Warning: this book may cause heart palpitations, nail biting or shortness of breath!

A book release is always exciting. Today I’m shouting about Dangerous Descent, a new release from one of my awesome and talented critique partners, Evie Jacobs.

But first, let me introduce the author: Evie Jacobs is a word nerd. As a child, she read constantly. And when she wasn’t reading, she was writing. Not much has changed. By day she works in a library surrounded by books, and by night she writes steamy action/adventure romance. She lives in Colorado with her husband, two cats, and six bicycles.

Her new book is an action-packed romance that will have your heart beating for more than one reason—don’t let down your guard!

Pilot Elise Hughes left the family business in the Florida Keys and now flies the rich and powerful to and from the Rocky Mountains. When she has to execute a by-the-book emergency landing, it’s no big deal. But being stranded in a small town with her handsome new colleague is something else entirely.

Obsessed with getting justice for his murdered father, undercover FBI agent Eric Erickson believes retribution is finally within reach. Until things get complicated. And dangerous. And he’s forced to face a few too many realities—including Elise’s connection to a well-known crime boss.

After Elise is kidnapped by the same man who took Eric’s father, he has a choice to make—find Elise or exact revenge. Meanwhile she has a choice of her own—trust the dangerous family she never knew she had or the man who’s been lying to her from the start.

Fellow word nerds, enjoy this peek inside Dangerous Descent:

Set-Up: Elise is a pilot for a charter company. A mechanical issue forced her and her partner, Eric, to make an unscheduled stop in a small Nebraska town. The pilots, along with the passengers, are spending the night in the town’s only motel as they await the repair. She and Eric just gave in to the physical attraction for one another, but before things went too far, she pulled away and stepped outside.

Oh. My. God.

Elise gripped a fistful of hair on each side of her head and paced in an agitated circle, all the while, her pelvis throbbed with need. What the hell just happened? Surely, she’d hallucinated that entire encounter, because otherwise, it didn’t make any sense. One minute she was talking about Dad and trying not to cry. In the next, she was inviting Eric to sit beside her on the bed.

His hands. His kisses. His musky cologne. All of her rules about getting involved with colleagues? Forgotten. Her disappointment in the male half of the species? Irrelevant. Because in that moment, he was the only thing she wanted.

Her muscles tightened, locking up as if she’d just run a marathon. But then, her body relaxed, the tension evaporating like sweat on a dry Colorado day. She’d not been the only one in that room. Eric had also been affected. She’d felt the evidence pressing against her leg.

She took a calming breath and gazed at the stars. Since her dad’s death, she’d cut ties and avoided attachments. The rift in her relationship with her brothers. Old friends she’d avoided or lost touch with. Better to shut people out than take the chance they’d leave too. Now, for the first time in a long time, she actually craved the safety and intimacy of another person.

She inhaled and let the night air fill her lungs.

Looking at the sky grounded her. She’d seen similar views from the cockpit of a plane but couldn’t remember having ever seen the stars so clearly with two feet still on the ground. A peaceful calmness washed over her.

A couple more minutes and maybe she’d be able to face him without turning an unflattering shade of red. Unlikely. Still, he deserved an explanation for the way she’d rushed from the room. She could go with the obvious and tell him it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with a coworker, but she suspected he’d see through that lie. The truth was, she wasn’t prepared to deal with something quite so real.

The trees surrounding the motel shook. Elise shuddered. Was it the cool breeze or her creepy surroundings? She drew her arms close and strolled to the other end of the building. Rounding the corner, she collided with what felt like a tank.

Nicky.

Warm, calloused hands gripped her upper arms, stopping her in place. “What are you doing out here? You look cold.” His voice sounded polite, but his tone held an edge. A shadow fell across his face. Why had she never noticed his heavy brow or those fleshy jowls? Something about the man projected danger. Feeling silly, she shook her head. These were her customers. No, they weren’t friends, but she knew them. They were kind and generous. She’d let Eric’s mention of the mob get to her.

She tried to retreat, but he didn’t release her. The pounding of her heart beat out a slow, heavy rhythm against her chest. She felt a sheen of sweat on her forehead. “I came out for some fresh air. I’m about to go back to my room.” She tried to step away from the big man.

