Happy Book Birthday Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

IMG 5147 5 225x300 Happy Book Birthday Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne FerrellThis is a re-post from my original review when it was included in the Capitol Danger Anthology.

Unmasked (an Edgars Family Novella) by Suzanne Ferrell

Luke Edgars and Abigail Whitson have one job and when the unexpected happens, will they be able to save themselves and their mission? Luke and Abigail must work as a team and when secrets surface will it distract them or keep them on point? Suzanne has written four books with sexy and edgy Edgars men.

Once again, she delivers us a great story with Luke and Abigail. Can they make it through the gunfire with their love intact? Maybe a little gunfire is what they need to put their relationship into perspective and finally commit to each other.

Looking for more from those sexy Edgars men? Check out Suzanne’s series Edgars Family Novels, there are plenty to choose from.

I previously received an ARC from the author for a fair and honest review.

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Amazon

%name Happy Book Birthday Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell%name Happy Book Birthday Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

Books I Love A Latte participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on the link and purchase the featured book and/or anything else during that shopping session, Books I Love A Latte will receive a small percentage between 2-6%. Any profit earned from this transaction is given directly back to readers via giveaways (gift cards, books, etc.) Thank you in advance.

Thank you in advance for your continued support.

About Author for blog post V1 300x300 Happy Book Birthday Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

48425927 2003948309691448 3298085097172893696 n 300x265 Happy Book Birthday Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne FerrellUSA Today Bestselling author Suzanne discovered romance novels in her aunt’s hidden stash one summer as a teenager. From that moment on she knew two things: she loved romance stories and someday she’d be writing her own. Her love for romances has only grown over the years. It took her a number of years and a secondary career as a nurse to finally start writing her own stories.

Currently there are two main series she’s actively writing in: The Westen Series, a contemporary small town series based in a fictional Ohio town where “things aren’t always what they seem”, and features Close To HomeClose To The Edge and Close To The Fire. The second series is the Romantic Suspense books KIDNAPPEDHUNTEDSEIZED and VANISHED, featuring the Edgars family as they fight for justice, even if it means stepping slightly outside the rulebook.

KIDNAPPED and HUNTED were both Golden Heart finalist, and SEIZED, book #3 in the Edgars Family Novels, was a finalist in the novella category of the OKRWA’s National Reader’s Choice Awards contest.

Suzanne’s sexy stories, whether they be her on the edge of your seat romantic suspense or the small town romantic suspense stories they’ll keep you thinking about her characters long after their Happy Ever After is achieved.

You can Find Suz at:

Website: https://suzanneferrell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanneferrell.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzFerrell

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/suzferrell/

The Extra Shot – Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

The Extra Shot – Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

The Extra Shot Promo 200x300 The Extra Shot   Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

 

Welcome to The Extra Shot where you’ll find an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from Unmasked by Suzanne Ferrell.

**UNMASKED is a re-issue novella previously part of the anthology CAPITOL DANGER. Minor changes to places and secondary characters have been changed, but the story of Luke and Abby is the same as in the anthology.**

Check out the stunning cover readers. Gorgeous.

 

 

IMG 5147 5 The Extra Shot   Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

Chapter One

Lights glittered all around the main ballroom of the newly constructed Monitor Hotel for its first inaugural ball.

Snow-white linens covered the tables. Waiters, some of them security personnel working undercover for the night, dressed in black, carried trays of champagne in more crystal flutes among the national and foreign dignitaries, as well as both campaign supporters and workers who flocked the ball. Named for the Union’s Ironclad war ship from the Civil War, the hotel had an overall nautical theme, with all the main rooms, such as the Constitution Ballroom the ball was being held in, named after early American Naval sailing vessels. Tonight, however, in keeping with the winter theme, huge evergreens covered in twinkling white lights and blown-glass snowflakes lined the walls between the floor-to-ceiling mirrors and the crystal columns. Suspended overhead were more glass snowflakes, as well as the crystal chandeliers. The whole thing was—sparkly.

“Christ. Whose idea was it to hang all this glass?” Luke Edgars whispered as he took Abigail Whitson’s arm to escort her into the throng.

As always, a heated rush skittered over her body as he moved in beside her. They’d been together as a couple since he’d helped rescue her best friend and shut down the sex-slave ring holding her. Even so, her body still reacted like a hormonal teenager just with his presence.

“Not the security detail, you can bet your sweet ass on that.” The deep rumble of U.S. Deputy Marshal, Frank

Castello, sounded in the earbud secured in Abigail’s left ear.

She glanced up to see the older man across the room near one of the ice sculptures that sat on the dessert tables. Even dressed in a custom-tailored tuxedo, he still wore his usual scowl which, given the women eyeing him, only enhanced his lone-wolf appeal.

“You be careful out there. We have no idea when or where the deal is supposed to go down.” Another voice, belonging to Luke’s brother-in-law, FBI Special Agent Jake Carlisle, sounded in Abigail’s ear.

