The Shape of Destiny by Julie A. D’Arcy in Come Love a Cowboy Anthology

Cole, a Shape Shifter and descendant of the Apache, finds himself caught in a web of deceit. Hunted by a man named Granger for eight years, he wanders onto Shannon’s ranch and finds not only the home he’s never had…but forbidden love.

Shannon Davidson, owner of a cattle ranch in the middle of nowhere, can’t believe it when she finds a gorgeous but mysterious stranger sleeping in her barn. She encourages him to stay but realizes, like her grandmother, he harbors a secret.

Can Cole keep his identity a secret, win the heart of his lady and defeat his nemesis? The Shape of Destiny is a tale of lust, revenge and love.

EXCERPT

“So you’re glad you came?” Shannon rose to clear the table, scraped the dishes, and stacked them in the sink. “The sooner we get this cleaned up, the sooner I can show you the spreadsheets.”

“You show me yours, I’ll show you mine.”

She tossed a laugh over her shoulder. “You’re in a good mood.”

“And why shouldn’t I be? What could be better than a good meal and a beautiful woman to share it?”

Shannon concentrated on running the water for the dishes, a blush heating her cheeks, but the scrape of a chair made her turn. He walked toward her. “What are you doing?”

She took in the sensual slant of his lips, the intense look in his eyes, and knew the moment she’d longed for was coming.

“I think it is about time, don’t you?”

“For what?” Her words escaped on a whisper.

“For this.” His arms came around and drew her close, his mouth claiming hers, his hands slipping down her back to clutch her bottom.

“He tasted of the chardonnay they’d had for dinner and smelled of the lemon soap from the shower in the bunkhouse. He deepened the kiss, his tongue slipped into her mouth, and her insides melted. The muscles in his shoulders tensed under her hands as he picked her up and swung around to sit her on the end of the oak table she’d cleared. His gaze met hers and held as he slipped free the top button of her shirt.

Finding she had no voice, she nodded. She’d only been with one other man and he’d been a boy at college.

The second button popped open and then the next. Cole was a man in every sense of the word.

He took her lips in a deep languid kiss that kindled an ache in the pit of her stomach, and he found the small pulse in her neck. Her hands slid through his thick dark hair; his lips trailed small kisses down the side of her throat. The strap of her bra slipped from her shoulder as he laid her back on the table and reached for the buckle of her belt, pulling it free. Next came her boots and the fastening of her shorts….

Julie A. D’Arcy  Author of 7 full length novels, and 3 novellas, with 2 more works in progress, Julie's genres include Fantasy, Fantasy romance, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Ghost, Witch, Vampire, and Time Travel. (Erotica Romance) She has been writing for around nineteen years and has been published almost as long.

Her first published novel WON the 1999 Dorothy Parker RIO Award for Women's fiction. And the same novel and her second were nominated and shortlisted in several other prestigious Awards, including the Australian RWA Ruby Award, the U.S.A, PEARL AWARD and the SAPPHIRE AWARD.

Web Page: http://www.julieadarcy.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieDarcy57
Blog at Wordpress: https://julieadarcy.wordpress.com/
Blogger: http://juliedarcystoryweaver.blogspot.com.au/
Face Book Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/215926495426133/
Amazon Author Page: www.amzn.to/1Qx7RMi

 COME LOVE A COWBOY
Eight stand-alone Contemporary Western Romance novellas from Bestselling and Award Winning Authors. From firefighters, bronco busters, and wealthy ranchers to bad boys, we have them all for you!  If you've ever wanted to fall in love with a sexy, alpha cowboy of today...now's your chance.

Interview with Joyce M. Holmes, Author of Visual Effects

What made you decide to be an author? I can’t remember a time when I didn’t enjoy writing. When I turned forty, I decided to do something just for me, and that something was writing a book. It was a really bad story, but it got me hooked and I’m now on my eighth book.

What do you like best about being a writer? What do you like the least? The best part of writing is developing the characters and digging out the emotion of their stories. Without a doubt, I dislike promoting my work the most. Even after four published books, I’m not comfortable with it. I’m probably the worst salesperson in the world, lol.

How do you think your life experiences have prepared you for writing? For the most part, I’ve lived a relatively simple life, but like everyone, I’ve had some tough times. I try to draw on the emotion of my experiences, even if what I went through isn’t quite the same as what I’m putting my characters through.

Have you ever felt as if you were being dictated to while you wrote a book--as if the words came of their own accord? If yes, which book did that happen with? I wish! The closest I came to that experience was with my first story. It was a joy to write and the words flowed effortlessly. Did I mention it was also a terrible, terrible story? Totally unpublishable, but such fun.

