an ice water to help you cool down?”

His blue eyes narrowed. “Knowing you, that water would likely get spilled ‘accidentally on purpose’ down my suit. No thanks.”

“You overestimate my aggressive tendencies.”

“I don’t think so. I still remember how you negotiated your sister’s settlement. You could teach a Doberman a thing or two about aggression.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “Roger and your dad started S&L together. It was only fair that Roger’s widow get compensated for his share of the company. And in case you forgot, there was no buyout agreement in place when he died. I wouldn’t have had to push so hard if there had been.”

“A buyout agreement wouldn’t have covered all the legal problems Roger caused,” Zach retorted. “In case you forgot, he was dabbling in suspect investments on the side.”

Angie bit her lip. Zach didn’t even know the half of it. Luckily, Eva had managed to emerge—with Angie’s help—from the legal and financial nightmare following her husband’s death. She’d had to sell her house and scramble for a job, but in the end, everything had worked out for the best.

Zach’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“In any case, that’s over and done with. But this—” he leaned forward and jabbed a finger at the paperwork he’d tossed on her desk “—is ridiculous, and you know it. S&L has jumped through all the regulatory hoops mandated by state and local government. Your client had plenty of time and opportunity to voice her concerns. The Environment Impact Review was released for public comment over a year ago. And in that time, the city council, planning commission, and rent control board have held dozens of hearings. Everyone’s objections were duly noted and addressed.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. The objections were swept aside and ignored. A de minimis change in your developmental agreement that doesn’t trigger further review of traffic and environmental impacts makes a mockery of the whole process. The city council basically rubber stamped whatever plans you put in front of it, with complete disregard for the residents’ concerns.”

“Everything S&L did was by the book,” Zach said.

“Maybe in your view, but my client sees it differently. And at this point, the only way to get the city council to sit up and take notice and hopefully redress her grievances is exactly this.” She nodded toward the manila envelope between them. “And while the courts re-examine everything, the injunction we’re requesting will at least prevent you from demolishing my client’s home.”

He scowled. “This is extortion, plain and simple. S&L made a more than generous offer for relocation payments to the residents. Your client was the only one who refused to sign.”

“She had good reason.”

Zach took a deep breath. “Look, let’s cut to the chase here. What will it take for this to go away?”

“If you’re asking me that, you obviously haven’t read our complaint carefully enough. It’s all spelled out in black and white.”

“I read it,” he said. “And it’s complete bullshit.”

Angie shook her head. “For shame, counselor. Is that the kind of language they teach you at Harvard Law?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Angie…”

“You know the drill, Zach. Thirty days to file your answer.” She ushered him toward the door. “I’ll see you in court.”

_______________________________________________

Pre-order on Amazon

Special introductory price of only $0.99!

_______________________________________________

And now for something completely different...

Those of you who know me won't be surprised when I say that I cut my teeth on Agatha Christie. By the time I was 12, I had read forty-two of her mysteries. This put me one book ahead of my friend, with whom I was competing to see who could read the most Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries over summer break.

In the years that followed, I discovered Raymond Chandler and Ruth Rendell, Robin Cook and Jonathan Kellerman, Tess Gerritsen and Dennis Lehane.

Eventually, of course, I expanded my reading repertoire to include other genres--most notably, romance, which is what I write.  But my first love was mystery.  So it is with great pleasure that I introduce my guest today, Robert Germaux. Robert's new book, Small Talk, is now available on Amazon.

About the Book:

A serial killer has the people of Pittsburgh on edge, and Detective Daniel Hayes and his hand-picked Special Assignment Squad are working feverishly to solve the case before more innocent lives are lost.  But the killer proves to be a formidable foe, whose viciousness appears to be matched only by his ability to elude capture.

Throughout Small Talk, the reader is given glimpses into the mind of this cunning and sadistic murderer, an individual who seeks a face-to-face confrontation with his pursuers, a confrontation Daniel is only too willing to provide.

Read the first seven chapters of Small Talk

About Robert Germaux:

Robert Germaux and his wife, Cynthia, live outside of Pittsburgh. After three decades as a high school English teacher, and now a good many years into retirement, he is beginning to have serious doubts about his lifelong dream of pitching for the Pirates. Small Talk is Robert Germaux’s second book. His first book, The Backup Husband, is a contemporary romance novel, available on Amazon.

*******

Robert Germaux Author Q & A

I see you were a high school English teacher for thirty years. That’s quite an accomplishment!  Were you doing much writing during this time?

No, I wasn’t, mainly because I was too busy grading my students’ papers, along with doing the thousand-and-one other things involved with teaching.  And to be honest, I really didn’t think of myself as a writer during those years. 

What made you decide to take the plunge and publish your first book, The Backup Husband?

Pretty much just the desire to put my work out there, to see if it was as good as I hoped it was.

Why did you take the Indie route?

I’d written several books about a private detective named Jeremy Barnes, but my agent and I hadn’t been able to find a publisher for them.  I knew how popular eBooks were becoming, so I thought I’d try that route. 

The Backup Husband is a contemporary romance novel. Small Talk is about a serial killer. Was this a conscious decision to keep your book genre choices open?

No, not really.  I’d had the idea for The Backup Husband floating around in my head for some time, and after I wrote it, I thought it might be the best book for my initial foray into the world of eBooks.  My other books are all crime novels, and that’s the genre I most enjoy. 

What kind of research did you do for Small Talk?

I was fairly knowledgeable about standard police procedures, but I had to do a lot of research into the technical aspects of the investigation by Daniel and his squad, things like facial recognition software, etc.  I also had to educate myself about what can be learned at autopsy, which wasn’t my favorite part of the research for this book.

What would you say has been the most difficult thing about Indie publishing?

I knew next to nothing about Indie publishing, and at first, it seemed as though every time I learned something, that led to two or three other “somethings” I had to learn.  It was very frustrating.

Are you currently working on a new book?

I’m finishing the final edit on One by One, the next case for Daniel and the Special Assignment Squad. 

Do you have any advice for new Indie authors?

I would recommend that they educate themselves as much as possible about the world of Indie publishing, but even more important, try to find someone who already knows all this stuff and is willing to guide you through the process.  When I decided to put The Backup Husband online, I had no idea what I was doing, which made for a long and arduous experience.  With Small Talk, I’ve been lucky enough to have Susan Barton in my corner, making the whole process a delight.

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Readers can connect with Robert Germaux via his website, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon. 

Review copies are available upon request via contact form here.