“Hell, we don’t even know who sent us the tip-off in the first place,” Castello mumbled.

“We know from the files we hacked the contact is on the up and up,” Luke muttered back, scanning the room.

She fought hard to hide a smile. For as self-assured as Luke was in the field, put him with members of his family—even the adopted member, Castello—and he was suddenly the little brother who bristled if any of the others questioned his skills or knowledge. Of course, he was the first one they called on when they needed some file or computer hacked off book.

“Until we’re sure who all the players are, let’s take this easy,” Jake said. “We don’t need anyone getting an itchy trigger finger with all these people and all this glass.”

Thanks to an anonymous tip, Luke and Abigail, both Treasury agents now under Homeland Security, discovered a money trail linking several of the attendees of tonight’s ball to a jet-setting playboy womanizer, who also happened to be an illegal arms merchant. Luke’s brother-in-law, FBI Special Agent Jake Carlisle brought in all their troops to try and trap the merchant before a cargo of Strategic Air Missiles or SAMS could be sold. Complicating the whole mess, the suspected merchant was also a major contributor to several well-placed Congressmen, Senators and political lobbyists.

The decision was made to bring her and Luke in undercover. For the past four months, she’d been attending many high-profile fundraiser events as Abigail Strickland, the ward of Senator Strickland, a new sitting member of the Committee on Homeland Security and whose permission to use him as a cover story had been given freely. To make her more high-profile in the media, she’d also been doing some modeling work—a perfect fit for her nearly six-foot-tall frame. Luke was always on her arm as her bodyguard, even at photo shoots. Her profile as a jet-setter with high contacts to an influential senator was meant to attract their arms dealer’s attention tonight.

Which is why Abigail was dressed in a black, floor-length, silk evening gown, complete with a slit up the right leg. They’d tried strapping a small handgun to her left leg in hopes she wouldn’t be defenseless at the ball. Since she’d never had to wear one before, she’d spent the past two weeks with one strapped to her thigh. She’d literally been walking around town armed, or was it legged?

A small giggle escaped her.

Luke turned one of his dazzling playboy smiles on her. “You find this funny, sweetheart?”

“No.” She smiled at him, finally almost equal to his height thanks to her heels. “I was just thinking how hard a time I’ve had learning to walk with that gun strapped between my legs. I’m glad this dress was so thin it nixed the idea of me wearing it tonight. I’d probably shoot myself when we dance.”

He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his long, lean, tuxedoed body. The masculine scent of him and the slight spice of his aftershave filled her senses. “Trust me, when we’re dancing this close, a gun going off is the least of our worries.”

Groans from other members of the team filled Abigail’s ears.

“TMI, Romeo,” said one of the FBI agents carrying a tray of canapés past them.

“Boy’s got it bad,” quipped another.

“Focus on the mission, Luke,” Castello mumbled.

Abigail couldn’t help either the laughter that bubbled out again or the flush that filled her face.

“Y’all are just jealous you don’t have this gorgeous woman on your arm,” he said before capturing her lips with his.

“Luke,” Jake commanded through the mics. “Don’t draw attention to yourselves until the mark gets in the room. Low profile, remember?”

Luke slowly lifted his lips from Abigail’s, grabbed her hand and pulled her into the shadows near one of the pillars, flanked by more crystal-covered trees.

“Have you had time to catalogue the room?” he asked her.

She knew what he meant. One of the reasons she was in on this op was her photographic memory. Since they were virtually working blind on who their arms dealer might be meeting tonight, part of her job was to study everyone in the room in her own unique way. Her brain worked like a high-resolution camera. It took snapshots of whatever she saw, logging them into her memory for retrieval whenever she concentrated on an event or a person. Part of her assignment was to get as many images logged in what she liked to think of as her “filing cabinet” so they could compare the images with anyone interested in buying illegal arms, like known terrorists or anyone with a felony background, after the ball.

“Give me a few more minutes. The wait staff keeps streaming in and out. Kind of hard to get a read on if I’ve seen them all.”

“Try thinking of the room as a clock.” Luke held her close, one hand warm against her bare back where the dress dipped dangerously low. He nodded to the left. “Nine o’clock is there. Work slowly. Clockwise until you’ve covered the room. We’re not expecting you to capture everyone. Just relax and do what you do.”

Taking a deep breath, she followed his suggestion. Slowly, she worked the room as if she were looking for someone special. She didn’t try to focus on anyone in particular, just let her eyes and mind take the mental photos of anyone in the room—partygoers and wait staff alike. Her mind also captured the room’s layout and significant landmarks like the stage, bars and catering tables. She’d seen the blueprints of the room and table plans before the op, so the room felt familiar to her, as if she’d already been here before. Though a pencil sketch couldn’t compare to her mental 3-D images.