His grip tightened. “I was on my way to get you. Mr. Alario wants to have a word.”

“Is it about the plane?” She glanced at his hands, still jabbing into her soft flesh. Her pulse throbbed beneath his thick fingers. “There’s not much to report. The repair shouldn’t take long, but they have to get the part.” Her voice sounded louder, shriller than she’d intended. She turned, longing to be back in the safety of Eric’s embrace.

“Where do you think you’re going?” He still held one arm. “I said the boss wants to see you.”

The boss? Internal alarm bells wailed. Something wasn’t right. “It’s chilly. Let me grab my sweatshirt.”

He shook his head, placed his hand on her shoulder and guided her to the back of the motel. Her gaze swept the area. No one to help. Nowhere to go. Scream. The words wouldn’t come. She dug in her feet, but the momentum of his push resulted in short, halting steps.

Think. The situation required calmness. “What does Mr. Alario want to talk about?”

“He’s in Rocco’s room.”

A couple of inadequate light fixtures attached to the building cast shadows. The trees groaned and the leaves whispered. A wild screech cut the air. An owl?

Nicky rapped on the door. Christopher opened it and smiled in that familiar way. Happy, friendly Christopher. She relaxed. It’s fine. She’d let her imagination get the best of her.

When she stepped inside the room, Nicky herded her among the other men. Her heart raced as she rotated, scanning each of the angry faces.

Thanks for sharing with us today, Evie, and congratulations on the birth of your new book!

Happy reading to all!

Darlene

How to find Evie and your copy of Dangerous Descent:

website: https://www.eviejacobsauthor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eviejacobsauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692483183

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/evie-jacobs

Is Love at First Sight for Real?

Hello, friends! Today I wrap up my series of holiday guest posts featuring talented authors. I hope you’ve had fun learning a little about them and their books. I asked them each to answer some holiday-related questions. For the grand finale, here’s Chloe Holiday. Welcome, Chloe!

–What’s your favorite holiday tradition and why? I find that just as scents do, music can transport me to another place, and I love holiday music of all kinds. We have an old 25-disc CD changer, and I load it up on the first of December with my favorites. It’s an eclectic mix of tunes: a Jazz Nutcracker Suite, instrumental carols in brass, sax, steel drum, and hammered dulcimer as well as full orchestral versions of Baroque Christmas music, and even one made from different pitches of frog croaks. Those with vocals range from old Nat King Cole songs to modern pop stars to the Vienna Children’s Chorus. It always gets me in the mood for all the holiday preparations.

–What’s your holiday “specialty?”  We grew up well-fed, but with not much left over, and the Christmas stockings were a big part of the celebrations, since the gifts were modest and limited. How we savored the treats, and traded them! My mother made each of us a custom, handmade stocking, and I’ve continued that tradition with my own family. They don’t match, but were made with love and laden with symbolism meaningful for each person.

Chloe is a military physician-turned-novelist who writes the things she loves to read: steamy, fun stories about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, smart women and men who aren’t jerks. About friendships, whether close women or a good bromance. She wants to bring you all the feels: the thrill of a smoldering gaze or the barest brush of fingertips, the shocked gasp at the underhanded villain, the angst of heartbreak, the joy of reunion, and of course, happily ever after!

A bit of danger always gets her going, so many of her Romances have a suspense subplot, and they all contain a dose of humor.

She hates to read the same old thing, with only the names and places changed, so her goal is to bring you a fresh, fun, NEW story every time, with NO CLIFFHANGERS– a rollicking, great story you can’t put down, where love prevails in the end, that will whisk you away from your own tribulations. Escape, relax, indulge—you deserve a Holiday!

FK cover

Finders Keepers Book blurb:  Convinced her boyfriend is cheating, free-spirited Farrah flees a holiday party and dodges into a bar where straitlaced Caleb indulges in one drink. Charmed, she goes home with him, but her boyfriend’s later texts persuade her she was mistaken. Horrified by what she’s done, she sneaks out in the night, leaving Caleb with a single mitten …

A favorite short quote from the book:  He didn’t believe in love at first sight. His parents had gotten engaged after only two days, but that was a one-in-a-million thing. Still, Caleb felt her pull, more intense than simple lust. Like a solar flare, disrupting everything around her, white-hot.