You’ve written seven novels and are working on an eighth novel. What’s your favorite time management tip? Take your writing seriously and make time for it, preferably every day. But, also, don’t put so much pressure on yourself that it becomes more of a chore than a pleasure.

Are you a plotter or a pantser, i.e., do you outline your books ahead of time or are you an “organic” writer? I’m mostly a pantser, but I do need to have some direction before I start writing, usually the beginning, a few vague scenes in the middle and some idea of the ending. I do an outline as I go along, updating it as things change.

If you had one take away piece of advice for authors, what would it be? Learn the craft, then write the best book you can and don’t send it off into the world until it’s ready. (I’ve read too many books that could’ve been wonderful, but they were published while still in the draft stage.)

Did music help you find your muse with this book? If yes, which song did you find yourself going back to over and over again as you wrote? It’s kind of sad to realize I don’t listen to a lot of music anymore. So, no, as much as I still love music, it doesn’t inspire my muse.

Tell me more about Visual Effects.

Drey Winston is a fierce competitor who enjoys challenging her mind and body. But when it comes to her heart—no one ever gets close enough to compete for it. Having grown up believing she was an unwanted burden to her parents, she prefers to keep her feelings well hidden. Just when her hard-fought goals are finally within reach, the audacious Jesse Devlin comes along to breach her carefully guarded defenses.

After a disastrous marriage early in life, Jesse Devlin prefers strings-free relationships. Confident and outgoing, he gets along well with women, but his natural charm can’t seem to penetrate Drey Winston’s aloofness. While attempting to win her over, he’s the one who ends up losing his heart.

Can this commitment-phobic bachelor convince the stubbornly independent woman he loves that his feelings—and hers—are the real deal?

How about an excerpt from Visual Effects?

Jesse leaned against a tree to draw in a few deep breaths. As he straightened, he plucked his ball cap off his head and wiped his forearm across his brow, then hooted a victory cheer. “Hard work’s over. Time for the reward.”

He dropped the cap onto the sand and emptied his pockets into it. Then he pulled his T-shirt over muscled shoulders, dropped it onto the sand on top of his cap, and made quick work of his footwear. Drey stared in disbelief as he beelined down the beach and ran straight into the low surf. When he was hip-deep in the water, he slipped smoothly beneath the surface. He reappeared several feet out and turned to wave.

“Join me,” he called. “The water’s great.”

“Not a chance. The ocean is cold in summer, I can only imagine how frigid it must be today.”

“Wuss,” he scoffed and splashed water in her direction.

Shivers that had nothing to do with feeling chilly shot through Drey as she watched him emerge from the water a few minutes later. Rivulets ran down his chest, following the ridges and planes of his brawny body. Wet shorts clung to muscular thighs.

He ran his hands over his face and then shook himself like a playful pup. “You don’t know what you missed. Nothing like a dip in the salt chuck to get the heart pumping. Well, almost nothing.” He stalked deliberately up the beach toward her, and the look on his face made her back away, but she didn’t react fast enough. He caught her up in his arms, laughing at her shrieks of protest.

“Lemme go, Jesse. You’re cold. Come on, Jesse, lemme go. You’re getting me all wet.”

 “That’s the whole idea. Get you wet and me warm.”

Where can readers find more about your stories, books and you on the Internet?

Website: http://JoyceHolmes.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Joyce.M.Holmes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Joyce_Holmes

Buy Links:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6730

http://www.amazon.com/Visual-Effects-Joyce-M-Holmes-ebook/dp/B01CB1C3P0/

https://www.amazon.ca/Visual-Effects-Joyce-M-Holmes-ebook/dp/B01CB1C3P0/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/visual-effects-joyce-m-holmes/1123498235?ean=2940157945060

Joyce, thank you so much for being with us here today. I know my readers will enjoy your work and your interview.

Thank you for hosting me, Sharon. It was a pleasure.

Desert Heat by Patti Sherry-Crews in Come Love a Cowboy

It sometimes seems Angel Harper is going to have to spend the rest of her adult life making up for her youthful transgressions—like running away with a two-timing, irresponsible cowboy on the rodeo circuit.

Now she is only trying to make things right. It isn’t easy for a single mother, trying to run a small hotel on her own. She is always two steps ahead of financial ruin, and she just lost a step. But she is determined to prove to herself and the memory of her parents that she can do it.

A chance encounter with handsome cowboy and firefighter, Boone Donovan, awakes a desire she’d rather bury. But he isn’t going to let her get away so easily.

Angel has been twice burned by love, and it’s not only her own heart she has to protect now. She has a son to think about. Can she trust Boone enough to let love into her life again?