As she scanned the room, the occasional dignitary she’d previously studied before tonight stood out. The gala was the grand opening of the hotel centered around the U.S. Navy’s history. It wasn’t surprising to see so many high-ranking members of the military in one place, such as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and his spouse at the one o’clock portion of the ballroom. General Michael Walton and Dr. Alberta Reyes had entered and were currently speaking to Secretary of the Navy, Dr. Arnold Tenor, and Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Academy, Vice Admiral Pauline Nieman. Abby focused on another section of the room at three o’clock. Even her and Luke’s ultimate boss, Secretary of the Treasury, Ms. Martha Trammel, talking with the Minority Whip, former General Robert Powers and Norman Winkoski, the CEO of one of the biggest arms manufacturers in the country.

The place was packed and quite frankly, in Abby’s opinion, any one of the people present could be the supplier of weapons to their target.

Just as Abigail finished her sweep of the room a click sounded in her ear.

“Heads up. Our man’s car just arrived,” Jake said.

A shiver ran through Abigail. She sucked in a breath, then slowly let it out.

Luke pulled her in tight once more, leaning in to whisper in her free ear. “You can do this, sweetheart.”

“First, I have to get him to notice me,” she said, her natural insecurity sneaking forward once more.

Luke leaned back and slowly slid his gaze over her, warming her from head to toe with wolfish male appreciation. “Even if he weren’t looking to get his hooks into the ward of Senator Strickland, trust me, you’ll have his attention. Hell, probably every man in the room is drooling over you.”

Despite his belief in her abilities to not only dazzle their mark but follow through in her mission, she knew that beneath all this glitzy makeup, chic hairdo and uber-sexy dress was the same desk accountant she’d been before the day Luke found her standing in a bloody crime scene. Now she was here, in her first undercover assignment, and those self-doubts bubbled up from deep inside.

“Look at me, Abby,” Luke said, all teasing gone from his voice, his hazel-colored eyes focused on her with steely strength and confidence. “All you have to do is dance one dance with him, slip the mic in place and come back to my side. Nothing else is going to happen.”

 

 

Purchase Links V1 1 300x300 The Extra Shot   Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

Amazon Link below

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Books I Love A Latte participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on the link and purchase the featured book and/or anything else during that shopping session, Books I Love A Latte will receive a small percentage between 2-6%. Any profit earned from this transaction is given directly back to readers via giveaways (gift cards, books, etc.) Thank you in advance.

Thank you in advance for your continued support.

About Author for blog post V1 300x300 The Extra Shot   Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

48425927 2003948309691448 3298085097172893696 n 300x265 The Extra Shot   Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne FerrellUSA Today Bestselling author Suzanne discovered romance novels in her aunt’s hidden stash one summer as a teenager. From that moment on she knew two things: she loved romance stories and someday she’d be writing her own. Her love for romances has only grown over the years. It took her a number of years and a secondary career as a nurse to finally start writing her own stories.

Currently there are two main series she’s actively writing in: The Westen Series, a contemporary small town series based in a fictional Ohio town where “things aren’t always what they seem”, and features Close To HomeClose To The Edge and Close To The Fire. The second series is the Romantic Suspense books KIDNAPPEDHUNTEDSEIZED and VANISHED, featuring the Edgars family as they fight for justice, even if it means stepping slightly outside the rulebook.

KIDNAPPED and HUNTED were both Golden Heart finalist, and SEIZED, book #3 in the Edgars Family Novels, was a finalist in the novella category of the OKRWA’s National Reader’s Choice Awards contest.

Suzanne’s sexy stories, whether they be her on the edge of your seat romantic suspense or the small town romantic suspense stories they’ll keep you thinking about her characters long after their Happy Ever After is achieved.

You can Find Suz at:

Website: https://suzanneferrell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanneferrell.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzFerrell

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/suzferrell/

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Sunday Extra Shot Comic V1 1 The Extra Shot   Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne FerrellP Advertsing Now The Extra Shot   Unmasked by USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Ferrell

Stay connected with Rae Latte and Books I Love A Latte for Book Reviews, Excerpts, Teasers, Coffee With (Interviews), Giveaways, Authors Dish, Book Sales, and other Tasty Tidbits. 

 

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Shanghaied by Suzanne Ferrell

Shanghaied by Suzanne Ferrell

Shanghai final NOVEL 2 compresed 225x300 Shanghaied by Suzanne FerrellShanghaied by Suzanne Ferrell is an on-the-edge of your seat romantic suspense set in WWII. This spy story is the first in a new series, Neptune’s 5 and I can’t wait to read the next installment. Every book Suzanne releases has stellar covers that scream “read me” – kudos to the cover designer!

Zach Edgars (Neptune) is a modern day pirate of sorts and his secret work in a new town will hopefully solve a mystery left by a clue from a dead man. When he meets the local barkeeps daughter, Sophie Moore, will he jeopardize his entire mission? What will happen when he falls for the one person he needs to solve the mystery?

In times of war, who can be trusted? Deception is the norm and lines will be crossed. This world is perfectly balance with the right amount of tension and action. Will Neptune and Sophie act on their desires? Both have people that depend on them, can they trust each other to uncover the deception or will they fall victim to those trying to harm them?

