New Release -- Her Last Man (Men of Maine Series Book 8) by Diana Tobin

 

Danielle Reigh’s reappearance after being “away” for four months is something she does not want to talk about to anyone—including handsome law officer Cooper Webster. She’s more than a little interested in him, but she has to be able to trust Cooper with the story of what happened to her before she can let herself fall for him completely. Though Cooper knows a man from her past holds a place in her heart, he’s determined to be her only man. But her story might test the limits of credibility—even with someone who loves her as much as Cooper does!

When Danielle’s sister, Charlotte, becomes the nanny for newcomer single father Wyatt Jameson, she falls head over heels in love—with Wyatt’s young daughter, Isabella! But soon, Char and Wyatt realize that Bella’s happiness isn’t the only thing they have in common. After a bad marriage, Wyatt finds it hard to trust anyone, but Char is so open and loving, how can he shut her out of his life? When Char and Bella are kidnapped, Wyatt realizes Char means more to him than he ever imagined. He’ll do whatever he must to save her.

Can Danielle and Cooper put the past behind them and forge a future together? Can Wyatt manage to save Charlotte from a madman and create a new life with her and his baby daughter?

EXCERPT

Hell couldn’t be hotter than this godforsaken land. Grit – sand, dirt, ashes of the dead – filtered into every orifice of his body. It wedged between his teeth. It lay between his skin and clothes, constantly chaffing and rubbing. Not only did he want to peel off his clothes, but his skin along with them. Anything to escape the constant irritation.

Everything here was a constant irritation: the heat, the dirt, the waiting, always being on alert, the waste of human life.

The pack he carried, along with his buddy, grew heavier with each step. Blood from Wiskowski’s wounds splattered over the front of him. His own blood oozed down his leg, despite the bandage he’d slapped around his thigh. His knees wanted to give out, but he refused to allow it. He had to get Wiskowski to the medic. The Black Hawk sat just ahead.

Almost there. A few more steps.

Bullets whizzed around him. The rotors stirred more dirt, blinding and choking him. He tried to pick up his left foot, but only managed to drag it. What the hell?

Hands reached down to take Wiskowski when a punch to his back shoved him against the side of the helicopter.

Damn, he didn’t…

     

New Release Broken Arrow (Banyon Pride Series Book 2) by Donna L. Stephens

 

When Laila Sutton’s father dies, she is left scrambling to try to figure out how to hold on to their rundown Arkansas farmhouse, her childhood home.  Baking cookies and gathering eggs to sell is not going to be much of a livelihood for her. Now that she no longer has the responsibility of caring for her ill, alcoholic father, she is going to have to go to work at MeeMaw’s Diner just to survive.

Just when it seems things can’t get any worse, her father’s attorney informs her that, in his revised will, her father has deeded half of the house and property to their wealthy neighbor, Cleve Atwell—and the only way she can gain it back is to marry him! But Laila dreams of dark-eyed Sky Banyon, a local veterinarian and childhood classmate who has returned from Wyoming recently to their hometown of Mulberry.

In turmoil, Laila knows Sky is the last man she should want to turn to—he’s hurt her before. But could things be different this time? A stolen kiss that touches her soul makes her believe they could.  Though Cleve offers her the security she needs to survive, she doesn’t love him. It rankles that she’s living in a house which is now half his—and she suspects Cleve somehow manipulated her sick father.

When Sky hires Laila to tutor his nine-year-old son, Blaze, he confides in her about his unhappy marriage and the death of his wife. Laila begins to understand him, and her own heart, better than she ever has before. With her wedding to Cleve set to take place in less than a month, Laila knows she can’t hold off forever. Is there a future for her with Sky? Though he’s never told Laila he loved her, the kiss they shared said more than mere words ever could…but is it too late?   

EXCERPT

     When he stood, his tall frame loomed over her. “Lai?” his voice growled.
     She looked up. He had a neat moustache and short beard, and his dark hair curled around his ears just below his felt fedora. His cheekbones were planed sharp, his eyes a deep brown behind his rounded tortoise shell glasses. She frowned. Could it be?
     “Sky? Sky Banyon?” Laila swallowed.
     “Yes. I came back to our Arkansas ranch. Been in Wyoming several years.” He reached out his hand to shake hers. “Laila Sutton,” he said, his voice taking on a light tone. “Will wonders never cease? I thought you’d probably left our small town by now. Good to see—”
     It was Sky, all right. She hid her hand behind her back. “Get out,” she said, her voice clipped. “Move away from my dog.”
     “Please forgive me, Lai.”
     “My name is Laila,” she said, frowning.
     He took off his hat and raked back his hair. “I’m really sorry. I came careening around the corner in my truck, my mind on getting to work, not thinking about anything running out in front of me.” He gave a long sigh. “Your hound needs stitches. But he should heal just fine.”
     “I can’t believe you’ve done it again.” Laila glared up at him, her hand caressing the beating pulse in Jag’s neck. “Wasn’t once enough? You let my other dog die ten years ago. Daisy should’ve lived.”

     

Research by Michael E. Gonzales

My most recent story, Einar of Vindemiatrix, required a lot of research. I set my story in a mythical “dark ages”. I saw the characters, for the most part, as English like. So, I read up on a great many subjects, among them; period dress, period customs, weapons, castle design and layout, mythology, manner of speech, and much more. All very enlightening.

Obviously my fantasy would necessarily have to abridge the historical record.

And much that is ‘canon’ in ancient lore I would also need to bend a little.

The biggest challenge, for me, was the language. First off, what people spoke in “the dark ages” would barely be recognizable today as English. I noted several categories of Ole English, for my purposes I selected three: Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern English. There are few alive today, scholars only perhaps, that would understand any of that speech. To wit:

So…I settled on what I call Ren-fair speech or, “fake English accent people us at a Renaissance fair.” This is the sort of thing `ya hear in the old Errol Flynn Robin Hood movie.

I also learned you have to be sparing with it. I had friends, family and total strangers read some test lines and they quickly became lost.

So…I altered the meter of speech, used a very few archaic words and at last reached a happy medium. Or one might say, “Ci leáslícettung bæd.”

The mythology surrounding weapons in the Ancient world I found fascinating! Stories of magical weapons with amazing powers and abilities, carried by famous Vikings, Romans, Goidelic, and Pictish warriors. Weapons fashioned by the gods, and by demons. These demonic weapons held the promise of victory but at the price of your immortal soul. Damned weapons that would incur the wrath of evil on their bearers, or result in instant death from merely touching them.

It was, however, the true story behind the Ulfberht sword that grabbed my attention for Einar.

There was a type of sword prized by Vikings that far exceeded any European weapon of its day. The rare and precious Ulfberht swords were a thousand years ahead of their time, and wielded only by the most elite and powerful of Viking warriors.

Most Viking blades were found to have been composed of slag-ridden, low-carbon steel. But the Ulfberht blades’ metal was comparable to the strength of modern steel. They were inscribed with the signature “+Ulfberht+,” and their like would not be seen again in Europe until the industrial revolution.

It was a personal journey through history, legend, myth, and lore. One I shan’t soon forget. Doubtless, dear reader, you shall see me put my lesson to use again, in future efforts.

Please visit my various sites, particularly my website, recently improved upon. :^) 

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