by Mary Hughes
Coming between them is an evil fire wizard and an ancient parchment with a deadly prophecy.
Warning: A wolf shifter on the cusp of mate-or-else, a smokin' hot wizard who won't let anything stand in his way, and fun in closets.
Contains material intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion advised.
Enjoy the following excerpt from Masked Attraction:
Zeus put a heavy arm around her shoulders. “Let’s you and me get to know each other, Lady Mystery.”
Zoe gritted her teeth and told herself she was overreacting. Flirt. Enjoy. “Sure.”
His fingers traipsed along her collarbone until they took a walk on the wild side of her sternum, spelunking down her cleavage.
Enough was enough. She cleared her throat to make some classy excuse to beat his head into the wall.
Before she could, a buzz at the door distracted her. She glanced up as the crowd parted.
A blond man glided in like a panther, stopped, and stood there, as tall and confident as if he owned the place. He was built like a true Greek god, inverted triangle torso on long, strong legs. His golden hair shone lustrous in the electric light. His strong features accented by a rakish black mask drew the eye of every female in the room.
Zoe peeled off Zeus’ arm and moved from him as if he’d never existed.
The blond man’s gaze swung to her—and stopped.
The instant connection sang in her ears, in her blood, so powerful and shocking it kicked the air out of her lungs.
The man started toward her, cutting through the crowd like a sleek ship.
Her breath returned in quick, excited puffs.
His scent hit her as he neared, catapulting her back in time to cheerleading sweaters and smoking blunts in the woods…and the burnt scent of an almost-failed chemistry class.
“Damn my paws,” she muttered.
Daniel Light.
Cin Wikkid
An April Fools For Love Story
© 2016 Mary Hughes
A contemporary fairytale romance with a twist.
THE WRONGED DAUGHTER
Cinderella hungers to escape from under Widow Wikkid's grinding thumb. But to snare a plum job at Prince Industries, Cin desperately needs her degree, and she can't wrap her mind around tax accounting.
Then scarred but sexy Rafe Montoya ignites her imagination with his brilliant tutoring—and, as they work together in his cozy apartment, he sets her body on fire. She thinks he's the one for her, until he starts pushing her to attend Gideon Prince's marriage-mart ball.
THE HANDSOME PRINCE
Rafe is really Gideon Prince, head of Prince Industries. He must name his bride by his April first birthday or suffer the loss of his family fortune.
Rumors say he's still single because women love his money and looks, not him. Is he lonely or just another duplicitous tycoon?
THE GLASS SLIPPER TEST
Hopefuls flock to Prince's birthday ball, but only the woman who is kind, wise, and generous will win his heart. Is it Cin, or will her stepmother, as she always does, snatch the prize for her own daughters?
And on the night of the ball, when Cin discovers Rafe’s true identity, can she even accept his final test?
Warning: Rags-to-riches fairytale meets the texting generation. Stepsisters who are a blush-brush shy of a full makeup set, and a ball gown built like a tank. Contains material intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion advised.
Enjoy the following excerpt from Cin Wikkid:
Rafe watched her over the rim of his coffee mug, cobalt eyes twinkling.
Hesitantly, Cinderella told him about the mock hearing. “Is that something you can teach me?”
“Ye-es. Probably.” He frowned, thoughtfully. “How long do we have?”
“Until the beginning of April.”
“Then definitely yes. Though, it will take some pretty intense work one-on-one.” One black brow raised, a challenge. “Are you up for it?”
“I’m not afraid of hard work. Are you up for it?” Daringly, she raised both brows in return challenge.
The right corner of his mouth went up, on the scarred side, crinkling his skin and giving his grin a rakish, devil-may-care look. “Hours of intense work, one-on-one, with you? Oh, yeah. I’m up for it.”
The way he purred “up for it” implied things beyond study. Physical things. Cin’s stomach swooped and her heart pattered rapidly in response.
Then his eyes dropped to her mouth and heated.