Dive into the 1940’s with Suzanne Ferrell, her writing is seamless, creative, and adds the perfect amount of sin.  I’m already counting down the weeks until the next installment. This sinfully sweet – hotter than sweet with bedroom romance that tingles in all the right places, and a dash of spice to satisfy that slightly2 Spicy Sweet Larger Image Final 300x300 Shanghaied by Suzanne Ferrell spicy craving. It’s the little details regarding the characters, the setting, and the story that kept me reading. Each character is vivid, has memorable dialogue and captures your interest.

I received an ARC from the author for a fair and honest review.

Get your copy on: Amazon iTunes ~ B&N ~ KOBO

Books I Love A Latte participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on the link and purchase the featured book and/or anything else during that shopping session, Books I Love A Latte will receive a small percentage between 2-6%. Any profit earned from this transaction is given directly back to readers via giveaways (gift cards, books, etc.) Thank you in advance.
Thank you in advance for your continued support.

 

%name Shanghaied by Suzanne Ferrell

 

ICYMI: Guest Post – Shanghaied by Suzanne Ferrell

%name Shanghaied by Suzanne Ferrell

%name Shanghaied by Suzanne FerrellUSA Today Bestselling author Suzanne discovered romance novels in her aunt’s hidden stash one summer as a teenager. From that moment on she knew two things: she loved romance stories and someday she’d be writing her own. Her love for romances has only grown over the years. It took her a number of years and a secondary career as a nurse to finally start writing her own stories.

Currently there are two main series she’s actively writing in: The Westen Series, a contemporary small town series based in a fictional Ohio town where “things aren’t always what they seem”, and features Close To HomeClose To The Edge and Close To The Fire. The second series is the Romantic Suspense books KIDNAPPEDHUNTEDSEIZED and VANISHED, featuring the Edgars family as they fight for justice, even if it means stepping slightly outside the rulebook.

KIDNAPPED and HUNTED were both Golden Heart finalist, and SEIZED, book #3 in the Edgars Family Novels, was a finalist in the novella category of the OKRWA’s National Reader’s Choice Awards contest.

Suzanne’s sexy stories, whether they be her on the edge of your seat romantic suspense or the small town romantic suspense stories they’ll keep you thinking about her characters long after their Happy Ever After is achieved.

You can Find Suz at:

Website: https://suzanneferrell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanneferrell.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzFerrell

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/suzferrell/

 

Guest Post: Shanghaeid by Suzanne Ferrell

Guest Post: Shanghaeid by Suzanne Ferrell

I’m thrilled to have Suzanne Ferrell on the blog today to share with you details regarding her latest release and how it came to be. Sit back and enjoy. If you’re new to romantic suspense, welcome. If you’re new to the blog, welcome. I read this book and can’t wait to read the next book.

My review will post later this week and readers, this is one-click worthy!

BookBrushImage Copy Compressed Guest Post: Shanghaeid by Suzanne Ferrell

suephoto2 291x300 Guest Post: Shanghaeid by Suzanne FerrellSHANGHAIED: Or HOW A PIRATE BOOK BECAME A SPY BOOK

A year and a half ago, I was approached by a writer friend with the idea to do a pirate-themed novella for a group project. This gave me pause.

Me? Write a pirate book?

I don’t write nautical books, let alone pirate ones. My books are mostly contemporary. There’s a suspense series with the Edgars Family Novels. And a small-town series where suspenseful things keep happening in the Westen books. But I’ve never written a pirate book.

Now, my whole career has been a combination of can-I-do-it challenges and what-the-hell moments. Why should this be any different? So, I told my friend to give me a couple of weeks to think about it. She agreed. I considered how I could work a pirate book into my current series, either one. Since the Westen books all take place in a small town in Ohio, I pretty much ruled that series out as a possibility.

That left the Edgars books. While they’re based in Ohio, four of them in my hometown of Columbus, two others have been elsewhere. VANISHED took place in Cleveland and its follow-up novella UNMASKED was part of the CAPITAL DANGER 4-book anthology, which takes place in Washington DC. Since Cleveland is on Lake Erie, I considered making my hero an undercover agent of some sort, who was working to stop smuggling (a pirate trait) of goods or drugs or people through the northern ports.

Yeah! That could work. So, I told my friend I’d join the project. I had about nine months work on it. Plenty of time to write a novella. Yea, right. Sometimes life just laughs at our plans!

As I was zeroing in on this book’s concept, I also happened to be reading a magazine about the history of spies during WWII. I love that time period and find spy stories fascinating, especially true-life ones. In this magazine it talked of spies who arrived on the shores of America before we ever entered the war, and others who came by rafts from U-boats off the Atlantic coast.