Excerpt

Her face was flooded with heat. When she fell back to sleep this morning, she’d overslept. Normally, Angel would have been up a couple of hours ago and had the stables mucked out by now. The flies were thick and buzzing in the air ripe with manure. She fought back the urge to explain all this to him. She owed this man no explanation, she reminded herself.

“When’s the last time you had the fire inspector out here?” he asked, his back still to her, his hands on his hips.

“I don’t remember. Maybe a couple of months ago.”

He turned around to face her, his hands still on his hips and his coat pushed open to show the tight t-shirt underneath with suspenders riding up a lean torso.

“You want to try that again? I can look it up, you know?”

“I’d have to check. It’s been a while.”

“That would be my guess. I can see at least five violations just from where I’m standing.”

With a tight throat, Angel watched him walk around and inspect the horses one by one. “At least your horses look healthy. I can tell you take good care of them.”
He walked back over and stood in front of her. Too close. She stepped back. His eyes went to her chest. She looked down and saw to her horror her nipples were not only very visible beneath the thin t-shirt, but were standing at attention.

His eyes grew dark, and he swallowed hard. She could see a vein throbbing in his neck. Angel crossed her arms across her chest, feeling weak at the knees with this big hunk of a man standing before her.

Boone took a step closer, eyes now lifted to hers, lips parted. She could hear the breath coming hard out of his flared nostrils. He was so close, she could take in his scent. All man.
Her arms fell to her sides. She took a step closer so their faces were inches apart. A familiar thrumming moved through her body. Desire rearing its head.

“Mom! There are firemen in the yard! They said I can climb on the truck if that’s all right with you.”

Boone took a big step back. He practically jumped away from her.

Rory stood framed in the door, still in his pajamas, dark hair, sticking out all over his head. There was a dried patch of milk in the front of his top. On top of everything else she now looked like a negligent mother. He pushed his glasses back and looked at her.

“Yes, go on Rory, but then get dressed.”

Angel looked back at Boone, the look of lust in his eyes replaced by a blank expression. She was used to that. Men were interested in her until they heard she had a kid. Her anger which had been at a slow simmer, went up a few notches to boiling.

“Not so interested in getting to know me better now, are you? Kids have a way of taking the mystery out of a woman.”

“I don’t have a problem with kids. It’s husbands I have a problem with. Are you married?”

“If I had a man around here do you think things would be in such a state? I’m trying to do this all on my own, which is why I don’t appreciate you stealing business away from me. You know that, right? The contract you signed with Star was formally mine,” she spat out.

“Hey, first off I didn’t steal your business away from you. I didn’t go out looking for it. Clint came to me. And yes, Clint told me who you were after you left. Then when I was left holding two bowls of ice cream last night, I guessed you had it all figured out by then. I wanted to talk to you. To clear the air.”

“There’s no clearing the stench out of this air,” she said, instantly regretting her choice of words, because the un-mucked stalls reeked of urine and manure.

“I’m going to call the fire inspector and make sure he comes out here next week.”

“You spiteful…You’d do that to me because I stood you up?”

“I’m going to call him, because I’m worried about your horses. If there’s a fire, you’re in danger of losing more than a contract. Tomorrow when I get off my shift I’m coming back out here and bringing this place up to code. The brush needs to be cleared away from all sides of the stable, and these cobwebs are a fire hazard.

He gestured overhead. “You don’t have cages around those bare bulbs. You have extension cords running all over the place not to mention all the other things scattered around that would make clearing the horses out in an emergency a problem. And when we pulled in there was a low branch over the drive we weren’t sure the engine could clear. You’re a disaster waiting to happen.”

With that he pushed past her, brushing against her as he walked by.

“You don’t have to do that!” she called after him.

“Gonna do it anyway,” he said walking away, his back to her.

“I don’t want you…”

Without a glance back he waved to her.

Patti Sherry-Crews
Amazon Author Page

 COME LOVE A COWBOY
Eight stand-alone Contemporary Western Romance novellas from Bestselling and Award Winning Authors. From firefighters, bronco busters, and wealthy ranchers to bad boys, we have them all for you!  If you've ever wanted to fall in love with a sexy, alpha cowboy of today...now's your chance.

A savings of more than 75% if the books were purchased separately.

Luke’s Fate by Kathleen Ball
Meg O’Brien hoped never to lay eyes on the one man who broke her heart. To her dismay, Luke Kelly arrives at her ranch a much different and broken man. Can Meg ever forgive his callous treatment of her and help Luke become the man he used to be?