Her whole body went boom.
She trembled, her heart pounding, her breath sawing in and out, on the cusp of bright truth. Her stepsiblings’ hatred had taught her to cover herself in bad makeup and baggy clothes and work, the contemporary version of sacks and ashes. But Rafe, looking at her like that…as if he not only was attracted to her but was on fire…God. She wanted to tear off her rags and shine.
Chasing Dreams
A Leap Year Story
© 2016 S.L. Carpenter
Michelle has reached a crossroads in her life just as the year offers her an extra day – February 29th. Walking away from an empty relationship and striking out on a new path is reviving feelings—both scary and wonderful. A train trip home offers time to think about her future, and what the Leap Year might bring. It also offers her a good looking drunk, passed out in her sleeping compartment.
Josh is mortified that he crashed in the wrong compartment, but fascinated by the woman who let him sleep and even covered him with a blanket. Their meeting seems pre-destined, as does the passion sparking between them.
But they both have pasts, and sometimes the past can leave a long shadow across the future. Michelle and Josh will have to come to terms with where they’ve been before they can really set off on the ultimate adventure…chasing their dreams.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Chasing Dreams:
Struggling with feelings and the awkward uncertain situation, they walked back to her compartment. Josh leaned down and kissed Michelle. She placed her hand on his neck and let her lips move against his. God, he was so hot. Inside she was on fire, but she had to contain it.
"Goodnight, Josh, thank you for a wonderful evening."
"You sure? I mean I could…"
Michelle stopped him from continuing. "Let's not ruin this with a torrid night of incredible, hot, passionate, earth shattering sex."
"Yeah, that would really be a bad thing," he sighed, looking down at her.
He kissed her forehead then raised her face with his hands and kissed her lips. His hands lowered along her sides, brushing the sensitive skin aside her breast.
"Mmm, oh yes," she murmured.
Her hands found his waist and her knees weakened at the affectionate way he kissed her. Her mouth dropped open and she lifted her head back when Josh blew hot air gently into her ear and squeezed her ass. She almost succumbed to his advances because she was already wet in anticipation for him.
"Josh, I c-c-can't." She hesitated before pushing him back. "I can't just jump into another relationship like this. It's too soon."
Looking down, Josh nodded but was obviously disappointed. He walked to his room and waved at Michelle but didn't turn towards her because his hard-on was making his pants poke out.
Michelle was torn. What should she do?
Available at Amazon.
Surprise for Three
A Leap Year Story
© 2016 Remi Bond
Will she dare to take a leap this bold?
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR … she's not daring enough for him
Annaliese loves Ransom but has given up on winning his heart. It hurts too much to watch him with other women, so she’s leaving town. In farewell, she throws him a Leap Year birthday party—with a surprise. She may not get his heart a-pumping, but the beautiful exotic dancer popping out of the cake will.
THE RICH PLAYBOY … he's too much of a risk-taker for her
Ransom’s heart belongs to Annaliese, but he’s convinced he’d make her mise
rable, since he craves the adrenaline rush of extreme sports and kinky sex. He can only hope his passion for her matures before another man sweeps her away … and then the giant cake is wheeled in.
THE WOUNDED WARRIOR … she's just what he's looking for
Jack is home from duty as a Navy SEAL and on the hunt for a sweet woman to settle down with. When a relative maneuvers him into a pirate costume to swing his sword for some rich chick's birthday party, he goes along as a favor. Then he spies sweet Annaliese watching his moves and knows she's the one.
A LEAP YEAR LOVE TRIANGLE … can they make it last?
When Jack sees the way Annaliese looks at Ransom, he’s ready to back away … until Ransom invites him to a private after-party for three. Can Annaliese overcome her shyness to share passion with not one, but two hot men?
Warning: This story contains hot ménage and demonstrations of affection between two alpha heroes and one heroine.
Don’t miss your chance to get in on this sexy celebration—get your copy of Surprise for Three today!