The more I thought about the project and the spies, the more I wanted to shift my pirate book from contemporary to a WWII era piece. If I made it a pre-quel book to the Edgars, featuring the grandfather of Sami and her brothers it could still work for me. There were no set rules for this project, so I thought, “What the hell?” and proceeded, full speed ahead.

My hero, Zach Edgars was going to be an undercover ONI (Operations of Naval Intelligence…the precursor to NCIS) agent and he’d be looking for spies. Next question? Where?

Now research starts. First place to look was how did the spies get here? Some were immigrants from years before, others were deposited on our shores by U-boats. This led to how close did U-boats actually get to America? WAY CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. Right off the coast of the Outerbanks in North Carolina was a U-boat hunting ground. They sunk many boats heading north to be part of the Lend Lease program and supplying England with goods. There were no actual reports of spies landing there, that happened down in Florida and up near New England. So, why would I have my spies land in North Carolina? Was there a shipyard near the coast?

More research. Before we entered the war, President Roosevelt (FDR) signed a bill to allocate contracts to established ship building companies to build emergency shipyards to build newer boats both to replace the merchant marine and UK boats being sunk by the Germans, but to also increase America’s fleet, in preparation for entering the war, if and when that should occur. One of those contracts was to the Newport News Shipping company, who built a shipyard near Wilmington, NC. This was on the Cape Fear River that flowed into the Atlantic. AHA! I had my place on the map. Now I needed a place for my people.

Where do spies gather? Well, I’d watched CASABLANCA numerous times. Spies meet in bars, right? My hero is acting as a smuggler. Where better for smugglers to meet, than a bar, right? So, I needed a bar, but it had to have something to do with pirates. What’s a good pirate term? Pillaged? Nope. Scuttled? Nope. SHANGHAIED.

**Now I have to tell you a little about what happened during the writing of SHANGHAIED. My biggest supporter and biggest fan and biggest sounding board and sometimes critic…my Mom…died. Sort of took all the wind right out of my sails. Grief is a hard thing. It is NOT a creative thing. It’s not a quick thing. It is a lonely thing, even when you’re surrounded by loved ones who are there for you, who are supportive, who want to help. You must go through your grief at your own pace and your own ways. I still am. But each day gets better and each time I sit to write, I know Mom is at my shoulder telling me to, “Write a good story and make me like your characters.” **

Amid all this research, which I kept finding as I worked on the book, I lost my way. Yep. Sure did. I floundered a bit. Then found out the project had been cancelled. Great. I had a book I’d been working on and invested time in, so I couldn’t just set it aside. I also no longer had a need to focus on the pirate tie-in (which I kept) or keep the book novella size! WOOT! But even as I worked on the story and the plot, I knew in my gut something wasn’t right.

What’s a writer to do?

You print it all up, sit down and read it! Read it like a reader. And you know what I found out? My characters were blah. Also, if you’re writing romance, whether it’s suspense or comedy or just sweet, your hero and heroine should actually communicate with each other. Now I had to go back and add stuff. Not little stuff, but whole freaking scenes! Ugh! But when I finished it, I read it again like a reader and had that Ahhhh feeling. 😊 (Which I hope you guys will, too.)

That’s how SHANGHAIED came about. But another little thing happened while I was working on the book. Not only did Zach Edgars and Sophie Moore pop onto my radar, but so did the crew that worked with Zach. There’s five total: Neptune (Zach), Finn (Cowboy), Teddy (Boston), Warren (Chief), and Sean (Scout). Neptune’s Five. A new five book series was born!

You might say my little pirate novella was SHANGHAIED!

Shanghai final NOVEL 2 compresed 225x300 Guest Post: Shanghaeid by Suzanne Ferrell

SHANGHAIED, an Edgars Family, Neptune’s Five book

It’s 1941. While Europe is emblazoned in a devastating war, America sits blissfully neutral. An ocean separates them from the conflict, but not everyone believes the states are safe from the Nazi threat.

Zach Edgars, code name Neptune, and his team of undercover ONI operatives are in North Carolina hunting German spies working on American soil. Their only clue is a slip of paper in a dead informant’s pocket that reads, Shanghaied in Wilmington.

Sophie Moore, grew up working in her father’s pub, the Shanghaied, situated near the newly built emergency shipyard. She’s used to dodging wayward hands and the occasional drunken brawl, but a newcomer in the dark trench coat and with the swagger of a pirate has her feeling nervous. Despite his involvement with the locals’ less-than legal activity, something about Neptune makes her think there might be more to the man.

When her friend goes missing, Sophie finds herself and her father’s bar thrust in the middle of a dangerous game of cloak and dagger. Can she trust this pirate, or will she and her father lose everything—life, love and liberty?

Amazon iTunes ~ B&N ~ KOBO

Books I Love A Latte participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on the link and purchase the featured book and/or anything else during that shopping session, Books I Love A Latte will receive a small percentage between 2-6%. Any profit earned from this transaction is given directly back to readers via giveaways (gift cards, books, etc.) Thank you in advance.