Grant Me The Moon by Caroline Clemmons
All Tory Fraser intended was to show her high school history club students a local archeology dig. How could she know the excursion would involve a murder?

Three for The Win by Keta Diablo
Hollis should have known better than to fall for a bone-melting man like Stede. He’s gone now and Eli is left to pick up the broken pieces of her life.

Border Affair by Hebby Roman
When his partners’ daughter is kidnapped in México, a self-made millionaire must confront his feelings about their affair and the future of their relationship.

Leaving Necessity by Margo Bond Collins
Mac has one week to convince his ex-girlfriend Clara not to sell his oil company. In this high-pressure reunion, can they strike love again?

The Shape of Destiny by Julie A. D’Arcy
A young male shape shifter. A beautiful female ranch owner. Can love be born in a web of deceit?

Bad Boy, Big Heart by Andrea Downing
She’s a New Yorker escaping her parents.  He’s a Wyoming cowboy supporting his dad. One summer, two young people—three months to find love.

Desert Heat by Patti Sherry-Crews
A single mother struggling to keep her guest ranch puts her own desires on hold. When a handsome and persistent fireman sets his sights on her, she must decide how much she’s willing to give.

Leaving Necessity by Margo Bond Collins in Come Love a Cowboy Anthology

Can they strike love again?

At nineteen, Clara Graves left Necessity, Texas, to try to heal her broken heart. She swore she would never come back, and she's kept that promise. Until now. When she returns for her uncle's funeral, she inherits a small oil company that may keep her tied to Necessity for a few days longer than she expected. But as soon as she can close or sell the business, she’s pointing her boots toward greener pastures.

To this day, Mitchell MacAllan regrets letting Clara go without a fight. But his whole life was in Necessity, and leaving town wasn’t in the cards. As the foreman of Aerio Oil and Gas, he works hard to keep the townspeople employed and maintain the business, despite a recent downturn in petroleum prices.

Now Mac has less than a week to convince Clara that she should give Aerio a chance, and maybe even forgive him in the meantime. Otherwise, she will once again be leaving Necessity—and taking his heart with her, this time for good.

Buy Link: myBook.to/Leaving-Necessity

Excerpt:

Mac pointed out a pipe to one side, placing his hand on it and motioning for Clara to do the same.
When her hand met the metal, she gasped, her gaze jerking up to meet his. “It’s hot.”
Mac grinned. “That’s the temperature it comes up out of the ground.” Her answering smile, holding a hint of wonder, made his heart thump hard in his chest.
Oh, hell no, he told it. This is strictly business.
If only he could believe his heart would listen.

Eight stand-alone Contemporary Western Romance novellas from Bestselling and Award Winning Authors.

From firefighters, bronco busters, and wealthy ranchers to bad boys, we have them all for you!  If you've ever wanted to fall in love with a sexy, alpha cowboy of today...now's your chance.

A savings of more than 75% if the books were purchased separately.  COME LOVE A COWBOY

About the Author & Social Media Links
Margo Bond Collins is addicted to coffee (mmm...caffeine) and SF/F television, especially Supernatural (mmm...Winchesters). She writes paranormal and contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal mystery. She lives in Texas with her daughter and several spoiled pets. Although she teaches college-level English courses online, writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and the women who love (and sometimes fight) them.

You can learn more about her at http://www.MargoBondCollins.net and follow her on all the usual social media outlets (listed below).
For updates about publications, free fiction, and other goodies, be sure to subscribe to her newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/03A21E5E161401F0 
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins
Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
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Kiss of the Virgin Queen Nominated for RONE Award!

I am thrilled to announce that KISS OF THE VIRGIN QUEEN has been nominated for a RONE, a prestigious award in the independent and small publisher world. There are a lot of great books and authors in this category. I am deeply honored to have my book baby listed among them.

Preliminary voting is needed by you, my faithful fans and readers, for one week only. After that, finalists move on to the next round to be judged by industry professionals. Voting begins Monday, April 18 and you will have a short, one week time frame to vote.

In order to vote, you must register on IndTale's website first, (if you aren't already registered...quick, painless, and free) then check your email for the verification link. You MUST click the verification link in the email that is sent once you register, or you won’t be able to vote. If you'd like to get registered in advance so you are all set to vote come Monday (WINK WINK) you can do so here:
http://indtale.com/2016-rone-awards

The link to register is in the right hand column. They have a wonderful monthly e-zine for subscribers with author articles and lots of reviews to the latest books in a a wide range of categories.
Thank you for considering my request!!!

Happy spring--I know it's out there, somewhere??