Enjoy the following excerpt for Surprise for Three:
Despite scurrying around with last-minute adjustments, Annaliese heard the instant the cake came squeak-squeaking in. Relief flooded her, snapping almost immediately to panic. She’d wanted to see Ransom’s face as the cake entered, to judge his reaction. She spun toward the door and immediately saw him.
Interest lit his eyes.
Yes. She gave a mental fist-pump of triumph. She’d done it. She’d finally excited her adrenaline junkie.
She only hoped the woman inside the cake would measure up to Ransom’s standards. He dated supermodels and daughters of the rich and pampered. Only the best would do for him. Wondering if she could judge the woman inside the cake by the person outside, she checked the figure pushing the cart.
Her chest froze. A grandmotherly woman trundled the cake into place before the DJ’s stage.
Had Sweet Treats gotten the order wrong? Was this simply a regular cake, and Annaliese was going out with a whimper instead of a bang? Her hopes belly flopped, splat, into her stomach.
When the white-haired woman signaled the DJ to aim a spotlight at the tiered cake, Annaliese’s hopes plummeted. The confection was covered in red roses and sugar hearts. Pretty, not sexy.
Her eyes stung with tears. Not a bang, not a whimper, but an awww. Oh Ransom, I tried.
Then the older woman heaved off the top three layers of the cake—the real birthday cake for eating later—and set it on a nearby table. It left the covered cart plus a cardboard cake base, the two together just high enough for a person to crouch inside.
Annaliese’s hopes returned with a rushed inhale. Was there at least a sexy exotic dancer inside?
Especially, was she sexy enough to wow Ransom?
The grandmotherly woman mounted the platform and took over the mic.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” Her alto rang like a showmaster’s. “Please sing a rousing ‘Happy Birthday’ to—” she checked the slip of paper Annaliese had given the DJ, and her eyes opened in shock, but she was already shouting, “—Ransom!”
The DJ dropped the needle on the traditional song. Party goers happy on champagne sang an enthusiastic, if not quite tuneful, rendition of the words. This could still go well. If the dancer inside the cake was gorgeous, everything Annaliese hoped for…
The fake tiers and cart burst in half. A tanned body stepped from inside.
“Surprise!”
The body was big, hard and muscled. Gorgeous, yes. That body could fell a horse.
Annaliese stared, not in surprise, but shock.
The stripper was a man.
Available at Amazon.
About Mary Hughes
Who am I? A lover of stories that crackle with action and emotion. A mother, a flutist, a binge-TV-watcher of NCIS, Sherlock, and Agents of SHIELD. I write steamy, wickedly funny romance including the Pull of the Moon series of witch/shifter love and the Biting Love series of small-town vampires. My martial arts background means the action is real.
Most of all, I'm a believer in grand passion.
I’d love to hear from you!
Website http://www.maryhughesbooks.com/
Newsletter http://eepurl.com/orpxf
Blog http://maryhughesbooks.blogspot.com/
Group Blog http://www.lustwithalaugh.com/
Group Blog http://magicalmusings.com/
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/author/maryhughes
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MaryHughesAuthor
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/MaryHughesBooks
Look for these titles by Mary Hughes
Now Available:
Biting Love Series
Bite My Fire—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Biting Nixie—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
The Bite of Silence—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Biting Me Softly—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Biting Oz—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Beauty Bites—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Downbeat—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Assassins Bite—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Passion Bites—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Biting Love Short Bites
Biting Holiday Honeymoons
Oz Bites
Murder at Chipmunk Lake
Biting Serendipity: April Fools For Love
Pull of the Moon
Masked Attraction (Prequel)
Heart Mates—Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Mind Mates
Stand-alone books
Black Diamond Jinn (A Hot SF/Fantasy Novella)
Edie and the CEO—Crimson Romance
Twice Shy (A Romantic Comedy)
Cin Wikkid: April Fools For Love
Coming Soon:
Hot Chips and Sand (A Romantic Comedy)