Thank you in advance for your continued support.

pattern 4 elements 0006 Layer 4 copy 269x300 Guest Post: Shanghaeid by Suzanne Ferrell

About Author V 1 300x300 Guest Post: Shanghaeid by Suzanne FerrellUSA Today Bestselling author Suzanne discovered romance novels in her aunt’s hidden stash one summer as a teenager. From that moment on she knew two things: she loved romance stories and someday she’d be writing her own. Her love for romances has only grown over the years. It took her a number of years and a secondary career as a nurse to finally start writing her own stories.

Currently there are two main series she’s actively writing in: The Westen Series, a contemporary small town series based in a fictional Ohio town where “things aren’t always what they seem”, and features Close To HomeClose To The Edge and Close To The Fire. The second series is the Romantic Suspense books KIDNAPPEDHUNTEDSEIZED and VANISHED, featuring the Edgars family as they fight for justice, even if it means stepping slightly outside the rulebook.

KIDNAPPED and HUNTED were both Golden Heart finalist, and SEIZED, book #3 in the Edgars Family Novels, was a finalist in the novella category of the OKRWA’s National Reader’s Choice Awards contest.

Suzanne’s sexy stories, whether they be her on the edge of your seat romantic suspense or the small town romantic suspense stories they’ll keep you thinking about her characters long after their Happy Ever After is achieved.

You can Find Suz at:

Website: https://suzanneferrell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanneferrell.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzFerrell

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/suzferrell/

Authors Dish for the Holidays – December 24, 2018

Authors Dish for the Holidays – December 24, 2018

Authors Dish Final 300x300 Authors Dish for the Holidays   December 24, 2018

 

Welcome to Authors Dish about the holidays. Today in the cafe I’m serving hot drinks, warm treats, and lots of tasty ideas.   

Today in the cafe are USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne FerrellUSA Today Bestselling Author Terry Spear, and Tarina Deaton who are sharing their favorite recipe and holiday tradition.

 

 

 

Rae: What’s your favorite winter holiday recipe? 

 

 

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Suzanne Ferrell: This cheeseball recipe I got from a co-worker back before I graduated Nursing School. I’ve made it every year since so 39 years and both my daughters have the recipe and make it for Christmas parties they are invited to. It takes 3 ingredients. One tub of Kaukauna cheese, 8 oz of cream cheese. Mix thoroughly, chill. Form into a ball and roll in chopped pecans. That’s it!

 

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Terry Spear: my daughter’s green bean casserole. 1f642 Authors Dish for the Holidays   December 24, 2018

 

 

 

 

Tarina Deaton 300x300 Authors Dish for the Holidays   December 24, 2018Tarina Deaton: Every year we have an argument whether this is a side dish or a dessert because it’s so decadent. It’s that perfect combination of sweet and tart:

Cranberry Apple Casserole
3 cups chopped, peeled tart apples
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Topping: 
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine apples, cranberries, sugar & flour. Pour into greased baking dish. 
In a bowl, mix topping ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle over apple/cranberry mixture.

Bake for 50-55 minutes

 

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Rae: What is your favorite holiday tradition?  

Suzanne Ferrell: Singing Christmas carols. I used to love going caroling and when my kids were teens we’d host a caroling party.

 

 

Terry Spear: Favorite holiday tradition is spending the time with family–having Christmas Eve dinner, watching a Christmas movie, and then in the morning, having cinnamon rolls, coffee or tea, and opening presents, taking pictures, watching another Christmas movie, having a special Christmas dinner. 1f642 Authors Dish for the Holidays   December 24, 2018

 
 
 

Tarina Deaton: It’s probably decorating the tree. I’m one of those people that waits until after Thanksgiving so we spend Friday morning pulling everything out and decorating. For me it’s about the excitement my kids feel in anticipation of Christmas.

Rae: Thank you so much authors!

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Comment below and tell us what your favorite recipe and traditions are. We’d love to know! Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas. 


** Author Bios **

Suzanne Ferrell: USA Today Bestselling author Suzanne discovered romance novels in her aunt’s hidden stash one summer as a teenager. From that moment on she knew two things: she loved romance stories and someday she’d be writing her own. Her love for romances has only grown over the years. It took her a number of years and a secondary career as a nurse to finally start writing her own stories.

Currently there are two main series she’s actively writing in: The Westen Series, a contemporary small town series based in a fictional Ohio town where “things aren’t always what they seem”, and features Close To Home, Close To The Edge and Close To The Fire. The second series is the Romantic Suspense books KIDNAPPED, HUNTED, SEIZED and VANISHED, featuring the Edgars family as they fight for justice, even if it means stepping slightly outside the rulebook.

KIDNAPPED and HUNTED were both Golden Heart finalist, and SEIZED, book #3 in the Edgars Family Novels, was a finalist in the novella category of the OKRWA’s National Reader’s Choice Awards contest.

Suzanne’s sexy stories, whether they be her on the edge of your seat romantic suspense or the small town romantic suspense stories they’ll keep you thinking about her characters long after their Happy Ever After is achieved.