Connect with Chloe:  https://www.chloeholiday.com/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088GSS28W

Thanks so much for joining us, Chloe. Love how your last name goes with the theme! 🙂  I, too, made handmade Christmas stockings for my kids. Makes them one-of-a-kind! I love hanging–and filling–them every year even though the kids are grown!

Happy holidays to all, and best wishes for a joyous season and new year.

Darlene

Are these Christmas cookies to die for?!

Hello, friends! Today please welcome author Wendy Kendall as part of my holiday guest series featuring talented authors who will share a little about themselves and their books. I asked them each to answer a few holiday-related questions. Let’s meet Wendy!

–What’s your favorite holiday tradition and why? Besides all the delicious food on our table for Christmas, at each place setting there is also a colorfully wrapped and tied-with-a-ribbon tube at every place setting. What are these? They’re Christmas Crackers – but not the kind of cracker you eat. These are the kind you pop open. You grab one end, and another person at the table grabs the other end and when you each pull there’s actually a loud bang of a pop as it opens. Inside are the fun goodies including: a paper crown, a corny joke, and a fun surprise little gift.

Christmas crackers are a British tradition dating back to the early 1850s, London confectioner Tom Smith started adding a motto to his sugared almond bon-bons which he sold wrapped in a twisted paper package. As many of his bon-bons were bought by men to give to women, many of the mottos were simple love poems. He was inspired to add the “bang” when he heard the crackle of a log he had just put on the fire. He decided to make a log shaped package that would produce a surprise bang and inside would be an almond and a motto. Soon the sugared almond was replaced with a small gift. The paper crown was added to the cracker in the early 1900s by his sons and by the end of the 1930s, the love poems had been replaced by jokes.

Our family and friends always enjoy the fun of our Christmas Crackers, and of course we want to hear all the jokes.

–What’s your holiday “specialty?” It’s such a fun family activity to cook and bake together especially in the holiday season. As my sons were growing up we put together gingerbread houses, cut out cookies, and my specialty – homemade lasagna warms up the whole house. When I plotted this romantic suspense novel, it was inspired initially by a vision I had of what a delicious Snow Kiss cookie could mean. I shared my inspiration with my son Brad and he created the completely original, melt-your-soul, delectable cookie recipe. These cookies are all I’d hoped for, just like the story. Brad Riggs’ original recipe is included in the book.

SnowKissCookiesToDieFor_w15575_ib

The result of Wendy Kendall’s passion for purses, mystery and romance is the intriguing In Purse-Suit Mysteries published by The Wild Rose Press. Kat Out of the Bag introduces Katherine Watson purse designer/sleuth, also published by Harlequin at Harper Collins, available February 20, 2024.  Finalist for Best Romantic Suspense at Killer Nashville, Snow Kiss Cookies To Die For creates a tangle of mystery and love, raising suspicions about a teacher’s romantic new sweetheart.  Wendy enjoys investigating the Pacific Northwest life, and she leaves a trail of her own clues as a blogger, YouTube podcaster, speaker, and syndicated columnist.

Book blurb:

This holiday season Desiree, teacher at Bayside’s elementary school starts a fun secret Santa game for her first grade class. Danger hits when each day someone leaves creepy secret Santa gifts addressed to Desiree in her classroom. The gift giver threatens to reveal who they are soon. Time is ticking before school is out for the holidays, and Desiree’s threatening stalker may strike with deadly force. Among several suspects, is her romantic new love Leo who is on the school’s maintenance staff. While the children learn the wonderful lesson of kindness in giving, Desiree is on the edge of her seat. Who is threatening her? Is Leo The One, or The Stalker?

A favorite line/short quote from the book: Dez looked around. Was anyone watching? The idea of anyone putting up a stocking with her name was odd enough, but with this inside? Her phone vibrated. It was from the anonymous sender.

Her hand shook as she clicked on the text and read. How did you like your card?

Connect with Wendy:  Wendywritesbooks.com

Amazon Link

Wow, impressive that your son developed the recipe for Snow Kiss cookies! How fun! Thanks for sharing with us today, Wendy!

Darlene