GRANT ME THE MOON by Caroline Clemmons in Come Love a Cowboy Anthology

All Tory Fraser intended was to show her high school history club students a local archeology dig. How could she know the excursion would involve a murder? Or that one of her students would be suspected as the killer? And she had no idea she would meet the man of her dreams.

Grant Grayson has taken over management of Grayson Ranch near Post, Texas to give his grandfather a less arduous schedule. A flash flood washed away an old talus slope on the ranch to reveal a prehistoric cave that is a Clovis site. Being a good citizen, he invited the nearest large university archaeology department to excavate the cave. When a gorgeous blonde high school teacher asks his permission to take her students to the site, how can he deny her? Especially when he is instantly attracted to her as he’s never been to anyone.

Tory and Grant are drawn in to the investigation to clear her student but unintentionally make themselves a target. Now they must evade the killer to celebrate their new found love.

Excerpt

This evening, she’d traded her business suit for a blue sundress and left her golden hair down, which he liked much better than the bun-like twisty thing she’d worn this afternoon. Instead of the killer heels she’d worn earlier in the day, she wore low-slung white sandals.

The forty-mile drive to Lubbock passed quickly with talk of archaeology and travel to ancient ruins.

As they entered the city, he asked, “Do you have a food preference?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want liver or Brussels sprouts. Anything else is fine.”

A laugh erupted from deep inside him. “I don’t like liver either. How about a steak house with a variety of food?”

“Your call, Grant, because I’m not familiar with what’s available. I’ve been reclusive this year. Except for school functions, I’ve spent evenings and weekends with Grandma.”

He chose a restaurant on 82nd Street and pulled into the parking lot. “Monday evenings are not especially busy, so we shouldn’t have trouble getting seated.”

He guided her inside and they were shown to a table.

After they’d placed their orders, he asked, “Your grandmother, is she all right?”

“Grandpa died last spring. She’s not ill, just frail and deeply in mourning. I was lucky there was an opening in the school.”

“Where did you teach before?”

She offered a wry smile, almost as if embarrassed. “Assistant professor at Texas A&M.” She shrugged and tilted her head. “I realize it appears I took a backwards step, but I was the one who could rearrange my life to move here. Fortunately, I genuinely enjoy teaching high school history.”

“So your grandmother is sad rather than ill. Does she get around well?”

She raised her eyebrows and nodded. “In fact, she can keep up with me. After Grandpa passed away, she was so heartbroken that we were afraid her health was deteriorating. Actually, it was. She wasn’t eating properly and not sleeping well. Or, she was staying up most of the night and sleeping most of the day. With me here, she keeps regular hours and we have breakfast and supper together.”

He reached across the table and laced his fingers with hers. “But not tonight.”

She met his gaze and smiled before she slid her hand to her lap. Disappointment claimed him at the loss of her touch.

“I stopped by the store on my way home and bought her a chicken pot pie in a brand that’s healthy. I only hope she’s doing as I asked and having that and a salad for dinner.”

After they’d eaten, he drove under the speed limit on the way back to Post. Her company fascinated him and he wished he could prolong the evening. When they reached the edge of the Caprock above Post, he pulled over at a wide space on the shoulder and opened the sunroof.

“I love this spot. You can see the lights of our little town below and the stars above.”

She relaxed against the seat and head rest. “The almost full moon tonight obscures many of the stars. This is a beautiful vantage point, though. As if we’re divine and are hanging above the world. I could almost reach out and touch the moon.”

He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers “Should I grab it for you?”

She offered a whimsical smile. “Let’s leave it there so everyone can enjoy the moonlight.”

COME LOVE A COWBOY

Eight stand-alone Contemporary Western Romance novellas from Bestselling and Award Winning Authors. From firefighters, bronco busters, and wealthy ranchers to bad boys, we have them all for you!  If you've ever wanted to fall in love with a sexy, alpha cowboy of today...now's your chance.

FREE SAMPLER BOOK:
Please download FREE your COME LOVE A COWBOY Sampler with Recipes, Blurbs, and Excerpts at http://digioh.com/em/21875/75252/rfwtugbtpk?demail=[email]

CAROLINE CLEMMONS’ BIO AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Caroline Clemmons is an Amazon bestselling and award winning author of historical and contemporary western romances. A frequent speaker at conferences and seminars, she has taught workshops on characterization, point of view, and layering a novel. 

Caroline and her husband live in the heart of Texas cowboy country with their menagerie of rescued pets. When she’s not indulging her passion for writing, Caroline enjoys time with family, reading, travel, antiquing, genealogy, and getting together with friends. 

Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, and Pinterest. Subscribe to her newsletter here to receive a FREE novella of HAPPY IS THE BRIDE.