You can Find Suz at:

Website: https://suzanneferrell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanneferrell.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzFerrell

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/suzferrell/

Tarina Deaton: Tarina has spent her entire life in and around the military – first as a dependent and then as an enlisted Air Force member.

In 2015, a friend challenged her to complete NaNoWriMo. She dusted off one of the many stories she’d started over the years, threw it in the trash, and started all over.

Her debut novel, Stitched Up Heart, released in September 2016. She draws heavily from her own military experience when crafting stories and characters.

Tarina is still active duty and a single mom of six-year-old twins. Her favorite hobby is sleep. She has delusions of retiring from the military and being a stay-at-home mom.

Terry Spear: Bestselling and award-winning author Terry Spear has written over sixty paranormal romance novels and four medieval Highland historical romances. Her first werewolf romance, Heart of the Wolf, was named a 2008 Publishers Weekly’s Best Book of the Year, and her subsequent titles have garnered high praise and hit the USA Today bestseller list. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry lives in Spring, Texas, where she is working on her next wolf, jaguar, cougar, and bear shifter romances, continuing with her Highland medieval romances, and having fun with her young adult novels. When she’s not writing, she’s photographing everything that catches her eye, making teddy bears, and playing with her Havanese puppies and grand-baby.

For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com, or follow her on Twitter, @TerrySpear. She is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/terry.spear. And on WordPress at: Terry Spear’s Shifters Terry Spear’s Shifters

Under the Kissing Bough Blitz Day 1

***** Congratulations to the Day 1 Giveaway Winners *****

You have 24 hours to comment on this post or a new winner will be selected at the end of the Blitz!

Lana Williams Giveaway

 ohmeagain you have won ONE copy of Loving the Hawke
Leslie S you have won ONE copy of Loving the Hawke
Pat V. you have won ONE copy of Under the Kissing Bough
Leslie S you have won ONE copy of Under the Kissing Bough

Suzanne Ferrell Giveaway

Carina and ohmeagain and you have each won ONE e-book set of Close to the Mistletoe and Close to Christmas

Congratulations to all!

** Please note…any gifted copies of the set cannot be awarded until release day, because Amazon doesn’t allow gifting of preorders. **

Happy Reading 🙂

*****

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15 brand-new novellas. 15 best-selling romance authors. A holiday-themed collection like no other.

What happens under the kissing bough doesn’t necessarily stay beneath the kissing bough…

According to lore, the origins of which date to the late 12th century, no lady should refuse a kiss beneath the mistletoe, else she will not marry in the next year. In exchange for the kiss, a berry is removed from the sprig until all of the berries are gone and no more kisses can be stolen. Some also believe that a sprig of mistletoe collected from a local church and placed beneath a maiden’s pillow will inspire dreams of her future husband.

What happens when fifteen daring heroines pin their hopes on mistletoe, a little luck, and a kiss in this multi-genre, limited edition holiday collection from 15 bestselling authors? Pure holiday magic!

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The Whole Latte:

There is nothing better than a holiday anthology to kick off a festive season full giving, treats and LOTS of romance!  This collection will cross off all three in one clean swoop and at a bargain price of ninety-nine cents, it’s worth every penny. Do NOT miss out on must read romance!

I’ll be featuring a few novellas every day until release day on November 22nd. Catch up with characters and authors you know and love, or discover them for the first time.

Again, the line-up has many of my favorites and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Some of these have a little more spice than others and balance the collection perfectly.

Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!

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Dancing under the Mistletoe by Lana Williams

Book 3.5 of The Seven Curses of London

A woman running from her past…

Katherine Flemming gratefully accepts an invitation to spend Christmas at a new friend’s country estate, allowing her to escape London with her secrets still intact. Her past has caught up with her, and she must leave everything behind to start over. Again.

A man unwilling to face the future…

Cole Dumont takes one day at a time, spending his days seeing to the needs of his tenants but never his own. Unable to bear the idea of enduring another Christmas alone, he gratefully accepts an invitation from a neighboring estate with the fleeting hope of surviving a holiday filled with too many memories.

A stolen moment under the kissing bough…

Well aware of the trouble chasing her, Katherine avoids forming connections with others but something about the quiet baron tugs at her. Cole’s guilt convinces him that he doesn’t deserve happiness, yet the woman he kisses beneath the mistletoe makes him wonder if fate has something else in store.

Can one kiss and the magic of Christmas unite two lonely souls?

The Whole Latte:

Dancing Under the Mistletoe by Lana Williams involves secrets, a holiday love match and hopefully happiness for our heroine, Katherine Flemming.

Katherine is tired of running, will she finally find love and happiness in the most unexpected place? The Christmas holiday season usually brings out the best in people, will the traditions aid in her quest for peace and love?

Cole Dumont is still running from a tragic past, will he open up his heat to love when he meets Katherine? What will he do when he discovers why she came to town?

Lana writes with heart, passion and a dash of spicy heat that is sure to warm you up this holiday season!

Be sure to check out Lana’s backlist for more fun :)!

Bio: 
Lana Williams is a bestselling and Amazon All-Star author who writes historical romance filled with mystery, adventure, and a pinch of paranormal to stir things up. Filled with a love of books from an early age, Lana put pen to paper and decided happy endings were a must in any story she created.

Her latest series is The Seven Curses of London, set in Victorian times, and shares stories of men who attempt to battle the ills of London, and the ladies they fall in love with, who truly give them something worth fighting for.

Her first medieval trilogy is set in England and follows heroes seeking vengeance only to find love when they least expect it. The second trilogy begins on the Scottish border and follows the second generation of the de Bremont family.

The Secret Trilogy, which shares stories set in Victorian London, follows three lords injured in an electromagnetic experiment that went terribly wrong and the women who help heal them through the power of love.

She writes in the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two growing sons, and two labs, and loves hearing from readers.

Lana loves hearing from readers! Stop by her website at https://lanawilliams.net/ and say hello! You can also connect with her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LanaWilliamsBooks or on Twitter: @LanaWilliams28

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The official blurb: CLOSE TO SANTA’S HEART

As Westen’s resident Santa, Deputy Cleetus Junkins brings the magic of Christmas to his beloved home town each year. He oversees lighting the tree in the square and raising the huge mistletoe kissing bough in the gazebo. At the parties he visits with children and the elderly. Amid all this joy even Santa can be lonely. Or he used to be. This year, Cleetus has a helper.

Sylvie Gillis came to Westen for a fresh start only to have her heart immediately melted by a shy gentle giant of a deputy. Her childhood was short on happiness but playing elf to Cleetus’ Santa makes her want to believe in Christmas miracles.

As Cleetus and Sylvie help bring Christmas joy to the citizens of Westen, the holiday magic weaves its way into their hearts. Will the reason Sylvie left home come between them or can she stay Close To Santa’s Heart?

The Whole Latte:

Close to Santa’s Heart by Suzanne Ferrell is a Westen romance that is sweet and sexy.  I loved Cleetus and Sylvie’s story right from the beginning. A must read that stresses the importance of trust and honesty, along with the belief that everyone has a purpose. The ability to trust that “inner voice” is vital, and for this story, a matter of life and death for both Cleetus and Sylvie.

Suzanne tackled a very sensitive situation in a most creative and satisfying way. This romantic suspense author can bring on the action and heat, but this softer side was a refreshing treat.

Thank you Suzanne for taking us to Westen for the holidays. If you haven’t read any books from the Westen series check out Suzanne’s backlist for more excitement this holiday season.

Author Info:

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USA Today Bestselling author Suzanne discovered romance novels in her aunt’s hidden stash one summer as a teenager. From that moment on she knew two things: she loved romance stories and someday she’d be writing her own. Her love for romances has only grown over the years. It took her a number of years and a secondary career as a nurse to finally start writing her own stories.

Currently there are two main series she’s actively writing in: The Westen Series, a contemporary small town series based in a fictional Ohio town where “things aren’t always what they seem”, and features Close To Home, Close To The Edge and Close To The Fire. The second series is the Romantic Suspense books KIDNAPPED, HUNTED, SEIZED and VANISHED, featuring the Edgars family as they fight for justice, even if it means stepping slightly outside the rulebook.

KIDNAPPED and HUNTED were both Golden Heart finalist, and SEIZED, book #3 in the Edgars Family Novels, was a finalist in the novella category of the OKRWA’s National Reader’s Choice Awards contest.

Suzanne’s sexy stories, whether they be her on the edge of your seat romantic suspense or the small town romantic suspense stories they’ll keep you thinking about her characters long after their Happy Ever After is achieved.

Get to know Suzanne… ICYMI: Coffee With

You can Find Suz at:

Website: https://suzanneferrell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanneferrell.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzFerrell

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/suzferrell/

Blog: https://romancebandits.com/

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Day 1 Giveaways

Lana Williams has generously offered:

2 copies of Loving the Hawke (Book 1 of The Seven Curses of London)

AND

2 copies of Under the Kissing Bough (which includes Dancing Under the Mistletoe, which is book 3.5 of the same series).

Suzanne Ferrell has generously offered:

TWO e-book sets (Close to the Mistletoe and Close to Christmas)  *Amazon readers*

For a chance to win one of these AMAZING prizes please comment and respond to the following questions on this blog post:

What is your favorite holiday tradition?  

Contest runs from 11/17/16 12:01AM thru 11/18/16 3:00 PM
Winner will be announced on this blog post on 11/18/16 sometime after 3:00 PM.

Winner MUST comment on this post within 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be randomly selected.

Be sure to follow me the blog (link on homepage),  Facebook Page (Books I Love A Latte Page) and Twitter @RaeLatte so you don’t miss that announcement post.

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